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BrownWinick promotes Kasey Vogel to chief growth officer
BrownWinick Law Firm has promoted Kasey Vogel to chief growth officer, an executive leadership role in which she will guide the Des Moines-based firm’s growth strategy. Vogel joined BrownWinick in September 2023 as director of marketing and business development. In her new role, she will work with the firm’s executive committee to strengthen its growth…
'Toxic, intimidating and humiliating': Ex-labor secretary oversaw hostile work environment, watchdog finds
A new report from Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General includes allegations that former Secretary Chavez-DeRemer “engaged in an inappropriate relationship” with a member of her security detail, and violated travel regulations and the department’s alcohol policies.
Maine healthcare leaders celebrate Gov. Mills as ‘Health Care Hero’
Photo courtesy of the Office of Gov. Janet MillsHEALTH CARE HERO — Healthcare leaders from across Maine celebrated Gov.
NFL Players Quietly Dropped Push for Media Locker Room Ban
Talks have been dormant after a 2024 effort.
Scott Hanson Promises Fewer RedZone Ads to Start 2026 Season
Hanson emphasized such decisions are out of his hands.
Scott Hanson on Ads Coming to RedZone
Scott Hanson on RedZone's 300th episode and the show's future under the ESPN merger.
Former labor secretary drank at the office and misused resources, probe finds
Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer violated department policy by drinking alcohol at the office and telling her staff to perform personal tasks for her, an independent Labor Department investigation found.
Former Labor Secretary misused funds
A new report from the department's Office of Inspector General found Lori Chavez-DeRemer violated numerous department policies
Mark Stevens Is Seahawks’ Top Minority Investor
Other investors joined the Seahawks’ new ownership from the Mittal-Grousbeck group.
Investors flip Mount Joy medical office building for $6M
For the second time in two years, the building housing Lancaster Orthopedic Group’s Mount Joy offices has been sold for approximately $6 million.
Two sectors are powering Ascension’s commercial property market
Retail and industrial properties kept Ascension Parish’s commercial real estate market on steady ground during the second quarter, even as the office sector continued to lag. The market recorded … Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Gravity Media Appoints Alex Pannell as Chief Business Officer
Gravity Media has appointed Alex Pannell as Chief Business Officer. Pannell joins from Appear, where he served as Chief Commercial Officer. He will be based in London. In the newly...
Texas Association of Business Names Kelly Keel as New President & CEO
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Association of Business (TAB), the state’s leading business advocacy organization and the Texas State Chamber of Commerce, today announced that Kelly Keel has been named President & Chief Executive Officer, effective October 2, 2026. Keel currently serves as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and will…
News | Business travel has changed and hotels can do more to adapt
Office demand, flight availability, experiential stays all play a part
California's healthcare affordability office claims power to punish overspending hospitals
The state's new penalty framework could fine hospitals and insurers up to 125% of overspending, with enforcement starting as early as 2028.
Dellinger to share expertise at Farm Science Review
One of Union County’s agricultural educators will be among the experts helping small-scale farmers learn practical skills at this month’s Farm Science Review. Wayne Dellinger, with the county’s Ohio State Extension Office, will present information on soil testing as part of the Small Farms Zone at the 2026 Farm Science Review, scheduled for Sept. 22-24 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center near London. The Small Farms Zone is designed to...
PCHC announces layoffs, Bangor office closure amid financial struggles
Penobscot Community Health Care is in the middle of what officials describe as "ongoing financial challenges."
Allegheny County Health Department cuts ribbon on renovated McKeesport clinic
The McKeesport Public Health Office was renovated to include a new sexual health clinic, drug testing services, and more.
As recently as yesterday, a front office exec from …
As recently as yesterday, a front office exec from …
Chaucer targets further global growth as business approaches $4 billion
Chaucer is targeting further growth through its overseas offices under a five-year strategy designed to build on its expansion from roughly $1 billion of insurance and reinsurance business in 2019-20 to about $3.7 billion to $3.8 billion today.
Richmond police officer shot, injured during mental health crisis incident
The officer was reportedly injured and is in stable condition.
Richmond officer shot while responding to mental health crisis call
On opposite sides of Contra Costa, two police officers were shot and wounded in unrelated incidents Thursday.
West Palm Beach mayor gets ethics clearance for private business venture
West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James has been approved by the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics to start a private business venture while in office, with restrictions to prevent conflicts of interest.
SBJ Football: Giants seek business boss
New York Giants searching for chief business officer as new coach John Harbaugh could lead team to upswing: ALso: New study shows brands are missing out by focusing on the Super Bowl and not other NFL opportunities, why DAZN makes sense for EverPass, NFLPA's new chief comms officer and more.
N.Y. Giants searching for new top business exec
The New York Giants have hired Spencer Stuart to assist a search for a new chief business officer, more than two and a half years after Pete Guelli left the job for the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
PA CareerLink Lycoming County opens new downtown location
Williamsport, Pa. — PA CareerLink Lycoming County officially opened the doors of its new home Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside its Williamsport offices at 330 Pine Street.
PA CareerLink Lycoming County opens new downtown location
Williamsport, Pa. — PA CareerLink Lycoming County officially opened the doors of its new home Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside its Williamsport offices at 330 Pine Street.
PA CareerLink Lycoming County opens new downtown location
Williamsport, Pa. — PA CareerLink Lycoming County officially opened the doors of its new home Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside its Williamsport offices at 330 Pine Street.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office: Scammer posing as local cop nearly cons business out of cash
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is warning local businesses to be on high alert after a police impersonator scam nearly cost a local employee her store’s cash.
City of Charleston to hold Business Finance Resource Fair
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The City of Charleston’s Office of Business Services plans to host a Business Finance Resource Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. The fair will be held from 10:0…
New Swan Theatre houses first-ever New Swan Science Faire
The UCI New Swan Shakespeare Center collaborated with AirUCI and UCI Office of Research to host the inaugural New Swan Science Faire on Aug. 27. The event was free and open for everyone to attend. Students, families, scientists and performers gathered at the library gateway plaza outside of the New Swan Theatre to spread AirUCI’s […]
Lucky Money Entertainment Celebrates New Office
Lucky Money Entertainment has opened a new office within Lucid Private Offices, located at [...]
Penobscot Community Health Care to close one of its Bangor offices, cut 16 jobs amid financial shortfall
A Maine health organization that provides mental, dental and behavioral health services to about 50,000 people will close one of its practices and is cutting more than a dozen jobs amid a multimillion-dollar financial shortfall.
Businesses on the move in Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties: Sept. 3 report
Check out which companies are leasing and buying office, retail, industrial and multifamily properties in Sonoma, Marin, Napa and Mendocino counties via the following deals. Leases Transaction key: Square footage at address, city;…
Caroline Baratta Promoted To Assistant AD/Business Operations
Former Marist Student-Athlete Has Worked in Department's Business Office Since 2023
2 people killed and suspect is dead in downtown Minneapolis shooting
The five wounded by gunfire included two Minneapolis police officers
Billionaire family offices back health care and biotech startups in August
The personal investment firms of titans like Stanley Druckenmiller are backing innovations in gene editing, drug discovery and more.
Office security workers for OpenAI, Anthropic authorize strike
A union representing 14,000 security workers said it authorized a strike that could impact the offices of AI companies including Google and Meta.
Burnham meets Macron at No 10, as more French officers deployed to stop small boat crossings
Number of police on French coast has been increased amid smugglers’ rising use of so-called ‘mega-dinghies’
WHO highlights cybersecurity as a growing health security priority
3 September 2026, Cairo, Egypt – As health systems become increasingly dependent on digital technologies, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean is calling for stronger...
Gong-Show Griswold’s latest data dump a disaster
Last week, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office discovered they exposed for weeks the addresses of more than 130,000 “confidential voters” — including victims of sexual assault, domestic violence — and her political opponent in the attorney general’s race, District Attorney Michael Allen. The act itself, another in a growing list of acts of […]
Sony and Microsoft say they’re not obligated to pass U.S. tariff refunds to consumers, echoing Nintendo
Back in July, Sony executives told investors that the company expected to receive $508 million in refunds from the U.S. government, after tariffs that the PlayStation-maker paid were ruled mostly in 2025 were found to be illegal. “Most” of the refund would by recouped by Sony’s gaming division, its chief financial officer said. This week, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that the company is not legally obligated to pass those proceeds on to consumers who paid for recently price-hiked PlayStation consoles. That’s in the face of a lawsuit from gamers calling on them to do exactly that. “Paying fair market price for voluntarily purchased consumer goods is not a legally cognizable injury in fact,” the lawyers wrote in a legal motion filed on Monday, as they asked a judge in California’s Northern District to dismiss a potential class action lawsuit over the tariff refunds. Microsoft made a similar argument two weeks ahead of Sony’s lawyers, in a similar lawsuit brought by a gamer in federal court in Washington State. As Microsoft’s legal team put it on August 21, in their request for a dismissal of that lawsuit: “There is nothing unjust about Plaintiff purchasing an Xbox at an advertised price and getting exactly what he paid for—regardless of whatever theory he devised months later about Microsoft’s cost structure.” Both legal fights are set to go on for some time. How things got to this point U.S. tariffs impacting a wide range of imported goods, including game consoles, had kicked off in early 2025. In May 2025, Microsoft raised the price of its Xbox consoles, citing “market conditions and the rising cost of development.” They raised them again that September. In August of that year, Sony raised the price of PlayStation 5 consoles, citing “a challenging economic environment.” Sony later told investors that its tariff fees for the fall quarter were nearly $200 million. in February of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 2025 tariffs illegal, prompting impacted companies to begin to request refunds. In turn, consumers began suing the likes of Sony and Microsoft to get what they said was their share. The gamers in the Microsoft and Sony lawsuits argue that the 2025 price hikes of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, which added $50 or more to their sticker price, were due to illegal tariffs and should now be returned to consumers. The Sony suit started in May, when a group of gamers sued in federal court in California, saying Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) would be unjustly enriching itself if it did not pass tariff refunds to its PS5 buyers. “Sony is poised to be paid twice for the same unlawful tariff burden: once by its customers (through elevated prices) and once by the U.S. government (through tariff refunds),” the gamers’ lawyers wrote at the time. They called for Sony to partially reimburse anyone who bought a PlayStation in the U.S. since August 1, 2025. The Microsoft suit, filed by gamer Trevor Hastings against the Xbox giant in July, made similar claims. The console makers push back In late July, Nintendo’s lawyers, facing a similar suit accusing them of double-dipping on tariffs and refunds, replied with arguments that previewed Microsoft’s and Sony’s: “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” they wrote. Sony has buttressed that Nintendo-style argument this week by saying that the gamers have failed to prove that tariffs were the reason for its August 2025 PS5 price hike. They call thatclaim “speculative and illogical.” Other factors, including “inflation, currency fluctuations, component costs, logistics, competitive dynamics, or demand,” could have played a role. (No, the Sony lawyers do not break down the costs and factors that officially triggered the price increases). Microsoft has also argued that there’s no proof in these lawsuits that tariffs drove all or some of the price increase, as it seeks to dismiss the tariff refund suit it’s facing: “Plaintiff provides no specific allegations that would establish any pricing differential attributable to tariffs or suggest any possibility that Microsoft applied then or could recreate now any dollar-for-dollar calculation of tariff-related pricing—any more than it could any other market factor that affects pricing.” To further skewer the gamer side’s argument in its case, Sony’s lawyers have pointed to what might be a surprising defense: yet another PlayStation 5 price hike from this past spring, after the tariffs were ruled illegal. “If the original price increase were attributable to tariffs, SIE [Sony Interactive Entertainment, aka PlayStation] would have had no reason to raise prices again after the Supreme Court invalidated the IEEPA tariffs.” … “If tariffs were the cause of the price increases, one would expect SIE to lower prices once the tariffs were eliminated—not raise them again. Instead, the timeline confirms that the pricing of PlayStation consoles includes a diverse and dynamic set of input costs.” Judges have not yet ruled on the arguments made by Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. Last week, Panic, the company behind the small, yellow Playdate handheld said it would be passing its tariff refunds on to consumers. It is the only gaming hardware maker to have made such a pledge. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my reporting, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: A reporter’s second Second Life Wagner James Au, who from 2003-2006 was paid by San Francisco-based tech company Linden Lab to be a full-time journalist embedded in their virtual world Second Life, is returning to the company. This time, he’ll be an editorial advisor and business development specialist, he tells Game File. The new role will involve trying to share the stories of people inhabiting Second Life’s ongoing online world with reporters and by extension the public. Au plans to continue to also chronicle some of that through his long-running blog New World Notes. I’ve known Au since the mid-2000s and featured him in a 2007 article for the Columbia Journalism Review about reporters like him opening up virtual news outlets within Second Life. As I wrote at the time: On April 22, 2003, writing as Hamlet Linden for the New World Notes blog on Second Life’s Web site, Au introduced himself. “For the next few months, Linden Lab has invited me to set aside my journalist cap, and instead, don the digital beanie of their in-house virtual correspondent.” He wasn’t paid to keep it positive. He wrote about builders and eccentrics, but then in August of that year, he reported on a tax revolt against Linden Lab (a complaint about the fees it charges users who build stuff) led by a resident whose avatar was a big cat. Second Life has always been less of a video game and more of a virtual world where people can live, hang out, make art, sell virtual items and flirt. Back in 2007, Au described touring it as “sort of like underwater lucid dreaming.” For the past two decades, Au has maintained New World Notes as an independent publication. But he said he’s been drawn back to Second Life and Linden Lab as a place to directly work. The virtual world has around 650,000 monthly active users, he said, “which is actually about what it was during the hype wave.” Au says he’s still finding rich stories in Second Life, the kind that keep him interested 20 years into the beat: “Over the last few months for instance, I wrote about an SL creator in Venezuela whose apartment was destroyed by the earthquakes, so the global SL community rallied to get him back on his feet,” he told me. “Then there’s the woman from a Middle Eastern country who explored her lesbian sexuality in SL, then earned enough from her virtual jewelry to escape her abusive family situation and country.” Au wants to beckon more reporters to give Second Life another look. He argues that it is often ahead of internet trends, noting, for example, an early backlash in the community against AI-made art. Now the platform is drawing curiosity from more of the user-generated content community who’ve grown up with the likes of Roblox, according to Au. “Second Life was too early during its hype wave in 2005-2010, but it now feels right for a new wave of interest,” he told me.
In the Midterms, Will the Nepo-Baby Attack Work?
A New Hampshire senator’s daughter is running for office, and finds her name being used against her.
Eupora police seize THC vapes, kratom in business raids
Most of the seized items were THCA vapes. Officers also seized edibles, drinks and shots, and pills, along with U.S. currency.
Jessica Pegula: Tennis Influencers Have Become ‘A Little Too Much’ at US Open
Pegula said she also can appreciate what influencers can bring to the sport.
Lori Harris named Chief Nursing Officer of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
As CNO,Harris will be the senior nursing leader at VPH, overseeing nursing operations and helping shape the hospital’s strategic direction.
Fort Bragg Veteran celebrates expansion of high-end experiential entertainment brand
Photo provided by EscapologyAfter 15 years as an Army officer at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville resident Dan Cooke transitioned to business ownership to bring high-end experiential entertainment to North Carolina, applying strict military operational systems to scale his footprint across the state.Cooke got his start in the Army’s Boots to Business program.“Boots to Business was instrumental in preparing me to start a company. The program taught me how to develop a business plan, conduct market and financial analysis and critically evaluate whether a business concept was actually viable,” shared Cooke. “What made the program particularly valuable was that the instructors and mentors had real-world business experience…At the end of the course, I had to present and defend that plan. From there, they directed me to SCORE, where mentors helped me further refine the plan. I eventually presented it to a bank, which was impressed with the level of preparation, and I secured the financing necessary to build the business.”As Cooke neared the end of his military career, he began to wonder what would come next. Through his faith and some valuable mentors, he found the right avenue for his entrepreneurial interests.“While working on my instrument pilot rating, my flight instructor happened to tell me about escape rooms and the economics behind building them. He thought they could make for an interesting business. I took the analytical skills I had developed in the military, along with what I learned through Boots to Business, and began comparing the escape-room model against other opportunities I was considering,” explained Cooke. Cooke opened his first Escapology location in Fayetteville in 2019.“My approach was to start small and prove the model. Fayetteville made sense because I was already there, understood the market and could minimize my initial risk. It also became clear very quickly that I needed a partner that could provide the creative design, branding and industry knowledge that I did not have. After researching a number of options, Escapology became that partner,” added Cooke.Following the success of his initial venue in Fayetteville and a venue in Charlotte that opened in 2023, Cooke recently expanded into Raleigh with his third Escapology venue at Crabtree Valley Mall.His North Carolina footprint now includes:Fayetteville: A 5-room venue launched right after his Army transition in 2019.Charlotte: A 10-room venue opened in 2023, doubling his original operational footprint.Raleigh (Crabtree Valley Mall): A 6-room venue opened in May 2026, with plans to expand to 10 full rooms.Beyond his venues, Cooke expanded his local footprint by launching Jade Solutions in Aberdeen, N.C., an OEM manufacturing business that now builds prop and technical solutions for Escapology venues systemwide.Cooke shared that his long-term goal is to continue expanding Escapology in a healthy and sustainable way while enjoying the journey. “I actually did not start an entertainment business because I personally loved escape rooms. I started a business because I love the game of business itself. Growing up, I loved military simulation games and business tycoon games. I eventually had the opportunity to experience the first of those in the real world — I went to war, led troops and played my part in the military. Today, I would much rather apply that same drive to the real-world game of building businesses.I don't play business computer games anymore. I get to wake up and do it for real every day,” shared Cooke.
Premier League Clubs Spend Record $4.7B on Player Transfers
The Premier League’s transfer spending dwarfed the rest of Europe’s Big Five.
Cornelius man abused children inside hidden room at his business, sheriff says
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is looking for more victims related to an investigation into a man accused of sexual abuse, attempted murder, and more.
Penn State's Matt Campbell embracing Joe Paterno's legacy in shift from predecessors
Penn State's first-year coach has a framed photo of Paterno in his office and has praised a new exhibit honoring the coach at Beaver Stadium.
SPIRITED AWAY: LIVE ON STAGE Joins Fathom Entertainment’s Studio Ghibli Fest 2026
GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment have announced that SPIRITED AWAY: Live On Stage will join this year’s Ghibli Fest lineup. Coming to US theaters in its original Japanese with English subtitles for two nights only on October 1 and 8, the live theatre capture was filmed during the hit production’s 2022 run. Presented by Toho Co., […]
Uber to cut thousands of jobs in sweeping restructuring effort
The ride-hailing giant's CEO said Uber is cutting management layers, consolidating teams and requiring most remote workers to relocate to key office hubs.
Training program helps community health workers connect patients with dental offices to receive timely care
Community health workers and the dental care team can work together to reduce barriers to care. CHWs and California dentists can learn how with a new training program created by the UCLA School of Dentistry.
Sheriff: Hidden room found in Cornelius shop after owner arrested for attempted murder, sex abuse
The owner of a jewelry business in Cornelius has been charged with attempted murder and sex abuse after an assault investigation and standoff last week, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Airbnb names Pepijn Rijvers chief business officer
The former Tripadvisor and Booking.com leader succeeds Dave Stephenson as Airbnb furthers its hotel strategy.
Canadian PM tells Trump to 'stop trying to be tough' in trade fight
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Americans to "stop trying to be tough" and called U.S. Cabinet secretaries' mockery "beneath their office."
New Locations for Office of Student Support and Success, Military Science Program
Teams invite the University community to visit and learn more about the benefits available to Royals.
People-First Executive Drives Community Effort to Improve Health in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, September 2, 2026 — Through the American Heart Association’s Heart of Kansas City campaign, Mark Garrett, volunteer chair and Chief People Officer at Garney will lead community-wide efforts to help ensure every individual in Kansas City has...
Islamic World Science and Technology Exchange Office unveiled
TEHRAN - The Islamic World Science and Technology Exchange Office (STEP-AUT) has been unveiled with the aim of developing and systematizing scientific and technological exchanges, expanding scientific diplomacy, and connecting Iranian researchers with a network of scientists, scholars, and universities across the Islamic world.
Engineering firm doubling its space in Downtown Cleveland office tower
The firm is adding workers in Cleveland and doubling the size of its space in Downtown's Fifth Third Center.
Spokane Valley man arrested again after overnight business calls
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — The Spokane County Sheriff's Office said a man released from jail on his own recognizance on August 31, 2026, was arrested again hours later after a
US Sen. Ed Markey wins Massachusetts Democratic primary over opponent who called for change
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts secured the Democratic nomination in his bid for a third term in office Tuesday, fighting off a challenger who argued that it was time for a generational change.
WakeMed loses two top executives as proposed merger with Atrium looms
Thomas Gough, WakeMed’s chief operating officer, has been named COO at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida. Seth Brody, WakeMed’s chief physician executive, has joined UNC Health.
MNPD: Mental health team not on scene before North Nashville officer-involved shooting
Fox 17 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for Nashville and nearby towns and communities in Middle Tennessee, including Forest Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Dickson, Clarksville, White House, Greenbrier, Springfield, Gallatin, Hartsville, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, College Grove, Thompson’s Station, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Lewisburg, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, Cookeville, Hohenwald, Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lafayette, Portland, and in Kentucky, Russelville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Alvaton, Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Glasgow.
Another accused killer released from Virginia mental health facility after insanity plea
The Commonwealth's Attorney's Office agreed to the release of another man accused of murder after another accused killer fled the U.S. on a weekend pass from a Fairfax County mental health facility.
What Box Office Bomb Crushed Obsession on Streaming?
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get into this week’s issue, let me ask you for some suggestions. At the risk of coining too many names for too many things (hence my dictionary of terms...), I need a name for straight-to-streaming films that are too expensive to justify a straight-to-streaming release, but not big enough to justify a theatrical release. Like some of the films I highlighted in last week’s tally of the biggest film flops of 2026 so far: Hulu’s Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, Pizza Movie or Never Change! They don’t feel like “made for TV movies” (think Hallmark and Lifetime movies, cheap Netflix romcoms, or Disney Channel Original movies, for example) but they don’t feel big enough for the big screen. They’re not “cinematic” enough, so to speak. As I wrote... “I still need a name for this middle zone of film that’s too expensive to go straight-to-streaming but too small to justify a theatrical release (with all the PR, distribution, marketing and whatnot costs that go along with it), the Goldilocks zone of streaming film death.” Friend of the newsletter Brandon Katz has suggested the “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”. I love that first one. I’d offer up the much wordier “The Streaming Budget Dead Zone” or “the Goldilocks Zone of streaming film death” but that last one isn’t accurate since, unlike Goldilocks’ porridge, these films are the opposite of “just right”. That’s the problem! Anyway, if you have any suggestions, let me know! On to today’s Streaming Ratings Report. As you can tell by today’s headline, things are going to be spicy! I’m looking at a box office bomb that did really, really well on streaming, somewhat challenging a few different narratives. And another Netflix series declined in its second season. All that, plus Wicked: For Good switching streamers, The Hawk continuing its strong run, _The Bear’_s finale season finally dropping off the charts, the WNBA posting a big viewership number, “shallow libraries”, a sitcom spinoff failing to launch, more big budget IP flopping on Paramount+, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of July 20th to July 26th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Film - The Latest Theatrical Success Story on Streaming In the latest edition of “Flops, Bombs and Misses of the First Half of 2026”, I made a crucial change: I started including theatrical films with the streaming misses. The streamers have collectively—including Netflix, but not to as big of an extent—stopped making a lot of straight-to-streaming films, and the ones they do make aren’t as expensive as in the heyday of the streaming bubble. After the following two films bombed in theaters, you’d guess that they’ll be included in my next collection of flops, bombs and misses six months from now: Masters of the Universe on Prime Video (only $64 million domestic box office) Mortal Kombat II on HBO Max ($79 million domestic) But you’d be wrong! Masters of the Universe, a reboot of the He-Man franchise, a toy from the 1980s, came to streaming on 22-July and did great! This long-gestating project—it’s been at every studio for years, and came close to getting a greenlight at Netflix—then finally came to theaters in June, and showed up on streaming less than two months later. (I don’t love this short theatrical window.) It surprisingly grabbed nearly 20 million hours on its debut: That means, wait for it, Masters of the Universe is currently the eighth biggest film on streaming through two weeks. My rough bar for “hit” is shows or films in the top 15%. Ergo…Masters of the Universe is a legit, streaming hit! (One quick caveat: if it falls out of the top ten next week, it will move to 13th overall, just on the edge of the top 15.) Of course, that’s the data for just 2026. Here’s how it stacks up to Prime Video’s theatrical films: That drop into its second week is typical for Amazon films, but also a worrying sign. I have a feeling interest in this film is front-loaded and we’ll see it drop off after this. As for Mortal Kombat II, in this case, the viewership numbers roughly match the theatrical outing, with only 4.1 million hours in its first week. Here’s how it stacks up to other HBO Max films: The best defense of this number is that, as a relatively violent rated-R film, Mortal Kombat II never had a good chance at breaking out. So now it’s time for a little big of “Entertainment Nuance Guy”: First, yeah, my headline is obviously facetious, since Masters of the Universe besting Obsession says more about horror as a genre than it does that film. Second, I read and listened to quite a few “nobody wanted this IP” takes about Masters of the Universe, and that’s not really true. At least enough people wanted it to power a 20 million+ hour debut! Third, both this film and Mortal Kombat II were considered “average” by viewers, but not great films, with a 6.4 and 6.3 respectively on IMDb. That’s just shy of the level needed to be a word-of-mouth hit. Fourth, in the olden days, strong word of mouth could transform a box office miss into a cable/DVD hit, like Austin Powers or The Shawshank Redemption. We haven’t seen a lot of examples of that on streaming, though. And there are far fewer ways to monetize the post-theatrical life of a film these days. Fifth, Prime Video has shown an ability to push their own titles well, likely because they control the Amazon Fire TV ecosystem. Add it all up, and here’s my nuanced take on Masters of the Universe: it was a box office bomb, but, shockingly, a streaming hit. Unfortunately, while being a theatrical hit saves your film financially, being a streaming hit does not. Both Masters of the Universe and Mortal Kombat II had big budgets and needed to make more money in theaters to justify them. So…Straight-to-Streaming or Theaters? We’ve hit a really fun point in the streaming calendar, since the films that came out in theaters in April, May, and June are now arriving on streaming. So the “Do theatrical releases help streaming performances?” question is gonna get a fresh round of updates nearly every week. No single week will answer the question, but we may get some insights. For example, so far in 2026, it looks like theatrical films are lasting longer on the weekly Nielsen film charts. Here’s a list of films that have made the charts in their fourth or fifth week of release, separated by “for kids” and “general entertainment”: It certainly seems like theatrical films are lasting just a pinch longer on the charts, with Project Hail Mary being the current five-week champion. One Battle After Another did well for HBO Max too, and even The Sheep Detectives made it four weeks. The only exception to this trend? Obsession, which only lasted two weeks on the charts. You might tempted to overreact to this news. Don’t. Obsession is a huge horror hit, but horror just doesn’t do as well on streaming. By the way, here’s the Google Trends for various theatrical and stremaing films: Plus, when it comes to Netflix in four months, Obsession may have another big boost. Quick Notes on Film Note that when I write, “the streamers have pulled back on straight-to-streaming films” that doesn’t mean “abandoned” because Netflix is gonna Netflix. On 24-July, they released 72 Hours, a Kevin Hart comedy. Along with Eddie Murphy, Mark Wahlberg, John Cena and Adam Sandler, Kevin Hart is a streaming film star now. Did this latest one work? Not really. It only garnered two weeks of 13.2 and 12.2 million hours on its debut, well below the 20-million-hour hit threshold. It also was poorly received critically—a 44 on Metacritic—and by customers—a 5.4 on IMDb on 21K IMDb reviews. We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… The latest Netflix true crime doc to pop on the charts… How The Bear finished its run… Netflix’s latest Western to return to streaming… What Paramount+ animated film flopped… And what sitcom also missed… All the flops, bombs and misses… And a whole lot more… ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. Coming Soon! I’m behind by a week, so we’ve got two issues coming your way this week, including one in a couple of days or so, then we’ll be all caught up**.** Next issue, inspired by The Super Mario Galaxy Movie coming to Peacock, I’m going to take a look at the workhouse of streaming TV: kids films. Plus The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues theatrical films’ big run on streaming. All that, plus another surprise hit on Hulu, Lioness on CBS, and a whole lot more. Long term, LeBron James is filming his own “Last Dance”-style docu-series, surprising no one. But as I’ve been writing about a lot this summer, this genre is really overrated, so whoever ends up buying it (reportedly ESPN) really shouldn’t pay too much for it.
What’s powering Ascension’s commercial property market
Retail and industrial properties kept Ascension Parish’s commercial real estate market on steady ground during the second quarter, even as the office sector continued to lag. The market recorded $145.2 million in sales over the trailing 12 months, a slight increase from May, according to Elifin’s latest market report. Deal activity remained largely unchanged. The […]
Voices of Our Youth Gala celebrated the impact a mentor can have
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF COLORADO Denver News: When chief executive officer Elycia Cook extended an invitation to the 2026 Big Little Gala, Voices of Our Youth, it came with a note advising that it would be an evening that was “Very impactful. There will be some beautiful testimonies and some tears of joy.” She wasn’t kidding. […]
Maine health clinics say state failed to pay nearly $6.5M cost-of-living increase
The state health department said there was no funding appropriated for this year's adjustment.
Ridley Scott’s rep addresses rumor the director blames Paul Mescal for the underwhelming box office performance of ‘Gladiator II’
A rep for Ridley Scott is shutting down reports that the director said Paul Mescal ‘wasn’t masculine enough’ in ‘Gladiator II.’
Holly & Smith Architects opens a Baton Rouge office
Holly & Smith Architects has opened a Baton Rouge office, the firm announced Tuesday. The move gives the Hammond-based architecture firm a physical presence in a market where it has worked for yea… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Cam Newton: NIL Chaos and Content Empire
Cam Newton on college football's NIL era and why athletes need their own platforms.
HFG Architecture opens Rogers office
HFG Architecture, a Wichita, Kan.-based healthcare architecture and design firm, recently relocated its Bentonville office into a 1,000-square-foot space in Rogers and named Northwest Arkansas native Josh Danish as managing...
Vina Nails and Art in the Evenings: See the business licenses issued in Hamilton County last week
Business licenses issued Aug. 24-28, as provided by the Hamilton County Clerk's Office.
LZ Sees Surprising Result in Search for Dark Matter
Key Takeaways Dark matter is the mysterious substance that accounts for the vast majority of matter in our universe. LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) is a world-leading dark matter detector and specializes in searching for WIMPs, or weakly interacting massive particles. A new LZ study found one particle interaction that is difficult to explain with known background processes and could potentially have been caused by a WIMP. LZ continues to run to see if additional data strengthens or weakens the hint of a dark matter interaction. For the better part of a century, people have been trying to understand dark matter. This invisible substance makes up roughly 85% of the mass in the universe but has never been directly detected. Determining exactly what it is remains one of the biggest questions about our world. Now, a new analysis from the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment has recorded a single particle interaction that researchers have great difficulty explaining with known background signals from normal matter. The result does not yet meet the statistical threshold required to claim a discovery, but is the most compelling hint of dark matter reported by the experiment to date. LZ is an international collaboration of 250 scientists and engineers from 39 institutions. The detector is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and operates nearly one mile below ground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in South Dakota. The experiment uses 10 tonnes of ultrapure liquid xenon to search for dark matter and is optimized to look for WIMPs, or weakly interacting massive particles. The results were presented in a scientific talk at the 2026 TeV Particle Astrophysics conference in Japan. The paper will be released on the online repository arXiv and submitted to the journal Physical Review Letters. “We’re very intrigued to see this event in the data, in the region where we expect dark matter to show up and the competing backgrounds are very low,” said Rick Gaitskell, a professor at Brown University and the spokesperson for LZ. “With only one event, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We are not claiming to have seen dark matter. But we have seen something interesting that we want to share with the scientific community for their input.” The LZ collaboration studies experimental data in batches. In the new result, researchers analyzed 220 live days of data collected between March 2023 and April 2024. The collaboration had previously searched this dataset for faint signals from the simplest kinds of WIMP interactions. The new analysis searched for a broader range of possible WIMP interactions that could deposit more energy in the detector. LZ is particularly sensitive to such signals while also minimizing false positives. “This was a detailed study in a region we hadn’t explored within this dataset, and we spent months of additional effort to understand all the possible causes of background events,” said Sam Eriksen, a senior research associate at the University of Bristol in the U.K. and lead author of the study. “We understand our detector and the backgrounds so well that even a single outstanding event, like the one we found, is important. We expect dark matter events to be extremely rare, so only a handful could mark the first detection of WIMP dark matter.” If the anomalous event was caused by dark matter, the WIMP that generated it would likely have a mass of at least 200 GeV/c2 (gigaelectronvolts), or more than 200 times the mass of a proton. It would also suggest a specific type of interaction between WIMPs and ordinary matter beyond the simplest model. The LZ results have not reached “5-sigma” significance, the statistical threshold considered a discovery in physics. The new analysis is 2.6 sigma, meaning there is approximately a 0.5% chance that the event could be explained by known backgrounds. With additional data, researchers can test whether the finding continues to grow in significance or fades away. LZ has already accumulated the world’s largest dark matter dataset and will continue to accrue WIMP search data at SURF, substantially improving their search statistics. LZ searches for dark matter by looking for signature flashes of light from energy deposited in the detector. The collaboration leverages multiple methods to prevent or account for particle interactions caused by normal matter. This includes the mile of rock that shields the detector from cosmic rays from space, a water tank and outer detectors that protect the central detector from background neutrons, and a suite of computational tools that disentangle particle interactions and reject dark matter mimics. “Outlier events in the data are not unexpected, but they usually stand out as a background of some kind when you look at them deeper,” said Aaron Manalaysay, a physicist at Berkeley Lab and the chair of LZ’s Institutional Board. “This is the first example in any experiment I’ve worked on of an outlier that appears valid in every way. Of course, we’re still twisting our brains trying to think if there’s a rare background mechanism we could’ve missed, but it’s thrilling to wonder if this could be the first hint of a dark-matter observation.” LZ is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a DOE Office of Science user facility. LZ is also supported by the Science & Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom; the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology; the Swiss National Science Foundation; the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics; and the Institute for Basic Science, Korea. Thirty-nine institutions of higher education and advanced research provided support to LZ. The LZ collaboration acknowledges the assistance of the Sanford Underground Research Facility. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Accounting firm nearly triples office space with Hunt Valley move
L&H Business Consulting, a full-service accounting firm, is nearly tripling its office space with a move from Lutherville to Hunt Valley this fall.
Augusta Health CFO Joe Meador Appointed by Governor Spanberger to Virginia Board of Medical Assistance Services
Gubernatorial appointment places Augusta Health executive on the state board overseeing Medicaid coverage for more than 1.7 million Virginians FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health today announced that Joe Meador, CPA, FACHE, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger to the Virginia Board of Medical Assistance Services (BMAS), the […]
KPMG sets up new S.F. office in ‘AI Alley’ near Anthropic and Salesforce
KPMG opens its new San Francisco office at 505 Howard Street, featuring an Ignition Center designed for client collaboration on AI transformation and business challenges.
Pajaro Valley Unified hires new chief business officer after years of CBO turnover
Pajaro Valley Unified School District's governing board hired Victoria Knutson, currently Newark Unified's chief business officer, to fill the CBO role at a $248,418 salary — the district's fourth person in that position in roughly three years, as trustees hope her experience will help guide upcoming school closures.
New report to shed light on lasting health impact of 9/11 rescue effort
Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, the FDNY is set to release a new report detailing the long-term health effects of the rescue and recovery effort on firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, officers and other responders.
New report to shed light on lasting health impact of 9/11 rescue effort
Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, the FDNY is set to release a new report detailing the long-term health effects of the rescue and recovery effort on firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, officers and other responders.
Airbnb announces Pepijn Rijvers as Chief Business Officer
Airbnb announces Pepijn Rijvers as Chief Business Officer
‘Most’ of Star Wars Zero Company studio Bit Reactor was furloughed ahead of launch
Last week was meant to be a moment of triumph for Bit Reactor, the Maryland-based game studio founded in 2021 with ambitions to create a great new tactical combat game. On Thursday, August 27, Bit Reactor’s debut title, Star Wars Zero Company, released to stellar reviews. And, from the Gamescom show in Cologne, Germany, studio co-founder Greg Foertsch was giving interviews discussing what the studio’s next game may be. But for many developers on the game, launch has been bittersweet. Fans love it. Critics prefer it to most recent Star Wars games. Zero Company, which is out for PS5, Xbox Series consoles and PC, is the top-selling game on Steam. Much of the team that made it, however, is currently going without pay. They were furloughed, just weeks ahead of the game’s launch. A rep for Bit Reactor confirmed to Game File today that the studio had furloughed many of its workers prior to the game’s release. They said it was a difficult decision and one that had been made before it was clear how launch would go. The rep emphasized that the call to do this was Bit Reactor’s alone (meaning not from publisher EA nor Star Wars license holder Disney). While the rep declined to comment on the scale of the furloughs, a previously unreported lawsuit brought by studio co-founder Alison Kelly in 2024 noted in a filing from August 12 of this year that Bit Reactor “has furloughed most of its employees and terminated contractors…” One source told Game File the furloughs impacted 80% of the team; another referred to there only being a skeleton crew left on Bit Reactor’s active payroll, ready to address any of Zero Company’s post-launch bugs. The issue is that Bit Reactor, a studio formed in 2021, had run out of most of its money just ahead of the launch of its first game. Over the weekend, Zachariah Scott, a senior technical artist who worked at Bit Reactor from early 2023 until an acrimonious exit this past May, said on LinkedIn that the studio was “concealing the fact that the team was Furloughed weeks ago.” Reached by phone today, Scott told Game File that he spoke to nearly a dozen Bit Reactor workers over the weekend. “Everybody has essentially the same story, which is, ‘Yeah, I got furloughed three weeks ago.” The Bit Reactor rep told Game File that the studio hoped to bring furloughed workers back, suggesting that a successful launch of the game could be impactful. Scott told Game File that workers he spoke to were less confident that even if there were returns, that all who were furloughed would get their old jobs again. A heated dispute Bit Reactor’s mid-2026 was almost even more tumultuous. The lawsuit by co-founder Alison Kelly that first revealed the furloughs was initially slated to go to trial in June. The suit is a she-said/he-said about whether Kelly, until 2024 the chief operating officer of Bit Reactor, was a co-owner of the studio or whether it was solely owned by Greg Foertsch. In July 2024, Kelly sued, saying she was pushed out by Foertsch. She first sued in federal court and later refiled in Maryland’s Baltimore County, alleging breach of contract and that Foertsch had unjustly enriched himself. Kelly cited damages of over $20 million, on the basis of Bit Reactor allegedly being worth more than double that. Foertsch’s side has said Kelly was never a co-owner and has countered with claims about her job performance (which she has denied). The June trial was postponed until early 2027, as both sides have been deposing witnesses and filing more claims and denials along the way. Amid all of that, filings in the lawsuit reviewed by Game File paint a picture about Bit Reactor’s origins, early aspirations around tactics games, the team’s breakthrough in drawing the attention of Electronic Arts with the help of a pitch tied to one of EA’s non-Star Wars franchises, and early fractures among its co-founders. The real story about the company behind Zero Company
How the Pentagon Is Getting Into the Venezuelan Oil Business Under Trump
The Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital, founded by the Biden administration to give loans to bolster the U.S. defense industry, is helping lead President Trump’s oil deal.
Can this unlikely pair reshape Israeli politics?
In Israel’s divided politics, an Islamist leader is teaming up with a former Israeli police officer. CNN’s Tal Shalev explains that the unlikely pairing hopes to break new ground as they reshape what’s possible and address the everyday issues that affect the country’s Arab population.
Police saturate entertainment district in downtown Selma
From the West Alabama Newsroom– The Selma Police Department and the Dallas Co. Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint saturation detail in downtown Selma over the weekend. The detail was conducted in the city’s entertainment district — in response to a shooting incident that happened the previous weekend. “When you have 300 and something shots that were fired, one person injured,...
Colorado redistricting limits measure heads to November ballot
A proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit Colorado’s congressional maps from being redrawn outside of election cycles has qualified for the November ballot, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Under Initiative 256, redistricting changes for the 2028 election and beyond would be prohibited unless approved by the Congressional Redistricting Commission and the Supreme Court. […]
AMC Entertainment Creates Leawood Films with the Aim of Having More Movies Distributed to the Big Screen
AMC Entertainment has announced the creation of Leawood Films, a new film distribution company headquartered both in Los Angeles and AMC Theatres home base of Leawood, Kansas. It will focus on bringing additional movies to theatrical audiences in the U.S. and across the globe, leveraging its marketing ability and the prominence of its exhibition network, […]
Flock Safety cameras face bipartisan scrutiny over privacy and misuse
The issue drew renewed attention after the arrest of a Kentucky police officer accused of misusing the cameras to track his ex-girlfriend more than 2,000 times
Pres. Trump Makes Announcement on Health Care Affordability
President Trump makes an announcement on efforts to advance health care affordability in the U.S. from the Oval Office.
PGA Tour Revamping Fan Code of Conduct Amid Sports Betting Concerns
Several players have raised concerns about sports betting's impact on the game.
Cat Tests Positive for Rabies in Chatham County
CHATHAM COUNTY, GA – The Chatham County Health Department’s Environmental Health office is alerting the community that a cat... Continue Reading This Post
Lincoln police arrest USPS employee over missing sports card package
A U.S. Postal Service employee was arrested after a package with contents valued at nearly $46,000, including six high-value sports cards, was reportedly stolen from a Lincoln post office on Saturday.
USM creates one-stop shop for business support
Activities of USM's School of Business are moving to the Wishcamper Center, alongside the university's Office of Commercialization and near the Portland office of the Maine Small Business Development Center.
Minnesota State Fair: Political Hub, Always Center Stage
It's more than food on a stick, long lines and Grandstand shows. The Minnesota State Fair has always been a proving ground, outreach opportunity, and sometimes divisive stage for politicians, from local candidates up to the nation's highest office. Yes, politics is yet another State Fair tradition. | 830 WCCO
Politics, Pubs, Parades, + the Parish: Jim McGreevey, Part 2
McGreevey traces his path from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office to the New Jersey Assembly, Woodbridge mayor’s office.
Rhode Island Commits $250,000 To Cover Lab Costs For Up To 8 Life Science Startups
The Rhode Island Life Science Hub has launched the Founders Compass Program, committing $250,000 to provide up to eight early-stage life science companies with free laboratory and office space for one year.
Helping Refugee Families Access Healthcare
At our Global Refuge Fargo field office, a new health navigator role is helping refugee families access mental and physical healthcare.
Donald Trump threatens to report ‘Meet the Press’ moderator Kristen Welker to FCC for ‘punishment’
Donald Trump is lashing out at NBC News’ Kristen Welker, long one of the primary objects of his ire, for saying his endorsement of recent candidates for elected office have had ‘mixed results.’