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Caltrans repaves northbound 19th Ave. in San Francisco; locals, business owners brace for delays
Drivers beware! A major stretch of 19th Avenue remains shut down this weekend, as Caltrans repaves one of San Francisco's busiest corridors. The Northbound lanes of 19th Avenue between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way closed to traffic.
CachyOS Introduces New Default GUI Package Manager, Kyber For NVMe I/O Scheduler
The April 2026 ISO refresh of the Arch Linux based CachyOS is now available with a variety of refinements, new hardware support, and other polishing.
Highlands students selected to script animated film for mental health awareness
Highlands students were among a limited number of teens selected to help script and score an upcoming animated film that focuses on mental health issues and delivers a message of inclusion and resilience. “Finding Alice in Wonderland” is produced by educational animation company Wonder Media and supported by The Grable
Brown: In northern Minn., junk speaks to emotional divide in politics
"Keeping the neighborhood clean is a shared value, especially in town, but rural attitudes about inoperable vehicles vary considerably," columnist Aaron Brown writes.
Editorial: The politics of a hot chicken
Chickens are not inherently political, but they can be dragged into politics clucking and crowing. French King Henry IV is believed to be the first to wish “a chicken in every pot” for his people in the 1500s. It was picked up again in the 1920s when Republicans promised the
Grimy New York basketball is back as Josh Hart, Jose Alvarado and a suffocating defense even series vs. Hawks
Tom Tom Festival draws crowds to the Downtown Mall, but results for business can vary
The festival brings more than 200 events to Charlottesville, but that doesn't translate into revenue for everyone.
UC Berkeley student turns a necessity into a business
UC Berkeley sophomore Christian Alvarez shares how he came up with 'Ernyst," a website and app that has helped dozens of UC Berkeley students get connected with members of the community who need an extra hand.
Analysis: VAR frustration for Toffees
It isn't that long since Everton were in West Ham's position and fighting for Premier League survival - but now they are in the battle to secure European football next season and, particularly for that reason, this will have been a frustrating result. David Moyes' side have one of the best away records in the Premier League and it looked they would earn a point with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's late strike. Moments before Dewsbury-Hall equalised, the Toffees thought they had a penalty when the ball struck Mateus Fernandes' hand inside the box as he grappled with Thierno Barry.
Aggressive “hulk” lizards are wiping out millions of years of evolution
For ages, wall lizards coexisted in three distinct color types, each with its own strategy for survival. Now, a powerful green variant is taking over. These dominant “Hulk” lizards are outcompeting the others, causing yellow and orange morphs to vanish. It’s a dramatic reminder that evolution can flip the script much faster than expected.
Harvard scientists link gut bacteria to depression through hidden inflammation trigger
A gut bacterium may be quietly fueling depression through an unexpected chemical twist. Researchers found that when Morganella morganii interacts with a common pollutant, it produces a molecule that triggers inflammation—something strongly linked to depression. This finding helps explain how gut microbes can influence brain health at a molecular level. It also raises the possibility of new treatments that target the immune system rather than just the brain.
The applicability of Hungary’s election to our politics
American conservatives, largely synonymous these days with MAGA save for a few lonely voices of courage and dissent, have plenty to lament. Their domination of the political landscape is waning. Various special elections hither and yon have presented bright, flashing caution signs. A very difficult, perhaps devastating, off-year election beckons. Major fractures have surfaced within […]
Sheridan College to Host Lecture on Careers in Medical Science Liaison Field
Sheridan College will host a public lecture at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, featuring Jenny McDonald, Ph.D., director and medical science liaison at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. The event is free and open to the public. The presentation, titled “From Bench to Industry: The Role of Medical Science Liaison,” will take place in Room 153 of […]
It's not all Kegels. Here are four things to know before going to pelvic floor therapy.
How can pelvic floor physical therapy help address a variety of pelvic floor issues and improve quality of life? A Louisiana expert answers frequently asked questions.
Maryland becomes 18th state to sanction girls flag football
Maryland has sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport, becoming the 18th state to do so. The season begins August 12.
iPhone 18 Pro Max design unit hands-on video shows 25% smaller Dynamic Island; variable aperture likely
Hands-on video of the iPhone 18 Pro Max dummy units reveal a 25% smaller Dynamic Island and a thicker camera array with larger lenses, hinting at the rumored variable aperture for the main 48MP camera. The iPhone 18 Pro Max appears boring next to iPhone Ultra/Fold, but this might be the biggest front upgrade for Apple's Pro iPhone since iPhone 14 Pro.
B Marshall’s Draft Bash sees minority-business owners soldier through permitting issues
In the shadow of a behemoth commercial event raking in millions while christening new millionaires from a grand stage, on Friday afternoon, a group of 40 minority business owners was just looking to make ends meet in a relatively empty nearby North Side park. The picturesque scene at day two
Maryland makes girls' flag football a varsity high school sport
Maryland is making girls' flag football a varsity sport. The inaugural season will kick off in fall 2026.
2026 Summer Sports Camps
The William Floyd School District Athletic Department is pleased to announce the 2026 Summer Sports Camps for students entering grades 1 through 12! There will once again be a variety of sports camps to choose from this summer!
NBCUniversal TV Chief Pearlena Igbokwe on the Return of Pilots
On today’s 'Strictly Business' podcast, NBCUniversal's Pearlena Igbokwe details the return of pilots and leveraging shows across NBC and Peacock.
New fellowship program for senior, experienced tech and scientific innovators
The Belfer Center is seeking applicants from experienced, senior technology and scientific innovators from the private sector to pursue policy-relevant work aimed at expanding the understanding, potential, use, impact, and governance of emerging technologies.
Jez Butterworth Sets Five Year Film and TV Deal with Universal
Jez Butterworth has signed a five-year film and television deal with Universal Entertainment, Variety has learned. The deal will begin in January 2027
Framework's new Linux laptop is selling faster than its Windows one
According to a promotional post, Framework is selling more Ubuntu versus Windows variants of its new premium Laptop 13 Pro.
MARLOWE: Getting into the landscape business
As an Extension Agent, a big part of my job is to be knowledgeable enough to be helpful in a variety of areas. The hope is that there are a
Lucas Parts Ways With SM Entertainment
Lucas, formerly a member of NCT, is leaving SM Entertainment. On April 24, SM Entertainment announced through Weverse that their exclusive contract with Lucas has ended. Read the agency's full statement below: Hello, this is SM Entertainment. We would like to sincerely thank all fans for your continued love and support for Lucas. We hereby inform you that the exclusive contract with Lucas has concluded as of April 24. We will cherish every moment shared, from the early trainee days to the various activities Lucas took part in after his debut, and continue to support him as he begins this new chapter. We kindly ask you to support Lucas’s new journey with encouragement. Thank you. Wishing Lucas all the best on his new journey!
Real Madrid president determined to fire Alvaro Arbeloa
One of the seemingly big decisions Real Madrid must make in the summer is the identity of the coach who will take control of the first team ahead of the next season.After all, the team’s win rate un...
New entertainment zone likely coming to Walnut Creek
A draft plan envisions a zone bound by North California Boulevard, Civic Drive, North Broadway and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
New entertainment zone likely coming to Walnut Creek
A draft plan envisions a zone bound by North California Boulevard, Civic Drive, North Broadway and Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit Takeaways
Variety’s Entertainment Marketing Summit in Los Angeles, presented by Deloitte, brought together influential marketers, creatives and brand leaders.
Erica Winger: Union nurses at Magee are elevating women’s and family health
Anyone who has given birth or received other medical care in a hospital knows that time with their nurses is critical. When patients have more time with nurses, they not only get the safest, highest quality care, but are also fully supported emotionally and empowered to make informed decisions. That
Meta is revamping its cross-app management system
Meta's Accounts Center will transition to the Meta Account, which is supposed to make it easier to manage your experience on various Meta apps and devices.
Innovators apply AI solutions to health systems problems at global hackathon | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
More than 12,000 people across the globe recently participated in the Health Systems Innovation Lab's Hackathon.
iPhone 18 Pro Max may be thicker, iPhone Ultra dummy unit compared to iPad mini
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max due to increased...
Why recreational sports are recommended for health and longevity
Recreational sports are recommended because of the variety of movements they offer.
Young voters squeezed by economy and distrust political systems in new poll
Roughly half of young Americans said they are affected by inflation, and 45% said they are struggling to make ends meet in new Harvard Youth Poll.
Brevard on a budget: Free, fun things to do this weekend, April 24-29
On a budget? Free, fun things to do in Brevard this weekend include outdoor festivals, concerts and classic motorcycles.
Leah Kateb Says Tobey Maguire is 'The Best Spider-Man'
Leah Kateb's fans include millions of "Love Island USA" viewers — and Tobey Maguire.
Francisco Lindor exits tonight’s game with left calf tightness
Lindor appeared to be in pain as he scored on an Alvarez double.
4 takeaways from Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s gauntlet of congressional hearings
In his testimony to various committees in the Senate and the House over multiple days, Kennedy was tasked with defending President Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 budget, which would boost defense spending while cutting more than 12% of funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
4 takeaways from Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s gauntlet of congressional hearings
In his testimony to various committees in the Senate and the House over multiple days, Kennedy was tasked with defending President Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 budget, which would boost defense spending while cutting more than 12% of funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.
AI-driven sports technology from Carnegie Mellon students draws interest from Mark Cuban
More than 68 million Americans play a racquet sport, but improving their skills can be difficult. Costs for lessons are becoming increasingly expensive, and feedback for technique isn’t always individualized. But three Carnegie Mellon University students think they have an answer. They launched a company called ServeSense. Pitching their technology
Ashley Graham Teases Cameo in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ at Entertainment Marketing Summit
Supermodel Ashley Graham is adding actress to her resume with a cameo credit in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” set to hit theaters on May 1.
Why are other kids starving?
Witnessing poverty as a child sparked Luiza Lima Vieira’s quest to vanquish hunger — but first, she had to learn to listen to her own body.
Meet Jenni Peters, one of the Capital Region 500
Jenni Peters, a former USA Track & Field athlete and a competitor in the first-ever Olympic Marathon Trials in 1984, turned her passion for running into a thriving business. She launched Varsity Sports in 2000 near the Perkins Road overpass, growing it into a beloved local chain with four locations. The stores, often set in […]
Former Steeler Jerome Bettis, NFL Commissioner view CMU’s inventions to power sports
The intersection of sports, physical fitness and technology can be found in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood Green. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and local officials toured Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Innovation Center for the university’s “Powering the Future of Sport” showcase. More than 16 CMU-related startups —
New clues for using common fungus to promote crop growth and health
Trichoderma species — a common fungus found in soils — have varying abilities to promote tomato plant growth and differentially affect the abundance of certain soil bacteria, according to a study led by researchers at Penn State.
CBL Scholars Program Opens Pathways to Business Law Careers - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
First-year law students and 2026 CBL Scholars Deniz Masjedi, Alvaro Flores, and Tavia Pappaly gain mentorship connections with leading industry professionals as they prepare for careers in business law. Created by the UC Center for Business Law San Francisco (CBL), the CBL Scholars Program aims to develop the next generation of business law leaders, supported by contributions from individuals and corporate sponsors. The highly competitive program provides funding along with academic and professional mentorship to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Scholars gain exposure to the Bay Area’s technology and venture capital ecosystems and access to UC Law SF’s broad network of senior legal professionals. Now in its sixth year, the CBL Scholars Program provides a scholarship and academic and professional mentorship to students entering the business law community from disadvantaged educational, economic, social, or physical backgrounds. The program is generously sponsored by the law firms Gunderson Dettmer and Goodwin Procter. Meet this year’s CBL Scholars: Deniz Masjedi, Alvaro Flores, and Tavia Pappaly. All three have secured summer associate positions at prestigious law firms. Deniz Masjedi: A Passion for Helping Founders Grow Companies Deniz Masjedi, who was born in Iran and moved to Southern California as a teenager, traces her interest in law to her family’s immigration journey and her desire to advocate for herself and her family. She earned a bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied political science and sociology. At UC Law SF, she serves as a 1L representative for the Iranian Law Students Association and is active in the Business Law Society and Technology & Law Society. Next fall, she will serve as director of mentorship for the Technology & Law Society and director of professional development for the Business Law Society. She will join Sidley Austin this year as a 1L/2L summer associate. Q: What draws you to business law? A: Prior to law school, I worked in Cooley LLP’s Private Companies practice group as a corporate paralegal for three years, supporting over 100 venture-backed startups and venture capital funds. I found purpose in helping founders transform their vision into successful companies. It was incredibly rewarding being part of their journeys—from company formation and initial financing to major transactions such as M&A deals. What excites me most about this field is the potential for a small, innovative company to become the next Google or Zoom, shaping how people communicate and access information. I hope to continue supporting entrepreneurs and investors as a corporate attorney. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: As the first person in my family to attend law school in the United States, receiving this scholarship is a tremendous honor. My parents and I left everything behind so that I could enjoy the freedom to practice my religion without persecution and pursue a career in law as a woman. This award is an acknowledgment of my dedication to business law and motivates me to continue pursuing excellence in this field. It also recognizes years of hard work—learning a new language, navigating the college and law school application process, and ultimately building a career in the legal profession. Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: This scholarship will provide access to mentorship from leaders in the field, enabling me to develop the skills necessary to offer practical advice and effective representation to future clients. It also eases the financial burden of law school, letting me focus on my coursework and deepen my commitment to corporate law. As an immigrant, breaking into the legal profession has not always been easy, and the time that mentors have invested in me has been instrumental to my progress. This scholarship will allow me to continue building those relationships while positioning me to one day mentor others pursuing similar paths. Alvaro Flores: Inspired by Entrepreneurs The son of Mexican immigrants raised in San Antonio, Texas, Alvaro Flores says he has long been interested in how policy, markets, and culture shape society. He studied international relations and global economy at the University of Southern California, with minors in business finance and legal studies. His experiences span local political organizing, venture capital and startup work, and teaching entrepreneurship. At UC Law SF, he is involved in the Business Law Society, Technology & Law Society, and the Latinx Law Student Association. He will join Perkins Coie as a 1L/2L summer associate with the firm’s Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice. Q: What draws you to business law? A: I’m drawn to stories of entrepreneurs whose simple ideas become companies that shape the economy and society. Spending time in venture capital and working directly with founders has shown me that many important decisions in the scaling process are ultimately legal ones, particularly how companies are structured and how capital is raised. Business law sits at the intersection of innovation and equity. It offers a way to stay close to the pace of technological change while also helping expand who gets to participate in it. There is something special about being part of that process here in the Bay Area, where the American Dream feels like it is reimagined in real time. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: I am truly grateful for the support and belief this scholarship represents. I see it not just as recognition, but also as alignment. The CBL Scholars Program’s focus on developing individuals who engage deeply with the business and technology ecosystem reflects the path I have been intentionally building. More than anything, it feels like an investment in that journey. I have been thoughtful about each next step–whether teaching, working in venture capital, or building multidisciplinary experiences–and this scholarship reinforces that those efforts come together in a meaningful way. Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: It allows me to focus more on developing as a business lawyer, without the distraction of financial constraints. Beyond that, the mentorship and access to the Bay Area network are just as valuable. I’m especially interested in working with early-stage companies and investors, so the opportunity to learn directly from people operating at a high level in that space is huge. Tavia Pappaly: Working in the Wine Industry Sparked Interest in Business and Law Tavia Pappaly spent five years in the wine industry before deciding to pursue law school with a goal of becoming a corporate transactions attorney. Pappaly says she wants to use her legal skills to help business grow and thrive. A first-generation law student from Fairfield, California, she is a member of the Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP) and will serve as vice president of social planning for the UC Law SF Sports Law Society in her 2L year. She plans to work as a summer associate at Gibson Dunn in San Francisco after her 2L year. Q: What draws you to business law? A: Business law brings together many of my interests and personal experiences. As the daughter of immigrants who grew up around a family-owned small business, I saw firsthand both the opportunities and challenges of building something from the ground up. That perspective, combined with my experience in the wine industry, solidified my interest in helping businesses of all sizes tackle evolving legal challenges. I’m excited to grow within the corporate law space and develop the skills and experience to support businesses at every stage. I’m deeply motivated to give back to immigrant communities and small business owners, whose experiences often intersect. By building a strong foundation in corporate law, I hope to support those working to create generational stability and to contribute in a meaningful way to the communities that have shaped me. Q: What does it mean to you to have been awarded this scholarship? A: Receiving this scholarship is incredibly meaningful to me. I take great pride in my background as a first-generation student and a woman of color, so being recognized for my potential in a field that has historically underrepresented those communities is both affirming and empowering. This program will help connect me to the resources and committed mentors that will help me succeed. Beyond that, it is no secret that law school is a significant financial commitment. This scholarship helps ease both the financial burden and the stress that comes with it, allowing me to focus more on my education and long-term goals. I am incredibly grateful! Q: How will this scholarship help support your future goals? A: This scholarship has already connected me with an incredible network of faculty, business law professionals, and like-minded students. The community fostered by the Center for Business Law is deeply supportive, and I’m excited to grow alongside my cohort. I truly believe this network will play an important role in helping me thrive in law school and position me for success in business law. As I have seen firsthand how impactful both financial scholarship and mentorship are, I hope to give back in this same way later in my career.
Ribbon cutting ceremony held for U.S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green
U.S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green will serve the local community for a variety of sporting events
Constitutional Challenges to the False Claims Act: an Opportunity to Reconsider DOJ’s “Money Over Everything” Approach to Health Care Enforcement - Petrie-Flom Center
The False Claims Act — the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) efforts to combat health care fraud — is under constitutional attack.
BankNewport, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan join Salve's Health and Wellness Community Outreach program
Local organizations provide financial support that enables on-site health care education across Rhode Island.
Washington's County's most improved high school spring sports athletes
Washington County's high school varsity spring sports head coaches were asked who their most improved athlete is. Here are their selections.
Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #23: 4/21 vs. White Sox
Today’s Lineups WHITE SOX DIAMONDBACKS Andrew Benintendi – DH Ketel Marte – 2B Munetaka Murakami – 1B Corbin Carroll – RF Miguel Vargas – 3B Geraldo Perdomo – SS Colson Montgomery – SS Adrian Del Castillo – C Everson Pereira – RF Lourdes Gurriel – LF Sam Antonacci – LF Jose Fernandez – DH Chase […]
Demonstrators Circle Science Center Plaza in Largest Showing Yet | News
Demonstrators Circle Science Center Plaza in Largest Showing Yet | News | The Harvard Crimson
No. 23 on the list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians: Danny Alvarez
His reputation positions him as a policy workhorse with growing influence.
John Carroll University adds women's flag football as varsity sport
The move marks the third women's varsity sport that the university has added in the last four years
'The Handyman of West Texas' Optioned by The Hideaway Entertainment
Johnathan Walton's true-crime podcast 'The Handyman of West Texas' will be developed for the screen by The Hideaway Entertainment.
The Hideaway Entertainment Options Johnathan Walton’s True-Crime Podcast ‘The Handyman of West Texas’
Johnathan Walton Media has struck a deal with The Hideaway Entertainment to develop his latest true-crime podcast, “The Handyman of West Texas,” for the screen. Walton is a popular true-crime podcast ...
NYC business group slams proposed second home tax and city's wasteful spending
Chartwell Strategy Group managing director Joe Borelli sounds the alarm on wasted school spending and the potential fallout from new NYC tax hikes on 'Varney & Co.'
Hendersonville's Mia Nitsche leads Week 9 girls spring sports top performers
Hendersonville's Mia Nitsche scored four goals to lead the list of Week 9 WNC high school spring sports girls top performers.
Navy tests jet-powered JDAM for affordable long-range strikes
Navy fighter jets test-fired a new long-range variant of the widely used JDAM bomb. Unlike other versions, this one is powered by a jet engine.
Global health forward: Navigating scarcity in a fractured world through solidarity, equity, and shared responsibility
At the 2026 Global Health Symposium, hosted by the Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) on April 16, policymakers, practitioners, academics, and students gathered around a central idea: achieving global health equity in an age of scarcity requires moving from fragmented systems to shared responsibility.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
Citizen scientists wanted: Find a project that's right for you
NOAA offers a variety of volunteer opportunities that can be done outdoors and online.
Washington County's 2026 high school spring sports 'Unsung Heroes'
I asked Washington County's spring sports varsity head coaches one question: Who is your team's unsung hero? Here are the coaches' selections.
🗞️ Front pages: glory and future collide on Tuesday
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Drama between software engineer and Google heats up
Computer programmer and ex-Googler Steve Yegge said he had heard AI use within the the company varies widely, sparking a firestorm of public pushback.
Drama between software engineer and Google heats up
Computer programmer and ex-Googler Steve Yegge said he had heard AI use within the the company varies widely, sparking a firestorm of public pushback.
City of Tampa to Launch Microgrant Program for Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs
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Harvard Business Review Recognizes BBVA as a Benchmark for Corporate AI Adoption
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For some in Brevard, healing begins with simply being heard
A Health First grant is helping expand free peer mental health support through Brevard's To Write Love on Her Arms
Brevard County high school sports weekly schedule, Week of April 20-26
Brevard County high school sports schedule for the week of April 20-26, 2026.
Fed’s Beige Book reveals Iran conflict’s impact on business confidence
Former World Bank President David Malpass discusses economic uncertainty amid the Iran conflict, the state of the Federal Reserve and more on ‘Varney & Co.’
Sky Sports apologises after Erling Haaland calls Bernardo Silva ‘F—ing Cannavaro’
Haaland referenced the Ballon d'Or-winning centre-back after a crucial defensive header from City captain Silva in the win over Arsenal.
Freshman Stacy caps Portsmouth's comeback win over Londonderry
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Grand Rounds April 10, 2026: Impact of Behavioral Science-Based Electronic Health Record Tools on Deprescribing for Older Adults (Julie Lauffenburger, PharmD, PhD)
Speaker Julie Lauffenburger, PharmD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Keywords Adaptive trial design; Behavioral science; Deprescribing; electronic health record; EHR; Inappropriate […]
Grand Rounds April 10, 2026: Impact of Behavioral Science-Based Electronic Health Record Tools on Deprescribing for Older Adults (Julie Lauffenburger, PharmD, PhD)
Speaker Julie Lauffenburger, PharmD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Keywords Adaptive trial design; Behavioral science; Deprescribing; electronic health record; EHR; Inappropriate […]
Leaked: iPhone 18 Pro Production Begins for Apple’s First DSLR-Style Camera Mechanism
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Curing U.S. Health Care, Part I
In 2008, much to their own surprise, leading Democrats unified around a program of major health care reform. Policy wonks had spent years developing the concepts behind what eventually became Obamacare; big Democratic victories in the 2006 midterms and the prospect of controlling both Congress and the presidency made it possible to imagine turning those ideas into reality. During the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama advocated similar plans, based on those ideas, for expanding insurance coverage. And it happened! The Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010. When it was fully implemented in 2014, millions of Americans got health insurance: Impressive as the raw numbers are, they don’t tell the whole story. Before the ACA, even upper-middle-class Americans often found it impossible to get health insurance if they had pre-existing medical conditions. Many Americans were trapped in jobs they wanted to leave but couldn’t for fear of losing their employment-based coverage. Meanwhile, dire predictions from the usual suspects about runaway costs proved wrong. In fact, overall U.S. medical spending has grown much more slowly since the ACA was enacted than before. But the U.S., alone among advanced nations, still falls far short of providing universal health care. As you can see from the chart above, 8 percent of the population was still uninsured in 2024, a number that is set to rise over the next two years as a result of Republican policies. True, many of the uninsured in 2024 were undocumented immigrants, who we don’t try to cover. But there are still a lot of uninsured. Moreover, a significant number of Americans who have health insurance are in fact underinsured. As a result, they are at risk of incurring devastating healthcare costs and are sometimes forced to forgo needed care. This number is set to rise sharply in the next two years as a result of Republican policies adopted under Donald Trump. And not only is the U.S. unique among advanced countries in its under-provision of health care coverage, it also incurs by far the world’s highest healthcare costs per capita. So now may well be a good time to get behind a new push for major health reform — an effort, if you like, to finish the job begun under Obama. Today’s primer is devoted to the economics of health reform. During his failed effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Donald Trump famously complained, “Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated.” Actually, we did know — and it’s not that complicated. Health economists understand the principles very well. And because health policy varies greatly among advanced nations, we know a lot about what works and what doesn’t. This will be the first in a series about health reform. Beyond the paywall I’ll address the following: 1. Why markets can’t be trusted to deliver healthcare 2. Routes to universal healthcare 3. What works? In a follow-up post I’ll discuss the pros and cons of different approaches, and possible paths forward for the United States.
Check Out a Variety of Free Entertainment on Libby!
You may know that the Coos Bay Public Library offers multiple ways to access eBooks and audiobooks, but did you know that we have expanded the services available on our
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Hundreds bring their pets to Tuskegee University for annual animal health fair
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Apple's upcoming AirPods Pro 3 variant could debut a groundbreaking new feature
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Dylan Sprouse Tackles Alleged Trespasser at His Home
Sprouse also had a gun during the confrontation, but reports vary as to whether he ever brandished it.
Dylan Sprouse Tackles Alleged Trespasser at His Home
Sprouse also had a gun during the confrontation, but reports vary as to whether he ever brandished it.
Dylan Sprouse Tackles Alleged Trespasser at His Home
Sprouse also had a gun during the confrontation, but reports vary as to whether he ever brandished it.
Dylan Sprouse Tackles Alleged Trespasser at His Home
Sprouse also had a gun during the confrontation, but reports vary as to whether he ever brandished it.
Dylan Sprouse Tackles Alleged Trespasser at His Home
Sprouse also had a gun during the confrontation, but reports vary as to whether he ever brandished it.
Police activity closes Main Street near Las Vegas Boulevard
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Man injured after shooting at TNT Sports Tavern in Norfolk
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Student filmmakers shine at Aquila’s Full Circle Film Fest
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Joe Starkey: Thankfully, Pittsburgh sports in much better shape as NFL Draft spotlight falls upon city
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Community Health Fair has free grocery giveaway for Hillsborough County residents
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Time for government, business leaders to figure out AI cybersecurity regulation
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What it will take to turn things around
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Iowa State to add women’s wrestling as varsity sport beginning in 2027-28
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Jet Aviation Plants Own Brand on IFE/CMS
IFX is an in-house-developed product line available for a variety of aircraft
Caitlyn Jenner slammed over asking Donald Trump for help changing passport gender
'The View' star Ana Navarro slammed Caitlyn Jenner for asking Donald Trump for help after her passport was changed to reflect the gender she was assigned at birth: 'Cry me a f---ing river.'