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Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Wednesday, Jan. 7
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
When Being a Family Business Becomes a Competitive Advantage
Family businesses often underestimate the strategic power of their familial identity, defaulting instead to corporate models that erode the trust and long-term relationships that set them apart. A Family-to-Family (F2F) strategy reframes customers and suppliers as multigenerational partners, strengthening loyalty, speeding decision-making, and fueling innovation in ways competitors struggle to replicate. Vitex’s transformation shows how deliberately activating “familiness” can drive resilience, growth, and market leadership—offering a blueprint for CEOs who want to turn trust into a durable competitive advantage.
RFK Jr.’s war on antidepressants is coming — and it will cost lives
“Kennedy’s antidepressant rhetoric is not only based on bad science, it fuels distrust in mental health treatments” in the midst of a crisis for adolescents, experts write.
Digital Bank Zand and Business Banking Platform Yuze Announce Strategic Alliance
Blockchain-powered digital bank, Zand, and digital business banking platform, Yuze, have teamed up to help small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs secure digital business accounts.
Community Service, Small Business, and Youth Entrepreneurship Strengthen Tampa’s Local Economy
Community events in Tampa highlighted support for healthcare workers, small businesses, youth entrepreneurship through public engagement & private sponsorship. TAMPA, FL, UNITED STATES, January 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Across the United States, progress is shaped not only by public policy, but by the everyday efforts of healthcare workers, small-business owners, educators, families, and young people. […]
Startups to watch: Baton Rouge’s entrepreneurial surge
Put researchers, incubators and investors in the same ecosystem, and you get a region where innovation can thrive. That momentum is showing up in the number of Capital Region startups now drawing attention far beyond Louisiana. CodeGig CodeGig is a Baton Rouge software firm that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to help industrial companies […]
Dell’s XPS revival is a welcome reprieve from the “AI PC” fad
Dell moves from pushing "AI PCs" and back to what matters in laptops.
A New Kind of Security Risk Is Emerging. Take These 3 Steps to Protect Your Business.
As connected products blur the line between digital vulnerabilities and physical safety, manufacturers must make a fundamental paradigm shift.
Trump says he will meet with health insurers 'in a few days'
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would meet with representatives from every health insurance company soon, after saying last month that he wanted to talk to them about lowering their prices.
Trump Says He Will Meet With Health Insurers 'In a Few Days'
WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would meet with representatives from every health insurance company soon, after saying last month that he wanted to talk to them about lowering their prices. "I'm going to meet with them in a few days, I'm meeting ...
Former US Rep. Greg Lopez leaves GOP, will run for governor in Colorado as an independent
Former U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez, a candidate for governor of Colorado, has left the Republican Party and plans to run as an unaffiliated candidate for the office held by term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis. Lopez, who served six months in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024 after winning a special vacancy election, announced Saturday […]
Dispelling 9 Myths About Women’s Health
When it comes to heart health, immunity, reproductive health and more, misconceptions abound.
Nebraska's MCC Business Development Center supports local entrepreneurs
New business in the new year? Try MCC's Business Development Center
Science Escapes Largest Cuts in Latest Budget Bills
Today, top appropriators in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives released a three-bill appropriations package for fiscal year 2026 (FY26) that largely rejects drastic cuts to federal science budgets that President Trump proposed last year.
Reigniting Entrepreneurship and Business-friendly Solutions
A recent college graduate working out of her parents’ garage. A husband-and-wife team whose homemade soda was discovered at a farmers market. A Wall Street executive whose real passion is museums. And a future governor with $1000 and a computer. No two American Dream stories are the same. But one truth they all have in common: Big dreams […]
Sorrell College students claims top prize in the Business IDEA Competition for 'Trojan Tailgate'
The largest prize pot in the Business IDEA Competition’s history provided $8,000 in seed funding for student-pitched entrepreneurial concepts, thanks to a partnership with MAX Credit Union.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Monday, Jan. 5
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
Appropriations Committee Releases Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; Interior and Environment Funding Package | House Committee on Appropriations
Today, the House Appropriations Committee released text for the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment fiscal year 2026 funding package.
Philosophy to the Rescue of Science
The pessimistic meta-induction—the argument that since past scientific theories have been shown to be false, we should expect that today’s will turn out false, too—makes the New York Times. . Elay Shech, professor of philosophy at Auburn University, takes up the topic in the context of current political disputes about science and our government’s seemingly increasing disregard of expertise: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, made a version of this argument in August when defending his decision to halt hundreds of millions of dollars in mRNA vaccine development despite the objections of vaccine scientists. He said that “science is always evolving” and the experts could not always be trusted. Shech accepts that “many widely accepted [scientific] theories have been discarded” but that the question, “why should we trust the ones we have now?” is misleading. Why? It implies that the only possible attitudes toward science are naïve faith and wholesale pessimism. It assumes that science is a single global entity that rises or falls all at once, when in reality, science is an array of local domains of inquiry, each with its own standards of evidence and degrees of reliability. In place of skepticism, Shech recommends “disciplined trust.” The first step in the direction of disciplined trust is recognizing that “there is no single scientific method used in all of science.” Shech writes: Newton’s deduction from observed phenomena is very different from Darwin’s inference to the best explanation, which in turn differs radically from Einstein’s thought experiments with light beams, trains and elevators. What people call “the scientific method” is really many distinct ways of investigating the world—different strategies for representing, experimenting and classifying. Since different areas of science employ different methods and rely on different kinds of evidence, to make a case for skepticism “you need to look at the evidence and methods in a specific area of inquiry.” And that case will not be “a sweeping claim about all of science” but rather about that particular area of inquiry with, for example, what might turn out to be “well-understood methodological problems.” Shech’s piece is “Science Keeps Changing, So Why Should We Trust It?” (NYT gift link). Discussion welcome (readers are advised to keep in..
How Insomnia Cookies Became A $350 Million Business — By Obsessing Over One Word
It's a powerful lesson in brand positioning, and a great way to sell cookies too.
UI business professor: Motivational posters may be doing just the opposite
A University of Iowa College of Business professor says motivational posters with inspirational messages that adorn many of our workplace walls often do little to motivate or inspire employees. Ken Brown, a UI professor of management and entrepreneurship, says for a poster like that to have real impact, it has to be bundled with what […]
CT entrepreneurs were promised business grants. Why they’ve been waiting for them for years.
Amid an ongoing federal probe, state officials confirmed they are analyzing information.
Longevity because a business worth billions for Silicon Valley
In the longevity industry, the goal isn't just measuring your body. It's reprogramming it to age more slowly
First US at-home depression kit on its way after trial shows benefits in weeks
In a major shift for how mental health conditions might be treated, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first at-home brain-stimulation device to treat moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD).
The politics of asylum: How local exposure reshaped UK voting
The UK has seen a sharp rise in asylum applications since the Covid-19 pandemic. This column examines how exposure to asylum seekers affects voter behaviour. The authors find that increases in dispersed asylum seekers – who are provided with accommodation but cannot choose their destination – lead to a sizeable rightward shift in local election outcomes. While migration has become more salient for both of the UK’s main political parties, only Conservative MPs appear to effectively channel local discontent, helping explain why these rightward electoral shifts occur despite little observable change in public attitudes.
The Legal Fallout From Trump’s Venezuela Gambit
The episode represents a new moment in presidential power and the law.
Govee's CES lineup includes a ceiling lamp that simulates skylights
An updated floor lamp can reproduce over 281 trillion colors.
CES 2026: Govee Announces New Matter-Connected Ceiling and Floor Lights
Govee today introduced three new HomeKit-compatible lighting products, including the Govee Floor Lamp 3, the Govee Ceiling Light Ultra, and the Govee Sky Ceiling Light. The Govee Floor Lamp 3 is the successor to the Floor Lamp 2, and it offers Matter integration with the option to connect to HomeKit. The Floor Lamp 3 offers an upgraded LuminBlend+ lighting system that can reproduce 281 trillion colors, and it supports 1000K to 10000K light temperature range.
AI’s reckoning with reality represents a growing economic risk for 2026
Revenues may be rising rapidly, but not by nearly enough to cover the wild levels of investment under way
Patients Air Their Concerns During Healthcare Town Hall as Logan Health Providers Look to Unionize
Union representatives sat in front of a room full of patients and healthcare providers on Saturday afternoon, listening as members of the audience shared their personal experiences receiving care at Logan Health facilities. Organizers from the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) hosted the town hall to hear the opinions of patients as Logan […]
Vang: Somali women entrepreneurs are revving up Minnesota’s economy
They run child care centers, health care agencies, salons, restaurants, consulting firms and retail shops. Many work two jobs while also managing households, Ka Vang writes.
As More Americans Turn to Self-Employment, Rob Tillman Named 2025 Best Business Coach by Best of Small Business Awards
The 2025 Best Business Coach Award was presented to Rob Tillman as layoffs, AI adoption and job uncertainty drive more Americans toward entrepreneurship. I see this award as a reflection of the smart, talented and driven professionals I’ve worked with, whose real-world outcomes gave voters and judges a basis for their decision.” — Rob Tillman […]
Expert: There's a flood of political campaign spending flowing into Michigan in 2026
2026 is a big political year in Michigan. Voters are not only electing a new governor, attorney general and secretary of state, but also 13 representatives to the U.S. House and a U.S. senator.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Saturday, Jan. 3
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
China’s robot sports craze could eventually put humanoids in homes
On the outskirts of Beijing, young Chinese entrepreneur Cheng Hao sits on an indoor soccer pitch – but this turf isn’t for humans. It’s where engineers working for his start-up, Booster Robotics, train human-like robots to play soccer using artificial intelligence – dribbling, passing, shooting and blocking.
Perriello returns to politics, hoping to win the seat he once held in Congress
Democrats hoping to represent a Virginia district stretching from liberal Charlottesville to conservative Southside were preparing for what could have been an expensive and damaging primary. Now three candidates are out, and momentum is building for a man who has served in Congress before. Sandy Hausman has that story.
Spruce Root's upcoming workshop guides business owners to lead through uncertainty
Michael Mausbach joins KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss how the 3-day workshop can support Southeast Alaska entrepreneurs.
Rep. Jared Golden on hyper-partisanship, Democratic politics — and why he's not running again
This is an excerpt from a lengthy conversation with Golden, a Democrat, about what motivated his decision not to seek a fifth term representing Maine's 2nd District. The 43-year-old said he has no immediate plans to seek elected office after more than a decade in Congress and the Maine Legislature. But he also isn't ruling it out.
Former state House Republican to run again in Central Kentucky race
Former state Rep. Killian Timoney shared he is running in the state House District 45 race, which he previously represented for two terms.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Friday, Jan. 2
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
Zohran Mamdani Supporters Celebrate “Politics of Optimism” at His Inauguration
Tens of thousands of New Yorkers braved freezing temperatures and police barricades to be part of Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration as mayor on New Year’s Day. Democracy Now! spoke with many Mamdani supporters, including a high school student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, about what the day represented to them, their hopes for the new administration and how it could set a model for progressives across the country. “Organized people will always be more powerful than organized money,” said Diana Moreno, a fellow democratic socialist who is running for Mamdani’s vacant seat in the New York State Assembly.
'Foul smelling smoke' from a Lancaster county business continues to frustrate residents
Pennsylvania Sen. James Malone, who represents part of Lancaster County, visited the site and said A&M Composting is working with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Meet the Gurus Promising to Fix India’s Small Businesses
Blending manifestation, management and family mediation, unregulated coaches are charging high fees for guidance many entrepreneurs say MBAs don’t provide.
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM): A Deep Value Commodity Business
As part of our ongoing series at The Acquirer’s Multiple, each week we spotlight a stock from our Stock Screeners that may represent a deeply undervalued opportunity hiding in plain sight. This week’s spotlight is Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM) — the largest producer and distributor of shell eggs in the … Read More
Should the NHS really use magic mushrooms to treat mental health?
Many clinical trials to test the use of psychedelic medicines for conditions such as depression have been underway since 2022 - with surprising results
The 2025 health issue that will impact Montanans next year
From Medicaid expansion to Affordable Care Act subsidies, affordability dominated the health care landscape this year.
Greater Freeport Partnership teaches elements of business ownership in BASE Camp
Registration is open for the Greater Freeport Partnership’s 2026 BASE Camp (Business Academy for Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs).
'Shower Networking Expo' coming for small business
A "business shower" is happening next week to help small businesses and entrepreneurs make some new connections for 2026.Rumella Cameron Caraballo and Rob Sweet
Master AI and Business Skills in One Bundle for Just $25
Stop outsourcing tasks that AI can help you accomplish in minutes.
At 13, Entrepreneur Jack Daly Caddied To Learn Business Secrets
Jack Daly first learned about business on the golf course when he was a teenager—by making the most of his opportunities as a caddy.
Save science funding so critical to Ohio’s future: John M. Herbert and Bern Kohler
For decades, federal science funding has enjoyed bipartisan support. We urge readers to contact their elected representatives and encourage them to pay it forward and resist the devastating proposed federal budget cuts, write guest columnists John M. Herbert, a Professor of Chemistry, and Bern Kohler, Ohio Eminent Scholar, both at Ohio State University.
Former Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell dies at 92
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the former senator and US representative of Colorado known for his passionate advocacy of Native American issues, died Tuesday. He was 92.
State Rep. Paula Davis to step down from Louisiana House in surprise announcement
Davis has represented South Baton Rouge for three terms.
Schuster Law Outlines Approach to Resolving Business and Commercial Disputes
MEDIA, PA – December 30, 2025 – PRESSADVANTAGE – Schuster Law has released information describing its approach to handling business and commercial disputes for companies and individuals across Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The firm represents clients in matters involving contracts, partnership disagreements, real estate conflicts, and other business-related litigation in state and federal courts. “Commercial litigation […]
Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins.
N.Y. Assembly GOP leader endorses Robert Smullen in NY-21 race
Smullen has represented parts of Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery, Oneida and Otsego counties in the state Assembly since 2019.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Tuesday, Dec. 30
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Views on Fixed-Odds Betting
BloodHorse has reprised its online year-end survey to ask some of the sport's leading individuals for their opinions on pertinent issues facing the sport.
Scientists replayed evolution and found a surprise
Environmental change doesn’t affect evolution in a single, predictable way. In large-scale computer simulations, scientists discovered that some fluctuating conditions help populations evolve higher fitness, while others slow or even derail progress. Two populations facing different kinds of change can end up on completely different evolutionary paths. The findings challenge the idea that one population’s response can represent a whole species.
These Des Moines business owners seek to build community spaces
From food pantries and pop-up events to crafting, these Des Moines entrepreneurs hope to make money and bring people together in new ways.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Monday, Dec. 29
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
New Rep. Thompson law cuts red tape, protects small business owners
“When we have multiple layers of bureaucracy, we are actively pushing entrepreneurs and small business owners out of our state,” said Thompson, of Brownstown Township. “This new law will support economic independence and sustainability for people who often face significant barriers to business ownership. The era of government nickel and diming hardworking people must end."
What makes a good E-sports player? Start by being a good human being
Winthrop University in Rock Hill has been leading the E-sports charge among colleges for about seven years. And a local pro squad is trying to increase representation in the sport. Turns out being a good person is better than being a top player.
Looking back on 2025: 10 notable deaths in the Denver business community
James Leprino, Dana Crawford, Daniel Ritchie and others left their mark on the region.
Entrepreneurs compete for $10,000 through Stark County business program
Five local entrepreneurs recently graduated from JumpStart’s Stark County Small Business Impact Program. One received a check for $10,000.
ADHD drugs don’t work the way we thought
ADHD stimulants appear to work less by sharpening focus and more by waking up the brain. Brain scans revealed that these medications activate reward and alertness systems, helping children stay interested in tasks they would normally avoid. The drugs even reversed brain patterns linked to sleep deprivation. Researchers say this could complicate ADHD diagnoses if poor sleep is the real underlying problem.
Zohran Mamdani’s victory bridges long-standing divisions within the city's Muslim community
As Zohran Mamdani prepares to be inaugurated as the city’s next mayor, Muslim New Yorkers say his victory represents more than a historic first.
N.J.’s ‘ghost malls’ need new life. Can these vibrant small businesses save them?
Some entrepreneurs are paying less than $1,000 monthly to rent storefronts that once housed major chains as New Jersey's malls turn to small businesses to survive.
It’s time to fish or cut bait on Maine’s health care crisis
Next November, we need to hire representatives who are willing to sit down with those they disagree with and craft real solutions.
It’s time to fish or cut bait on Maine’s health care crisis
Next November, we need to hire representatives who are willing to sit down with those they disagree with and craft real solutions.
A Bronzeville Kwanzaa event celebrates Black business owners -- We’re carrying on a legacy’
On the second day of Kwanzaa, a vendor fair supported a pickle connoisseur, Gen Alpha lemonade-makers and other Black entrepreneurs in Chicago.
Oregon Nurses Association rejects contract offer, extends strike against Legacy Health
Advanced practice providers represented by the Oregon Nurses Association rejected the tentative agreement reached with Legacy Health reached Dec. 23.
No. 20 Illinois faces battle-tested Southern
Physically rested from a week-long Christmas break, No. 20 Illinois nonetheless returns to the floor against Southern on Monday in Champaign, Ill., with little reprieve from coach Brad Underwood's favorite talking point.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Saturday, Dec. 27
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
2025 EDGE awards, top 10 games of the year
The latest issue of EDGE has been released, and as is tradition for the final issue of the year, it includes various awards plus a list of the top ten games of the year. Various Nintendo-related representation is included for both. While Hades 2 was actually chosen as the best Nintendo game, Donkey Kong Bananza was one of the five...
Cold water changes your cells—and science says it only takes one week - Futura-Sciences
A daily dip in cold water might do more than wake you up — it could actually reprogram your body at the cellular level. According to researchers from the University of Ottawa, this simple habit ... Read more
HOKU PAC launches to support māhū and LGBTQIA+ representation in Hawaiʻi politics
A new political action committee aimed at expanding representation and advancing civil rights in Hawaiʻi was formally launched today, coinciding with the third anniversary of the federal Respect for Marriage Act.
Sleep Apnea Risk Tied to 40% Higher Odds of Poor Mental Health
Obstructive sleep apnea significantly worsens mental health in older adults, increasing risks of depression and psychological distress over time.
Business doesn’t fear regulations — it fears the uncertainties they cause
Throughout history, entrepreneurs have always dealt with uncertainty. Today, in most countries — and especially in this one — it’s an almost annual shifting of political winds.
We need to address the ‘cardiovascular deserts’ in health care: Lee Kirksey
For my part, I refuse to forget the communities like the one in which I grew up that represent the best of Ohio. Cardiovascular deserts are yet another dimension of health disparities that require political will, partnership and tailored strategies to address, writes guest columnist Dr. Lee Kirksey, a Cleveland vascular surgeon and health equity advocate.
Maryland launches Community Business Compass for entrepreneurs
Maryland unveils Community Business Compass with data tools and $10M in funding to boost child care and fresh food access.
Local business owners serve free Christmas meals to Jackson’s unhoused
Two local business owners teamed up to offer hundreds of meals to those in need this Christmas Day.
Mental health experts highlight depression treatment challenges during holidays
For some, the holidays, a time most see as a time of joy, can be a difficult season, and mental health experts are pointing to resources available to provide help.
How a Spanish virus brought Google to Málaga
Spanish entrepreneur Bernardo Quintero, whose company is at the root of Google's Málaga cybersecurity hub, identified the author of the computer virus that influenced his career.
Houston hailed as one of America's 10 best cities for startups
Houston's favorable economic climate is enticing entrepreneurs.
Mental health experts highlight depression treatment challenges during holidays
For some, the holidays, a time most see as a time of joy, can be a difficult season, and mental health experts are pointing to resources available to provide help.
AMC Entertainment Stock Hits All-Time Low Despite Avatar Success, Billionaire Buy-In
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (NYSE:AMC) stock hit a new all-time low Tuesday at $1.64, even as the company reported its strongest pre-Christmas weekend since 2021. Here’s what investors need to know. Don't Miss: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion – they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends 7 Million Gamers Already Trust Gameflip With Their Digital Assets — Now You Can Own a Stake in the Platform What To Know: The bearish price action s
Native American entrepreneurs expanding business opportunities in North Dakota
The Department of Commerce says entrepreneurship is growing in the state of North Dakota. Native American business owners are playing a growing role in that economic momentum.
Belmont Lanterns: Depression-era business promotion unearthed after 90 years
Local history buffs attended a news conference held at The Archive on Kern last Friday for answers to the mystery of the Belmont Lanterns. A contractor on the high-speed rail project discovered 82 large painted
Free rural business accelerator launches in Central Valley 2026
Fresno Pacific University’s Center for Community Transformation (CCT) is launching a new program aimed at spurring growth for rural entrepreneurs and small business owners starting in 2026.
Judge blocks Trump effort to strip security clearance from attorney who represented whistleblowers
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a March presidential memorandum to revoke the security clearance of prominent Washington attorney Mark Zaid, ruling that the order — which also targeted 14 other individuals — could not be applied to him.
Year in review: Trump, gerrymandering & redistricting : The NPR Politics Podcast
As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is taking a look back at the year that was in different political areas. Today, we explore how President Trump pushed Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps with the hope of getting more Republican members of the House of Representatives, and how that led to an escalation of partisan gerrymandering throughout the country.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and voting correspondents Miles Parks & Ashley Lopez.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Rep. Harriet Hageman, who defeated Liz Cheney, announces run for Wyoming Senate seat
Wyoming’s lone U.S. representative is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Cynthia Lummis, who isn’t seeking re-election.
Bill from Rep. Deluzio targets 'ripoff' of costly sports stadiums hot dogs and beer
As President Donald Trump calls affordability concerns a “hoax” and Democrats look to highlight the issue in the upcoming midterm elections,...
Harriet Hageman announces run for Wyoming Senate seat
Wyoming’s lone U.S. representative is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Cynthia Lummis, who isn’t seeking re-election.
Vermont high school sports scores, results, stats for Tuesday, Dec. 23
Vermont high school sports scores and results as reported to the Burlington Free Press sports department.
Why This Business Model Is Opening the Door to Entrepreneurship for People With Almost No Capital
Micro-franchising helps people with limited resources become business owners by offering low-cost and proven franchise models.
Nine mental-health tips for a happier 2026
Regardless of any resolutions you may have for 2026, one thing is for sure: Everyone wants to have a happy new year.While losing weight or saving money may be great goals, the most straightforward path to happiness is caring for your mental and emotional health. A robust body of research shows that simple cognitive and behavioral strategies can reliably boost happiness and reduce stress – and they’re generally free and accessible to all.These strategies don’t have to be super time-consuming, but they do require intention: They only work if you do them.Here, psychologist Valentina Ogaryan, PhD, clinical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, shares her top tips for cultivating more calm, centeredness and happiness in the new year (or anytime):Make time for playPlay isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from frivolous. The National Institute for Play says engaging in silliness, fun and just-for-pleasure activities reduces stress and increases optimism and resilience. A recent review also found that play improves mental health.“Adults can benefit from play as much as children,” Dr. Ogaryan says, “not just as a reward, but something that helps regulate.”So go ahead and dance with your dog, build something with Legos, tell a joke, sing karaoke or do anything else that feels like fun. Don’t worry about being productive, just enjoy yourself. And, if you can, opt for more analog play, Dr. Ogaryan suggests, as a respite from our ever-more-digital world. Move your bodyWhether you dance, ski, do yoga, play pickleball, ride a bike, roller-skate, hike or lift weights, physical movement benefits overall happiness and well-being. A 2018 review study of more than 1.2 million adults in the U.S. found that doing any kind of exercise was “significantly and meaningfully associated” with better self-reported mental health.The sweet spot was 45 minutes of movement three to five times a week, but even short bursts of physical activity can boost brain health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“Movement helps support mood and regulate the nervous system,” Dr. Ogaryan says.Plus: exercise can improve sleep quality, and sleep is essential for mental health.Prioritize sleep“Sleep plays a major role in managing stress,” Dr. Ogaryan says. Research shows that lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of various diseases, including depression.While stress can interfere with sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene can make logging ZZ’s easier. That means maintaining a consistent bedtime; keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; and avoiding social media, news and stimulating shows before bed.Consume lessWe live in a consumer culture, inundated by endless streams of content and advertising everywhere we go, which makes it easy to get overstimulated.“Something really helpful for stress reduction is to simply consume less,” Dr. Ogaryan says – less news, less social media, less information, less noise, less screen time. “It’s about reducing the input,” she says.Consider setting a maximum number of news articles per day, for example, or a time limit on scrolling. Maybe even go device free for an afternoon or a whole day.Practice present-moment awarenessWith so much coming at us all the time, focusing on the here and now can make life feel more manageable, Dr. Ogaryan says: “When everything feels super overwhelming, when everything feels larger than life, let’s make our world a little bit smaller for that moment in time.”She suggests taking things one day, or even one hour, at a time. Ask yourself: What’s my next right action? Release the need to know how everything turns out and liberate yourself from having to handle everything right now. Let the future take care of itself and just focus on the current moment. Then the next one. Have a daily anchorFrom work to the daily commute to family and life responsibilities, our days can feel jam-packed. Dr. Ogaryan recommends creating a centering daily anchor that can fit into even the busiest day.Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or mindfully enjoying your coffee in the morning. Let your anchor adapt to your needs each day, she says, but be intentional about using that time to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. You might even say to yourself, “I choose this walk to help me become centered,” or “My day already feels stressful, so I’m going to take the next 10 minutes to enjoy this cup of coffee, feel the warm mug in my hand and just be present.” Having an anchor won’t erase the busy-ness from your day, but it will allow you to approach it more calmly.Be kind to yourselfMost of us have a harsh inner critic in our heads who works overtime. But that critical voice only increases our stress, triggering the same fight-or-flight response as caustic words from another person.To feel happier, we need to replace that inner critic with a kinder, more compassionate voice, Dr. Ogaryan says. Studies show that self-compassion is a source of eudaimonic happiness – the kind of happiness associated with purpose and meaning in life.While our knee-jerk reaction may be to self-criticize – “How could you let it get to this point? You didn’t manage your time well and now the project is going to be late. You’re so inept.” – we fare better mentally by treating ourselves with kindness, like we would a friend. That might sound like, “You’ve got a lot on your plate, but you are capable and you’ll get it done. I believe in you.”We may think that speaking kindly to ourselves means letting ourselves off the hook, so we end up becoming lazy do-nothings. But research shows the opposite: People who are self-compassionate are more likely to try harder in the face of failure and ultimately reach their goals.You can thank your inner critic for its good intentions, but resolve to talk to yourself in a kind, compassionate voice.Connect with othersHumans are social animals built for connection. Stress can be isolating and cause us to withdraw, but connecting with others is a salve for the psyche, Dr. Ogaryan says.“We know that not all relationships are always easy, but if we can think about intentional, nourishing connection – even in really small doses – it could really help center us,” she says.Take a moment to laugh with your colleagues, hug your pet, have a conversation with a friend or smile at the barista making your coffee. A study found that even tiny interactions with casual acquaintances and strangers decreases loneliness and improves happiness and well-being.Seek supportIf you try these practices and happiness remains elusive, or if you can’t access the wherewithal to follow these tips, seek support from your physician or a therapist. Mental health conditions are among the most common health issues in the U.S. and around the world – more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. One in five people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety the most common, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.“We can all think about these tips,” Dr. Ogaryan says. “But it’s important to recognize if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still really struggling, it’s really important to seek help.”
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
Best Of: What Beards Tell Us About Power, Politics And How We See Each Other : 1A
Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to sport a beard. For the next 50 years, whiskers were commonplace in the White House. But then, they went out of style.Now, Vice President JD Vance is the first executive branch leader in more than a century with a furry face.And others are following suit. From the Senate to the campaign trail, more and more men in politics are letting their facial hair grow free. But what does that tell us about masculinity, power, and how we see each other?Why did our politicians remain bare faced for so long? And what does the reemergence of whiskers in the White House represent?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.