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Dennis Krause Blog: Brewers on verge of pennant
This Brewers team wants it. They will not be denied. They are one win away from the franchise’s first World Series since 1982.
Healf rides youth health kick to top UK’s fastest-growing companies list
The wellbeing start-up, which has its roots in Manchester, is scaling quickly
South Korea's stock rout reveals a double threat to the AI boom
Doubts about AI profits and growing reliance on outside funding are prompting investors to rethink how much semiconductor stocks are worth.
Quinn Ellis praised by Rick Pitino for playing ‘like a veteran’ in St. John’s preseason win
He scored only three points in St. John’s exhibition opener Wednesday night, but coach Rick Pitino came away impressed by his new point guard anyway.
Brewers put Dodgers season on the brink with stunning comeback Game 3 win
The Dodgers embarked on this postseason in search of World Series three-peat history.
Three Mistakes the Dodgers Must Avoid for an NLCS Comeback
The Milwaukee Brewers are no pushover, and they are proving it by putting the Los Angeles Dodgers in an 0-2 hole in the National League Championship Series. Now as the series swings to Dodger Stadium, the back-to-back World Series Champions must take stock and regroup if they want to have any chance of rebounding to …
EGOT winner John Legend to meet fans at Mall of America album signing
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (WQOW) — John Legend is coming to Mall of America for an exclusive album signing and photo opportunity celebrating his new album, Muse.
Vietnamese scientist wins ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women
Associate Professor Ha Thị Thanh Huong graduated with top grade in biotechnology from the University of Science under Vietnam National University, HCM City.
Alta businesses prepare for PG&E’s largest planned power shutoff in eight years
Tens of thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers could lose power as strong winds and dry conditions increase the threat of wildfires across Northern California.
Iowa residents raise health and environmental concerns over data center expansion
Advocacy groups and residents are voicing concerns about the health and environmental impacts of Iowa's growing data center industry, citing increased fossil fuel use and air pollution.
Alan Mandell appreciation: The heart of L.A. theater and a friend
Alan Mandell, an award-winning actor, arts patron and arts administrator, was best known for co-founding the San Quentin Drama Workshop and interpreting the plays of Samuel Beckett.
Wood County development meeting highlights business growth
PARKERSBURG — Reviewing the past year’s economic development efforts and connecting local businesses with future opportunities were the focus of a joint annual meeting Wednesday at Discovery World on Market. The Wood County Development Authority and the Parkersburg-Wood County Area Development Corporation held the meeting in Discovery World’s Ember Theater for the first time. Lindsey […]
Shawn Horcoff Reveals Surprising Detail About Simon Edvinsson Contract Talks
Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff reveals new details about Simon Edvinsson contract negotiations, including direct conversations and Detroit's flexibility.
NASA develops batteries to power humanity's return to moon
If you've ever had your car start sluggishly, or not at all, on a particularly frigid winter morning, you know standard batteries do not like extreme cold. That's why NASA researchers are working to develop ...
Rep. Kevin Mannix faces political newcomer in fight to hold onto Oregon swing seat
A business law attorney and a safety professional with different levels of political experience are seeking to win an Oregon swing district.
Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors address growing concern over health issues
Kristaps Porzingis and the Golden State Warriors had a new health update ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Here's the latest on his lingering issues:
Kristaps Porzingis, Warriors address growing concern over health issues
Kristaps Porzingis and the Golden State Warriors had a new health update ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season. Here's the latest on his lingering issues:
Energy Department announces 2026 Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award winners
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced that Fermilab's Chris Polly was one of nine recipients of the prestigious Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award for exceptional contributions to research and development supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) missions in science, energy and national security.
Shohei Ohtani Makes Major Routine Change After Dodgers Show Trust
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stayed late on Tuesday working to fix his swing as he slumps in the postseason.
ICE’s Operation Metro Surge cost Twin Cities a reported 32,000 jobs
Operation Metro Surge cost Minnesota 32,000 jobs, a new study found. The job losses followed the immigration crackdown between December and February, which included about 4,000 arrests, according to the
Beth Israel Lahey Health wins state OK for nearly $80m Lahey Clinic expansion
The expansion comes as BILH gains a new CEO in Peter Shorett, who will succeed Dr. Kevin Tabb in January.
Six Central California businesses win 2026 BBB Torch Awards
Six Central California businesses won 2026 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics in September, recognizing ethical business practices across six employee-size categories.
Hospital workers' union files labor grievance against UF Health amid contract talks
The AFSCME Local 1328 and Local 1781 filed an Unfair Labor Practice grievance against UF Health following stalled contract negotiations.
Cleveland State, Gov. DeWine tout business school gift to fuel AI focus
The announcement of the gift came during President Laura Bloomberg's 2026 State of the University address.
Cleveland State, Gov. DeWine tout business school gift to fuel AI focus
The announcement of the gift came during President Laura Bloomberg's 2026 State of the University address.
Dodgers’ Game 4 Matchup Moved Up Following ALCS Reschedule
MLB moved the Los Angeles Dodgers’ NLCS Game 4 matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers up, with the new start time at 5:00 p.m. PT on Thursday. The change came following a change in the start time for the Game 3 in the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays’ ALCS matchup due to forecasted inclement weather. […] The post Dodgers’ Game 4 Matchup Moved Up Following ALCS Reschedule appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Warriors release statement regarding Kristaps Porzingis' health issue
The Golden State Warriors have ruled Kristaps Porzingis out indefinately following a new update on his health issues
New England Biolabs honors 11 scientists at Passion in Science Awards
New England Biolabs hosted the winners of its fifth Passion in Science Awards at its Ipswich headquarters last week, during a two-day event. The company announced the 11 honorees Sept. 10 in a news release. The awards recognize scientists whose work enriches the arts, humanitarian service, environmental stewardship and science mentorship, according to the release. […]
A Second Chance for a Bookshelf Becomes a First Chapter for Young Patients at NYC Health + Hospital/Jacobi | North Central Bronx
For the young patients who walk through the doors of North Central Bronx’s (NCB) Pediatric Outpatient Services, a hospital visit can bring worry, waiting,
Willis Automotive plans ‘business as usual’ following sale
Willis Automotive and the Sewell Family of Companies are forming a new partnership as Willis Chairman Rich Willis sells the company to current CEO Jason Willis and Sewell Family member Collin Sewell. Jason Willis will continue as president and CEO of Willis Automotive, remain an owner alongside Sewell and Rich Willis will retire. The sale…
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”
Shipping Data Could Decide the Next Small Business Loan
A small business can have a warehouse full of merchandise, a growing order book and packages moving toward customers, and still struggle to qualify for
DeBrincat Signs Seven Years, ‘A Red Wing at Heart’
Alex DeBrincat signed through 2034 with a four-year no-trade clause in Detroit. #RedWings
Friendswood ISD approves science lab designs for 2 campuses
The Friendswood ISD board approved preliminary science lab designs for Windsong Elementary School and Bales Intermediate School for the 2027-28 school year.
Aaron Paul Pays Tribute to RJ Mitte, Advocates for Mental Health: ‘I’m So Sorry You Were Hurting’
Aaron Paul posted a video of his "Breaking Bad" co-star RJ Mitte advocating for mental health alongside a moving tribute following his death earlier this week.
News outlets win a round against Trump’s press ban — but the fight is far from over
News outlets and press freedom advocates are cheering the latest court ruling against President Donald Trump’s press ban, while cautioning that he will keep trying to punish news coverage he dislikes.
CBS Sports predicts Falcons 'light up' Bears defense in Week 6
CBS Sports predicts winner of Sunday's Falcons-Bears matchup in Atlanta
Amazon (AMZN) Has a $25B Chip Business. Is the Cash Burn Worth It?
Most people think of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) as the place their packages come from. The part of the company drawing the most attention right now sells something far less visible: custom AI chips. In the second quarter of 2026, Amazon Web Services (AWS) said its chips business and its AI business had each passed a $25 […]
Lucas Raymond Demoted to Third Line Amid Goal Drought
Todd McLellan dropped Lucas Raymond to the third line Wednesday after 13 straight games without a goal. #RedWings
Button Gwinnett Stamp Club hosting event this weekend
The Button Gwinnett Stamp Club will host its "GwinnPEX" (Gwinnett Philatelic Exhibition) this weekend in Stone Mountain.
Scientists establish new genus of deep-sea 'spaghetti worms'
Scientists have announced a new genus of deep-sea segmented marine "spaghetti worms" with suction cups on their bodies, showing just how much undiscovered biodiversity is out there in the deep seas around ...
Analysis | Why Democrats will probably win back the House
And what could go wrong for them.
Vikings Enter the Top 3 in Latest Power Rankings
The Minnesota Vikings have now entered the top three in the latest power rankings following yet another victory, which now has this team at 5-0 heading into the bye.
Liaison team calls for broader Vermont healthcare reform
After reviewing UVM Health's finances, a watchdog group urged Vermont officials to tackle rising costs across the entire healthcare system.
Terry Francona Explains What a Young Reds Outfielder Must Fix
Cincinnati's manager wants one small fix from a young bat this winter.
Melco Resorts And Entertainment (MLCO) Stock May Be A Bargain Following REM Hotel Launch
Melco Resorts & Entertainment has seen its share price under pressure in recent years, which puts a spotlight on a simple question for investors who care about fundamentals. Is the current valuation of Melco justified by the earnings the business is generating today and is expected to earn in the future? Over the past 5 years the stock price has fallen 63.6%, which puts past shareholders' experience and today's earnings based valuation question in sharp contrast. The upcoming REM hotel...
Samsung Galaxy phones can't tell if they're connected to Bluetooth or not
Samsung Galaxy phones are experiencing a problem that is causing the volume slider to show the incorrect icons.
NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine Department Completes Conservation of Major Works by Black Artists at Harlem Hospital
NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department today announced the completion of conservation work on several of the most significant works by Black
Finding right fit is more important in judicial clerkship hiring than politics, new study says
Law students often assume that politics decide who wins a judicial clerkship, but judges say otherwise, according to a new study based on interviews with 194 federal and state judges.
Boston Mayor Joins Effort to Protect Legal Cannabis in Massachusetts
Mayor Michelle Wu is the latest in a list of a growing number of high-profile figures endorsing the ‘No on 8’ campaign to protect the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws against a prohibitionist-backed ballot Question 8 in the November mid-term election.
HHS Declares Public Health Emergencies for Florida, Alabama following Hurricane Isaias
Secretary Kennedy yesterday determined that public health emergencies exist in Florida and Alabama as a result of Hurricane Isaias.
Lawrenceville Arts Center launches intimate live music series featuring rising artists
Music fans looking to discover their next favorite artist can find their next live music experience in downtown Lawrenceville with the launch of The Preview, a new intimate concert series
Celebrate Ukrainian culture at annual festival this weekend
UTICA — With preparations in full swing, the public is invited to celebrate Ukrainian culture as the annual Ukrainian Festival will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct.
Amwins unveils battery, EV coverage
Amwins Global Risks said Tuesday it has expanded its specialist commercial and industrial insurance facility to cover battery energy storage systems and electric vehicle infrastructure.
The Sewing Hui of Maui launches bridal and formalwear alterations training program
Five Maui residents will receive specialized sewing and business training, with $2,000 in startup funding available to each successful graduate.
HHS declares public health emergency in Alabama, Florida following Hurricane Isaias
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yesterday determined that public health emergencies exist in Florida and Alab
Red hot: Heat’s business growth supports rising valuation
The Miami Heat added $2.02B to their valuation over the past 12 months, per Sportico’s October 2026 NBA valuations, making them the fastest growing franchise in the NBA.
Jim Costa Blasted the Red Wings. Now He’s Applauding.
Jim Costa ripped the Red Wings two weeks ago. The DeBrincat extension changed his mind. #RedWings
🚨 Iraola makes four changes to Liverpool's XI against LASK
Liverpool return to the demands of European football away at LASK after losing to Manchester City in the Premier League. A guaranteed win?Today's match takes place at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, wit...
19-year-old started a 3D-printing side hustle in his parents’ basement—now his business brings in $808K a year
Mike Satterlee learned how to use 3D printers as a high school freshman. Now age 19, he's growing his business CruiseCup instead of attending college.
Water and cancer, once taboo in Iowa politics, are now front and center in campaigns
Back-to-back years of water restrictions in the Des Moines area and a growing "Make America Healthy Again" movement have pushed a once-avoided issue into debates, ads and roundtables for candidates in both parties.
Lena Dunham's 'Girls' is making a comeback — but 1 key character is missing from the announcement
The Emmy-winning show is returning for a limited run at HBO.
Cold-proof alloys: Scientists find new class of metal that resist cracking at minus 423°F
Two niobium-titanium alloys stayed damage tolerant at 20 kelvin, minus 423°F, using twinning instead of dislocations.
‘Categorical Exclusion’ Simplifies NPRA Winter Exploration Permits
BLM says previous environmental assessments found that exploration activities in NPRA resulted in no significant impacts.
McLellan Calls DeBrincat Critical as Wings Commit $91 Million
Todd McLellan had one word for Alex DeBrincat, and Detroit just backed it with a long-term deal. #RedWings
RWJBarnabas Health Provides $1 Million Lifeline to Maintain, Expand Stable Housing for Unhoused Newarkers
RWJBarnabas Health has announced a $1 million investment in Newark-based United Community Corporation (UCC) to expand its medical respite program for individuals experiencing homelessness and support the continued operation of its emergency shelter. The funding will double the program's capacity from 10 to 20 residents, providing more patients with a safe place to recover following hospital discharge while addressing housing instability and other social determinants of health.
Essentia Health highlights importance of knowing care options
As respiratory virus season approaches, Essentia Health is reminding patients to know their options for receiving care and avoiding unnecessary — and often more expensive — trips to the emergency room.
Here’s How Matthew Knies Is Doing Since Maple Leafs Trade
The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Matthew Knies to the Columbus Blue Jackets the day before the Leafs played their season opener. It was the kind of setup that was bound to draw maximum attention, and it meant Knies had tons of immediate eyes following him to see how he’d do as he got rolling with […] The post Here’s How Matthew Knies Is Doing Since Maple Leafs Trade appeared first on HEAVY.
Schmeling Construction Co. wins award for work at Home Base Sports Fields
Schmeling Construction Co. among “Best of the Best” in Illinois for donating time and talent to construct Home Base Sports Fields, a one-of-a-kind place to play for Buddy Baseball and All Stars Baseball programs.
Vatican gives Pope Leo health update following surgery
Pope Leo XIV is eating, walking and has begun respiratory exercises after surgery to remove a cancerous mass, the Vatican said.
Kevin Hart's Hartbeat Inks Deal With Fox Entertainment For Vertical Content, Microdramas
Fox Entertainment and Hartbeat announced a multi-faceted partnership that leverages new, original vertical series as a development pipeline for film and television content. The partnership pairs Codeblack’s record of building film and television businesses for underserved audiences with Fox Entertainment’s studio operations, worldwide sales organization and growing vertical video ecosystem. It also extends vertical storytelling … Continue reading "Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat Inks Deal With Fox Entertainment For Vertical Content, Microdramas"
Tap & Tees brings indoor golf and entertainment to Southwest Florida
Located at University Village Shops near Florida Gulf Coast University, Tap & Tees Golf Lounge features indoor golf simulators where players can practice their swing.
Tap & Tees brings indoor golf and entertainment to Southwest Florida
Looking to work on your golf swing without worrying about the Florida heat? Tap & Tees Golf Lounge is bringing the golf course indoors with a high-tech experience that combines
RWJBarnabas Health Provides $1 Million Lifeline to Maintain, Expand Stable Housing for Unhoused Newarkers
RWJBarnabas Health today announced a $1 million donation to United Community Corporation (UCC), a longstanding pillar of the Newark community, to support and double the capacity of its medical respite program that provides safe, stable, transitional housing for the unhoused following discharge from a hospital.
Security footage from Kelly Clarkson’s Art of Play store visit released
See inside Kelly Clarkson’s Art of Play store visit, as security footage was released showing the star’s visit to the Brooklyn establishment that reportedly lasted under five minutes.
Ending Clock Changes? Health Experts Say There's a Winner Between Standard And Daylight Saving Time
Brighter mornings may protect health.
Windows update patches a whopping 1,400 security bugs - including 2 zero days
This month’s update also marks the first official one for Windows 11 26H2 and the end of support for Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro.
Pope Leo is eating and recovering after cancer surgery, doctors say
His post-operative tests are normal following surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his lung, the Vatican said Wednesday.
Should you turn to AI for mental health advice?
The following expert commentary can be used by journalists and media organizations in their own publications and news coverage. Please attribute all quotes to Lokesh Shahani, MD, PhD, psychiatrist and chief medical officer, UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences. The on-demand availability of artificial intelligence chatbots means that most individuals have quick, easy access to a wealth of information. The ease and accessibility of these tools may make it tempting
Three (ex-)Twins in search of a trophy
The LCS rosters contain three former Target Field residents.
Italy duo reacts as Doumbia scores first Champions League goal
Italy international Issa Doumbia scored his first Champions League goal in a 2-0 away win over Lens, prompting reactions from two of his Azzurri teammates.Italian midfielder Doumbia scored his first g...
Netflix lays off about 1,000 in biggest round of cuts in years
Netflix is cutting about 1,000 employees in the face of slowing engagement growth and a stagnant stock price.
Are Tarrant Latino voters a swing group for 2026 midterm elections?
Latino voters have swayed between Democrats and Republicans.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra celebrates 30th anniversary, brings latest winter show to Prudential Center
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a huge tour this holiday season and will be making a stop at the Prudential Center the
Mayor backs new Vegas NBA arena proposal
New York-based real estate firm Fisher Brothers has joined the list of contenders eyeing the opportunity of an NBA expansion franchise heading to Las Vegas by setting out a proposal for an arena based at the site of its Area15 immersive entertainment complex. Area15, founded by Winston Fisher and opened in 2020, has been put
Alabama Football 2026: Previewing the Tennessee Offense
Will it be Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre at QB? Who knows!?
UConn Men's Basketball: What Stood Out From Win Over Syracuse
The Huskies toppled the Orange by 20 without Braylon Mullins on the floor.
David Mirkovic Returns to Practice, Eyes Season Opener Against FDU
Illinois sophomore David Mirkovic has returned to practice following offseason foot surgery, but his availability for the November 2 season opener against FDU remains uncertain.
Iowa Football: Tim Lester's Thoughts On The Quarterback Room
Lester wouldn't say if Iowa would go back to a rotation between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, but he's confident the Hawkeyes can win games with either of them.
Confido Health nabs $12.5M to scale agentic AI across PE-backed medical groups
Confido Health is expanding beyond AI voice agents to build out an agentic AI operating system that can execute administrative workflows across a medical practice. | The company secured a $12.5 million series A extension following its $10 million series A round announced in September to continue scaling an AI platform for end-to-end healthcare operations.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Busy Fall
We have a busy fall ahead of us—and that’s always good news. We like to stay busy. We’re working on two special annual publications: the CNY Business Guide and the CNY Winter Guide. Both publications are designed to reach specific audiences in the community. We’re excited about these new editions and would like to share a few details about them. Let’s begin with the Winter Guide. Winter can be challenging, but it also offers plenty to celebrate. The new CNY Winter Guide will help readers embrace the season and make it more fun and enjoyable. This year’s annual publication will feature an extensive calendar of events, compelling stories, and curated lists of things to do and see throughout the winter. This will be our 31st annual issue. It is one of the few publications—if not the only one—devoted exclusively to winter in Central New York. For advertisers, it offers a valuable opportunity to reach readers across the region. As we tell prospective advertisers, one ad works for them all season long. Rates start in the low $200s. The guide will be available at hundreds of high-traffic locations, including all Wegmans stores and select Price Chopper and Tops Friendly Markets locations. It will also be available online, with every ad hyperlinked so readers can click directly through to the advertiser’s website or Facebook page. Our network of drivers will also deliver the guide to hundreds of high-traffic locations several times throughout the winter. The publication will be out by Thanksgiving. The CNY Business Guide is a one-of-a-kind publication that many readers use as a reference. Unlike the books of lists published by business journals across the country, it comes in a glossy, full-color magazine format. It also ranks employers in four counties, with a particular emphasis on Oswego and Onondaga and substantial information about Cayuga and Jefferson. It is an ambitious project that requires extensive research, phone calls, careful fact-checking, writing and design. In short, it takes a great deal of work—and we’re glad to take on the challenge. The guide is widely distributed to business and professional readers throughout Central New York. The Business Guide gives companies an excellent opportunity to highlight their growth and expansion, showcase new products, and share other noteworthy developments. For readers, it provides a valuable snapshot of companies across the region, including what they do and who leads them. The guide will be published in early December. We invite companies to advertise in both publications. Advertising costs are relatively low, and each guide offers access to a broad audience across Central New York. Wagner Dotto is the editor and publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.
HOW I GOT STARTED: Jim Brooker
Owner of Starlight MFG Solutions in Fulton was vice president at Otis Technology in Phoenix — until the company closed locally. He then decided to open his own shop. “We are pretty much doubling in size each year so far,” he says By Stefan Yablonski Q: When did you start this business” A: I started Starlight MFG Solutions LLC while I was working at another government contractor. I was vice president of engineering at Otis Technology at their Phoenix location until they closed that facility due to a shift in business at the end of 2023. While at Otis, I was also working on Starlight on a part-time basis. I gained a lot of exposure to a lot of different equipment. That is the kind of service we provided to Otis when we were a part of them. Now we have spun that whole concept off here. Q: How would you describe it? A: It’s a manufacturing engineering firm specializing in custom automation to serve as an outsourced engineering support for companies that need additional resources. I want to make it a sustainable business that can partner with local manufacturers to help them. Q: What is your background; did you go to college with this in mind? A: I am a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. My B.S. from RIT was in manufacturing engineering technology and my MS from RIT was in manufacturing and mechanical systems integration with a minor in business. Q: Why this type of business? A: I identified a large gap in the market for companies that needed small to medium help with manufacturing projects. Q: What services do you offer? A: We are focusing more on manufacturing. We do a lot of robotics, we do laser marking, we do filling — pretty much anything that the customer needs. Q: Have you seen any growth since you started? A: Yes. We have been growing ever since the company started. Our specialties include robotics, vision inspection and guidance, rotary-indexing workcells, dispense systems, laser marking, machine tending and more. We provide support to companies that need additional resources. We moved to a facility in Fulton about a year and a half ago. We are leasing our space in Fulton — the former NET & Die facility. We bought our own equipment, we are leasing the space. We have been operating here since early 2024. Q: You’re ready to take on bigger jobs? A: We want to stay in the small to medium size market where the large players don’t want to play. That is kind of where we found our niche. We are expanding regionally to take on more of those projects. My customers are relatively small business. They don’t have in-house automation; engineering and development teams are not feasible. Q: Business has been doing well? A: I am pretty satisfied about where we are at. We are definitely growing year to year. We are pretty much doubling in size each year so far. We are self-sustaining. Q: How busy are you on any given day? A: How busy? That’s kind of relative. We average between three and five projects going on in the shop at any time. We have a backlog that is manageable. We have seen a great demand for laser marking. The work is very relationship-driven. Much of it is based on referrals from other customers. Q: So, you must have a pretty big staff? A: No. I have just one other full-time person, a colleague from Otis. I bring in other people as the projects dictate. I handle sales and the overall operation of the manufacturing processes. We use outside sources for some work. We aren’t afraid to take on the other jobs — but we are filling our niche pretty well. Q: Do you get tired? A: I don’t get tired, no not really. Before this I ran a facility in Phoenix for 12 years. I enjoy solving problems and that part of the job is still my favorite. I have a supportive family life at home that definitely helps a lot. I just love the challenge of it. Q: Do you still live in the area? A: Yes. I live in Phoenix, town of Lysander. Q: What is the biggest job you’ve done? A: We have done some that were pretty good size. I don’t want to get into dollar amounts, don’t want to share gross revenue. We try to use locally sourced components. It is just amazing the components you can find that are locally produced.
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
New Board Members and Leadership Team at OH Foundation
The Oswego Health Foundation has announced the appointment of two new members to its board of directors, along with new officers who will lead the foundation as it continues its mission of strengthening healthcare in the communities served by Oswego Health. Joining the board are: [caption id=attachment_11136 align=alignleft width=180] Susan Brannan Cole[/caption] • Susan Brannan Cole. She is a public affairs, marketing and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience. She serves as regional manager of external affairs for National Grid in Central New York. Cole also brings significant healthcare communications experience, having spent several years at Upstate Medical University in media relations, digital strategy and public engagement. She previously held leadership roles in communications and government affairs at Novelis and Constellation in Oswego. A graduate of SUNY Oswego, she is passionate about strengthening Central New York communities and supporting initiatives that improve quality of life across the region. [caption id=attachment_11129 align=alignright width=150] Rich Baldwin[/caption] • Rich Baldwin. He serves as director of marketing and business development at King + King Architects, where he leads the firm’s marketing, communications and business development initiatives. Baldwin has remained actively involved in community and nonprofit organizations, including previously serving on the board of regents at Le Moyne College. He has also supported community initiatives through organizations including the Onondaga Historical Association and Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society. New leadership at the foundation are: • William W. “Bill” Crist will chair the Oswego Health Foundation. He brings more than 40 years of experience in education, from classroom teacher to superintendent of schools. He retired in 2023 from the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Syracuse and remains deeply engaged in the community through numerous nonprofit and volunteer boards. He also serves as chairman of the Sanctuary Advisory Board for the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. • Heather Sunser will serve as vice chair. Sunser is a financial services practice group leader at Barclay Damon LLP, where she focuses primarily on real estate law, institutional lending, land use and municipal compliance. A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, she is also active in community service, volunteering with Vera House Legal Clinic, Habitat for Humanity and the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Onondaga County Bar Foundation. • Darcy Antonucci will be the foundation’s treasurer. Antonucci serves as comptroller for Broadwell Hospitality Group, overseeing the financial functions of nine growing corporations as well as the company’s administrative departments. She brings extensive experience in finance, human resources and business operations, along with a strong record of community leadership. Antonucci has served on the Compass Credit Union board of directors and is an active member of the Trinity Catholic School Board. She has also been involved with the Oswego Health Foundation Gala Committee since 2018. • Attorney Rachael A. Dator will serve as secretary. Dator serves as administrator of the Oswego County Assigned Counsel Program, where she oversees grant funding, budgeting and program operations. With more than a decade of legal experience, she has served as an assistant district attorney, court attorney and legal counsel to municipalities and social services organizations. Dator brings extensive knowledge of law, governance and nonprofit operations to her role with the foundation.
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.”
BUSINESS UPDATE: All About Cannabis
SUNY Oswego’s cannabis studies prepares for growing business opportunities By Mary Beth Roach [caption id=attachment_11114 align=alignright width=383] Marthinus (Martin) Koen is associate professor of criminal justice and cannabis studies at SUNY Oswego. He and the chair of the SUNY Oswego’s Criminal Justice Department, Roger Guy, created the program.[/caption] As the cannabis industry in New York state continues to grow, so do the business opportunities. New York’s legal cannabis market is projected to hit $3 billion in annual sales this year and more than 600 licensed dispensaries are operating across the state, according to budpedia.com. It’s estimated that New York will add about 16,160 new cannabis jobs in 2026, according to the 2026 U.S. Cannabis Jobs Report. SUNY Oswego, realizing the potential, now offers two programs to acquaint both matriculated and non matriculated students with aspects of this multi-billion-dollar business. Its cannabis studies microcredential came out last year and a minor was introduced this fall. The microcredential allows traditional students to add electives to their degree. Students who are not enrolled in the college can sign up to take classes to learn more about the field, growing the crop and managing or opening a dispensary, according to Marthinus (Martin) Koen, associate professor of criminal justice and cannabis studies at SUNY Oswego. The classes are designed to give those who wish to pursue business opportunities in the field a much broader understanding of cannabis and a more overall perspective of the various aspects of running a business, such as supply chain management, customer service and best practices. “When you’re trying to market it, when you’re trying to make sales, you’re understanding will be a lot more vast and nuanced,” he said. “The last 10 years especially, the hard science on cannabis increased and we have a lot more nuanced understanding right now that hasn’t yet permeated the pop culture,” he added. Koen’s team is also hoping to develop an independent study class that will help somebody who wants to apply for a license. That the classes fill up quickly should come as no surprise. “I think there’s a lot of people who are excited about it because it’s a new industry,” he said and they see an opportunity to make some money. Matriculated students may look at it as fun to learn about and stack on top of their existing major or minor. According to the college’s website, students interested in a microcredential would take cannabis law and policy and cultivation of cannabis, along with two other electives. For the first elective they could select either the economics of cannabis or manufacturing, distribution, and logistics of cannabis; and the second elective would be either cannabis science, analysis, and well-being or cannabis and society. The idea for a microcredential in cannabis studies at SUNY Oswego began in 2023, Koen said, as SUNY statewide was advocating for these types of initiatives. Koen and the chair of the SUNY Oswego’s Criminal Justice Department, Roger Guy, began brainstorming on ideas. Catching their attention was the legalization of full recreational marijuana use in New York state in 2021 and the problem-riddled rollout of the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. Guy and Koen created a Criminal Justice Elective called CRJ 420, called cannabis and society, to see if there was any interest. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that there was interest —a lot of it. Further discussions led to the microcredential, cannabis studies, which incorporated science, business and anthropological perspectives, Koen said. They were allowed to create their own prefixes for the classes, such as CAN 310; CAN 320; and CAN 420. Yes, the 420 was intentional — it’s a slang term and symbol used to refer to cannabis consumption and counterculture — but it’s also meant to reflect that the course, being on the 400 level, is “very academically involved,” Koen explained. The term 420 was coined in 1971 by a group of California high school students as a secret code to meet at 4:20 p.m. at a campus landmark to search for an abandoned cannabis crop nearby. The phrase has evolved, to say the least. It is now associated with cannabis use worldwide. For more information, visit ww1.oswego.edu/academics/microcredentials/cannabis-studies.
A Major Labor Boom in CNY? Not Here Yet
With so many major projects going on — Micron, I-81 viaduct and others — job growth is predicted to increase. But so far the number of jobs in the region has declined By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11065 align=alignright width=350] Amy Stage, deputy director at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY): “For us, the conversation isn’t just about filling jobs. It’s about creating sustainable pathways that help people see a future for themselves in manufacturing.”[/caption] The I-81 viaduct project in Syracuse and Micron facility construction in Clay are expected to create a major labor boom for Central New York. But for the time being, the number of jobs here has actually decreased in the past year. The New York State Department of Labor reported that, for the annual comparison of June 2025 to this past June, private sector jobs decreased by 2,200 or less than 1% to 260,000. Job gains were concentrated in leisure and hospitality (+700), private education and health services (+400) and other services (+300). Job losses for that annual period were reported in the areas of trade, transportation and utilities (-1,500); professional and business services (-1,000); financial activities (-500); mining, logging and construction (-300); manufacturing (-200); and information (-100). The public sector job count rose over 12 months, with most growth concentrated in education, the state Department of Labor reported. Looking ahead, the Central New York economy is expected to benefit from both the Micron and I-81 viaduct projects over a period of several years. Initial job growth is foreseen in construction and computer and electronic manufacturing. Spin-off jobs will be created in the areas of professional and business services, health care and education, the state Department of Labor said in an email response to Oswego County Business magazine. “Population growth tied to the buildout of Micron Technology semiconductor complex in Clay is also expected to bring more workers and residents to the region, increasing demand for transportation services,” the agency said. New York Department of Labor highlighted current or projected job growth trends in various sectors. An increase in defense-related contracts at local high-tech employers has continued to support employment growth in the computer and electronic product manufacturing sector and Micron is expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs as the project progresses. This sector paid an annual average wage of $117,500 in 2025 and employment in the sector is projected to grow by over 60% through 2032, making it the fastest-growing industry in the region. Typical occupations in this industry include electrical, electronic and electromechanical assemblers, software developers and industrial engineers, the state agency reported. Specialty trade contractors include several different types of tradespeople — electricians, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) mechanics and installers. Many of these positions are trained through apprenticeships, the state Department of Labor reported. The Interstate 81 construction project is generating local jobs, including construction laborers, projected to grow at a 6.4% rate, and operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, projected to grow at a 7.3% rate over the next several years. Construction of the Micron Technology facility is also “creating thousands of job opportunities that will continue over the next two decades,” the state agency reported. The specialty trade contractors sector paid an annual average wage of $86,200 in 2025. For Central New York, the challenge isn’t creating jobs, it’s filling them. Amy Stage, a deputy director at the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), said meeting this unprecedented growth is a much larger task than just replacing retirees. “We’re seeing workforce gaps at every experience level,” she said. “Companies need entry-level employees, experienced technicians, supervisors, engineers and skilled trades professionals. The opportunity is tremendous, but we need more people entering these career pathways.” Employers are looking for people who can troubleshoot, read technical information, use computers and learn new processes, not just perform repetitive production work, Stage said. To address this demand, the MACNY created the Manufacturers Talent Institute, which aims to connect students and job seekers with meaningful career pathways while helping employers build their workforce. Twenty-one companies have so far signed up to provide opportunities for more than 800 students. “For us, the conversation isn’t just about filling jobs,” Stage said. “It’s about creating sustainable pathways that help people see a future for themselves in manufacturing.” Several manufacturing facilities in the region are in the midst of expansion: • TTM Technologies, a leading U.S. manufacturer of advanced electronics and interconnect solutions for aerospace, defense and high-technology markets, which has a plant in DeWitt, completed its buildout of an additional facility, adding 400 jobs and expanding production of high-tech circuit boards for defense and critical electronics applications. • In Cortlandville, the Byrne Hollow Crossing Plant, a dairy manufacturing and processing facility, is increasing its operations, creating 100 new jobs. • The Chobani yogurt company is building a 1.4-million square foot dairy processing facility in Oneida County. This will create more than 1,000 good-paying jobs and double Chobani’s New York state workforce, Stage said. Stage noted several ways that local, state and federal governments can help spur manufacturing job growth in this region. Elected leaders and public agencies could work with industry representatives to create pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs seeking to upskill workers and improve employee retention. New York state has a variety of grants, tax incentives and financing programs to support site preparation, infrastructure, workforce development and capital investment. The U.S. Department of Labor has a pay-for-performance incentive program that provides employers $3,500 per new apprentice hired and retained for 90 days. MACNY was previously awarded an $87,000 federal grant that will cover 25 apprentices at nine companies. The manufacturing skills gap in the United States, at its current rate, could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030, according to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. In New York state, that gap is on pace to exceed 100,000 unfilled positions within six years. Manufacturing companies will be counting on more women to help fill that gap. While women make up half of the overall U.S. workforce, they only account for 29% of the manufacturing workforce in this country, Stage said. “Pre-apprenticeship programs like Real Life Rosies help to bring awareness to the manufacturing industry to fill some of the gaps, but we have a long way to go and it starts with educating people at younger ages about careers in manufacturing and earn-and-learn opportunities,” she said. As for Micron, that $100 billion-plus project, considered the largest private investment in New York state history, is expected to eventually create up to 50,000 jobs throughout the region, factoring in the spin-off opportunities for construction and supply chains. The plant’s foundation was poured on July 9. “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, data and memory are foundational to the modern economy — and Micron is increasing our U.S. investments to more than $250 billion through 2035 to meet that moment,” the company’s president and CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra, said in a news release. Bechtel, Micon’s construction partner in the project, reported that 4,500 people will be employed to help build the facility, including skilled craft professionals, local union members representing various trades and apprentices. The Syracuse-based CenterState CEO organization tallies the regional labor force at 397,582 workers (Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison and Oswego counties). Job growth isn’t limited to the Central New York region. For the larger area covering portions of the Mohawk Valley, the North Country, the Southern tier, and the western part of the state, there are 155,601 employees in the advanced manufacturing sector, and 155,275 construction workers. The agency’s 2026 Economic Forecast report noted that 41% of community and business leaders surveyed said a shortage of skilled workers in this area remains a problem, though 77% shared a positive economic outlook for the year ahead. Beyond the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing areas, local business leaders also see growth in small manufacturing companies, storage businesses, housing, unmanned flight technology and general construction. “Productive reuse of property,” the report said, “will hopefully continue to preserve unique architecture while driving business.” The report identified several challenges for economic growth in the region, including an aging workforce, outdated equipment, the rising cost of raw materials and “the disconnect between the speed of business needs and the pace of talent readiness.”