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Patriots secondary faces big questions before camp
The Patriots' secondary was a key part of their playoff run but faces new challenges as training camp approaches.
Ancient Egyptian princesses knew their way around weapons of war
Analysis of six mummies from ancient Egypt challenges the idea that the bows and daggers buried with some royal women were merely ceremonial.
Strategists weigh the issues shaping N.Y. governor's race
Both Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman are trying to persuade voters they have the better answer to what appears to be the big issue of 2026: New York’s high cost of living.
Transgender girls who challenged Trump sports order drop lawsuit after Supreme Court ruling
Two transgender girls who were the first to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive order have withdrawn their lawsuit in New Hampshire.
‘It’s not really about sports’: One parent on ending lawsuit against NH’s trans student athlete ban
Sara Tirrell, the mother of one of the teenagers who dropped her legal challenge against the state, spoke with NHPR about the decision and what the last two years have been like for her family.
The U.S. youth sports problem that connects soccer and baseball
The father of an MLB All-Star and VP of MLS development shares similar yet solvable challenges in diversifying the United States talent pool.
LSU students build AI solutions to help Baton Rouge businesses work smarter
LSU students showcased practical artificial intelligence solutions for four Baton Rouge organizations during the Spring 2026 LSU AI Showcase, the culminating event for a selective capstone course that partners technically advanced students with industry sponsors to solve real-world business challenges. Throughout the semester, student teams worked closely with representatives from MMR Group, Baton Rouge Community […]
Science-based testing powers better health at Plus10 - Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound
Flower Mound resident Yves Lafortune has competed in his fair share of Ironman events, 100-mile runs, and national-level triathlons over the years. And if you ask him if he plans to do more, he wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. Clearly, the challenge isn’t finding the passion or commitment to keep going. As a lifelong athlete, […]
The States Try to Topple WarnerMount…Thus Begins the Local Antitrust Era
(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.) Well, it looks like it’s time for another strategy column. Can I finally avoid writing about M&A? No, it seems I cannot. Admittedly, I’m a week early with this column, since I usually put it out every other week. But this news couldn’t wait. This will make three “Most Important Stories” in a row with a merger or acquisition as its centerpiece. First, Roku-Fox (an acquisition), then Comcast-NBCUniversal (a divestment!), and now the State AGs and the WGA’s lawsuits against Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (antitrust). M&A is usually the “most important” topic any given week, simply because a giant company merging or breaking up (or preventing those outcomes) can have the biggest impact on the streaming board. If you think about these companies as players in a game, changing the number of players is one of the biggest changes you can make. I shouldn’t really complain, either, since this lawsuit is very good news for customers and suppliers (econ speak for talent, workers and indie studios in Hollywood). So let me answer some questions about this potential trial, along with (shudder) making some heavily caveated predictions. I’ll also look at whether Hollywood must consolidate, whether or not the states can win, trouble at X-Box, Netflix’s YouTube binge, and more. Plus, I have five images that visualize this merger and the harm, including three brand new data looks you’ve never seen before. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Can The States and the WGA Stop Hollywood’s Consolidation (Crisis)? If every other newsletter and news outlet is writing about the same story, I try to avoid writing about it as well, but I can’t ignore a story this consequential. The story of the last year was the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this development potentially extends that saga into 2027. As I tried to figure out my angle, I realized, like my last column, I’m again faced with a series of questions. These questions, though, are much more forward-looking. Will the states win? Will the WGA win? If so, what happens to Warner Bros. Discovery? Either way, will this chill the market for future mergers? So you know what that means: predictions. About the future, no less, the hardest thing to predict.1 Just remember: nothing here comes with a guarantee. And the more confident someone is in their predictions, the less you should trust them. This situation is incredibly fluid, nuanced, uncertain and tenuous. So let’s try to explain what may happen. Question: Why File this Lawsuit? I’ll admit, a few months back, I was fairly pessimistic about the fate of this lawsuit. Rumors had started bubbling up that the state Attorneys General (in particular California) wanted to settle with either some minor divestments (usually CNN) or behavioral remedies. And that tracked for me: the states usually settle lawsuits, like the recent John Deere right-to-repair suit. Yet, they plan to fight this. (As they did the LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopolization trial and the Nexstar-Tegna merger.) Honestly, that also makes a ton of sense. Frankly, this move is just good politics for these State AGs. Most are still running for higher and higher office in blue states—some folks have emphasized that only Democratic AGs joined this suit, but given the Ellison/Trump ties, and fears of retribution, that tracks—and a high profile case like this will help them move up the electoral ladder, especially since Paramount and its leadership (the Ellisons, father and heir) have sided with the other side of the political aisle. That makes them unsympathetic to Democratic voters and Hollywood workers in particular. Why did this lawsuit happen? In addition to the very real concerns about industry consolidation, this is why. That said, I don’t think we would have seen this lawsuit for Netflix and Warner Bros., simply because they’re more sympathetic and aligned with Democrats. But those consolidation concerns are real. The “town”—meaning Hollywood and such—really is seeing the damage of mergers on this industry. That’s why the WGA also filed its own lawsuit in defense of workers as well. (Wildcard: What about Europe? Will they try to stop the deal, too? There have been some rumors out of the UK they may try to fight the deal, and UK enforcers just stopped a Getty Images-Shutterstock tie up, so there is precedence. This argument could go either way, though. On one hand, the EU doesn’t need to step in, cause they states are handling it. On the other hand, this could make the EU’s case easier. Just imagine if both sides coordinated. I’ll simply say, “We’ll see!”) Question: Will The State AGs or the WGA Win? Can the state AGs play David to Paramount-Skydance’s Goliath here? That’s really the whole thing, isn’t it? If you know this result, you could make a lot of money. When things are uncertain, it’s tempting to shrug and say, “Eh” meaning it’s a 50/50 proposition. I wouldn’t, though. When in doubt, you should expect that the merging parties succeed. AT&T did successfully buy Warner Bros., after all, and Disney bought Fox without any challenges. Many judges are extremely sympathetic to mergers, and I’d bet the state AGs get a judge who will allow the merger. (Even Obama-appointed judges often allow mergers.) As I understand it, we’ll see two main attacks. First, theatrical films. The AGs are arguing that, when it comes to share of box office and the number of both “wide releases” and blockbuster (or “tentpole”) films, the merging parties will have over 27% market share. Now, the Supreme Court once ruled from on high that any merger that exceeds 30% is presumptively illegal, but that’s guidance, not an ironclad bar. Still, the states will have to argue that this is close to having too much power, and with that power, this will likely further worsen the theater/studio splits in particular. Indeed, as Matthew Stoller pointed out, “just five studios are responsible for 95% of all blockbusters; if this merger goes through, then Paramount and Disney will control 60% of that.” So yes, movie studios will be very concentrated after this merger. Want me to visualize some of that? Well, here’s the share of films that grossed over $200 million at the domestic box office since 2022. (Note: this isn’t all films released in over 3,000 screens, but it is a good look at market power.) First, here are the 43 films by studio: Notice all the blue (Disney), orange (Universal), and purple (Warner Bros)? Yeah, those studios are powerful, and this combines Paramount with one of them. Here’s the look by studio and share of the films that grossed over $200 million: Now, if you look at that and also think, “Huh, should we break up Disney?” I’m with you. I’ve seen some folks poo-poo this idea that this is a real category, but it is! For an upcoming article, I’ve been pulling data on the share of top 100 films at the box office as a share of total box office, and it’s massive. Here’s the chart: (This analysis looks at The-Number’s top 100 films and total domestic box office each year.) To be clear, tentpoles make up 80.7% of the box office each year, so I do think it’s a genuine market. (To be clear, films grossing over $50 million make up 80% of the domestic box office, and films grossing over $100 million make up 64.1%.) I mean, the top 100 films at the box office make up 95% of each year’s grosses. Worse, the combined studios will likely cut output to flex that market power. Everyone can just look at what happened to Disney and Fox to see the precedent. (With fewer films, the remaining theaters have to give more for those few films that remain.) Here’s an image I’ve used a lot, the share of wide-release films from Disney and Fox over time: The AGs will also argue that this consolidation will also impact the cable industry. In this case, the consolidation is actually worse, but that environment is…complicated. Paramount will argue that the cable industry is shrinking. That said, predictions that cable will “go to zero” also don’t look very well supported by the data, as the declines are shrinking, meaning “cable” or “vMVPDs” will likely stabilize at some point. Can the state Attorneys General win on those two main arguments? I honestly don’t know. Again, I’d bet no, since history in general supports that, but it depends on the judge/jury and how they interpret the arguments. Notably, Paramount won’t face accusations about monopoly power in other areas, like streaming, news, sports rights, or vertical integration. I tend to disagree with leaving out sports rights, but I also see the appeal for a simpler case. The states also aren’t really pushing novel theories about labor harm either, which should help. (By the way, Sean McNulty at The Ankler wrote a great run through of potential options, and Capitol Forum also wrote a great paper on theatrical consolidation. Both these pieces predated the lawsuit. Matthew Stoller is also out with his analysis of the pros and cons of the case too.) In some ways, the WGA’s case is even stronger. Quoting Sean McNulty’s summary: “The WGA is citing WARNAMOUNT as crossing a 30% market share in multiple sectors, a number that the Supreme Court has precedent for deeming “presumptively anticompetitive” in a market. According to the WGA numbers, WARNAMOUNT would have represented: - 35% of film writing jobs between 2021 and 2024 - 36% of TV writing projects between 2022 and 2025 - 38% of overall deals between 2021 and 2024” Notably, antitrust enforcers did win recently in the Penguin-Simon & Schuster merger by focusing on labor impact, so don’t count this thinking out. (Wildcard: Will the states try to get a jury trial? Most likely no, they’ll let a judge handle it. If I’m them, though, I’d try to put this in front of a jury. Juries tend to understand monopoly power in a more realistic way than judges faced with legions of economists.) Question: What if They Win? What if They Lose?
Growing debt creates growing risks for American workers
The national debt is growing rapidly, and this trend could create serious challenges for future economic growth, job opportunities and wages, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation reports. As debt increases, the cost of paying interest on that debt takes up more government resources and can limit investments in areas that support economic growth. Rising debt […]
Apple Boosts AppleCare+ Monthly Prices by 50 Cents in Latest Increase
Apple Inc. slightly raised the cost of individual AppleCare+ service subscriptions, marking its latest price increase in the face of a global memory shortage and other challenges.
Employer, Business Groups Back Northrop Grumman in 4th Circuit 401(k) Forfeiture Appeal
The use of forfeitures to offset contributions continues to draw industry support.
Biden will publish 'Promise Me, America' memoir in November
Biden describes the book as a reflection on national challenges and his faith in America
Meet the Rest of This Year's Health Hero Challenge Semifinalists
Learn more about who they are, what they do, and what they stand for.
Shared values, democracy and politics in a fragmenting world
Analysis L21 | As polarization deepens, Latin America and Europe face growing challenges to democracy, trust and collective leadership.
Informed Decision-Making with Healthcare Analytics
In healthcare, the byproducts of past challenges — data assets and innovation—are helping us envision a future where clinicians are well equipped to predict health outcomes and make informed decisions.
Business Value of AI Is Spiking, Driven by Increased Adoption and Agentic Expectations, SAP Finds
A new SAP and Oxford Economics study shows businesses are increasingly driving value from AI, even as challenges continue to accrue.
Daniel Cormier Explains Why Brock Lesnar Fight Didn’t Happen
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier explained why a fight against Brock Lesnar inside the Octagon never happened.Cormier and Lesnar came close to fighting back in 2019. After Cormier knocked out Stipe Miocic to win the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 226 in July 2018, Lesnar entered the Octagon and challenged Cormier for the heavyweight […] The post Daniel Cormier Explains Why Brock Lesnar Fight Didn’t Happen appeared first on HEAVY.
Ex-General Who Lost Son in Gaza War Emerges as Netanyahu’s Main Rival
Gadi Eisenkot, a former head of Israel’s armed forces, has emerged as the main challenger to Benjamin Netanyahu in upcoming elections that could end the premiership of the country’s longest-serving leader.
NASA selects 41 space technologies for future Moon and Mars exploration
NASA has chosen 41 commercial technology projects that could solve critical challenges for future missions to the Moon and Mars. From powering lunar outposts to protecting spacecraft from Moon dust, the innovations are designed to push both space exploration and the commercial space economy forward.
An ICE Shooting in Maine Puts Pressure on Senator Susan Collins
The Democrats hoping to challenge Ms. Collins, a vulnerable Republican, have seized on the fatal incident, drawing attention to her record on immigration matters.
Horvath Convenes Entertainment Union Coalition to Advance Solutions for Hollywood
Supervisor Horvath met with leaders of the Entertainment Union Coalition to discuss the urgent challenges facing Los Angeles' film and television industry and identify strategies to keep production, jobs, and investment in the region.
Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Faces Fresh Regulatory Focus, Is It Still 31% Below Fair Value?
Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:FLUT) is back in focus after two separate regulatory storylines put sports betting on investors’ radar, including a potential UK legal challenge to new affordability checks and fresh interest from investor Michael Burry. See our latest analysis for Flutter Entertainment. After a difficult stretch in which the year to date share price return is down 48.5% and the 1 year total shareholder return declined 61.91%, Flutter Entertainment has recently shown improving...
'State of States' analysis shows Florida outperforms in small business development
Insurance costs pose a challenge, but that's largely mitigated by low taxes.
9th Circuit rules for California small-business owner in challenge to federal anti-money laundering rule
A Southcrest business owner challenged a rule FinCEN said was aimed at combatting money laundering
Politics & Power: Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical calls on Catholics to put human dignity first in age of AI
Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, challenges Catholics — and the world — to think carefully about how artificial intelligence is reshaping human life. Catholic leaders across the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond say the message is clear: technology must always serve people, not the other way around.
The city of Bismarck launches its first business pitch challenge
Local entrepreneurs can apply to win a $15,000 forgivable loan to help take their business to the next level
What it Costs to Scale a Business
Most entrepreneurs think scaling is about accelerating growth, but the real challenge is managing complexity before weak systems, reactive decisions, and operational inefficiencies slow the business down.
Payback politics? Wu backs challengers to state senators who blocked her tax plan
In a highly unusual move in the insular world of Massachusetts politics, Wu is the first mayor in recent memory to openly campaign against state senators who have blocked her priorities.
Seahawks Face $51 Million Rashid Shaheed Question Before Camp
Rashid Shaheed already changed games for Seattle on special teams. His next Seahawks challenge could be becoming a consistent offensive weapon. The post Seahawks Face $51 Million Rashid Shaheed Question Before Camp appeared first on HEAVY.
Money out of Politics faces petition signature challenge as campaign works toward November ballot
The challenge says a ballot measure to limit political donations from Michigan’s public utilities and large government contractors didn’t collect enough valid signatures to make the ballot.
Why Robert Irwin prefers deadly challenge over 'Dancing with the Stars'
NEW YORK – Robert Irwin is both a "Dancing with the Stars" champion and a wildlife conservationist. Faced with a "Would you rather?"
Lindsey Graham’s Death Transforms the Race for His Democratic Challenger
Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, has offered condolences to those who loved Mr. Graham while considering the political fallout from his death. Republicans are scrambling to arrange a new primary election.
‘A Blessing and a Challenge’: What Teachers Think of the Science of Reading (Opinion)
In these classrooms, the recent push for foundational literacy skills has been transformational.
Group of 11 athletes challenge new NCAA eligibility rules in suit
Eleven Division I athletes -- all who depleted their eligibility in the 2025-26 season, have filed a federal class action lawsuit alleging that the NCAA's new eligibility rules adversely affected their ability to extend their college careers.
New course examines engineering challenges, opportunities in women’s health
A new Duffield Engineering biomedical engineering course will challenge students to investigate real-world failures in women’s health technologies and identify opportunities for better design.
The Death Of Physical Media And The Real Challenges To Software Archiving
Along with the many displays of outrage, gnashing of teeth and other displays of profound grief at the recent news that Sony will no longer manufacture physical game discs come 2028, we have also h…
How Unaffordable is Health Care and What Can We Do About It?
For decades, the cost of medical care, prescription drugs and health insurance has consistently risen faster than general inflation and wage growth, posing financial challenges for government, businesses and people.
Yurachek discusses 2025-26 for Arkansas Athletics
Arkansas Athletics is navigating one of the biggest shifts in college sports history, and Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek explains what it all means. From the new CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium naming rights agreement to NIL, revenue sharing, fundraising, football and the future of every Razorback program, Yurachek pulls back the curtain on the decisions shaping Arkansas Athletics. He also shares why he's confident in the direction of Ryan Silverfield's football program, the challenges of competing in the SEC's new era and how the Razorbacks plan to stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape.
Business Owners: Learn How To Lower Your Energy Costs
With costs rising across the board, operating a profitable business in today’s economy is a true challenge. One area that’s caused considerable strain for New Jersey businesses since last summer is energy costs — but dramatic savings are possible with the right information and a smart strategy. On Tuesday, July 14, the Verona Chamber of […]
Nobel Prize Dialogue
The 2026 Nobel Prize Dialogue in Seoul asks how AI will transform the future of science, and seeks to explore what these changes mean for our ability to develop scientific solutions to the urgent challenges we face.
India seeks to quash Adani airport's nicotine pouch court challenge citing illegality, health risk
The Indian government has argued the airport sale of nicotine pouches is a "substantive violation" of drug laws and a "serious public health risk", seeking to throw out Adani Group's bid to overturn an official finding that it broke the law by selling the unlicensed products at Mumbai's airport.
Left-wing challengers are beating House Democrats. These incumbents could be next.
Democratic incumbents have struggled against democratic socialists in several primaries this year. For other lawmakers, age has become a campaign issue.
Handover of Health Commodities
Joint Handover of Health Commodities Speech of Chargé d’Affaires Steve Bremner (…) Thank you for joining us. I am here today to demonstrate how U.S. foreign assistance under President Trump’s America First Global Health Strategy and our bilateral health MOU makes America safer and stronger while helping Madagascar build a more self-reliant health system. Through our bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2025 with the Ministry of Public Health, our two governments outlined shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on infectious disease threats and Madagascar’s increasing ownership and co-investment in its own health system. The MOU outlines the structure and terms of U.S. support to Madagascar’s health sector from 2026 through 2030, with a total commitment of $134,305,000 from the U.S. government and $41,216,252 from the Government of Madagascar to work jointly to address malaria, maternal and child health, polio and global health security issues. Stronger health systems help prevent instability and reduce the risk that infectious diseases reach the United States, making both our countries safer. America First foreign assistance is clear and disciplined: It is a tool of strategic engagement, not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar must show measurable results, reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources, and support greater self-reliance in recipient countries. Support must be efficient and targeted, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. This year, through the U.S.-funded Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management project, we are distributing: 989,250 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, worth $2,000,000 to 63 districts and 1,661 Community Health Centers across Madagascar, with the third and final delivery of these nets having arrived in late June. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) project, we are funding: The full cost of Starlink internet connectivity equipment procurement, installation, and one-year subscription for 31 priority District and Regional Health Offices. Through the U.S.-funded Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems project, we are supplying: 908,523 pieces of critical medical equipment and a modernized digital surveillance system to the Ministry of Public Health. These materials will strengthen health systems, improve response capabilities, and help those most in need of protection from mosquito-borne diseases — particularly malaria, which continues to claim the lives of children and women at an unacceptable rate. Deployed effectively, they will contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality in rural and hard-to-reach communities where the need is greatest. In these same underserved areas, Starlink connectivity will play a critical role in enabling the rapid transmission of health data and information to central levels, ensuring that decision-makers receive timely, actionable intelligence and can mount swift, coordinated responses to protect populations. For Americans, this support delivers concrete benefits. Stronger health systems in Madagascar help detect and contain infectious diseases before they spread across borders, protecting American and Malagasy families. More stable, healthier countries can expand trade and economic cooperation with the United States. Our goal is not permanent support; it is temporary, targeted assistance that helps Madagascar save lives while achieving greater self-reliance and independence from foreign assistance. To the health workers and community health agents here that will use the products we’re delivering today: your dedication and skills save lives. Your work exemplifies the kind of local ownership that will enable Madagascar to reduce dependence on foreign assistance and manage the country’s health challenges. This targeted support delivers results today while helping Madagascar build toward a future where it can sustain and expand those health gains independently, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s self-sufficiency. Thank you, Misaotra.
2nd PET scan changes treatment for nearly half of prostate cancer patients
Managing recurrent prostate cancer after first-line treatment remains a key clinical challenge, experts write in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
'House of the Dragon's Ormund Hightower cooks up a villainous plan that isn't in 'Fire and Blood'
A new challenger for the Iron Throne approaches.
DGIST secures four projects under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Group Research Support Program, spanning basic science to cutting-edge deep tech
- DGIST secured one Science Research Center (SRC) project and three Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) projects, taking the lead in addressing national challenges in science and technology - DGIST reaffirms its world-class convergence research capabilities spanning AI, robotics, and advanced biotechnology
Senate again confronts the challenges of an aging membership
Lindsey Graham’s death and Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization are reviving hard questions, including what happens when members can no longer serve but don’t resign?
Wimbledon men's final: Jannik Sinner repeats as champion after weathering early challenge from Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev opened the Wimbledon final by playing some of the best tennis of his career. Jannik Sinner made it not matter.
Second season a challenge
John McGlynn believes Falkirk will be given "more respect" in the coming campaign and matching last season will be "a challenge".
At Family Science Night, Wonder Comes Before Answers.
BAR HARBOR—Family Science Night isn’t really about science. It’s about wonder. It’s about watching a five-year-old realize that the tiny creature under a microscope is a real living thing. It’s about a teenager discovering that the scientist explaining genetics or regeneration isn’t much older than they are. It’s about parents seeing curiosity spread across a child’s face the way excitement spreads across a crowd at a Fourth of July parade. For one evening, families realize that the laboratory isn’t some secretive place where knowledge is hidden behind white coats and closed doors. They learn that the lab is a place their neighbors work, their friends’ parents work, and it becomes a place where questions matter more than answers. It’s a place where wonder is the origin for knowledge. At the lab, children learn that it’s okay not to know. Adults remember that they once asked “Why?” about everything. Scientists are reminded why they fell in love with discovery in the first place. There are experiments, games, obstacle courses, and demonstrations, of course. But those are really just invitations—to touch, to explore, to laugh, to make mistakes, and to ask one more question. In a world that often rewards certainty, Family Science Night celebrates curiosity. And perhaps that’s its greatest gift. Long after the microscopes are packed away and the experiments are over, what families take home isn’t just a few new facts about biology. They take home the feeling that discovery belongs to everyone—that science isn’t something happening somewhere else by someone else. It’s simply what happens when people are given permission to wonder. A Family Science Night at the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory is one of those rare community events where children and adults can experience science as something they do, not just something they read about. Hands on discovery allows hands-on learning and joy. Real scientists, some local, some scientist-interns (but still scientists) just in college make science real, approachable, and exciting. And there, complex ideas like forever chemical-filtration, DNA and so much more become not complex. Instead, they become fun. Summer fellows are challenged to explain cutting-edge biomedical research in ways a first-grader—and their grandparent—can understand. Past activities have explored gene expression, kidney function, axolotl regeneration, worms, microplastics, and phytoplankton through games and creative demonstrations. Though it’s called family night, you can also see adults going from station to station, exploring, learning together across ages. Family Science Night reflects the laboratory’s broader mission of breaking down barriers between researchers and the public, helping people understand how scientific discoveries relate to everyday life and the health of Maine’s environment. Family Science Night transforms a world-class research laboratory into a giant interactive classroom, where curiosity is encouraged, questions are celebrated, and families discover that science isn’t just something that happens in a lab—it’s an adventure anyone can join. About MDI Biological Laboratory For more than 125 years, MDI Bio Lab has been a center for training and research in comparative biology. In the last two decades its biomedical research has focused on aging, regeneration, and environmental toxins. The Laboratory houses 11 research groups staffed by an international team of world-class scientists and graduate students. It also leads a statewide network of colleges, universities and research institutions that collaborate to provide training, research experiences and financial support to help young Mainers play a bigger role in today’s biomedical revolution. Located on Maine’s rugged coast, the Laboratory’s 100+ acre campus houses research facilities, cottages and dorms that house visiting scientists and students. It is also home to MDI Bioscience, a subsidiary working to design innovative techniques to speed the drug discovery process. LINKS TO LEARN MORE NIH INBRE MDI BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY Photos: Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment
Other voices: The Fed’s independence is unfinished business
“The evidence is overwhelming that central bank independence in the conduct of monetary policy is indispensable — so overwhelming, in fact, that few politicians any longer challenge the idea.”
Alaska Senate race pits Sullivan vs. Sullivan. Is it a plot?
In Alaska, Dan Sullivan is facing Dan Sullivan in one of the country's most competitive contests. Is it a plot to boost the Democratic challenger, Mary Peltola, or mere coincidence? It sure smells fishy.
I'm a chauffeur. Tips determine if my side hustle is worth it.
A chauffeur in Florida discusses the importance of tips in black car services and the challenges of gig work for drivers.
Lionel Messi’s Dad Jorge’s Health: What Happened to Argentina Star’s Father?
What happened to Lionel Messi's dad's health? Find out the latest on Messi's father, Jorge and his health challenges during the World Cup. The post Lionel Messi’s Dad Jorge’s Health: What Happened to Argentina Star’s Father? appeared first on HEAVY.
Microsoft loses lawsuit after blocking hacked Xbox account with digital games
One gamer took extreme measures to restore access to his compromised Xbox account. The Brazilian user filed a lawsuit against Microsoft after it refused to unfreeze his digital library. A court ruled in the plaintiff’s favor, and the decline of physical games could lead to more legal challenges.
Second pregnancy changes the brain in surprising new ways
Researchers found that every pregnancy rewires the brain in its own way, with a second pregnancy bringing a different pattern of changes than the first. The discoveries could lead to better ways to recognize and treat maternal mental health challenges, including peripartum depression.
Transgender girls who challenged Trump sports order drop lawsuit after Supreme Court ruling
Two transgender girls who were the first to challenge President Donald Trump's executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,” have withdrawn their lawsuit in New Hampshire based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in related cases and their own personal hardships.
Business-backed group challenges signatures to put political spending ban on ballot
Protect MI Free Speech says it found problems with signatures submitted by a group backing the ballot initiative.
Saints QB Tyler Shough participates in revived 'ice bucket challenge'
Tyler Shough accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge in support of ALS research and awareness after receiving a nomination from Saints legend Steve Gleason.
Free workshop in Swisher to help beginning farmers with business planning
Practical Farmers of Iowa is inviting beginning farmers to a free Beginning Farmer Business Workshop on Monday, Aug. 10, at Cedar Ridge Distillery, 1441 Marak Road in Swisher. The one-day event is designed to help attendees build the business skills and connections needed for long-term success. Beginning farmers face a range of challenges, from accessing […]
Transgender girls drop lawsuit against Trump's sports order after Supreme Court ruling
Two transgender girls who were the first to challenge President Donald Trump's executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports,” have withdrawn their lawsuit in New Hampshire based on a recent U.S.
12 South businesses offer ideas as they wait for parking answers from the city
Parking challenges continue across Nashville as FOX17 News continues to go neighborhood to neighborhood, hearing concerns and bringing them to the city.
Challenges and opportunities for diabetes treatment and policy right now
Johns Hopkins experts share insights from their recent research on diabetes management, disease effects, and insulin affordability.
World Cup storytelling won them tickets to a game
A Caplin School course taught by a veteran sports journalist challenged students to create documentaries. One writes about the lessons learned en route to pursuing his dream job.
Richard H. Glanton, longtime lawyer, business entrepreneur, and innovative former president of the Barnes Foundation, has died at 79
“He was exceptionally bright, courageous, and never afraid to challenge the status quo in pursuit of what he believed was right," former Gov. Ed Rendell said.
NC falls in business ranking as growth hurts affordability
CNBC: NC still good for business but faces growth challenges.
SSM Health challenging recent union election at St. Mary's hospital in Madison
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How to Bring More Data Science to YouTube and Creator Media
I am constantly writing about the challenge facing agencies and brands when in comes to YouTube. Is it TV? Social video? Search? Commerce? Do you fund it from all of those respective budgets, and measure it using all their respective metrics? Sean Odlum, Chief Product Officer at Tinuiti, says it may not make sense to try and “bucket'“ YouTube. “You kinda gotta treat it as its own thing,” he said. “Years ago, we had debates [along the lines of] ‘what is this?’ Ultimately we decided, it’s YouTube. It is hard to categorize because it is so protean.” Which ultimately means that almost every part of a media department or marketing group will likely touch YouTube in some fashion. And that it probably needs its own sets of metrics and measurement tools. At Tinuiti, that need has led the agency to develop the YouTube Intelligence Suite, which aims to help brands optimize YouTube campaigns while using all the traditional marketing tools they are used to, such as MMMs. “I wouldn’t say there is a YouTube playbook,” Odlum said. “[For media planners] there is this vast bubbling ocean, so where do you start?’ A lot of brands and agencies struggle.” “You don’t want to just brute-force it—spray dollars everywhere and eventually learn. You want to start intelligently and then learn iteratively.” The problem, Odlum and his team have found, is that “brands have largely defaulted into demand generation campaigns because they’re easier to measure.” However, “you can really build your own content ecosystem around these trusted experts.” Check out the full interview here: Thanks for reading Next in Media! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
China's mega dam wins major science & tech award
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UT Martin transfer gets the keys to USI offense
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LSU and FMOL Health award research grants targeting state’s critical health needs
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From Our Partners: Eastside Small Businesses Can't Afford to Ignore Cybersecurity Anymore
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A spirit of resilience helps Venezuelans face healthcare challenges after the quakes
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Hungary moves to overhaul university models banned from Horizon Europe
Hungary’s new government is aiming to overhaul the governance model of the institutions and universities that lost access to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ funds “in a short timeframe,” according to Péter Horváth, the new state secretary for science policy and innovation. “As of today, the two non-university foundation-controlled institutions under my remit have been transformed,” he told Science|Business. “We hope the universities will follow and that this will be enough to satisfy the EU’s demands.”Under the previous government, led by Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, many academic and scientific institutions were restructured and made into special public trust foundations, with members strongly linked to the government given lifelong mandates and significant decision-making powers with little oversight. The European Commission deemed that this undermined academic freedom and transparency in the country, leading to a ban on 34 institutions in 2022, including 21 universities, which saw academics in Hungary lose access to Horizon Europe grants. The new Hungarian government, elected in May and led by Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party, has promised to dismantle this governance model and restore the institutions to EU programmes. As a result, the European Commission has promised to return access to the Erasmus+ education mobility programme, but so far no concrete agreement has been made on the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation. Hungary has already made legislative changes in June to allow the institutions to be reformed and set a timeline for the implementation.The non-university foundations, which are mainly cultural centres such as the Foundation for Hungarian Culture or the Makovecz Campus Foundation, will all be dissolved by August 31 this year, a date tied to EU-set milestones that Hungary must meet to unlock frozen funds, with control transferred to relevant ministries. Meanwhile, the universities will have until 31 August 2027. For each university foundation, the government will set the dissolution date and the body to take over operations. There is no final decision on a permanent new model for the universities, according to Hungarian MEP Eszter Lakos, who is shadow rapporteur for the Horizon Europe specific programme, a separate piece of legislation detailing implementation rules for the EU’s next research programme, due to start in 2028. “The aim of the transition year is to settle this with [the universities], not to impose a model, and not to put them under state control,” she told Science|Business. “The goal is to give academic independence back to universities.”There are three models that are most likely to be implemented. One would be a return to a traditional, state-run model. Another could be a newer, more self-standing public institution. A third option would be a reformed version of the foundation models that meet EU standards. According to Lakos, the dismantling of the system put in place by the Orbán government is well underway and if all goes according to plan, Hungary could regain access to EU research money by the start of the next academic year in 2027. “I believe that the Hungarian government is doing the necessary changes so the universities could return as beneficiaries to Horizon from the next school year,” she said. In the meantime, “the universities, institutes and cultural assets carry on under proper public stewardship rather than a handful of unaccountable trustees,” said Lakos. The laws passed in June impose new safeguards: board terms are capped at four years and renewable only once, appointments are made through open competitions and sitting politicians cannot join joining these boards.It remains unclear whether a domestic science funding programme set up as a back-up scheme by the former government following the EU funding ban, called HU-rizon, could be continued. “This programme should never have had to have been established in the first place, but it has proven to be quite popular,” he said. “I am considering continuing this programme with a refined focus on helping international collaborations.”Re-organising the research network One of the first priorities for Horváth and his cabinet is to resolve questions over the future of the Hungarian Research Network, Hun-Ren. The network of academic institutes was taken away from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2019 and turned into a quasi-private organisation, with similarities in its governance to the public trust foundations.Horváth and his team have consulted over 5,000 representatives from the network and the conclusion is broad unhappiness with the directors of all the institutes involved. “We have presented the results to the president and the chief executive of the network and this is currently being discussed,” Horváth said. The plan is to re-integrate the network back into the Academy of Sciences but in an improved way, “learning from mistakes of the past,” he added. The government also wants to reintegrate four humanities and social science research centres into the network that the previous government had transferred to Eötvös Loránd University. The transfer brought sharp criticism from the academic community, with a group of Hungarian research heads, including European Research Council grant recipients, sending an open letter to Orbán warning that the transfer would “cause historically significant harm to the entirety of Hungarian scientific life.” The transfer was “one of the biggest shames in Hungarian research in the past 20 years,” Horváth said. “We want to immediately re-integrate them back into the research network and to regain the trust of these institutions, because the way they were treated was really unfair.”Another pressing issue is the Élvonal Excellence Research and Talent Development Foundation, led by Nobel laureate Ferenc Krausz. The foundation signed a financing agreement with the former government earlier this year for a budget of over €730 million over the next five years. The goal is to create a world-class centre to attract top talent from abroad and to develop local researchers. But there was little transparency about this foundation, and news of its huge budget, which is nearly as much as Hungary’s entire research budget, caused a stir in the media following the recent elections. Another issue is that, as with the foundation boards of the institutes banned from Horizon Europe, there was little-to-no oversight of decisions led by Krausz. “It was an excellent idea but an unacceptable execution,” Horváth said of the foundation. “The fact that this is out of the Hungarian funding scheme, mostly concentrating on one person who decides on the budget is unacceptable for us.”The government plans to merge the centre with the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, the country’s R&D funding agency, with a reduced budget. Horváth is hopeful that Krausz will still be involved. The new government’s R&D goalsA phrase that crops up regularly during the discussion with Horváth is “democratic process.” The new state secretary is determined to involve Hungary’s research community in shaping future policies. This marks a departure from the previous government’s approach, and several people in Hungary’s research community have commented on the openness of the new government. In terms of concrete goals, Horváth and his team already have plans. He wants to create a new science fund in Hungary, based on the best practices of other European countries. The fund would not be tied to annual government budgets and would provide long-term, stable financing. “If we were to succeed in creating this fund, then I think it would be one of the biggest achievements for me in this period of government,” Horváth said. On the innovation side, he is looking into how best to bring in the private sector. “We want to make sure that we are working with the private sector to support innovation,” Horváth said. One of his big aims is to introduce entrepreneurship teaching into high schools. Hungary already has a reputable national academy offering research and innovation training in the field of natural sciences, and Horváth wants to expand this to all disciplines and across the whole country. “One of the main ways to elevate our innovative businesses is to teach our children to be innovative,” he said. “This will probably need ten years to pay off, but this is what we should do. Our aim is to make Hungary strong in our region, and this is what is needed.” Related articlesHungary’s Horizon Europe performance in numbersCommission unlocks Erasmus+ cash for Hungary, Horizon could be next‘Academic Huxit.’ Hungarian researchers speak out on impact of EU ban A more difficult task will be funding. The new government is aiming to increase research spending to 2% of the GDP by 2030, and then increase it to 3% in line with EU objectives. Currently, spending sits around 1.3%. But according to Horváth, the current budget, inherited from the previous government, is “heavily in the negative,” so any plans to increase research spending will have to start next year. Achieving 2% by 2030 already needs a big push, almost doubling the research budget. “This is something we’d definitely like to reach, and something I can see us achieving,” he said. “From the 2030s, I’d like to see an innovative generation growing up that can help us reach the 3% target.” Positivity in the new governmentDespite the many challenges facing Horváth and his team, the mood is positive. “It feels a bit like a start-up right now. Everyone is working 24/7, day and night, trying to do as much as they can. There is a lot of energy,” he said. It is a big change for the state secretary who, like many in his cabinet, is coming from a background in research or business, and not in politics. “Six weeks ago, I was sitting with my microscope and my research PhDs, so it’s been a big change for me,” said the computer scientist, who was previously the director of the Institute of Biochemistry at the Hun-Ren Biological Research Centre in Hungary and worked at the Institute for AI for Health at Helmholtz Munich. But he is relishing the task to transform the country’s R&D landscape. “We feel enormous support from the Hungarian people, but also from Europe,” he said. “We’ve received a lot of letters of support from around Europe. There is big trust there, and huge responsibility on our side. We want to get everything back on track, and there’s a lot to do.”
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