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What a Trump order to put political appointees in charge of NIH funding would mean for science
Advocates and scientists warn that giving political appointees power over research grants would “upend” U.S. science
Event supports Walhalla workers, businesses impacted by downtown fire
The City of Walhalla is rallying behind local workers and business owners who lost everything after a devastating fire swept through the downtown business district last week.
The Pointe named September Master Gardener Business Yard of the Month
The Pointe, a residential property located at 389 Lake Hamilton Drive, was named the Master Gardener Business Yard of the Month for September 2026, according to a news release.
Crawford County Quorum Court expected to consider doing business with company owned by justice of the peace
VAN BUREN -- The Crawford County Quorum Court is set to discuss allowing the county to do business with companies owned by county officials and employees at its Monday meeting.
Paved in frustration: Kings Highway businesses cite challenges of bridge reconstruction
A large-scale transportation project has some businesses in Nash and Texarkana feeling like they are on a rocky road.
Experts say Arkansas lacks data about mental health screenings for new mothers, despite state mandate
Since 2023, Arkansas lawmakers have stepped up efforts to improve the state's dismal maternal health outcomes, including a requirement that doctors and other providers offer mental health screenings to women after giving birth.
Experts say Arkansas lacks data about mental health screenings for new mothers, despite state mandate
Since 2023, Arkansas lawmakers have stepped up efforts to improve the state's dismal maternal health outcomes, including a requirement that doctors and other providers offer mental health screenings to women after giving birth.
Spurs eye £125m move for Gibbs-White
Spurs could move for Morgan Gibbs‑White, JJ Gabriel's next step remains unresolved and Antonio Conte may be lining up his next move.
Business People Northwest Arkansas
Harps Food Stores Inc. has announced the promotion of William Haulmark as director of insurance and Will McDoniel to director of AI strategy and innovation.
ENTERTAINMENT: ‘Our Art’ exhibit opening at Walton Arts Center
The regional art exhibition, which drew 659 submissions from 371 artists, remains up through Dec. 20.
Wanted: An Associate Attorney (5+ Years) and a Paralegal (10+ Years). Want to Put Us Out of Business? Come Help Us Try.
We need a lawyer who can find the defendant and a paralegal who can find the one page that matters. Marler Clark has been suing the companies that poison
Belmont Park back in business with first races after $550M renovation
They're off and running at the new Belmont Park.
Watch Princeton football celebrate GMC win over Lakota West
Princeton football celebrates a Greater Miami Conference win over Lakota West, 27-24, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026.
Chattanooga weighs Tennessee’s high business, low quality-of-life rankings
A recent ranking from CNBC named Tennessee the ninth best state for business, while also naming it "the worst state to live in," raising questions about what that disconnect means for Chattanooga's efforts to attract both businesses and the workers they need.
Mid-America Science Museum to host STEM career fair for students
Mid-America Science Museum has invited local students in grades eighth to 10th to the third annual STEM Works career fair on Sept. 25 in the Hall of Wonder.
Hamilton County Business Development Center listed with $6.5M minimum offer
Chattanooga commercial real estate agency NAI Charter has listed the Hamilton County-owned property at 100 Cherokee Blvd. that now serves as the Hamilton Business Development Center and is accepting proposals from potential buyers until Nov. 23.
UA to use rural health money to develop Thrive Radar, online tool expanding on work of Arkansas Health Survey
FAYETTEVILLE -- More than $750,000 received through the Arkansas Rural Health Transformation Program will be used to help communities know where health resources exists, gaps remain and investment is needed, according to the director of the Arkansas Health Equity and Access Lab.
Welding and BBQ: See business licenses issued in Hamilton County last week
Business licenses issued Sept. 7-11, as provided by the Hamilton County Clerk's Office:
ENTERTAINMENT: Leslie Whittlin’ & Fiddlin’ Festival leads weekend calendar
The second annual Whittlin' & Fiddlin' Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in Leslie City Park, marks the 71st anniversary of Collier's magazine's naming the Searcy County town the "Whittling Capital of America."
ENTERTAINMENT: Leslie Whittlin’ & Fiddlin’ Festival leads weekend calendar
The second annual Whittlin' & Fiddlin' Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday in Leslie City Park, marks the 71st anniversary of Collier's magazine's naming the Searcy County town the "Whittling Capital of America."
Scabies concern at Lewis County High School addressed; health officials explain reporting guidelines
The Lewis County Health Department was notified of a scabies concern at Lewis County High School on Sept. 10.
5 Lions to watch vs. Bills on TNF
Can Buffalo’s defense slow down a high-powered Detroit offense?
Dodgers magic number to clinch National League West
The Dodgers on Monday beat the Reds to clinch a playoff berth for the 14th season in a row, tying the major league record also held by the Atlanta Braves, who made it to 14 consecutive postseasons from 1991-2005. Los Angeles won again in Cincinnati on Tuesday, which eliminated the Arizona Diamondbacks from National League […]
Ohio State-Texas sets Week 2 ratings record with 14 million viewers, but down from last year
Week 2 of the 2026 college football season featured two high-profile SEC-Big Ten matchups, with Ohio State-Texas setting records for ESPN. On Saturday, Texas’s improbable comeback win over Ohio State averaged 14.0 million viewers on ABC, peaking at 16.4 million, according to ESPN PR. That is the most-watched regular-season college football game on ESPN networks…
Denny Hamlin Recalls Story of NASCAR’s Most Caution-Filled Race
Denny Hamlin reflected on what led to the single most cautions in a NASCAR Cup Series race. The 2005 Coca-Cola 600 saw a record 22 caution flags, due in large part to a track surface adjustment prior to the race weekend.Last Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway saw 18 caution periods, coming […] The post Denny Hamlin Recalls Story of NASCAR’s Most Caution-Filled Race appeared first on HEAVY.
Yankees Have a Ryan McMahon Problem They Might Not Address
Will the New York Yankees replace Ryan McMahon at third base this offseason?
SOSRiverBoy III showcases local talent; brings fun entertainment to Fort Smith
FORT SMITH -- An annual concert and community event will return for the third year in a row when SOSRiverBoy III is held Nov. 28 at the Fort Smith Convention Center.
Kehoe holds signing for new health care licensing law
Gov. Mike Kehoe stopped in Kansas City on Thursday for a ceremonial signing of a new bill that opens doors for out-of-state health care professionals.
Immigration activity taking toll on children’s health, doctors say
In Minnesota, an elementary school child has gone without surgery to treat a rare, life-threatening neck infection that isn't responding to antibiotics.
Arkansas Outdoors column: Drought, heat altering health, behavior of deer
The summer of 1980 is the benchmark for heat and drought in Arkansas, but 1997 was pretty tough, too.
Arkansas Outdoors column: Drought, heat altering health, behavior of deer
The summer of 1980 is the benchmark for heat and drought in Arkansas, but 1997 was pretty tough, too.
Friday Football: Helias takes care of business with shutout of Battle
The Helias Crusaders got exactly what they wanted Friday night: jump out to a big lead, get the starters out of the game for the second half, finish with a shutout. “The challenge all week was to play to our standard,” Helias coach Chris Hentges said Friday night after the Crusaders rolled to a 52-0 win against the Battle Spartans in a Central Missouri Activities Conference contest at Ray Hentges Stadium.
Arkansas Department of Health plans to cut 38 jobs, eliminate additional 33 empty positions
The Arkansas Department of Health plans to eliminate 71 positions, including 38 that are currently filled, effective Nov. 1, a department spokesperson said Friday.
ENTERTAINMENT: Prize-winning mezzo-soprano on weeklong state tour
Mezzo-soprano Claire McCahan, winner of the 2025 National Federation of Music Clubs Young Artist Competition, kicks off this year’s Young Artist Tour.
In 1996, NOAA scientists pumped 2 dyes beneath Key Largo to learn where groundwater went; 18 days later, 2 bay-side wells showed it flowed toward the Atlantic
By the mid-1990s, seagrass die-offs and deteriorating water quality had caused coral reefs throughout the Florida Keys to show signs of decline for years, leading scientists to search for explanations other than the apparent ones like boat traffic and coastal development. One notion that kept coming up among academics investigating the region was that contaminants and nutrients could be carried directly into the reef tract by groundwater seeping silently beneath the islands, where no one could witness it.
Entertainment venue with multi-level go-kart track to open in Polaris area
Columbus News, Weather and Sports
Arkansas Department of Health plans to cut 38 jobs, eliminate additional 33 empty positions
The Arkansas Department of Health plans to eliminate 71 positions, including 38 that are currently filled, effective Nov. 1, a department spokesperson said Friday.
72nd annual Decatur BBQ Fest offers flavor, fun and free family entertainment this Saturday
DECATUR -- A Northwest Arkansas tradition is set to return Saturday as the Decatur Chamber of Commerce hosts the 72nd annual Decatur BBQ Fest.
Anthropic says it disrupted scientists using Claude AI for possible biological weapons development
The Supreme Court just handed Republicans a surprisingly decisive midterm loss
For the second time this week, the Court rules against Missouri’s Republican gerrymander.
City's last five meetings with Manchester United
Ahead of Sunday’s eagerly awaited Manchester derby clash away to Manchester United we look back to our most recent games against our nearest rivals. Men's Team Analysing Manchester United ahead of S...
Community Health Center receives national honors
Community Health Center of Central Missouri (CHCCMO) recently received multiple national quality awards from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Can Patrick Paul, Dolphins, needle Raiders' 'hothead' Maxx Crosby?
Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Patrick Paul has seen Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby lose control. Can Paul take advantage in the opener?
ENTERTAINMENT: Museum’s Tinkerfest, various concerts on calendar
Okorie “OkCello” Johnson kicks off the 11th Acansa Arts Festival of the South, 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Morgan Hall of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Stella Boyle Smith Music Center.
Dog grooming and Taco Bell: See business licenses issued in Hamilton County last week
Business licenses issued Aug. 31-Sept. 4, as provided by the Hamilton County Clerk's Office:
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
The Cost of Cutting American Science: How Federal Cuts Diminish Public Health Capacity
Among the federal government’s many responsibilities is the work it does to protect public health. Federal agencies monitor our food supply to ensure safety, conduct research to better understand emerging health threats, provide funding for public health programs in communities and work to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Americans rely on these efforts every day—in a 2024 online survey, 74% of respondents said that “if the federal government issued safety guidance about food you eat regularly,” they would follow it. Changes to Federal Public Health Capacity The Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in significant impacts on our nation’s public health capacity over the past 20 months, affecting the response to health concerns such as measles, Ebola and cyclosporiasis. Agencies with core public health, food safety and disease prevention responsibilities experienced large workforce decreases during the first year of the administration. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for instance, the workforce in February 2026 was 26.7% smaller than in September 2024 before the start of the Trump administration. The Food and Drug Administration saw a similarly steep decline of 21.6%. Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Food Safety and Inspection Service also experienced large workforce decreases. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); Changes can also be seen in crucial public health occupations. The number of federal food inspectors, for example, decreased by more than half between September 2024 and February 2026, going from 1,035 to 473. This is the lowest number of food inspectors employed by the federal government since at least 2005. By February 2026, there were also 33.3% fewer federal public health program specialists, whose work includes advising federal funding recipients on public health activities and analyzing the effectiveness of public health programs. Government’s capacity is diminished as employees with specialized knowledge and experience in protecting the public and responding to health risks depart, leaving agencies less prepared to carry out their public health missions. There also have been vacancies in critical high-level leadership positions at public health agencies, most notably at the CDC, which had a permanent Senate-confirmed director for less than a month between January 2025 and early August 2026. Although the CDC has previously been led by acting directors at the start of an administration, the nearly yearlong gap since the departure of the administration’s first permanent director in August 2025 is without precedent. As of August 2026, the FDA is also currently without a Senate-confirmed commissioner following the previous commissioner’s resignation in May 2026. Additionally, public health agencies are experiencing increased politicization of their leadership ranks. In agencies such as the CDC and Food Safety and Inspection Service, the number of individuals in the Senior Executive Service—the most senior career leaders in government—has declined significantly, while at the same time the number of political appointees has reached record levels. (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); (function(){function e(){window.addEventListener(`message`,function(e){if(e.data[`datawrapper-height`]!==void 0){var t=document.querySelectorAll(`iframe`);for(var n in e.data[`datawrapper-height`])for(var r=0,i;i=t[r];r++)if(i.contentWindow===e.source){var a=e.data[`datawrapper-height`][n]+`px`;i.style.height=a}}})}e()})(); At the CDC, for example, the number of career SES decreased 42.9% between December 2024 and February 2026, while the number of non-Senate confirmed political appointees at the agency was six times larger than the agency’s historical average from 2009 and 2024. Knowledgeable career leaders are integral to the ability of public health agencies to carry out their work with scientific integrity and professional judgment, and rapid leadership turnover and increased politicization threaten agencies’ ability to make evidence-based decisions to protect our health. The upheaval and politicization in public health agencies have also negatively affected employee engagement. Strong employee engagement is crucial to the ability of agencies to carry out their mission and successfully provide essential services to the public. In the 2025 Public Service Viewpoint Survey conducted by the Partnership for Public Service, the Department of Health and Human Services—which encompasses major public health agencies such as the CDC and FDA—had an employee engagement and satisfaction score of 20.4 out of 100, one of the lowest among large agencies. Only 2.8% of HHS employees indicated trust in their political leaders and only 8.7% reported confidence that they could report a suspected violation of law or regulation without retaliation. Employees at HHS also reported that the agency’s ability to provide services to the public had suffered. Nearly half of employees at HHS, 47.5%, said their work unit was worse at delivering quality services compared to its performance in 2024. In addition, 57.8% said their work unit was performing worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs. In addition to the work done within federal agencies, the federal government also distributes significant funding for public health and disease prevention work to state and local governments, nonprofits and small businesses—funding which has been significantly disrupted. At the CDC, for example, there was a 71.9% decrease in the amount of project grant funding issued in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024. The FDA also issued far less funding in fiscal year 2025—a 21.3% decrease from its fiscal year 2024 funding. Changes in federal funding include the ending of grants to community organizations that worked on HIV prevention and the cancellation of funding for research into improvements to patient safety and healthcare quality. These changes go beyond federal agencies to impact the broader public health ecosystem, including the state and local health departments responsible for much of the on-the-ground public health work in their communities. About 80% of the CDC’s domestic funding is directed towards state and local partners—meaning that cuts to CDC funding can ultimately result in cuts to state and local public health capacity. Federal agencies also provide expertise and assistance to state and local health agencies as they deal with particular health challenges, but workforce cuts have resulted in fewer federal employees available to help. The Impact of Changes to Public Health Capacity These changes to federal public health capacity are not abstract concerns. Disrupted programs, reduced funding and lost expertise at public health agencies across all levels of government threaten the public’s physical well-being and safety. In some cases, this has already led to harm. The most immediate impacts of federal cuts were seen in interruptions to ongoing public health programs and crisis responses. In one instance, when CDC grants were canceled during the 2025 Texas measles outbreak—the most severe measles outbreak in 25 years—public health officials in Lubbock, Texas were forced to pause parts of their measles response work supported by the frozen funding. Lubbock’s director of public health further said that a lack of available CDC experts to reach out to for advice “definitely” impacted the department’s response to the measles crisis. Cuts to federal funding also forced Dallas County Health and Human Services to cut staff and cancel 50 community vaccination clinics during the outbreak. Public health work outside of major outbreak responses was also disrupted. For example, in April 2025, the Milwaukee Public Health Department was unexpectedly unable to reach experts on lead poisoning due to firings at the CDC when responding to concerns about lead contamination in Milwaukee public schools. Due to federal workforce cuts, several programs at the CDC, including Alzheimer’s and epilepsy programs, have also become trapped in limbo—existing on paper, but without the staff necessary to operate. More recent crises reveal how federal cuts have weakened the public health infrastructure needed to prevent and respond to dangerous new outbreaks. Internationally, cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development eliminated funding for disease testing and contact tracing abroad, which delayed detection of and responses to the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While international outbreaks may seem far removed, the unchecked spread of disease in any country can quickly pose a danger to economic well-being, security and health around the world. Within the United States, public health cuts inhibited responses to the summer 2026 outbreak of the food-borne parasite cyclospora. At the federal level, cuts to funding for lab equipment and for CDC staff with expertise in parasitic infections—including 9 out of 11 staff members at the lab responsible for identifying parasitic outbreaks in 2025— contributed to the largest reporting delay in outbreak cases at the CDC in 15 years. Conflicting communications from the FDA about the source of the outbreak, which followed cuts to the agency’s communications department, additionally led to confusion among the public about how to best avoid infection. At the same time, cuts to HHS funding and support for local and state public health slowed some health departments’ responses to the crisis. The exact costs of these delays, constraints and confusion in public health responses are difficult to estimate. However, their message is clear: federal cuts have already made containing threats to public health even more of a challenge. Conclusion Protecting public health—from food safety to disease prevention—is one of the federal government’s most important missions. Dramatic and haphazard cuts to federal agencies and funding have already disrupted the public health system, impacting the response to challenges such as measles, lead poisoning and cyclosporiasis. The U.S. public health system needed improvement before these disruptions. Since 2022, federal leadership and coordination in response to public health outbreaks has been on the Government Accountability Office’s High-Risk List of areas in need of attention to improve government effectiveness and efficiency. Recent cuts only compound these concerns. The chaotic dismantling of government and resulting disruptions to crucial functions like public health and disease prevention highlight the need for meaningful reform and concrete policy proposals to reimagine how government can better serve the public and be more effective, responsive and accountable. To learn more about the impact of federal cuts to public health and science more broadly, visit The Cost of Cutting American Science. Learn more For more information on the Partnership for Public Service’s government reform initiative, visit Government for a New Era. View here In line with The Cost of Cutting American Science, federal workforce data in this brief is as of February 2026
Live Results: New Hampshire midterm primaries
The race to replace retiring three-term Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is one of a handful across the country that could determine control of the U.S. Senate for the second half of President Donald Trump’s final term.
WATCH | Mobile speech therapy business ‘Speech on the Spot’ helps meet families needs
Stepping inside Speech on the Spot, a mobile therapy business, visitors are greeted by bus walls decorated with stickers of sunshine, clouds and the phrase "Imagination Blooms."
Kansas prepares for first ‘Border Showdown’ in Lawrence since 2005
LAWRENCE (KSNT) — The ‘Border Showdown’ returns to Lawrence, in its 122nd playing, for the first time in 21 years. The rivalry was renewed last year, for the first time since 2011, when the Missouri Tigers took the 42-31 win. Head coach Lance Leipold was impressed with what he saw from the Tigers in their […]
Clancy murder case spotlights maternal mental health in U.S., Arkansas
The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy in the January 2023 killing of her three young children ended in a mistrial in Massachusetts on Friday when one of 12 jurors refused to join the others in finding her not guilty by reason of insanity.
Vote for Goal of the Matchday
By Dylan ButlerMust-see golazos! | Vote for your Goal of the MatchdayVariety is the spice of life, and that proverb rings true in Matchday 24's AT&T Goal of the Matchday nominees.Vote here for your fa...
Zach Gilford is glad he wasn’t cast as Reid on ‘Criminal Minds’ years before joining revival
‘Criminal Minds’ star Zach Gilford auditioned for Reid in the 2005 pilot, but he has no hard feelings about not even getting a callback: ‘It would’ve been more boring if it was me,’ he tells EW.
Lower Moreland grad launches ERAs Health & Longevity, new direct primary care practice in Blue Bell
Jennifer Hwang, DO, a Huntingdon Valley native and a 2005 graduate of Lower Moreland High School, soft launched ERAs Health … Continue reading "Lower Moreland grad launches ERAs Health & Longevity, new direct primary care practice in Blue Bell"
Burgers Specialty Foods-owned business wins $10 million for ham
A 16.7-pound ham won $10 million Thursday at the 62nd Annual Kentucky Farm Bureau Country Ham Breakfast and Charity Auction.
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education brings hands-on learning to area classrooms through hydroponic gardens
FORT SMITH -- The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Research Institute Health & Wellness Center expanded its hydroponic gardening efforts this summer by equipping area teachers with the tools and knowledge to bring hydroponics directly into their classrooms.
FOR YOUR HEALTH: Active aging
As we age, it is important to support our health by staying physically active.
McKinley’s assassination and the growing distance between politicians and the public
At 4 p.m. on the afternoon of Sept. 6, 1901, the doors of the Temple of Music in Buffalo, N.Y., swung open and the public began filing past the president of the United States. An organist played Bach. William McKinley stood beneath a blue-and-gold dome, smiling and extending his hand to anyone who wished to take it.
Bubba holds forth on health, headlines and Hogs
Bubba McCoy reports for Labor Day that his blood pressure is down thanks to medicine, beet juice that's tastier than you think, an elimination of salt, a steep reduction in booze and coffee, and to the fact that he doesn't pay a bit of attention to politics anymore.
Bubba holds forth on health, headlines and Hogs
Bubba McCoy reports for Labor Day that his blood pressure is down thanks to medicine, beet juice that's tastier than you think, an elimination of salt, a steep reduction in booze and coffee, and to the fact that he doesn't pay a bit of attention to politics anymore.
Scientists find a huge 10-sided wave pattern swirling in the clouds over Saturn’s south pole
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Scientists have discovered an enormous 10-sided wave pattern in the icy ammonia clouds over Saturn's south pole.
WelcomeHealth marks 40 years, lauds partners with A Toast to Health in Fayetteville
Welcome Health: Northwest Arkansas' Free Health Center backers gathered Aug. 27 at the Fayetteville Public Library as the group marked its 40th anniversary at A Toast to Health, the nonprofit's signature annual fundraising event.
Chamber looks to build on business recruitment momentum
The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce is working with seven active state recruitment and expansion projects, has helped support 201 new jobs and is putting more attention on housing, infrastructure, health care and workforce needs.
ENTERTAINMENT: Hot Springs’ Muses set old and new ‘Standards’
The Muses Project's touring fall concert, "Broken Standards," bridging 150 years of early Western European music with early 20th-century American jazz standards, opens with a student show, 6 p.m. Monday at the Muses Cultural Arts Center.
Primm braces for booming Labor Day business
Primm is preparing for a busy Labor Day weekend as travelers stop by while heading in and out of Las Vegas
Giants change Dennis Hickey's role, while Usama Young departs organization
New York Giants change Dennis Hickey’s title to senior personnel executive as VP of player engagement Usama Young leaves.
Chase Daniel Breaks Silence On Mizzou Ring Of Honor Snub
The Missouri Tigers have a storied and deep history in college football, and quite possibly the greatest quarterback to put on the Missouri uniform is Chase Daniel.Daniel was the Tigers’ quarterback for four seasons, from 2005 to 2008. Daniel tossed 101 touchdowns for Missouri, was a Heisman finalist in 2007, and was the Offensive Player […] The post Chase Daniel Breaks Silence On Mizzou Ring Of Honor Snub appeared first on HEAVY.
College football team to honor Dolly Parton throughout season-opener
The athletic director revealed the news on social media.
Television Academy announces 2026 Engineering, Science, and Technology Emmy recipients
SpaceX's Starlink and AI-based face replacement tech among this year's winners.
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.
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.
FDA clears Stryker's ‘surgical cockpit’ that uses Apple's VR headset, Vision Pro
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Stryker deploys Apple's VR headset Vision Pro for a surgical use case, chatbots for loneliness, and more.
Brad Paisley gets emotional as he sings Dolly Parton duet solo after her death: ‘Never thought it would be about her’
Brad Paisley says his 2005 duet with Dolly Parton, ‘When I Get Where I’m Going,’ has taken on new meaning since her Aug. 25 death at 80.
Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa sharp in return to Miami
Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa was sharp in his brief return against the Dolphins
Saints vs. Cowboys: Preseason Week 3 Open Thread
The Saints close out the 2026 preseason against the Cowboys. Join us here for the game!
Missouri announces jersey patch sponsorship deal with Ambetter Health
Missouri and Learfield have partnered together for a “historic” sponsorship, the school announced on Friday. Along with it comes a new jersey patch for the Tigers after the program came to an agreement with Ambetter Health. This is just the latest college football program to add a patch ahead of the 2026 season. “In less […]
Science tells us what you should do right after waking up, and how it shapes your entire day
Don’t outsource your morning to your inbox.
Radiology scores over $1B through No Surprises Act’s independent dispute-resolution process
Radiology stakeholders were quick to criticize the Health Affairs report and its conclusions on Aug. 26, with one contending it came straight from the insurance lobbying industry.
Texarkana fans reflect on late entertainment icon Dolly Parton
TEXARKANA -- Local fans on Wednesday added their voices to the millions expressing their grief and admiration upon the death of entertainment icon Dolly Parton.
Walton siblings to make up Arkansas Business Hall of Fame class of 2027
The four children of Walmart Inc. founder Sam Walton will be inducted together next year into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.
ENTERTAINMENT: Stone-skipping, ‘Seersucker Soiree’ on the calendar
The annual Great Southern Stone Skipping Championships take place for the first time on the banks of the Arkansas River, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at the boat launch in Little Rock’s Murray Park.
Climate change on tap at Siberia as part of science series
Siberia’s ‘Science Time’ series blends nightlife and discussions with scientific experts and researchers. The upcoming edition of the series will feature a lecture on hurricanes and climate change and Q&A with LSU Health New Orleans professor and former state climatologist Barry Keim.
Tulsa knife sharpener turns teenage fundraiser into full-time business
What began as a teenage fundraiser has turned into a full-time, mobile business for a Tulsa man.
Community Voice: Mobile crisis services help fill Tennessee’s youth mental health gap
As concerns grow about the future of healthcare access in rural Tennessee, mental health professionals at Youth Villages encourage families to become familiar with a resource that remains available statewide: mobile crisis services.
🎥 Erling Haaland cuts his hair and reveals new look
Goodbye to the famous blond mane! Striker Erling Haaland decided to make a radical change and went for short hair.Just a few hours before Manchester City’s debut in the new Premier League season, th...
Business People
University of Arkansas employee Keith Urbanski recently completed the first of three years of the 40th annual Community Development Institute at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.
Freeman Health System CEO says goal is to improve Northwest Arkansas health care landscape
Freeman Health System aims to improve several aspects of Northwest Arkansas' health care system now that it is operating four facilities in the region, according to its president and CEO.
ENTERTAINMENT: Argenta Contemporary Theatre keeps on truckin’
Experience gripping theater with 'Hands on a Hardbody' at Argenta Contemporary Theatre. Enjoy interactive performances and celebrate the season's kickoff with TheatreSquared. And welcome the upcoming 2026-27 Fine Arts Center Season with Foreigner's 50th anniversary tour.
High temperatures see business heat up for Arkansas air conditioning companies
Temperatures in Arkansas are expected to remain at record highs throughout the weekend, and local heating and air businesses are feeling the strain of the state's historic heat streak.
Canadiens Urged To Trade For Penguins Icon Sidney Crosby
Longtime Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby is set to enter his 22nd campaign in the NHL, all of which have been spent as part of the Penguins after they selected him with the first overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, popularly referred to as the “Crosby sweepstakes”.During his career, Crosby has not only led […] The post Canadiens Urged To Trade For Penguins Icon Sidney Crosby appeared first on HEAVY.
Penguins Trade Proposal Sends Sidney Crosby To Eastern Rival
It goes without saying that Pittsburgh Penguins icon Sidney Crosby will forever be a sports legend in the Steel City.Since being selected first overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, which was famously dubbed the “Crosby sweepstakes”, Crosby has helped lead the Penguins to three Stanley Cup championships while establishing himself as one of the greatest […] The post Penguins Trade Proposal Sends Sidney Crosby To Eastern Rival appeared first on HEAVY.
Best Buy’s 60th Anniversary Sale Has Huge TCG Deals, but Amazon and TCGplayer Have Even Better Discounts on Pokémon and MTG Right Now
Save on Pokémon, MTG, and Disney Lorcana in Best Buy’s 60th Anniversary Sale, plus compare prices against top deals on Amazon and TCGplayer.
Biotalys Reports Half-Year 2026 Financial Results & Business Highlights
Company Provides R&D UpdateGhent, BELGIUM, Aug. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Press release – regulated information Made substantial regulatory progress in both the U.S. and E.U. with first protein-based biocontrol EVOCA®, paving the regulatory pathway for its commercial version EVOCA NG Achieved promising results in field trials with a second lead BioFun-6 candidate from the AGROBODY® technology platform Entered into a strategic partnership with 21st.BIO, a leading precision fermentation technol
ENTERTAINMENT: Library bookstore opens; cat show set for Maumelle center
Library Square Books, the Central Arkansas Library System’s new used bookstore, opens at 405 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock’s River Market District, with a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Thursday that features refreshments and giveaways and a limited number of commemorative items.
Sean McVay evaluates Ty Simpson's impressive Rams debut
Sean McVay was happy with how his rookie quarterback played in the Rams' preseason win over the Chiefs.
Business People
Benjamin Schurhamer, MD, recently joined Washington Regional Ozark Urology, where he provides diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions with a focus on cancers of the prostate, bladder and kidney.