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Understanding Colorado’s unusual 2026 elections
Not too long ago, Colorado was a “red” state (Republican) politically. But now the state is considered a decidedly "blue" state.
Netanyahu condemns Magal's 'monkey' remark against Eisenkot, calls out opposition
Netanyahu condemned Magal's insult to Eisenkot but accused the opposition of double standards for attacking Likud voters. Ben-Gvir defended Magal.
Lidi recalls Gelatelli Coffee & Vanilla Gelato due to possible health risk
The recall involves 16-ounce containers distributed across 10 states.
Eating blueberries every day may have a surprising effect on your mood
Eating blueberries every day could have surprising effects on mood, according to a small study that found greater reductions in depressive symptoms among older adults who consumed the fruit for three months. Researchers also detected changes in gut microbial enzymes, suggesting a possible gut-brain connection, although the mood benefits were not statistically significant compared with a placebo.
Physicists create a bizarre new quantum state called a fractional fermi sea
Physicists have discovered a strange new state of quantum matter in which ultracold atoms defy familiar organizational rules, forming a highly excited yet surprisingly orderly configuration called a "fractional Fermi sea." The discovery challenges established quantum theories and hints at exotic quasiparticles that scientists have dubbed potential "super-Fermions."
Zack Polanski says application of Zionism is racist and no state has right to exist
Green leader in England and Wales calls ‘debates about words’ unhelpful and denies recent motion was controversial
Tales of Eternia Remastered Review
I can safely call Tales of Eternia Remastered the definitive version for newcomers, so long as they don't mind a few dated gameplay mechanics.
Why Buffett's Berkshire is betting nearly $1 billion on Bending Spoons
Warren Buffett's storied company has historically avoided tech stocks, but Bending Spoons is a long-term acquirer that prizes ownership and learning.
Chuck Lorre claims Les Moonves made ‘no f---ing way’ gesture at Jon Cryer’s ‘Two and a Half Men’ audition
Chuck Lorre recalls casting ‘Two and a Half Men’ in his new memoir, ‘Sitcom,’ and being told by the network, ‘We don’t want to hear the words ‘Jon Cryer.’’
In Cuyahoga County, there’s a growing reason to stop minding our own business: Leslie Kouba
Elder abuse demands a louder call to action — and a public willing to notice warning signs and report concerns, writes columnist Leslie Kouba.
Why someone paid $2.8 million for a bottle of Macallan whiskey
A staggering sum paid for a bottle of whiskey this month begs the question: what goes into the price of such high-flying booze?
Xbox gets 30 new games next week, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
Next week, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Peak, Final Fantasy Resonance, and 27 more new games launch across Xbox consoles and Xbox PC.
‘Keep away from the doctor’: a visit to an influencer’s wellness event, where the advice could kill
Barbara O’Neill, identified as a risk to public safety in Australia, dismisses antibiotics, vaccines and scientifically proven cancer treatment at UK conference
Rubio heads to Central Asia as some wonder if he's keeping the most pressing matters at a distance
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has left Washington on his 31st trip abroad as America’s top diplomat, heading to Uzbekistan and India amid rumblings that he’s ignoring pressing matters in favor of more politically safe visits and meetings.
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."
Intel Inference Microservices: Xeon for Local AI
Intel Inference Microservices run language models on Xeon servers and automatically select suitable, pre-tested hardware profiles.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Gets a Warm Steam Welcome With 90% Positive Reviews
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is off to an unusually good start on Steam. The campaign early access went live for pre-order customers on October 16, and at the time of writing, 1,630 of the game's 1,812 Steam user reviews are positive, giving it a "Very Positive" score of 90%. Insider Gaming...
Scientists who discovered a third form of magnetism win major physics prize
Physicists have uncovered a hidden third form of magnetism that challenges more than 100 years of established physics. Called altermagnetism, the discovery could transform future computing and electronics while opening an entirely new frontier in quantum research.
Democratic Congresswoman Calls Out Her Own Party for Embracing ‘Dangerous’ Hasan Piker
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) called out her fellow Democrats for cozying up to socialist streamer Hasan Piker and his "dangerous" rhetoric in a Saturday post on X
Bluebird Days brings live music, local food and entertainment to Greenbelt
KBOI-TV CBS 2 covers news, sports, traffic, and weather in the Treasure Valley and Boise, Idaho and nearby communities, including Meridian, Nampa, Garden City, Caldwell, Kuna, Middleton, Eagle, Mountain Home, Star, Melba, Payette, Weiser, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho City, Marsing, Homedale, Parma, New Plymouth, Murphy, Fruitland, Emmett, Wilder, Notus, McCall, Cascade, Donnelly, Council, and Vale, Oregon, and Nyssa, Oregon, Ontario, Oregon.
Vinyl record junkies find a lot to love at Utica's Record Riots
Kirkland was one of hundreds of vinyl record enthusiasts to brave the chilly temperatures Saturday morning, Oct. 17, to attend the Record Riots traveling convention at the Deerfield Fire Station. Based in New Jersey, Record Riots is one of the largest network of vinyl shows in the country, with pop-ups stretching from Utica to Ohio to Virginia. The Utica Record Riot typically takes place three times a year.
Is 99% Screening Adherence Altering The Investment Case For Guardant Health (GH)?
Guardant Health reported new data from its Shield blood-based colorectal cancer screening test, including modeling and rural clinic results, indicating very high real world adherence and meaningful impact on screening pathways for average risk adults. The 99% completion rate for Shield in two rural South Carolina clinics highlights how a simple blood draw can address screening gaps in medically underserved communities and reshape demand across Guardant Health's screening franchise. This...
America's politically divided Jewish community braces for Israel's elections
Netanyahu’s supporters, especially among Orthodox Jews, believe he’s protecting a country they love as central to their identity. Many liberal and younger Jewish Americans believe his policies have harmed Israel’s global standing.
Jenny McCarthy says A-lister tried recruiting her, recalls 'Scientology stare'
Jenny McCarthy says Tom Cruise once attempted to recruit her into joining the Church of Scientology.
Captain Price Actor Sends Message to Fans as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Praise Rolls in
Barry Sloane, the actor behind Call of Duty's Captain Price, has shared a message with fans as praise for Modern Warfare 4's campaign rolls in.
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.
Susan Collins Says Rival’s ‘Oh, Shut Up’ Comment Reflects How He Treats Women
Ms. Collins, a Republican running in a crucial race, called the debate remark by her opponent, Troy Jackson, “very telling.” Mr. Jackson has defended his comment, and his campaign said Ms. Collins had run a campaign based on personal attacks.
AI midwife seeks to fill gaps in Zimbabwe's maternal health care
With public health services stretched thin, women in Zimbabwe sometimes struggle to access reliable information about pregnancy and childbirth. A locally developed app aims to answer their questions…
Jon Gruden Makes Strong Statement About Undefeated 49ers
Jon Gruden delivers high praise for the undefeated 49ers, calling San Francisco the cream of the crop ahead of its Week 6 matchup with Washington.
Rabies is rare, deadly and easy to prevent
“Rabies is rare. But it does not give second chances. A few simple habits and one quick phone call are all it takes to stay safe.”
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?
Rally to pass the New York Health Act
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Dozens of community members are expected to gather on Saturday morning to call on the State Legislature to pass the New York Health Act. New Yorkers will stand together wit…
Ed McCaffrey recalls favorite John Elway memory with Rich Eisen
Ed McCaffrey told his favorite John Elway memory during an interview with Rich Eisen.
Ask Rufus: It’s just politics
In this political season, it is interesting to recall some of the characters who have made southern politics a spectator sport. The South has always had more than its fair share of interesting political figures.
Meet the manly men who want to remake the Democratic Party
Candidates posting thirst traps, calling opponents betas and ripping bench presses: This is the strange new world of campaigning as a Democratic man.
Mark Ruffalo calls Gavin Newsom's billionaire tax stance 'disqualifying' ahead of California vote
Mark Ruffalo slammed Gavin Newsom for opposing California's billionaire wealth tax, calling it "disqualifying" for anyone with ambitions for higher office.
New 4,300-mile-long internet cable will shuttle data along the ocean floor at 1 million gigabits per second
Petal, the world's first petabit transoceanic fiber cable, could theoretically support simultaneous music streaming for 75% of the world's population.
Business owners call for boycott of lottery sales in response to the removal of skill games
Georgia Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums set to rise dramatically
Georgia marketplace health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act could skyrocket as high as 29 percent next year.
Improperly secured seats prompt Ford F-150 recall
Ford Motor Co. has issued a recall on thousands of 2025-27 F-150 pickup trucks after identifying improper securements for front-row seats to the vehicle. There are 2,276 vehicles included in
Selma Blair appears at 90s Con days after her arrest in connection with alleged airline assault
The “Cruel Intentions” star’s rep called the incident a “medical emergency.”
Raiders Could Capitalize On A Couple Of Buffalo Issues
The Las Vegas Raiders could capitalize on the inexperience of Bills coach Joe Brady, who made a questionable call.
Spokane approves new public safety sales tax as business owner calls for more accountability
Ketchikan nonprofit launches initiative to strengthen health advocacy for local Filipino families
The Ketchikan Wellness Coalition has been awarded a grant to expand health advocacy for Filipino families in Ketchikan and on Prince of Wales Island. The initiative is called Malasakit Matters. Malasakit is a Tagalog concept that means to have deep compassion and ownership for someone else’s wellbeing. The program is aimed at training Filipino youth […]
Proposed AI Governance Framework: Risk-Mitigation Recommendations for Health Plans
Senator Maria Cantwell has outlined a comprehensive AI governance framework intended to drive legislative and executive actions addressing potential AI risks — and for health plans, this framework could determine how AI can be used in prior authorization and other consequential clinical and administrative decisions. The framework explicitly calls out AI-assisted prior authorization — including CMS's WISeR model — as an area where meaningful human oversight is required. Read our alert for six risk-mitigation recommendations health plans should take now.
Kathy Castor and Mike Beltran put each other's political records on trial at Tampa forum
Beltran called the Rays stadium deal a "boondoggle" as the candidates sparred over campaign money, education, health care and transit.
Boston stabbing survivor calls for more mental health resources to prevent violence: "It's really a shame"
A 23-year-old man who was stabbed in the neck during an attack in Allston is speaking out about his experience and calling for more mental health resources to help prevent future violence.
Triple stabbing survivor calls for more mental health resources in Boston
Fans Are Calling GTA 6's Latest Trailer A Blurry 'Downgrade'
God forbid someone in Rockstar Games' marketing department decided to add a little artistic flair to a trailer
‘There Should be a Game Award for Hot Dads’ — Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Devs Are Fully Aware and Loving the ‘Horny’ Fanart for Their Game
The developers behind Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse are enthusiastic about the “horny” fanart they’ve seen of the game’s characters, saying they specifically made them "hot" to appeal to fans.
Physicists froze a 'necklace' of atoms — and witnessed a quantum phenomenon predicted 100 years ago
Atoms confined to a single line can bind into clusters called Bethe strings. A new experiment points to a mix of many such clusters, though the evidence is still indirect.
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
Records confirm nearly 300 emergency calls to Kalamazoo mental hospital since January 2025
First responders have been dispatched nearly 300 times since January 2025 to Kalamazoo Behavioral Health Hospital.
Louisiana renews deals with 4 Medicaid providers; lawmakers want better health outcomes
Louisiana lawmakers renewed state contracts Thursday with four private managed care organizations that provide Medicaid coverage, calling on state health officials to ensure the money results in better health outcomes.
Who Is Alive and Who Is Dead at the End of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4's Campaign? Infinity Ward Explains Captain Price's Fate
Who is alive and who is dead at the end of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4's campaign? Infinity Ward explains Captain Price's fate.
VRE7 TV, a Red-Carpet Entertainment Network, Opens Casting Call for Fans, Creators and Industry Insiders
The independent network pairs its celebrity interview archive with on-camera takes from fans in the new VRE7 Front Row documentary series.
WATCH: Maine Health Care Professionals Slam Collins’ Health Care Record
This week, Maine health care professionals gathered to slam Susan Collins for failing to protect Mainers’ health care. Dr. Nirav Shah and Maine State Nurses Association Co-President Erin Oberson called out Collins for advancing Trump’s Medicaid cuts and voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has eviscerated America’s public health system.
Nathan Fielder called in this Oscar-nominated star for a surprise role in “You Can See Everything”
A familiar face joins Fielder in his examination of Elizabeth Holmes.
Hyundai recalls more than 94,000 vehicles over fire risk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports Hyundai is recalling more than 94,000 Genesis G80 and Hyundai Genesis sedans over a fire risk.
Gov. Hochul calls inquiry into Rich Schaffer and Suffolk Dems 'political hit job'
At three Suffolk Democrats were questioned by the FBI.
Joy Behar calls some past “The View ”cohosts ‘mean girls,’ reflects on Meghan McCain feud
The longtime host said that the current roundtable is “very good.”
Q&A: Design firm CEO says business background, probing into client needs fuels success
For more than 30 years, Berry has had a direct hand in the interior design of everything from corporate headquarters to call centers to hospitals.
Board of Regents: Candidates talk issues ahead of Nov. 3 election
Name: Edie Hooton Office Sought: Colorado Board of Regents, District2 Party: Democrat How should the Board navigate curriculum debates that have become politically polarized? Curriculum decisions must be anchored in the principle of “shared governance,” as defined in Regent Laws. The responsibility for academic excellence lies with the faculty and subject matter experts, as they […]
Trump casts doubt on press secretary Katie Zacharia's future
Trump said he'd spoken to Zacharia and that he felt she didn't deserve what he called negative media coverage.
Dave & Buster's Entertainment Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NASDAQ:PLAY)
Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLAY - Get Free Report) was the target of unusually large options trading on Friday. Investors purchased 5,009 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 37% compared to the typical daily volume of 3,653 call options.
Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's Campaign
Out now for those who pre-ordered digitally
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 Is Not The Disaster You’d Imagine
Modern Warfare 4 is the first Call of Duty since 2013 to launch on a Nintendo console. We played the campaign on Switch 2 and were pleasantly surprised by its performance.
Tiny, critically endangered bat rescued and released in Pennsylvania
A fungal disease has wiped out up to 97 percent of northern long-eared bats in North America.
Hometown’s Best: Vote for your favorite Southwest Virginia pet care business finalist in 2026
The search is on for Southwest Virginia’s favorite locally owned pet care business, and the finalists for this year’s Hometown’s Best have officially been announced.
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Billy Joel says he can no longer perform or drive due to health condition
Billy Joel, 77, said he has a condition called hydrocephalus that has affected his balance. (Source: AP Images, Canva, DCC Gray News)
Having insurance doesn’t mean you can get a mental health appointment
Americans with commercial insurance are generally told they have access to a strong network of mental health providers. But when researchers called providers listed in those networks, securing an appointment was usually difficult or impossible, according to a new study.Researchers, posed as “secret shoppers” looking for appointments for issu...
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.
To the editor: The taint of corporate involvement in politics and government
hen we hear Republican candidates earnestly talking about reducing regulations, cutting government programs and lowering taxes to help ordinary Americans, we need to recognize the distinction between tactics and strategy. These proposals are tactics. The broader strategy behind them is to drastically reduce the role of government in our lives. We have watched this strategy
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for October 19 to 23
Next Week on XBOX: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Final Fantasy Resonance, We Were Here Tomorrow, and more coming soon!
Plague is stoppable. The next health threat may not be.
The word plague is scary. Centuries ago, the Black Death killed tens of millions of people and changed the course of history. Plague still kills people around the world, and the word still evokes catastrophe. New fears of plague surfaced on October 2, when a lab worker in Irkutsk, Russia, died of pneumonia. Reports suggested that she may have contracted plague through a laboratory exposure. Understandably, people were alarmed. On October 7, the World Health Organization called for the Russian Federation to be transparent about what it knew. WHO issued an update on October 10. Russian authorities told WHO that testing did not identify plague and that investigations found no laboratory release. WHO said confidence in its risk assessment remained limited and that further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information was needed. The cause of the woman’s illness remains unknown, and WHO says a laboratory-associated exposure cannot be excluded. As I explained in a recent interview, this incident is very unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Plague is still active, including in the U.S., which sees a handful of cases each year. But it is a disease we can prevent and treat. Plague doesn’t spread readily, and it responds to antibiotics. The standard response—isolate the patient, trace contacts, and administer antibiotics and monitor for symptoms among contacts for seven days—works. We have even planned for antibiotic-resistant plague. At CDC, we developed a playbook for antibiotic-resistant plague and ran exercises on how to find and stop it. CDC guidance anticipates engineered resistance and recommends two different classes of antibiotics if there’s reason to suspect it. There is no evidence that resistance—or even confirmed plague—is involved in this incident. We have thought through how to address plague, but we’re not ready for the next major health threat that emerges from a lab or from animal spillover to humans. What should concern people is how little stands between the world and the next pathogen to get loose. Since peak COVID, epidemic preparedness has fallen off the political agenda, but the risk is greater than ever. More labs handle dangerous pathogens with more ways to make those pathogens deadlier, and more people live and work in close contact with animals. There are actions we can take now: We need better lab safety in every country. The number of labs that work with dangerous pathogens has increased worldwide over two decades, but there’s no enforceable international standard and no inspection regime; the Biological Weapons Convention, fifty years on, still has no verification mechanism. Labs that study dangerous germs need strong safety systems, training, and oversight. We need to reduce spillover events. Three in four emerging human infections start in animals, and there’s a lot we can do to reduce spillover risk, but the world is doing very little of it. Live-animal markets are one place to act. For instance, closing live-bird markets helped control H7N9 influenza in China. Reducing opportunities for people to encounter infected animals can prevent infections before they become outbreaks. In The Formula for Better Health, which is now out in paperback along with the hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions, I argue that labs do too many risky experiments with too many dangerous pathogens in too many institutions, and that every experiment should first answer one basic question: Is the likely benefit greater than the risk? Spillover risk can also be reduced: In the book, I discuss how Brazil cut its deforestation rate by 70% from 2004 to 2012 while increasing agricultural production and reducing risky contact between people and forest animals. We need faster detection and response. Delay costs lives. Strong surveillance, good labs, and trained responders can turn a single case into a small cluster of infections instead of an epidemic. Resolve to Save Lives has worked for nearly a decade to help countries find and stop outbreaks faster. The 7-1-7 target, which Resolve to Save Lives developed with partners in Uganda and elsewhere, provides a clear standard: detect within 7 days, notify within 1 day and complete all essential early response actions within 7 days. In Uganda’s Kasese district, for example, a review of a measles outbreak using 7-1-7 identified shortages of accessible funds, fuel, and vehicles that delayed the response. District leaders established funds they could access quickly. When, a few months later, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever appeared, the district detected it in three days, notified authorities in one, and mounted an effective response in two. Only one case was confirmed, and the patient survived. Because funds were available before the emergency, authorities were prepared and able to act. This kind of preparation can’t wait until the next crisis begins. Plague is an old disease we that know how to stop. The next threat may be harder to recognize, harder to treat, and easier to spread. Safer labs, less risk of spillover, and faster outbreak detection and response need sustained investment now, while we still have time to prevent the next emergency. Share
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