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Business groups call for $2 billion in federal Colorado River spending
A coalition of chambers of commerce, including nearly a dozen from Arizona, have sent a letter to congress asking the federal government to send new money for water-saving work.
Deep in Trump country, a revolt against corporate money could reshape political spending
It taps into growing, bipartisan anger over the pervasiveness of so-called dark money in elections.
Digital Spending Jumped From Forty-eight To Fifty-eight Percent As Americans Favor Staying Put
The way people spend money is shifting as more folks choose to stay put. Digital spending jumped from 48 to 58 percent over seven years, with streaming and food delivery leading the charge in how Americans entertain and eat at home.
Ukrainian defence tech seeks new ways to scale up
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's defence sector has expanded several-fold, becoming a significant source of military innovation, especially in unmanned systems, counter-drone technologies, electronic warfare and AI-driven combat systems. But finding the funds and personnel to scale up and to reach international markets remains a challenge.Spurred on by the demands of the front-line, Ukrainian defence companies say they can develop a minor component in a couple of weeks, or major hardware or software solutions within a year. This is several times faster than the usual development cycles in the sector. Tencore, founded in 2024, is now one of Ukraine’s largest providers of unmanned ground vehicles, well exceeding the production of NATO members in this category. Odd Systems, a Ukrainian combat cameras developer founded in 2023, launched its first thermal camera in 2024. Less than two years later, it is developing the fourth generation of the product, one that has evolved into a full vision system.According to Michael Singer, managing partner at Verne Capital, a venture capital fund supporting defence companies in Europe, this speed is down to the short feedback loop between the developer and the end user. “Ukrainian companies develop technologies in close interaction with soldiers and military units, test them under real combat conditions and rapidly incorporate feedback into the next generation of the product,” he says. “Sometimes we need to react to feedback and deploy an upgrade within hours,” says Polina Tymchenko, the spokesperson for Himera, which develops electronic warfare-resistant walkie-talkies. “It means that, as a company, you have to have a higher tolerance for risk, and also design your products in a way that fosters those quick changes.”Getting a product deployed by a combat command involves no paperwork other than a purchase order, says Perry Boyle, co-founder and chief executive of Mits Capital, a Ukrainian-US investment group focused on attracting capital for Ukraine's defence tech sector. “New weapons can be developed and deployed based largely on handshakes.”Nevertheless, the speed of development is largely subject to the level of funding, says Iryna Sukhomlyn, head of business development at RMachine, a developer of unmanned ground systems. “Financial support needs to start much earlier, particularly at technology readiness level 3-5, not only when most of the technological risk has already been removed,” she says.In 2025, Ukrainian defence tech companies attracted about $129 million in investment, with the true figure likely higher given the share of undisclosed security-sensitive deals, according to a report published by the Kyiv School of Economics. These investments were primarily concentrated in the AI and software segment, as they are considered a lower financial risk.Scaling production is a major barrierAccording to Iryna Supruniuk, business development director at Odd Systems, proving a defence product in Ukraine is not the end of the development process, but the beginning of a continuous evolution, since operational requirements change rapidly. “Continuous iteration remains our highest priority,” she says.It's also when production must scale up, which represents a major hurdle. “Scaling production requires capital, manufacturing capacity, components, certification, procurement access and reliable supply chains,” Singer says. Scale-up is also hampered by demographic pressures, especially a shortage of young specialists needed to expand engineering teams. Companies have reported struggling to replace specialists lost due to Russian attacks, mobilisation and emigration. In order to meet this scale-up challenge and finance arms production, begun allowing defence technologies to be exported, assuming it has an excess capacity. It has also announced the creation of ten defence and weapons export centres across Europe by the end of 2026.According to Singer, a technology that has demonstrated its value under real combat conditions has a fundamentally different credibility than a product that has only been tested in a laboratory or training environment. But combat validation alone doesn’t automatically create an international business. “Companies still need access to foreign defence ministries and procurement organisations, international certification, financing for production scale-up and, in many cases, local industrial partners,” he says.Already in 2026, the EU has signed several agreements with Ukraine that aim at joint defence technology development and production. These include allowing Ukraine to join the European Defence Fund, signing a financing agreement under the European Defence Industry Programme, and setting up the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.For Singer, it is important that European defence companies don’t just see their Ukrainian partners as technology suppliers, but rather as potential innovation partners. “Ukrainian companies bring speed, operational experience and an exceptional ability to iterate. European partners can provide industrial capacity, capital, established supply chains and access to European procurement markets.”Procurement possibilitiesWhen it comes to exports, the procurement and compliance processes involved require time, taking months or even years, and money. In other words, resources that small defence tech companies need if they are to improve and scale up their technologies. According to Sukhomlyn of RMachine, if the priority is to rapidly increase available defence capabilities, then the processes need to reflect that urgency. “If Europe wants defence innovation at wartime speed, its administrative processes also need to operate much closer to wartime speed,” she says, highlighting a need for support with certification, market access and mutual recognition of relevant testing. “Otherwise, we risk having excellent technology available but spending years making it administratively eligible to be purchased.”Related articlesRussia widens targeting of European research centresEU must support research managers in central and eastern Europe, says Visegrad fund headThis is a lesson Europe’s defence sector would do well to learn, Singer says. “Defence innovation needs to be organised around the speed and requirements of the end user, not around the speed of the bureaucracy.”Supruniuk says the European defence sector should rethink the balance between quality and quantity. “In many cases, a good-enough system available in thousands of units creates greater operational value than a perfect system available in dozens.”“For decades, everyone has been looking for that all-powerful, exquisite system that can protect everyone,” adds Tymchenko. “We see in crime that only scalable, dedicated, affordable solutions can actually defend democracies.”
EU membership bid gives boost to Moldova’s fledgling R&D landscape
Moldova’s push to join the EU is having the spillover effect of helping to improve the country’s R&D landscape, which in recent years has suffered from fragmentation, decreasing personnel and a lack of research infrastructure.The country became an EU candidate country in 2022, alongside Ukraine, and officially began accession negotiations in 2024. With a pro-EU government, Moldova has been actively carrying out reforms to align with EU standards. This has helped accelerate the development of R&D, said Igor Chiosa, acting head of the Research and Innovation Policy Directorate at Moldova’s Ministry of Education and Research. “Our R&D landscape is moving up, and we are more and more involved in the European Research Area,” he said. “The support we receive from the EU is very important, not only financially, but also because of incentives, consultation and capacity building.”The R&D landscape in the former Soviet republic is still relatively underdeveloped, despite attempts at improvement going back to a 2004 law on science and innovation and later reforms in 2017 and 2018. But the system remains in a “precarious situation” and “in the process of contraction,” according to an assessment carried out by the government for the current National Programme for Research and Innovation, which runs from 2024 to 2027. The analysis highlights in particular the declining number of researchers and PhDs, which has been continuously falling, as well as limited research funding. This is around 10 times lower than the EU average and “insufficient to maintain a level of research activity that supports higher education and meets the needs of the economy.” The mechanisms for allocating research funds are also described as inefficient, as well as the general fragmentation of the landscape, with research and innovation activities being carried out in 67 different places. The lack of strategic vision for research infrastructure is also noted. The strategy sets out to address these issues and is being fuelled by reforms linked to EU accession. Moldova now has a regulation on open science and gender equality. There is also a new support mechanism for technology transfer offices and a business-academia roadmap. In 2025, the country also became the first Eastern Partnership country to approve a Smart Specialisation strategy, which will coordinate its R&D efforts to focus on strengths, within a European context. “We’ve done a lot in terms of normative acts,” Chiosa said. Horizon Europe successMoldova is also seeing more success in the EU’s flagship R&D programme, Horizon Europe. The country has now won nearly €15 million in funding, already double the amount won under the previous programme, Horizon 2020, and more than the €10 million target set by the government. Chiosa said the priority has shifted now to winning more research-centred projects, rather than those related to support and capacity. Moldova is also targeting further involvement in large European projects. Last year, it joined the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking giving Moldovans access to Europe's supercomputing network. The country is also a member of Danubius-RI, a European research infrastructure focused on river and sea research. Despite these efforts, Moldova’s research capacity is still shackled by its limited R&D budget, which equates to 0.23% of its GDP. This is around half of what its neighbour Romania spends, which is the lowest in the EU. According to Chiosa, the research budget is increasing year-on-year, jumping by €6.34 million between 2024 and 2025. But this doesn’t show up when looking at it as a proportion of GDP. “Of course, it’s difficult,” he said. “That is why we are putting more emphasis on collaboration between business and academia, as well as participation in Horizon Europe, to try to diversify our sources of funding.”A World Bank loan of €30 million, plus a grant of €7.8 million, was agreed in 2025 to support the modernisation of Moldova’s universities. As part of this, a call was launched this year to provide universities grants of up to €900,000 to develop their research infrastructure. Moldova is also collaborating closely with Romania, with which it shares a common language, funding 100 joint projects in 2023 and 2024. This support has been instrumental. “They are helping with sharing their expertise, inviting us into consortia, and lots more,” Chiosa said. Looking forward, Moldova is eagerly anticipating joining the EU. “We are looking closely at what the EU is doing and will shape our future national programme in research innovation accordingly.”EU accession “blocked at a technical level”Moldova is aiming to join the EU by 2028, but despite its swift and eager efforts to meet the accession criteria, there remain obstacles outside of the country’s control. For a country to join the EU, it must have certain legislation in place and meet specific standards in various areas. This is categorised into six thematic clusters containing 33 chapters. Moldova and the EU have so far opened two of the clusters, numbers one and six. The first covers fundamental laws, such as the judiciary, security and financial legislation. The sixth covers external relations. The remaining four clusters are still unopened. This includes the third cluster, on competitiveness and growth, which contains the chapter on science and research.Related articlesQ&A: Albania’s ambition to become a ‘moderate innovator’Data corner: Horizon success rates are droppingThe European Commission has confirmed that these clusters are ready to be opened, with an official saying that the Commission is encouraging EU governments, who have the final say, to move forward on the matter. However, both clusters two and three remain blocked by the EU Council’s working party on enlargement and countries negotiating accession to the EU, a different official, representing the Council, confirmed.This working party is set to meet several times in the coming weeks, with a Council meeting scheduled for mid-October in which enlargement, and Moldova’s bid, will be discussed. But there is no certainty that these talks will lead to progress. According to the Council source, it is “completely impossible to foresee if and when the file will be unblocked,” citing the sensitivity of the matter. Moldova’s situation is particularly complicated. One factor is that it borders Ukraine and is increasingly embroiled in Russia’s war, with drone incursions occurring more often on its territory. Another is Transnistria, a Russian-backed breakaway state that lies within the territory of Moldova. It is unclear how the EU would be able to accept Moldova into the bloc while this situation remains unchanged. While there is no direct reason to delay opening cluster three with Moldova, as it covers matters unrelated to security, it could be that the EU is reluctant to speed through accession negotiations without first resolving broader, geopolitical issues.Chiosa is confident that, if and when the chapter on science and research is opened, Moldova will be able to finalise it quickly. It doesn’t require any legislative changes and is only a matter of proving certain standards, which Chiosa believes Moldova is well prepared to do. “We hope that chapter 25 on science and research will be one of the first chapters opened and closed,” he said.
Deep in Trump country, a revolt against corporate money could reshape political spending
More than 15 years after the U.S. Supreme Court reshaped American politics with its Citizens United campaign finance ruling, Montana voters will decide this November whether to make their state the first in the nation to bar corporations from spending money on elections through a ballot initiative.
Deep in Trump country, a revolt against corporate money could reshape political spending
By Brad Brooks COLUMBIA FALLS, Montana, Sept 16 (Reuters) - More than 15 years after the U.S. Supreme Court reshaped American politics with its Citizens United campaign finance ruling, Montana voters will decide this November whether to make their stat...
Deep in Trump Country, a Revolt Against Corporate Money Could Reshape Political Spending
By Brad Brooks COLUMBIA FALLS, Montana, Sept 16 (Reuters) - More than 15 years after the U.S. Supreme Court reshaped American politics with its Citizens United campaign finance ruling, Montana voters will decide this November whether to make their state the first in the nation to bar corporations ...
Big-money donations poison British politics. We can stop the mega-rich buying access and influence
I’ve seen how imbalances in campaign spending can distort democracy. The multi-million-pound gifts to Reform must act as a final wake-up call, says former UK prime minister Gordon Brown
States Bet Big on Rural Health Startups, With a Silicon Valley Twist
States are spending rural health dollars on tech startups, betting that untested companies will succeed where doctors have vanished and hospitals have collapsed. Louisiana’s call for innovative technology drew more than 200 pitches, seeking from $250,000 to $3 million in seed money.
Here’s where SC is spending $167M of federal money to improve rural health care
The one-time money, which was provided through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, is aimed at initiatives to improve health care IT, chronic disease care and improve wellness.
'Shoplifters will take anything': Life in a theft hotspot
The BBC spends the day in Grimsby, where there is an above-average rate of shop thefts.
Rock for Relief raises the volume for local nonprofits
Spend a day listening to live music by the river — all while supporting two great local organizations during the annual Rock for Relief fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 19, at
Oil falls as US crude inventories rise despite Saudi supply concerns
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after an unexpected build in U.S. crude inventories, while investors assessed supply risks after Saudi Arabia suspended oil loadings at its Yanbu port following an attack on its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea.
Runaway Athletics Spending Threatens the Financial Health of America’s Colleges, Cantwell Snapshot Report Shows - U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released a new snapshot report on how runaway athletics spending is harming the financial health and broader missions of U.S. colleges and universities – and hitting students with record-high fees.
Bass skips hearing on L.A. homeless spending, calling probe politically motivated
Burchett's effort to force Bass to testify is the latest example of congressional Republican leaders trying to examine California's handling of regional issues and finances.
Rural Health Transformation Program announces $1.25 million to expand school-based health centers
The North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program will spend $1.25 million on school-based health centers in rural areas. Gov. Stein and NCDCHHS said this will improve health and academic outcomes for over three million people.
With just weeks until voting begin, Haaland holds millions while Hull struggles to keep up
New Mexico Political Report – With voters casting the first in-person votes just four weeks after the most recent campaign filings, Democrat Deb Haaland reports that she has $3.4 million available to spend. Republican Gregg Hull’s bank account had just 1/7th of that available. This story was originally published at New Mexico Political Report, a […]
Iran war cost $38 billion through July, report says
The U.S. is expected to spend $2 billion to $3 billion per month as the war continues, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Unions warn against 'out of control' political spending
In a joint statement, unions say donations totalling £72m to Reform UK threaten the "integrity of democracy".
Matthew Whitaker defends President Trump's frustration over NATO defense spending
Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker addresses President Donald Trump's frustration over NATO allies' defense spending. Whitaker notes that before Trump's election, allies spent less than the agreed 2% of their GDP on defense.
This new tax law could save your business money
Elizabeth Gore breaks down two provisions buried in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that small business owners need on their radar: bonus depreciation on equipment and vehicles, and immediate deductions for R&D spending. Gore unpacks what’s changed, why the timing of your purchase matters more than ever, and why this is one conversation worth having with your tax pro before, not after, you buy.
Perk Brings Fintech Product to US
Expansion of Perk Spend follows launch in Europe
Chewy Eyes Pet Health, AI and Clinics to Drive Its Next Growth Phase
Chewy (NYSE:CHWY) is prioritizing U.S. health services, customer spending expansion and artificial intelligence capabilities as it seeks to build on its pet retail foundation, Chief Executive Officer Sumit Singh said during a Goldman Sachs conference fireside chat. Singh said the company’s investme
Heat hurting your mental and physical health: local psychiatrist says
NBC 5’s Maria Guerrero spoke with a local psychiatrist and North Texans spending time outside in Downtown Dallas.
Amazon Business Expands Reconciliation Report with Line-Item Detail
The marketplace’s updated report adds 41 data fields to help finance teams match charges, track refunds and allocate spending, continuing its expansion beyond product purchasing into back-office support.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma May Have Personally Responded to Your Customer Support Ticket
New-ish Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has had a busy first six months on the job, including killing the divisive "This is Xbox" marketing campaign, slashing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's subscription price, and unfortunately also overseeing mass layoffs and development studio spin-outs. But as Sharma has gotten settled in her job, she's also been spending time understanding Xbox's products and customers in another way: by fielding customer support tickets.
Record diesel prices affecting North Country business
Diesel prices are hitting record highs nationwide, prompting one North Country business to rethink its spending.
Please Stop Conflating Sports Betting Handle With Spending On Entertainment
Editor’s note: The Cashout for paid subscribers will publish on Tuesday. Every September there’s a huge uptick in how much people bet on sports with the start of football season. Which means it’s time to get ahead of a ridiculous narrative before it picks up steam on social media or in mainstream media. Subscribe Every few months I see some version of this: [ Charlie Bilello@charliebilello Americans bet over $165 billion on sports last year, which is more than they spent on movies, books, concerts and sports tickets - combined. 1:00 PM · Jun 28, 2026 · 4.1M Views 258 Replies · 674 Reposts · 4.23K Likes ](https://x.com/charliebilello/status/2071217050328895935?s=20) Fortune published this in July. The headline and start of the story tell the same narrative (emphasis added): Gambling becomes America’s favorite pastime as Americans spend more on sports bets than movies, arts, museums, and music combined: The North American box office totaled $8.87 billion in 2025, which is still 22% below pre-pandemic levels. Recorded music revenue hit a record $11.5 billion. Live music like concerts and festivals brought in $18.51 billion. Meanwhile, book publishers tracked by the Association of American Publishers reported $14.6 billion for the year. And the U.S. museum industry generated an estimated $16.4 billion. Add it up and the total comes to roughly $70 billion, which is less than half what Americans wagered on sports. The story, to its credit, goes on to tell us why sports betting is entirely different, although people who only read headlines will miss that nuance. (The tweet above definitely skips over the nuance.) I will mostly be preaching to the choir here, but it’s worth saying out loud: Wagering money on sports is not the same thing as spending on entertainment from a financial perspective. When you spend money on a movie or concert ticket, that money is gone. You exchanged money for an experience. It’s a good trade! I get to have fun for “x” dollars. (Unless the movie sucks, I guess.) When you bet money on sports, the money is not necessarily gone every time you wager it. It could be gone, but sometimes it’s not and you actually get more money back! That’s not “spending” money or something you should try to compare directly to entertainment spend. A far better comp would be how much people lose at sports betting. That number was more like $17 billion in the US last year, at least for state-regulated sportsbooks. Why are we trying to equate handle and entertainment spending? I dunno. It makes for splashy headlines, I guess. Now, people should be betting for entertainment, and not because they expect to win in the long term; no doubt about it. Anyway, here’s hoping I don’t see people saying Americans “spent” hundreds of millions of dollars on sports betting this fall. Mindway AI and DraftKings Expand Responsible Gaming Drive with Launch of Gamalyze American Football In time for the NFL kickoff, Mindway AI has expanded its partnership with DraftKings to launch Gamalyze American Football the second title in the neuroscience-based Gamalyze Sports collection. Following the success of Gamalyze Football (soccer) during the FIFA World Cup, this gridiron-themed update replaces static questionnaires with immersive, stadium-inspired gameplay. Backed by 10+ years of Aarhus University research, Gamalyze evaluates real-time decision-making to deliver instant, unbiased player risk assessments. Integrated into DraftKings’ platform and nationwide activations, it engages fans when excitement peaks. Ready to upgrade your player protection? Contact Mindway AI to try Gamalyze Sports today. Gambling news roundup 🚨The important stuff 1st NFL Sunday of Season ‘Champagne-Popping Day for Bettors’ (Covers): “The first NFL Sunday of the season was a champagne-popping day for bettors, while the book was left cleaning up the corks,” Caesars’ head of football Joey Feazel said prior to the Sunday night game. “Caesars Sportsbook reported that Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs, Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, and Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson were among the top five most-bet players to reach the end zone, and all of them cashed tickets.” [ Ben Fawkes@BFawkes22 A @CaesarsSports oddsmaker on how Week 1 has gone so far: “The first NFL Sunday of the season was a champagne-popping day for bettors, while the book was left cleaning up the corks.” ➡️8 of 10 most popular anytime TD scorers cashed 1:31 AM · Sep 14, 2026 · 276K Views 16 Replies · 16 Reposts · 615 Likes ](https://x.com/BFawkes22/status/2099310001927995849?s=20) 🔍 Are we already getting a “customer-friendly results” narrative in Week 1? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with CNBC about the prediction markets industry: “We think that there needs to be stronger regulations into the predictive markets,” Goodell said. “We want to see that to protect the integrity of our game. We want to make sure we’re protecting the consumers that are on those platforms for the NFL. So, we’re continuing to have conversations with them and talk to them about the things that we think they need to do to strengthen that so that they could be potential partners at some point in the future.” More on the NFL + PMs: [ Straight to the Point Quid Pro Quo The NFL has asked Kalshi and other prediction markets to remove certain easy to manipulate markets. Does a potential partnership hang in the balance… Read more 6 hours ago · 19 likes · Steve Ruddock ](https://straighttothepoint.substack.com/p/quid-pro-quo?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1472492) Kalshi was on my podcast?: Kalshi was on my podcast [ The Event Horizon Episode 32: Talking Prediction Market Enforcement With Kalshi’s Robert DeNault Kalshi? On my podcast? Yep… Listen now 5 hours ago · 6 likes · 1 comment · Dustin Gouker ](https://nexteventhorizon.substack.com/p/episode-32-talking-prediction-market-enforcement-kalshi?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1472492) DraftKings Enhances Responsible Engagement Efforts With New Customer Initiatives, Tools and Education (press release): DraftKings Inc. today announced a series of new initiatives designed to promote responsible engagement and increase awareness and use of the tools and resources to help customers make informed decisions and engage responsibly. The efforts include a new digital advertising campaign featuring Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas that promotes responsible engagement, a PGA TOUR sweepstakes that promotes customer engagement with responsible engagement features, the launch of Gamalyze American Football in collaboration with Mindway AI, and new custom cool-off options that give customers enhanced flexibility when choosing a cool-off period. The initiatives build on DraftKings’ commitment to making responsible engagement an integral part of the customer experience and providing players with accessible tools and resources that help them make informed choices about their gaming experience. “At DraftKings, responsible engagement is embedded in how we operate and is essential to building trust with our customers and our long-term sustainability,” said Lori Kalani, Chief Responsible Gaming Officer at DraftKings. “We’ve continued to invest in tools and resources that give customers enhanced access to information about their play and more choices for managing how they engage. From My Budget Builder and My Stat Sheet to player-set limits and new custom cool-offs, we’re continuing to evolve our approach while promoting awareness and use of the tools and resources available to help customers play responsibly.” … DraftKings is launching a new digital advertising campaign featuring Kevin Hart and Nick Jonas that continues the pair’s road trip and promotes responsible engagement and awareness of the tools and resources available to help customers make informed choices about their gaming experience and engage responsibly. The campaign was initially launched on Sep. 10th and will reach customers through digital channels, bringing responsible engagement messaging to fans in an engaging way. bet365 Launches “The Matchup,” a New Weekly Video Podcast Hosted by Super Bowl Champions Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders (press release): "bet365, a global leader in online sports betting and gaming, today announced the launch of “The Matchup,” a new weekly video podcast hosted by former Super Bowl Champions Chris Harris Jr. and Emmanuel Sanders. Featuring current and former NFL players, the original series marks a significant, intentional investment in football as bet365 works to become a go-to destination for U.S. bettors throughout the season. “The Matchup” premieres September 10, with new episodes released weekly in both video and audio formats. Full episodes will be available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever podcasts are available, with clips and additional content rolling out across YouTube, X, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, and TikTok. The show is being produced by Last Row Digital Media. Each week, Harris and Sanders will be joined by guests from across the game to break down the biggest NFL matchups, unpack the latest league news and share perspectives that go beyond the box score. By bringing together two former players with distinct perspectives and firsthand experience, “The Matchup” will give audiences timely context and a deeper understanding of the teams, players and storylines shaping the week ahead. “Every great football conversation starts with a matchup—who has the edge, what everyone is overlooking and what could change the game,” said Chris Harris Jr. “Emmanuel and I have experienced the game from different perspectives, and we want the audience to feel like they are part of the conversation and leave every episode knowing more about the week ahead.” Today’s iGaming companies face new litigation threats as expansive consumer protection statutes spark lawsuits with sky’s-the-limit aspirations, sometimes backed by private funders. Clients of Ifrah Law have a staunch defender in Robert Ward – an agile litigator and case tactician who responds to the changing state of play with creative legal defenses and efficient case-closing strategies. Robert draws on federal clerkship experience and appellate defense work to advise iGaming clients on litigation exposure, white-collar risk, and regulatory defense across multiple jurisdictions. Read More: Robert Ward on Helping iGaming Clients Outmaneuver Lawsuit-Obsessed Adversaries 🔮 Prediction markets Update on legal action in Connecticut: [ Daniel Wallach@WALLACHLEGAL Connecticut says gaming service license holders which received subpoenas over sports prediction markets “are not under investigation” by the @CTDCP but may possess information that could assist the state “in evaluating the conduct of prediction market platforms.” 2:31 PM · Sep 13, 2026 · 844 Views 5 Likes ](https://x.com/WALLACHLEGAL/status/2099143914271670576?s=20) American Gaming Association Opposes CFTC Bid to Block New York Prediction-Market Enforcement (DeFi Rate): “The brief points to the Ninth Circuit’s Aug. 28 decision in KalshiEX LLC v. Assad, which the AGA says supports New York’s authority to regulate sports contracts as gambling. It also cites Kalshi advertising, product comparisons and reporting on Kalshi’s sports volume to argue that the economic product resembles a sportsbook wager more than a conventional financial hedge.” [ Daniel Wallach@WALLACHLEGAL AGA intervenes in CFTC v. NY case to oppose CFTC request for preliminary injunction, says the CFTC’s arguments “obfuscate a simple truth: prediction markets offer sports betting.” Highlights CA9 decision, @DustinGouker (6x), and $1.32 billion in OSB taxes for NY (0 from PMs). Daniel Wallach @WALLACHLEGAL High stakes hearing on Monday in CFTC v. New York State. If SDNY judge Lorna Schofield denies the CFTC’s motion for preliminary injunction, the New York AG would have a clearer path for securing a state court geofencing order against Kalshi, Coinbase, and Gemini Titan. 2:08 AM · Sep 13, 2026 · 4.78K Views 1 Reply · 2 Reposts · 8 Likes ](https://x.com/WALLACHLEGAL/status/2098957043474280584?s=20) Gaming Commission remains member of gambling council after questions raised over ties to Kalshi (Mass Live): “The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will not follow the leads of gaming regulators in Ohio and Michigan and drop ties with the National Council on Problem Gambling over its new association with Kalshi.” Sponsor’s messageTrusted Voices: Conversations About Betting is designed to equip adults, including parents and coaches, with tools and resources to talk to young people about gambling, including information on warning signs, risks and proxy betting. The program is led by retired professional basketball player Randy Livingston and his wife, basketball agent Anita Smith, who share their personal stories related to problem gambling, with the hope of preventing others from experiencing similar harms. Learn more and join the conversation here. 📣 Industry news Gaming M&A: Latest Mergers, Acquisitions and Deals (SBC Americas): “But what else is happening in the world of gaming mergers, acquisitions, investments, and partnerships? Here, we round up some of the news you might have missed.” BetMGM Named Official Sports Betting and Online Casino Partner of the Minnesota Vikings in Canada (press release): BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a multi-year partnership with the Minnesota Vikings, naming it the Official Sports Betting Partner and Online Casino Partner of the team in Canada. The agreement gives BetMGM rights to use Vikings marks across approved sports betting, online casino and marketing activities in Canada. In addition, Vikings Big Kick LuckyTap™, a casino game by Design Works Gaming, is available now exclusively at BetMGM Casino in Alberta and Ontario. “Vikings fans bring a level of passion and loyalty that extends well beyond game day,” said Matt Prevost, Chief Revenue Officer at BetMGM. “As the home of one of the largest collections of sports-themed casino content in North America, BetMGM is uniquely positioned to combine sports fandom with iGaming. We are eager to start football season off strong with another fantastic partnership especially as we expand our reach in Canada to Alberta.” Martin Nance, Minnesota Vikings Chief Marketing Officer, said, “As we continue to deepen our connection with Vikings fans across Canada, we’re proud to welcome BetMGM as the team’s official sports betting and online casino partner in Canada. Their commitment to innovation and fan engagement aligns well with our organization, and we’re excited to create memorable experiences that celebrate Vikings football and connect with Canadian fans in new and meaningful ways.” Caesars Entertainment Launches Ball Rush Jackpots™ in New Jersey,the Latest Proprietary Online Title from Empire Creative™ (press release): Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars”) today announced the launch of Ball Rush Jackpots™, a new ball-and-peg style online casino game developed by Empire Creative™, the Company’s in-house game development studio. Now live in New Jersey across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino, Ball Rush Jackpots is expected to become available in additional jurisdictions where Caesars offers online casino gaming following regulatory approval. The title expands Caesars’ growing portfolio of proprietary online casino titles, following the successful launch of Ca$hline™ earlier this year and further diversifying the Company’s lineup beyond traditional slots and table games. Ball Rush Jackpots follows the traditional ball-drop gameplay experience where players drop a ball down a board filled with pegs to land in a prize slot. As balls navigate independently through a field of pegs, every drop creates new opportunities to collect feature symbols, unlock bonuses and pursue jackpots, delivering a different experience with every round. “Ball Rush Jackpots delivers a different kind of casino experience for our players, combining easy-to-understand gameplay with meaningful customization, exciting bonus opportunities and jackpot potential,” said Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital. “As we continue expanding our proprietary content portfolio, we’re focused on creating games that are simple to pick up, rewarding to revisit and designed around the features players enjoy most.” Bally’s Corporation Secures New Financing to Support the Development of the Bally’s Bronx Project (press release): Bally’s Corporation (NYSE: BALY) (“Bally’s” or the “Company”) announced today that it secured new financing led by WhiteHawk Capital Partners, LP to fund further development of the Bally’s Bronx project and general corporate purposes. The new financing comprises closing date term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million and delayed draw term loan commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $160 million (together, the “Facilities”). … Bally’s Chairman of the Board, Soo Kim, commented, “This important financing allows us to progress the pre-construction planning process so that we are ready to complete the remainder of the capital raise and remain on schedule. Furthermore, the additional liquidity provides us greater flexibility for other capital opportunities.” WORLD JAI ALAI LEAGUE LAUNCHES CENTENNIAL SEASON AND ENTERS NEXT CHAPTER IN MIAMI (press release): The World Jai Alai League will open its 2026 fall season on Tuesday, September 15 at Miami’s JAM Arena, beginning a milestone season that marks 100 years since professional Jai Alai first arrived in Miami. Season X, the tenth season of the Battle Court team-based competition launched in 2022, will also be the first since entrepreneur and sports asset investor Rob Gough acquired the World Jai Alai League in August 2026. The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the league. World Jai Alai League will maintain the existing Battle Court competition and operating format, with Chief Operating Officer Scott Savin overseeing Season X. Gough and his team will use the coming months to listen to players and fans, evaluate opportunities across the league, and execute plans for a broader evolution of Jai Alai’s presentation, live experience, media, marketing and commercial strategy beginning in 2027. “This is a really unique moment for Jai Alai,” said Rob Gough, Owner of the World Jai Alai League. “We have a sport with more than 100 years of history in Miami, extraordinary athletes and incredible speed, but I also believe there is enormous untapped potential.” bet365 reveals most popular online slots in 3 US states in August (SBC Americas): “In its monthly Gaming Insights and Performance report, growing online casino operator bet365 tracks player trends and game performance in online slots across its North American online casino markets.” The Closing Line is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Mesa County judge suspended, Missy Woods sentenced
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The Colorado Supreme Court has suspended a judge as his misconduct investigation unfolds, plus a former state DNA analyst has been criminally sentenced for her own misconduct. Supreme Court news • The Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Mesa County Court Judge […]
How Much Money Have the Parties Spent on the Key Congressional Races in Pennsylvania?
We are just 50 days out from the November 3 general election and the political party money taps are flowing in an attempt to influence your vote for their preferred candidate(s). In just three Pennsylvania congressional districts alone (PA-07, PA-08 and PA-10), the Democrats and Republicans have combined to spend…
TiVo launches Agent TiVo for AI entertainment discovery
Viewers could spend less time searching and more time watching as TiVo adds conversational AI search across fragmented TV and streaming catalogues.
Cal Thomas: Mother’s milk of politics gone sour
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics,” said Jesse M. Unruh, who in the ’60s was a powerful Democratic politician and speaker of the California State Assembly. It is a disgrace, if much is disgraceful these days, that we spend so much on …
How Quincy and Hannibal Households Budget for Entertainment
Across West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, the way people spend a free evening rarely follows a script. A Quincy resident might grab tickets to a show at the Oakley-Lindsay Center one weekend, then spend the next weekend keeping things low-key at home. A Hannibal couple might split the difference — dinner downtown on Friday, then...
Amazon suspends use of 21 Air, cargo carrier whose plane careened off runway
The North Carolina carrier had flown packages for Amazon since 2024
Amazon suspends use of 21 Air, cargo carrier whose plane careened off runway
The North Carolina carrier had flown packages for Amazon since 2024
Can Wearing Earbuds All Day Make Your Ears Dirtier? ENT Experts Explain
If you spend most of your day wearing earbuds, you could making it harder for your ears to stay clean.
Andy Roddick pinpoints what Alexander Zverev did ‘perfectly’ against Ben Shelton in the US Open final
Like London buses, two Grand Slam titles have come along at once for Alexander Zverev after spending over a decade in pursuit of his first....
The most radical act this election season? Texans dining together.
We can spend another election cycle shouting across the divide, or we can sit down, break bread and begin closing it.
California attempts to crack down on health spending
Hospitals warn there will be consequences for patient access.
Amazon suspends use of 21 Air, cargo carrier whose plane careened off Miami runway
Amazon says it has suspended its partnership with 21 Air after one of the cargo carrier’s planes careened off a Miami runway last week and killed five people.
The System Is Not the Patient
Across OECD countries, healthcare spending has long grown faster than GDP, while health-adjusted life expectancy has stagnated or declined and up to 20% of spending remains directed to low-value care. Outcome-based care measures success by patient outcomes relative to resources used, yet no health system has implemented it end to end. The World Economic Forum convened expert workshops to identify practical solutions. This paper argues that full system redesign, perfectly aligned incentives and flawless measurement systems are not prerequisites for progress, highlighting instead six interconnected priorities. The challenge is now to connect existing building blocks into a coordinated system focused on improving patient outcomes.
John W. Campbell Built Modern Science Fiction, But The Genre He Built Renamed His Award to Forget Him
John W. Campbell took over Astounding Stories in October 1937 at the age of 27. He held the editor’s chair for thirty-four years, until his death in 1971, and the field he inherited barely resembles the one he left behind. Historians mark the start of the “Golden Age of Science Fiction” not with a year but with an issue: July 1939, the month Campbell’s editorial instincts fully clicked into place and the writers he would spend a career shaping began arriving in his slush pile.
Confirmed 2. Bundesliga lineups: VfL Osnabrück vs. Hertha BSC
Timo Schultz makes one change from the victory over Braunschweig as Leonhard Münster comes in for Ismail Badjie. Stefan Leitl is forced into swapping the suspended Paul Seguin for Pascal Klemens. Ol...
What Was Tyson Helton Thinking?
Here we are again, looking to lift the curtain on one man’a madness. To investigate the thoughts of a college football coach brought low by fate, and also a roster crammed to the gills with angry five star recruits who spend their days being yelled at by Kirby Smart. This is Western Kentucky head coach […]
How UWGB men landed conference star Orlando Lovejoy
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Orlando Lovejoy didn’t need much convincing when it came to where he wanted to spend his final season of college basketball. He just needed Green Bay to have a spot for him. Now, he does. The former Detroit Mercy guard is joining the Green Bay men’s basketball program for the […]
Danville tourism revenue jumps nearly 51%, business owners see the growth firsthand
The Virginia Tourism Corporation released its 2025 tourism revenue statistics, showing $36.2 billion in visitor spending generated statewide.
US: Target lists some of first party games in Customer Appreciation Sale
Customers in North America will be getting ready to spend in the upcoming Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale. While Nintendo hasn’t announced which first party games will be including in the sale…
Mistakes we made traveling to Portugal for 2 weeks; biggest regrets
From spending too long in Lisbon to making packing, planning, and transportation mistakes, here's what I wish we did differently on our Portugal trip.
Top Trump political adviser James Blair says he’s ‘cautiously optimistic’ about midterms
Top Trump political adviser James Blair spoke with NBC News’ new podcast, “Here’s the Scoop: Election Edition,” about the midterms and the super PAC’s spending.
Nebraska commit suspended for remainder of senior season
Nebraska football commit Jailen Hill was suspended for the rest of his senior season earlier this week.
Electric bills, primary spending, CCSU president complaint: CT politics news
by CT Mirror Staff, CT Mirror September 11, 2026 These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more Connecticut political news, sign up here for The Issue, the…
José Javier Rodríguez, Annette Taddeo to spend weekend courting South Florida labor, faith base
Both Democrats are running against incumbents appointed by Gov. DeSantis who hold hefty fundraising edges.
How to Lure the Spendy and the Thrifty? Bring On the ‘Barbell.’
Restaurant chains are trying to draw in both kinds of consumers by offering low-cost and more-premium options at the same time.
Electric bills, primary spending, CCSU complaint: CT politics news
Plus: the Blue Ribbon Commission is at work, a foster care prevention grant is awarded, and Lamont announces new Shore Line East trains.
How New Casino Plans At PENN Entertainment (PENN) Have Changed Its Investment Story
PENN Entertainment held a groundbreaking ceremony on 14 September 2026 for the future Hollywood Casino Hotel Council Bluffs, a land-based property intended to replace the adjacent Ameristar Council Bluffs riverboat casino, subject to regulatory approvals, with opening targeted for 2028. The move shifts capital into a land-based resort format that can concentrate gaming, hotel, and non-gaming spend in one property. This matters for guest economics, cost efficiency, and how PENN Entertainment...
Business leaders plan to continue AI spend, even if bubble bursts
They’re also investing in upskilling and reskilling efforts to meet AI demands, new report says.
Elon Musk's PAC adds Maine 2nd District race to electioneering bid
Musk's America PAC is already spending on the high-profile Maine U.S. Senate race. Now it's sending text and phone messages hoping to boost Republican Paul LePage in his contest against Democrat Matt Dunlap.
Transfer window thoughts as Portsmouth spend £10m
BBC Radio Solent's Andrew Moon gives his thoughts on Portsmouth and their summer transfer window.
How Flex Pay Launch At Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) Has Changed Its Investment Story
Six Flags Entertainment introduced Flex Pay by Upgrade in September 2026, letting eligible guests buy Season Passes and other products of US$49 or more online and pay over time through fixed monthly installments, with immediate access to pass benefits after activation and no prepayment penalties. This financing option could influence how visitors budget for trips, with more spending potentially shifting toward recurring passes and planned visits rather than one off ticket purchases. This...
Meta's AI program prompted internal revolt, program suspended
Meta's elite AI unit sought employee data to train models. A leak and worker revolt brought it to a halt.
Why Colts picked up Eagles nickel Kapena Gushiken on waivers
Kapena Gushiken, an undrafted safety out of Ole Miss, thought he'd spend his rookie season in Philadelphia, only to be claimed off waivers by Colts
How concerned should big-spending Tottenham be after winless and goalless start to Premier League season?
Spurs are yet to win or score in the Premier League this season despite a big summer of spending; Roberto De Zerbis side also failed to have a shot on target last weekend; watch Tottenham vs Everton on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 5pm; kick-off 5.30pm
Virginia study says fake Yelp, Amazon reviews cost businesses something money can't buy
Review platforms wield significant influence over everyday spending decisions.
Millions Could Spend Half Their Income on Food by 2050, Scientists Warn
Welcome to the future.
Virginia Beach sailor pardoned by Trump after weapons conviction
NORFOLK, Va. — A Virginia Beach sailor was pardoned by President Donald Trump last week after spending four years in federal prison for possessing and selling unregistered weapons. Patrick Tate
Rival pro-Israel group to spend millions to target AIPAC-backed candidates
The super PAC of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, is spending $3 million on ads against Republicans backed by AIPAC.
Minogue's blueprint promises audits, tax cuts and a net-zero repeal
Sept. 10, 2026.....From using artificial intelligence to reduce the state's notorious traffic to canceling the midcentury net-zero emissions commitment and temporarily suspending the state gas tax when pump prices climb,
Nintendo of America thanks fans for dealing with tariff-related price hikes by encouraging them to spend more money in a new sale
Nintendo America has faced a lot of pushback for not passing tariff refunds onto consumers, so its new tariff-related sale is causing some backlash.
Scientists want to 3D print houses on Mars with the help of yeast
Mars is a terrible place to build a house. It's bitterly cold, blasted by radiation and a near vacuum. Not to mention that the building materials, even for a modest shelter, could spend months hurtling ...
He fought terrorism as an FBI agent, now he is fighting cancer and for the health of his fellow 9/11 responders
When American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon, Jeffrey Miller rushed to the scene, spending weeks on site recovering evidence from the burned wreckage.
He fought terrorism as an FBI agent, now he is fighting cancer and for the health of his fellow 9/11 responders
When American Airlines Flight 77 slammed into the Pentagon, Jeffrey Miller rushed to the scene, spending weeks on site recovering evidence from the burned wreckage.
SOPRIS TECHNOLOGIES Launches Moneytoring® on Google Cloud Marketplace, Offering Comprehensive Business Observability
CORAL GABLES, Fla., Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SOPRIS TECHNOLOGIES today announced that its flagship service, Moneytoring: Business Observability as a Service, is now available on Google Cloud Marketplace. This milestone enables Google Cloud customers to procure, deploy, and scale Moneytoring directly through their existing cloud accounts. By utilizing consolidated billing through Google Cloud, enterprises streamline procurement and leverage their committed cloud spend to protect revenue
Three Free Agents Knicks Need to Target Before Training Camp
The defending champions have one veteran minimum slot to spend before Sept. 29, and three names left on the market fit the hole Mitchell Robinson left behind.
Scientists want to 3D print houses on Mars with the help of yeast
Mars is a terrible place to build a house. It’s bitterly cold, blasted by radiation, and a near vacuum. Not to mention that the building materials, even for a modest shelter, could spend months hurtling through space before construction begins. But they don’t have to. In a study publishing September 10 in the journal Chem Circularity, researchers developed a recipe that could one day be used to 3D print houses on Mars. The recipe combines Martian rocks with Earthly ingredients: gelatin and yeast. Once dried and hardened, this living building material is as strong as low-grade concrete and can be broken down, recycled, and brewed again for new construction.
California judge suspends license for salvage inspection business
A California judge has suspended the license of a Los Angeles-based automotive dealer after a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) investigation found the business performed fraudulent vehicle safety …
Special interests spend millions boosting Becerra in governor's race
Companies and special interest groups with some of the diciest issues expected to land on California's next governor's desk are among the top financial backers of Democrat Xavier Becerra, the gubernatorial front runner.
Liverpool finally given green light to sign their next Fabinho
The last couple of years have been full of heavy spending for Liverpool. The Anfield outfit have now spent well over £500 million on trying to improve their ranks and, although things finally came to...
Trump promises $5,000 'dividend' if Republicans win midterms
Trump said recipients would have to spend the $5,000 "Trump dividend" in the US.
Academy Sports (ASO) Rockets 14% on Solid Q2 Despite Consumer Spending Tests
Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ:ASO) saw its share price jump by 14.40 percent on Wednesday to close at $51.15 apiece after posting a strong earnings performance in the second quarter of the year despite weakness in consumer spending trends. In an earnings call on the same day, the sporting goods store chain said that […]
Oregon 2028 ballot measure aims to ban corporate campaign contributions
A 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for corporations, unions and other groups to spend unlimited money on politics.
The ‘Sacred Science’ has another way to deal with death
The next time someone asks why you’re on your phone so much, tell them you’re just working on your Immortality Project. It’s a concept from cultural anthropologist Ernest Becker’s 1973 book “The Denial of Death,” which posits that most of what humans spend our time on is meant to pretend the inevitable isn’t waiting for […]
Ravens’ financial investment makes 2026 a title-or-bust season
The Ravens rank fourth in NFL cash spending, leaving Jesse Minter’s new coaching staff with immediate championship expectations
Johnsonville Votes For Sausage Over Political Ads - Midland
Johnsonville has jumped back into electoral politics, this time asking people to vote for something sensible: affordable protein for dinner. The humorous campaign targets viewer fatigue, as record spending on political ads threatens to drain the fun out of every last game, sitcom and streaming pleasure. This time, the company is throwing its hat in the ring for Dinner 2026. Backed by research it conducted with Harris Polls, Johnsonville has learned Americans are already overwhelmed by both politics and meal planning. Sausage is running the dinner race on a core promise to simplify dinner decisions, the company says.
Increases in healthcare spending the largest driver behind premium growth: Yale study
As insurance premiums continue to rise, a new study finds that escalating healthcare spending is the leading factor behind the trend. | As insurance premiums continue to rise, a new study finds that escalating healthcare spending is the leading factor behind the trend.
The ‘amnesia tax’: How frictionless payments fuel mindless spending
The rise of frictionless payment technology may be making it easier for consumers to lose track of their spending, contributing to what the author calls “budget amnesia,” The Washington Post reports. One single mother with $80,000 in student debt reviewed a year of bank statements and discovered that her finances weren’t being undermined by major […]
Luma locks down 15-year, $410M fund for life science investments
Luma Group today announced the final close of its inaugural life sciences venture capital fund, totaling $410 million. The New York-based investment firm has had a grip on life sciences since its founding in 2023. The funds unveiled today, dubbed LumaBio Fund I, include investments that have already been made into more than 10 biotechs. They include the likes of eye disease-focused Character Biosciences, rebranded Belgian biotech Coultreon Biopharma and cellular rejuvenation company Altos Labs. The fund saw early success when one of the companies it co-founded, called Vaccine Company, was picked up by Eli Lilly earlier this year for up to $1.55 billion. The acquisition of the in vivo nanoparticle technology-focused biotech formed part of a trio of vaccine buys for the Big Pharma, which has itself been on a prolonged spending spree in 2026. Luma's fund is structured as a 15-year investment with plans to support groundbreaking science and support companies through key milestones from discovery to commercialization, Luma explained in the release. "We founded Luma Group on the belief that extraordinary science, supported by patient, long-term capital, has the power to improve millions of lives," Joshua Fink, founder and managing member of Luma Group, said in the release. "This fund represents more than capital—it is a commitment to partnering with extraordinary innovators as they translate visionary science into life-changing medicines."
Your Holiday Shopping Season Playbook: What to Do Now - Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
By Barbara Weltman – The National Retail Federation (NRF) says the holiday shopping season runs from November 1 through December 31. Last year, an NRF survey found that 42% of consumers planned to begin holiday shopping before November. Will this year be different? And what will consumers on average spend? Last year, sales were strong, surpassing the prior […]
Small Business Spotlight: Guitar shop aims to strike a chord
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO OPEN STRING THEORY GUITARS INC.? ALLISON & LEE WILLIAMS: “We are lifelong musicians with a passion for playing. We love Wilmington and the live music scene here, and we wanted a way to be a part of the music community without having to start work at 9 p.m. We also want to be a destination for residents and musicians performing in and around the downtown area.” WHAT DOES YOUR BUSINESS PROVIDE, AND HOW DO YOU THINK IT HELPS CUSTOMERS? We love Wilmington and the live music scene here, and we wanted a way to be a part of the music community without having to start work at 9 p.m. We also want to be a destination for residents and musicians performing in and around the downtown areaTHE WILLIAMSES: “We’re a true basics-to-boutique destination. If you’re someone who’s just starting out, we can set you up with high-quality, brand-new equipment at a great entry-level price point. When you’re ready for your dream guitar, we can help you design and create a fully custom electric or acoustic guitar to your specifications. We have a broad selection of both guitars and amplifiers for players of every level. We also have a community board in the store to connect bands, students, instructors, repair technicians, and anyone providing a service to the local music community.” WHAT PAST EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT LED YOU TO CREATE STRING THEORY GUITARS? THE WILLIAMSES: “Lee has played guitar for almost 40 years, from middle school band to gigging rock bands. Allison has a background in orchestra and musical theater, as well as retail management. We worked together as a husband-and-wife team in manufacturing for many years prior to moving to Wilmington. Having shopped in countless music stores over the years, we set up our shop with the goal of being welcoming and inviting. Our philosophy is ‘if it’s on display, it’s for play.’ No instrument or amplifier is out of reach in our store.” WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR GROWTH? THE WILLIAMSES: “We would love to grow the bluegrass and folk instrument segment of our business. We carry banjos, mandolins, resonator guitars, ukuleles and related accessories. We’ve seen and heard plenty of talented bluegrass and folk musicians around Wilmington, and we look forward to expanding our selections to support this growing segment of the local music scene.” WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING RIGHT NOW IN YOUR BUSINESS? THE WILLIAMSES: “Getting the word out about our brand and some of the unique brands we represent is a challenge for any new business. Online exposure through the Cargo District, Wilmington Downtown Inc. … and our online following is steadily growing. Our other challenge is the logistics of our streets. Our neighborhood is amazing, and you could spend the entire day walking around the Cargo District. As the District continues to grow, we’re seeing more pedestrian traffic, particularly in crossing 16th and 17th streets. We’ve seen some improvements in traffic calming, but the sooner we can improve safety with crosswalks and pedestrian signals, the more welcoming our neighborhood will be.”
Trump’s Super PAC Is Tied to Mystery Group Spending $25 Million on Midterms
The recently created Republican group is pumping cash into half a dozen key midterm races, with the largest amounts going toward Senate contests in New Hampshire and Alaska.
D4 Supervisor Alan Wong seems victory bound
Third party spending evaporates after a costly primary.
Democrats demand Trump administration halt collection of patients’ ER records
A group of Democratic lawmakers is calling for the Trump administration to suspend a new surveillance program it quietly launched to collect the personal and identifiable health data of Americans who visit emergency rooms.
Spalletti target immediate return for two Juventus stars
With injuries ravaging his midfield, Luciano Spalletti is set to be forced into recalling players who had been expected to spend more time building their fitness before becoming heavily involved in fi...
A little stardust, a little magic: Hyla senior takes science to the stage
There are plenty of reasons to spend a Saturday night looking up. On Sept. 12, Bainbridge Island has another one: a local high school senior who thinks quantum mechanics might go down a little easier with a dose of magic.
Macau wants to be a ‘business city,’ not just a gaming hub—and it’s spending $16 billion to help it get there
IPIM board president Alex Che Weng Keong says the casino hub can use its regulatory autonomy and Portuguese heritage to become a "tech city."
The 98 Biggest TV Show Flops, Bombs and Misses in the First Half of 2026
(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.) In July, I updated my look at how the “streaming bubble” popped since 2023, showing the decline in streaming TV shows over time. But after compiling and analyzing and writing about over one hundred TV show flops in the first half of 2026—I counted 99 “nominees” and there are even more honorable mentions—I couldn’t have told you that the number of shows is going down. When it comes to scripted, English-language TV shows, it feels like we have as many bombs as ever. I don’t keep a specific count, but some streamers probably had as many flops as they’ve ever had.1 That’s right, it’s time for part two of my analysis of the biggest flops, bombs and misses on streaming in the first half of 2026. Two weeks ago, I took a look at films. Today, TV shows. If you want to read the full methodology for how I assemble this list, you can find it at the bottom of this article. In short, this list is… ...scripted and unscripted TV shows,...from the nine major streamers,...in the US (using US-only ratings),...excluding true crime, kids and foreign-language shows,...that got no/poor ratings,...from Jan-2026 to the end of June-2026. Reminder: this article does not represent my personal opinion—many of these shows are great!—but I follow the data, and a miss is a miss and a bomb is a bomb. Also, price matters. If a TV show costs north of $100 million, it needs to get lots and lots of streaming viewership to justify that budget. As with past editions, I ordered this list by streamer, going from best (fewest flops) to worst (the most misses)—taking the size of the flops into consideration—and like the last edition, three or four streamers vied to take the win/loss of having the most flops. (But the actual winner is no surprise.) I try to avoid tooting my own horn too much, but seriously, in just under 5,000 words (including the methodology section) I provide a mostly comprehensive overview of the eight major streamers (Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and Apple TV) for the first half of the year, mentioning most of their hits and all their misses. It summarizes the entire first half of 2026! If you want to support this work, please subscribe. Subscribe Tubi Big Mood Boarders The Freak Brothers Twenty Twenty Six Honorable Mentions: Busted on Bodycam, Deestroying the Pitch, Destination World Cup 2026 I don’t think that Tubi spends all that much making or (mostly) licensing these original TV shows—Big Mood, Boarders and Twenty Twenty Six all come from the UK—but they’re not free and they didn’t chart anywhere. Winner: The Freak Brothers Have you even heard of this show? It’s an animated comedy...that’s on its third season! And Pete Davidson, Woody Harrelson, John Goodman and Tiffany Haddish all provide voice talent for it. Yes, animated shows don’t cost as much as live action shows, but cheap isn’t free! So a show with this level of talent needs to perform better. Disney+ Daredevil: Born Again Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord Honorable Mentions: Behind the Attraction, Donna Hay Coastal Celebrations, We Call It Imagineering Disney+ doesn’t make all that many original shows anymore. They had two flops, and one was animated. Their one not-a-miss show, Wonder Man, got just good enough viewership to not be considered a “miss”...but it’s since been cancelled. At this point, Disney has pivoted entirely away from making big budget TV shows for Disney+ to making...almost nothing for Disney+? Sure, Disney’s spending circa 2019-2022 was unsustainable, but now they’re pivoting too far in the other direction. At some point, Disney needs to stop shifting strategies so wildly. Really, Disney should have made fewer shows for Disney+ at launch and the shows they did make at that time needed to be made at more reasonable budgets. And they should adopt that strategy now. Winner: Daredevil: Born Again Daredevil, the Marvel Comics character, is on my personal Mount Rushmore of favorite superheroes, so it pains me to give him the win/loss today, but this show deserves it. I’ll repeat my hot take from last spring: “Based on his popularity, Daredevil should be in movies, and probably ones that cost a lot less than the MCU’s usual price tag. Disney/Bob Iger/Ike Perlmutter (who, based on reporting, made the decision) made a huge mistake selling TV shows to Netflix in the 2010s, thus limiting this character to the small screen. Daredevil could have anchored Marvel’s post-Infinity War plans, and if he did, the MCU would probably be in a better place than it is now.” HBO Max We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… What four streamers had the most misses... HBO’s strong start to 2026… The caveat to Peacock’s turnaround this year... Paramount+’s key man problem… What country isn’t delivering hits for Netflix or Hulu... The cavalcade of stars on a streamer where no one is watching their shows... Across nearly 5,000 words of analysis… And a lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you’d like to read more about why you should subscribe, please read this article about the Streaming Ratings Report, why it matters, why you need it, and why we cover streaming ratings best.
Smithfield Foods expects to swing to third-quarter operating loss in fresh pork business
Smithfield Foods said on Tuesday its fresh pork segment is expected to swing to an adjusted operating loss in the third quarter, due to persistent pressure from lower hog prices and a shrinking industry market spread amid cautious spending.
North Carolina MCO Alliance Health Taps Cortica to Rein in Autism Spending, Improve Outcomes
Ready to dive into what's shaping autism therapy-payer relations? Be a part of the Autism Investor Summit East this November 9–10. Get your tickets here.
Supreme Court rulings change the economics of political party spending
A Supreme Court ruling last week allowing political parties to continue accessing cheaper TV and radio advertising may give a boost to Republicans as campaigns