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A Major Labor Boom in CNY? Not Here Yet

With so many major projects going on — Micron, I-81 viaduct and others — job growth is predicted to increase. But so far the number of jobs in the region has declined By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11065 align=alignright width=350] Amy Stage, deputy director at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY): “For us, the conversation isn’t just about filling jobs. It’s about creating sustainable pathways that help people see a future for themselves in manufacturing.”[/caption] The I-81 viaduct project in Syracuse and Micron facility construction in Clay are expected to create a major labor boom for Central New York. But for the time being, the number of jobs here has actually decreased in the past year. The New York State Department of Labor reported that, for the annual comparison of June 2025 to this past June, private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 or less than 1% to 260,000. Job gains were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+700), private education and health services (+400) and other services (+300). Job losses for that annual period were reported in the areas of trade, transportation and utilities (-1,500); professional and business services (-1,000); financial activities (-500); mining, logging and construction (-300); manufacturing (-200); and information (-100). The public sector job count rose over 12 months, with most growth concentrated in education, the state Department of Labor reported. Looking ahead, the Central New York economy is expected to benefit from both the Micron and I-81 viaduct projects over a period of several years. Initial job growth is foreseen in construction and computer and electronic manufacturing. Spin-off jobs will be created in the areas of professional and business services, health care and education, the state Department of Labor said in an email response to Oswego County Business magazine. “Population growth tied to the buildout of Micron Technology semiconductor complex in Clay is also expected to bring more workers and residents to the region, increasing demand for transportation services,” the agency said. New York Department of Labor highlighted current or projected job growth trends in various sectors. An increase in defense-related contracts at local high-tech employers has continued to support employment growth in the computer and electronic product manufacturing sector and Micron is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs as the project progresses. This sector paid an annual average wage of $117,500 in 2025 and employment in the sector is projected to grow by over 60% through 2032, making it the fastest-growing industry in the region. Typical occupations in this industry include electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers, software developers and industrial engineers, the state agency reported. Specialty trade contractors include several different types of tradespeople — electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) mechanics and installers. Many of these positions are trained through apprenticeships, the state Department of Labor reported. The Interstate 81 construction project is generating local jobs, including construction laborers, projected to grow at a 6.4% rate, and operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, projected to grow at a 7.3% rate over the next several years. Construction of the Micron Technology facility is also “creating thousands of job opportunities that will continue over the next two decades,” the state agency reported. The specialty trade contractors sector paid an annual average wage of $86,200 in 2025. For Central New York, the challenge isn’t creating jobs, it’s filling them. Amy Stage, a deputy director at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), said meeting this unprecedented growth is a much larger task than just replacing retirees. “We’re seeing workforce gaps at every experience level,” she said. “Companies need entry-level employees, experienced technicians, supervisors, engineers and skilled trades professionals. The opportunity is tremendous, but we need more people entering these career pathways.” Employers are looking for people who can troubleshoot, read technical information, use computers and learn new processes, not just perform repetitive production work, Stage said. To address this demand, the MACNY created the Manufacturers Talent Institute, which aims to connect students and job seekers with meaningful career pathways while helping employers build their workforce. Twenty-one companies have so far signed up to provide opportunities for more than 800 students. “For us, the conversation isn’t just about filling jobs,” Stage said. “It’s about creating sustainable pathways that help people see a future for themselves in manufacturing.” Several manufacturing facilities in the region are in the midst of expansion: • TTM Technologies, a leading U.S. manufacturer of advanced electronics and interconnect solutions for aerospace, defense and high-technology markets, which has a plant in DeWitt, completed its buildout of an additional facility, adding 400 jobs and expanding production of high-tech circuit boards for defense and critical electronics applications. • In Cortlandville, the Byrne Hollow Crossing Plant, a dairy manufacturing and processing facility, is increasing its operations, creating 100 new jobs. • The Chobani yogurt company is building a 1.4-million square foot dairy processing facility in Oneida County. This will create more than 1,000 good-paying jobs and double Chobani’s New York state workforce, Stage said. Stage noted several ways that local, state and federal governments can help spur manufacturing job growth in this region. Elected leaders and public agencies could work with industry representatives to create pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs seeking to upskill workers and improve employee retention. New York state has a variety of grants, tax incentives and financing programs to support site preparation, infrastructure, workforce development and capital investment. The U.S. Department of Labor has a pay-for-performance incentive program that provides employers $3,500 per new apprentice hired and retained for 90 days. MACNY was previously awarded an $87,000 federal grant that will cover 25 apprentices at nine companies. The manufacturing skills gap in the United States, at its current rate, could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, according to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. In New York state, that gap is on pace to exceed 100,000 unfilled positions within six years. Manufacturing companies will be counting on more women to help fill that gap. While women make up half of the overall U.S. workforce, they only account for 29% of the manufacturing workforce in this country, Stage said. “Pre-apprenticeship programs like Real Life Rosies help to bring awareness to the manufacturing industry to fill some of the gaps, but we have a long way to go and it starts with educating people at younger ages about careers in manufacturing and earn-and-learn opportunities,” she said. As for Micron, that $100 billion-plus project, considered the largest private investment in New York state history, is expected to eventually create up to 50,000 jobs throughout the region, factoring in the spin-off opportunities for construction and supply chains. The plant’s foundation was poured on July 9. “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, data and memory are foundational to the modern economy — and Micron is increasing our U.S. investments to more than $250 billion through 2035 to meet that moment,” the company’s president and CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, said in a news release. Bechtel, Micon’s construction partner in the project, reported that 4,500 people will be employed to help build the facility, including skilled craft professionals, local union members representing various trades and apprentices. The Syracuse-based CenterState CEO organization tallies the regional labor force at 397,582 workers (Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison and Oswego counties). Job growth isn’t limited to the Central New York region. For the larger area covering portions of the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern tier, and the western part of the state, there are 155,601 employees in the advanced manufacturing sector, and 155,275 construction workers. The agency’s 2026 Economic Forecast report noted that 41% of community and business leaders surveyed said a shortage of skilled workers in this area remains a problem, though 77% shared a positive economic outlook for the year ahead. Beyond the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing areas, local business leaders also see growth in small manufacturing companies, storage businesses, housing, unmanned flight technology and general construction. “Productive reuse of property,” the report said, “will hopefully continue to preserve unique architecture while driving business.” The report identified several challenges for economic growth in the region, including an aging workforce, outdated equipment, the rising cost of raw materials and “the disconnect between the speed of business needs and the pace of talent readiness.”

Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com

BUSINESS UPDATE: Attracting World-Renowned Piercing Educators to Oswego

Growing number of renowed piercers are coming to Oswego to share knowledge at newly opened Aqua Spa Float Center piercing suite Submited by Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique [caption id=attachment_11066 align=alignright width=450] Recent opening of Aqua Spa Float Center piercing suite.[/caption] Professional piercers and educators from countries including France, Scotland and India have come to Oswego’s Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique to share their knowledge In the past year and a half, the Port City has become a destination for some of the industry’s most respected educators through the efforts of the Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique. Beginning in January of 2025, Aqua Spa Float Center envisioned a new version of body piercing, one where elegance, safety and personal expression could converge. According to the Aqua Spa, piercing is no longer just a trend — it’s a refined form of personal identity, luxury styling and self-investment. It’s not only about the jewelry — it’s about the entire experience. The team welcomed first guest piercer Ruben Triguero, a senior French piercer, piercing stylist and international educator, who has over two decades of experience and has worked in some of the world’s best studios, including Paris, Rome, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Dubai. In those studios, he offered his expertise and refined styling skills. Triguero is a prominent figure and leader in the piercing community and shares his knowledge with piercers teaching classes for the industry’s most prestigious organizations, including Latinoamérica Body Piercing Association (LBP) and Association of Professional Piercers (APP). He is currently the senior international instructor of the APP. Triguero has a passion for creating stunning, personalized piercings for clients around the world. Education and Mentorship Following a year of success and popularity, Aqua Spa Float Center hosted the grand opening of its private dedicated piercing suite in March. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness celebrated this next chapter with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino, members of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, local business owners and community members. The educational focus, aligned with Aqua Spa Float Center’s vision and mission, had already begun expanding beyond clients. Aqua Spa has hosted multiple workshops and continuing education opportunities for professional piercers, inviting studios from across the region to gain hands-on experience from internationally recognized instructors without the expense of traveling to national or international conferences. These educational events have welcomed nationally and internationally recognized professional piercers and educators from countries including France, Scotland, India, and throughout the United States. Aqua Spa also continues to collaborate with talented regional and local professionals, creating opportunities for education and mentorship that benefit both industry peers and clients throughout Central New York. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique owners — Tammy Wilkinson and Terry LeRoi — have been deeply rooted in the piercing industry with over 30 years in business as LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery. Combining that experience with holistic wellness, self-care and self-expression is the new concept with the client Luxe Piercing Experience at the Aqua Spa Float Center. “At LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and Aqua Spa Float Center, we’ve been fortunate to work with many of the world’s most respected piercers through our involvement with the Association of Professional Piercers and by attending conferences across North America and Europe,” said LeRoi, founder of LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and co-owner of Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique. “Those experiences have shown us that education is what drives our industry forward. “Not every piercer or studio can travel to major conferences like the APP Conference in Las Vegas or APP Benelux in the Netherlands, so we’re committed to bringing that level of education here. Hosting internationally respected educators like Jef Saunders allows our clients to experience the highest standards of professional piercing while giving piercers throughout the Northeast the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the profession. That’s something we’re incredibly proud to offer our community.” When asked about the client experience, Wilkinson explained that education is at the heart of every appointment as well. “Our vision is to nurture and enhance wellness, balance and harmony through a multi-modality-centered facility, and we aspire to empower sustained, positive change, well-being and self-awareness; and educate to the benefits of natural health, holistic wellness and life balance,” Wilkison explains. “Piercing is no different. The piercing experience feels just as peaceful and rejuvenating as any other spa services. From the moment our clients arrive, they are in the very best hands with our kind and professional Wellness Ambassadors and experienced APP guest piercers.” Wilkinson also explained that piercing clients receive stellar care: every Luxe Piercing appointment includes a one-on-one private piercing in Aqua Spa’s dedicated piercing suite, their choice of custom jewellery by LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery, thorough after-care instructions and complementary check-up appointment, complementary whole-body red light therapy session in the Class II NovoTHOR medical device to promote healing, and access to many rejuvenating spa services. Piercing clients get 15% off during any event. According to Wilkinson, “Health and safety are always our highest priority when you come in for a piercing or jewelry installation. Before each appointment, all tools and jewelry are sterilized in a Statim autoclave, and every surface in the piercing room is carefully disinfected. During the procedure, your piercer will wear a mask and change gloves as needed to maintain a sterile environment. Once your piercing is complete, your piercer will go over detailed aftercare instructions with you. Following these steps is crucial to ensure proper healing before you leave our sanctuary.” As a part of the experience, guest piercers include a thorough anatomy review of the client’s desired piercing to ensure the new addition will work in harmony with the existing. “Our clients are enjoying building and creating ear curations with these international professionals. It’s a unique styling event and a chance to highlight self-expression,” Wilkinson said. Clients and piercers throughout the region are flocking to this piercing destination in Upstate New York. The Luxe Piercing Experience has welcomed clients and piercers alike from around the globe. Owners Wilkinson and LeRoi hope to continue the momentum with more educational seminars with industry experts to be a hub of knowledge and expertise. They hope to establish LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and Aqua Spa Float Center as legacy businesses known for their lasting, positive impact on the piercing and holistic wellness industries.

Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com

Are Bank Lobbies Still Relevant?

Local banking leaders say technology is changing the way customers use their banks — and their lobbies By Deborah Jeanne Post [caption id=attachment_11109 align=alignright width=300] Steve Gorczynski is M&T Bank Central New York regional president.[/caption] When was the last time you entered the lobby of your bank? If it’s been a while, you’re part of a trend of eschewing the lobby in favor of ATMs, drive-thrus, online banking and remote deposit. A 2025 study performed by the American Bankers Association revealed that only 9% of consumers use bank branches as their preferred way to do banking and 76% prefer mobile banking. The trend away from the lobby reflects consumer behavior in other areas of doing business, including online shopping instead of perusing the mall, ordering fast food at a kiosk, not at the counter and selecting curbside pick-up rather than walking into the restaurant. Consumers want convenience and going in the lobby adds another layer to the task. It also places consumers face to face with one or more representatives of the business, something less favorable to people feeling burned out from interpersonal interactions. Nixing or at least minimizing the size of the lobby isn’t necessarily negative for banks. Fewer people passing through their doors reduces overhead for building maintenance, staffing and furnishing. Greater reliance on virtual banking can mean closing brick and mortar locations and hiring fewer staffers to cover roles like teller and lending officer. “Our focus is on meeting customers where they are and giving them flexibility in how they bank,” said Steve Gorczynski, M&T Bank Central New York regional president. “While many everyday transactions can be supported digitally and through ATMs, branches remain important for more complex financial needs, offering face-to-face guidance and a more personal banking experience.” Talking with a commercial lender or working on a home mortgage are two examples where meeting face-to-face is more desirable for many people. They can receive immediate feedback to questions and can possibly reach their goals more quickly. But there’s little need to have a large seating area, long counters and numerous tellers for routine banking that’s quicker to handle virtually. Online banking can also help people on the go more readily complete banking tasks such as depositing checks, transferring funds among accounts and checking balances. [caption id=attachment_11135 align=alignright width=300] Tina M. Stephens is the vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank.[/caption] “The traditional bank lobby is certainly being evaluated by most institutions today, as the typical large, open and cavernous spaces do not necessarily meet the needs of today’s customers,” said Tina M. Stephens, vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank. “Traditional lobbies often bisect traditional teller stations and customer service areas, which adds confusion, especially for the demographic who routinely use online banking and only access the lobby for customer service needs.” Despite the rollback in physical locations across the industry, Fulton Savings Bank began modernizing its six branch offices in Oswego and Onondaga counties about three years ago and have finished four offices so far in Baldwinsville, Fulton, Constantia, and Phoenix. “We made the decision to build a new branch across the street from our current office in Brewerton which will be completed by the end of 2026, and we will begin the retrofit of our Central Square office in early 2027,” Stephens said. “Our efforts specifically address where we think customers will be in the next three to five years and have greater flexibility to make changes out into the future.” The bank may be onto something, as numerous reports state that screen-weary Gen Z young adults crave more in-person interactions than virtual ones. If the pendulum continues to swing in that direction, it’s hard to see all physical bank areas disappear, even if they change somewhat. Fulton Savings Bank has also consolidated its teller and customer service representative areas to larger “universal banker” areas, where the bank representative can address all customer retail needs. A one-stop-shop experience appeals to busy banking customers who want to perform a few different banking tasks in one visit. Stephens also said that Fulton Savings Bank made additional technology and security enhancements and created flex spaces to accommodate bank meetings throughout the two-county branch footprint. At Solvay Bank, Elizabeth Lavier, vice president marketing and communications manager, lauded digital and online services as convenient and flexible for managing finances; however, “technology is not meant to replace what matters most: the relationships behind every account that have always been at the heart of community banking,” she said. “Even in today’s digital-first world, people of all ages still value the opportunity to sit down with a trusted banker for personalized guidance. We understand that some of life’s biggest moments call for more than a screen.” Lavier views digital banking as another way for the organization to serve customers rather than a replacement for branches, tellers and lenders, which tend to serve customers better for transactions like buying a first car, purchasing a home, saving for a child’s education, or planning for retirement. “Those conversations, built on understanding, experience and personal guidance, are what community banking is all about,” Lavier said. “At the end of the day, banking is about more than transactions. It’s about helping our customers achieve their goals and being there for them every step of the way. By combining the convenience of digital banking with the care, commitment, and personal service of a local community bank, Solvay Bank offers customers the best of both worlds.” Are Paper Checks Destined to Disappear? With the ubiquity of debit cards, online payments, virtual checks and peer-to-peer payment platforms like Venmo, Zelle and PayPal, will paper checks become passe? “In my view, paper checks are unlikely to disappear in the near future,” said Tina M. Stephens, vice president branch administration for Fulton Savings Bank. “They continue to serve a practical purpose by providing a clear paper trail and tangible proof of payment.” According to the American Banker, a leading trade publication that covers the banking and financial industry, in 2024, checks accounted for 65% of all payment fraud losses. Paper checks should be phased out, according to the publication. “The phrase, ‘The check’s in the mail’ probably sounds strange to younger people because the era of paper checks is rapidly drawing to a close. Put bluntly, checks are an expensive, insecure legacy that is a drag on the U.S. economy. Rather than wait for them to vanish slowly, the pragmatic choice is to strategically accelerate the transition to paperless payments.”

Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com

Retiring from Farming

Start now to ensure your farm passes to the next generation Deborah Jeanne Post [caption id=attachment_11062 align=alignright width=405] Adam C. Howell, outreach director at Cornell’s NY FarmNet: “Retirement from farming is atypical planning,” he says.[/caption] Roughly 70% of family-owned farms will transfer ownership withing the next two decades, according to data from to the USDA census. Only 30% of those will remain in the family. The number of farms in New York is shrinking as the size of farms increases. In other words, there are fewer farms in the state, but they’re much larger. This is why succession planning is so important for family farms. A farm represents not only a way to make a living but a legacy and family tradition. Many families want to preserve the small farm segment of agriculture and the values it represents. Passing the family farm to the next generation can’t be left to chance. And it shouldn’t be left for “the kids to figure out” after the older generation dies. Succession planning in agriculture isn’t like other types of business retirement planning or personal final planning. “Retirement from farming is atypical planning,” said Adam C. Howell, outreach director at Cornell’s NY FarmNet. “Most farmers, their assets and the way they live and survive in retirement is tied up in the equity in the farm. Those conversations must take place a lot earlier than they think. They’re dealing with something asset-heavy that may require a trust and tax planning.” NY FarmNet offers farmers free, confidential consultation services regarding financial and business management, and family, and mental health support for farmers in New York state. It’s a program of Cornell University in Ithaca. Howell urges farmers to begin the conversation early. Most family farms are run by generations with the oldest generation most involved and typically with fewer of the middle-aged adults and young adults involved. Some of the younger generation may have off-farm jobs and not live on the homestead. “Different people have different expectations on their legacy,” Howell said. “Intergenerational conflict and discussions can be difficult. It may be good to check with NY FarmNet or Ag Mediation to help mediate these conversations with a third party. A lot of farms have broken up because people can’t decide how to divide things.” New York State Agricultural Mediation Program is a USDA‑certified, free or low‑cost service for farmers. Fair is not always equal. A sole owner simply stating that he wants to divide things equally among his children may leave one-quarter of the farm operation to an adult child who moved away and hasn’t sat in a tractor for decades. The three adult children who have toiled on the farm for 30 years may need to buy out the fourth, non-farming sibling but cannot because all of their money is tied up in the equipment, land and stock that supports their livelihood. Their payrate may not allow them to set aside much to buy out the non-farming sibling. As a result, they may need to sell parts of the farm off in order to keep it. However, doing so may limit their ability to sufficiently support their families. The farm owner may need to bequeath more assets to the farming siblings because their efforts have kept the farm going and without those assets and their work, the farm will cease operations. Howell advises seeking professional help on tax and legal issues. Without it, families can be exposed to expensive problems and infighting. A third-party expert can help farm families navigate what is truly fair in the family’s succession plans. Beyond the practical aspects of inheritance, succession also relies upon planning who will operate the farm and how. “I think it’s important that farmers understand the means and methods of farming are always changing,” Howell said. For example, many young adult farmers earn a degree at a school such as Cornell, SUNY Cobleskill or Morrisville, work on a different farm for a while and then return to their family farm with big ideas on how to improve the farm — if only their dad and uncles will agree. Intergenerational conflict is often centered on newer ideas such agritourism, online marketing and shipping goods. “It causes conflict,” Howell said. “A lot of it comes down to communication and respect within the family. If no one in the family wants to take on farming, what we’ll see is older farmers start to help trusted managers buy into the farm.” The middle-aged generation, now in their 40s and 50s, often struggle with wresting the helm from their parents. Howell said that many older farmers don’t discuss with their grown children their vital business information such as vendors, ordering supplies, pricing, recordkeeping and farm planning. They even claim that “the kids” aren’t ready yet. These gaps in cross-training may cause significant problems even before the older generation dies, if there’s an illness or injury. Howell urges farmers to document these processes and cross-train others on the farm how to handle these areas “to make sure if one person is incapacitated, the entire operation is not at risk,” he said. Mark Modzeleski, financial adviser, financial planner and president at Legacy Wealth Advisors of NY in Syracuse, advises families to talk sooner than later about who should be operating the farm. “Someone is driving the farm,” he said. “Have you decided who? Be honest when you have that conversation. Who do they turn to when there’s a question? Or who has the potential to be leaders?” Planning for leadership continuity is vital. Unfortunately, talking like this can become fraught with emotions if it’s only the family involved. Modzeleski advised finding a third party who can help drive the conversation. “Invite the right people to the conversation who can get you from point A to point B,” he said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint.” It may take sitting down a few times with an estate planning attorney who specializes in farm transition, along with a tax professional and others who can help moderate and plan. Family members, owners and possibly, integral farm managers should attend the meetings. “Figure out what you want your legacy to be,” Modzeleski added.

Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com

Dan Campbell says pass protection shows why Jahmyr Gibbs is different from other backs

Oct 14 • 4:24 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Scientists may have finally solved the mystery of the Moon’s two faces

Scientists may have solved a long-standing mystery about why the Moon’s two sides are so different, using samples collected from its farside for the first time. Their findings suggest that uneven heating from Earth's gravitational pull drove enormous flows of ancient magma, creating the dramatically different lunar landscapes we see today.

Oct 13 • 8:00 PM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com

Steelers DC Patrick Graham Felt Like a Player Again

Patrick Graham had a different perspective for the Steelers' Week 5 win over the Colts. The defensive coordinator shared what made Sunday's sideline experience special.

Oct 13 • 7:33 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Cooper, Whatley run 'cautious campaigns' in critical Senate race

The candidates in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race are running on very different messages but following similar campaign strategies.

Oct 13 • 3:53 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Cooper, Whatley run 'cautious campaigns' in critical Senate race

The candidates in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race are running on very different messages but following similar campaign strategies.

Oct 13 • 3:53 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Then and Now: Through three careers, King builds extraordinary life

Kevin King’s resume reads like three different careers stitched together: internet pioneer, top-producing real estate broker and Caribbean charter captain. Learning from each experience and job is key, King said,...

Oct 13 • 12:50 PM EDT • Business • talkbusiness.net

Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Trade Chatter is Different

When most superstars are involved in trade rumors, it feels like the bidding market is populated by the big-market teams. And sure, if the trade speculation about Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. is true, it could feel a decent amount like that for him, too. There’s something different about Acuña, though, which could make […] The post Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. Trade Chatter is Different appeared first on HEAVY.

Oct 13 • 11:10 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Scientists Tried to Find a Logical Cause of Ghostly Presences. They Found Something Even Scarier.

Researchers compared three very different groups and found their hauntings eerily overlapped.

Oct 13 • 10:00 AM EDT • Science • popularmechanics.com

SF school board race fractures political alliances

SF’s school board race has split the city’s political players, with the union, GrowSF and SF Parents each running a different slate.

Oct 13 • 9:00 AM EDT • Politics • sfstandard.com

Tony Dungy shares his account of leaving NBC Sports

Jamie Lamor Thompson/Shutterstock.com Dungy opens up about NBC’s decision to move on Tony Dungy’s 17-season run at NBC Sports ended in 2026. In a preview of his interview with Sage Steele, the former Indianapolis Colts coach said NBC wanted younger voices and a different lineup on Football Night in America. Dungy also discussed his Christian…

Oct 13 • 8:15 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Harnessing Technology to Help Farmers Assess Crop Health Earlier

Penn leads a team with researchers from Purdue University, the University of Florida, and the University of California, Merced, so the technology can prove itself across different crops, climates, and regulations.

Oct 13 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • engineering.upenn.edu

Scientists Build a World-First DNA Computer That Runs Without Continuous Power

Reusable for up to 25 different calculations, a DNA computer points toward possible uses in energy-efficient computing and long-term data storage.

Oct 13 • 7:48 AM EDT • Science • scitechdaily.com

How do scientists know the Earth is billions of years old? The proof may surprise you

Scientists did not arrive at Earth’s age from one clue. Several very different measurements keep pointing toward the same ancient timeline.

Oct 13 • 7:27 AM EDT • Science • yahoo.com

Loneliness May Cost You Nearly 6 Healthy Years. Diet and Exercise May Not Reduce the Risk

A study of more than 277,000 adults found that loneliness and social isolation carry different health risks, requiring potentially different solutions.

Oct 13 • 7:00 AM EDT • Health • inc.com

Tom Tiffany's conservative record dates back years in state and federal politics

As he runs for governor, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has introduced himself to voters as a get-along kind of conservative, but his lengthy record in the state Legislature and Congress tells a different story.

Oct 13 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • wpr.org

Scandal reshaped NC-11 race. Now, 3 candidates fight to represent WNC

After Chuck Edwards' censure, Jamie Ager, Jennifer Balkcom and Travis Groo offer sharply different visions for Western North Carolina.

Oct 13 • 5:05 AM EDT • Politics • citizen-times.com

The Sometimes-Awkward Art of Asking for a Second Opinion

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Oct 13 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • kffhealthnews.org

Michigan State biologist to discuss science behind bird color

Discover why bird feathers, bills and skin evolve different colors at a public presentation scheduled for Nov. 6.

Oct 13 • 4:45 AM EDT • Science • battlecreekenquirer.com

James Madison University jumps to a different athletic conference. Here’s the political question that’s not being asked.

The Dukes will move from the Sun Belt Conference to the American Conference by July 1, 2028. That should bring JMU more broadcast revenue, but will it reduce the school’s unusually high depen…

Oct 13 • 4:24 AM EDT • Politics • cardinalnews.org

Nokia to sell Enterprise Campus Edge business to AURELIUS

Deal supports Nokia’s strategy to focus capital where the company can differentiate and create long-term value.Planned transaction will provide ECE with greater independence and agility, helping it respond more quickly to customer needs and accelerate the digitalization and transformation of industrial operations

Oct 13 • 1:00 AM EDT • Business • nokia.com

Illumina’s (ILMN) Sequencing Business Is Recovering, But Is the Stock Getting Ahead of Itself?

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) has returned 118% over the past six months, compared to a 21.25% return for the Insider Monkey Billionaire Index and 14% for State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. Illumina has given investors a reason to look at it differently in 2026. After years of dealing with growth challenges and strategic distractions, […]

Oct 12 • 11:52 PM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Just politics or the ‘opposite of clever’? The risks and rewards of strategic voting

Vote splitting and parliamentary overhangs are not unheard of in New Zealand elections. But making them a deliberate campaign tactic is different.

Oct 12 • 9:10 PM EDT • Politics • theconversation.com

For Wave Sports & Entertainment, less is more in terms of cutting through the noise

Wave Sports, with around 120 full-time employees, is set up to serve three different groups: the audience (young millennials and Gen Z, in particular); the talent; and the advertisers. Across of its 10 shows, there are now over 1 billion views per month, with 75% of the audience under the age of 35.

Oct 12 • 5:36 PM EDT • Entertainment • sportsbusinessjournal.com

New ASU initiative to advance the science of finding and identifying missing people

The pain of losing a friend or a family member can be devastating, but it is profoundly different from learning that a loved one is missing and may never be found.“It’s called ambiguous loss,” said Sherry Fox, an assistant teaching professor in The School of Interdisciplinary Forensics at Arizona State University. “And it’s a horrible thing.”

Oct 12 • 4:54 PM EDT • Science • news.asu.edu

Kyle Gordon on "Mr. Jambo", "Planet of the Bass", and His Dream Music Collab

"If you thought I was only this, I'm gonna do something completely different now!"

Oct 12 • 4:36 PM EDT • Entertainment • mashable.com

Political polls historically underestimate Phil Scott. Will 2026 be different?

Voters decide between Phil Scott and Amanda Janoo as late-season polls offer conflicting views on the tight Vermont race.

Oct 12 • 3:53 PM EDT • Politics • vnews.com

2026 Voter Insight Panel: Elections, Immigration, and Family

Central Floridians with different political views discuss the U.S. Senate race, democracy, immigration enforcement, and how they navigate political differences with family and friends.

Oct 12 • 12:14 PM EDT • Politics • cfpublic.org

Do Social Media Longevity Trends Actually Work?

Viral health trends across social media claim to increase both stamina and longevity, but do they really work? TODAY medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar joins TODAY to differentiate fact from fiction by breaking down social media health claims, from cold plunges and cortisol levels to wearable trackers and more.

Oct 12 • 9:28 AM EDT • Health • today.com

Manchester City Victory and Celebrations Make Farce of Premier League

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola described City’s 3-0 win as “two different games" as referring decisions decide outcome.

Oct 12 • 8:42 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Avengers: Doomsday To Have a Rare & Major Difference From All MCU Movies

Avengers: Doomsday, one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, could be markedly different from previous MCU films. A new report suggests the movie may take a much more serious approach th...

Oct 12 • 8:20 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

How is Microsoft's Magnetic Connect different from Apple's MagSafe for MacBooks?

Apple's MagSafe chargers are proprietary, and the charging port can't be used for peripherals. Microsoft's Magnetic Connect solves both of these frustrations.

Oct 12 • 8:15 AM EDT • Technology • engadget.com

James Talarico mental health accusations assessed

Talarico said he had a "nasty case of the flu" last week, but Republican voices have a completely different theory.

Oct 12 • 7:12 AM EDT • Health • yahoo.com

Why we love to dress for the job we don’t have

Today, most of us probably work from behind a desk. Yet our obsession with clothes from a different kind of working life just won’t quit.

Oct 12 • 6:08 AM EDT • Technology • cnn.com

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Are Built Different: ‘I Am In the Prediction Business’

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.

Oct 12 • 6:00 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

'It could have been a very different history': Researchers are finally starting to pin down how many Indigenous people were living in the Americas when Columbus arrived

Archaeologists and geographers have been trying to estimate the pre-1492 population of the Americas for decades. But it's difficult.

Oct 12 • 2:00 AM EDT • Science • livescience.com

Giguere brings different perspective as NAMA chair

Iowa Corn Processors CEO ushers in next leadership generation.

Oct 12 • 12:00 AM EDT • Business • bakingbusiness.com

Exclusive | Amazon in Talks to Buy AI Startup Decart for Around $7 Billion

The San Francisco company’s software makes it easier for developers to switch between different AI chips.

Oct 11 • 4:26 PM EDT • Business • wsj.com

Who Should Be the Astros’ Designated Hitter in 2027

With Carlos Correa's return, the lineup will look different for the 2027 season.

Oct 11 • 4:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Hurricanes 5, Blackhawks 2

The Carolina Hurricanes cruised to their fourth win in a row with a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night. The win improved their record to 4-1-1 for this early season. Five different players notched goals and 11 got on the scoresheet. Brandon Bussi made 24 saves on the 26 shots he faced […]

Oct 11 • 12:03 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Sustaining livelihoods amid crisis in Gaza

Nidaa, Hanaa and Hanin have different stories, but share a common thread: the determination to build something of their own and keep it going despite extraordinary challenges facing them in war-ravaged Gaza.

Oct 11 • 12:00 PM EDT • Business • news.un.org

New Plugin Allows Us To Turn Our Steam Deck Into a PSP, PS5, or Xbox 360

A new plugin for the Steam Deck allows us to change Game Mode to different console interfaces, making it feel like a PSP, PS3, Xbox 360, and more.

Oct 11 • 11:50 AM EDT • Technology • steamdeckhq.com

Have McCabe and Mead taken Arsenal Women’s fire with them?

Arsenal Women entered the new season with high expectations, but five Women’s Super League matches later, the picture looks rather different.Just one victory, five points from a possible fifteen and...

Oct 11 • 8:30 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Political polls historically underestimate Phil Scott. Will 2026 be different?

Two new polls differ sharply on Vermont’s governor’s race. History suggests the numbers deserve a closer look.

Oct 11 • 8:11 AM EDT • Politics • vtdigger.org

Scientists Say the Older Brain May Be Optimized for Something Different

New research suggests that healthy brain aging may reflect a shift in cognitive priorities rather than simple decline. The aging brain may not simply be a younger brain in decline. New research from the University of Arizona argues that healthy aging involves a shift in cognitive priorities, with less emphasis on preserving precise details and

Oct 11 • 7:57 AM EDT • Science • scitechdaily.com

Contests for Florida governor, senator offer different strategies for handling race

It’s a reflection of a difficult reality for Black candidates like Byron Donalds and Angie Nixon, especially in a Southern state, experts say: Progressives may motivate their base by engaging on race, but conservatives risk alienating…

Oct 11 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • orlandosentinel.com

‘New Girl’ Stars Reunite — in a Slightly Different Way Than Max Greenfield Claimed

Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield, Jake Johnson, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone and Damon Wayans Jr. stepped out together as they were honored at the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball on Saturday.

Oct 11 • 12:40 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Scientists Say the Secret to a Happier, Healthier Society May Begin in Childhood

How children are raised may matter for social well-being worldwide, with surveys across three culturally different countries linking supportive childhoods to adults’ trust and sense of belonging. At home, a child seeking comfort depends on a caregiver’s response, while time for free play offers room to explore. A University of Nottingham-led study linked these experiences,

Oct 10 • 10:28 PM EDT • Science • scitechdaily.com

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease shows different warning signs from established risk factors

A study by the University of Oulu and the University of Eastern Finland found that people who developed Alzheimer's disease before the age of 65 accumulated a wide range of health problems, particularly ...

Oct 10 • 4:00 PM EDT • Health • medicalxpress.com

Italy talent Palestra finally makes Chelsea debut

Italy international Marco Palestra finally made his Premier League debut for Chelsea today and showed his versatility, as in just 20 minutes he played two different roles.The 21-year-old was a big sum...

Oct 10 • 3:20 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Minnesota Wild Moving Kaprizov to Different Line?

John Hynes is tired of waiting on his top forwards to get going, so he's shaking things up for Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild.

Oct 10 • 1:44 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Apple's All-New Home Hub Will Be Revealed October 13: What to Expect

Apple reportedly plans to unveil an all-new smart home hub as part of the "Welcome home" product launch it announced for Tuesday, October 13. Our image above is just a rough concept based on rumored design details, so be prepared for the device's actual appearance to be different. The device will likely be unveiled in a press release shared on the Apple Newsroom website at around 9 a.m.

Oct 10 • 9:58 AM EDT • Technology • macrumors.com

Being your authentic self is serious work, founders say; why women need to be in the business of saying ‘no’

In a world that’s so focused on AI, now’s the time for entrepreneurs to lean into the authentic quirks that make their businesses different, said Colleen Robertson, encouraging women to “be OK doing something crazy and turning people’s heads.”

Oct 10 • 9:33 AM EDT • Business • startlandnews.com

A New St. Louis Science Center Exhibit is Entirely About the Ways Nature Can Kill You

The Saint Louis Science Center is getting a new exhibit about all the different ways nature can kill you. Death by Natural Causes opens March 20, 2027. According to the Science Center, visitors will s...

Oct 10 • 9:30 AM EDT • Science • yahoo.com

Ravens are much different with and without Lamar Jackson

Oct 10 • 9:20 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Different voices, shared challenges: mental health in athletics | FEATURE

It was a fleeting exchange at a press conference, but it touched on a much wider issue.

Oct 10 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • worldathletics.org

Bills' Anderson has new 'obsession' with football, mental health awareness

Alec Anderson is in his fifth NFL season, but this one feels different as he takes on new challenges.

Oct 9 • 7:22 PM EDT • Health • spectrumlocalnews.com

Scientists Uncover Two Hidden Forms of Disorder in Next-Generation Semiconductors

A study of twisted two-dimensional semiconductors reveals how subtle material disorder can emerge at different spatial scales. Two distinct forms of hidden disorder may influence how ultrathin semiconductors emit light. One extends across relatively large areas of the material, while the other is concentrated around tiny defects. A new theoretical approach offers a way to

Oct 9 • 2:20 PM EDT • Science • scitechdaily.com

<i>A Different World</i> Lives Up To The Legacy Of The OG & I Can’t Stop Defending It

Can we just let the 'A Different World' reboot find its footing without all the unnecessary hate? The show is worth the watch, period. Here's why we're hoping everyone is nicer about the Netflix series in Season 2.

Oct 9 • 11:37 AM EDT • Entertainment • refinery29.com

NVIDIA-Backed Upscale Wants to Make Rival AI Chips Work Together

NVIDIA GPUs dominate today’s AI data centers, but they’re no longer the only processors companies want to use. Cloud providers are developing their own AI chips, while specialized accelerators are entering the market. Getting these different processors to work together efficiently is creating a new challenge for data center operators. That’s the problem Upscale hopes […]

Oct 9 • 11:09 AM EDT • Science • hpcwire.com

Cool chemistry trick allows new tattoos to 'turn on and off'

Researchers created multicolored tattoo inks that are activated by different wavelengths of light, allowing people to hide their tattoos in different scenarios.

Oct 9 • 11:00 AM EDT • Science • livescience.com

What Rubio and Guilfoyle’s headlines from Greece reveal about the Trump era

Two prominent members of the Trump administration were in Greece this week and each made major news — but for very different reasons. What do Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to G…

Oct 9 • 8:47 AM EDT • Politics • thehill.com

These Skin Cancer Pictures Could Save Your Life

Plus, how to differentiate between different skin cancer types.

Oct 9 • 7:53 AM EDT • Health • prevention.com

Mental health, meteorology on TV, and managing it all

I realize that everyone has a different experience with mental health, but I wanted to share what my journey has been like. I will dive into what I experienced during my first panic attack, the process of getting the help I need, and some resources that are available for mental health.

Oct 9 • 6:59 AM EDT • Health • wral.com

Apple rolls out AT&T carrier update for iPhone 18 Pro Max on iOS 27.2 beta

Apple is rolling out a different carrier bundle update for devices running the iOS 27.2 beta. Here are the details.

Oct 8 • 10:11 PM EDT • Technology • 9to5mac.com

Apple Music Is About To Sound Very Different On Your Apple TV

Apple is offering high-resolution lossless sound, which can provide even richer tracks for TVs and speakers capable of playing them.

Oct 8 • 6:17 PM EDT • Technology • bgr.com

Fall Sports Update: Women’s Volleyball Swept By Nebraska

Women’s Hockey (2-2) The women’s hockey team got back on track with 5-3 and 4-1 wins over Robert Morris to open conference play. Robert Morris scored two goals in the first minute of Game 1 before the Lions found their legs. Five different Nittany Lions scored the five goals, including freshman Sofia Ismael scoring her […]

Oct 8 • 1:33 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Same Class, Different Views: Rethinking political division on campus

With one month until the midterm elections, Americans must confront a deeply divided political system and growing ideological tensions. College students remain uniquely positioned to explore, rather than avoid, this political reality. That opportunity is worth preserving now more than ever. Students living away from home for the first time experience many new opportunities, and...

Oct 8 • 12:40 PM EDT • Politics • smudailycampus.com

Testing 6 Completely Different Gravel Bikes Head to Head to Find the Future of Gravel

Gravel bikes are as varied as the people who ride them. We tested six completely different models at the Velo Field Test to find out where gravel is headed.

Oct 8 • 12:00 PM EDT • Technology • velo.outsideonline.com

How old is Earth really? Science and religion offer very different answers

Ask how old Earth is and you will encounter two very different answers. Modern geology places Earth’s formation at roughly 4.54 billion years ago, while some Christians who interpret the creation acco...

Oct 8 • 11:09 AM EDT • Science • yahoo.com

Browns’ 3-1 start feels different

In an organization with a history of losing, why does this exciting start for the Cleveland Browns feel different?

Oct 8 • 7:45 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

How the Polls Could Be Wrong Again

Democrats appear headed toward a big victory. But a small polling error could mean a dramatically different outcome.

Oct 8 • 7:15 AM EDT • Politics • theatlantic.com

No on I-638: 'Witch hunt' of trans kids is a threat to all girls who play sports

Having grown up in rural Missouri, I’m all too familiar with the way some people exclude, bully and discriminate against people of different backgrounds, re ...

Oct 8 • 12:00 AM EDT • Sports • cascadiadaily.com

Packers defense gets ready to take on Bears

The Green Bay Packers renew their rivalry with the Bears Sunday at Lambeau Field. By necessity, the Packers defense will have a different look.

Oct 7 • 6:25 PM EDT • Sports • spectrumnews1.com

PlayStation Store Sale “Player’s Choice” Live on October 7

Sony has a new PlayStation Store sale live now, and it's called the "Player's Choice" promotion. In total it has 4955 items included, though this includes a game's different editions,…

Oct 7 • 2:37 PM EDT • Technology • mp1st.com

Crowley, Tiffany offer opposing health-care plans | Election 2026

Health care costs are squeezing Wisconsin families — and the candidates for governor have very different ideas about what to do.

Oct 7 • 2:00 PM EDT • Health • wausaupilotandreview.com

One game, fifty different rulebooks

The U.S. has no single framework for online entertainment platforms, leaving states with different rules, licensing systems and access for consumers.

Oct 7 • 12:25 PM EDT • Entertainment • jpost.com

Former Alabama offensive lineman joins new NFL team midseason

The former Alabama offensive lineman is set to join his third different NFL team dating back to the offseason.

Oct 7 • 11:45 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Crafts in Cars Street Fair showcases art and entertainment

The weekend event featured over 40 vendors selling different handmade goods.

Oct 7 • 7:35 AM EDT • Entertainment • pvtimes.com

Crowley, Tiffany offer opposing health-care plans

Addressing rising health care costs, David Crowley and Tom Tiffany offer different plans.

Oct 7 • 6:03 AM EDT • Health • greenbaypressgazette.com

RISE brings 'Dracula' to the Assembly Theatre

WOONSOCKET – Rose Linnell recalls a production of “Dracula” 20 years or so ago when she was a student at New Mexico State University. “It was different,” said the Bellingham,

Oct 7 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • valleybreeze.com

Scientists discovered a crocodile they never knew existed

CT scans helped determine that the fossil unearthed in Egypt came from a distinctly different ancient species.

Oct 7 • 6:00 AM EDT • Science • washingtonpost.com

Could the future of AI be determined by Florida Republicans?

Trump wants the GOP to be a pro-AI party. Ron DeSantis has a different idea.

Oct 7 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • vox.com

The prosecutor and the executive

Colorado voters choosing their next attorney general face a question more fundamental than Republican versus Democrat. What is an attorney general for? Michael Allen and Jena Griswold offer remarkably different answers. Allen, the elected district attorney for El Paso and Teller counties, has spent more than two decades prosecuting crimes. He talks about fentanyl networks, […]

Oct 7 • 3:00 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com

Science Hill region bound after blocking Dobyns-Bennett; West Ridge survives to play again

No matter what the sport, expect high-intensity competition when Science Hill and Dobyns-Bennett are lined up against each other. It was no different on Tuesday on the volleyball court.

Oct 7 • 1:30 AM EDT • Science • johnsoncitypress.com

EXCLUSIVE: VP Vance blames Alaska LNG pipeline uncertainty South Korean ‘political dynamics’

“It’s different because you have a president who delivers on his promises,” Vance said, moments before leaving on Air Force 2.

Oct 7 • 1:06 AM EDT • Politics • alaskasnewssource.com

These Four Things Could Fix Denver’s Sluggish Offense

The Denver Broncos can't move the ball or score points, so some different solutions are necessary.

Oct 6 • 10:06 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Vikings Coach Explains Why Offense Is Taking Different Approach

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell went on the Pat McAfee Show and discussed a variety of things. From discussing injuries to key players, including Justin Jefferson, to strategy, it was a wide-ranging interview. One particular nugget revealed a bit of his offensive strategy.The Vikings have had a roller-coaster offensive attack. Sunday’s win against the […] The post Vikings Coach Explains Why Offense Is Taking Different Approach appeared first on HEAVY.

Oct 6 • 7:31 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Meet the former MMA fighter building his business in Prince William County

On Sept. 1, a retired mixed martial arts fighter strode into board chambers at the Prince William County government center complex in Woodbridge. This time, he was seeking a different kind of knockout.

Oct 6 • 1:19 PM EDT • Business • wtop.com

Wisconsin governor candidates offer opposing plans to address rising health care costs

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley say they want to lower health care costs and make care more accessible. But they’re offering different views on how to do that.

Oct 6 • 12:44 PM EDT • Health • civicmedia.us

Want To Know If Someone Likes You? Science Suggests A Key Vocal Feature Can Reveal Who We Like, And Influence Who Likes Us

Interestingly, in works differently for long- and short-term relationships.

Oct 6 • 11:50 AM EDT • Science • iflscience.com

McDonald’s franchisees balk at $800,000 bill to overhaul stores

McDonald’s has said the program will help operators save about $100,000 in annual cash flow. Some franchisees see it differently.

Oct 6 • 11:36 AM EDT • Business • chicagobusiness.com

Students Use Forensic Science Skills in Escape Room

Hundreds of students from across the region put their problem-solving skills to the test this week during the Regional Science Consortium’s annual Forensic Science Escape Room. Elementary school students had just a few hours to figure out how someone died as part of a forensic science escape room activity. The Regional Science Consortium partnered with Mercyhurst University for the 10th year of the event, which is taking place at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. It began Monday and runs through Thursday.Throughout the week, more than 250 students are working to solve murder mysteries using real forensic science techniques. Students must analyze the evidence, piece together clues and solve the crime before time runs out.Organizers said the event gives students interested in pursuing forensic science in college a firsthand look at what a career in the field could entail.Sarah Skelton, Special Gifts Coordinator at Iroquois, said the activity provides students with an opportunity to develop skills that can sometimes be difficult to practice in a traditional classroom. "It really helps them to work in teams and on critical thinking skills. Which, not that they don't get these opportunities, but it's hard sometimes in the classroom to develop those higher-level thinking skills”, said Skelton.Students also get a chance to learn how forensic science is used in real-life investigations. As Skelton explained, "What are the real-life applications? What would you actually see in a crime scene? How would you handle these types of forensic investigations? So it's really cool our kids get to see what opportunities are out there and possibly a career field one day."The popular event has grown over the years, with some students returning year after year. Organizers said watching those students grow and develop their interests is one of the highlights of the program.Jeanette Schnars, the Executive Director of the Regional Science Consortium said it's rewarding to see how students' interests evolve as they get older. According to Schnars, "How they have grown and matured and where their interests are going and maybe they aren't going into forensics, but if they are going into sciences or different disciplines, so it's really fulfilling to see how they have matured."One student who continues to enjoy the event is sixth-grader Mia Harvey of Iroquois. Harvey hopes to pursue a career in medicine and says the forensic science activities are helping her explore her interests, "One day I want to become a neurologist, and learning about the bones is probably going to help me."Harvey said her favorite part of the event is the real-life application of what she's learning. "While you are trying to find the clues, they teach real stuff that you would need to know”, said Harvey.Event organizers said if students are learning while having fun, then the program is accomplishing its goal. "Not only are they learning the science, but they are having fun with it too”, said Schnars.Adults will also have a chance to take part in the experience this Saturday during an adult version of the escape room, which will feature food, drinks and entertainment. For more information, click here.The Forensic Science Escape Room has become one of the Regional Science Consortium’s most popular events, with teachers signing up their students as soon as registration opens in August.

Oct 6 • 10:34 AM EDT • Science • erienewsnow.com

Brazil: Lessons from a Disaster

By Antonio Martins (Outras Palavras) Defeats become deeper and more prolonged when we misunderstand what caused them, avoid correcting course, and embrace “solutions” that only compound our mistakes. Lula’s government and the Brazilian left suffered a disaster in Sunday’s election. Contrary to every poll, the president finished the first round 2.2 million votes behind Flávio Bolsonaro—and, more significantly, 3.4 million votes below his total four years ago, when the machinery of the state was working against him and in favor of his opponent. His vote share declined in 98 percent of Brazil’s municipalities. The PL, the main party of the far right, elected 121 deputies and 28 senators, becoming the largest caucus in both houses of Congress. The parties aligned with the Centrão—Brazil’s bloc of transactional center-right parties—were somewhat diminished, but will still hold roughly 250 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 35 in the Senate. That will make it easier to assemble the majorities needed to amend the Constitution or impeach Supreme Federal Court justices. If elected, Flávio Bolsonaro could appoint four members of the Court, substantially altering its internal balance of power. What produced these results? How can the far right be prevented from consolidating them into a prolonged political hegemony? And what is the essential change of direction the left now needs? Explaining the Disaster Across the commercial media and the exuberant chaos of digital platforms, interpretations are multiplying. Some focus on specific episodes: Lula’s absence from the Globo debate, his very close relationship with Alexandre de Moraes, or his emphasis on issues supposedly remote from most people’s everyday concerns, such as rare earth minerals. Among the more systemic interpretations, three seem especially questionable. One argues that the principal defeat was not the left’s, since its congressional representation declined only slightly. The decisive movement captured at the ballot box, according to this view, was a shift within the right itself—from the more moderate and transactional forces of the Centrão toward the more ideological and radicalized forces of the PL and Novo. A second interpretation holds that the nature of electoral and political processes has changed. The material interests and aspirations of society, it argues, no longer play the central role they once did; they have given way to forms of subjective self-identification that the left has yet to understand. And a third concludes that, because of these two developments, we should expect a political winter: a prolonged period in which the far right and the broader right dominate Brazilian political life. There are important elements in all three interpretations. The problem lies in what they deny or leave out: Lula’s third government was a small-bore government. It offered the majorities that elected it neither a clearly better life nor reasons to believe again in politics and its power to transform society. These failures flowed from two fatal accommodations, which I will examine below. As a result, the government suffered a slow but steady erosion of support. And, as has happened in so many Western countries, it gave the far right the opportunity to present itself as anti-system and to benefit from popular frustration and distress. The interpretation that emphasizes the migration of votes from the center-right and traditional right toward the far right has been advanced, among others, by the courageous journalist Leonardo Sakamoto. In his UOL column on Monday, October 5, he highlights the miserable behavior of the traditional conservative parties. Over the past four years, they repeatedly joined forces with the “neo”-fascists, helping to “normalize” them—a criticism that could equally be directed at almost the entire corporate media. Believing they could use the far right as a stepping stone, they instead ended up partly devoured by it. This was especially true in the Senate, where the PL’s gain of 13 senators and Novo’s gain of two came at the expense of the PSD, which lost nine; the MDB, which lost two; the PSDB, which lost two; and the PP, which lost one. Sakamoto’s observation is accurate and necessary, but it leaves uncomfortable questions unanswered. Why did the erosion of the Centrão benefit the far right rather than, for example, producing growth for the left—as has happened so many times before, both in Brazil and elsewhere? The answer is not difficult. Throughout its four years in office, Lula’s third government was almost invariably associated with the Centrão. Here lies its first accommodation: accepting the limits imposed by conservative institutions; avoiding, as much as possible, any attempt to strain those limits through popular pressure; and believing only in the modest changes that could be squeezed through openings in Congress. The failure of the campaign to end the six-day workweek is emblematic. Lula could have electrified the presidential race by pairing it with a popular campaign for passage of the measure. Instead, he chose to place his hopes in the hands of Senate president Rodrigo Alcolumbre. He generated no mass mobilization, did not force his opponents onto an uncomfortable defensive, and won no victory. In September 2025, the government squandered the greatest of its many opportunities to shake up conservative power in Congress. Popular opposition to the so-called Shielding Amendment—which, if approved, would have restricted criminal proceedings against members of Congress—brought crowds into the streets, mobilized primarily by artists and social movements. This opened the possibility for a broader political education: a campaign that could begin exposing the limits and dysfunctions of Brazil’s political system while putting Bolsonaro’s movement on the defensive for its predictable support of political privilege. The amendment was defeated. But the executive branch then backed away from the fight. It remained associated with an institutional world widely seen as corrupt, elitist, and indifferent to ordinary people’s struggles. In doing so, it forfeited its credibility as a vehicle for the protest vote. On Sunday, it reaped the bitter fruits. Are We Doomed? Taking a different approach from Sakamoto, the philosopher Moysés Pinto Neto and other writers have drawn attention, in their first analyses of October 4, to the fragmentation of the public sphere produced by Big Tech platforms. Through their algorithms, these platforms present each person with a different view of social reality. As a consequence, it becomes much harder to identify common material problems and demands—for example, the fight for labor rights or for a properly funded public health system. Voters no longer embrace such demands, these authors argue, because they no longer see themselves as part of a collective. Instead, they tend to value the identities assigned to them by neoliberal subjectivity—the role of the entrepreneur, for example. On this interpretation, the left’s possible error lies in clinging to outdated illusions. Moysés’s warning is highly relevant and resonates with arguments such as Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor’s “Apocalyptic Fascism and the Billionaires’ Bet.” Unlike a century ago, the far right no longer promises a radiant future. It concentrates instead on resentment—especially that of young men. “They belong to a generation that fears it may never own a home, but compensates with the pleasure it gets from constantly provoking progressives online. Convinced their future has been stolen, they share memes romanticizing historical authoritarian regimes,” the authors write. But Moysés seems to confuse this danger with inevitability. He fails to see that the left’s answer cannot be adaptation. On the contrary, it must strengthen the possibility of politics as collective action. Nor does he recognize that precisely such a reversal is already becoming possible in some of the most promising mobilizations of the twenty-first century: the election, at the end of 2025, of the young Muslim Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York, on a platform centered on the intensely material fight for an affordable city; the Left Party’s victory in Berlin two weeks ago, built around the demand to expropriate private real-estate corporations; and the very recent wave of demonstrations in Spain—including an occupation of Madrid’s Puerta del Sol—in which tens of thousands of young people mobilized by the Tenants’ Union have demanded limits on rents. By putting itself in the straitjacket of the “fiscal framework” in the first months of 2022, Lula’s third government adopted the second fatal accommodation of its term. Faced with conservative institutions and a country devastated by four years of Bolsonaro, increased public investment was the government’s remaining weapon for offering a more dignified life to the majority and forging an anti-conservative pact with them. The same state that disburses 1 trillion reais a year to enrich a small class of rentiers could instead spend money to extend the Family Health Strategy to every Brazilian, at a cost of 30 billion reais; provide full-day public schooling and childcare to all adolescents and children—and, especially, relief to their mothers; achieve universal sanitation while cleaning up polluted urban rivers; multiply metro systems; begin transforming the urban peripheries; and undertake many other urgently needed projects. In April 2023, an article in Outras Palavras warned that the fiscal framework could “shrink the Lula government and preserve the forces that condemn the country to inequality and regression.” A year later, another article showed that restraints on public spending were strangling policies vital to ordinary people and undermining the president’s popularity. In November 2024 came a reality check, in the form of the government’s humiliating defeat in the municipal elections. Even then, the fiscal lock was neither removed nor loosened. On the contrary: throughout the government’s four years, fiscal restraint remained central to its political narrative. The administration proudly proclaimed that it had “put the state’s accounts in order,” without grasping either how misleading that phrase was—given the payment of 1 trillion reais in interest—or how badly the message was hurting it politically. Lula finally woke up in September 2026. The increase in Bolsa Família benefits, after four years of being frozen; the announcement that anti-obesity drugs would be offered through Brazil’s public health system; and the ban on online betting showed that the state has the power to act decisively on behalf of the majority when those in government are willing to confront obstacles. The huge marches that closed the campaign in Fortaleza, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo on the eve of October 4 showed how such initiatives can mobilize activists and the broader public. But it was too late—and too little to change the outcome of the first round. History has not ended The possibility of a turnaround in the three weeks leading up to November 25 cannot be ruled out. It will not be simple or easy. Lula must not only make up a deficit of 2.2 million votes; he must also offset the movement of voters who backed other right-wing candidates in the first round, most of whom are likely to move toward Flávio Bolsonaro. Pulling that off will require a broad, grassroots effort to win over voters, potentially reinforced by new initiatives from Lula. The coming hours and days will be decisive. If Bolsonaro’s movement also wins the presidency, the result will create a high-risk situation for Brazilian sovereignty and democracy. The enormous challenges posed by such an outcome would require the left to reexamine, in depth and with a genuine willingness to engage in self-criticism, its political projects—or its lack of them—and its practices. But would that mean we are condemned to the long winter of far-right hegemony that some analyses are beginning to forecast? It is far too early to say, suggests a recent text by Álvaro García Linera, the thinker who served as vice president of Bolivia under Evo Morales. His central hypothesis is that this political current will prove short-lived. At a moment when the entire world is once again talking about sovereignty and protecting national economies, the far right offers a stale, recolonizing neoliberalism. Its submission to the United States is as blatant and pathetic as Flávio and Eduardo Bolsonaro’s overtures to Donald Trump. Its project amounts to something like every man for himself: greater inequality, capitalism without limits, devastation, and supremacism. Will it work? In the United States, just two years into his second term, Trump himself is reaching record levels of unpopularity and may be on the verge of losing Republican control of both the House and Senate in November. Every new beginning is difficult. Whatever the outcome of the second round, the defeats of October 4 show how profoundly the Brazilian left will have to rethink and rebuild. But just as it would be foolish to underestimate the seriousness of its mistakes, it would be equally foolish to conclude that rebuilding a political project is no longer possible. History has not ended. The times are moving faster than ever. Originally published in Portuguese by Outras Palavras. English translation by Eric Blanc; I’ve added the subtitles. More We can’t stop the far right at home or abroad without a revitalized labor movement, which is yet another reason why you should become a sustaining supporter of the Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC) — one of US labor’s pivotal bright spots. Relatedly, Jacobin published a short piece of mine reflecting on a decade of Bernie Sanders inspiring a whole new generation of young worker organizers.

Oct 6 • 10:08 AM EDT • Politics • laborpolitics.com