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Heat’s Ryan Conwell makes strong preseason case for rotation spot: ‘He’s not playing like a rookie’
Is rookie Ryan Conwell going to be in the Heat’s rotation sooner rather than later?
Spok appoints Shiv Gopalkrishnan as EVP & General Manager
PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 19, 2026--
Lord Abbett Unveils New Brand Reflecting a Firm Built with Intention
JERSEY CITY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 19, 2026--
My summer studying cancer research in New York - College of Arts and Sciences
Senior Kameryn Lloyd spent her summer studying how siRNA therapeutics could be a potential tool against cancer.
Atossa Therapeutics Common Stock to Begin Trading with Stapled Contingent Value Rights After Close of Business Today
/PRNewswire/ -- Atossa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS) ("Atossa" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative...
Vector Science and Therapeutics Corp. Appoints Angus Jackson as Managing Director of Corporate Development
/PRNewswire/ -- Vector Science and Therapeutics Corp. (TSXV: PAIN) ("Vector" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Angus Jackson as Managing...
New Israeli fund seeks $40 million to invest in mental health and longevity
Founded by Esther Barak Landes and Adi Ostry Matalon, Alma will back technologies spanning mental health, suicide prevention, digital therapeutics, brain health and dementia. Sheba Medical Center will serve as its strategic partner.
Here are some of the ways LSU’s Student Health Center supports students during the semester
The LSU Health Center has various resources to help you with your physical and mental health. From student check-ups to therapy, here are some services available to LSU students at the Student Health Center. Physical health LSU’s primary care clinic is what most LSU’s are aware of. Students are encouraged to make an appointment, but...
Why Theranos launched in an opinion section instead of science news, and it was not an accident
How Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos bypassed rigorous medical scrutiny by launching via opinion pages and tech hype before the multimillion-pound health scam collapsed.
Lamprey Health Care and Gather launch food bus partnership
Gather's fresh food bus, known as Gus the Bus, is now making regular visits to Lamprey Health Care in Newmarket.
Brenda Lucas: Community news for Monday, Oct. 19
Click for community news in the Huntington, West Virginia, and Tri-State area.
[Graphic News] Korean children rank high in skills, low in health and well-being
South Korean children ranked 27th overall among those in high-income countries, placing among the highest in academic skills but near the bottom in physical and
China's economy accelerated in the July-September quarter on robust exports
China says its economy grew 4.5% for the July-September quarter from a year ago. That moves the country closer to meeting its annual growth target as the year nears its
Combination nucleic acid therapies: towards personalized cancer treatment
Combination strategies enable simultaneous activation and silencing of key target genes to correct molecular pathways in pancreatic cancer.
How Investors May Respond To Encompass Health (EHC) First Maine Hospital Opening
Encompass Health has opened Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Bangor, a 50 bed inpatient facility in Maine that delivers intensive therapy, frequent physician oversight and 24 hour nursing for patients recovering from complex conditions across a 54,000 square foot site with a wide range of on campus clinical amenities. This Bangor facility is Encompass Health's first wholly owned hospital in Maine. It adds owned capacity in a new state alongside its existing joint venture presence...
[Graphic News] Korean children rank high in skills, low in health and well-being
Korean children rank high in skills, low in health and well-being 한국 어린이, 역량은 상위권·건강과 웰빙은 하위권 South Korean children ranked 27th overall among those in high-inco
Eastern Oregonian CCO outlines Oregon Health Plan changes
PENDLETON — Changes coming to the Oregon Health Plan in 2027 will require members to meet new work requirements. Leaders with the Eastern Oregonian Coordinated Care Organization on Friday, Oct. […]
Old Fidel Castro interview resurfaces in attack ad against Miami congresswoman
“She cozied up to a dictator and, now, she is cozying up to another wanna be dictator, Donald Trump,” Eliott Rodriguez said in the ad.
Amanda Seyfried addresses evasive red carpet comments about Elizabeth Holmes: ‘What AM I even saying’
The actress, who portrayed Holmes in “The Dropout,” was hesitant to weigh in on Nathan Fielder’s new doc about the disgraced Theranos founder.
Analysis: Trump says he's a great dealmaker. His record says otherwise
Donald Trump has long promoted himself as an exceptional dealmaker, and that claim has helped fuel his rise from real estate tycoon to president. But many the deals he has
Business Briefcase: MAEA schedules HR roundtable
POTTSVILLE — The Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association, 250 One Norwegian Plaza, will stage an HR Schuylkill roundtable 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 6 titled, “We Did It Right … And Still Faced Backlash: When Good HR Deci…
Leukemia That Refuses to Choose: The Science of Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia
A new review in Cancer Cell International synthesizes contemporary classification, clonal biology, and precision therapy for mixed phenotype acute leukemia, arguing that management must track the founding clone across phenotypic states rather than rely on static lineage labels.
Dispensaries, mental health facility, other projects planned in central Pa.
The medical-related projects include counseling centers, places to get medical marijuana and physical therapy cinics.
Pols & Politics: Could the Minogue-Healey polls signal an upset?
GOP rival Mike Minogue won the two debates by a country mile over Gov. Maura Healey — according to two Herald online polls. Plus: California Gov. Gavin Newsom to stump for Healey
Politics: House Democrats preparing affordability agenda for potential majority win
Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives last week announced their plans for an agenda focused on tackling affordability, signaling confidence within the party that a flip of the
Community leaders: Foiled Illinois attack spurred by anti-Hindu hate
A thwarted mass shooting targeting a large Hindu temple in suburban Chicago was fueled by years of hateful rhetoric on social media against Hindus and Indians, community leaders say.
Hormel makes $1 billion bet on chicken
Hormel Foods is branching into a new — and wildly popular — meat category with a deal to acquire a chicken company for more than $1 billion.
Amazon's delivery box: a symbol of instant gratification and convenience
The Amazon delivery box — a fixture everywhere from suburban front porches to city apartment lobbies — is more than just a cardboard box. It’s symbolic of a shopping culture
Buz Coffee & Energy carves out niche in downtown Dubuque
When Buz Coffee & Energy opened in the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a serendipitous beginning.
Minnesota agrivoltaics project shows promise of mixing farming, solar power
Winifred Sylvah is thriving with her cucumber harvest at a solar farm in Big Lake, Minnesota. She's part of an agrivoltaics project, blending farming with solar power. This initiative is
Gold surged to a record, then fell hard. What happened?
Gold has been on a wild ride this year.
Westfall Ag Students Visit Farm Science Review
Twenty-one Westfall High School FFA students recently traveled to the Molly Caren Agricultural Center for the annual Farm Science Review (FSR).
‘A real-world story’: Ruidoso doctor pens novel on youth mental health
The novel introduces young readers to a 13-year-old who attends therapy and is prescribed medication for anger management.
SMH and United Healthcare at odds on Medicare Advantage pact
Dispute does not affect traditional Medicare coverage or commercial contract negotiations
SMH talks with United Healthcare on Medicare Advantage pact stall
Talks could affect 33,000 SMH and First Physicians Group patients in 2027 if a deal is not reached by Dec. 31
‘No Kings Vote Early’ rally in Fall River draws a crowd
About 60 protesters against the Trump administration lined both sides of William S. Canning Boulevard, bundled up against cold winds.
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.
Abu Dhabi Health Delegation Concludes Inaugural Visit to China, Opening New Pathways to Advance AI, Precision Medicine and Next-Gen Therapies
/PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, has concluded its inaugural health and life...
Browns’ health improving in time for division showdown with Ravens
Browns head coach Todd Monken spent the previous three years as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore going against the Ravens’ defense daily in practice.
Nathan Fielder’s movie on Elizabeth Holmes absolutely lives up to the hype
(CNN) — About a third of the way through “You Can See Everything,” Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, we watch the disgraced Theranos founder and
How Light Rewrites Skin Biology: New Research Moves Beyond Sunburn Science
A new editorial in Frontiers in Photobiology argues that skin's response to light extends far beyond sunburn and DNA damage, encompassing inflammasome-driven inflammation, visible-light pigmentation, and photochemical therapies.
Obituaries: RJ Mitte, Lucian Piane, Heidi Burge Horton, Alan Mandell
Notable deaths also include a "Breaking Bad" mainstay, a former WNBA player and a music producer for "RuPaul's Drag Race."
Schmooze: WV natives return to Charleston area for film shoot 20 years in the making
West Virginia natives Chad Smith, Ryan Dorsey, Dustin Kerns and others came together to film a short film, "Schmooze," in Charleston from Oct. 15-19, 2026. The film is a thriller inspired by the movies they used to make together as students at Riverside High School.
Annual Rocco’s dinner to support emergency services in Ceredo
The Ceredo Volunteer Fire Department is teaming up with restaurateur Rocco Muriale to raise money to improve local emergency services.
Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship applications for 2027 now open
Applications for the Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship are now open to artists working and residing in West Virginia.
Brenda Lucas: Community news for Saturday, Oct. 17
Click for community news in the Huntington, West Virginia, and Tri-State area.
It’s not just you. There are more Maine political ads than ever this year.
Spending in Maine has broken records set in the 2020 election cycle.
Business Briefs for Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
This week's digest of area business announcements, milestones and news.
Bridge winners
HUNTINGTON DUPLICATE BRIDGE ASSOCIATION: Monday, Oct. 5 — Elaine Whitt and Bob Hardin, Patricia Crews and Fuzzy Harrold. Wednesday, Oct. 7 — Bennie Shields and Bob Hardin, Elaine Whitt and
Behavioral health therapist joins UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center’s primary care team
Behavioral health clinician joins Estes Valley's primary care clinic as an additional resource to meet emotional and behavioral health needs.
Headspace Issues Layoffs Following Sword Health Acquisition
It has been a little over two weeks since Sword Health's acquisition of the San Francisco-based digital therapy and psychiatry company Headspace officialy
Headspace Issues Layoffs Following Sword Health Acquisition
It has been a little over two weeks since Sword Health's acquisition of the San Francisco-based digital therapy and psychiatry company Headspace officialy
Here’s what scientists think about Theranos a decade after it imploded
A viral documentary has everyone talking about Elizabeth Holmes’s fraudulent blood testing start-up again—but scientists never stopped
Cin-Emma Extra! reviews ‘You Can See Everything’ documentary, talks incoming ‘Club Kid’
“You Can See Everything” documents the 34 days before Theranos co-founder Elizabeth Holmes is sent to prison.
Doja Cat’s Seattle arena concert was a scorching, slapstick spectacle
Doja Cat brought ‘80s excess, pop-rap and pyrotechnics to Climate Pledge Arena.
Long Beach student advances to national science competition finals
Long Beach student Hanna Heitefuss is the only New Yorker among 30 finalists in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, earning national recognition for her research on saltwater intrusion and its effects on plants and aquatic life.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Georgia amusement park to reopen as scheduled days after roller coaster death
Six Flags Over Georgia is expected to open for the first time since a man fell to his death from the Goliath roller coaster. Authorities are investigating the death, which
Correction: ENT-Books-Kirkus Prize story
In a story published Oct. 7, 2026, about the Kirkus Prizes, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the first name of the nonfiction winner. Her name is Pamela Colloff, not
Annual library gala takes a fairy tale theme for 2026
HUNTINGTON — The upcoming 23rd annual gala hosted by Cabell County Public Library carries the theme of being a "grim" affair in the woods, but it's far from fitting that
Tamaqua Choose Happiness competition offers $50K to new businesses
Three winners of the Tamaqua Choose Happiness Business Plan Competition will share $50,000 in startup funding for new businesses in municipalities comprising the Tamaqua Area School District.
USC scientists discover how to create a never-ending supply of cancer-fighting cells
USC scientists have discovered a way to create a potentially renewable supply of genetically engineered immune cells that can attack cancer and strengthen the body's natural defenses. By growing and modifying immature immune cells rather than mature ones, researchers developed a system that can continuously produce tumor-fighting cells inside the body.
Actinium Pharmaceuticals Appoints Radiopharmaceutical Industry Veteran Sean Maenpaa as Senior Vice President, Business Development
/PRNewswire/ -- Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: ATNM) ("Actinium" or the "Company"), a pioneer in the development of targeted radiotherapies,...
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 …
BayCare opens proton therapy center at Tampa's St. Joseph’s Hospital
Florida's west coast gets another option for the radiation option, which uses charged particles called protons to target tumors while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Joyce Spencer: Community news for Friday, Oct. 16
Click for community news.
BankFive president named Women Who Mean Business honoree
The Boston Business Journal selected BankFive President Anne Tangen as one of 10 honorees in its Women Who Mean Business program.
New Business Licenses: 10.16.26
Chesterfield reports physical therapy, emergency readiness consulting, a music academy and more. (BizSense Pro required)
‘Sense and Sensibility’ (2026) review: Daisy Edgar-Jones shines in adaptation
Georgia Oakley's take on Jane Austen's novel isn't quite as memorable as Ang Lee's, but it brings plenty of pleasure of its own, writes Moira Macdonald.
Focused Behavior Solutions Files for Bankruptcy Citing Reimbursement Delays as Key Cause
Focused Behavior Solutions, an applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy provider based in Walla Walla, Washington, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy,
Scientists restore memory-linked neuron function in Alzheimer's mice
Researchers were able to restore the function of neurons linked to cognitive function and information processing in mice that mimic key features of Alzheimer's disease, showing early promise for the development of a similar targeted therapy in humans.
Taproot Theatre’s ‘Smoke on the Mountain’ returns to the stage
Taproot Theatre first produced “Smoke on the Mountain” in 1992, and it’s been a frequent inclusion in its seasons over the years.
11 things to do around the Seattle area this weekend
From cozy fall activities to an exhibit that explores the minds of serial killers, here are the latest local things to do around the Seattle area.
6 books that speak to the enduring appeal of monsters
These books explore our enduring fascination with monsters in new and surprising ways, from fresh takes on vampire tales to a bestiary that spans time and worlds.
SMC's Distinguished Scientists Series Returns: Biotech & USC Talks
Free science lectures at Santa Monica College on Oct. 20 and Nov. 19 featuring biotech executives and USC researchers discussing precision medicine and gene therapy.
The Trump administration is doubling down on health care fraud investigations
At the STAT Summit, the Department of Justice offered up a warning for health care executives: Don’t be another Theranos.
Happening in Loveland this weekend: Fall events, festivals, benefits, art and entertainment
Here are plenty of fun events on the calendar in Loveland and Northern Colorado this weekend.
Testosterone aids bone health in PWS with low behavior impact
Testosterone therapy may preserve bone health and improve body composition in males with PWS without worsening behavior, a study reports.
Berlin Philharmonic planning to vacate Philharmonie for renovation from 2032-40
Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic face a big challenge. Renovations planned for their home, the Philharmonie, likely will displace the orchestra from 2032 to 2040. Petrenko, the chief conductor,
Ex-Florida congressman Matt Gaetz accused in suit of sex trafficking young women
The lawsuit alleges the two women were supplied with drugs, traveled across state lines and were paid to have sex with men, including Gaetz.
How Murray and Washington experts plan to ‘politics-proof’ public health
Three of the five experts on Sen. Patty Murray's new public health advisory group are from Washington state.
‘Today’ cohost Dylan Dreyer confirms she’s ‘recently divorced’ from husband of 12 years
‘Today’ cohost Dylan Dreyer revealed on a new episode of her podcast that she and ex-husband Brian Fichera are ‘recently divorced’ after 12 years together.
Vizient Hosts Congressional Briefing on Hospital Innovation
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 15, 2026--
Pumpkins aplenty: HCM carving contest raises money for accessibility programs
HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Children’s Museum hosted a Pumpkin Carving Contest and fundraiser Tuesday evening outside of The Market.
HOTDAM hosts square dance, costume contest this weekend
HUNTINGTON — Mark your calendar for this Saturday.
Maine has a shortage of home health workers. Is there any way to fix it?
High demand for services combined with low pay are causing the shortages – and the problem is going to get worse.
Blondie to return with the new album 'High Noon' next year and you can have a taste of it now
Blondie is set to release a new album, “High Noon,” early next year, a decade after their last outing. The band dropped the first single, “Spectral Eyes,” on Thursday, written
Midfielder confirms he's ready to join Liverpool
Liverpool have found the perfect midfielder, he's just confirmed it. Julian Ward has heralded the new era quietly. There's not been a great fanfare about his return to the sporting director role. Righ...
2026 Engineering, Science and Technology Emmy Awards
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY - Kirsten Vangsness hosts the 2026 Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy Awards at the Television Academy's Wolf Theatre in the Saban Media Center on
The Herald's weekly entertainment picks
Looking to be entertained from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Wednesday, Oct. 21? Check out the Skagit Valley Herald’s weekly recommendations.
What Is a Person, and How Do We Know?
The characteristics invoked in the abortion debate — consciousness, rationality, and intrinsic human dignity — function as recalcitrant facts for naturalism.
‘Misty Green’ review: Rosalind Eleazar is a revelation in uneven drama
Chris Rock’s drama about a once-successful Hollywood actress struggling to navigate her second act is tonally all over the place, but its star is fantastic.
How a Damien Jurado song inspired Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Lost Weekend’
The indie rock star behind one of 2026's most anticipated new albums plays a sold-out Climate Pledge Arena this month.
Netflix Layoffs
FILE - The Netflix logo is displayed on the company's website on Feb. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Argument at a Medley truck lot leads to a shooting and air rescue, police say
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue flew a man to a hospital to be treated for his wounds.
Heat has decision to make on center Nick Richards. What it means for both parties
Will center Nick Richards be on the Heat’s opening night roster?
Leaders in faith, tech, business discuss AI at Catholic U
Taylor Black is a builder. Black, founding executive director of The Catholic University of America’s Leonum Institute for AI and Emerging Technologies in Washington, is a self-described venture architect at Microsoft — leading cross-company initiatives for the next generation of groundbreaking technologies.
ON THE JOB: ‘Where Do You See Your Career or Business in 3 to 5 Years?’
“For the next three to five years, I am looking to grow Oswego County Opportunities’ support for the county’s economic development to fight poverty and take advantage of the major investments that are coming to the area.” — Kevin Dean, Executive director, Oswego County Opportunities, Fulton “I love what I’m doing. I’m trying to do this as long as they let me. It’s so exciting to walk the floors at the various factories, talk with community leaders and be part of the solutions to their business problems. As we do this work with manufacturers and community members, we are helping the next generation have these great jobs in skilled manufacturing. I’d like to have the same job title for years to come. I’ve watched the last five years with awe and it makes me proud and excited to be from Upstate New York. I want to keep being part of the conversation that, yes, we can do it in Upstate New York.” — Randy Wolken, President and CEO, Manufacturing Association of Central New York (MACNY) “I oversee the Rochester and Syracuse offices. We’re seeing continual growth as there are more and more job seekers and companies that are looking to fill positions as the economy grows. I’d like to have another Upstate New York office in our region to help promote people under me. I want to see that happen. With an increase in the job market, that is what the end goal is here for sure. We currently have offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany, among more than 300 worldwide.” — Briana Calabrese, Marketing director and vice president of finance & accounting and administrative & customer support, Robert Half Recruiters & Employment Agency, Syracuse “Hopefully, we’ll continue to grow by word of mouth. I just took over a couple of years ago. I was an employee for 27 years. Business is great and we’re up on sales from where we were last year and I’m hoping that continues to happen. I get an overwhelming response from people who say they want to support local businesses. It’s my objective when people walk out the door that they want to come back. In a small town like this, it’s crucial. I see myself in five years doing exactly what I’m doing now: sticking with it and trying to grow Fulton Screen Printing.” — Tim Stone, Owner, Fulton Screen Printing, Fulton “I am 85 years old and teach four fitness classes a week and swim four times a week. I hope to live to be 90 — if I can do that, I won’t complain. The older I get, the less afraid I am of dying. What I don’t want to do is get some sickness where I’m lingering and I’m in pain and it just goes on and on. I expect to be exercising as much as I can and I hope I will know when I need to back off to accommodate different problems I may have when I’m older. For a short time, I got up at 6 a.m. to jog for a half hour every morning. But I had to avoid dogs, so I quit jogging. I hope to be able to swim for life. When I swim for half an hour, whatever problems I have wash away. I will still be working in exercise in five years. I also write research articles. It challenges my mind. You have to challenge your mind and body and have some kind of goals and reasons to go on living. My wife died three and a half years ago, so I try to go out and do things, even though she’s no longer here.” — Fred Wilson. Certified personal trainer at Fitness After 50 and leader of senior fitness classes, Syracuse “I expect to continue working as a local financial adviser professional for the next several years. I really enjoy working with my clients and consider it a privilege to come to work every day, helping my clients reach their financial goals.” — Randy L. Zeigler, Certified financial planner practitioner, chartered financial consultant and private wealth adviser, Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, Oswego “I see myself doing something with young people. I want to open an after-school program as a safe space for high schoolers where they can get tutored, behavioral health, get something to eat. I want to do something with policy. I have thought of doing something with neurodivergent kids where kids can run some kind of business. I want to do anything with community like therapy and psychotherapy. I want to still be able to offer those services to people. At 55, I’m not sure how much I will do. I will see what happens after graduation from Keuka College.” — Della Joyce Smith, Master’s student, Syracuse “I think the core of the gym is in personal training. I don’t see that changing. People will still need a gym and personal training will stay. There may be some loss to AI as there is in just about every industry, but there’s always been the ability to go online and get a workout. I don’t think AI will cut into business any more than the internet has. I think the class structure is shifting. Large group classes might be fading away for a while. I see more people going to specialized classes like Pilates. I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe the traditional classes like boot camps started to fade away. It’s important to adapt. Maybe someday I’ll need to get some new kinds of classes. Everything tends to go in cycles.” — Ryan Vollmer, Certified personal trainer and owner Edge Strength and Conditioning, Syracuse “I have been growing my firm at 24% a year. In five years, we may be purchasing or building a new office building to accommodate the new growth. Right now, our focus is on growth and adding team members, mostly financial advisers and administrative staff.” — Terri Krueger, Chartered financial consultant and senior financial adviser with Orla Wealth Management in Syracuse “Over the next three to five years, I see TDO continuing to experience steady, sustainable growth as new industries establish and expand their presence across Central New York. These investments will create new opportunities throughout the regional manufacturing supply chain, and TDO will continue evolving our capabilities to help both existing manufacturers and emerging industries grow, compete, and succeed.” — Jim D’Agostino, CEO and executive director Central New York TDO (Train, Develop, Optimize), Liverpool
BUSINESS UPDATE: Attracting World-Renowned Piercing Educators to Oswego
Growing number of renowed piercers are coming to Oswego to share knowledge at newly opened Aqua Spa Float Center piercing suite Submited by Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique [caption id=attachment_11066 align=alignright width=450] Recent opening of Aqua Spa Float Center piercing suite.[/caption] Professional piercers and educators from countries including France, Scotland and India have come to Oswego’s Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique to share their knowledge In the past year and a half, the Port City has become a destination for some of the industry’s most respected educators through the efforts of the Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique. Beginning in January of 2025, Aqua Spa Float Center envisioned a new version of body piercing, one where elegance, safety and personal expression could converge. According to the Aqua Spa, piercing is no longer just a trend — it’s a refined form of personal identity, luxury styling and self-investment. It’s not only about the jewelry — it’s about the entire experience. The team welcomed first guest piercer Ruben Triguero, a senior French piercer, piercing stylist and international educator, who has over two decades of experience and has worked in some of the world’s best studios, including Paris, Rome, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Dubai. In those studios, he offered his expertise and refined styling skills. Triguero is a prominent figure and leader in the piercing community and shares his knowledge with piercers teaching classes for the industry’s most prestigious organizations, including Latinoamérica Body Piercing Association (LBP) and Association of Professional Piercers (APP). He is currently the senior international instructor of the APP. Triguero has a passion for creating stunning, personalized piercings for clients around the world. Education and Mentorship Following a year of success and popularity, Aqua Spa Float Center hosted the grand opening of its private dedicated piercing suite in March. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness celebrated this next chapter with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by the Oswego Mayor Robert Corradino, members of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, local business owners and community members. The educational focus, aligned with Aqua Spa Float Center’s vision and mission, had already begun expanding beyond clients. Aqua Spa has hosted multiple workshops and continuing education opportunities for professional piercers, inviting studios from across the region to gain hands-on experience from internationally recognized instructors without the expense of traveling to national or international conferences. These educational events have welcomed nationally and internationally recognized professional piercers and educators from countries including France, Scotland, India, and throughout the United States. Aqua Spa also continues to collaborate with talented regional and local professionals, creating opportunities for education and mentorship that benefit both industry peers and clients throughout Central New York. Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique owners — Tammy Wilkinson and Terry LeRoi — have been deeply rooted in the piercing industry with over 30 years in business as LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery. Combining that experience with holistic wellness, self-care and self-expression is the new concept with the client Luxe Piercing Experience at the Aqua Spa Float Center. “At LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and Aqua Spa Float Center, we’ve been fortunate to work with many of the world’s most respected piercers through our involvement with the Association of Professional Piercers and by attending conferences across North America and Europe,” said LeRoi, founder of LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and co-owner of Aqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique. “Those experiences have shown us that education is what drives our industry forward. “Not every piercer or studio can travel to major conferences like the APP Conference in Las Vegas or APP Benelux in the Netherlands, so we’re committed to bringing that level of education here. Hosting internationally respected educators like Jef Saunders allows our clients to experience the highest standards of professional piercing while giving piercers throughout the Northeast the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the profession. That’s something we’re incredibly proud to offer our community.” When asked about the client experience, Wilkinson explained that education is at the heart of every appointment as well. “Our vision is to nurture and enhance wellness, balance and harmony through a multi-modality-centered facility, and we aspire to empower sustained, positive change, well-being and self-awareness; and educate to the benefits of natural health, holistic wellness and life balance,” Wilkison explains. “Piercing is no different. The piercing experience feels just as peaceful and rejuvenating as any other spa services. From the moment our clients arrive, they are in the very best hands with our kind and professional Wellness Ambassadors and experienced APP guest piercers.” Wilkinson also explained that piercing clients receive stellar care: every Luxe Piercing appointment includes a one-on-one private piercing in Aqua Spa’s dedicated piercing suite, their choice of custom jewellery by LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery, thorough after-care instructions and complementary check-up appointment, complementary whole-body red light therapy session in the Class II NovoTHOR medical device to promote healing, and access to many rejuvenating spa services. Piercing clients get 15% off during any event. According to Wilkinson, “Health and safety are always our highest priority when you come in for a piercing or jewelry installation. Before each appointment, all tools and jewelry are sterilized in a Statim autoclave, and every surface in the piercing room is carefully disinfected. During the procedure, your piercer will wear a mask and change gloves as needed to maintain a sterile environment. Once your piercing is complete, your piercer will go over detailed aftercare instructions with you. Following these steps is crucial to ensure proper healing before you leave our sanctuary.” As a part of the experience, guest piercers include a thorough anatomy review of the client’s desired piercing to ensure the new addition will work in harmony with the existing. “Our clients are enjoying building and creating ear curations with these international professionals. It’s a unique styling event and a chance to highlight self-expression,” Wilkinson said. Clients and piercers throughout the region are flocking to this piercing destination in Upstate New York. The Luxe Piercing Experience has welcomed clients and piercers alike from around the globe. Owners Wilkinson and LeRoi hope to continue the momentum with more educational seminars with industry experts to be a hub of knowledge and expertise. They hope to establish LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery and Aqua Spa Float Center as legacy businesses known for their lasting, positive impact on the piercing and holistic wellness industries.