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State officials approve 14.6% rate increase for individual premiums on ACA marketplace
Marylanders who buy individual healthcare plans on the state's insurance marketplace will see a second year of double-digit increases to their premiums, after state insurance officials approved a 14.6% average premium rate increase across plans in 2027.
Yankees change roster for doubleheader; Red Sox showdown finally official
The Yankees are wrapping up the regular-season this weekend against the Orioles with a Friday doubleheader and a single game Sunday.
A grand display for Xi reveals the limits of Trump’s summitry
WASHINGTON — Expectations were low entering President Donald Trump’s meetings with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, this week, after officials on both sides tempered hopes for a breakthrough. Yet the summit’s
Trump’s disruption to TV coverage during Xi visit frustrates Chinese officials
President Donald Trump spent months plotting ways to impress Xi Jinping.
Trump’s disruption to TV coverage during Xi visit frustrates Chinese officials
(CNN) — President Donald Trump spent months plotting ways to impress Xi Jinping.
Could New York use expanded federal voter citizenship database?
New York election officials can now choose to use an expanded federal database to verify the citizenship of people on voter rolls.
Red Sox eager to ‘take care of business’ in Wild Card rematch with Yankees
Members of the Red Sox are eager to ‘take care of business’ after Wild Card rematch with Yankees made official
Player Availability Report: #HOUvSKC
Player Availability Report is SportingKC.com’s look at the latest status updates around the team ahead of upcoming matches and is presented by Saint Luke’s. All details listed are from the league’s official Player Status Report that is submitted the day prior to the match. Sporting Kansas City hits the road
Jayden Daniels officially ruled out for Week 3
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels unavailable because of elbow injury
Massachusetts State Police Celebrate National Forensic Science Week
September 25, 2026MARLBOROUGH – Today, at the conclusion of National Forensic Science Week, the Massachusetts State Police celebrated the “topping off” of its new four-story Crime Lab. The event included state officials from the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), as well as members of the project team from Greatland Realty Partners, Consigli Construction Co., Inc. and Ci Design, Inc. With the final structu
Pennsylvania measles outbreak grows to 890 cases with 55 new infections: Officials
The measles outbreak in Pennsylvania is continuing to grow with 55 new cases confirmed since Wednesday, according to an update from the state health department.
Pulaski MTN-X to create temporary traffic impacts in Pulaski, Wythe, Bland and Giles Counties Saturday
Pulaski County Sports and Entertainment officials are reminding residents and motorists that the inaugural Pulaski MTN-X gravel bike race will take place Saturday, resulting in temporary traffic impacts on roads.
Allen County health officials urge unvaccinated public to protect against measles
Allen County needs more of its residents to get measles vaccines, health department officials said Friday.
Abdul El-Sayed under the microscope: From public health to politics
What was Abdul El-Sayed’s record as a public health official, and did he deliver on his top priorities? Here’s what you need to know as he competes to be Michigan’s next US Senator.
Abdul El-Sayed under the microscope: From public health to politics
What was Abdul El-Sayed’s record as a public health official, and did he deliver on his top priorities? Here’s what you need to know as he competes to be Michigan’s next US Senator.
Official: Real Madrid star named country’s Player of the Year
A member of the midfield ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid has this week been rewarded for his consistent excellence at club and international level alike.This comes amid confirmation of Jude Bellin...
New Chapter of Care Opens in Pleasanton
By Joy Jernigan, Vitals contributor Sutter Health leaders, colleagues, and elected officials gathered Sept. 17 to celebrate the opening of the new Pleasanton Care Complex, an important milestone in Sutter Health’s commitment to expand access to care in the Tri-Valley area. The celebration recognized the many people whose vision, expertise and collaboration helped transform this […]
'We were outdoors': McInerney remembered at new Rome tennis, pickleball courts
The new tennis and pickleball courts at Franklyn's Field are officially open for playtime in Rome following a rededication to the memory of Timothy J. McInerney and everyone who grew up playing at the park.
Health officials urge families to get vaccinated amid measles case in Allen County
Allen County health leaders are sounding the alarm after confirming a case of measles in an unvaccinated child in Adams County Thursday night.
Iconic horror franchise officially returning after years of delays
The “Saw” franchise is officially moving forward with an 11th movie after years of delays, with Mike P. Nelson attached to direct.
Northfield floats local-business incentives to assuage TIF concerns
As Northfield continues to consider creating a tax increment financing district, village officials are beginning to formally explore potential incentives for local businesses as well as proposals to mitigate concerns from local school districts. Village trustees spent a majority of their Tuesday, Sept. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting discussing possible measures to quell hesitations […]
Ace Combat 8 Reviews Officially Make It One of 2026’s Best-Reviewed Games
Critics are overwhelmingly impressed with Bandai Namco's latest high-flying adventure
Bella Vista Business Association votes to become Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce
BELLA VISTA -- The Bella Vista Business Association has been operating as a chamber of commerce for a while, so it only makes sense to officially name itself as such, according to Association President Jean Galloway.
Health experts warn to avoid kratom products
We’re taking a look at what kratom is, why officials say it can be so dangerous and what some cities and states are doing to regulate its sales.
Fort Lauderdale, health officials hold ‘push-in’ ceremony to celebrate newest addition to fire rescue fleet
VIDEO: Fort Lauderdale officials were joined by local hospital officials to celebrate the newest addition to the city’s fire rescue fleet. The new Fort Lauderdale Fire...
Control Resonant Devs Officially Confirm Fans’ Most-Requested Feature Is Coming in Post-Launch Update
Get ready for New Game Plus Plus (Plus Plus Plus...)
John Summit keeps Experts Only weekend going with back-to-back Pacha New York afterparties
Following two days of Experts Only Festival, Pacha New York served as the official afterparty destination for the weekend, hosting back-to-back nights on
It’s officially Dolly Parton Day, with parades, pink lights and book drives
Parton died of cancer last month at age 80
Pioneer of China NewCo model sued in US over trade secret misuse, double-dealing
A legal feud unfolding in New York is putting a spotlight on the work of a business development veteran who is credited for pioneering one of biopharma’s hottest dealmaking mechanism: the China “NewCo” model. In a lawsuit originally filed in New York state court and recently moved to federal court, China’s Lepu Medical Technology has alleged that biopharma business development consultant Su Zhang, who was hired to help shop its GLP-1 weight-loss candidates to Western partners, engaged in corporate double-dealing and trade secret leaks. According to the complaint, while acting as Lepu’s primary dealmaking liaison for a group of obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, Zhang was secretly double-dipping as the acting chief business officer for a direct competitor, BrightGene Pharmaceutical. “She never adequately disclosed the role, never sought Lepu’s consent, and never proposed any safeguard,” Lepu alleged in its complaint, which was filed in July after Zhang’s consulting firm, CoDevCo, sought certain transaction-based success fees from its angry customer through an arbitration process in Singapore. Lepu, the parent company of Lepu Biopharma, has asked Zhang to pay back its $500,000 retainer and disgorge all benefits she received during the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, plus other damages and relief. The company has also requested the court grant injunctions to protect Lepu’s trade secrets. The ill-fated partnership officially kicked off in December 2024, when Lepu tapped CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism” to identify collaborators for the company’s drug candidates. According to Lepu’s complaint, Zhang personally negotiated and signed the agreement as managing director for CoDevCo, which used her home address. Before the Lepu deal, Zhang made a name following a short stint as the global head of business development for Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. It was during her tenure that Hengrui signed a landmark deal granting exclusive rights for a portfolio of GLP-1 assets to Hercules, which was at that time newly established by a group of private equity and venture capital firms. In addition to the regular upfront and milestone payments, Hengrui also gained an equity stake in Hercules, which later became Kailera Therapeutics. The Hengrui-Hercules deal opened a new paradigm, where a Chinese biopharma company spins off certain early-stage assets to investors for further development through the creation of a new company abroad. The “NewCo” model quickly came into vogue as it allows Western investors to access high-potential assets originating from China at an early stage while giving the Chinese licensors an opportunity to reap long-term benefits through equity stakes in the new firms. The NewCo model proved its value when Kailera staged a record-breaking $625 million IPO on Nasdaq this April, merely two years into the Hengrui deal. Related Kailera CEO 'knew we were in a good spot' before obesity biotech's record-breaking $625M IPO On her LinkedIn page, Zhang described her work at Hengrui as “[b]uilding team and capability from the ground up,” forming NewCo and major pharma partnerships worth billions of dollars. Lepu clearly wanted that kind of track record to help boost its own cardiometabolic portfolio, which includes a range of assets for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and muscle preservation during weight loss treatment. “Lepu’s pipeline is very valuable, but only if Lepu could secure the right international partner to expand into the overseas market during the available commercial window,” the company argued in its complaint. The Chinese biotech said it had little knowledge of U.S. laws, customs or business practices in the business development field, and therefore “needed to rely entirely” on the expertise of Zhang and her team as the firm’s first engagement of a U.S.-based BD consultant. “Zhang’s dominating influence on the business development strategy is further evidenced by the fact that she personally controlled the business-development communications on behalf of Lepu with potential partners,” Lepu said in its complaint. After entering the deal, Zhang introduced Lepu to her four associates. According to Lepu’s version of events, all of them were allegedly employed at different time points to perform similar jobs at other Chinese companies that Lepu described as its competitors, while having access to Lepu’s confidential information. As such, Lepu described Zhang’s team as “a roster of individuals whose primary professional loyalty, by virtue of their concurrent full-time employment, ran to Lepu’s competitors.” As well as the specific examples set out in the case, a look at Lepu’s deals over the period suggests Zhang may have been involved in at least one transaction. During their partnership, Lepu, through its subsidiary Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology, also out-licensed its GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 agonist MWN105 to a NewCo called Sidera Bio in the fall of 2025. The deal included an upfront and near-term payment of $35 million, up to $1.01 billion in milestones, and a 9.99% stake in the Danish startup. It seems likely that Zhang facilitated the Minwei deal given that Lepu is on record as having used CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism.” The big shock for Lepu came in the form of a news article on June 25, 2025. The article, reporting on phase 2 data for BrightGene’s GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist BGM0504, identified Zhang as acting chief business officer of the Lepu rival. Blindsided by her association with BrightGene, Lepu confronted Zhang in July 2025. “Lepu was given assurances that there was nothing to be concerned about and told that Zhang would explain the matter to Lepu,” Lepu alleged in its complaint. “Zhang never did.” Lepu claimed that Zhang had the motive and opportunity to steer potential prospective partners toward BrightGene or other competitors. Later, in February 2026, one of Zhang’s associates joined BrightGene as the vice president for global business development, according to the complaint. Around the same time, Lepu sent written demand letters asking Zhang to account for her BrightGene role, identify what confidential data were shared with the rival firm, and provide any conflict-of-interest or firewall policies during the engagement. According to Lepu, neither CoDevCo nor Zhang answered the questions in their responses. Related Novo vs. KBP: How a $1.3B deal turned into a fraud accusation and an international legal fight In a motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 4, Zhang’s legal team argued that Lepu’s agreement was signed with CoDevCo, and that an employee of the contractor does not owe fiduciary duties to the client. In its complaint, Lepu said: “That CoDevCo was the contracting entity does not insulate Zhang from personal liability for duties she personally undertook and personally breached.” Taking the argument one step further, the defending party argued that the consulting agreement “does not create a fiduciary relationship even between CoDevCo and Lepu; instead, it identifies CoDevCo as an independent contractor retained to market Lepu’s business to potential western partners.” Although CoDevCo was Lepu’s exclusive business-development contractor, there were no terms stipulating that the consulting firm should serve only Lepu, Zhang’s lawyer noted. As to Lepu’s claims that Zhang misappropriated trade secrets, the defendant argued that Lepu authorized the use of the information so Zhang’s team could perform their service per the agreement. In a rebuttal filed on Sept. 11, Lepu’s lawyer set out why they believe the Chinese biotech satisfied New York law’s misappropriation definition by alleging that the defendant used a trade secret “in breach of a duty or through improper means.” As an alternative to dismissing the suit, the defendant suggested the action should be stayed pending outcomes from the arbitration of a separate case in Singapore. While NewCo pioneer Zhang is defending her business arrangements, momentum behind the NewCo trend has continued unabated into 2026. Through August, Chinese biotech assets have spurred 15 NewCo deals this year, according to local trade publication PharmaDJ.
Find your way around Blink Cincinnati with these festival maps
Explore Blink Cincinnati with official festival maps showing art installations, projection sites, parking areas, shuttle routes and key events.
Juventus to Send Out Scouts for a Few Brazilian Talents
Juventus reorganized their management very late last summer and faced a race against the clock. Instead, the officials will have more time to scout and shortlist players ahead of January and especiall...
Broward Health, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Welcome New Ambulance to FLFR Fleet
Sept 24 2026 – The City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward Health marked another milestone in their ongoing partnership Thursday, officially welcoming a new co-branded ambulance to the Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (FLFR) fleet during a traditional fire service push-in ceremony at Fire Station 2. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Broward Health President and CEO […]
Health experts share car seat safety tips for parents
Health officials share tips on proper installation, straps and winter clothing.
Aston Villa defender Scott signs first professional deal
Aston Villa defender Katie Scott has signed her first professional contract with the club.WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Villans this morning.The 1...
Grading Clippers’ Full 2026 Offseason After Officially Losing Kawhi Leonard
How did the Los Angeles Clippers do in the offseason?
Leeds United extend official partnership with NOCO
Leeds United are delighted to announce an extension to the club’s official partnership with global leader in battery power solutions, NOCO.As part of the continued partnership, the NOCO brand will f...
North Carolina restores perinatal program after Medicaid funding dispute delayed research
Perinatal Quality Collaborative revives projects on newborn screenings and maternal mental health to launch in 2027, officials said.
Trump to headline "Golden Age" event with top officials, tech executives
Ballad Health hosts open house at Bristol Regional Medical Center
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Ballad Health held an open house Thursday at Bristol Regional Medical Center, and officials talked about the Boone McCrary scholarship two years after Hurricane Helene. McCr…
Gary 'Angry' Anderson, frontman for Aussie rock band Rose Tattoo, dies at 79
News of Gary Anderson’s death came via the band’s official Instagram account, which stated that the singer passed away on the evening of Sept. 21 in Sydney, Australia.
Rising health costs concern local governments
Budgets and healthcare costs were on the minds of local government and school officials who met at Minot’s Liaison Committee meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24. One of the shared budget concerns is the rising cost of health insurance. Ward County’s employee health insurance costs increased nearly 10% for 2027. Initially, the county was looking at […]
1st confirmed measles case reported in Allen County
Health department officials confirmed Allen County's first measles case on Thursday.
Aaron Jones officially limited at practice
Vikings RB Aaron Jones officially a limited participant after sitting out Wednesday
Florida Men’s Basketball Opens Practice with Unfinished Business
Gator Boys are back – almost. Men’s basketball officially kicks off its season in November, but the SEC regular-season champions started practice Monday. After a disappointing end in Florida’s pursuit of back-to-back national titles last season, coach Todd Golden and the team are coming into the season with a mindset to finish the job. “You […]
Brock Bowers officially limited Thursday
Raiders TE Brock Bowers limited for the second time this week
Agents involved in Mar-a-Lago search ask Judge Aileen Cannon whether gag order blocks testimony
FBI agents who probed Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home asked Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday whether they could testify before a grand jury — or even consult their lawyers — as part of an investigation into whether former government officials conspired against the president.
Chicago health officials warn of additional possible measles exposures at Union Station
Board of criticized North Dakota business financing program plans meeting to address audit
Officials overseeing a state-backed business financing program that drew critical audit findings and a sharp response from lawmakers plan to meet in coming weeks to address the situation.
Health leaders address childhood obesity at Baton Rouge conference
One in three children in Louisiana are overweight or obese, officials say.
Greenfield takes stock of viral attention: Businesses, officials weigh in after coverage of lesbian bar Last Ditch takes national spotlight
Local leaders and business owners defend Greenfield's Last Ditch bar amid a viral dispute over Saturday night masking policies.
Lennar model homes expected to open in October
Lennar Corp., the second largest homebuilder in the U.S., announced today that in October model homes will be open for tours in five Central Iowa residential communities. In May, the Miami, Fla.-based company confirmed to the Business Record that it was entering the Des Moines market. At the time, company officials declined to say in…
Democratic House candidate arrested during Netanyahu protest in NYC
Darializa Avila Chevalier was among several progressive elected officials and nominees who protested Netanyahu's speech at the U.N.
Michigan health officials criticize Trump order pushing changes to childhood vaccines
Trump's executive order calling for a reduction in recommended childhood vaccines came just as students were preparing to return to school.
Arkansas awards $54M in second round of federal rural healthcare funding
Arkansas awarded $54.6 million to dozens of recipients through a new federal program to support projects aimed at bolstering rural healthcare, state officials announced Thursday.
Housing geared toward low-income families opens in Detroit
A group of developers and city officials on Thursday celebrated the opening of Preston Townhomes, a $14 million affordable housing project in the Islandview neighborhood.
US cybersecurity agency releases election infrastructure plan
NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s cybersecurity agency on Thursday released an election infrastructure security plan 40 days before November’s midterms, laying out potential threats to election systems and listing services it would offer to election officials to protect the vote. The plan, which Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had originally promised to release by […]
Turtle Beach Rematch review: The cutest Switch 2 controller of the bunch
Official Nintendo designs and RGB lighting give the Rematch an adorable edge.
Trump officials end review of how arch could harm historic sites
A required consultation process with local preservationists is being terminated, a Trump appointee said Thursday.
First flu-related death of season reported in Clark County
Southern Nevada Health District confirms the first flu-related death of the season in Clark County. Health officials urge Las Vegas residents to get vaccinated.
As pharmacies across Vermont close, North Star Health opens 3 new ones
SPRINGFIELD — In the era of independent pharmacy closures and ballooning drug costs, a new pharmacy that charges less for drugs seems counterintuitive, if not impossible. But that’s exactly what North Star Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center that operates medical clinics in Vermont and New Hampshire, did when it officially launched three new pharmacies […]
Clark County records first flu-related death of 2026-27 season, health district says
The Southern Nevada Health District is reporting the first flu-related death of the 2026-27 season in Clark County.Officials said the person was a man in his 50
Microsoft unveils Surface Pro 12" tablet and Surface Laptop 13" with Snapdragon X2 Plus
The new chipset has 60% faster graphics and a 95% faster NPU compared to the X Plus that powered the previous Surface Pro 12" and Surface Laptop 13".
Myrtle Beach officials approve revised plans for Carolina RockFest
The event is now tentatively scheduled for April 30-May 2 at Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place. "We did some preliminary analysis several years ago and that weekend would be generate, year one, around $20-25 million," Visit Myrtle Beach President Stuart Butler said. "This will grow through the years. CCMF generates about $52 million economic impact on our community. CCMF brought new first-time visitors to Myrtle Beach and turned them into repeat visitors.
Baptist Health South Florida and Lifepoint Rehabilitation Celebrate Grand Opening of New Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in South Miami
Baptist Health South Florida and Lifepoint Rehabilitation recently held a celebratory ribbon cutting to officially open the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Hospital in South Miami. The new 62-bed, state-of-the-art building expands regional access to specialized, patient-centered rehabilitation care for individuals recovering from a decline in function due to an injury or illness. The three-story, 100,000 square-foot […]
Official: Udinese sign four-time Champions League winner Alaba
Udinese have officially announced their signing of four-time Champions League-winning defender David Alaba on a free transfer until the end of the 2026-27 season.Official: Alaba joins Udinese on free ...
Israel’s Netanyahu takes the U.N. stage facing global isolation and a fight for his political future
Netanyahu is not scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump or any other any other U.S. officials and is expected to return to Israel shortly after his speech.
Patriots set to kick off region slate with unbeaten Science Hill
The most pivotal stretch of the year for the Jefferson County Patriots has officially arrived. This week begins the Patriots’ Region 1-6A slate for the 2026 season, and it gets underway with Science Hill and Dobyns-Bennett, two perennial threats to win the league each year, in back-to-back weeks. “Obviously two football games that are very,
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
One of the most contagious diseases on the planet is having its worst U.S. outbreak since 1991
The CDC has added a single measles death to its online counter. In the last few weeks, four unvaccinated people have died from measles in Pennsylvania, according to state officials. But RFK Jr. has publicly questioned what caused the deaths.
Community Health Network, Lifepoint Behavioral Health Break Ground on New Inpatient Behavioral Health Hospital
Community Health Network and Lifepoint Behavioral Health, an operating division of Lifepoint Health, celebrated a major milestone as they officially broke ground on Community Fairbanks Behavioral …
Mary Means Business: Starkville: Jive Turkey turns temporary closure permanent at Eckford location
A temporary hiatus has officially turned permanent for a popular spot on Eckford Drive.
5 reasons I'm ready to ditch my Pixel 11 Pro for the Motorola Signature 27
The Motorola Signature 27 is official. It's coming to the US later this year, and it's making me second-guess my Pixel 11 Pro.
‘The first prediction-market election’: How Kalshi and Polymarket scrambled the midterms
Wagering is affecting nearly every aspect of the midterms — from campaigns to election officials, voters, donors and traders — according to interviews with 20 people involved in elections and prediction sites.
Warren demands Trump officials explain removing a ban on interference in census data
Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked Trump officials to explain why the Census Bureau's parent agency cut a ban on political interference from its scientific integrity policy, as NPR first reported.
Black Lung Disease Remains a Threat, but Federal Officials Delay Effort To Address It
The disease has long been a risk of coal mining, an industry the Trump administration is trying to reinvigorate.
Mississippi health officials issue warning after deaths of two Ole Miss students
The Mississippi State Department of Health is urging people to avoid counterfeit pills and other unregulated drugs
Sorrell College of Business cuts ribbon on new Corporate Partnership Program
Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business officially launched its Sorrell Corporate Partnership Program on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony in John Robert Lewis Hall on the Troy Campus. The initiative is designed to strengthen relationships between the college and business throughout the region while providing students with greater access to business leaders and career...Read More
UConn chemical hazard closes campus science buildings, officials say
Officials said crews are currently working to mitigate the situation.
Local health officials urge residents to get vaccinated after measles case in Adams County
After the Indiana Department of Health confirmed a measles case in Adams County, local health leaders are urging people to check their immunization status.
In Amish country, nurses go door to door to stop deadly spread of measles
With four measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania, health officials are hoping to get people on board with vaccines in private.
Allina Health doctor strike: Union, hospital officials announce tentative agreement
Allina Health reached a tentative agreement with the Doctors Council-SEIU following three years of negotiations and a four-day strike last week.
Bexar County Public Health work to continue after job cuts
Bexar County officials confirmed that essential health services will remain uninterrupted despite COVID relief coming to an end and a recent round of budget-driven department layoffs.
New Yorkers could pay $26,000 out of pocket for climate change
“Energy. Impact. Action.” Is the official theme for Climate Week NYC 2026.
Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities kicks off levy campaign
Without more funding, officials with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities predict they'll have to start making cuts to programs in the next two years.
Dodgers Active Ohtani From Injured List; Optioned De Paula
The Los Angeles Dodgers officially brought back Shohei Ohtani from the Injured List and optioned rookie Josue De Paula.
UNC Charlotte launches NC Economic Impact Center
UNC Charlotte has launched a N.C. Economic Impact Center that university officials envision as a place businesses and others will come when they need reliable information fast. “We are going to be a center and a repository for local data, constantly updating data, so that business leaders and civic leaders can come to us for […]
St. Louis County Health officials not alarmed after three infected with measles
Three people from St. Louis, Franklin and Jackson counties became infected after being near the New York resident aboard the same train
Cooling towers potentially linked to Bronx Legionnaires' disease cluster identified
New York City health officials have identified cooling towers potentially linked to a Legionnaires' disease cluster in the South Bronx.
Pennsylvania health officials report 43 new measles cases
Pennsylvania health officials said 835 measles cases have been confirmed across 39 counties this year, including 43 new cases since Monday.
Former South Jersey transit official enters plea deal in political revenge case
Bryan Bush pleaded guilty to obstruction in relation to a case where payment was denied to a contractor who had allegedly fallen out of favor with George E. Norcross III.
An elected official was accused of child abuse. He used a California law to avoid prosecution.
The Zack Scrivner case exposed gaps in California’s mental health diversion program and fueled a push to give judges more discretion and prosecutors greater accountability.
World of Warcraft Would Never Work on PS5 or Xbox
The official gamepad support in WoW: Forever is about as good as it could be, but it's still a square peg in a round hole
Toronto Blue Jays Officially Eliminated From Playoff Contention
The Blue Jays lost the first game of a double header on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Trump's focus on noncitizen voting has led to 160 arrests. That shows it's rare, experts say
The Trump administration's whole-of-government effort to find and prosecute noncitizens illegally on state voter rolls has resulted in about 1,600 voter fraud cases that have led to 160 arrests, Homeland Security Investigations senior official Matthew Millhollin said in a press briefing Tuesday.
Newcastle United defender Richardson signs first professional deal
Newcastle United defender Abbie Richardson has signed her first professional contract with the club.WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Magpies earlier ...
Idaho Sec. of State issues guidance for church political spending
Churches in Idaho now have official guidance on how they can spend money backing – or supporting – ballot initiatives this fall without disclosing their donors.
Jason Gardner Jr. set to make college announcement on Monday
Jason Gardner Jr., coming off official visit to Auburn over weekend, set to make college announcement on Monday at high school.
MECA to give update on $200M CHI Health Center expansion in Omaha
MECA officials are set to give an update on a $200 million expansion at the CHI Health Center arena in Omaha.