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Department of Health to conduct emergency preparedness survey in West Hawaiʻi communities
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s (DOH) Hawaiʻi District Health Office will conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) survey to assess household emergency preparedness and the impacts of natural disasters on household health in the Kona, Kohala and Hāmākua districts from Sept. 14-18.
WCU-Mission Health partnership boosts nursing enrollment, aims to ease western NC shortage
Western Carolina University is expanding its nursing education capacity through an academic partnership with Mission Health.
MAC Responds to Controversial Michigan-Western Michigan Finish
The Michigan Wolverines avoided disaster Saturday night with a last-second Hail Mary win over Western Michigan. Yet the final play itself is not what has college football fans talking today.The referees decided to put one second back on the clock after the initial Hail Mary attempt that went out of the end zone as time […] The post MAC Responds to Controversial Michigan-Western Michigan Finish appeared first on HEAVY.
A trucker explains what record diesel prices mean for his business
Monte Wiederhold runs a trucking company in northwest Ohio. He explains how problems overseas affect businesses at home.
What Michigan Must Fix Before Facing Oklahoma
Michigan got a miracle win against MAC opponent Western Michigan in week one and now must prepare for a daunting task as Oklahoma comes to town for week two.
MCHD: Another sentinel chicken tests positive for West Nile Virus in Mobile County
MCHD says the positive test is in the 36587 ZIP code area.
Ohio State's Newest WR Addition Makes Statement Against Ball State
Transfer portal star Devin McCuin electrified in his Buckeyes debut, showcasing gritty playmaking and a versatile new role to solidify his place as the offense's crucial second option.
WMU fans react to controversial call in game against Michigan
Western Michigan football fans are lamenting a devastating loss, as the Big Ten Conference defends a controversial officiating decision that likely cost the Broncos their first-ever win over the University of Michigan Saturday night.
OSU president wants Columbus to be the ‘startup capital of the Midwest’
“I want investors all over the country to feel like they'll be missing out on opportunities if they're not keeping an eye on what's happening at Ohio State.”
David Braun Praises Northwestern for Sticking Together After Carsello Injury
David Braun praised Northwestern’s response after center Jackson Carsello left Saturday’s game with an injury, highlighting the Wildcats’ ability to rally around their teammate and stay focused in a 34-18 win over South Dakota State.
The Big Ten Just Stole a Win From Western Michigan
I still can’t believe what happened at the end of Michigan-Western Michigan . Western Michigan got screwed. There’s really no other way I can describe watching that ending. The Broncos went into the Big House as massive underdogs, held No. 16 Michigan to seven points for essentially the entire game and took a 12-7 lead…
Michigan Football Squeaks Past Western Michigan: 5 Key Takeaways
A stifling defensive stand and Bryce Underwood’s poised debut rescued the Wolverines in a narrow opening victory, exposing critical areas for improvement before Oklahoma visits Ann Arbor.
Someone screwed Western Michigan. But who?
A one second discrepancy between clocks was all that stood between Michigan and an all-time bad loss.
Real estate consultant Taidgh McClory joins Massport board
McClory has been appointed by Governor Maura Healey to be the port authority’s newest board member.
Kyle Whittingham Blasts Michigan Performance Despite Miracle Win
Kyle Whittingham called Michigan’s 13-12 escape against Western Michigan “nothing short of a miracle” and outlined major concerns afterward.
Chip Kelly, Aidan Chiles Tandem Mostly Strong in Northwestern Debut
The Wildcats started well and ended well against South Dakota State. What came in between was a mixed bag.
Big Ten Explains Michigan’s Controversial Hail Mary Setup
The Big Ten explained why Michigan received one final second before Bryce Underwood’s game-winning Hail Mary against Western Michigan.
Colts' X-Factor Might Be Young, New Starter
There's a lot of name recognition in the Indianapolis Colts' secondary, but one of its newest starters might be the entire team's X-factor.
“Absolutely Robbed”: CFB Fans Feel For Western Michigan as Wolverines Win Low Scoring Thriller on Hail Mary
The Western Michigan Broncos almost pulled off an upset victory over the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday. A low-scoring game in Ann Arbor left fans on the edge of their seats.
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United
Follow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United in the Women's Super League
Video: Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy Series Recap Trailer
Featured at Revelation's PAX West panel
Western Michigan Taking Steps to Review Controversial Michigan Finish
Western Michigan suffered a controversial loss Saturday night at the “Big House” against the Michigan Wolverines.Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood threw a Hail Mary out of the end zone as time expired, seemingly giving the MAC school an upset victory for the ages. Instead, the referees added one final second and Underwood responded with a perfect […] The post Western Michigan Taking Steps to Review Controversial Michigan Finish appeared first on HEAVY.
Business People
Alley Harjo has joined real estate developer Haag Brown Commercial's Northwest Arkansas office as a marketing and creative leader, the company announced.
Business People
Alley Harjo has joined real estate developer Haag Brown Commercial's Northwest Arkansas office as a marketing and creative leader, the company announced.
Big Ten Accused of ‘Rigging’ Michigan’s Controversial Win Over WMU
Big Ten officials are accused of "rigging" Michigan's controversial win over Western Michigan on Saturday. The post Big Ten Accused of ‘Rigging’ Michigan’s Controversial Win Over WMU appeared first on HEAVY.
Arsenal u18s get first win of season
The Young Guns remain unbeaten after two matches and have yet to concede, following their opening goalless draw away to West Brom.Photo via Arsenal.comArsenal U18s secured their first win of the 2026-...
‘What a Coward’ — Barstool Sports CFB Analyst Trashes Dave Portnoy After Michigan’s ‘Unbelievably Pathetic’ Week 1 Win
The college football world witnessed a stunning and wildly controversial finish between Western Michigan and Michigan on Saturday night in Ann Arbor. Despite Western Michigan holding a 12–7 advantage with less than a minute remaining, a highly debated officiating decision ultimately changed the course of the game and swung the momentum back toward Michigan at the very last second.
Dave Portnoy Sends Defiant Oklahoma Message After Michigan’s Wild Escape
Dave Portnoy needed only a few seconds to go from relief to complete confidence in Michigan.The Barstool Sports founder erupted after Bryce Underwood connected with J.J. Buchanan on a game-winning Hail Mary to give Michigan a stunning 13-12 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday night. The Wolverines needed officials to restore one second to the […] The post Dave Portnoy Sends Defiant Oklahoma Message After Michigan’s Wild Escape appeared first on HEAVY.
Michigan QB Bryce Underwood Orchestrates Stunning Week 1 Result
The Michigan Wolverines and sophomore QB Bryce Underwood came through in shocking fashion during Week 1's win over Western Michigan. The post Michigan QB Bryce Underwood Orchestrates Stunning Week 1 Result appeared first on HEAVY.
A researcher at a Chengdu university was bitten on the ring finger by a grass-green pitviper from Mount Emei at 22:15 on a September night, the swelling reached his elbow before he reached hospital, and the snake has now been named a species new to science, described partly from museum specimens collected in 1956 and from populations that had been identified as a more widespread relative on their looks alone
The Huaxi green pitviper was described in January 2026 from western Sichuan, where the region's green pitvipers had been called Trimeresurus stejnegeri on morphology alone. A 171-sample genetic survey of that species had skipped the region entirely.
Sequence of JJ Buchanan's Michigan Miracle touchdown catch
JJ Buchanan made an incredible catch of a Bryce Underwood pass with no time left to save Michigan from a stunning upset by Western Michigan.
Big Ten explains controversial ending to Michigan-Western Michigan
The Big Ten defended the controversial clock ruling that allowed Michigan to secure a narrow win over Western Michigan.
South Dakota State football drops road game to Northwestern
South Dakota State football suffered its first loss of the season, falling 34-18 to Northwestern.
Northwestern’s Late Offensive Push Helps Defeat South Dakota State
The Wildcats kicked off the Chip Kelly era with a home victory.
Can Michigan's controversial Hail Mary win over WMU be overturned?
Per the NCAA rulebook, the score of the controversial Michigan-Western Michigan game is final and cannot be changed.
Takeaways from Michigan’s Hail Mary win over Western Michigan
Here are key takeaways from Michigan’s Hail Mary victory over Western Michigan.
Michigan Survives Western Michigan on Controversial Hail Mary
Michigan’s 2026 season opener turned into one of the wildest finishes of the college football season. The Wolverines escaped Western Michigan 13-12 Saturday night at the Big House, but the victory came with plenty of controversy. With Michigan seemingly out of time, officials restored one second to the clock , giving the Wolverines one final…
Michigan football stuns Western Michigan on second Hail Mary attempt
Michigan football stuns Western Michigan on second Hail Mary attempt in Week 1 in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 at Michigan Stadium.
Michigan football stuns WMU with miracle Hail Mary after game seemed over
Michigan football opened its 2026 season with a stunning Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan. Here's who stood out.
Charlotte FC match against Houston ends in scoreless draw
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CAROLINA SPORTS LIVE) — Charlotte FC gained one point after a home match draw against Western Conference foe Houston Dynamo FC. The Crown returned home after a 2-nil road win over Atlanta United. Charlotte hosted Houston Dynamo FC, one of the last few home games left in the regular season. These next few […]
Michigan Football welcomes surprise visitor, top targets, more
Maize n Brew has the latest from The Big House, where Michigan Football brought in priority recruiting targets and commits for the Western Michigan game tonight:
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.
Michigan Football Makes Decision on TE Hogan Hansen
Michigan tight end Hogan Hansen has been ruled out for Saturday night’s 2026 season opener against Western Michigan.
Michigan football without 2025, 2026 top recruits vs Western Michigan
Michigan football will be down two five-star recruits from the past two cycles in the 2026 season opener against Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Floyd County health officials find more mosquitos infected with West Nile Virus
The latest detections bring the total number of West Nile-positive mosquito pools in Floyd County to eight so far this year.
Game Thread: No. 16 Michigan Football vs Western Michigan
Michigan Football opens the 2026 season against Western Michigan under the lights of The Big House. Join the live conversation in our Week 1 Game Thread:
5 Questions Michigan Can Answer in Its Season Opener vs. Western Michigan
Michigan opens the Kyle Whittingham era against Western Michigan, but the final score isn't the only thing worth watching. Five individual storylines could tell us much more about the Wolverines before Oklahoma arrives next week.
TENNESSEE LADY VOLS SOCCER: Unbeaten Northwestern is next
The No. 10 Tennessee soccer team closes its six-match nonconference slate on Sunday afternoon against Northwestern at Regal Soccer Stadium. Kickoff between the Lady Vols and the Wildcats is set for 2 p.m. ET.
Battle Royale in NA West: Event 1 Event 1 Round 2
Battle your way to Diamond, Elite and Unreal in Combined Ranked in current season to be eligible for the first,second and final respectively Event of the Season! Compete for the opportunity to win a cash prize! Reach Round 2 (top 4000 in EU; top 2000 in NAC; top 800 in OCE, ASIA, ME, BR, NAW) where every player who earns a Victory Royale will earn $100 USD - good luck and have fun!
Hull City v Aston Villa: What Emery said
Aston Villa have recorded just one shot on target in their opening three games of a Premier League season - the lowest total on record by any side since 2003-04. Only Manchester City (31) are on a longer ongoing unbeaten run in the Premier League against newly promoted sides than Aston Villa, with the Villans unbeaten in all 22 matches under Unai Emery (won 15, drawn seven).
WSL: Katie Zelem appointed West Ham captain
Katie Zelem has been appointed captain of West Ham United ahead of the 2026/27 season.The experienced midfielder takes over the captaincy after making her move to East London permanent this summer.Zel...
Five Specific Predictions For Michigan vs. Western Michigan
Michigan is going to beat Western Michigan, but by how much? What will it look like? What exactly will happen?
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.
Students welcomed back to campus with Bronco Bash festival
WMU held its 44th annual Bronco Bash celebration on Sept. 1 to greet students coming back to campus for the Fall 2026 semester.
Previewing the Chicago Bears 2026 season
Introducing our newest weekly Bears podcast: Bears for Breakfast!
Marshall Health Network awarded Rural Health Transformation Program Grant for workforce health initiative
CHESAPEAKE, W.Va. – Marshall Health Network’s (MHN) proposed Worksite Clinic Expansion Initiative was among the first grants awarded yesterday through the State of West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program. A $612,000, one-year grant awarded to the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation will support Marshall Health Network in launching an innovative workforce health model to improve health […]
Earth Will Become One Big Supercontinent Again—And It Will Probably Kill Us, Scientists Say
In 200 million years, there will be no borders–and possibly no humans.
CNN Films revisits a forgotten 9/11 casualty — the restaurant at the 'Top of the World'
Oscar-nominated filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen revisit Windows on the World, the World Trade Center restaurant where 79 workers and 91 guests died on 9/11.
Movie studio, amusement park planned for huge site near Phoenix
A prominent local real estate investor has unveiled a plan for a development an hour west of Phoenix that could include a movie production studio.
Video Airlines battle it out for business
As Southwest Airlines announces its first ever lounges, JetBlue Airlines now adds First class seats to your travel options.
Ocean indicators NOAA scientists are tracking for El Niño's arrival on the West Coast
Has El Niño reached the West Coast? You might think it has. After all, the ocean off Southern and Central California is unusually warm. But that warmth is from a recent marine heat wave that predates ...
Miss America: Meet the 52 women competing for the crown
The 2026 Miss America pageant will take place in West Palm Beach on September 6. The contestants include a medical student and a karate instructor.
Arkansas vs North Alabama live updates: Score, highlights, predictions, analysis
Arkansas plays North Alabama in Week 1 of the regular season. Follow live score updates, highlights, injury news, key plays and instant analysis.
'Pericles' review: Shakespeare playfully reworked at Boston Court
Ellen McLaughlin's modern verse translation of Shakespeare's 'Pericles' has its West Coast premiere at Boston Court Pasadena.
Michigan football vs Western Michigan time, channel, streaming and odds
Michigan football takes on Western Michigan in an in-state battle to kick off the 2026 season.
Health care is Democrats' key to winning midterms this fall
Breaking up the health care conglomerates that have enriched themselves by immiserating patients and cheating employers is good policy.
Brenda Lucas: Community news for Saturday, Sept. 5
Click for community news in the Huntington, West Virginia, and Tri-State area.
From ‘slop’ to prime time: how AI dramas are shaking up China’s TV industry
Fully AI-generated, 30-episode Journey to the West series debuts, as shifting production economics transform the industry.
Small West Virginia nonprofit lands $1.17 million to expand workplace healthcare
A West Virginia nonprofit has received $1.17 million to expand workplace healthcare as the state begins distributing nearly $200 million in federal rural-health funding.
College football on TV today: Sept. 4
Enjoy all the appetizers before the main course Sunday night. North Texas at No. 6 Indiana | 12 p.m. | FOXEast Carolina at No. 13 Alabama | 12 p.m. | ABCOregon State at No. 23 Houston | 12 p.m. | ESPNCoastal Carolina at West Virginia | 12 p.m. | TNT/HBO MaxNew Hampshire at Syracuse | […]
Business, sport and a cause: WhiteBIT Australia hosts the Huddle Up in Melbourne
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Sept. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WhiteBIT Australia will host an invitation-only business event in Melbourne on Septembe...
West Boca Raton football blanks Spanish River, forces five turnovers
Maxwell Reid fueled a dominant defensive effort as West Boca forced five turnovers and rolled past Spanish River 36-0 Friday night.
Rich Eisen Makes Bold Prediction For the Chargers 2026 Campaign
Rich Eisen made his prediction for the AFC West in 2026 and had a bold take when discussing how the Chargers will perform in 2026.
Michigan vs. Western Michigan: Game Preview and Prediction
Michigan is expected to roll the Broncos of Western Michigan, but what will it look like?
CB South edged by Downingtown West in Week 2 football
Central Bucks South, with co-coaches, falls to Downingtown West in rematch of 2023 PIAA Class 6A District One championship game.
Southwest Detroit business owner arrested on charges of international money laundering
A business owner out of Detroit was arrested by Homeland Security for alleged international money laundering.
Islamic Center shooter’s parents suing mental health provider for negligence, wrongful death
They claim the facility missed several red flags, leading to the death of their son and three others at the mosque.
GOP Lawmakers Discuss Economic Development At W.Va. Chamber Business Summit
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS – The final day of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce 90th Annual Meeting and Business Summit at the Greenbrier wrapped up Friday morning with Republican lawmakers talking about the state’s economic future. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, moderated a panel discussion with House Judiciary Committee Chairman JB Akers, R-Kanawha; state Sen. […]
Texas Attorney General investigates military healthcare contractor TriWest
Following a report for the series “The Cost of Denial,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into the company at the center of the Nightly News story. NBC News’ Erin McLaughlin reports.
What To Expect From Phoenix Suns in 2026–27 Season
Rising stars battle for frontcourt minutes while Jordan Ott eyes Coach of the Year honors as Phoenix looks to solidify its playoff standing in a competitive West.
Rocket Boys induct Freida Riley into West Virginia Hall of Fame at Pipestem
Hickam and Cooke shared stories about Riley, their science teacher at Big Creek High School who inspired Hickam and his friends to pursue rocket science.
UChicago Social Sciences Took a Stand Against AI and Devices. Why?
By banning artificial intelligence and digital devices in core classes, the University of Chicago's social sciences division aims to limit distractions and maximize participation in small, discussion-based courses.
4 residents in Philadelphia have West Nile virus, health officials say
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches
In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.
Game time for PAX West cosplayers in downtown Seattle
Participants in the annual PAX West gamer convention dress up as their favorite characters on the streets near the Seattle Convention Center.
Detroiter has West Nile virus. Health leaders say avoid mosquito bites
Rainy conditions give mosquitoes more places to breed, says Detroit's chief public health officer in announcing the city's 1st West Nile virus case.
Lending a trusted ear to farmer mental health struggles
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and that’s especially important in rural areas, where suicide rates are roughly 1.5 times higher than urban areas. A lack of rural mental health care options and a negative stigma against discussing mental health have contributed heavily to this issue. Fortunately, a new project in the Midwest is aiming […]
Computer Science Tops College Majors by ROI, Study Finds
An Investopedia analysis reveals computer science majors earn nearly $35,000 more annually than typical graduates, achieving the highest ROI at 3,143%. Theology and religion majors have the lowest ROI but lower unemployment. Despite rising graduate unemployment and AI impacts, all majors show positive ROI.
Ocean indicators NOAA scientists are tracking for El Niño’s arrival on the West Coast
NOAA Fisheries scientists are tracking West Coast conditions as part of our Integrated Ecosystem Assessment. Here are some of the changes in ocean conditions and marine life that typically signal the arrival of El Niño’s influence along the West Coast.
Texas AG Paxton investigates military healthcare contractor over denied claims
Paxton cited an NBC News investigation into TriWest Healthcare Alliance, one of the contractors that administers the military’s healthcare benefits.
$2.4 Million Awarded To Help W.Va. Residents Stay Healthy, Working
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced nearly $2.4 million he said would help West Virginians stay healthy and able to work.
Morrisey: $2.4M of WV’s Rural Health funds will go to 3 organizations for employer-based health
The state of West Virginia will award $2.4 million of its federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding to three organizations to expand worksite and employer-based health services. It’s the first announced allocation of the state’s funding from the federal money. The five-year program awarded West Virginia nearly $199 million for the first year. It’s meant […]
Rural Organizers Turn Budget Crises Into Political Power
Local advocates in North Carolina are mobilizing residents and pushing county officials to confront the fallout from federal cuts.
Lubbock Public Health confirms first human case of West Nile virus for the year
Lubbock Public Health has confirmed its first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) this year.
High School Football Week 2: Watch Omaha Westside take on Lee’s Summit (MO) on Golden Spike Sports
Friday Night Fever returns for round two!
Mecklenburg County warns of West Nile virus uptick after 3 test positive in Charlotte
West Nile typically surges in September.
West Nile cases rises to 5 people, Shelby County Health Department says
The Shelby County Health Department said that the number of patients testing positive for West Nile virus has increased slightly.
First human case of West Nile virus confirmed by Detroit Health Department
Ag, economics, and politics
The drought monitor report as of Tuesday, Sept. 1, indicates a continued backwards slide into worse conditions. Almost all of Barton County and much of the surrounding are now in moderate/severe drought with more and most of Stafford and Rice Counties in severe drought. The northeastern third of the state is in good shape as is a small area of the northwest. The six-to-10-day forecast (Sept. 8-12) indicates a 70-90% chance of likely above normal for temperatures and 33-50% of leaning above near normal for precipitation. The eight-to-14-day forecast (Sept. 10-16) indicates a 60-80% chance of likely above normal for temperatures and near normal to leaning a bit above normal for precipitation.
Pastry chef bringing a taste of the Pacific Northwest to some notable Detroit storefronts
Detroit's Core City is set to get an influx of new food options from one chef.