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Trump’s wealth grew on a scale without modern presidential precedent
President Trump's income has increased in office on a scale not seen by any past president — not even Trump.
Prominent GOP operative gets new client: an entire branch of state government
Periklis Karoutas has a diverse list of lobbying clients and has worked for a range of Republican political candidates. His latest job comes as New Hampshire's Judicial Branch has faced increased public scrutiny.
CMS proposes updates to home health payments for CY 2027, updates to provider enrollment and quality and value-based purchasing programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 1 issued its calendar year 2027 proposed rule for the home health prospective payment system. The rule proposes a 2.4% update, which includes a 3.1% market basket update, reduced by a 1.0 percentage point cut for productivity, as well as an 0.3 percentage point increase related to outlier payments. In addition, the agency proposes a temporary cut of 3.0% that it states is necessary to achieve budget-neutral implementation of the Patient-driven Groupings Model.
My favorite Kindle alternative is $30 off after a recent price increase
One of the best e-readers just got $30 cheaper.
Private sector added 98,000 jobs in June, below expectations, ADP says
The figure reported on Wednesday is below economists’ estimates of an increase of 118,000 jobs. The prior month's reading was unrevised at 122,000.
How the Museum of Ice Cream and Other Companies Woo Visitors From Art Institutions
As arts institutions struggle to increase attendance, entertainment centers marketed as museums are wooing those who once might have gone to view art.
Supreme Court strikes down political party spending limits
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that campaign finance limits on political parties violate the First Amendment, a decision expected to increase the flow of money into the midterm elections.
Public Health steps up to meet community needs
Public Health continues to increase its presence in the community.
Anthropic launches Claude Science in bid to expand revenue streams ahead of IPO
Anthropic is launching its Claude Science product as it seeks to increase revenue streams ahead of its anticipated initial public offering.
Press Release- Rowan County Sees Increase in Overdose Emergency Department Visits 2026
Rowan County Sees Increase in Overdose Emergency Department Visits; Ranks Second Highest in North Carolina for Fentanyl-Positive Death RateSalisbury, NC – Rowan County health officials are raisin
I run a flag business. Thanks to the World Cup, sales are up 130%
The World Cup has caused sales to rocket at a Michigan flag business. Its president Erik May says he was blindsided by the increased demand.
Steel boss mulls reopening of Dearborn Works blast furnace
Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company is closer to resuming idled production — if automotive demand increases.
Is this Central Jersey shopping center proving malls are not dead?
Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung sees a 40% increase in annual visitors as new restaurants, entertainment venues and retailers join the lineup.
WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations to 3 Billion Users
WhatsApp will let the messaging service’s 3 billion global users select a username for their account, a change meant to increase privacy by letting people connect on the platform without having to share their phone number.
T-Mobile retires legacy plans, prompting price hikes and customer backlash
Average plan increase is $4 per month
State funds access to fresh produce in high-poverty communities
State funding intends to increase access to fresh produce in Maryland's high-poverty communities.
Video Millions lose health insurance
Millions of Americans have lost Affordable Care Act health insurance this year as many faced double- or triple-digit increases in their premium payments.
T-Mobile Is Automatically Pushing Legacy Customers Onto Its Current Plans
Some long-time subscribers could see a price increase of around $4 a line.
Laredo Public Health issues summer food, pool safety reminders
Laredo Public Health is reminding residents of food and pool safety steps as warmer weather increases the risk of foodborne illness.
Efzimfotase alfa demonstrated improvements in bone health in treatment-naïve pediatric patients with hypophosphatasia achieving median difference of 1.67 vs placebo in RGI-C Score at week 25 in MULBERRY Phase III trial
Positive results from the MULBERRY Phase III trial showed that efzimfotase alfa (ALXN1850), an investigational enzyme replacement therapy, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in bone health in children (2 to
US Small and Midsize Businesses Poised for Growth, Waiting to Make Significant Moves: 2026 Columbia Bank Business Barometer
Rising expectations for increased productivity, profitability and growth opportunities tempered by near-term uncertainty and volatility
Assemblyman David Tangipa says California should spend more on veterans than undocumented immigrants
California Assemblyman David Tangipa shared his views on the state's budget negotiations, focusing on tax increases, spending priorities, and the implications of California's $350 billion budget.
Common pesticide linked to more than double the risk of Parkinson’s disease
Scientists at UCLA have linked long-term exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos with a sharply increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. People exposed to the chemical near their homes were more than twice as likely to develop the condition. Laboratory studies showed that chlorpyrifos damages dopamine neurons and interferes with the brain’s ability to remove toxic protein buildup.
Texas Mental Health Program Reveals 103% Increase in Veteran Enrollment
Emory University treatment is expanding throughout the state at no cost, but many veterans remain unaware of their services.
Maryland health insurance rates could rise 13.7% in 2027 under proposal
BALTIMORE — Maryland residents who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace could see higher premiums next year, with insurers requesting an average rate increase of 13.7% for
Starz Entertainment (STRZ) Stock Sees Fair Value Lift After Q1 Analyst Target Increases
Price targets for Starz Entertainment have shifted as the analyst fair value estimate moved from US$19.38 to US$28.50, putting a higher reference point in focus for investors tracking the stock. Recent Street research has turned more constructive after the Q1 report, with several firms lifting price targets and updating models to reflect how they now view execution risks and valuation support. In the sections that follow, you will see how to interpret these changing targets and what they...
Don't break the tech tools small businesses use to compete
Forcing companies to split up their integrated services would increase costs and headaches for businesses like mine, writes Andrea Ramker.
Key Colts Playmaker Set to Boost Value in Free Agency?
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs' value could increase greatly between now and next offseason.
California health insurance tax hike: Will your premiums increase?
A balance act: To help fund the safety net, lawmakers have voted through a health tax extension that could increase premium costs for Californians with private insurance.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max May See $200 Price Increase
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be up to $200 more expensive, according to a prediction from analytics firm IDC. IDC expected Apple to raise iPhone 18 prices, but prior to yesterday's Mac and iPad price hike, the prediction was a $100 increase for the 18 Pro and Pro Max, and a $50 increase for the base models. IDC Senior Director of Data & Analytics Nabila Popal says the magnitude of the Mac and iPad price increase points to even higher iPhone 18 prices.
Amid lingering disparities, Tulsa business leaders explore how to increase diversity
Tulsa business leaders discussed how workplace diversity and inclusion can strengthen economic growth during the Tulsa Regional Chamber's State of Inclusion event.
Democrats call on Mills administration to settle pay dispute
The MSEA is seeking a 2.5% wage increase in the first year, with a $1,250 signing bonus. For year two, the union wants a 3% increase.
Tanzania Bans Political Rallies, Bracing for Gen-Z Protests
Tanzania’s authorities banned political rallies and placed the country on high alert for youth-led protests against increased authoritarianism.
Bank of America community roundtable highlights sales tax increase, small business struggles
Business and government leaders also discussed hiring trends and the importance of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Ohio Black-owned businesses, payroll has increased, bringing bigger share of economy to group
According to analysis of national census data, black-owned businesses in Ohio continue to increase payroll, and drive jobs and income in the state.
‘It’s necessary, we need it’: Business owner welcomes increased Petersburg police presence after Father’s Day mass shooting
Petersburg police have announced a new public safety initiative to curb gun violence after several recent shootings, including a Father’s Day mass shooting in Old Towne that left five people injure…
It's Xbox's turn (again), as console prices keep going up
Microsoft announced a price hike for the Xbox Series consoles today, the third in little over a year. Effective August 1, the Xbox Series S, which launched in 2020 for $300, will cost $500 in the U.S. The Xbox Series X, which launched in 2020 at $500, will go for $800. This follows a round of PlayStation 5 price increases from Sony this spring, and a slow-motion increase for Nintendo’s Switch 2, which will kick in in the U.S. in September. (Mind you, there were also eight video game industry price hikes in six months of 2025). The chart up top shows the sudden ascent of console prices over the past year, a sudden surge in an already unusual hardware generation. Prices had been flat for years, now “up” is the new “flat.” Game console prices used to go down across the length of a console generation, but not this time around. Microsoft’s explanation for the new price hike today: We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make. This is an issue well beyond game consoles. Apple announced price hikes on its computers and tablets today as well. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Brutal Bungie cuts Bungie laid off “most” of its Destiny development team and some developers who worked on Marathon, the newest game from the struggling Sony-owned studio. A WARN notice issued by Sony to Washington State, where Bungie is based, tallied cuts impacting 292 workers, effective next month. That’s strictly for Bungie/Sony jobs in Washington and wouldn’t account for any elsewhere. The video I clipped below shows the redacted list of Bungie cuts filed to Washington State officials. As you’ll see, I had to scroll for a while… In a note emailed to PlayStation workers and published online, PlayStation game studios chief Hermen Hulst offered the following explanation for these latest cuts at Bungie: This is painful news, especially for talented colleagues whose roles have been eliminated. This decision was made only after extensive discussion and careful consideration, and I want to provide some context on how we arrived here. Over the past several months, together with Bungie leadership, we reviewed the studio’s long-term direction, development priorities, resource needs, and role within our broader portfolio strategy. We explored multiple alternatives before concluding that a reduction was necessary to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities and long-term goals. In 2022, Sony bought Bungie for $3.7 billion. The studio’s marquee game, the multiplayer live service shooter Destiny 2 was losing popularity at the time. Its next game Marathon, released earlier this year, has been well-reviewed but had a slow start. Bungie is renowned for making great shooter games, and Destiny fans have mourned the wind-down of Destiny 2. They’ve also expressed bewilderment over reports that Destiny 3 is not, per Bloomberg, immediately in the cards.
Neuroimaging utilization in emergency departments has increased year-over-year for a decade
Researchers believe their new data could be used to better inform staffing coverage in modern radiology departments.
M5 Ultra Mac Studio Could Launch in 2026 With Up to 768GB of RAM
Despite price increases across the Mac line, Apple is still planning to release a new Mac Studio as soon as this year, reports Bloomberg. Apple plans to introduce a new M5 Ultra chip as the final option in the M5 family before it transitions to the M6, M7, M7 Pro, and M7 Max. The M5 Ultra will come in a new version of the Mac Studio, which hasn't been updated since March 2025.
Making Our Own Luck
We are cross-posting a piece that former NIH official Kris Willis wrote for Macroscience. Kris is now the President and Founder of the Woodley Park Institute, for which I’m a board member. Picking winners or hedging bets? Federal science agencies have long wrestled with the question of how to ensure their billions of dollars of grants and contracts result in maximum benefits for Americans. On the surface, it might seem that a goal-oriented, interventionist style of management would be the best policy: prioritize our most pressing problems and distribute funding accordingly.This top-down strategy creates a unique hazard, though: bad choices can send resources in the wrong direction, resulting in slow progress that impedes the delivery of tangible benefits to citizens. Moreover, if decision makers pursue an applied advance when the underlying scientific principles remain poorly understood, they risk costly failures and a loss of support for the research enterprise at large. Examples include Nixon’s 1971 War on Cancer, undertaken on the premise that a cure could be achieved in less than a decade, the drive to build an operational commercial fusion plant by the mid-1990s, and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which failed to produce the effective treatments and prevention strategies promised by 2025. The contrasting laissez-faire approach is to hedge your bets. If the path to an advance is impossible to predict, then the wisest choice might be to distribute funding to as widely as possible. The main risk of this strategy is that spreading funding thinly may limit the resources available to the most promising research, resulting in the same negative outcomes as the interventionist approach: limited support for the most promising topics, slow progress, and delayed returns. In reality, at science agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, program managers navigate between these two extremes, setting some funds aside to target high-priority areas and using the rest to cover the widest possible range of meritorious proposals. This middle path seems like the most rational way to proceed, but it still requires making choices. How much should be set aside for high priority topics? What should those topics be? How should we define merit? Expert opinion can provide a helpful guide, but leading experts can have remarkably different opinions about what matters and what should be prioritized. Moreover, experts and administrators alike can be risk averse, giving an edge to high-profile, well-established concepts. What’s really needed is a data-driven framework to help guide decision-making, one that doesn’t simply repackage prestige or incumbency. Recognizing breakthroughs years in advance Many breakthroughs fail to attract funding or recognition at the earliest stages of development. Katalin Karikó, for example, spent years struggling to win grants for work on mRNA that would eventually win her and Drew Weissman a Nobel Prize. Similar stories can be told about Jim Allison’s groundbreaking studies leading to the development of cancer immunotherapy, Stan Pruisner’s demonstration that prions can self-replicate without DNA, or Robin Warren and Barry Marshall’s proof that Helicobacter pylori, not stress, causes ulcers. Yet at some point, the scientific community recognizes and responds to transformative breakthroughs like these. How does that change happen? And what if science funders could identify the areas that are on the cusp of a breakthrough? Those questions led my collaborators and me to study how scientists responded to past breakthroughs. Based on patterns in that data, we developed a means of predicting future breakthroughs, using biomedicine as a proof of concept. It’s worth taking a moment to describe how our approach works. Briefly, our prediction process begins by grouping the 18 million or so peer-reviewed papers in PubMed, the authoritative database of biomedical research, into roughly 50,000 unique topics. A small subset of these topics are so widely acclaimed as breakthroughs that they have been recognized with a major prize like a Nobel or a Lasker Award. We theorized that studying the development of these outliers over time, especially before they gained acclaim, was the key to identifying future instances of them. After defining topics, we chose 21 representative breakthroughs and asked what they looked like before they won prestigious prizes. To answer that question, we re-ran our topic-mapping algorithm repeatedly, winding back the clock one year each time, stringing together the years to follow the progress of each field as it grew and advanced. We found that in each case, the years leading up to a discovery followed a pattern: a burst of papers on a new, rapidly evolving topic, many of which quickly became influential. These characteristics—the percent of papers that are new, the percentage of papers that are brought in from other topics, and the influence of each individual paper—can all be measured separately for any given topic. Together, they act as a predictive signal that is detectable an average of five years before a transformative discovery is made, and up to thirty years before the discovery receives a major prize. Scanning the current research landscape for topics that display this signal allows us to predict what work will likely produce a future breakthrough. Each year we analyzed includes four or five signals, a number that appears to have remained constant across a twenty year time frame. In their classic work on the sociology of science, Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar established that the desire to participate in a major discovery is an important motivator for scientists as they consider whether they should take up (or abandon) a research problem. Although further work is needed, the simplest explanation for our results is that this behavior is widespread enough to detect at scale. A foundational advance, or something like it, draws the attention of scientists and causes them to change the direction of their research. They vote with their feet, staking their own reputation and careers by publishing on and citing the new idea. That upswell of interest is the foundation of our breakthrough signal. What kind of research does our model identify as a breakthrough? After building a model based on the patterns in our 21 preselected breakthroughs, we tested it by identifying all early signals of discovery from 1994 through 1997. Of the 18 signals we found in that time period, 17 can be traced forward in time to a breakthrough. Examples include super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (see the image above), the directed evolution of proteins and enzymes (Chemistry Nobel, 2018), and sequencing the human genome (National Medal of Science, 2008). The discovery of the role of leptin signaling in obesity is a particularly interesting case study. Around 1950, scientists noticed the existence of a type of lab mouse that suffered from a unique inherited form of obesity. When given the freedom to choose their own diet, these mice ate more than normal and preferred food that was high in fat. Researchers had few clues as to why the animals overate; early experiments pointed to the existence of a soluble ob factor found circulating in the bloodstream that regulated appetite, but its identity was unknown. In 1994, Jeffrey Friedman and colleagues identified and sequenced the ob gene, noting that the protein it encoded appeared to fit the profile of a circulating factor. A year later, a trio of high-profile publications demonstrated that ob was a hormone that regulated body weight and fat deposition by regulating appetite. One of these was co-authored by Friedman, who christened it leptin from the ancient Greek word for thin. Using our model, the data from 1996 make it clear this advance would become a breakthrough. Scientists had flocked to study the biology of the new hormone, generating the flurry of new papers and citations required to produce a signal. One of these demonstrated that serum leptin concentrations reflected the amount of adipose tissue in the human body, providing clinical validation of the earlier mouse studies. Before the identification of leptin, scientists were unable to point to a specific molecule that controlled appetite and adiposity, so that it was impossible to rule out non-physiological causes of obesity; its characterization fundamentally changed our concept of weight gain. In 2010, Friedman and fellow pioneer Douglas Coleman were awarded a Lasker for the discovery. Our work also identifies breakthroughs in clinical practice and behavioral and social sciences, even though these areas are less likely to draw the attention of major prize committees. One example that falls into this category is the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, a leading cause of death among Americans over the age of 65. Relative to the previous standard of care, it reduces in-hospital mortality by almost four-fold. In 2017, Timothy Chuter received the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Jacobsen Innovation award for his multiple refinements to the technique. Another under-recognized breakthrough identified by our model is the development of standardized survey instruments to assess the quality of life for HIV+ patients. The antiretroviral cocktails introduced in the mid-1990s reduced AIDS mortality, but treatment came with serious side effects. The new evaluations showed that patients whose disease progressed had worse physical functioning than Americans with other chronic diseases, while those who were asymptomatic maintained a health-related quality of life on par with the overall US population. This evidence made it possible for patients and activists to argue that even in the absence of a total cure, and in spite of the side effects, alleviation of symptoms was a worthwhile priority for clinicians. My colleagues and I have failed to identify any significant recognition for the physicians and health policy experts who pioneered this advance, although in 2016, researchers called for the World Health Organization to set targets for good health-related quality of life as part of its framework to end the AIDS pandemic. From forecasting to funding How should science funders use our predictions? Any serious discussion of what we should do with this new capability needs to begin with an understanding of its limitations. We can’t (and shouldn’t) invest all of our resources in the small number of topics predicted to produce breakthroughs. Innovative new fields are born from existing ones; they rarely arise de novo. If funders don’t maintain a diverse portfolio, the breakthroughs of tomorrow will have no antecedents. Think of this as eating the seed corn, or killing the goose that lays the golden egg. There are also multiple goals of funding beyond basic scientific discovery, including translating discoveries into clinical practice, developing new technologies, supporting economic development, and training new scientists. The investments needed to accomplish these goals are likely different from those required to support emerging breakthroughs. Finally, we must be aware that we may not capture every instance of a breakthrough. The concept is fuzzy, and not every significant discovery is recognized with a major award. Further, breakthroughs are rare, meaning that our dataset is, by necessity, small. This makes formal estimates of accuracy challenging. Although our overall success rate appears to be high, any one signal may turn out to be a false positive. We found one apparent example: the development of the third generation COX-2 inhibitors, Vioxx and Celebrex, which were much celebrated in the early 2000s as effective but non-addictive pain relievers, meets all the algorithmic criteria of a breakthrough. Five years after it received FDA approval, researchers demonstrated that Vioxx was associated with serious cardiovascular complications, and the manufacturer voluntarily pulled the drug from the market. Celebrex remains available, although like other NSAIDs, it carries an FDA warning for increased cardiovascular risk. Decision makers who were overly focused on the breakthrough potential of this research might have wasted substantial resources nurturing an area that ultimately proved to be a failure—but so would those who relied on expert opinion at the time. That said, the potential benefits of funding the next mRNA vaccine or cancer immunotherapy years earlier than we might have are large. When we can’t assume the outcome of an action, it’s worth conducting an experiment. Can targeted support for areas that are poised to produce a breakthrough increase the return on scientific investment without cannibalizing future advances? With the necessary administrative infrastructure in place, conducting this experiment would be straightforward. First, identify all the breakthrough signals between 2018 and 2023, select half at random, and commit to a decade of investment. For biomedicine, a six year window should yield about 30 topics with the potential to produce a breakthrough. Providing strong support to half of these might be accomplished for $300 million a year. That’s roughly half of the recent annual budget of the NIH Common Fund or around 20% of the fiscal year 2025 budget for ARPA-H. After five years, then again at ten, compare to see which group — the one that was actively managed, or the control — produced more breakthroughs, and on what timescale. Although we used biomedicine as an example, the same experiment could just as well be run for physics, materials science, or any other discipline. Any attempt to undertake such an experiment should keep three points top of mind. First, we can predict the topic of future breakthroughs, but the people and vision for how to move the work forward are still important. In practice, this means success requires active program managers with the expertise to develop the science and the authority to do so, including by recruiting investigators. Second, we would be wise to learn from the failures of past attempts to fund transformative research. High among these are funding modestly repackaged work, confusing the genuinely novel with the merely unfamiliar, and relying too much on incumbent investigators. All of these risks can be mitigated by thoroughly and intelligently integrating high quality data into portfolio management. Finally, we need to have patience. Even with strong funding support, producing a breakthrough takes time. If supporting breakthroughs is the best way to nurture the birth of new fields, we also need to accurately describe and properly manage the other two stages, so that we invest wisely throughout the productive lifetime of ideas and divest once they reach the point of diminishing returns. We would benefit from more study of all of these phases, especially the transition from one to another. More research could answer questions like: When does a breakthrough become an established field? How do the availability of funding, the size and characteristics of the available workforce, and the accumulation of evidence that disagrees with prevailing models affect a field’s decline? Exactly how do old ideas give birth to new ones, and can we speed up the process? The more we understand about the dynamics of scientific progress, the better we can maximize the odds that our curiosity leads to results. I’d call that finding a way to make our own luck.
Dunleavy vetoes some health and education increases approved by Alaska lawmakers
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy canceled funding increases for a variety of state health and education programs on Wednesday, vetoing a combined $57.8 million in general-purpose money from state budget bills passed by the Legislature.
Participating in heavy-contact youth sports, dropping out of sports linked to acts of violence
Contrary to popular belief, simply playing organized youth sports does not reduce the likelihood of committing violence in one’s lifetime, and in some cases, may increase it, according to a new study.The study, published online recently in the Sociology of Sport Journal, found that while most survey respondents — including those who played y...
Microsoft is raising Xbox prices yet again — this time by up to $150
Microsoft said memory and storage prices have increased by "more than 2.5x" and it expects "another doubling by the fall of 2027."
Following Apple, Microsoft Dramatically Hikes Xbox Prices, Again
Just hours after Apple increased its hardware prices across the board, Microsoft is doing the same with its Xbox consoles. For the third time.
Apple raises Mac and iPad prices by as much as 25%
Apple CEO Tim Cook had earlier warned of price increases due to the memory chip shortage.
U.S. health spending rose sharply in 2025, thanks to GLP-1 use and more care
People are getting more care and using lots of GLP-1 drugs, fueling a sharp increase in health care spending.
San José Postpones Plan to Double Downtown Parking Rates After Business Owner Uproar
Advocates for downtown businesses said the increase would hit the service industry hardest.
House gives final approval to landmark housing bill aimed at lowering costs
The legislation represents one of the most sweeping efforts in decades to increase the supply of housing and bring down prices.
Philadelphia bars see spike in business during 2026 Men's World Cup: "We've definitely seen a huge increase"
The 2026 Men's World Cup may be centered around the stadiums, but some Philadelphia business owners say the tournament's impact is being felt well beyond the sports complex.
Cuyahoga County moves to increase funding for pro sports venues
Cuyahoga County moves to increase funding for pro sports venues
Roku May Help Fox Avoid Aggregeddon
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Scrolling through links over the last week, I stumbled across this fun headline: Wow. Formula 1 (the sport, not the docu-series) is the perfect “dog not barking”. As a reminder, each week in my Streaming Ratings Report, I call out the shows that miss every viewership chart. I dub them “dogs not barking”—like the Sherlock Holmes mystery—because without any data, we forget they even exist. This is in contrast to something like, say, a film flop—cough The Mandalorian and Grogu cough—where even underperforming at the box office is widely discussed here, there and everywhere. In the US, Formula 1 is now in “no public viewership data, so not discussed” territory. After moving to Apple TV from its former home of ESPN, basically no one talks about it. Apple did publish an initial, unsourced, unsubstantiated, (dare I say unserious) datecdote claiming more folks are watching Formula 1 on Apple than ESPN, but we haven’t gotten any updates since. This stands in contrast to when the sport streamed on ESPN, and ESPN PR provided weekly viewership figures. Formula 1 was, at best, a niche sport in America—averaging 1.3 million viewers in the Big Data Plus era—but now it’s basically anonymous. (And yeah, after moving to Apple, I very, very, very much doubt its ratings increased.) Unfortunately, that story isn’t quite big enough to warrant a section in today’s “Most Important Story of the Week” column, but I wanted to call it out, because otherwise, no one else will! Certainly, no one will write articles about the silence/ratings decline, unlike when they wrote breathless articles connecting the rise in viewership to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, including Reuters just last month. (This is a topic I’ve tried to provide a moderate/nuanced/non-hyped take since 2022.) Anyway, on to this week’s issue. I was a bit worried I didn’t have a juicy topic, then the Murdochs went out and did their Murdoch thing: buying Roku. So that’s the story of the week, and it happens to touch on quite a few themes of the streaming wars and the disruption therein. I’ll cover that, plus why more consolidation in Hollywood media looks likely, more good news on the Hollywood labor front, whether we’ll see an uptick in production in Los Angeles, some Broadway and theme park news, cellphone prices going up in the third world (and possibly everywhere), and more. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Another Big Media & Entertainment Merger The story of the week is clearly Fox is buying Roku for $22 billion. I read a lot of good strategy takes on why Fox bought this streaming TV device maker—and I’ll have mine below—but what fascinates me more is how this deal connects to quite a few themes of the streaming wars, linking to everything from the pace of M&A to “aggregeddon” to Netflix’s recent M&A actions/inactions to the shift to advertising from pure play streaming and more. The only topic I can’t really connect it to is my old theory, “never bet against Rupert Murdoch” because he isn’t the one who did this deal; his son Lachlan inked it. (Do I think he provided advice, even at his 95 years of age? Sure.) That plus I have one additional piece of strategy for all entertainment players, inspired by this deal. So let’s dive into all those topics, starting with why I like this deal. Roku is a Great M&A Buy
Women’s Sports Top 10
#1 71% increase in women’s sports minutes viewed from 2022 to 2025 with over 46 billion minutes of women’s...
Mediterranean-inspired diet with added methionine extends healthy lifespan in mice
A plant- and fish-based, low-protein diet paired with small amounts of an amino acid commonly found in eggs, meat and dairy increased healthy lifespan and decreased frailty and fat mass in mice, according ...
While Mainers still reeling from health insurance hikes, insurers propose more
Kennebunkport resident Kristin Fuhrmann-Simmons saw her family’s health insurance costs increase ten-fold after Congress last year failed to extend pandemic-era tax credits for plans purchased on the marketplace. Next year, she’s facing another potential 20% increase, this time due to a proposed hike by her insurance provider. “I didn’t know that the cost of care […]
Minnesota health insurers proposing double-digit rate hikes for 2027
Health insurers are proposing double-digit rate increases next year for individual plans sold on MNsure, the state’s health insurance marketplace for those who don’t get health insurance
Amino acid-supplemented ‘longevity diet’ linked to longer healthy lifespan
USC study finds low-protein diet paired with small amounts of amino acid methionine increased healthy lifespan, decreased frailty in mice.
E-bike injuries rising among kids as Corewell Health doctors warn parents about speed, safety risks
E-bikes have exploded in popularity among adults, teens, and even some tweens. But as more people are riding them, injuries have increased, too.
Maine state workers ready to settle contract dispute
In a statement, the Mills administration said four other state employee unions have already agreed to a 2% increase in January of this year, followed by another 2% raise next month.
Some businesses along KC’s streetcar are making bank on the World Cup. Others not
Businesses owners and manager reported an increase in out-of-town visitors coupled with a drop in local customers.
Businesses In Europe, Asia See Costs Cooling On Peace Hopes
Eurozone businesses reported that their input costs rose at the slowest pace since the outbreak of the conflict, and they in turn increased their prices at a slower pace.
Radiology group launches high school program to increase IR career awareness
It will include both in-person observational rotations and virtual learning sessions, giving students an opportunity to experience the full patient care cycle, from consultation to follow-up.
iPhone 18 Pro camera upgrade 'confirmed' by another rumor
It will result in some increased thickness. According to one of the most prolific and well-known tipsters on Weibo, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro will get the...
Portal messages in Epic have more than doubled since 2020
NYU Langone found that electronic health record portal messages over 5 years ending in 2025 increased by 153%. Researchers say the largely uncompensated 'pajama time' messaging can still add up.
Minnesota health insurers seek double-digit rate increases for 2027
Proposed double-digit rates increases on the state’s MNsure exchange are a bellwether for broader cost trends.
Price of San Diego: Rising cost of youth sports leaving some kids on the sideline
A recent study by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play shows that family spending on youth sports has increased by 46% since 2019. Making it out of reach for many low-income families.
‘Every time you turn around, there’s a new price increase’: US small-business optimism plummets
At the same time, 29% of small-business owners also report having open positions they can’t fill
California is getting ready to increase a health insurance tax. Will it affect your premium?
Legislators approved a redesigned health tax that shifts more cost onto privately insured Californians to help preserve billions in federal Medi-Cal funding.
Sushi chain Choushimaru to expand U.S. business
The firm plans to increase Sushi Nigiriba brand outlets in the U.S. under its joint venture with Japanese restaurant chain operator Royal Holdings and Japanese trader Sojitz.
Social Anxiety Disorder Surging in Canada
Social anxiety disorder is now one of the most common mental health challenges in Canada, with a 71% increase in prevalence since 2002.
California is getting ready to increase a health insurance tax — will it affect your premium?
Legislators this week approved a health tax bill meant to continue critical federal funding for the state’s Medicaid program.
California is getting ready to increase a health insurance tax. Will it affect your premium?
A family of four could pay $400 more a year in premiums — but the tax still needs federal approval from the Trump administration to take effect.
Dartmouth Health reports $63.5 million deficit for first six months of fiscal year
Dartmouth Health faces a $62.5 million deficit due to weather-related closures and high costs, but sees increased patient volumes and revenues.
California braces for one of the biggest tax hikes in the last decade
California lawmakers and the governor this year are preparing to implement major tax hikes in a matter of weeks, representing one of the largest tax increases in the state within the last decade.
California Politics 360 full episode | Lawmakers approve two major tax increases
This is a piece of the overall state spending plan, which the governor and legislature are expected to finalize by the end of the month.
Creators take over Cannes Lions, advertising's biggest bash
Creators are descending on Cannes Lions, the ad industry's tentpole event, reflecting their increased importance in the marketing mix.
UK minister says PM Starmer is considering 'political realities' amid leadership pressure
The threat to Starmer's position increased sharply on Friday when former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham won a seat in parliament.
New research casts doubt on cannabis benefits, cites mental health risks
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel discusses new research on modern marijuana’s high THC potency and increased mental health risks on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.’
Stanislaus County OKs new mental health plan, prepares for state monitoring
County officials hope the plan increases access to care and serves to reduce homelessness, relieve burden on the criminal justice system and reduce untreated mental illness.
Colom prioritizing lower costs, good jobs, affordable health care in state
In 2025, about 27 million people in the United States were medically uninsured, a number that is expected to increase by 10 million in the next decade due to tightened Medicaid eligibility, changes to enrollment processes and a loss of enhanced Affordable Care Act plan subsidies.
Hidden geological process offsets carbon emissions from thawing permafrost
Scientists found that thawing permafrost can trigger increased rock weathering, a natural process that absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. In some regions, this carbon uptake was strong enough to fully offset — or even surpass — river greenhouse gas emissions.
First US patient enrolled in device study to reduce coronary microvascular dysfunction
The self-expanding A-Flux device is implanted in the coronary sinus to increase pressure on the venous side of the heart and improve perfusion in smaller vessels.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) Extends Credit Facility Maturity and Increases Total Commitment
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (NASDAQ:MLCO) is one of the top value stocks to buy under $10. On June 9, Melco Resorts & Entertainment extended the maturity date of its existing revolving credit facilities from April 2027 to June 2031. Additionally, the company has established an incremental facility of approximately $821.6million, bringing the total commitment […]
Calmatters: California Is Getting Ready To Increase A Health Insurance Tax. Will It Affect Your Premium?
CalMatters
Edenville General Store looks to expand entertainment offerings
Edenville General Store is looking to increase live music and other entertainment offerings with the addition of a new mobile outdoor stage. The approximately 2...
Two health departments will offer preventative Lyme disease treatment due to ‘extreme tick season’
Amidst an increase in tick bites, two West Virginia health departments are offering medication that can prevent the onset of the disease.
Scientists are uncovering how common viruses may quietly increase cancer risk
Everyday viral infections may be quietly reshaping the body’s network of molecules that support cells and tissues in ways that can raise cancer risk over time
Tech Investor Prosus’ Revenue Rises on Growth Across Businesses, Tencent
Core headline earnings are expected to increase between 19% to 28% reflecting strong revenue growth and profitability across its businesses, most notably Tencent.
Tech Investor Prosus’ Revenue Rises on Growth Across Businesses, Tencent
Core headline earnings are expected to increase between 19% to 28% reflecting strong revenue growth and profitability across its businesses, most notably Tencent.
Democratic Socialists Surge in Mayoral Races Across the Country as Anti-Trump Fervor Rises
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Janeese Lewis George paves a path to the mayor's office in Washington, D.C., she's told voters they could have it all. Her unapologetically expansive, left-wing agenda includes subsidized or even free childcare, increased down payment assistance for homebuyers and community ...
Electric bike and scooter injuries surge in Iowa, UnityPoint Health reports
UnityPoint Health reports a sharp increase in emergency room visits related to electric bikes, scooters, and other small personal vehicles over the past six years.
Ravens' linebacker Trenton Simpson is poised for a breakout season
With Teddye Buchanan continuing his recovery, Trenton Simpson has taken advantage of increased opportunities this spring.
Diapers for Dignity: Program helps seniors access free incontinence supplies
The Area Agency on Aging Pasco-Pinellas is seeing an increase in the number of senior citizens who can’t afford incontinence supplies.
Pittsburgh sports bars seeing increase in business for World Cup games
At CMS, Oz Eyes Faster Tech Approvals and a 'Power to Convene'
Top Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials said Thursday they plan to increase patients’ access to new technology, including AI, but that they’re still exploring how best to regulate it and ensure patient safety. Addressing the U.S. News Healthcare of Tomorrow conference in Washington,
California is getting ready to increase a health insurance tax. Will it affect your premium?
Private plans say they'll pass the cost to consumers — meaning families could pay $400 more a year to help keep Medi-Cal afloat.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Here’s What the Remake Looks (and Plays) Like Compared to the Original
After playing through a few missions of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced recently, I now have a better understanding of what to expect from this ambitious remake, which included narrative additions, new options for carrying out my assassinations, and other bits and baubles along the way that have increased my interest in replaying through Kenway’s epic tale of pillaging and unloading flintlocks into the chests of unsuspecting lawmen.
Intel's stock levels mean investors believe its foundry business will succeed: Bernstein's Rasgon
Stacy Rasgon, Bernstein, and Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities, join 'Power Lunch' to discuss Intel's prospects of building chips in the U.S., Apple price increases and much more.
San Diego begins installing parking meters in San Ysidro business district
The City of San Diego is beginning to install 286 metered parking spaces this week in downtown San Ysidro in an effort to increase parking turnover, it was announced Thursday.
GOP Rep. Steil pushes bill curbing members of Congress from prediction market betting
The new proposal on limits on members of Congress making such bets come as scrutiny increases on prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket.
Why Regulation Rarely Destroys Durable Companies — It Exposes the Fragile Ones
Regulation doesn’t destroy strong companies — it exposes weak ones. Here's how businesses built on trust, compliance, and operational discipline are better positioned to survive as industries mature and scrutiny increases.