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Pelham council to discuss bill impacting business license fees at special called meeting
City officials in Pelham announced a special called city council meeting for Monday night to discuss a bill making its way through the legislature that could impact how much money cities can collect from businesses doing out-of-town contract work.
Democrats 'playing politics' with Americans' safety: GOP lawmaker
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., criticizes Democrats for 'playing politics' during the government shutdown, impacting TSA agents' pay, on 'Fox Report.'
Matthew McConaughey on Working with Family, Faith and Politics
In this favorite Sunday Sitdown, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey joins Willie Geist to discuss working with his family on “The Lost Bus,” seeing his son Levi follow in his acting footsteps, and adding bestselling author to his resume. McConaughey shares how the need for belief inspired him to write “Poems and Prayers” and opens up about a potential political career down the road.
Chris Kelly Opinion: A petition for better acting in politics and PR
“Memory, all alone in the moonlight/ I can dream of the old days/ Life was beautiful then…” – from “Memory,” by Andrew Lloyd Webber Successful theatrical productions achieve the “suspension of disbelief,” temporarily convincing audiences th…
Aston Villa and Tottenham interested in Parma’s Mandela Keita
Mandela Keita has impressed in Serie A this season for Parma, with the midfielder attracting interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham.La Gazzetta dello Sport – via TuttoBolognaWeb, report about the 2...
Controversial star receiver named Philadelphia Eagles' most overpaid player
Earlier this month, star cornerback Cooper DeJean was named the Philadelphia Eagles’ most underpaid player by Brad Gagnon of Blecher Report. Gagnon recently released a list of every NFL teams’ most overpaid player, and for the Eagles, that distinction went to mercurial star wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his four seasons in Philadelphia, but declining production combined with a huge contract and some distracting behavior has led Brown to being overpaid, at least in the eyes of Gagnon.
Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call: Mar. 25, 2026
CDC's acting chief promises a return to stability in a tumultuous moment
2025-26 Sweet 16 Betting Report: Swing in Futures Liability Impacting Books
The books no longer need who they thought they needed when the Tournament began. Patrick Everson has the scoop.
Record-high passenger wait times at airports, but no deal yet on the 40th day of the shutdown
The acting head of the Transportation Security Administration says air travelers are experiencing the highest airport wait times ever under her agency.
White House delays CDC pick as officials search for permanent director
The responsibilities of leading the agency will fall to Jay Bhattacharya, the head of the National Institutes of Health, who has been serving as acting CDC director since last month
From idea to publication: How RISE Ambassadors are impacting science education
When Sara Brownell began the RISE Ambassadors program three years ago as part of her Charter Professorship, she hoped to make a positive impact on STEM learning environments by empowering undergraduate students to have greater agency in both the research conducted and its translation into meaningful change.
TODAY | City of Tampa hosts Bridges To Business Event
City of Tampa Hosts Networking, Information Event For Local BusinessesThe City of Tampa is hosting a Job Order Contracting Information Session & Networking event today at City Center at Hanna Avenue.
Scientists Discover Alaska Glaciers Are Melting Weeks Longer Than Expected
New radar data reveals Alaska’s glaciers are melting longer and reacting faster to heat.
How entertainment production hubs are creating new housing hotspots
NewHomeSource reports entertainment production hubs are driving housing demand by boosting local economies, attracting home buyers with modern amenities and community design.
Former acting ICE director under Obama shares concern about ICE airport deployment
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
Sorry, Amazon, you couldn't pick a worse time to bring a phone to market: IDC analyst
: The market is contracting
Tilman Fertitta Bid Puts Caesars Entertainment Value And Future In Focus
Tilman Fertitta is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Caesars Entertainment, ahead of a rival bid from investor Carl Icahn. The potential deal would combine Fertitta's Golden Nugget casino interests and sports assets with Caesars Entertainment's Las Vegas Strip footprint. This development is attracting attention from shareholders as a possible turning point for NasdaqGS:CZR. Caesars Entertainment, trading as NasdaqGS:CZR, last closed at $27.44. The share price return is up 44.8% over...
A Physicist Said Heaven Has a Literal Address. The Science World Is Reacting Just Like You’d Expect.
A former Harvard physics lecturer and science communicator has said that heaven could have a physical location. And he knows exactly where it is.
New Business Licenses: 3.20.26
Chesterfield reports several new construction and contracting firms, including a custom garage builder. (BizSense Pro required)
US Health Department official signals progress on selecting new CDC head
The top CDC job has been filled by acting directors since Trump fired then-director Susan Monarez last August, after she objected to Kennedy's proposed vaccine policy changes.
Markiplier to Microdramas: The Ankler x NAB Show’s Future of Entertainment
Share Subscribe Vegas, baby! The Ankler is heading back to NAB Show for a second year in a row — and doubling down on conversations with the smartest people in the industry. From April 18–22, we’re partnering again with the industry’s biggest media and tech gathering to break down the Business of Media and Entertainment as it’s actually evolving: faster, riskier and increasingly driven by new formats, new audiences and new power players. This curated series will bring together top creators, executives and innovators to tackle the forces reshaping the industry — from the AI disruption of Hollywood’s creative ecosystem to the rise of the creator economy, shifting audience behavior and the changing economics of production. We’ll be rolling out more programming in the coming weeks — including top speakers from leading AI studios, prediction markets and beyond — so keep an eye on the Business of Media and Entertainment hub. But first up, we’re announcing two panels about what’s actually working in Hollywood: The Scary-Smart Business of Horror A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation moderated by Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources. Inside the Microdrama Boom Short-form serialized storytelling is having a major moment. Microdramas, social-native series and creator-led narratives are capturing massive audiences with low-cost, rapid production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. What was once dismissed as niche or experimental is now attracting major platform investment. Moderated by Jarvey, this panel of microdrama creators and executives — including one of the format’s top stars and producers, Kasey Esser, and Dhar Mann Studios’ head of vertical content, Erin McFarlane — examines how format innovation, fandom dynamics and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the economics of scripted storytelling and what traditional studios can learn from these agile models. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynne@theankler.com Share
Brooklyn businesses, consumers feeling the pinch from soaring oil prices
The soaring crude oil prices continue to push up the price at the pump, but it's also impacting everything from airfare to farmers, and products you buy at the store.
Manlius town supervisor resigns
Deputy Supervisor Alissa Italiano will take over his responsibilities as acting supervisor until a new supervisor can be appointed.
Rising fuel prices impact businesses and consumers in Greater Cincinnati
Gasoline and diesel prices are soaring due to the ongoing conflict with Iran, impacting businesses and consumers across the U.S.
Two men have been charged with running a fraudulent contracting business in Lower Merion
The Lower Merion Police Department is urging anyone who believes they were a victim of contractor fraud by Jake Fox and Scott Bradley to contact law enforcement.
NEWS CENTER Maine
Through in-depth storytelling, through direct contact on digital on social platforms, through long-standing community service programs like Coats & Toys for Kids, Project Heat and Buddy to Buddy, NEWS CENTER Maine is dedicated to keeping Mainers connected. We can't do it alone, though. Only by listening and interacting with YOU can we continue to connect ALL Mainers.
Oscars 2026 winners and recap: 'One Battle After Another' named Best Picture; Jessie Buckley and Michael B. Jordan take home acting awards
Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" took home six awards on Sunday.
Pair accused of operating fake contracting businesses in Lower Merion Township
Police in Lower Merion Township are looking to identify further victims of an organized fraud scheme involving fake contracting businesses.
Hilary Duff defends her mother Susan after Frankie Muniz called her a 'super intense’ stage mom during the 'Lizzie McGuire' days
Hilary Duff defends mother Susan after Frankie Muniz labeled her ‘super intense’ stage mom: ‘I was never pushed into acting.'
We Met Frozen's Olaf at Walt Disney Imagineering and Caught a Glimpse of the Future of Immersive Entertainment at Disney Parks
Disney invited us to its Imagineering offices to meet the incredibly impressive next-generation robotic figure of Olaf that will soon be walking, talking, and interacting with guests at World of Frozen in Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland, and it truly felt as if we were getting a glimpse of the future of immersive entertainment at Disney Parks.
Castlederg: Businesses say regeneration construction work impacting trade
Business owners in Castlederg say they are frustrated by the impact construction work is having on the town.
Heat, snow mix affecting Colorado businesses
Colorado’s recent shift in weather is impacting high country businesses.
North Texas Republican Rep. Roger Williams discusses war against Iran, DHS shutdown impacting airports
British politics is hooked on flashy fake numbers – and the AI investment debacle proves it
A claim that the UK is attracting billions of pounds in AI investment has been debunked. That’s no surprise when our establishment runs on dubious ‘good news’, says Jonathan Portes, a professor at King’s College London and former senior civil servant
Silence is not golden when it comes to science and AI
The scope of scientific inquiry is contracting as research focuses on data-rich problems
Free workshop in Syracuse to help businesses get MWBE certification
Four panelists will discuss certification opportunities and government contracting for small, local businesses.
A Look At Teladoc Health’s (TDOC) Valuation After Analyst Upgrades And Earnings Surprise
Why Teladoc Health is back on investors’ radar Teladoc Health (TDOC) is attracting fresh attention after a run of analyst upgrades tied to its BetterHelp mental health segment, stronger than expected quarterly results, and new plans around artificial intelligence and international expansion. See our latest analysis for Teladoc Health. Despite the recent enthusiasm around upgrades and earnings, Teladoc Health’s 7 day share price return of 6.63% and 30 day gain of 9.84% sit against a much...
Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses Sue Texas Comptroller over Contracting Program’s Conversion + Cancellation
Takeaways
Rising gas prices affect San Joaquin County small businesses, gig workers
Gas prices are soaring in California. This is directly impacting small business food trucks and delivery drivers in San Joaquin County.
Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call: Mar. 10, 2026
Amazon tightens code guardrails after outages rock retail business
Internal documents obtained by Business Insider show how Amazon is reacting to a series of recent outages related to software coding issues.
The New Brand Playbook for Unpredictable Times
Multi-brand upheaval and geopolitical uncertainty are impacting business in 2026. Here’s how independent labels are buckling down accordingly.
Trump administration widens its 2020 election probe as it obtains records from Arizona
The Republican leader of Arizona's state Senate said Monday he has handed over records related to the 2020 presidential election to the FBI in the latest sign that the Trump administration is acting on the president's longstanding falsehoods about a race he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Is Broncos Country overreacting to the team’s free agency plan?
Your end-of-day recap for 3/9/2026 of everything worth reading, watching, and talking about in Broncos Country.
Is Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Quietly Redefining Its Business Model With the Las Vegas Sphere?
In recent months, Sphere Entertainment’s Las Vegas Sphere venue has seen strong consumer demand for its immersive “The Wizard of Oz” production, alongside expanding concert residencies and original films that are increasing venue utilization. This operational momentum is also encouraging discussions for additional Sphere venues in the U.S. and overseas, while attracting greater institutional interest such as Citigroup’s sizeable stake increase. With this backdrop of “Wizard of Oz”-driven...
Is Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) Quietly Redefining Its Business Model With the Las Vegas Sphere?
In recent months, Sphere Entertainment’s Las Vegas Sphere venue has seen strong consumer demand for its immersive “The Wizard of Oz” production, alongside expanding concert residencies and original films that are increasing venue utilization. This operational momentum is also encouraging discussions for additional Sphere venues in the U.S. and overseas, while attracting greater institutional interest such as Citigroup’s sizeable stake increase. With this backdrop of “Wizard of Oz”-driven...
West Akron’s Copley Road business district may see spring spruce-up efforts
From seeing federal funding to planting flowers, Council Member Jan Davis shares ideas for attracting businesses, building pride.
Community gathers at Bell Tower to 'Stand Up for Science', protesting national limitations to research
Attendees spoke about a range of issues impacting scientific inquiry and the environment — from national funding cuts to state rulings impacting environmental health and safety.
Broward children lack hospital choices. Parents want state to force Florida Blue to negotiate
Broward County parents are contacting insurance regulators and legislators, trying to force the state to intervene in a contract dispute between the hospital systems and insurer Florida Blue
Penguins' shootout woes, March Madness, and a playoff push | Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call
Texas catches federal suit for dismantling diversity-related business contract program
A first-of-its-kind lawsuit for the United States is unfolding in Texas, challenging state government action to dismantle a diversity-related contracting program.
How is the Iran war reshaping the world and politics here at home?
For the last week, Israeli and US bombs have devastated Iran. And the conflict has widened to include multiple countries in the Gulf. How is the conflict reshaping the world order and impacting Trump’s popularity here in the United States?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Connor Donevan, Elena Burnett, Alejandra Marquez Janse and Erika Ryan. It was edited by Barrie Hardymon, Tara Neill, Dana Farrington, Jeanette Woods and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
NBA MVP power rankings: Will Jaylen Brown be impacted by teammate's return?
Injuries are impacting the race for NBA Most Valuable Player. And now, Jayson Tatum's return from injury could also affect the race.
Timothée Chalamet in hot water after saying ‘no one cares’ about ballet, opera
“Timmy, I didn’t realize you were a world-class dancer or opera singer who simply chose not pursue it because acting’s more popular!”
Here’s What’s Impacting Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (FUN)
13D Activist Fund is a mutual fund that focuses on companies that are targeted by shareholder activists. The Fund released its Q4 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In Q4 2025, the I share (DDDIX) returned 0.40%, net of fees and expenses, versus 2.19% for the Russell 2000 Index. YTD, the […]
Electrons catapult across solar materials in just 18 femtoseconds
Electrons in solar materials can be launched across molecules almost as fast as nature allows, thanks to tiny atomic vibrations acting like a “molecular catapult.” In experiments lasting just 18 femtoseconds, researchers at the University of Cambridge observed electrons blasting across a boundary in a single burst, far faster than long-standing theories predicted. Instead of slow, random movement, the electron rides the natural vibrations of the molecule itself, challenging decades of design rules for solar materials.
3L Kevin Afiesh Learns to Translate Legal Risk Into Business Strategy as FinTech Extern - UC Law San Francisco (Formerly UC Hastings)
3L Kevin Afiesh strengthened his corporate and fintech skillset through an externship at Plaid, gaining real-world experience at the intersection of technology and financial services. 3L student Kevin Afiesh shares how UC Law San Francisco’s Corporate Counsel Externship provided immersive, practice-ready training inside Plaid’s in-house legal department. Reviewed and analyzed technology-focused agreements, including emerging AI provisions and liability terms Explored financial services regulation and data governance within a growth-stage company Learned how internal legal teams shape product, partnership, and compliance planning 3L student Kevin Afiesh: During my externship at Plaid, I worked with the in-house legal team supporting a rapidly growing company at the intersection of technology and financial services. My work focused primarily on corporate, commercial, and intellectual property matters. I helped review and analyze vendor and partnership agreements, paying close attention to emerging artificial intelligence-related provisions and risk allocation terms. I also investigated regulatory and compliance issues involving financial services and data governance, and I researched intellectual property litigation relevant to fintech companies. This work supported legal risk assessment to guide strategic decision making. I learned firsthand how an in-house legal team operates in a highly regulated, innovation-driven environment, where legal analysis is closely integrated with business decision making. I saw how attorneys balance legal risk with commercial priorities and how their advice shapes contracting, compliance, and intellectual property strategy. It reinforced that effective in-house lawyers need to understand both the law and the operational realities of the business. The experience also strengthened my ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers and to provide advice that is precise, practical, and commercially aware. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I’ve worked with technology companies at different stages. Plaid added a distinct perspective within the tech ecosystem, showing me how a growth-stage fintech company approaches regulatory complexity, innovation, and risk tolerance. This sharpened my ability to adapt to clients with different structures, priorities, and compliance needs. As I prepare to practice corporate law in the technology industry, this exposure has strengthened my ability to align legal advice with a company’s stage of growth, strategic objectives, and internal dynamics. I would absolutely recommend the Corporate Counsel Externship Program. Working directly with an in-house legal team provided a meaningful sense of day-to-day practice inside a technology company, and the attorneys at Plaid were generous with their time and mentorship. The classroom component was equally valuable. Professors Nira Geevargis and Scott Darling created a thoughtful environment where we reflected on our experiences, discussed real-world challenges, and developed practical skills that complemented our fieldwork. More broadly, UC Law San Francisco’s location offers a clear advantage for students interested in technology, corporate practice, and public-interest work. Proximity to courts, law firms, and innovative companies — combined with programs like the Corporate Counsel Externship and an extensive Bay Area alumni network — make it a strong option for students who want to build their careers in the region. The Evidence of Success series highlights UC Law SF students as they share how the college’s opportunities equip them with the experience, skills, and confidence to excel in the legal profession.
MLB takes over Reds broadcasts. What it means for watching Reds games
MLB is taking over Cincinnati Reds broadcasts from FanDuel Sports, which faces financial instability, impacting local TV coverage.
Morgan Stanley to Cut 3% of Workforce Across All Business Lines
Morgan Stanley is cutting about 3% of its workforce, with the global cull impacting employees in its investment banking and trading businesses, as well as its wealth and asset management operations.
Morgan Stanley to Cut 3% of Workforce Across All Business Lines
Morgan Stanley is cutting about 3% of its workforce, with the global cull impacting employees in its investment banking and trading businesses, as well as its wealth and asset management operations.
Control Resonant First-Look Preview – This Is No Soulslike. It’s Faster
We got a look at a behind-closed-doors gameplay demo of Control Resonant, and it’s not just that it's a markedly different and not just a same-y sequel, but it’s that its melee combat might scratch my Ninja Gaiden-style itch. “This is not a soulslike,” said lead gameplay designer Sergey Mohov. “It’s a push-forward, action-driven, aggressive-playstyle action game. The player is very much in charge and not [simply] reacting. The main driver of combat is you.” Tell me more, Remedy.
Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business program
Women- and minority-owned businesses were removed from the Historically Underutilized Business Program in December by acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who argued he was ending a DEI program.
Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business program
Women- and minority-owned businesses were removed from the Historically Underutilized Business Program in December by acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who argued he was ending a DEI program.
Acting CDC director Bhattacharya urges measles vaccines
Jay Bhattacharya, the recently appointed acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Monday urged families to consider vaccinating against measles as outbreaks acros…
Caltrans to Host Contracting and Partnership Fresno Summit to Connect Businesses with State Contracting Opportunities
State of California
South Africa Says Three Senior Health Officials Have Been Arrested
Sandile Buthelezi, the director-general of South Africa’s Department of Health, has been arrested and charged with fraud along with an acting deputy director general and the department’s chief financial officer.
NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Building off the Combine
Our first NFL first-round Mock Draft of 2026, reacting to news and workouts from the NFL Combine. What will the Patriots do at No. 31?
Maggie Gyllenhaal admits to feeling 'envy' toward brother Jake Gyllenhaal early in their careers
Maggie Gyllenhaal admits to feeling a latent jealousy toward her brother Jake Gyllenhaal early in their acting careers: 'I don't think I was in touch with the envy, but it was there.'
Marcus Corp. moving forward with entertainment, commercial plans for Pabst Farms
Marcus Corporation plans to zone a portion of its Pabst Farms land for entertainment and the rest for commercial use, attracting companies to build there.
Marcus Corp. moving forward with entertainment, commercial plans for Pabst Farms
Marcus Corporation plans to zone a portion of its Pabst Farms land for entertainment and the rest for commercial use, attracting companies to build there.
Small Business Technology News: A ChatGPT Smart Speaker
The FBI lists unsafe routers, Intuit and Anthropic team up and other technology news impacting your small business this week.
Strikes on Iran upend some of the world's busiest airspace
Following US and Israeli strikes, Iran and neighbor nations closed airspace, impacting airlines like Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Major Las Vegas casino operator considering takeover bid, report says
One of the Strip’s largest casino operators might be attracting attention from potential buyers, a new report suggests.
Community’s Choice Awards business spotlight: Coastal Contracting LLC
Celebrating the Best of the Coastal Empire with the Community's Choice Awards. Have you nominated your favorite businesses yet? Time is running out.
C.D.C.’s New Acting Director Draws Unexpected Praise from Agency Staff
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was appointed to the role last week, has offered to publicly endorse vaccination, in particular the measles vaccine, winning over some agency employees.
City of Pasadena Announces Health Officer
PASADENA, Calif. – The Director of Public Health Manuel Carmona has selected Dr. Parveen Kaur to be the next Health Officer at the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD). Dr. Kaur has served as Acting Health Officer since 2023 and will continue to provide medical direction to clinical programs, issue public health policy and guidance, and […]
2/26/2026 – POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS FROM WHALE CARCASS OFF HAWAIʻI ISLAND’S KONA COAST
JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN KANAKAʻOLE ACTING CHAIRPERSON POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS FROM WHALE CARCASS OFF HAWAIʻI ISLAND’S KONA COAST KAILUA-KONA, Hawaiʻi – The Department of Land and Natural Resources […]
Bowser, Commanders talk new stadium impacts, push for businesses to get involved
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Commanders President Mark Clouse emphasized that design, infrastructure work and contracting for the new roofed stadium are already underway, with the project poised to anchor a broader year‑round destination ahead of the 2030 season.
Hiring vs. contracting becomes a high-stakes business decision
As companies navigate growth, uncertainty and rising labor costs, deciding between hiring an employee or engaging an independent contractor has become a strategic choice, not just an HR one, Fast Company writes. A panel of executives outlines 14 considerations, from whether the work is core and ongoing or project-based and time-bound. The guidance centers on […]
Style and Politics: On “The National Security Strategy of the United States of America”
"We need to feel our culture, and history, and current system is better than all the others, while acting as though we don’t believe those things." The National Security Strategy of the United States of America may have its longest life as a particularly vivid example of the ways in which bad faith will always manifest in terrible prose,
Credit card surcharges rise as small businesses adapt
Businesses are changing how they accept payments, from credit card surcharges to going cashless. Find out why and how customers are reacting.
Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call: Feb. 23, 2026
Breaking down USA's win vs. Canada in the Olympics | Ireland Contracting Nightly Sports Call (2/21)
British acting awards interrupted by racist slur from man with Tourette Syndrome
It was the clip heard around the world after Sunday night’s BAFTA ceremony in London — a man yelling a racist slur as two of the world’s most celebrated Black actors, Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, presented an award on stage.
Zimbabwe rolls out long-acting HIV drug, among first countries to do so
Zimbabwe, where HIV has led to tens of thousands of deaths over the past two decades, is one of the first countries to roll out lenacapavir, a long-acting drug that authorities hope will slow new infections.