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Chiquita Gives Iconic Mascot a Voice in Annual Breast Health Campaign
In partnership with the American Cancer Society, the global banana brand replaces its iconic blue sticker with pink throughout October while bringing its ambassador to life for the first time.
DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
The Health Ministry has recorded two cases, including one death, in Nord-Ubangi province. Both people were men in their 20s, the ministry said.
Early voting expands Monday in Chicago, suburban Cook County and across the suburbs
Photo identification is not required but it can be helpful if there is a question about voter registration, address or signature.
NBAA-BACE Flight Deck Launches Bizav Expert Sessions
Panels tackle cyberthreats, the MRO crunch, and the C-band auction
A banker’s fight for political survival
Rep. French Hill is defending his time as a banker in his close reelection race against Democrat Chris Jones.
DR Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
The Health Ministry has recorded 2 cases, including 1 death, in Nord-Ubangi province, bordering the Central African Republic.
Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
The Ebola outbreak in Congo has spread to an eighth province. The Health Ministry has recorded two cases, including one death, in Nord-Ubangi province. The outbreak, declared in mid-May, has
Congo’s Fast-Moving Ebola Outbreak Spreads to Eighth Province
The Ebola outbreak in Congo has spread to an eighth province in the country’s north, authorities said on Sunday. The Health Ministry has recorded two cases, including one death, in Nord-Ubangi province, bordering the Central African Republic. The ministry said both patients were men in their 20s ...
Disney Villains Boo Buckets, VisionQuest, and Banana Ball Returns: This Week at TMSM
McDonald’s confirms Disney Villains Boo Buckets, VisionQuest premieres, Six Ravens opens at Disney Springs, and Banana Ball heads back to Disney World. Here’s everything you missed.
MIKE FLANAGAN’S “CARRIE” TRIUMPHS ACROSS THE GLOBE
Stephen King’s debut novel Carrie has seen many adaptions over the years. Aside from Brian De Palma’s 1976 feature adaption, other iterations of Carrie haven’t been quite so successful. When it was announced filmmaker Mike Flanagan would be adapting Carrie once more, many fans rolled their eyes. However, Flanagan’s adaption has rocketed to the top ...Read More
25 honored as Business Alabama's Rising Stars of Banking
Twenty-five Alabama banking professionals were honored as Business Alabama’s Rising Stars of Banking 2026 at a luncheon in Birmingham.
Research suggests women living in states with abortion bans bear higher health insurance costs
Ten states with near-total abortion bans were compared with five states that did not implement bans, including Pennsylvania.
Moving beyond Alaska Grown
Although I am a lover of Fairbanks, I am not particularly in love with mid-October Fairbanks. Fall’s yellow, shimmering leaves are now browning and dissolving underfoot, and my garden is
Woman allegedly hit business owner with a closed fist when he tried to stop robbery
WOAI NBC News Channel 4 San Antonio provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, investigations, and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for San Antonio and nearby towns and communities in South Central Texas, including Windcrest, Uvalde, Universal City, Somerset, Seguin, Schertz, San Marcos, Sabinal, Poth, Poteet, Pleasanton, Pearsall, New Braunfels, Live Oak, Kerrville, Hondo, Helotes, Goliad, Fredericksburg, Floresville, Eagle Pass, Devine, Del Rio, Cuero, Crystal City, Converse, Cibolo, Castroville, Carrizo Springs, Boerne, Bandera.
Allison Williams Says There Is ‘a Science’ to Buying a Kids’ Halloween Costume as a Parent (Exclusive)
The actress shares a 4-year-old son, Arlo, with husband Alexander Dreymon
Conway bluegrass band Sawgrass brings longtime musical tradition to Horry County Museum
Conway bluegrass band Sawgrass brings longtime musical tradition to Horry County Museum
Black Death had dramatic effect on species diversity as humans abandoned farmland, study finds
Researchers have found that during the Black Death, when a third of the population of Europe was wiped out, biodiversity fell. Understanding their farming practices could help us increase diversity in modern agriculture.
Cher Admits She Loves to Ski Despite Ex-Husband Sonny Bono’s Fatal Accident on the Slopes
Whatever you do, don't buy a Fitbit Edge on day one
Thinking of buying the Fitbit Edge? From early firmware bugs to Black Friday deals, here is why waiting for a few weeks is the smartest move.
Prairie Band chairman discusses ICE contract exit and oversight of tribal businesses
Prairie Band Potawatomi Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick discusses the tribe’s exit from an ICE-related contract and oversight of tribal businesses with Levi Rickert during the Great Lakes Tribal Economic Summit in Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Photo: Tribal Business News)
Spooky shenanigans on tap for benefit concert
Damn, Girls! and the Hella Band will perform on Friday, Oct. 30, from 7-9 p.m. at the Blue Hill Public Library in a fundraiser for the library and H.O.M.E.
Moore campaign ads shut out Sinclair stations amid feud with David Smith
While it’s normal for politicians and journalists to disagree on coverage in private, this dispute has played out in full view of the public.
Google Open-Sources Harness2, a Recursive Agent Harnessing Framework
Google open-sourced Harness2, a recursive agent harnessing framework that lifted GLM-5 11.5 points on WorkBuddy-Bench with frozen weights.
A Deep-Sea Mining Trial Rapidly Threw The Seafloor Ecosystem Off Kilter
Even short-term disturbance has significant impacts.
Global banana business bruised as Iran war pressures producers
The war in Iran has rippled through the global economy in many ways, pushing up prices for oil, fertilizer and other products. It has also created challenges for America's most popular fruit: bananas.
Money20/20: Where Banks, Big Tech and Regulators Do Business
Jessica Blue, Executive Vice President of Money20/20 USA, explains why convergence, partnerships and trust will define the next era of financial services
Community leaders: Foiled Illinois attack spurred by anti-Hindu hate
A thwarted mass shooting targeting a large Hindu temple in suburban Chicago was fueled by years of hateful rhetoric on social media against Hindus and Indians, community leaders say.
Amazon's delivery box: a symbol of instant gratification and convenience
The Amazon delivery box — a fixture everywhere from suburban front porches to city apartment lobbies — is more than just a cardboard box. It’s symbolic of a shopping culture
Banking on bricks: entrepreneur builds a business case for recycling plastic waste
Spirit of Hong Kong Awards finalist Shervin Sharghy left banking to build a business turning plastic waste into concrete paving and wall blocks.
Albania protesters clash with police as premier faces pressure
Albanian police clashed with hundreds of protesters in the capital, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation for a fifth consecutive day.
Seventeen's hot new JxJ unit are showing off their chemistry — with a little help from Pinterest
Jeonghan and Joshua from the mega K-pop boy band Seventeen are offering fans a dream to lose themselves in and a mood board for shopping
UAlbany football rips Golden Apple Trophy away from Stony Brook
UAlbany neutralized Stony Brook's pass rush, which led the nation with 24 sacks. The Seawolves finished with one sack and defensive end Khalid Bueno, first in FCS with 10 1/2 sacks, had none Saturday
Green Bay No Kings rally draws several hundred to urge early voting
In Green Bay, protesters under the national No Kings banner aimed populist messaging at President Donald Trump.
“Harry Potter” star Bonnie Wright announces birth of second child
She also shares a son, Elio Ocean, with husband Andrew Lococo.
Harry Styles dedicates new song to late One Direction bandmate Liam Payne on 2nd death anniversary
Payne died in 2024 after falling off the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Argentina.
Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: ACHE begins new public health doctorate; Miss Laura’s reopening set
Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro. Health Leadership The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) now offers a doctor of public health (DrPH) in leadership for...
Health Act Rally in Rochester
New Yorkers will rally on October 17 in a coordinated day of action calling on the State Legislature to pass the New York Health Act and guarantee healthcare for every New Yorker. Across hundreds of miles, New Yorkers will stand together on the same day, under the same banner, with one unified message for Albany: New York is facing a healthcare crisis.
TikTok Bans Musk Film Account, Citing Politics
Move comes just as Alex Gibney doc film expands to nearly 500 screens. Distributor Bleecker Street says it is appealing.
Easton’s Witches’ Walk back for 2nd year. Is the magic still there to draw 1,000 again?
New this year, the Twin Flame Experience — a local husband-and-wife duo — will perform theatrical fire-spinning shows between 6 and 7 p.m. both days.
Chuck Lorre claims Cybill Shepherd became ‘a different person’ when shooting season 2 of “Cybill”
The future creator of “The Big Bang Theory” writes about his Hollywood career in his new memoir.
Meet the RI YouTuber exploring the creepiest abandoned landmarks
From ghost towns to shipwrecks, a Rhode Island filmmaker is preserving the stories behind some of the state's most fascinating forgotten places.
Kathy Castor, Mike Beltran square off in a rare debate for Congress
Also, Congressional Democratic candidates Kimberly Overman and Robert People appeared at the debate, held by Tampa Tiger Bay at the Cuban Club in Ybor City.
Hochul's second-term test and Blakeman's crusade to stop it
Blakeman and Hochul have both billed themselves as candidates with the unique ability to appeal outside their base.
Detroit summit boosts Israeli business in face of pro-Palestinian wave
Michigan Israel Business Accelerator drew fire ahead of the Innovation Exchange Summit at Huntington Bank HQ, with Rep. Rashida Tlaib demanding state end funding for group
As Israel blocks PA funding, the West Bank’s healthcare system is failing
Hospitals across the occupied West Bank have been hit by a funding shortage.
Opinion: Do social media bans protect teens' mental health? Research suggests bans aren’t the answer.
Opinion by Ari Lightman: I research digital media and marketing and measure the impact of new technologies, and I’m skeptical about whether prohibiting access to social media platforms will actually improve young people’s mental health.
Clients, employees left hanging as NH wedding photography business files for bankruptcy
Kasey Fedorchuk and her fiancé Joshua Logan are set to tie the knot on Halloween, but just weeks before the couple will say, "I do," an unexpected email hit their inbox.
Washington Wizards Close Preseason with Narrow Loss vs. Pelicans
AJ Dybantsa left the game midway through the second quarter with an ankle injury as the Washington Wizards fell, 107-106, agains the New Orleans Pelicans
Michigan Proposal 2 aims to limit corporate money in politics
Michigan voters will decide in November whether to overhaul the state’s campaign finance laws through a citizen-led ballot initiative that would ban utility companies and certain government contractors from donating to state candidates.
Saban Names Top Four Teams, Igniting Fan Debate
Nick Saban names Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, and Ohio State as top teams. See how Alabama fans react to his comments before the Tennessee game.
Quakertown football wins fourth straight with victory over CR North
Quakertown dispatched Council Rock North in a Suburban One League Continental Conference high school football game. The Panthers have won 4 straight.
Melissa Gilbert seemingly reacts to dismissal of husband Timothy Busfield’s child sexual abuse charges
A judge dismissed the charges against Busfield on Friday, though they may be refiled by prosecutors in the future.
NBA bans certain types of sports bets following high-profile gambling scandals involving players
The NBA is banning certain player prop parlays and other wagers while expanding measures to detect suspicious betting activity and protect players from harassment.
Final plans for Trump’s arch appear to abandon his ‘military complex’ idea
Newly posted documents make no mention of drones, snipers or other military features announced by the president. A White House official disputed that plans had changed.
Trump Administration Restricts Drone Activity Along U.S.-Mexico Border
The new restrictions ban unauthorized drone flights within a nautical mile of the southern border, up to 400 feet in the air.
Savannah Bananas players visit Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center
Savannah Bananas players brought fun and connection to Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center, delighting residents with dancing, singing, and personal interactions.
Brain-infecting fungus that can kill 7 in 10 patients is on the rise across America
Cladophialophora bantiana, a neurotropic black mold with a 60%-70% fatality rate, surged nearly fourfold in U.S. detections between 2023 and 2025.
Super Smash Bros. Player Mew2King Banned From Tournament After Bug Bites Spark Health Concerns
Professional Super Smash Bros. player Jason ‘Mew2King’ Zimmerman has been banned from a competitive tournament after posting photos of his concerning skin condition and complaining of a bug infestation in his home.
Super Smash Bros. Player Mew2King Banned From Tournament After Bug Bites Spark Health Concerns
Professional Super Smash Bros. player Jason ‘Mew2King’ Zimmerman has been banned from a competitive tournament after posting photos of his concerning skin condition and complaining of a bug infestation in his home.
Candy, breakfast and sushi: 5 North Central Austin business updates
Read about business updates in North Central Austin, including Urban Egg, Tarrant Roofing, Komé, Lammes Candies and OutYouth.
Nicolas Cage and Antonio Banderas will officially headline “True Detective” season 5
Production will begin in 2027 with Issa López back as showrunner.
Nicolas Cage and Antonio Banderas will officially headline ‘True Detective’ season 5
‘True Detective’ has found its next true detectives.
Antonio Banderas, Nicolas Cage to star in 'True Detective' season 5
Nicolas Cage attends 'The Surfer' photocall at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2024, in Cannes, France. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) | Antonio Banderas
Horse carriage drivers rally against ban ahead of vote to end industry
A full council vote on the bill is scheduled for Oct. 22.
Banana Ball returning to Las Vegas Ballpark in March 2027
Banana Ball returns to Las Vegas Ballpark March 18-20, 2027, general admission lottery closes Oct. 31, 2026.
WWU closes $12.5 million deal with PeaceHealth for new health sciences college
The largely abandoned, battered complex at the Lakeway Drive and Ellis Street intersection in Bellingham will eventually transform into a new college and co ...
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses found recording audio without wearers' consent
The bug is fixed, but privacy concerns remain.
Mayor Johnson’s campaign cash dips below $380,000, while frontrunner Giannoulias has $19 million on hand
The freshman incumbent has just $379,471 in the bank — yet another indication of his struggle to raise money for the uphill reelection bid he announced last month.
In sickness and health: Husband and wife share powerful breast cancer survival stories
One local couple is making sure both women and men know the warning signs of breast cancer.
In sickness and health: Husband and wife share powerful breast cancer survival stories
One local couple is making sure both women and men know the warning signs of breast cancer.
David Surkamp dead: Pavlov's Dog lead singer was 74
Rock band Pavlov's Dog is mourning the loss of singer-songwriter and lead vocalist David Surkamp, who died Monday at age 74.
A new UNC initiative aims to bring AI tools to rural and low-resource health care clinics
From transcription tools to customer service, many small clinics don't have the bandwidth to navigate AI.
Chuck Lorre gets candid on hits, flops and hard lessons in new memoir 'Sitcom'
Legendary producer Chuck Lorre, known for hits like “The Big Bang Theory,” reflects on his career in his new memoir, “Sitcom.” | KMBZ
Chuck Lorre gets candid on hits, flops and hard lessons in new memoir 'Sitcom'
Legendary producer Chuck Lorre, known for hits like “The Big Bang Theory,” reflects on his career in his new memoir, “Sitcom.” | Talk 1370
NBA tells sportsbooks to ban certain bets and parlays: report
The NBA told sportsbook partners in a Friday memo to ban certain types of bets and parlays this season that gamblers used in recent wagering scandals, ESPN reported."There's a balance between ensuring that we are removing problematic bet types but also ensuring that we don't just move activity into the illegal market," NBA executive vice president Scott Kaufman-Ross told ESPN. "Where we landed right now, we think, is the right balance of those two objectives."
Greensboro bank makes rival bid for Durham's historic M&F
A rival offer could preserve the historic Black-owned bank's identity ahead of an Oct. 20 vote.
Can social media bans protect young people's mental health? Early research suggests that bans aren't the answer
The year 2026 has been an expensive one for social media platforms. Since March, YouTube and Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, have settled or paid out in multiple lawsuits totaling ...
Video: Zara Larsson Won’t Abandon Her Politics for Fame
Zara Larsson refuses to censor her political beliefs for money or fame. The Swedish pop singer has spoken out on issues like abortion rights and Palestine, and she shares with Popcast why she refuses to sacrifice her integrity no matter how lucrative the opportunity.
Savannah Bananas Return to Coors Field
As the Savannah Bananas bring their Banana Ball style of play to stadiums across the United States and Mexico, Coors Field, home to the Colorado Rockies, is on the schedule in 2027.
NBA, sportsbooks agree to ban different types of prop bets
The NBA and prominent sportsbooks agree to ban different types of prop bets.
NBA, sportsbooks reportedly agree to ban certain bets, including parlays involving the under on same player's stats
Award-winning Business Husky Believes Success Is Something You Pass Along
Michigan Tech senior Jim Brisson's work to help students connect with business professionals, industries and the accounting community has earned him the 2026 Campus Influencer of the Year award from the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. He'll be recognized at MICPA's Celebrate Awards event on Nov. 11 in Detroit.
Veteran Western Swing Band Plays Bethlehem Oct. 24
BETHLEHEM, N.H. — The Colonial Theatre welcomes legendary Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel to the stage on Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m. for an evening of American
Registration is open for high school winter sports
Registration is now officially open for high school winter sports for the City School District of Albany! Any student in grades 9-12 who is interested in trying out for boys' basketball, girls' basketball, bowling, cheerleading, boys' indoor track, girls' indoor track, spirit team, boys' swimming and diving, boys' wrestling and girls' wrestling is invited to register via Final Forms. Important: please note that registration for winter sports ends on Friday, Nov. 13. Practices and tryouts for winter sports begin on Monday, Nov. 16. FINAL FORMS Each season, the following must be done prior to the first day of tryouts and practices: A parent or guardian must initiate the registration process for their student-athlete in Final Forms, filling out the required forms such as Interval Sports Health History and the Athletic Consent Form. The student-athlete must sign and complete their required forms. A reminder that all students who would like to play an interscholastic sport need to have a current physical conducted within a year on file. PHYSICALS A physical conducted within the last 12 months is mandatory for any student interested in trying out for an athletic team and must be uploaded into the Final Forms platform. Families are encouraged to get a completed physical from their child's physician. If you are unable to get a physical from your child's physician, you can schedule a free physical with Whitney Young's school-based health center by calling (518) 573-2556. Additionally, the district physician will also be available to facilitate sports physicals at Albany High in room 4253 on the following dates: Thursday, Nov. 12 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sports physicals on Nov. 12 and 13 are free and no appointment is necessary. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Please note that students must have a good attendance record and be in good standing academically to be eligible to participate in an athletic team. Eligibility is determined based on quarterly grades, and interim progress reports will serve as an important academic checkpoint for all student‑athletes. For additional details about academic eligibility, please see our Athletic Code of Conduct. For our winter teams, academic eligibility to start the season will be based on final first-quarter grades. The first marking period ends Nov. 13. Albany High offers free tutoring facilitated by Albany High teachers Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. for students who need extra help with their academics. See this flyer for additional details. IMPORTANT DATES Seniors, please mark your calendars for Senior Media Day for winter sports, which will take place on Monday, Nov. 30. All student-athletes playing winter sports will also participate in our winter sports picture days, which will take place Tuesday, Dec. 15–Thursday, Dec. 18. Specific dates and times for each team will be shared once rosters are finalized. OPEN GYM SESSIONS Student-athletes are encouraged to check out our open gym sessions as they prepare for upcoming sports seasons. We’re looking forward to a rewarding winter sports season this year! If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Department at (518) 475-6310. Go Falcons!
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Albania: Protesting students demand political change and resignation of longtime Prime Minister Edi Rama
Empty lecture halls, burning buildings and demands for change: Albanian students are spearheading a protest movement that has become the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama in years.
Adjusted quarterly net income, revenue rise at Simmons First
Simmons First National Corp. on Thursday (Oct. 16) reported adjusted third-quarter net income of $79 million, up 21.7% compared with $64.9 million in adjusted net income in the same quarter...
Truist CEO shakes up bank's consumer, small business leadership
New Truist Financial CEO Mike Lyons revamped the Charlotte-based bank’s consumer and small business leadership and jettisoned one of the key digital initiatives of his predecessor CEO.
Scientists have just voted to abolish leap seconds
Since 1972, officials have added 27 leap seconds to the universal clock, but in a meeting this week in France they have decided to abandon the practice
Truist's new CEO is reshaping the bank's consumer and small-business leadership
Former Bank of America and PNC executives will report to CEO Mike Lyons as Truist consumer banking chief Dontá Wilson departs
Can social media bans protect young people’s mental health? Early research suggests that bans aren’t the answer
Kids have found ways around most of the safeguards meant to keep them off social media platforms.
Banished Michael Foote from ‘The Traitors’ is ‘coming for their f---ing wigs’
Michael Foote from ‘The Traitors: New Blood’ is ‘still mad’ about his banishment: ‘I’m coming for their f---ing wigs.’
National newspaper supplements mark World Mental Health Day 2026 in Bangladesh
To mark World Mental Health Day 2026, special newspaper supplements were published across nine national newspapers in Bangladesh, helping bring mental health messages to readers across the country. The supplements appeared in seven Bangla-language and two English-language newspapers: Bangladesh Pratidin, Bhorer Akash, Jaijaidin, Jugantor, Kalbela, Dainik Amader Shomoy, Prothom Alo, New Age and The Daily Star.
Business Beat Century Bank and Trust Completes phase one of renovation
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - Century Bank and Trust has completed Phase One of its Coldwater Main Office renovation ...
Should California taxpayers chip in to fund political campaigns? Prop 4 lets you decide
Proposition 4 would lift a ban that prohibits state and most local candidates from using public funding for their political campaigns. Proponents argue the mechanism helps more candidates run for office, but opponents are skeptical.