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A Republican attack ad misidentifies its Democratic target. Twice.
A GOP ad used a photo of Republican Myron Lizer instead of Democrat Jonathan Nez. Nez is challenging Rep. Eli Crane (R-Arizona).
‘A Latino problem’: National Democrats clash with Andy Beshear over Texas governor’s race
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear hoped being chair of the Democratic Governors Association this midterms year would raise his profile and connections ahead of his expected 2028 run for president. But it’s also created an opening to ramp up pressure on him, with frustrations spilling into the open this week as multiple Texas Democratic members of Congress and national group leaders accused him of putting his book tour and potential 2028 activity ahead of helping Democratic nominee Gina Hinojosa win the Texas governor’s race.
A ‘LaPolitics’ Q&A with House Education Chair Laurie Schlegel
What do you think are the main drivers causing Louisiana student test scores to rise? House Education Chair Laurie Schlegel: A great deal of credit goes to Superintendent Cade Brumley, who was hired in 2020 and built a strong team with a clear vision. He worked with the Legislature to implement reforms focused on the […]
Think that’s something to get used to because last …
Think that’s something to get used to because last …
The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects
The shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly playing out as most of the political world is focused on next month's midterms. Democratic and Republican presidential prospects have
California summer camp explores air quality science
Discover how Southern California summer campers used real-time air quality sensors to measure pollution in their own homes and communities.
The midterm polls that caught our eye this week
Polls show Trump losing support among his base and voters focused on Senate control and issues.
Corteva (CTVA) Completes Seed Business Spin Off
Corteva (NYSE:CTVA) has completed the spin-off of its seed operations into a separate entity called Vylor Inc. The split leaves Corteva focused on crop protection products and digital agriculture services, while Vylor assumes the seed portfolio. Legal challenges have emerged that question how PFAS-related obligations are allocated between Corteva and Vylor after the separation. The Vylor spin-off and PFAS liability scrutiny only capture one chapter in the wider Corteva story for investors...
The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects
The shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly playing out as most of the political world is focused on next month's midterms.
The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects
The shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly playing out as most of the political world is focused on next month's midterms.
The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects
The shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly playing out as most of the political world is focused on next month's midterms.
The midterms stakes are high for these 2028 presidential prospects
The shadow primary for the 2028 presidential contest is quietly playing out as most of the political world is focused on next month's midterms. Democratic and Republican presidential prospects have
Political Blogger Accused of Sending State Senator Lewd Photo of Shrek is Headed to Trial Over the Incident
A political blogger in Ohio is headed to trial after allegedly sending a state senator a lewd picture of the animated children’s character, Shrek. According to a report from People, D.J. Byrnes is the...
Tom Izzo Says Transfer Portal Is Detrimental To The Kids
Tom Izzo used his Big Ten media day turn to say what most coaches won't about the portal. #GoGreen
Iowa Stops Hunger recap: A conversation on campus hunger
Mallary Allen empathizes with students who struggle with food insecurity because she used to be one herself. When she was in college, she became a parent and used programs like SNAP and WIC. “It was kind of scary for me,” she said. “It would have been helpful, maybe, to share what I was going through,…
Lightsaber Darth Vader used in 'I am your father' duel in 'Empire Strikes Back' goes up for auction
A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back” is set to be auctioned on Nov. 12 | Talk 1370
Lightsaber Darth Vader used in ‘I am your father’ duel in ‘Empire Strikes Back’ goes up for auction
A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back” is set to be auctioned on Nov. 12.
Anthropic's Claude Science creates the first complete ultraviolet map of the sky
Astrophysicist Brice Ménard of Johns Hopkins University used Anthropic's Claude Science to map the entire sky in ultraviolet light for the first time. AI agents downloaded data from multiple space missions, calibrated it, and filled in gaps using inpainting. Predictions averaged about ten percent deviation from actual measurements. Ménard sees the project as an example of research that simply wouldn't have gotten done without AI.
Scientists Trace How Cancer Spread Between Identical Twins Before Birth
Scientists have used DNA analysis to trace how a rare soft tissue cancer spread from one identical twin to her sister before birth.
Center for Human and Planetary Health celebrates second anniversary
Over 150 people attended the event focused on combatting climate change and protecting human health.
Floodwaters Overwhelm Thailand
Heavy rains since mid-September have caused widespread flooding that has affected millions of people across the country.
Southern California man accused of recording victims through hidden bathroom cameras
A Southern California man was arrested for allegedly recording victims through hidden bathroom cameras installed at his business. The Ontario Police Department identified the suspect as Bryce Neigh…
Attorney general candidates trade blows in fiery NY1 debate
Letitia James accused Republican Saritha Komatireddy of being a puppet for President Trump, while defending her comments on the Cornell rape case.
Attorney general candidates trade blows in fiery NY1 debate
Letitia James accused Republican Saritha Komatireddy of being a puppet for President Trump, while defending her comments on the Cornell rape case.
OpenAI users in Russia, Iran used models to push political agenda online, in media
OpenAI banned several accounts associated with two propaganda operations based in Iran and Russia, respectively, it confirmed Thursday. The latter of which the tech company said had the greatest re…
Iranian operatives used AI to plant fake stories in multiple US media outlets
Operatives in Iran used OpenAI models and fake personas to help plant news articles critical of the US war against Iran in multiple US media outlets, OpenAI said on Thursday.
Sandwiches to socialism: How a DSA chapter in Austin is building political power
The Democratic Socialists of America has experienced rapid growth and increased influence within American politics, driven by grassroots organizing and a platform focused on issues like housing, healthcare, and social justice.
Man carrying two kitchen knives arrested after confrontation at Fort Myers business, police say
A man was arrested after he was accused of displaying a knife at a local business, according to the Fort Myers Police Department.
Genesis Mission: SYNAPS-I Brings Agentic AI to Experimental Workflows
With support from ALCF computing resources and AI services, the SYNAPS-I team demonstrated a new agentic AI platform that uses natural-language instructions to automate complex experimental workflows as part of the DOE Genesis Mission. Oct. 8, 2026 — Science has increasingly used artificial intelligence (AI) as a kind of microscope — sorting data, analyzing images […]
UnitedHealthcare fires back at Lee Health, says patients are being used
About 50,000 patients face out-of-network costs as Lee Health and UnitedHealthcare contract talks stall.
Amarillo NAACP hosting mental health forum on Saturday
The Amarillo NAACP is conducting a Mental Health Forum, focused on people of color, in the Amarillo Area Foundation auditorium at the corner of 10th and Polk.
Scientists turn handheld car gadget into wildfire early-warning tool
Researchers at King's College London have converted an off-the-shelf product, usually used to determine whether car window tint is legal, into a scientific instrument that can measure leaf water content ...
Tim Cook Says He's 'Not Meddling' With Apple's New CEO John Ternus
In his new role as the executive chairman of Apple's board of directors, Tim Cook told The Independent's David Phelan that he is "not meddling" with Apple's new CEO John Ternus. "First of all, John and I have an incredible level of trust in each other," said Cook. "The relationship must be based on trust, and the communication must be frequent and significant. But other than that, what I'm focused on right now is worldwide policy.
The Milky Way is one galaxy — but it used to be thousands, new simulations reveal
A new supercomputer simulation traces how thousands of small galaxies eventually became the Milky Way.
Once Focused on Combat Sports, DAZN Expands to MLB, NBA Teams
The streamer has quickly amassed a large collection of team rights.
University of Michigan to host Elevate HER Summit celebrating women in sports
The University of Michigan is bringing together some of the biggest names in women’s sports for an event focused on leadership, mentorship and creating opportunities for the next generation.
Halle Berry’s daughter defends mom amid ex Olivier Martinez’s child abuse claims
Halle Berry’s 18-year-old daughter is defending her mom against the Oscar winner’s ex-husband Olivier Martinez, who claims Berry physically abused their 13-year-old son.
Gwinnett River Rendezvous brings GGC, community together to study local waterways
Students, faculty, staff and community members gathered at the second annual Gwinnett River Rendezvous on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Georgia Gwinnett College for a day of hands-on environmental research focused
Google is launching a one-stop Gemini agent for your work tasks
The enterprise-focused Gemini agent handles work from a single interface.
Concern after Europeans endorse US science agenda
Germany’s biggest research funder has said it is “concerned” after Berlin, plus several other European countries, endorsed a controversial US-led science policy statement. On October 4, the White House announced that 16 countries, including Germany, the UK, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, Japan and South Korea had backed the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science.The document, agreed on the margins of the annual Science and Technology in Society forum in Kyoto, which gathers science ministers from across the world, appears uncontroversial at first sight. It’s a one-page statement, without any concrete measures, that touches on reducing administrative burden on scientists, experimenting with new funding models and the use of “super intelligence” in science, the Trump administration’s preferred term for artificial intelligence. However, what’s controversial is that much of the language in the Kyoto Vision reflects Science: A New Golden Age, a major policy document released by the White House in July.That document attracted criticism for deriding universities as “legacy institutions” and suggesting money be diverted to new research labs. In a speech in Kyoto on October 4, Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office for Science and Technology Policy and the report’s author, said that the US was seeking to “diversify the ways that we support research to meet our best scientists where and when they do their best work.” The worry is that the Trump administration may be using genuine dysfunctions in academia as a pretext to defund and disempower universities, which US vice president JD Vance has labelled “the enemy.” Many in Europe also want more experimentation and reform of how science is organised and funded, and agree with criticisms of academia made by Science: A New Golden Age. But some also fear that if the US pushes for reform partially in bad faith, it could politicise and undermine the whole agenda. Washington is currently trying to change federal funding rules so that political appointees can block and cancel scientific grants. It has cut grants mid-project on topics related to diversity and other politically forbidden areas. And last year, it threatened to cut Harvard University’s federal funding unless it admitted a “critical mass” of new faculty and students to create campus “viewpoint diversity.” “Particularly concerned”Because of this wider US political context, the Kyoto Vision’s otherwise innocuous sounding statement that “we encourage experimentation with new institutional models for science that provide varying levels of autonomy, resources and direction” has caused consternation in Europe, particularly from some of Germany’s biggest science organisations. A spokesperson for the German Research Foundation (DFG), the country’s biggest funder, said that it would “closely monitor whether the current US administration uses the Kyoto Vision to restructure research funding to the detriment of research institutions such as universities and their autonomy.” The DFG was “particularly concerned” with the statement’s references to Science: A New Golden Age, they continued. A spokesperson for the German Rectors’ Conference, which represents the country’s universities, said that the reference to “new institutional models” raises “questions on the underlying understanding of academic freedom and autonomy.” Research funding must “guided first and foremost by scientific not political principles,” they went on. Dampen criticismEuropean endorsement of the Kyoto Vision might dampen domestic criticism of the Trump administration’s science policy, some in the US fear, by suggesting international support. “What we saw from Germany, Japan, the UK and other countries, is an impulse that the administration has exploited with our own science reform movement, a belief they can use dialogue to make things better,” said Cole Donovan, director of science policy at the campaigning group Stand Up for Science. “In practice, the administration has done the opposite.” Not a binding statementThere’s been so much concern in Germany that the country’s federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space put out a statement defending its endorsement of the Kyoto Vision, which it has posted on its website. Related articlesIs metascience being co-opted?European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationThe US ‘golden age’ science strategy: what Europeans need to know The ministry said that it “should be regarded as a basis for discussion and does not constitute a binding statement.” Backing the statement gives Germany the chance to raise “issues and concerns” with the US during upcoming talks on science and technology scheduled for November. “Although these intentions appear, in principle, to be worthy of support, they will be scrutinised and examined more closely as the process continues,” the statement continues. Super intelligence?A ministry spokesperson confirmed to Science|Business that Germany had broadly endorsed the Kyoto Vision.However, they said Berlin had not agreed to final changes in the statement to refer to AI as super intelligence. In September, facing protests against data centres and polling that suggests US citizens are far more concerned than excited by the technology, Trump issued an executive order that attempts to rebrand AI as super intelligence, following polling on social media.The name change is to “reflect the transformative capabilities of these technologies and the limitless opportunities they create for the American people,” the order says. EU askedThe UK and Italian science ministries did not respond to a request for comment on their endorsement of the Kyoto Vision. Although most EU countries did not endorse the statement, it’s not clear which states the US asked. The White House Office for Science and Technology Policy did not return a request for comment. A European Commission official, speaking under condition of anonymity, said that the US had approached the EU, but too late for the EU to quiz all its member states on whether Brussels should endorse the statement.
5 Main Street Iowa businesses win $75,000 in state grants
Five small businesses from Main Street Iowa districts were awarded a combined $75,000 in state grants Monday after pitching their expansion ideas in the final round of the 2026 Open 4 Business contest. Open 4 Business is a Main Street Iowa program housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Downtown Resource Center. The live pitch…
Introducing Air Canada Embarq, a New Self-Serve Business Travel Platform for Canadian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
New Air Canada for Business platform helps companies manage, optimize and reward business travel from one convenient platformAir Canada partnered with ZS, a global management consulting and technology firm and Traverse, powered by ARC, to deliver the technology to support Air Canada EmbarqAir Canada is putting business travel management tools and benefits that have traditionally been used by large enterprise customers directly in the hands of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses and non-pr
Produced water forum brings science, questions to Iraan
More than 50 residents, ranchers, elected officials, industry representatives and water stakeholders gathered at the Iraan Civic Center Friday, Oct. 2, for a first-of-its-kind local discussion centered on whether highly saline produced water from Permian Basin oil and gas operations could one day be treated and beneficially reused. Hosted by Friends of the Pecos River and the Texas Produced Water Consortium, the forum ran from 9:30 a.m. to noon and included presentations, refreshments and an extended public question-and-answer session.
MORNING BUSINESS REPORT: Used car prices dropping, Super Bowl to be streamed on Disney+
Jane King has these stories and more from the New York Stock Exchange for your Thursday Morning Business Report.
Business English for Workplace Communication (2026): EF English Live Recognized for Practical, Speaking-Focused Learning by Better Business Advice
Better Business Advice has named EF English Live a recommended online learning option for business English and workplace communication in 2026. It looks at how the platform uses live classes, realistic workplace scenarios, and self-paced practice to help adults communicate more confidently in professional settings.
Analysis | The October Surprise isn’t what it used to be
The idea of one news story remaking an entire election in the final weeks of the campaign might be from a bygone era.
Covid, Brexit and Liz Truss mini-budget led to lasting decline in mental health, study finds
Researchers found five events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, caused serious damage to mental wellbeing across UK
IMS has helping farmers use water efficiently down to a science
CASA GRANDE — Whether he’s standing in a cotton field analyzing irrigation systems or compiling a report, Eddie Enriquez and his team spend their days focused on helping farmers work
Rubio refuses to comment on Guilfoyle allegations
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has flatly refused to comment on a new report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct before taking up her post.
Rubio refuses to comment on Guilfoyle allegations
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has flatly refused to comment on a new report alleging that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct
US Democrats sue Trump over alleged taxpayer-funded political ads
Democrats sued US President Donald Trump on Wednesday over allegations that taxpayer money was used to fund political advertising, according to a lawsuit filed by the Democratic National Committee (DN...
TikTok accused by NY of running secret safety tests on teens
New York Attorney General Letitia James has added new allegations to a child safety lawsuit against TikTok Inc., accusing the platform of running secret experiments on teen users. The new
Scientists report world’s first working nuclear clocks
In two papers in Nature, scientists from Europe and China have now reported the world’s first working nuclear clocks. While teams from Beijing and Shanghai embedded thorium-229 nuclei in calcium fluoride crystals and fired an ultraviolet laser at them, the effort from Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany realised a similar nuclear clock and used it to look for dark matter.
Dolly Parton's nephew accused of using 'no trespassing' sign, barbed wire to deter process server
Dolly Parton’s estate is alleging that Bryan Seaver, the singer’s nephew and former head of security, is avoiding being served in a lawsuit, which alleges he threatened and extorted her estate.
Chicago business owners push back on proposed ordinance targeting ‘troubled’ businesses
Some aldermen see their ordinance as a potential solution to crack down on criminal activity, and businesses that are accused of enabling criminal activity.
Neanderthal woodworking was far more advanced than we thought, new study shows
Nearly 600 wooden remains from Abric Romaní show Neanderthals used wood for spears and shelter structures between 62,000 and 40,000 years ago.
DNC sues Trump over use of government funds for political ads
The DNC sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, saying it misused taxpayer money to run "political propaganda ads" featuring Trump.
Scientists win chemistry Nobel for discoveries about mirrored molecules that led to many drugs
Scientists Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for untangling mysterious mirror images in molecules, a discovery that has been used to develop countless drugs.
Who Won August and September: Original Films or Franchises?
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) I just heard someone say that if you’re reading a pundit or data analyst, and they don’t tell you that they got anything wrong, they’re not a pundit but an “influencer”. I agree with that. You have to tell your audience when you get things wrong, or they won’t (or shouldn’t) trust you as much. Today, we’ve got another edition of “What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong”. In general, I’m patting myself on the back (and patting very hard) about a few things like IP at the box office, LIV golf, horror films, crowdfunding movies, superheroes, and old people going to the theaters. That said, I also made a couple of data mistakes on the streaming bubble popping and HBO’s datecdotes, so I’m not perfect. But first, I need your feedback... Subscribe Follow-Ups: What Should We Call Mid-Budget Movies Which Aren’t Cinematic Enough for Theaters But Are Too Expensive to Make Money on Streaming? After I asked for feedback on what we should call straight-to-streaming films that are too big to pencil out on streaming but not really big enough to resonate in theaters, I got some great suggestions from you all, including... “Moldilocks” from John Aboud “Little Big Indie” from Travis Frick1 “Midflicks” from Jonathan Funke. “Extra-Medium” from Jona Nwuke. (Read the explanation in the footnote.) Between these and Brandon Katz—who suggested “Bermuda Budget Triangle”, “The Platform Gap” and “The Distribution Deadzone”—we’ve got some excellent suggestions. And they’re better than my suggestion, the “Streaming Budget Dead Zone”, so let’s take a poll! The winning entry becomes the new term. Loading... RIGHT: LIV Golf is Fully Bankrupt…Is Anyone Else Next? A few years ago, I was always a bit perplexed at all the articles I’d read praising LIV Golf and their strategy to disrupt the PGA. LIV Golf, a brand new professional golf league, offered PGA stars ten times what they made on the PGA Tour to join their new league. And folks praised this strategy for its initial “success” in that a lot of big names did indeed leave the PGA. Yeah, of course the players came over. LIV Golf paid them so, so, so much more! But LIV Golf hadn’t discovered a way to increase potential revenue. So think about this in basic business terms… They paid much more in costs… …but had no real way to increase revenue. That’s not a strategy! That’s deficit financing. It won’t work unless you bankrupt the competition (and then turn around and pay those same golfers much, much less). It’s not a sustainable strategy and only lasts as long as the company/person/nation backing it decides they’re cool with losing money. For LIV Golf, that meant Middle East oil wealth, in particular Saudi Arabian money. Clearly, the current Iran War has hurt Middle East finances, so they need to trim their more exorbitant spending. And LIV Golf was part of that trimming. This should be a major warning for others. TGL’s parent company, TMRW Sports, just got a $1 billion valuation, despite TGL’s (the indoor golf league) horrible TV viewership of less than half a million viewers per match. Unrivaled, the women’s basketball league, just secured a $650 valuation, despite its horrible TV viewership and a new rival (Project B) entering the scene next year. To relate this to streaming, Hollywood should ask which streamers may have wealthy patrons funding their losses. (Let’s be clear: Google, Amazon and Apple.) Could those patrons lose their appetite? For Amazon, probably not. But Apple has a new boss, so maybe! WRONG: My Analysis of the Streaming Bubble Was Missing a Week I’m going to be congratulating myself a lot today, but I make mistakes too, like this data goof. When I last compiled the data on the decline in TV shows, I was missing one week at the end of June. If you look at the first image, you can see that one week was mislabelled as “July”. Mainly, this image got updated to show a 27% decline, not 29%: This change doesn’t really impact the overall analysis, but it is two percent better. By the way, through the third quarter, the decline increased and it’s now a 30% decrease since 2022. (I’ll write/visualize this in an upcoming article.) But I want you to trust me and my data. Especially these days, when many people are using LLMs that I know are inserting faulty data into their charts, I want to keep earning my audience’s faith. So that’s the accurate data. RIGHT: IP Remains Very, Very Popular In July, I wrote a giant (and I mean giant) article on Backrooms, Obsession, and the box office, going over what we know, what we don’t know about what works in theaters, looking at YouTubers, IP, the horror genre, comic book movies, and a whole lot more. The month of August really tested a lot of my theses and, being honest, mostly supported my arguments. Let’s start with IP. Looking at 8-Aug (the weekend after Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out) to 18-Sep (the weekend that Resident Evil came out, which I think provides a nice bookend to this time period), there were seven films based on pre-existing IP: Resident Evil (2026) ($126 million) Practical Magic 2 ($65 million) _Insidious: Out of the Furthe_r ($65 million) Coyote Vs. Acme ($59 million) Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie ($53 million) Tony ($15 million) Super Troopers 3 ($7 million) Compare those to the notable original films from the past month—I actually could have included more movies, but here are just thirteen, bringing us to an even twenty films—including.... The End of Oak Street ($54 million) Buddy ($26 million) Mutiny ($15 million) By Any Means ($15 million) The Dog Stars ($14 million) Runner ($14 million) One Night Only ($11 million) Hope ($8 million) Spa Weekend ($7 million) The Uprising ($6 million) Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma ($6 million) Onslaught ($3 million) Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man ($2.8 million) Here’s that in chart form: Five of the top six films in this time period were all based on IP. I made a big chart of films that grossed over $200 million at the box office before Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey hit theaters. Let’s update that chart! By the way, if you want to see how I categorized each film—so another bar chart—here it is: I know that many of my fellow critics/pundits/analysts dislike films based on IP and how Hollywood is making so many of them. And I’m sympathetic to this point of view. As I’ve written many, many times before, you need a balance between existing franchises, new IP, and original films. And Hollywood clearly needs to make more films like Resident Evil (a well-made film from a visionary director) and fewer Practical Magic 2’s (which didn’t get critical or customer buzz). But at some point, critics and pundits need to contend with what audiences are telling them: Movie-goers aren’t showing up to original films. Audiences are speaking with their dollars, telling you they want more IP and franchises. You can try to convince studio heads to make fewer IP-based films and franchises, but the data and numbers aren’t there. Instead, critics need to work harder to convince audiences to show up for original films. Aim your ire/concern at the average person, not studio heads.2 Because they’re just making the films that audiences are telling them to make. WRONG: Original Horror Films Didn’t Break Out I’ll be honest, even though I wrote an article casting some skepticism on the horror genre in July, if you asked me to make a prediction, I would have predicted that, in August, a new, original horror film would have blown up. No, seriously, I just assumed that Obsession and Backrooms presaged a change in audience behavior. But none of the buzzy new original horror films from August—Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Onslaught (not an action film in spite of the ads), The End of Oak Street, Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man, or _Buddy—_broke out. To be clear, exactly one of those films (Buddy) had good “ROI”, but again—I try to be specific in my language—none were “popular” in any broad sense of the word. None of them will be “saving” movies theaters like Backrooms or _Obsession_helped save the summer. The new Insidious film and Resident Evil, both based on IP, were far and away the biggest horror films since July. (We’ll see if this changes in October/Halloween season.) RIGHT: Stay Skeptical about Crowdfunding... I’ve long been skeptical about crowd-investing platforms as one of Hollywood’s saviors, mainly because there’s so much hype/buzz. People need to stay more skeptical about more things, explaining both the potential upside but also the downsides. In particular, the media often hypes crowdfunding at the start and never checks in on the actual results after they’ve come in later. And August gave us our first update! _Ice Cream Man—_directed by Eli Roth—grossed $6 million off of a $5.5 million budget. This is a production of The Horror Section, which was one of the first “crowd investing” studios with 2,400 investors, which means that 2,400 investors probably lost money. They certainly aren’t getting as great of returns as if they had just invested their dollars in the stock market. Hopefully Stiletto (Tagline: “Someone’s Going to Make it Rain Blood!”) does better next month. WRONG: Another Data Goof Here’s another data error. When the first episode of House of the Dragon came out, HBO put out that it had 21.5 million viewers in the first three days, and I read that to mean in the US…but no, it was global. So my US-only datecdotes charts shouldn’t have included it. We never got US-only numbers for the first episode, but for the final episode, HBO put out that it had 11 million US viewers. (And that global dropped to 21 million viewers.) Here’s the updated chart (which I’ve since used in the Streaming Ratings Report): Still, this show is absolutely huge. RIGHT: Superhero Films Remain Very, Very Popular After Supergirl flopped, I read a few takes that “comic book movies are going the way of the Western”. Post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that take didn’t age well. To be fair, I have a very nuanced take on the superhero genre right now; it’s down right now, for a lot of reasons. But it’s not “dead”. Maybe _Spider-_Man is just a really popular character? I saw that take, and it’s a fair counter-argument. (But pundits arguing that superhero movies were dead should have mentioned this $1.5 billion counter-argument…) But is it just Spider-Man? The next Avengers film already has $50 million in pre-sales (and I was skeptical that that film would do well) and the Avengers: End Game re-release topped the box office two weekends ago (over three original films). And I wouldn’t bet against Batman or Superman. So maybe it’s just Spider-Man, Batman, Superman and the Avengers. Oh, and Deadpool, of course. And Black Panther. And Wolverine. And probably the X-Men. Plus a well-made Wonder Woman or the Hulk film could break out. But that’s it! It’s just those ten characters/teams. Oh, what’s that? Lanterns is also doing well on HBO? (See previous section…) To be fair, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to the argument that more popular characters—like Spider-Man and Batman—anchor more popular films. In fact, I made that exact argument three years ago when I first wrote about the “Marvel-cession”. In many ways, you can blame The Guardians of the Galaxy for fooling Marvel Studios (and the rest of us) into believing that any character could pop. It turns out, the list of iconic characters is probably smaller than most people think. But it’s probably too early to say that superhero films and comic book movies are dead unless “death” means a slight decline over a longtime. RIGHT: Who Killed Theaters? Old People I get frustrated whenever I see headlines or analysis about how young people are “returning” to theaters. As I’ve detailed(for years), young people have always powered the US box office, despite narratives about “kids these days” and their “phones”. Really, what’s changed post-2020/pandemic is that old people aren’t going to the movies nearly as much. This summer, I saw a movie (from an older director) in a theater near a retirement community, and multiple older people at the theater were talking about how this was their first time seeing a movie in years. I dislike personal anecdotes, so YouGov can fill in the data, best summarized by this headline: “Who killed movie theaters? Not the youths”. According to them, 64% of people aged 18-29 have seen a movie in the last year, but only 30% of 65-and-older. 20% of 18-29 have seen a movie in theaters in the last week and 42% in the last month. Here’s the polling data: Most concerning? Many Americans (17%) think theaters are a worse or much worse experience than watching films at home. Slight WRONG: Hadestown Opens Big A live theater capture of the Broadway musical, Hadestown, made $20 million at the US box office, which begs the question: was I wrong to be skeptical about musicals a few years ago? Yes and no. On the one hand, $20 million is a far cry from being “popular”, so yeah, the genre isn’t that popular overall and Hadestown is one of the more popular musicals from recent years (i.e. the “Taylor Swift Data Fallacy” in action). On the other, I doubt filming this cost all that much, and I don’t think that they spent much on marketing, so this is a good source of ancillary revenue. Smaller Updates WRONG: As I mentioned in a Streaming Ratings Report, I underestimated the budget for Enola Holmes 3. It probably cost more like $50 million, if not more. But... I’m not sure that it really matters? At sub-10 million hours, prices have to come down to make this work. WRONG: Netflix is giving Ink a 27-day in theaters! To quote the kids/YouTubers these days, let’s go! Now I might actually have a chance to see Danny Boyle’s latest in theaters. I’d complained about this in a “Coming Soon” section, but I was heartened to read that Netflix is giving multiple films longer theatrical windows this year. RIGHT: Netflix is sending 4-5 films per year to theaters. Netflix is slowly but surely sending more and more films to theaters, as I cautiously predicted earlier this year. For now, it’s just three big films and a number of awards contenders, but still, this is great news. And they’ll be releasing box office grosses! Just this week, Ted Sarandos confirmed that KPop Demon Hunters 2 will come to theaters (and my guess is it performs in the box office top ten at a minimum). WRONG: Angel has 3 million subscribers! How do I know this? Well, they told Deadline, who reported it. I marked this as “wrong”, since they’ve doubled their subscribers in one year but, you know, they don’t really have a hit film to speak of and they’re still losing money. WRONG: Furious was only renewed for one more season. I accidentally wrote “two more seasons” in my latest “Renewals, Cancellations, Un-Orders and Removals Update”. RIGHT: House of David is ending with its third season. In July, Prime Video renewed House of David for a third season, as I just wrote in my latest “Renewals and Cancellations” report. Well, now it’s ending after that third season. Why? As I’ve been writing, its viewership wasn’t great. I got feedback that this show didn’t cost very much, but it cost enough that its limited viewership didn’t save it. WRONG: Adults was a Hulu original! So I missed Adults when it first came out last year; I saw that it aired on FX and just assumed that it was a linear-first program. Turns out, it aired three episodes on FX, but binge-released the rest of its episodes the next day on Hulu. Huh. So I should have covered it last year! But I just wrote about it. 1 “When I was a kid in the 90s, if you wore a t-shirt to school that wasn’t too big and also wasn’t too small, but somehow didn’t quite fit, we’d say you were wearing an “extra-medium” shirt.” 2 As always, a huge exception is Disney, which barely makes anything original anymore.
The WHO seeks more details on the death of a plague research lab employee in Russia
The World Health Organization says it wants more information on what caused the death of an employee at a Russian plague research lab. Russia says the woman died of pneumonia of unknown origin.
Epic used AI to find potential security flaws that could expose patient health records
Epic Systems revealed last month that it used an advanced artificial intelligence tool to find security weaknesses that could have allowed undetectable access to patient health data. Epic maintains health records for more than 325 million patients around the world.
DNC sues to block Trump administration from using government funds for political ad
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Wednesday sued the Trump administration claiming they misused congressional appropriations in using government funding to run a new ad featuring the presi…
NC’s Michael Whatley pauses TV ads as campaign rethinks strategy
Senate candidate Michael Whatley’s campaign paused television ads as it rethinks strategy in a final push to November.
Man charged in burglaries at Watertown business
A man is accused of breaking into a Watertown business twice and stealing money and power tools.
SGMC Health Encourages Early Detection During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, SGMC Health is encouraging women across South Georgia to prioritize their breast health through annual mammograms, educational resources, survivor stories, and community events focused on awareness and early detection.
Chet Hanks explains himself after Eric André ComplexCon exchange
Chet Hanks explains why he confronted Eric André at ComplexCon in Los Angeles over the weekend. He accused the comic of 'trashing me to the media after I outshined him on his own show!!'
Developer leaves family RE firm to launch AI venture
Michael T. Puntillo leaves PX4 Development to start DPI Enterprise, an AI company focused on real estate operational systems.
Warning signs of diabetes; resources available through Tria Health and free health coaching
Free diabetes resources are available through Tria Health’s chronic condition management program and through a dedicated health coaching offering focused on diabetes education.
Accel Entertainment, Inc. to Report Third Quarter 2026 Results, Host Conference Call and Webcast on November 3
CHICAGO, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) (“Accel” or “the Company”), a leading locals-focused gaming op...
Bryan Seaver accused of evading service amid Dolly Parton estate lawsuit
After acquiring a restraining order against Dolly Parton's nephew Bryan Seaver, her company is leveling allegations that he implemented evasive measures to avoid being served legal documents in the
Was the Human Gut Healthier in Ancient Times?
The microbiome isn’t what it used to be in many parts of the world. The shift may be affecting the well-being of people in industrialized countries.
Techno-optimistic scientists take fewer climate actions, study finds
Scientists who believe technology will largely solve the problems caused by climate change are 23% less likely to engage in civic climate action and 18% less likely to make high-impact lifestyle changes ...
Accel Entertainment, Inc. to Report Third Quarter 2026 Results, Host Conference Call and Webcast on November 3
CHICAGO, Oct. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Accel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: ACEL) (“Accel” or “the Company”), a leading locals-focused gaming operator...
Marathon County Mental Health Collaborative to host event focused on mental health
Community members invited to explore youth mental health in the digital age. Take note: This event begins at 5:15 p.m. today, Oct. 7, with a resource fair.
Dylan Larkin Reveals Why He Refused to Over-Celebrate Goal
Dylan Larkin explained why he intentionally kept his goal celebration subdued after being booed by Detroit Red Wings fans Tuesday night.
Main Street Iowa businesses win $75k in Open 4 Business pitch contest
Five small businesses located in Main Street Iowa districts – including two in Eastern Iowa – have won a combined $75,000 in state grants after successfully pitching their business expansion ideas Monday night, Oct. 5, in the finals of the 2026 Open 4 Business Competition. The annual contest, housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s […]
Prosecutor says man charged in killing of British ex-politician tried to break into Farage's home
LONDON (AP) — A man accused of killing former British politician Ann Widdecombe tried to break into the home of anti-immigration Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage about a year
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Former nursing supervisor back in court for Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court Wednesday, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Prosecutor says man charged in killing of British ex-politician tried to break into Farage's home
A prosecutor says a man accused of killing former British politician Ann Widdecombe allegedly tried to break into Nigel Farage’s home about a year earlier
Prosecutor says man charged in killing of British ex-politician tried to break into Farage's home
LONDON (AP) — A man accused of killing former British politician Ann Widdecombe tried to break into the home of anti-immigration Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage about a year earlier, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Prosecutor says man charged in killing of British ex-politician tried to break into Farage's home
A prosecutor says a man accused of killing former British politician Ann Widdecombe allegedly tried to break into Nigel Farage's home about a year earlier.
The Vitamix 5200 blender is 30% off for Prime Day
The Vitamix 5200 blender is $150 off for Prime Day. It's easily the best blender I've ever used.
UM Health-West introduces new security measures
UM Health-West has expanded its safety measures with the help of a new wearable device used to alert the building to security threats. It’s called Canopy Protect, and hospital leaders say they’ve already seen safety improvements since implementing the device about two weeks ago.
MORNING BUSINESS REPORT: McDonald's accused of AI-powered price fixing, Uber enters the catering business
Jane King has these stories and more from the New York Stock Exchange for your Wednesday Morning Business Report.
Former CT resident admits to health care fraud. She caused almost $1.3M in losses to Medicaid
She allegedly participated in a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs by submitting fraudulent claims from the company she owned and operated.
Former nursing supervisor to face judge in Bickford Health Care death
A former nursing supervisor accused in the death of a 93-year-old Bickford Health Care resident is expected in court today, eight months after the woman was found dead outside the facility.
Leaked GameStop Memo Calls $1,399.99 Used PS5 Pro Pricing "Intentional"
GameStop is now reportedly asking $1,399.99 for a pre-owned PlayStation 5 Pro, which is $500 more than Sony's $899.99 list price for a new one. Consoles with the disc drive attached go for $1,499.99, and GameStop Pro members apparently get the base unit for $1,329.99. An internal memo shared on...
Scientists name ancient crocodile species found in rock that built the Great Sphinx
Scientists say they have identified an extinct crocodile species from about 45 million years ago in the limestone formation used to sculpt the Great Sphinx of Giza.
New program brings mental health, medical care to unhoused people in Charlotte
Doctors appointments being offered in the community
Former CIA official accused of stealing $40M in gold bars pleads guilty
A former senior CIA official pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Virginia to a charge that he abused his position and government funds to enrich himself by acquiring Florida real estate and hundreds of gold bars worth over $40 million, according to court records.
Cartier Got Down to Business for the 20th Anniversary of the Women’s Initiative
Guests from across the arts, public health, philanthropy, and fashion gathered at the Morgan Library and Museum to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Cartier Women’s Initiative: the maison’s fellowship for entrepreneurs focused on implementing social and environmental change.
Three Years of 80% Charge Limits on iPhone: The Results
Since 2023, Apple's newer iPhones have had an 80 percent charge limit for those who want to extend battery lifespan. Charging to 80 percent instead of 100 percent is supposed to put less stress on the battery, improving longevity. For the last three years, I've used that setting on my iPhone. I started with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, then did the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and most recently, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
AmTrust launches treaty property reinsurance unit
AmTrust Financial Services on Tuesday launched East Reinsurance Services, a treaty property reinsurance operation focused on U.S. property and specialty business.