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Little Rock Central High science building dedicated to retired principal Nancy Rousseau
Little Rock Central High School's new science building, which opened a year ago, now sports a new name: the Nancy Rousseau Science Building.
Ethics complaint filed against Rep. Derrick Van Orden for AI use
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WQOW) -- An ethics complaint has been filed against Rep. Derrick Van Orden with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission, accusing him of posting an AI-generated image of Rebecca
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Enters Final Commissioning Phase
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope mission has now entered the science commissioning phase, having successfully completed a comprehensive checkout and
Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative to open full-service hospital in August 2027
The Chippewa Valley Health Cooperative plans to operate as a full-service hospital in Chippewa Falls next summer after securing funding.
Royal Credit Union, UW-Eau Claire presented with Regents Business Partnership Award
The award was presented Thursday at the Royal Credit Union headquarters downtown.
Sokaogon partners on workforce training for $72M broadband network
A new broadband workforce partnership will launch in spring 2027 to support a $72 million tribally owned fiber network planned for northern Wisconsin. The Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Nicolet College and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards are developing the one-year broadband service technician apprenticeship. The program combines 2,000 hours of on-the-job […]
A Typography Geek Pointed Out Something About The Space Shuttle Discovery And Now I Can't Unsee It
Even though I was born in the Apollo Era, barely, the spacecraft that I think had the most influence on my childhood had to be the Space Shuttles. I remember poring over diagrams and drawings of the shuttles in National Geographic foldouts, where they even took my attention from the Forbidden Nipples seen on some of the […]
Chinese vice premier meets foreign representatives attending International Science Council meeting
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau
City of Knoxville, KCDC cut ribbon on mixed-use housing with health clinic and arts center
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation cut the ribbon Wednesday on The Gallery at Beaumont, the second phase of Transforming Western with 52 mixed-income apartments plus on-site healthcare and arts space.
David Charvet brings up ex-girlfriend Pamela Anderson on “Special Forces” (exclusive)
“She was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Supreme Court Denies Trump Administration Request to Withhold Health Care from Incarcerated Transgender People
The Supreme Court of the United States has rejected a request from the Trump Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to allow prison officials to withhold gender-affirming health care from transgender people in federal prisons.
Goodbye obesity, hello Ozempic: GLP-1 politics
The rise of Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs reveals how body politics, beauty standards, class and desirability shape ideas of the American body.
Get Covered Illinois offering health coverage to 9,300 residents affected by Medicaid cuts
Approximately 9,300 Illinois residents who lost Medicaid coverage due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act can now enroll in health insurance plans through Get Covered Illinois until December 31, 2026…
Earth’s Core Has Been Quietly Leaking Water for Billions of Years
A new study offers an explanation for unusual chemical signatures found in some volcanic rocks.
Gracie’s Beauty Salon honored with Texas Treasure Business Award
Gracie Arguijo celebrated a special milestone on Friday, Oct. 9, when she was presented with the Texas Treasure Business Award from the Texas Historical Commission.
Green Bay Packers: 3 takeaways as Packers beat Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys did not score against the Green Bay Packers until 9:19 remained in the third quarter Sunday night at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 23-13 for its third straight victory and moved to 4-2. Jordan Love threw for 276 yards and a touchdown and ran for another. 1. Two interceptions became 10 Green [...]
Private contractors are set to cash in as millions of Americans lose health care
Implementing Trump’s "big, beautiful" Medicaid cuts will be a windfall for firms like Deloitte.
Why child sexual abuse is our biggest public health crisis
An estimated one in five children will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. In this episode of Settle In, Amna Nawaz speaks with clinical psychologist Elizabeth Letourneau and journalist Luke Malone, authors of “One in Five,” a book that explores child sexual abuse as a public health crisis, about how education and early prevention can help protect children before harm occurs.
Practice what you teach: Exercise science instructor says running is life
UA exercise science professor Benjamin Boudreaux uses running as a teaching tool and as a lifelong tool for physical and mental well-being.
DEA serves search warrant at Cape Girardeau health clinic
The Drug Enforcement Administration served a search warrant at a health clinic in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday morning, October 20.
A special art project reveals the beauty of science to parkgoers in Virginia Beach
A temporary installation at Mount Trashmore transforms a section of the park into a landscape of sound, color and movement.
I Bought This Low-Mileage Jeep Grand Cherokee For Only $1,700 After Realizing My 'Holy Grail' Project Is Doomed
“David, can you please fix the garage?” my wife Elise asked me on Sunday. “You barely have any time to do house stuff, and today you’re free.” She’s right about the first part — The Autopian really does take up all of my time, and the garage does need to be fixed — but she […]
Vernon County expands support for small businesses through grant program
15 Vernon County businesses have been awarded $10,000 each through the 2026 Elevate Vernon Grant Program.
New on DVD: Behold the monstrous beauty of 'Frankenstein'
Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel tops the DVD releases for the week of Oct. 27. "Frankenstein": Released on Netflix last year, Oscar Isaac stars as mad
York County Mexican restaurant fails state health inspection
The state Department of Agriculture conducts annual inspections of food-serving businesses to ensure public safety and safe food-handling practices. Schools are inspected twice per year, according to the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratories.
Humboldt County leaders warn HR 1 cuts could hit health care, education by 2027
Concerns are growing in Humboldt County about how HR 1, a sweeping federal law passed in July and sometimes referred to as the “big beautiful bill,” could affec
Lambeau Field set to host annual ‘Spooktacular’ event Saturday
Event will feature interactive stage entertainment and activities for children
Marshfield Clinic invites community-led groups to apply for behavioral health grants
Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Dec. 7 and selected awardees are anticipated to be notified the week of Jan. 4, 2027.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to visit Eau Claire Tuesday with Small Business Administrator
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WQOW) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will visit Eau Claire on Tuesday as part of the Arsenal of Freedom Tour.
This Guy Is Endurance-Racing 1:64 Diecast Cars On A Belt Sander And The Cars Have Been Running 29 Days Nonstop - Watch Live!
A clever youtuber is racing 1.64 ("Hot Wheels sized") cars using a belt sander as a treadmill/road for endurance races that stretch on for weeks
This Week: Politics 101, 20th Street Bikeway, Muni Trivia
Here is a list of events this week. Monday/Tonight! SF Politics 101 with Joel Engardio. Learn how local politics shaped San Francisco. Monday/tonight, October 19, 5:30-6:45 p.m. SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street, S.F. Wednesday 20th Street Protected Bikeway Ribbon Cutting. The Oakland Department of Transportation, city officials, Bike East Bay and other community partners will celebrate the completion of the 19th Street BART to Lake Merritt Urban Greenway. Wednesday, October 21, 1:30 p.m. 400 Thomas L Berkley Way, Oakland. Thursday 2026 Silver SPUR Awards. This SPUR event brings together elected officials and business, civic, and philanthropic leaders to celebrate four individuals and their contributions. Thursday, October 22, 4-7:30 p.m. Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, 700 Howard Street, S.F. Get tickets here. Friday Woman and Non-Binary Morning Ride. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for a socially distanced bike ride for women and nonbinary cyclists. Friday, October 23, 7:15-8:45 a.m. McLaren Lodge, 501 Stanyan Street, S.F. Friday Muni Trivia Night. Bring your friends or come solo and make some new ones. Friday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. Standard Deviant Brewing, Pier 70, suite 195, 1070 Maryland Street, S.F. RSVP here. Saturday Fifth Annual Firefighter Family Ride. Join SFFD, SF Safe Routes to School, and the SF Bicycle Coalition for a fun, low-stress bike ride through one of the city’s most beautiful routes. Saturday, October 24, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Panhandle Park Blacktop (Fell & Ashbury) to JFK Promenade (Whale’s Tail). Sunday Canvas for No on Prop G. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to canvas for No on ‘G’ to save Sunset Dunes Park. Sunday, October 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Marina Blvd & Laguna Street, S.F. Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.
CHANDO Group Showcases Chinese Beauty Science at COSMETIC 360, Debuts Fatigue-Aging Research on Global Stage
/PRNewswire/ -- CHANDO Group featured its five brands and latest advances in cosmetic ingredient research at the 12th edition of COSMETIC 360, organized by...
Get Covered Illinois offering health coverage to 9,300 residents affected by Medicaid cuts
Approximately 9,300 Illinois residents who lost Medicaid coverage due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act can now enroll in health insurance plans through Get Covered Illinois until December 31, 2026…
Industry Insights: Beauty, Science and the Boardroom
Beauty companies can make more of two high-value assets they already possess: their scientific organizations and their boards. The key is to connect them deliberately.
BLM initiates actions to sustain long-term health of the Red Desert Wild Horse Herd
LANDER -- The Bureau of Land Management will begin work in the Wyoming Red Desert Complex Herd Management Area to strengthen the long-term health of the wild horse herd and
Opinion | Warning signs are flashing for Minnesota’s health care system
"However, having a strong health care system and having a sustainable health care system are two different things. Increasingly, Minnesota is struggling to achieve both," state Rep. Danny Nadeau writes.
Opinion | Has Hyannis found the secret to a fun, thriving downtown?
Zoning changes plus beautification money raised from local businesses spur housing construction and attract businesses.
Tough night for Dak Prescott in loss at Lambeau
Dak Prescott passed for 258 yards and a touchdown along with a pair of interceptions during a Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
'All INdiana Politics': Secretary of State candidates face off on voting reform and business portals
INDIANAPOLIS — The race for Indiana Secretary of State is taking center stage as four candidates vie to lead the office responsible for state elections and business licensing. The contest features former congressional aide Max Engling running as the Republican nominee, lawyer and former Marine Corps infantry officer Beau Bayh carrying the Democratic banner, small […]
Fourth-generation business owner creates space for wellness, beauty businesses
A new business in Columbiana is opening its doors with the goal of helping other businesses get started.
Better Business Bureau warns people to pay attention for scams
Wheeling, W.Va (WTRF) – The better business bureau is warning people to pay extra attention when applying for jobs. Recently people have reported of a scam regarding a job opportunity. Includ…
Little River Chamber to host 3 Ashdown business openings
The Little River Chamber of Commerce will host ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new Ashdown businesses: Modest & Beautiful Boutique, The Millhouse - Southern Cajun Cooking, and Respawn Digital.
Robots, health, monarchs at Wisconsin Science Festival
EAU CLAIRE — For families enthusiastic about science, downtown was the place to be Friday, as educational organizations gathered for the Wisconsin Science Festival.
Laurel House opens doors for independent business owners
COLUMBIANA - A business that lets beauty professionals run their own company, without the stress of owning a building, is now open in Columbiana.
Meet the marine technician documenting Antarctica's beauty while protecting its future
Andrew Naslund crosses the world's roughest sea to help scientists study Antarctica's fastest-warming region.
Trump's new pitch for Republican candidates
President Donald Trump has a new pitch for Republican candidates: they’re easy on the eyes. At a Saturday rally in Kentucky, he praised U.S. House candidate Ed Gallrein as "beautiful."
Trump\'s new pitch for Republican candidates
President Donald Trump has a new pitch for Republican candidates: they’re easy on the eyes. At a Saturday rally in Kentucky, he praised U.S. House candidate Ed Gallrein as "beautiful."
Scientists discover that male and female skin play by different rules
Scientists have uncovered a surprising difference in how male and female skin repairs and renews itself. By tracking individual skin stem cells in living mice for five months, researchers discovered that female cells work together in a highly coordinated way, while male cells operate more independently. This synchronization, driven by sex hormones, helps explain why wounds heal faster in female mice, especially during the first few days.
The Mills-Pingree machine crushed small business in Maine. Hannah Pingree will finish the job.
To protect us against more bureaucratic overreach by Augusta, we need Bobby Charles as our next governor.
BIA's 113th annual dinner and awards celebration
Bruce Berke, Donnalee Lozeau and Bring Back the Trades were honored at BIA’s 113th annual dinner for their contributions to New Hampshire.
Juneau family business accused of embezzlement and theft from Switzer Village Mobile Home Park
Josette and Marciano Duran, of Duran Construction, dispute the allegations brought by Josette’s mother, who owns the mobile home park.
A Former Rome Reporter on the Pope’s Health and Legacy
For a former Rome bureau chief, Pope Leo’s lung cancer diagnosis prompted pressing questions about life and legacy.
Show-Me-State Politics: Good news for farmers; midterms near
KY3's Tyler Wayne and KY3 Missouri Capitol Bureau Chief Hannah Falcon discuss this week in Missouri politics.
Jennifer Lawrence Officially Launches New Business Venture That Fans Weren’t Expecting
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence is officially making her stride into the commercial beauty landscape. She is stepping into the beauty business with a haircare brand of her own. The actress is ...
Texas Upstream Employment Down in September
Citing the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) highlighted new employment figures for the Texas oil and natural gas industry. According to TIPRO, employment in the Texas upstream sector decreased by 500 jobs between August and September 2026
AASHTO Journal - State DOTs Use Art to Promote Safety, Health, Beautification
Across the country, state departments of transportation are using a bevy of artistic approaches to promote safety, health, and community beautification efforts. [Above photo by Oklahoma DOT] For example, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is currently seeking student participants for its “Keep Our Land Grand” poster contest. Formerly known as the “Trash Poster Contest,” the […]
Packers Get Dak Prescott Admission Over Old Lambeau Boast
The Green Bay Packers have given Dak Prescott grounds to reconsider one of the first conclusions he reached at Lambeau Field.Prescott went into Green Bay as a rookie in 2016 and left with a 30-16 victory over the Packers. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in the win, while rookie […] The post Packers Get Dak Prescott Admission Over Old Lambeau Boast appeared first on HEAVY.
Beauty-from-within surges with new science, finished products
Beauty-from-within makes a comeback while ingredient research shows benefits for bone and gastrointestinal health.
Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District program spotlights soil health
In honor of Ohio Soil Health Week, Nov. 8-14, the public is invited to join the Geauga Soil and Water Conservation District at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 to learn about soil “FUNdamentals” at the Geauga West Library, 13455 Chillicothe Road in …
Commentary: Mainers are tired of dark money and the rigged horse race
Allegations that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins was being investigated by the FBI for a potential connection to a pay-for-play scheme until President Donald Trump purged the bureau’s anti-corruption unit, to some observers, seemed like a political bombshell destined to crater the senator’s re-election efforts. But based on conversations with several Maine voters, the ProPublica investigation […]
Eau Claire simplifies business loan programs
The city of Eau Claire is simplifying its business loan programs to make them easier to understand.
'Houdini' takes to the stage at the Grand Theatre
EAU CLAIRE — A story of life and death, Houdini, illusions and “other worlds” will take the stage this October, as audience members are encouraged to attend a showing of
Iowa health agencies step up as refugees lose Medicaid coverage
The Trump administration’s wide-ranging One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes several changes to Medicaid eligibility requirements. One change that took effect on Oct. 1 bars anyone without a green card from being eligible for coverage.
Lambeau Field ready for Sunday’s Packers vs. Cancer game, presented by UW Health
Packers-Cowboys matchup to honor those who have battled cancer
Thunder Must Stop Building One Permanent Bench
Mark Daigneault must leverage his roster's versatile depth as a tactical toolkit, deploying specialized lineups to exploit specific matchups rather than relying on a rigid secondary rotation.
Billingsley School Unveils New Agriculture Science Building - Elmore-Autauga News
Nichlos Cutrell
Officials warn federal cuts pose critical threat to Juneau healthcare
Bartlett Regional Hospital could lose up to $4 million annually in Medicaid revenue as a result of changes
'Whalefall' takes audiences inside 'the yuckiest escape room ever'
With “Whalefall,” director Brian Duffield thinks he might have the most beautiful stomach on screen in movie history. Though that might depend upon the beholder.
Omata Classic Analog Cycling Computer is Back, Updated and Now Built by Silca!
The beautifully simple Omata analog GPS cycling computer is now owned & made by Silca in the USA in strictly limited edition numbers!
Aspirus Health sees trend of younger women being diagnosed with breast cancer
“We’re seeing more breast cancer cases in younger women than we did in the past, and there isn’t one simple reason why,” Dr. Huang said.
TIME Best Inventions of 2026
NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope was among the year’s top innovations recognized Thursday on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 list.
Giants' John Harbaugh defends Kayvon Thibodeaux: Tape tells the story
New York Giants' John Harbaugh pushed back on calls for more from Kayvon Thibodeaux, arguing his film shows strong plays even without box score stats.
Wholesale inflation jumped in September by most in four years
US wholesale inflation shot higher in September, soaring to its highest level in more than four years, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed Thursday.
New Report Summarizes Alaska Aquaculture Vision - NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
NOAA has released the Gulf of Alaska Aquaculture Atlas Rollout and Webtool Planning Workshop Series Report, summarizing input gathered during a series of public engagement workshops held in Anchorage, Juneau, and Kodiak, Alaska in spring 2026. NOAA Fisheries hosted the workshops in partnership with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS). Workshop participants included ... Read more
How Trump’s megabill may be affecting you right now
When Republicans ask voters to keep them in the majority, they frequently point to the most significant policy achievement of Trump 2.0 — the tax and spending cuts bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
New Business Spotlight: Hair Haven & Co. and The Hive bring beauty and entrepreneurship to North Knoxville
Two local entrepreneurs are bringing a fresh approach to beauty and self-care in North Knoxville with the opening of Hair Haven & Co. Salon and Spa and The Hive Beauty Supply. Owners Keniya Buley and Breanna Coach celebrated their businesses with a joint ribbon-cutting ceremony September 11 at 2902 Tazewell Pike, Suite D, in the […]
Fairfax County seeks to cut red tape for local businesses facing hurdles
Fairfax County leaders are exploring ways to streamline bureaucratic processes and cut red tape for local businesses.
FBI Adds Ex-Bellum Entertainment CEO To Most Wanted Fraudsters List; Offering $150K Reward For Info On Fugitive Mary Carole McDonnell
In a true turn of events that would seem almost incredulous in a Hollywood script, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Invest...
FBI Most Wanted Fugitives List Adds Ex-Bellum Entertaiment CEO
Mary Carole McDonnell, the boss of a now defunct production company that specialized in true crime is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Dodgers player slams ‘soft porn’ ads during MLB postseason games
The Sydney Sweeney Novig ad has gone viral for the “creative” way it uses her fame and beauty to advertise a brand new gambling platform. But at least one Dodgers player isn’t happy that the ad, and others like it, are impacting families trying to enjoy the MLB postseason. Dodgers outfielder Alex Call replied to…
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
Commentary: New Hampshire sure is beautiful this time of year, apolitically speaking
It’s mid-October, and New Hampshire has never been more stunning. How stunning? The autumn reds and golds are barely muted by the pall of another election season. Not that this campaign cycle hasn’t tried its soulless best to drape the landscape in gray.
NASA Roman Team Checks Out Main Instrument, Sharpens Telescope’s Focus
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team completed a marathon of activities to fine-tune the observatory’s vision and prepare the primary instrument for
Beau Bridges shares promising “Matlock” season 3 update (exclusive)
“I think I’m getting out, and I think there’s probably gonna be a court case,” Bridges teased of his character’s fate.
'Zelda: Ocarina of Time' Switch 2 hands-on preview: Strange, beautiful, and surprisingly thoughtful
Yes, the art style looks good once you play it.
P2 Science Announces Appointment of Brian Freedman as Vice President, Marketing & Communications
/PRNewswire/ -- P2 Science, Inc., a leading green chemistry company transforming sustainable feedstocks into high-performance ingredients for beauty, personal...
Nav Now Covers All Four Major Business Credit Bureaus with New Creditsafe Partnership
Nav, a leading platform helping businesses build better financial health and access funding, today announced a partnership with Creditsafe, a global leader in business credit and data risk intelligence focused on net payment terms. The integration brings Creditsafe Risk Scores and reports directly into the Nav platform, giving business owners a more complete view of their standing across major business credit bureaus including Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), Experian, and Equifax, before they ever apply
BUSINESS UPDATE: A 138-year-old New York Manufacturer Gets Another Life in Fulton
E.J. Willis Co. was founded in New York City in 1888 and for generations it has made ship’s bells and other equipment for the U.S. Navy and American shipbuilders. This summer, the new owner moved the company’s equipment to Fulton By Stefan Yablonski E. J. Willis Co. cast brass ship’s bells — handcrafted in the United States since 1888. Ship bells, “built to last a lifetime at sea,” are now manufactured in Fulton. E.J. Willis Co. has moved its operation and manufacturing business to Fulton. They are currently operating out of N.E.T & Die. The company is now under the ownership of Jonathan Hyatt. He recently acquired the company after seeing a for sale note on Craigslist. [caption id=attachment_11110 align=alignright width=400] Entrepreneur Jonathan Hyatt is the new owner of E.J. Willis Co. He bought the business this summer after finding a listing on Craigslist by chance.[/caption] “I had been looking for something to do. I had been 20 years in corporate America and I was just tired of building someone else’s empire, you know what I mean? I was in consulting, pretty much a jack of all trades. I wanted to do something that I could call my own,” he explained. “I’d been on this path of trying to find a business to buy for about a year. One night I am on Craigslist about 11:30 in mid-April searching for something completely unrelated. At the bottom of Craigslist was a ‘things you might be interested in from outside of your area.’ There was an ad that said 138-year-old bell manufacturing company for sale. So, I clicked; why not, right? I wasn’t looking to buy a manufacturing company, but I went down the rabbit hole, absolutely fell in love with the history and ended up buying it.” He read the ad and responded. “I called and I am talking to the owner of the business for about two hours. We ended with, let’s have another chat and then come on out here and have a look. I figured, well I might wind up getting kidnapped and getting murdered or there is a real business here. But I gotta see it through,” he quipped. “And sure enough, there is a big machine shop operation there. The gentleman who owned it was retiring and in the corner of this shop is a little room where they make bells and they have been doing this ever since the company had started.” That’s the one constant thing that has survived the changes of the business. [caption id=attachment_11061 align=alignright width=300] Sales 1929 general catalog published by E. J. Willis Co, listing all the merchandise it sold. It’s like the Sears Roebuck and Co. catalog for marine parts.[/caption] “I drove home and told my wife, ‘This is what I am doing for the rest of whatever we are calling this — mid-life crisis.’ And she said, ‘absolutely you got to do it.’ I took out a loan and off we go.” He put in an offer on the business and they closed on July 1. He didn’t disclose what he paid for the company. “In terms of price, the seller and I have agreed to keep those terms private.” “I am finding that I am a business owner, an archeologist, opening files and cabinets that haven’t been opened in 100 years. It’s just amazing, just cool things that I am finding,” he said. “I want to build the business back. I want to be able to sell the bells to outsiders. I think they are beautiful. “It’s really a wild story about a company that started in lower Manhattan, exploded in the automotive space, sold parts to the Wright Brothers, moved into the aeronautical world and then landed in marine. The cool thing, I have been digging around and the gentleman who owned the company prior to me was not a digital guy. There is nothing out there. “Now I am sitting here with all the art from like the 1930s, the E.J. Willis boat catalog it’s like 250 pages of things this company used to make. It’s like the Sears-Roebuck and Co. catalog for marine parts. We are modernizing, we are staying true to the heritage of the business. It’s exciting to be the next steward of the whole business.” Initially he thought he’d move everything from the company’s plant in Middleville, Herkimer County, to Boston, out of convenience. “Then I thought let’s keep the foundry where it is. Let’s not move anything right away,” he said. “I want to get a good sense of what we’ve got, what works and what doesn’t. “I went to the foundry and met with the people there, lovely people, and said here is my position — I am buying a company where everyone is retiring. There is machining and polishing to be done, who would you work with around here? Without hesitation they said, ‘you need to go to NET Tool & Die and talk to Michelle [Shatrau]. She is a third-generation machinist and she runs the company now.’” So, he drove to Fulton. “I knocked on the door, they let me in. And she said, ‘how’d you get in here?’” he said with a laugh. “We became fast friends. I told her what I am doing. It must have struck a nerve. She has a very entrepreneurial background. I must have said something right because she came out and she said, ‘I’d love to help you. Why don’t we move the equipment that you have into my large building and I will give you a space to work at and use my team?’” [caption id=attachment_11058 align=alignleft width=300] Bell in progress awaiting assembly[/caption] It’s a great relationship so far. “We are bringing the business into the modern world. It’s been a lot of stuff all at once. But it has been very exciting,” he said. “We moved in a month ago [in July]. We closed on the business July 1. We moved a couple weeks later. We had all our equipment set up, electrical being run, everything. [caption id=attachment_11059 align=alignright width=300] Bell attached to a lathe going through the machining process[/caption] “We’re working with NET Tool & Die to rebuild production and preserve manufacturing processes that, in some cases, existed mostly in the heads and hands of the people who had been doing them for decades. We’re currently working on several 200-pound ship’s bells and bringing an old two-way manual bilge pump back into production.” He said he will be working with NET employees for the time being, adding, “I’d love to get to a point where I have so much growth that I need to hire people.” No one wakes up and says, ‘I am buying a bell today,’ Hyatt admitted. [caption id=attachment_11060 align=alignleft width=225] Bell after receiving a custom etching toward the bell mouth[/caption] “Everyone does wake up and has things that deserve acknowledgment and remembering — a promotion, a marriage, the birth of a child,” he said. “These are the things I feel like if there was something that could capture a particular moment in time and will literally outlast the person that bought it, a bell is that. We can engrave a bell if you get married or the birth of a child. We can put anything on a bell. “I have orders, yes. I am working on several orders right now. We have a little bit of busyness. But there are still some things to work out. I want to make things consistently and continue to move forward.”
SPECIAL REPORT: Tough Business
A string of vacant restaurant buildings shows that many restaurants in the region are struggling — and several are closing By Stefan Yablonski [caption id=attachment_11132 align=alignright width=401] Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Route 31 in Clay closed its doors in April. It had been in operation since at least 2008.[/caption] By their nature, most restaurants have a limited life. An astonishing 60% go out of business within three years of opening, largely due to fundamental flaws in the planning of the operation. But even restaurants that experience years of success almost always face eventual closure. The restaurant business is very hard and because of both personal factors and external factors beyond anyone’s control, restaurants don’t last forever. For many restaurants, age is a big factor, according to Kenneth Walsleben, professor of practice, entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises at Syracuse University. “The owners have been at it for 20 or 25 years, if not longer, they want some time to themselves,” he said. Such was the case for Jocko’s Famous Ritz Diner in Oswego. Jocko Reitz bought the building in the late 1970s from Robert Shapiro. However, when he stepped away from the business, it eventually closed. [caption id=attachment_11142 align=alignright width=402] For nearly 80 years, Vona’s Restaurant passed through three generations of family in Oswego. It closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2025.[/caption] For nearly 80 years, Vona’s passed through three generations of family in Oswego. Vona’s Restaurant officially closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2025, when no family member wanted to take over. It is on the market. The Ruby Tuesday in Oswego operated for about two decades before permanently closing in April 2026. The restaurant faced multiple temporary health department closures in 2024 and 2025 due to persistent fruit fly and foundation pest issues. Management posted a final closure notice on the doors in mid-April 2026 and the building was put up for sale. The same pattern has been happening in Onondaga County. The big building once used by Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Route 31 in Clay remains empty, more than six months after the restaurant closed its doors in April. It had been in operation since at least 2008. [caption id=attachment_11130 align=alignright width=401] Ruby Tuesday in Oswego operated for about two decades before permanently closing in April 2026.[/caption] Just down the road from Smokey Bones, the popular Outback Steakhouse closed in August 2024. Another restaurant took its place, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, but it closed shortly after. The building sits empty. Other very popular restaurants in the northern suburbs of Syracuse have recently closed. Among them, Fireside by the River in Baldwinsville and Primo Nestico’s Bistro Bar in North Syracuse. “I haven’t really paid attention to the Syracuse area. There has always been some turnover, but there probably has never been a tougher time to be a restauranter than now. It’s just brutal,” Walsleben said. In the first year, roughly 20% to 25% of restaurants close or change hands, according to the National Restaurant Association. [caption id=attachment_11122 align=alignright width=401] Outback Steakhouse closed in August 2024. Another restaurant took its place, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, but it closed shortly after. The building sits empty.[/caption] “Depending on what statistics you look at, you’ll find that any business has a high mortality rate in the first year. That is just the nature of entrepreneurship,” Walsleben said. “There are certain ones that are getting hit hard while others are more fruitful. “And when you look at the restaurant industry you have to factor in labor which is a large part — typically a third of your expenses — and those costs are going up. And there is always turnover which means investing money to train people. Then you’ve got food costs, which is also a third of the typical restaurant budget. Since the pandemic labor has gone up 41%, food costs have gone up 35%. That’s a big tight squeeze righty there. That’s two-thirds of your budget that has gone up 35% to 40% in the last few years. And then the only way you can make that work is to raise the prices.” The National Restaurant Association reports menu prices are up 36% since February of 2020. In a survey released by the association, more than eight in 10 restaurant owners reported that their food, beverage and labor costs are now higher than before the pandemic. You have to deal with the reality of are the customers willing to pay for that? Walsleben added. Restaurants historically have very thin margins; their profit margin is about 5%. “You have a third that goes into food, a third that goes into labor and about 28%, 29% that goes into everything else — overhead, insurance etc. So that brings you down to your 5% leftover,” he said. “Everything is going up. Customer expectations are going up and people aren’t going to spend that much more. So, you have a tight squeeze here,” Walsleben continued. “Restaurants who use delivery apps, they pay a fee to those guys. Those guys don’t work for free. So, you can kind of see where the squeeze comes from.” Stuck in the middle There are pockets of opportunity; the two extremes of the market can make a profit. But the middle gets squeezed out. “If you are a low-end fast-food kind of place, there is room for that. People have changed their budgets. They are still going out, but they are not spending more,” according to Walsleben. “The high end remains positive. If you have a restaurant that brings a specific experience … a great food product or you are catering to high end customers who aren’t so budget conscious, those patrons are going to expect a high-end experience. They expect excellent food every time. They are expecting excellent service. If you can meet those expectations there is room for you at the top. It’s just the guys in the middle are getting the squeeze from both ends. Tough competition, customer expectations, costs are up. Menu items, you can’t raise the prices as much as you need to. That is why you are seeing a lot of restaurants baling out.” The ones that can adapt quickly are the ones who are doing OK. “Success is heavily dependent on the strength of a restaurant’s concept development and the planning of its execution. Eventually things aren’t always new. Things change. So, if you are in the restaurant business you have got to change your menu — keep things new, fresh and update your meals. It is very fickle industry. One year carbs are out, the next year berries are out. Everybody’s diet changes — constantly chasing the latest phase. You have got to adjust your menu and move with those modifications. If you have a static menu that you have used the last couple years that hasn’t changed except for the pricing, you’ve got a problem,” he said. A lot of times these buildings are singular purpose, he added. “You have a commercially viable kitchen and you got a seating area. There is not a lot of other businesses that cater to that type of a layout. So, it’s pretty common to see another restaurant slide in,” he said. One of the things a banker learns early on is you don’t lend money to restaurants … because they fail so quickly. It is very hard to predict who the winners will be. So, if you are a restaurant in addition to all the other challenges, it is very difficult to get loans, according to Walsleben. “You might work really well in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean you are a great businessperson,” he said. “Restaurants can fail because the owner didn’t know how to manage things properly. There are a lot of challenges. “There is opportunity at the high end and the low end. But in the middle, that’s the death valley. There are just so many things working against you. You really need to have something that will pull people in and continue to pull people in because you to constantly have to change. Think about a theme and a product that is unique to the area people don’t travel that far these days you have to be able to deliver it in an innovative fashion and keep updating to keep people coming in the door.” Out of Business? How Fast? Do nine out of 10 restaurants fail in their first year, as commonly claimed? No. Survival analysis of 1.9 million longitudinal microdata for 81,000 full-service restaurants in a 20-year U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics non public census of business establishments in the western US shows that only 17% of independently owned full-service restaurant startups failed in their first year, compared with 19% for all other service-providing startups, according to ResearchGate. The median lifespan of restaurants is about 4.5 years, slightly longer than that of other service businesses (4.25 years). However, the median lifespan of a restaurant startup with 5 or fewer employees is 3.75 years, slightly shorter than that of other service businesses of the same startup size (4.0 years). What Makes a Restaurant Successful? Opening and maintaining a successful restaurant is not as easy as creating a great menu and serving excellent food. It takes more than that, according to local restaurant owners who have been in business for decades in the region. They all agree that there are some guidelines to running a successful restaurant. • Quality food: Successful restaurants know exactly what they serve and who they serve it to. Delivering the same great taste every single time builds loyal customers. • Smooth operations: Friendly greetings and attentive staff make guests feel welcome from the moment they walk in. Hiring staff for personality and training for skill ensures reliable, caring service. • Smart marketing: Exceptional food and experiences naturally get people talking and sharing online. Word of mouth can help entice customers. Consistent social media and targeted advertising brings in new and repeat guests also. The menu is what keeps patrons coming back to Mimi’s Diner in Fulton, located at 201 N. Second St. “We locally source our produce and our meats. Our chicken and biscuits is a popular, popular special,” said Richard Tagliareni, the third-generation owner and general manager. “It’s all homemade. We have consistently served quality food.” His grandfather started the business more than 55 years ago. Mimi’s is engrained in the community. They cater to the community and are very involved in everything from the schools to local events. The first Mimi’s Drive-In opened in Mexico. Then a second in Oswego and then Fulton. Fulton’s Mimi’s is the only one left. “The last couple of weeks have been kind of slower than normal. October is usually a busier month for us People will start coming back around again. Also, the price of gas is affecting some things,” Tagliareni added. “We try to keep our prices in line. You go out to eat, you’re going to spend about a hundred bucks or so for two people for dinner. You come here to Mimi’s you are probably for two people for dinner it’s between $50 and $60. We are trying to keep our prices in line. We did have to increase our prices a little bit but things are looking OK.” For the Press Box, 29 E. First St., Oswego, it’s also about great food and a family atmosphere. “Our sports bar and restaurant was established in 1984,” said Alison Canale Scanlon, manager. “I think putting the time into everything makes a big difference and treating people like family when they walk into your restaurant. That’s how we have always operated since 1984.” “It’s the family oriented aspect,” she added. “Consistency, quality and presentation of our food — that’s the secret to a successful restaurant. We try to be very consistent with it. We treat people like family when they come in; because we know how we want to be treated when we go to a restaurant. We treat people the same or better.”
Mom-and-Pop Business Owners Grapple with Harsh Times
Report shows small business owners in NYS less optimistic about the economy. Taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now, they say By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11067 align=alignright width=300] Ashley Ranslow is director for New York state at The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).[/caption] Owners of mom-and-pop businesses in New York state have been less optimistic lately than their peers in other parts of the country, a recent report indicates. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), based on a survey of 11,000 of its members in the Empire State, reported that taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now. “Indeed, while taxes are a major problem in New York and the United States overall, New York small businesses notably are struggling more with the state’s onerous, multi-level tax burden,” Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s director for New York state, said in the July report. Compared with surveys of business owners in other states, far fewer New York respondents rated their businesses as in excellent or good health. The report also said labor costs here are about 25% higher than the national average and are the “single most important problem” facing businesses. One respondent to the New York-specific survey complained that too much red tape, taxes and laws that restrict high-yielding companies have stifled their operation’s growth. Others said high disability and workers’ compensation insurance costs, alarming increases in utility rates and excessive building regulations are discouraging. Statewide, New York has a gross domestic product of $2.53 trillion (third in the nation, followed by Texas, $2.90 trillion; and California, $4.25 trillion), a per capita income of $90,500 (sixth) and an unemployment rate of 4.6% (34th). There are 2.4 million small businesses that employ 3.9 million people. [caption id=attachment_11112 align=alignright width=451] Member of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce gather at one of the several functions the chamber organizes monthly. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed,” says Megan Wilmot, the chamber director[/caption] “New York state boasts one of the largest, wealthiest and most diverse cities in the world — and that’s still only about half the state’s population,” the report said. “In other words, the state is both its iconic city and so much more — geographically, demographically, economically. But New York is not without its challenges, challenges that include notably high taxes and other weaknesses that impact the small business environment,” it said. The report includes an optimism index that compares responses from New York (NFIB) members with those of their peers in other states across several categories. This ranges from plans to increase employment to expectations for higher sales, to plans to increase inventory or expand. The scores for Empire State business owners were lower in most categories, but they did score higher than the national average in noting that they have current employment openings, and that they are hopeful that the economy will improve. “The metrics so far paint a picture of a state with a series of challenges for small businesses, from a slightly below national average Optimism Index to a more seriously below national business health to very substantially below national Employment Index. What is going on with businesses that are creating these differences?” the report stated. In Central New York, the regional labor force comprises nearly 398,000 workers. The median household income here is $71,463, and the gross domestic product for the region last year totaled $61.3 billion, according to the CenterState CEO economic development and research organization. About half of the region’s labor force works for small and mid-sized businesses, although the number of people employed in that sector has decreased by 7% since 2010, according to CenterState’s 2026 economic forecast report. “While record-high employment in large-scale enterprises provides a strong foundation for Central New York,” the report says, “the long-term health of communities depends on a thriving small business sector to serve as a stabilizer.” Area employers identify several barriers to Central New York’s anticipated growth, including lack of specialized or skilled workers, government regulations, unaffordable housing options and long-term construction disruptions. In the city of Syracuse, the number of jobs in retail trade decreased by 1,500 or 4.7% between July 2025 and this past July. By contrast, the number of jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector increased by 2.5% or 700 jobs, in the same annual period, according to the New York State Department of Labor. Still, there’s plenty of interest for new businesses across Central New York. U.S. Census figures show that the number of applications for new businesses in all four counties increased significantly in the past 20 years. In Cayuga County, there were 324 applications in 2005 compared to 470 last year. In Madison County, the number increased from 385 to 480; Onondaga County, from 2411 to 4132; and Oswego County, from 553 to 836. Downtown Cazenovia is exemplary of Madison County’s trend: In the past year, the village welcomed a bait shop, a thrift store, a vitamin infusion center, a pizzeria, a Pilates studio and an Italian restaurant. A candy store is scheduled to open on the main drag in the months ahead. Oswego’s list of interesting new businesses in the past year includes a bubble tea shop, a hot dog eatery in Fulton, a specialty grocery store that features New York state products in Mexico, a beauty and esthetics studio in Hannibal and a hardware and farm supply store in Sandy Creek. In Onondaga County, the Liverpool area has also enjoyed a steady stream of new shops and eateries in recent years. That suburban community is unique in that, unlike neighboring communities, most of the restaurants are family-owned and not part of a national chain. [caption id=attachment_11116 align=alignright width=300] Megan Wilmot is the executive director of the Greater Liverpool’s Chamber of Commerce.[/caption] Megan Wilmot, executive director of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said independent business owners in her community maintain a strong sense of pride in holding their own against national companies. The chamber helps boost morale with red carpet events, ribbon cuttings, coffee hours and five-year anniversary celebrations for participating businesses. “We have built such a strong community,” Wilmot said. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed.” In Syracuse, the downtown retail occupancy rate last year was about 82%, a slight improvement from 2024, according to the Downtown Syracuse Committee’s most recent annual report. Buildings with the largest amount of vacant space included The Galleries, One Park Place, and Equitable Towers, though not all of those spaces are designated for retail use. New businesses that opened in downtown Syracuse last year: Better with Time Clothing, Dakshin Curry & Biriyani, Havana Tattoo Society, Milano Bean Café, Miss Daisy, Pausa Coffee, Sweets for Babe, The Society CNY and Yafah Beauty Studio. The Destiny USA mall’s occupancy rate decreased from 80% in 2023 to 72% by the end of 2024, according to Integra Realty Resources. That leaves more than a quarter of the mall’s retail space vacant. “Looking ahead, the retail market is expected to see minimal rent growth, with vacancy rates likely remaining stable in community and neighborhood centers but continuing to rise in enclosed malls,” Integra’s report said. “New construction activity is low and redevelopment plans for former malls like Shoppingtown and Great Northern are still in the planning stages. The proposed Micron chip plant may spur development, but challenges remain in finding co-developers for large-scale projects.” Nationally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce expects that small businesses will remain resilient and see their sales and revenues eventually improve. That organization, in a recent national survey, found that 25% of small business owners expect the economy to improve in 2027, while 45% indicated that they plan to increase employment in the next 12 months. And 69% said they believe their small business is in good shape and 70% said they are comfortable with their current cash flow. Thirty-one percent of small businesses reported raising their prices in July and 28% are planning to raise their prices within the next three to four months, the report said. Twelve percent indicated that this is a good time to expand their business. “Small business owners voice optimism for future revenues and hiring,” the report said. “High costs continue to be a wet blanket on reinvestment.” The NFIB reported in July that Main Street, despite gas price hikes, “is OK … for now.” Its small business economics trend report said sales across the country have been strong compared to last year, but continued inflation and higher prices from mom-and-pop establishments are causing some “cracks” to show. “If costs stay this high for much longer, reduced investment will have a tangible economic impact,” the report said. “The status quo is OK, but the outlook? The outlook is uncertain.”
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