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2 Cups of Orange Juice a Day May Help Lower Blood Pressure, Study Shows
Orange juice may influence genes that help lower blood pressure, but whole fruit offers more heart-healthy benefits.
Lower GLP-1 costs are here. Mochi cuts prices and adds lab testing
Mochi Health lowers costs for compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide while adding new blood testing services.
Lowell Bicentennial: Caring for Lowell
Many important organizations in Greater Lowell make the region a better place to live. Among them, the Lowell Community Health Center is perhaps the most significant.
My dad's death showed me that experiences matter more than money
When my dad died, I reevaluated how I approach work. I'm honoring him by living a more full life, and valuing experiences over money.
‘They Want to Get Into the Taylor Swift Business’ — Media Analyst ‘Rationalizes’ Travis Kelce Possibly Coming in as Troy Aikman’s ESPN Replacement
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce re-signed with the franchise this offseason, and the Chiefs have come flying out of the blocks to a 4-0 record. Once the current season ends, however, there is some speculation about where Kelce may head next, particularly if it comes to a role in the broadcasting booth.
He retired after student-loan forgiveness. Then his payments returned.
A 71-year-old student-loan borrower got notified that he was approved for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Now, he's fighting to keep that relief.
Three upcoming shows offer variety at Stanley Theatre
UTICA — From the music of Phil Collins to a popular television game show and a Halloween-themed circus, The Stanley Theatre has a variety of entertainment lined up.
TV Tinsel: Television dresses up for Halloween
It’s that time of year when witches wax their broomsticks, monsters slither out from under beds, and goblins gather at midnight for a séance. Television is doing its best to
A Childhood Experience May Lower Mental Health Risk By 11%, New Research Finds
Small moments of support in childhood may have benefits that last into adulthood.
Springfield barbecue spot re-opens for business after fire
This week in 417 foodie news, a barbecue spot returns, a food truck goes up for sale and a speakeasy gets in the Halloween spirit. Plus, 7 Brew expands to another Ozarks town.
Portsmouth will be home to next US rep. Is its political power growing?
It might be coincidence both Stefany Shaheen and Anthony DiLorenzo are from Portsmouth. But some observers see election as power shift in NH politics.
Children learn about nuclear science as they trick-or-treat through Fall Fission Fest
AIKEN — Children dressed in Halloween costumes filled a downtown parkway Oct. 17, learning about nuclear science and even wielding Geiger counters at the SRS Heritage Foundation’s fourth Fall Fission ...
Minnesota agrivoltaics project shows promise of mixing farming, solar power
Winifred Sylvah is thriving with her cucumber harvest at a solar farm in Big Lake, Minnesota. She's part of an agrivoltaics project, blending farming with solar power. This initiative is
Vikings Handed Blunt Insider Take Involving Eagles’ Saquon Barkley
The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 and in their bye week, but could general manager Nolan Teasley make a major splash at the trade deadline to put this team over the hump and make it a true contender? Minnesota’s defense is one of, if not the best in the league. However, on offense, there are a […] The post Vikings Handed Blunt Insider Take Involving Eagles’ Saquon Barkley appeared first on HEAVY.
Abdul El-Sayed disavows Muslim Brotherhood and criticizes implications that he has ‘dual loyalty’
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Saturday disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political movement, during a heated exchange at a town hall.
Inside a reality show-style incubator for startup founders
A group of startup founders went to eastern Pennsylvania for a lesson in company building. They left with more followers.
ASUS Makes Its First Intel Arc Card, a 32 GB Arc Pro B70 Under the UGen AI Brand
ASUS has listed the UGen Arc Pro B70 32 GB on its website, which makes it the company's first Intel Arc graphics card. ASUS sat out both the Alchemist and Battlemage consumer generations, and its last Intel discrete card was the passively cooled Iris Xe DG1-4G from 2021. Interestingly, ASUS files...
Alberta separatists say they'll keep fighting after independence vote
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — One of Alberta’s leading separatists vowed Saturday to continue the independence movement even if voters reject a proposal Monday to begin the process of leaving Canada, decla...
A conversation with comedian Ali Siddiq
The standup comedian will perform at Clowes Memorial Hall on Saturday, Oct. 24.
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...
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...
Scientists discover the universe’s first known green star
Forget about spooky green zombies shuffling around on Halloween. The real sci-fi magic is happening hundreds of light-years away in deep space. Stellar scientists have just identified the universe’s very first known green star, proving that the cosmos is a whole lot more colorful than anyone previously imagined. Breaking the cosmic color rules For generations, […] Read the original article here: Scientists discover the universe’s first known green star
Old Forge Library offers free Halloween activity bags for children
Old Forge Library offers free Halloween Grab N' Go craft bags for children ages 4-11, plus a Halloween party and trick-or-treating activities.
Haunted attraction in Kathleen adds mental health mission, with part of sales donated
As Halloween shadows lengthen across Middle Georgia, a haunted attraction in Kathleen is aiming for more than screams, turning fright into support for mental he
Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters ahead of midterm elections
President Donald Trump is emphasizing his influence during his second term at a rally in Kentucky.
Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters ahead of midterm elections
President Donald Trump is emphasizing his influence during his second term at a rally in Kentucky.
Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters
President Donald Trump is emphasizing his influence during his second term at a rally in Kentucky.
No Kings rallies across U.S. urge voters to cast ballots ear...
No Kings rallies across the country on Oct. 17 urged Americans to vote early ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Demonstrators emphasized the power of the ba...
Rep. Ritchie Torres Wants Gamers to Own the Games They Buy, Announces Power To The Players Act
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY) has announced plans to introduce the "Power To The Players Act," a federal bill that would direct the FTC to write rules making a game purchase actual ownership rather than a revocable license. Games that rely on online servers would also need to offer an...
PG&E power shutoff impacts Morro Bay-area residents and businesses
"I was concerned for my neighbors because I'm only 67 and I'm a youngster in this area,” said a resident at Silver City in Morro Bay. The mobile home park was part of a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
The Watch: Hidden PFAS Found in Bottled Drinks, Tap Water
Sports drinks and electrolyte waters contained high levels of contaminants … ED visits spike when ‘peaker’ power plants fire up … and more.
Intel "Razor Lake-AX" to Pack 700 TOPS of AI Compute
Intel's senior vice president, Cho Min-sung, announced at the Semiconductors Powering Humanoids summit in South Korea that the next-generation "Razor Lake-AX" platform will be a computing powerhouse, featuring 700 TOPS of AI compute on die. This means that at INT8/FP8 precision, "Razor Lake-AX"...
Workers Can Govern, but They Need Power First
A new book makes the most rigorous case yet for why so few working-class people hold office. But by treating the lack of workers in office as a law of electoral democracy, its authors underrate how mu...
Power & Politics: Vote 2026 - One-on-one with Democratic candidate for NJ's 7th Congressional District Rebecca Bennett
Democratic candidate for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District Rebecca Bennett joins the show this week.
Pokémon Pokopia Pumpkaboo's Sweet Surprises Halloween Event Guide, From Pumpkin Candy To Gourgeist
Treat yourself to two Ghost-types this Halloween
NVIDIA says RTX 5090 is not discontinued, but good luck finding one for $1,999
The RTX 5090 is still in production, according to NVIDIA. However, the company has not explained how it intends to improve availability as retail prices remain far above MSRP.
Erika Lust discusses her new book 'Lust'
Erika Lust on her new book about sex, power and the internet. Plus, we visit an Echo Park bookstore.
Iconic musician gives health update, reveals he’s not allowed to drive
The 77-year-old singer has a neurological condition that affects his balance and other functions.
NVIDIA Denies RTX 5090 Discontinuation Rumors, Admits Supply Is Tight
NVIDIA has finally responded to reports that the GeForce RTX 5090 is being discontinued. Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of NVIDIA's personal computing business, told Taiwanese media after the RTX Spark launch party in Taipei on October 16 that the rumors aren't true, as reported by 4Gamers...
Scientists Found a Way to Upgrade the Powerhouses of Our Cells Without Shutting Them Down
Scientists have developed a new way to coat mitochondria, the tiny structures that power our cells, while preserving much of their function. Researchers at two Italian institutions found that coated m...
‘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.
Becky G Brings World Mental Health Day Festival to a Close in NYC
Becky G on mental health, BMI empowers women in música mexicana, Lin-Manuel Miranda honored & Latin Grammy's Leading Ladies of Entertainment announced.
Trump's Diesel Deal With Russia Won't Lower Gas Prices for Americans
Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia is a big favor to Vladimir Putin, but it won't lower prices for Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
Newcastle join Juventus and Roma in race for Sporting’s Doumbia
Newcastle have joined Juventus and Roma in tracking Sporting midfielder Issa Doumbia, just months after his move to Portugal.As noted by Tuttomercatoweb, A Bola splashed the story across its front pag...
Pokémon Pokopia Pumpkaboo's Sweet Surprises Halloween event
How to get Pumpkin Candy and Pumpkaboo's habitat during Pokémon Pokopia's Halloween event, Pumpkaboo's Sweet Surprises.
Global survey links financial hardship to lower trust in science
Poor access to health care, limited local influence over research priorities and an unequal distribution of scientific benefits are undermining public confidence in science, experts warn, following the ...
NASA’s Webb reveals the wild weather of a mysterious world 20 light-years away
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that a turbulent world 20 light-years away has a surprisingly orderly weather system, with three recurring atmospheric states driven by temperature changes and shifting clouds. The breakthrough gives scientists a powerful new tool for uncovering weather patterns on distant worlds and understanding the conditions that shape their atmospheres.
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope exceeds expectations by nearly 30%
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has exceeded expectations after engineers made incredibly tiny adjustments to sharpen its view of the universe. By moving a mirror just one-sixteenth the width of a human hair, the team helped bring its powerful instruments into near-perfect alignment. Roman’s Wide Field Instrument now produces image quality nearly 30% better than predicted, promising exceptionally sharp cosmic surveys.
ASUS Finally Builds An Intel Arc Graphics Card After Two Generations On The Sidelines, And It’s The Full 32 GB Big Battlemage Arc Pro B70
ASUS is releasing its first Intel Arc graphics card, which is powered by the Big Battlemage GPU, and aims at the lucrative AI segment.
Microsoft updates Windows 11 Xbox mode with easier access to desktop and power controls
Microsoft is making it easier to return to Windows from Xbox mode. The latest Insider builds introduce a refreshed Gaming Task View with desktop and power shortcuts.
Walmart says higher fuel costs will offset tariff refund benefit
Walmart previously said it wanted to plow tariff refunds into lowering prices, but now the company says higher fuel costs will erase that benefit.
Where to find the best Halloween displays and treats in Knoxville
The ghosts and goblins are out! Here are neighborhoods in Knoxville to visit for a few thrills and treats on or even before Halloween night.
Healthcare costs top survey of Americans’ biggest economic concerns, followed by gasoline, food, utilities
The cost of healthcare is the top economic issue for voters, according to a recent national survey, as politicians in Arkansas and across the U.S. prepare to make their final pitches ahead of the November midterm elections.
Boo! Insider's guide to Halloween in Haywood
Halloween season is here and Haywood County is getting into the spooky spirit. From trick-or-treating and costume parties to haunted happenings and family-friendly fun, there will be plenty of ways
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.
California teachers once had fully paid health coverage. Now they're rallying over premiums
"While your income isn't changing, your purchasing power has absolutely fallen."
Springville businesses fear festival losses amid SCE power shutoff
Southern California Edison power safety shutoffs left Springville businesses concerned about communication and potential losses.
Michigan State Extends Offer to 4-Star Tackle
Jonathan Smith targets Illinois powerhouse Ben Coleman, a versatile 285-pound mauler whose rare blend of elite size and soft hands makes him a prized Big Ten commodity.
Mogul Capital Partners empowers people to become business owners
Mogul Capital Partners is a private equity and business acquisition company focused on acquiring established, profitable businesses while expanding access and exposure to business ownership and investing.
Arts District businesses look to empower at-risk youth in wake of deadly shooting
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.
Construction underway on new medical tower at Colquitt Regional Health System
The new medical tower will add a number of new beds and jobs for Colquitt County.
Scientists discover cell division does more than make new cells: It helps reshape tissues
Every time a tissue grows or renews itself, cells must divide inside an already crowded environment. That creates a fundamental problem that scientists have not fully understood: How does a tightly packed ...
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
A Look at the Computer Science Degree in 2026
In 2018, a student published an article in this paper titled “YC’s Computer Science Major is on the Rise.” His piece proved prescient for the next four years, as enrollment in Intro to Computer Science continued to increase, indicating a growing interest in the field. Enrollment in this introductory course in Yeshiva College reached an […]
Bucs’ Josiah Trotter questionable for Steelers game with knee injury
Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Trotter ranks first on the club in tackles (41) and passer rating allowed (66.
Amanda Gnecco receives CFO salary increase at Alliance Entertainment
Alliance Entertainment increased Chief Financial Officer Amanda Gnecco’s annual base salary to $350,000, effective October 1, 2026, and prorated her 2027 target bonus.Original SEC Filing: ALLIANCE ENTERTAINMENT HOLDING CORP [ AENT ] - 8-K - Oct. 16, 2026This is an AI-powered summary. It may contain…
Danaher, Nvidia Combine Lab Instrumentation and AI to Advance Autonomous Science
The partnership is part of broader efforts at Danaher to provide AI-powered solutions that help scientists make discoveries faster.
Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland
UK political debate has a distinctly Scottish feel after SNP's annual conference, says the BBC's political editor Chris Mason.
Obama's star power gets a reality check from Black voters in crucial Senate race: 'It's a turn-off'
Barack Obama's endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed drew mixed reactions from Detroit Black voters, with undecided residents saying it didn't move the needle.
The ASUS Xbox ROG Ally X20 Handheld Gaming PC Is Officially Released and Orders Are Now Shipping Out
The most powerful Ryzen-based gaming handheld version 2.0.
'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
The Creative Arts Economy: A Local Business Beat Hiding Plain Sight
Long before TimeLine Theatre opened the doors to its new home in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood earlier this year, PJ Powers and Mica Cole had a vision for something much more than a state-of-the-art show venue. For Powers, the theatre’s co-founder and Cole, executive director, the goal was to transform a shuttered warehouse into a living...Read More
TULSA HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HOST 10TH ANNUAL NORTH TULSA COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
Tulsa, Okla. — [Oct. 16, 2026] — The Tulsa Health Department (THD) will host its 10th annual North Tulsa Community Baby Shower on Saturday, October 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free come-and-go event will be held at the YMCA Gym at TCC Northeast Campus, located at 3727 E. Apache St. Parking for […]
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.
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.
Luxury Yachts, Entertainment, and a Cause: Yacht Rendezvous Returns to Fort Lauderdale
Some of the world’s most spectacular superyachts will arrive at the iconic Pier Sixty-Six for the 37th Annual Boys & Girls Clubs Yacht Rendezvous. The exclusive weekend will bring together yacht owners, business leaders, philanthropists, and special guests for unforgettable experiences, live entertainment, and networking opportunities, all in support of programs that help empower local youth throughout Broward County.
Katie Zacharia, Trump’s New Press Secretary, Is Ousted After 5 Days
Ms. Zacharia was shadowed by questions about how she had presented her legal career and handled her first press briefing.
Official NVIDIA Marketplace Seemingly Removes GeForce RTX 5090
NVIDIA's official marketplace, where gamers across the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia could purchase GeForce RTX cards through NVIDIA's official channels, is showing more signs that the GeForce RTX 5090 might indeed be nearing its end of life. There are officially no more GeForce RTX...
Vegas Has the Pistons 10 Wins Below Last Season’s 60
The Pistons won 60 games last season, and Vegas set their new win total 10-plus games lower. #Pistons
Red Bull New York Debuts New, Lower Prices on Fan Favorites at Sports Illustrated Stadium
Matchday just got better. Red Bull New York are always looking for ways to improve the experience at Sports Illustrated Stadium, and fan input is a big part of that. The latest step: lower prices on six fan-favorites, starting with the Saturday, October 17 match vs. Toronto FC. Crispy Fries
'I can't do performances': Billy Joel gives health update after recent brain surgery
"I'm not allowed to drive. And I can't do performances." | Billy Joel opened up about his health in a recent interview, saying that while he is better now, he doesn't know if he'll be able to perform again.
'I can't do performances': Billy Joel gives health update after recent brain surgery
"I'm not allowed to drive. And I can't do performances." | Billy Joel opened up about his health in a recent interview, saying that while he is better now, he doesn't know if he'll be able to perform again.
'I can't do performances': Billy Joel gives health update after recent brain surgery
"I'm not allowed to drive. And I can't do performances." | Billy Joel opened up about his health in a recent interview, saying that while he is better now, he doesn't know if he'll be able to perform again.
'I can't do performances': Billy Joel gives health update after recent brain surgery
"I'm not allowed to drive. And I can't do performances." | Billy Joel opened up about his health in a recent interview, saying that while he is better now, he doesn't know if he'll be able to perform again.
Business taking action for nature at CBD COP17
At the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19-30 October, IUCN will show how business can use science, data and technology to scale up its contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
AtScale Finds Semantic Layer Boosts AI Accuracy on Enterprise Data by Up to 2.4x
A more powerful AI model isn’t necessarily the answer to unreliable business analytics. New research from AtScale found that leading AI models answered fewer than 40% of business questions correctly when querying databases directly. But when AtScale added its semantic layer, accuracy improved by 1.7x to 2.4x across all seven models tested. In one test, […]
Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic down 5.4% through September
Traffic out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport fell more than 20% in September, which followed a 12.5% decline in August. The declines result from fewer departures out of the...
Robots could boost US manufacturing as America races to keep pace with China, expert says
A Path Robotics executive told FOX Business that automation will be critical to expanding U.S. manufacturing as worker shortages persist and China moves faster to adopt robotics.
ASUS ProArt P16 "RTX Spark" Laptop Review - NVIDIA's First Full PC Platform Brings Powerful AI & Gaming Capabilities
NVIDIA RTX Spark launches with ASUS ProArt P16, featuring N1X SoC, 6144 CUDA cores, & up to 128 GB memory for impressive gaming and AI.
Double trouble: Sister duo powers nationally ranked flag football team's 15-0 run
Together, the sisters have produced more than 1,800 yards of offense during the Titans' undefeated season.
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.
“9-1-1: Nashville” pays tribute to Chad Lowe’s daughter after her death at 13
Lowe is an executive producer and director on the show, which honored his late daughter, Fiona, following the season 2 premiere.
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
Windows 11 Is Finally Becoming the OS It Should Have Been From the Start
Microsoft is completely redesigning parts of its OS so it doesn't hog all the resources of lower-end PCs with 8GB of RAM.
David Hamilton powers Brewers to World Series
Is everything in baseball actually about the Red Sox, even when it’s not about the Red Sox? Somehow I feel like the answer is yes. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers last night to complete a four-game sweep of the NLCS and reach their first World Series since 1982. The first out of […]
Princeton Engineering - Endowed professorships recognize excellence in computer science
Three computer scientists at Princeton Engineering have been named to endowed professorships.
ALTOUR Unveils ALTOUR iQ During Innovation Faceoff at Business Travel Show America 2026, Moving Business Travel Beyond Reporting to Decision Intelligence
/PRNewswire/ -- ALTOUR, a global leader in business travel management, has unveiled ALTOUR iQ, its proprietary AI-powered conversational travel intelligence...
Davids Urges Federal Action as Kansas Small Businesses Squeezed Out of Tariff Refunds While Large Corporations Cash In
Today, Representative Sharice Davids demanded immediate action to ensure Kansas small businesses receive the tariff refunds they are owed. Following this year’s Supreme Court ruling overturning the president’s reckless tariffs, the federal government began processing billions of dollars in refunds.