SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " hit " 8,351 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Massachusetts Republican lieutenant governor candidate suspends campaign after OUI arrest
Police said Shawn Oliver’s vehicle overturned after hitting five parked vehicles, two of which were extensively damaged.
'You Can See Everything' is crushing it at the box office
Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder have a hit with their new film, "You Can See Everything." It's the highest-grossing documentary of the year.
‘This is disgusting’: Nebraska’s independent Senate candidate rips dark money in politics
Democrats are hoping to whittle away at the Republican Senate majority in unexpectedly vulnerable red states like Nebraska. Incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts, a multimillionaire former governor, is defending his seat against independent challenger Dan Osborn, a Navy veteran and industrial mechanic. Osborn says he wants Congress to take back its power, end the war in Iran, lower fuel costs, so we “can worry about little league and bake sales.”
Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya reportedly set to star in ‘Fourth Wing’ TV series
(CNN) — Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya are set to star in the small-screen adaptation of Rebecca Yarros’ hit romantasy novel “Fourth Wing” when it lands on Prime Video, industry
Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is now a hit in theaters too
Paramount's “Street Fighter” leads the box office this weekend, earning $31 million from 3,575 theaters in the U.S. and Canada | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is now a hit in theaters too
Paramount's “Street Fighter” leads the box office this weekend, earning $31 million from 3,575 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. However, the spotlight is on the Elizabeth Holmes documentary “You
Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is now a hit in theaters too
Paramount's “Street Fighter” leads the box office this weekend, earning $31 million from 3,575 theaters in the U.S. and Canada | KNX News 1070 AM
Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is now a hit in theaters too
Paramount's “Street Fighter” leads the box office this weekend, earning $31 million from 3,575 theaters in the U.S. and Canada.
Scientists discover a way to reverse coral bleaching at record speed
For the first time, scientists have observed bleached corals on the brink of death fully recover through brief contact with healthy clones. Ghostly white corals returned to full health in a laboratory ...
“Something out of Science Fiction” – Astronomers Discover a Star That Glows a Bizarre Shade of Green
A star’s color usually reflects its temperature, but white dwarfs can break that pattern, with models revealing unexpected shades of green, pink, and purple. A star that has drawn in rocky debris from its planetary system would appear chartreuse green to the human eye, according to new calculations by University of Warwick astronomers. As far
Scientists Find a 'Ghostly Green' Star, and That's Not the Only Crazy Color
White dwarf stars, it turns out, come in a variety of hues. Says one astronomer: "Some of them genuinely surprised me."
The 20 best “Bluey” episodes of all time
Even adults love the hit Australian animated series.
Woman allegedly hit business owner with a closed fist when he tried to stop robbery
WCYB NBC 5 Bristol and WEMT Fox 39 Greeneville offer local and national news reporting, sports, and weather forecasts to viewers in the Tennessee, Virginia Tri-Cities area including Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City.
Woman allegedly hit business owner with a closed fist when he tried to stop robbery
News4 NBC Reno covers news, sports, weather and traffic for the Reno, Nevada area including Sparks, Carson City, Virginia City, Silver City, Stagecoach, Silver Springs, Sun Valley, Cold Springs, Spanish Springs and Fenley, Nevada and Truckee and Tahoe City, California.
Woman allegedly hit business owner with a closed fist when he tried to stop robbery
KOKH Fox 25 provides, news, sports, weather and local event coverage in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, including McLoud, Shawnee, Tecumseh, Seminole, Wewoka, Maud, Asher, Wanetted, Goldsby, Norman, Blanchard, Chickasha, Pauls Valley, Purcell, Andarko, Bridgeport, Lawton, Duncan, Okarche, Kingfisher, Guthrie Stillwater and Cushing, Oklahoma.
Woman allegedly hit business owner with a closed fist when he tried to stop robbery
WGXA News Fox 24 and ABC 16 in Macon Georgia provides local and national news, weather, sports and notice of community events in surrounding towns, including Warner Robins, Gray, Forsyth, Musella, Roberta, Milledgeville, Phoenix, Monticello, Hawkinsville and Montezuma, Georgia.
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.
Woman allegedly hit business owner with a closed fist when he tried to stop robbery
KEYE TV CBS Austin is the news, sports and weather leader for the Texas Capitol Region, covering events in the surrounding area including Round Rock Pflugerville, Georgetown, Belton, Killeen, Taylor, Lakeway, Buda, Kyle, San Marcos, Wyldwood, Bastrop, Elgin, Bartlett, Jarrell, Bertram, Burnet and Salado.
MGM+'s 'From' will debut on Netflix ahead of Halloween. How to watch
This Halloween-worthy binge hits the spooky checklist: monsters, mystery, and jaw-dropping moments.
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?
The path to a House majority on Capitol Hill runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
Latino voters helped put Trump back in the White House. What's their next move?
The path to a House majority on Capitol Hill runs through heavily Latino districts in states such as Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
Who passed health checks in Wichita KS? Asian, burgers, food trucks & more
See Wichita-area restaurants, stores & hotels that passed health inspections. Sixty-nine locations made the Oct. 4-10 list.
Scientists Discover a Surprising New Effect of a Popular Blood Pressure Drug
A drug for high blood pressure could inspire future treatments for people with normal readings, thanks to an unexpected effect on the body’s energy-burning fat. Losartan already helps people control high blood pressure. New research suggests it could have a second use in activating brown fat, a tissue that burns energy to produce heat and
Tadej Pogačar's Secretive Lactate Energy Gel Hits the Market
Enervit gel mix developed with Team UAE and used at the Tour de France joins a wave of new-era lactate fuels available to amateurs. Can they justify the price tag?
Country music singer rips ‘parasites’ accusing him of using satanic imagery in shows
He hit back at the critics during a recent interview.
At the center of the state’s growing measles outbreak, it’s business as usual
In hard-hit Mifflin County, concern for the potentially deadly virus has yet to catch up to national alarm.
3 strategies for using points to book flights and hotels
Taryn White has used airline miles and credit card points to book flights to places like Bali, Prague, and Johannesburg. She shares her top tips.
Donald Trump’s White House blasts country music star: ‘Peanut-sized brain’
The president and the singer are not fans of each other.
Democrats lead Republicans in House vote choice as Trump's approval rating hits record low: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll
Half or more Americans call every household purchase category measured "unaffordable."
Trump approval hits record low, handing Democrats a clear midterm edge
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low and support for Democrats in the race for control of Congress rising, as inflationary pressures contribute to the acrid mood among voters, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.
Stephen A. Smith recounts 4-hour White House dinner with Trump and Bill Maher
President Donald Trump hosted Stephen A. Smith and Bill Maher at the White House on Thursday in Smith's first face-to-face meeting with Trump in years.
PS6 RAM and Storage Alone Reportedly Cost Sony Over $680, Claims Leaker
The memory crunch looks like it is hitting the PlayStation 6 harder than expected. Hardware leaker KeplerL2 claims on NeoGAF that the RAM and NAND flash storage in Sony's next console alone cost over $680. He posted it as a reply to a forum member who floated $680 as a possible subsidized retail...
‘You Can See Everything’ reviews: Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary hits 99% on Rotten Tomatoes as it opens in theaters
Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary “You Can See Everything” has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and is on track for one of the best documentary openings ever.
The Real Reason Kane’s Record-Breaking Assist Changed History
Patrick Kane breaks the U.S.-born assist record with a helper on Connor Bedard's goal. Read how this historic moment unfolded in Chicago.
Mystery dinner in Whitesboro to benefit cancer patients
The Joseph Michael Chubbuck Foundation will host a Harry Potter-inspired mystery dinner Oct. 23 at Hart's Hill Inn to benefit cancer patients in financial need.
Byron Donalds launches 50-stop bus tour to 'meet voters where they are'
The GOP ticket is hitting the road.
‘Danger zone’: These 5 US states are about to be hit hardest by El Niño, experts warn
A powerful El Niño is underway. Here’s how the weather pattern could affect hurricanes, wildfires, flooding and extreme weather across the US.
Intel SVP Confirms Razor Lake-AX Will Hit 700 TOPS & Launch In 2028, 3.88x The AI Compute Of Panther Lake
Intel has confirmed that its next-generation Razor Lake-AX SoCs will launch in 2028, bringing increased AI capabilities.
Big Tech’s enabling of the ballroom is the worst symbol of our times
The wealthiest companies since the robber baron days -- like Microsoft and Amazon -- greased the skids for an authoritarian vanity project the public doesn't want.
Modern Warfare 4 Emerges to Best Call of Duty Steam Rating in a Decade
Modern Warfare 4 is the highest-rated Call of Duty game to hit Steam in over a decade, but will that persist when multiplayer gets here?
Ultimate Netflix Quiz: Can you guess the hit show from a cropped screenshot?
Test your TV knowledge with this quiz featuring cropped screenshots from 10 hit Netflix shows and see how many you can identify.
Oregon makes girls flag football history. Nike, Seattle Seahawks helped make it happen
With support from some of the Pacific Northwest's biggest names, Oregon makes history for itself and hits a milestone for the nation.
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.
Stock market correction fears rise as margin debt hits record levels
Since 1997, there have only been three years when margin debt has grown as rapidly: 2000, 2007, and 2021, all moments before major corrections.
Star of hit sitcom reacts to creator’s diss about casting her
The star of a CBS sitcom was 'hurt' when the show's creator expressed regrets about casting her
Bridge winners
HUNTINGTON DUPLICATE BRIDGE ASSOCIATION: Monday, Oct. 5 — Elaine Whitt and Bob Hardin, Patricia Crews and Fuzzy Harrold. Wednesday, Oct. 7 — Bennie Shields and Bob Hardin, Elaine Whitt and
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.
Congressional Staff Open Letters Containing Suspicious Substances
The incidents, the first of which was reported on Thursday, came as election officials have reported a growing number of threats directed at them.
Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb slams Press Secretary ouster, alleges White House ‘double standard’
White House press secretaries with tenures lasting under two months
Katie Zacharia, former White House press secretary, served a five-day stint. She's among three others who held the position for under two months.
Business leaders gather in Wichita Falls for Leaderfest 2026
At this year’s Leaderfest, business owners, professionals and community leaders gathered in Wichita Falls for a day of inspiration and growth.
Intel chief says White House will not meddle in its semiconductor business
Lip-Bu Tan defends Trump stake, assesses chips from China as not far behind US tech
ABC7 Sports Overtime with Dionne Miller: Oct. 16, 2026
On the latest ABC7 Sports Overtime, Dionne Miller discussed the Chicago Bears hoping to have Caleb Williams back to turn things around, as well as a recap of an impressive season for the White Sox.
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.
10 things that lasted longer than Zacharia's WH press secretary role
From space missions to a hard-boiled egg, here are 10 things that lasted longer than Katie Zacharia's tenure as White House press secretary.
Smears, confusion and white powder: a week in the US midterm campaign
This week in US politics, a candidate with the flu fell victim to a false rumor, a campaign ad aired in the wrong city, and packages with suspicious powder were mailed to election officials. Packages ...
Frontier, fuboTV, E.W. Scripps, Sphere Entertainment, and AMC Entertainment Stocks Trade Down, What You Need To Know
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after The LSEG/Ipsos Primary Consumer Sentiment Index fell 5.3 points from September to 45.2 in October 2026, the lowest reading since October 2011. According to LSEG, the survey was taken from Sept. 25 through Oct. 1. The monthly drop was the second-largest on record, behind only April 2020. The index is now below its May 2020 pandemic low of 45.4 and is 7.7 points under its level of a year ago.That kind of break in confidence hits the companies
Oil reaches $110 per barrel
Welcome to The Hill’s Business & Economy newsletter{beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story Oil hits $110 per barrel for first time since May …
Beverly Latest To Get Hit By Business Break-Ins; Multiple Arrests Made
Thursday's burglaries in Beverly were part of a series of smash-and-grabs across the city this week, and multiple persons of interest are in custody, Ald. Matt O'Shea said.
Appeals Court Questions Justice Dept. Claim that Trump Owns White House Records
A three-judge panel appeared unconvinced by claims that a federal law requiring the president to preserve and hand over his presidential papers was unconstitutional.
Staff Turnover and Missing Funds: A Tumultuous Week at Trump’s White House
With just over two weeks remaining before the midterm elections, things inside the White House are turbulent. Even though President Donald Trump isn’t on the ballot, he is top of mind for many as they head to the polls. Republicans across the country are already working to persuade voters not to ...
Trump's team is in chaos as midterms enter final stretch
A White House that has enjoyed relative stability over the past two years has returned to a state of disarray that characterized much of Trump's early political career.
Evaluating Brian Cashman’s 2026 season
The Yankees’ head of baseball had some hits and many misses this year.
Josh Bell Opens Up About His Future With the Twins
The Twins designated hitter led the club in RBIs in his first year in Minnesota, and now both sides have a decision to make about 2027.
'The Wiz' Eases on Down the Road to Eisenhower Auditorium
The hit Broadway musical “The Wiz” will bring its reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz” to Penn State next week, featuring performers from “American Idol” and
Katie Zacharia is out, White House official confirms
She is leaving after merely a week on the job.
Gov. Hochul calls inquiry into Rich Schaffer and Suffolk Dems 'political hit job'
At three Suffolk Democrats were questioned by the FBI.
Katie Zacharia is out after 5 days as White House press secretary
Zacharia had gotten off to a bumpy start with her first and final press briefing, followed by an onslaught of headlines about whether she had misrepresented herself as a lawyer.
Katie Zacharia is out as White House press secretary after just 5 days on the job
Zacharia had come under scrutiny after a shaky first news briefing and the revelation that she represented herself as a lawyer but did not pass her bar exam after law school.
Katie Zacharia is out after half a Scaramucci
A record-breaking five days as White House press secretary proves once again: Mar-a-Lago face will never save you.
Trump says he told Katie Zacharia he'd reconsider White House job
Katie Zacharia made her White House press briefing debut on Tuesday and quickly came under intense scrutiny over her legal credentials.
Katie Zacharia reportedly leaving as Trump’s press secretary just 5 days into the job
President Donald Trump's new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, is "transitioning out of the role" after he told her to reconsider the job just five days in, according to a White House official.
SOME CITY SPORTS FIELDS ARE CLOSED TODAY SEE LINK FOR DETAILS 10-16-26
****ALL CITY BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS ARE CLOSED TODAY (10-16-26) EXCEPT FOR: GROVE BASEBALL, MAX KEHNE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL, WALNUT RIDGE BASEBALL, AND WHITTIER BASEBALL FIELD 2.****What “
Trump asks Zacharia to reconsider White House press secretary role
President Donald Trump has told press secretary Katie Zacharia to reconsider her role as his top spokesperson, he told reporters at the White House.
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
Billy Joel just gave an update on his health — there are two things he can’t do
‘It’s someone else’s turn to hit the road.’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Shrink Their Hollywood Business as Layoffs Hit Archewell Productions
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been quietly cutting staff at Archewell Productions. “They cut staff over the last 12 to 18 months,” an insider told Page Six on Thursday, October 15. Th...
Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief
U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed more than tripled the fundraising haul of his Republican challenger, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. Online records show El-Sayed raised $30,659,157 in the reporting period from July 16 to Sept. 30, while Rogers brought in $9,662,538. Despite that, Rogers’ campaign maintains a nearly […]
When does “Frisco King” premiere? Everything we know about Samuel L. Jackson’s “Tulsa King” spinoff
Jackson’s former hitman takes his hustle from NOLA to Texas in Taylor Sheridan’s latest series.
“Something Out of Science Fiction”: A Ghostly Green Star Has Been Revealed for the First Time
White dwarfs glow in a rainbow of colors, one recorded for the first time in new research showing how these stars can defy expectations.
Music star who attended Berklee College hits Trump with 3-word insult onstage
A Grammy-winning singer with a Berklee College background used some choice words about President Donald Trump during a recent performance.
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!
Biggest post-postseason questions for the White Sox
October was an eye-opener for the future of the team
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.
Christine Drazan says she’s her own person, but will it matter?
When asked if she’s MAGA, the Republican standard bearer in Oregon said she’s an Oregon Republican and her own person regardless of who’s in the White House.
Morocco health alert issued due to diphtheria: US Embassy
In the North African country of Morocco, the country’s Ministry of Health reported a small diphtheria outbreak with clusters in multiple regions in Morocco in late September. Moroccan health teams are tracing contacts and providing preventive treatment and vaccines. This has prompted the US Embassy to issue a health alert for U.S. citizens in Morocco. Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. It spreads primarily from person to person through coughs and sneezes (respiratory droplets). Most Americans were vaccinated as children and have received Td or TdaP boosters as adults. The risk to U.S. citizens in Morocco remains low. U.S. Citizens may contact their local doctors if they would like immunizations. Embassy officials advise citizens to watch out for the following symptoms: Sore throat or hoarse voice, mild fever, a thick gray or white coating in the throat or nose, swollen neck and trouble swallowing or breathing. If you or a family member has trouble breathing or swallowing, please contact your local doctor. They also advise on the following actions concerning vaccines: Check your vaccination records and your family members’ records. Get a booster if you need one. Adults need a diphtheria booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years. Make sure your children are up to date on their routine vaccines. Outbreak News Today is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Former Villanova standout Cam Whitmore is turning heads with Nuggets
One (Whit)more shot.
Can Katie Zacharia save her job after rocky debut as press secretary?
After a turbulent first week as President Trump’s new White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia is taking her case to the media. Will it be enough to save her job? Plus, the fallout from Ki…
Trump increased investments in drugmakers that benefited from Medicare exemptions, Democrats say
WASHINGTON (AP) — Investments in pharmaceutical companies made on behalf of President Donald Trump increased significantly after he returned to the White House last year, with his portfolio adding mil...
'White' dwarf stars can be purple, pink and even green, surprising new study finds
Stellar remnants called white dwarfs appear to come in a rainbow of colors, according to a new study.
Reitsma wants to be approachable to Wichita Falls constituents
Wichita Falls City Council District 5 candidate Heather Reitsma discussed her goals and her views on data centers.
Billion dollar changes in the Haynesville Shale, energy prices expected to stay high
Haynesville Shale dealmaking hits $7.8B, outpacing the Permian in 2026.
Power struggle erupts in Trump’s White House as midterm losses loom
Top personnel are jockeying for position as some expect Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to step down after the elections.