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Laramie County health and food inspections (8/21/26–8/27/26)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department inspects restaurants, bars, convenience stores, delis, grocery stores, bed and breakfasts
Natrona County health and food inspections (8/21/26–8/27/26)
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper-Natrona County Health Department inspects restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, mobile food units, commissaries and
Yankees Sign Former Top Five Prospect
The New York Yankees have signed Jarred Kelenic to a minor league deal
Scientists Are Using AI And Viruses To Help Defeat Superbugs
Deep learning models can help scientists build customized phages.
Lego X-Files (21369) Review: Proof We Need More Fan-Made MOCs
You only have to be a passive fan of Lego to know its dedicated MOC community can always surprise you, and the X-Files set proves we need more from them.
Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices
Hey all, Jason here. When this hits your inbox, I should be en route to the airport — not to go anywhere myself, just to pick up my better half. I must admit, it’s been strange to be home alone (well, with two dogs) for two weeks! Really lets me “optimize” to spending more time on reading/writing/working, whether that’s healthy or not! Looking forward to getting back into a (somewhat) more balance routine. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading Compare Notes With the People Who Built Modern Fintech Partner content: Remitly CEO Sebastian Gunningham. Increase founder Darragh Buckley. Linda Du, Co-founder & President at Valon. They’ll unpack the decisions behind building and scaling major financial products: what they got right, what broke, what they would do differently, and how AI and new infrastructure are changing the operator playbook. Most events tell you where fintech is going. NerdCon puts the people who built the present in the room and asks them what comes next. Expect an operator-led conversation grounded in real products, real trade-offs and lessons earned the hard way. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% on Regular tickets with code FBW20 before standard pricing ends September 11. Meet the Builders Things To Know & Other Good Reads Advent and Stripe Abandon $50 Billion Pursuit of PayPal (Bloomberg) Trump Family’s New Crypto Bank Is Backed by Abu Dhabi Sheikh (Wall Street Journal) The multiplying risks of financing data centres (FT) Let the Bond Market Speak (Wall Street Journal) Did we waste a crisis? Modest proposals to reform deposit insurance. (Fintech Takes Banking) Untangling Guggenheim: How Private Credit Built Its Own Universe (Net Interest) The Hater’s Guide To Circular Financing — Part One (Ed Zitron) Fiat Ventures Rebrands to FGV Capital, Announces $35M Oversubscribed Fund II (BusinessWire) Socure Announces Strategic Growth Investment at $5.2B Valuation and Acquires Agentic Operations Platform Fravity (Socure) Listen: When Consumer Protection Disclosures Work Too Well (Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast) Colorado Sues EarnIn For “Immoral, Unethical, Oppressive and Unscrupulous” Business Practices When Andreessen Horowitz led EarnIn’s $39 million Series B in 2017, Alex Rampell, a partner at the storied venture capital firm, described EarnIn’s small-dollar advance product as “free,” relying on “entirely on voluntary contributions instead of fees.” Rampell favorably compared EarnIn’s approach to typical payday loans, writing, “Payday loans historically have had the potential to be a slippery slope for consumers into financial distress: opaque systems and steep fees that are hard to repay and set individuals back further than where they started. For many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, that kind of slide into debt can be extremely difficult to recover from.” But EarnIn’s product — which, the company says, isn’t a “loan,” legally speaking — ends up being anything but free for most users. While it is technically possible to take a no-fee advance from the company, most users incur “Lightning Speed” (instant funding) fees and/or ostensibly optional tips that combined can equate to annualized percent rates that can reach over 1,000%. With an average term of 9.77 days, even fees and tips that are small on an absolute dollar basis are equivalent to high APRs on an annualized basis. A lawsuit filed last week by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser against EarnIn describes the company and its product and business practices quite differently than Andreessen’s Rampell; “EarnIn’s business practices are unfair because they are immoral, unethical, oppressive and unscrupulous,” the complaint, filed in District Court in Denver, Colorado, says. EarnIn’s marquee product, Cash Out, isn’t a loan, the company says, as Cash Out is not “[f]orward [l]ooking” because “[t]he money is transferred based on earnings to date,” does not carry a mandatory fee to access funds, and is “non-recourse,” meaning EarnIn cannot pursue recovery from users who don’t repay advanced funds. EarnIn is sometimes referred to as an “Earned Wage Advance” service. Though, unlike some others in the broader category, EarnIn does not integrate with employers’ payroll or time and attendance systems. Rather, EarnIn attempts to verify a user’s income and employment, by examining direct deposit transaction data in their linked external bank account, by using GPS location and Bluetooth data to estimate a user’s time spent at work, if they work in a fixed location, and/or by having a user provided a work email address. While repayment is theoretically optional, as EarnIn would have no recourse, such as reporting non-payment to the credit bureaus or a collections agency, this is anything but clear to users of the EarnIn app, Colorado’s complaint argues. During the process of taking a Cash Out, users must agree to a preauthorized debit of the amount advanced, plus any expedited funding fee and/or tips. Though users technically can revoke this ACH authorization, the fact that they have this right isn’t presented to users during the Cash Out process, but rather is included in linked terms and conditions few users are likely to actually read. And users who do wish to revoke their ACH authorization must do so three or more days before the scheduled transaction date by emailing EarnIn’s customer support. Similarly, EarnIn’s marketing claims that it carries “no interest” and “no mandatory fees” is technically true, but is not the reality for many of the app’s users, the Colorado complaint argues. Further, EarnIn has extensively marketed to users the ability to “access your pay today,” to get “instant” funds, and to get funds “the same day you work” — when, in reality, this speed of access was only possible by paying the additional, undisclosed Lightning Speed fee. The Colorado complaint highlights this contradiction specifically, noting: EarnIn tells consumers that they can ‘Make any day payday with EarnIn’ and that there no ‘hidden’ or ‘mandatory fees.’ For a consumer to access their pay on the same day requested, they would have to pay the Lightning Speed fee. In the fine print of the advertisement EarnIn discloses that ‘[f]ees apply to use Lightning Speed,’ a direct contradiction to the larger text of the advertisement, and a fact that would not be immediately understood by a consumer as ‘Lightning Speed’ is not defined nor explained. Like other small-dollar lending services, rather than explicitly charge interest, EarnIn collects a markup on the optional Lighting Speed fee, which, given the nature of the transactions, many users opt for, as well as offering users the option to leave “tips.” EarnIn leverages either Real-Time Payments (RTP) rails or push-to-card via debit rails if a user opts for the optional Lightning Speed. But while these capabilities cost EarnIn, on average, $0.075 or $0.20 per transaction, respectively, EarnIn charges users significantly more. Initially, EarnIn charged as little as $1.99 for Cash Outs up to $24. But EarnIn has hiked these fees multiple times, and now charges $4.99 for Cash Outs up to $75 and $6.99 for those over $75. According to the Colorado complaint, EarnIn leverages “dark patterns” to manipulate users and to make it more difficult to avoid tipping. Examples of these “road blocks” highlighted in the complaint include: As of 2023, in the EarnIn app, a consumer attempting to get a loan under the default settings had to make at least eighteen separate taps to complete the transaction and reduce the tip to $0. There is an alternative method to leave a $0 tip, via the “Custom tip” feature, but EarnIn made this option difficult to access by visually deemphasizing it and positioning it near devices’ “home” button. Using language and imagery such as “Tip to pay it forward,” “Your generosity supports the service + helps,” “Your tips make a difference,” and “[t]he APR for this cash out is 0%. Your tips help support us.” While Lightning Speed and tipping are, in theory, both optional, in practice, users nearly always ended up paying something. According to the Colorado suit, users were charged either a tip or an expedite fee for more than 92% of transactions, with an average APR of nearly 388%. And, although the advances are “non-recourse,” EarnIn successfully collects on nearly all transactions — 99.18%, according to the complaint, which, Colorado argues, “demonstrat[es] that EarnIn’s advances function as high cost loans, not voluntary payments.” The share of EarnIn users incurring fees — despite the product being marketed as 0% APR — is hard to reconcile with Andreessen investor Rampell’s favorable description of EarnIn vs. “opaque systems and steep fees” associated with payday loans, which, Rampell says, can be “extremely difficult” for borrowers to extricate themselves from. According to Colorado’s suit, EarnIn’s Cash Out product “trapped many consumers in extreme cycles of high-cost reborrowing.” The suit gives an example of one consumer in the state, who took out a whopping 1,151 loans, paying a total of $4,038.50 in Lightning Speed expedited funding fees on loans that averaged the equivalent of 1,421% APR. Another Colorado user, the suit says, took out 1,033 loans, paying $8,561.22 in tips and fees at an average APR of 1,539% . These types of usage patterns demonstrate “the severe and repeated financial harm caused by EarnIn’s illegal lending model,” the Colorado complaint argues. In aggregate, from January 2023 through July 2025, EarnIn extended 3.1 million loans to 56,778 users in Colorado — an average of nearly 55 transactions per person during the time period. EarnIn lent more than $300 million and collected more than $16 million from Colorado users in Lightning Speed fees and in tips. Ultimately, the Colorado complaint argues that “EarnIn’s Cash Outs are loans under Colorado law, and EarnIn’s contention that its product is not a loan based on its disclaimer of any legal repayment obligation lacks any real-world significance given how the Cash Out transactions actually operate in practice.” Colorado further argues that “EarnIn was not working with companies here in providing consumers with funds but acted as a third-party lender and charged illegally high rates, used deceptive design strategies to extract some charges, and trapped consumers in repeat borrowing. Colorado will continue to stand up for consumers and hold companies accountable when they violate our credit laws or attempt to evade them through misleading practices.” Colorado’s suit alleges EarnIn assesses finance charge in excess of that permitted by Colorado law, that EarnIn failed to make legally required disclosures to Colorado borrowers, that EarnIn made supervised loans to consumers without obtaining the requisite license, that EarnIn violated the state’s Deferred Deposit Loan Act, that EarnIn engage in unfair and deceptive trade practices, and that EarnIn made false or misleading statements concerning price. The suit seeks a court order enjoining EarnIn from violating relevant Colorado laws, for EarnIn to refund amounts charged in excess of state law, fees, costs, and penalties, and other relief the court deems to be just. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Q2 Quarterly Banking Profile: Five Quick Takeaways The FDIC released its quarterly banking profile, which is always worth a read, for the second quarter. The profile provides an aggregate snapshot about the overall health of the 4,238 institutions whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, who, collectively, hold more than $26 trillion in assets and saw a total net income of more than $90 billion in the second quarter. Net income was up 12% vs. Q1 2026, with lower provisions and realized gains on securities helping to drive the improvement, somewhat offset by increases in non-interest expense and applicable income taxes. Overall net interest margin was basically flat quarter over quarter (up 1 basis point vs. Q1 2026), though community banks saw NIM grow by 10 basis points, to 3.81%. Unsurprisingly, given that interest rates haven’t changed, unrealized losses on securities changed little, edging up slightly to $326.7 billion vs. $325.1 billion in Q1 2026. Aggregate credit quality has remained benign, with asset quality actually improving slightly in Q2. Overall, institutions reported a 9 basis point decline in their past-due and non-accrual rate, to 1.44%. Net charge off rate also declined by 2 basis points, to 0.57%. And finally, the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund stands at $161.1 billion, making the DIF reserve ratio 1.48% — above the statutory minimum of 1.35%, but still below the designated target reserve ratio of 2%. [Paid Subscriber Exclusive] Nissan Withdraws ILC App, State Associations Plan BankChain Alliance, FDIC Defines “Unsafe or Unsound Practice” For First Time Automaker Nissan withdrew its application to charter a Utah industrial loan company and its corresponding application to the FDIC for deposit insurance last week, on August 19th. Nissan’s application had been outstanding for more than a year, as it originally applied in June 2025. Recent applications to the OCC to form national banks have been decisioned, one way or the other, substantially more quickly than has historically been the case.
Vermont’s population of primary care doctors is declining
A new Vermont Department of Health census gives a snapshot of a dwindling population of primary care docs and a steady increase of specialists statewide.
‘Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2’ Is Worth It For ‘Ghost Babel’
Now that the second volume of the 'Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection' is finally here, the real star of the show is the Game Boy Color game, 'Ghost Babel'.
Xero Adds AI, Google Targets Law Firms And Claude Beats ChatGPT: 5 Small Business Tech Stories
Xero adds AI tools, Google expands Gemini for law firms, LinkedIn fights AI slop, Goldman warns of AI risks, and Claude tops user satisfaction.
In 1990, the northern spotted owl became a symbol of America’s logging wars; 36 years later, scientists say it is already functionally extinct across large swaths of its range
In 1990, a small bird became an unlikely symbol of one of America’s fiercest environmental battles. The northern spotted owl was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, putting the future of vast stretches of old-growth forest in the Pacific Northwest at the centre of a bitter fight between environmentalists and the logging industry.
Why was this previously healthy 14-year-old so sick?
What started as a suspected middle ear infection was quickly found to be a much more serious issue related to COVID-19. Quick response is key.
‘We are excited about the future’: Aiken and Florence healthcare providers announce intent to merge
Aiken-based Rural Health Services has announced intent to merge with HopeHealth, another nonprofit that provides primary and specialty health care services.
What to Expect from Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro: Design Changes, Specs, and Costs
iPhone 18 Pro price rumors suggest a starting cost of $1,199 alongside possible display enhancements. Catch up on the expected camera changes.
Broncos Expected to Add ‘Intriguing’ Former Raiders Pass Rusher
The Denver Broncos are taking on David Agoha, adding the former Las Vegas Raiders prospect, once their roster is finalized. The post Broncos Expected to Add ‘Intriguing’ Former Raiders Pass Rusher appeared first on HEAVY.
Adaptive barrel races, roping practice highlight Monument Health special rodeo
Monument Health partnered with the Central States Fair to host a special adaptive rodeo, giving athletes with disabilities a chance to join modified events.
Measles Outbreak In Pennsylvania— A Case Study In The Challenges Of Public Health
A public health expert explains how the measles outbreak in Pennsylvania exemplifies the challenges facing public health in America.
Reactions: “That was a perfect first half”
(in the mixed zone): “The first half was spectacular, the second was a lot of hard work. But over the course of the whole game, you could clearly see the commitment and the determination. In the fir...
2026 Cases Impacting The Entertainment Industry
This article provides a brief summary of 2026 cases impacting the entertainment industry.
Seven new frog species were hiding beneath Madagascar’s forest floor
Scientists have discovered seven new species of Madagascar’s elusive diamond frogs, using DNA from modern and century-old museum specimens to solve a long-running biological puzzle. The findings reveal surprising hidden diversity and could help protect these little-known amphibians as their forest habitats disappear.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Release Timeline: New Date Enters The Schedule
It’s a matter of days before the next iPhones are revealed. Here’s a full schedule of what’s happening, including a new report that changes a key time in the calendar.
New exhibit to take Sacramento on a trip inside the human body
The traveling exhibition, “Bodies - The Science Within,” features preserved human specimens will arrive in Sacramento this fall.
How Investors Are Reacting To Tencent Music (TME) Partnering With SM Entertainment On New China JV
In August 2026, SM Entertainment announced a new joint venture with Tencent Music Entertainment Group called STE, which will focus on launching a Chinese idol group within two to three years and managing promotions for SM’s Greater China artists. This partnership links Tencent Music’s local market reach with SM’s artist IP, potentially strengthening Tencent Music’s role in China’s evolving fan-centric music ecosystem. Next, we’ll examine how this SM-Tencent Music joint venture, especially...
September At SALA Brings Movies, Community Events, Science, Music And More To Los Alamos
SALA NEWS RELEASE SALA Los Alamos Event Center is welcoming the fall season with a full September lineup featuring family programming, classic films, new releases, special screenings, live performa…
Yankees' Unsuspecting Pitcher Has Become Massive X-Factor
This unsuspecting New York Yankees pitcher has become a huge X-factor down the stretch.
'The sky's the limit' for Packers in 2026, Bullard says | FOX 11 One on One
FOX 11 Sports Director Ryan Wing sits down with Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard for a special training camp edition of FOX 11 One on One.
Why Rockstar Has Said Nothing About ‘GTA 6 Online’ So Far
Rockstar has now opened the doors to "Grand Theft Auto 6" previews, but they have not and wil not talk about "GTA 6 Online" or its release date. Why?
6 Bears playmakers make Yahoo's top 100 fantasy players
Yahoo's Justin Boone had six Chicago Bears players in the top 100 fantasy football prospects in FPPR leagues.
Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (Aug. 20-27)
There were 14 restaurants and food establishments ordered closed by Orange County inspectors from Aug. 20 to Aug. 27.
How To Know What Your Business Is Actually Worth
A practical guide to calculating what your business is really worth, from revenue versus profit to the four levers that actually move your multiple.
Integrated pollution and carbon mitigation delivers major health and economic cobenefits in China
Synergistic mitigation of air pollutants and greenhouse gases is crucial for achieving clean air and carbon neutrality, but quantitative evidence of sectoral and regional health co-benefits in China remains limited. Authors develop an integrated Energy-Economy-Air Quality-Health framework coupling CEEPA, GAINS, and a province-level health module to simulate fourteen policy scenarios from 2020 to 2050. Coordinated strategies reduce CO2 and pollutants (SO2, NOX, PM2.5) by 75% relative to 2020, avoiding more than 500,000 premature deaths by 2050 and yielding monetized gains of 1.07 trillion CNY. Health benefits concentrate in industrially dense and populous provinces, with near-term PM2.5 reductions driven by pollution control and long-term improvements reliant on decarbonization. The integrated approach achieves a benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.42, lowering abatement costs by 11% relative to pollution-only measures. These findings highlight the value of coordinated, sector- and region-specific strategies for simultaneous climate mitigation, air quality improvement, and public health protection.
University of Minnesota offering free vision, hearing tests at the State Fair
The U of M will be showcasing its new sensory health mobile unit at the State Fair this year — an initiative to free diagnostic care to more Minnesotans, especially in rural areas where it can be tricky to find care close to home.
Canada fights back in US trade war, targeting specific states
Canadian officials say they aim for 'political pressure' on US officials with retaliatory tariffs on imports.
Two Vikings Players Facing Potential Punishment After Broncos Game
The Minnesota Vikings’ loss to the Denver Broncos in the preseason finale could be especially costly for Ross and one of his teammates. The post Two Vikings Players Facing Potential Punishment After Broncos Game appeared first on HEAVY.
24th Annual BioBlitz at Seacoast Science Center
Join Seacoast Science Center on Sunday, September 20, 2026 for the 24th BioBlitz, the non-profits annual community science event in Odiorne Point State Park. Families and nature enthusiasts team up with SSC naturalists and guest experts to explore the Park’s habitats to find and identify as many different species as possible in just one day! BioBlitz is a great way to get kids (and adults!) excited about science, learn about the park’s biodiversity, and discover how you can help protect our natural world.Like an extreme nature scavenger hunt, BioBlitz offers many opportunities for all ages to gain knowledge and hone skills in their favorite areas of nature! Habitat, plant, and animal explorations are scheduled throughout the day, allowing participants to choose among activities that interest them the most. With seven distinct natural habitats to survey, there’s something for everyone! Explorations include tide pools, mammals, seine netting, salt marsh, mushrooms, and more (see full schedule online, subject to change). Find all the details on the BioBlitz web page, and get your tickets to explore with SSC: https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/events-overview/bioblitz
‘Force Restart’—Microsoft Changes Windows Update Next Month
Your Windows PC will force restart for the next two months — here's why.
In the age of AI, is math the new CS degree?
Computer science was long respected as the degree with the most competitive salary. But as AI wipes out the tech sector, math might be the new safe bet.
Brand-New Pokemon Pokopia Code Takes You to Special Cloud Island
The Pokemon Company gives away a brand-new Pokemon Pokopia Cloud Island code inspired by the franchise's biggest event of the year.
Digital technologies reshape clinical research and public health
JMIR Publications this week released seven feature News and Perspectives articles covering how digital tools are transforming clinical research, public health readiness, health care institutions, and consumer choices.
Avalanche Set NHL History With Massive Cale Makar Extension
After weeks of speculation as to what his next contract could look like, the Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Cale Makar have come together on an extension that has officially set NHL history.On Friday, the Avalanche announced that they have signed Makar to an NHL-record $163.2 million contract extension over eight seasons. This means that Makar […] The post Avalanche Set NHL History With Massive Cale Makar Extension appeared first on HEAVY.
Blakeman says Lake America is 'fun' as other NY pols push back
Republican Western New York state Sen. George Borrello told Spectrum News 1 it’s a distraction from actually addressing trade issues with Canada.
3 waiver claim candidates for the Bengals during final cuts
Cameron Williams is a young prospect at tackle that could become available this weekend.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is free to play for the weekend though only on one platform, Standard Edition on sale for just $10
Duck King just launched as the second DLC character of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Season 3, and there's a few special offers going around for the game right now.Players who've never hopped on to the ...
Pete Hegseth is talking about a possible run for president in 2028, sources say
The defense secretary has floated a White House run with close friends and associates, two people said. And Hegseth sparked speculation with an event in Iowa this month.
Victory Brewing Company's taproom in Philadelphia reopens after failing health inspection
Madison police: Suspect pulls gun, threatens to ‘blow up’ business
A person allegedly pulled a gun out and threatened a business Thursday night in downtown Madison, police said.
Heartflow tech limits unnecessary catheterizations in patients with suspected CAD
AI-powered software from Heartflow can provide cath labs with a lot of value, according to new late-breaking data presented at ESC Congress 2026.
Politics Unusual: NJ Transit president, NYS Sen. Gournardes
In this special episode of Politics Unusual, FOX 5 NY's Teresa Priolo speaks with NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri about the $4 million loss during the World Cup. Also, a conversation with State Senator Andrew Gounardes about protecting children from the negative effects of social media.
Nude suspect breaks into business: Report
Officers spoke with a manager of the business, who described an incident captured on security footage taken around 9:20 p.m. Monday.
Adult congenital heart programs growing more important as time goes on
More than 95% of congenital heart patients now survive into adulthood, leaving clinicians with much more ground to cover than ever before. Providing high-quality care for these patients requires specialty care as well as collaborations with general cardiologists.
C.T.E. Risks and Youth Sports: How to Keep Child Athletes Safe
A study found C.T.E. in 25% of deceased NFL players, but Orlando Health pediatric sports specialist Dr. Elizabeth Davis explains how safety measures allow children to play contact sports safely. Learn practical ways to reduce concussion risks in youth athletics.
Buffalo Sabres Linked to Potential Connor Hellebuyck Move
The Winnipeg Jets prospects for the 2026-2027 season have been made more complicated after their franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made his trade request from the organization public yesterday. This raises the sense of urgency for the team to get a Hellebuyck deal done soon as the new season approaches on the horizon. One team that […] The post Buffalo Sabres Linked to Potential Connor Hellebuyck Move appeared first on HEAVY.
New Haven Education Committee asks city to inspect all public schools for health, fire and safety hazards before start of school year
With classes set to start Monday, New Haven’s Board of Alders Education Committee is calling on the city to send inspectors into every public school building.
NVIDIA Buys Hugging Face: Three Implications For Your Business
NVIDIA is reportedly buying Hugging Face. What the deal means for open-source/open-weight AI infrastructure. Three implications and immediate actions for your business.
'Paranormal Cirque' Comes to New Hartford
Paranormal Cirque: Specter is bringing its haunting blend of theater, circus and cabaret to Sangertown Square under a big top tent.
‘Snake Men’ by Zach St. George
Who gets to name a newly discovered species is an unsettled question in the world of biology. Conflicts over taxonomy can become venomous.
Jelly Roll addresses speculation about his politics after Trump joke
Jelly Roll is finally letting fans know where he stands when it comes to politics.
House will vote to denounce socialism
The House of Representatives is set to vote next week when lawmakers return to condemn and denounce “socialism in all its forms,” specifically pointing to the growing Democratic Socialists of America organization. The House voted to condemn socialism last year, but did not specifically call out the DSA. The resolution includes calling for the enactment […]
AHA recommends changes to home health payments, provider enrollment provisions in CY 2027 proposed rule
The AHA provided comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Aug. 28 on its calendar year 2027 home health prospective payment system proposed rule, focusing on two specific concerns.
New Engineering Undergrad Degree Blends Multiple Areas
By Kim Horner | Materials science and engineering doctoral student Ben Dunn uses an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system for surface chemistry characterization. UT Dallas expanded its offerings in materials science and engineering with a new bachelor’s degree this fall. The University of Texas at Dallas is introducing a new bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, […]
Inside Alabama Politics
Welcome to a new edition of Inside Alabama Politics! And a special welcome to new subscribers who have found your way here. For those who are new here, longtime Alabama politico David Azbell authored a great post on his Art of Alabama Politics about the history of IAP going back to its founder, Bessie Ford. […]
Things to Do in Asheville This September: Classes, Sports, and Special Events
The final days of summer fun mix with the crisp air of fall as Asheville Parks & Recreation brings a September welcome mat to the community full of activities built to help explore, connect, and discover. Whether your goal is to make a change like leaves on trees throughout the city, meet new people, or [...]
How To Build A Team So You Can Take A Break From Your Business
A practical guide to building a team you can genuinely trust to run your business, so stepping away stops feeling impossible and starts feeling like a system.
Practicum experience enhances this MPH student’s research insights
By applying classroom learning to real-world research, Keya Chilka discovered new perspectives on public health and strengthened the skills needed to create meaningful change for vulnerable populations.
NYC CLC/NYCOSH 2026 Safety & Health Series: WTC 25th Anniversary: Man-Made Disasters | New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Tuesday, September 8, 11AM-1PM via Zoom: As part of the NYC CLC/NYCOSH 2026 Safety & Health Series, join us for a special training commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. The session will cover the World Trade Center Health Program, WTC-related research and findings related to survivors, and lessons from other man-made disasters, including Chernobyl and Deepwater Horizon.
News | Return of market-specific group business requires hoteliers to spread revenue net
Government, meeting planners still vital sources of demand
Keith Kaiser and Jude Redfield get entertainment from the Spoon Man
The Kentucky Exposition Center has something for everyone this time of year from the farm animal competitions to the specialty acts.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy's Game Director and Star on Why Sophia Is So Special and Why This Prequel Let the Team 'Get Some Fresh Air'
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy has just been released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and we had the chance at gamescom to speak to David Dedeine, co-founder of Asobo and game director, and Anna Demetriou, Sophia's voice actor, about this big moment for the franchise.
Building Trust Through Business Relationships Amid Misinformation
Businesses can rebuild trust in an era of misinformation by prioritizing transparency, communication and stronger relationships.
Congo starts Ebola vaccinations for health workers
Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday began vaccinating frontline health workers with a vaccine approved for a different Ebola species, as authorities seek to contain the country's largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.
The Witcher 3 Remastered details Nintendo Switch 2 frame rate and resolution, physical release teased, mouse controls supported, mods confirmed
During a live stream event today, CD Projekt Red detailed the frame rate and resolution for The Witcher 3 Remastered on Nintendo Switch 2 and commented on other aspects like a physical release teased, mouse controls, and mods. The game is said to run at 720p in handheld mode while 1080p is the target when docked. For frame rate, it’s...
Italy business and consumer confidence rise in August
ROME, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Italian business and consumer confidence rose in August, data showed on Friday, in a positive sign for the prospects of the euro zone's third largest economy. • National statistics institute ISTAT's consumer confidence index ...
Rochester to inspect 14,500 homes and business properties
Rochester is launching a five-year property review program. Here is what owners need to know about upcoming inspections.
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
AI Brings Scamming Against Businesses To A Whole New Level
AI supercharges existing scam categories like impersonation, phishing, and business email compromise, making them hyper-personalized and harder to detect.
‘Health Freedom Index’ ranks states by free-market measures not directly related to costs or outcomes. Here are the 20 ‘most free’
For certain aspects of healthcare, Arizona is the freest state in the nation. The least free? New Jersey.
Scientists tracked 4,500 animals and found a surprising human effect
Scientists tracking thousands of animals found that our physical presence can reshape where wildlife moves and lives, sometimes as strongly as roads, cities, and other human development. Because different species reacted in very different ways, conservation efforts may need to become much more targeted.
The Literacy Crisis Reaches Dog-Bear Science
“New analysis of more than 300 bear encounters suggests our canine companions often increase odds of conflict and rarely serve as early warning systems many recreationists assume,” reads a subhead in Mountain Journal. The thing is, that study reaches no such conclusion. But you have to read beyond the abstract to understand that. Mountain Journal is not alone. Let’s look at a brief list of takeaways published elsewhere just to establish that none of them seem to know how to read science. Wes Siler’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Here’s CBC: “A new peer-reviewed study, The Canine Conundrum: Is a Dog a Help or Hindrance in Bear Country?, dug into conflicts similar to what the video depicts, by analyzing 326 reported human-bear conflicts from 1901 to 2023 involving dogs.” “The study found 54 per cent of conflicts were started by dogs. In the encounters researchers included in the study, five people and 56 dogs were killed, and 170 people were injured.” “Lana Ciarniello, an independent researcher who co-authored the study, said researchers found when a person goes hiking with at least one other person, the odds of a negative bear encounter decrease by 50 per cent.” “However, when a dog is involved, the chances of a negative bear encounter increase because ‘a dog really adds a chaotic factor into the mix of recreation,’ said Ciarniello.” Again, the study finds no data supporting that conclusion. “Hiking with your pet dog may make you feel safer in bear country—but a hiker’s recent encounter and a new study prove that the numbers don’t add up,” writes Backpacker, which is now part of Outside. The numbers don’t add up to support this take. There’s plenty more examples, but all are equally dumb, so I’ll stop there. How did so many people get this so wrong? Three reasons: 1) the study is published behind a paywall, with only the abstract freely available. 2) the methodology sets out to create work relevant to a hyper-specific audience, not the public. And 3) the dataset studied is almost absurdly limited and doesn’t bear (get it?!) comparison to wider information. Let’s work through all three. The Problem is Money I understand the irony, since I’m writing about this on a subscription-model newsletter, but information wants to be free. The study is published by The Wildlife Society and costs $16 to access. Reprinting it is specifically prohibited by the terms of use, so I can only share snippets and my conclusions with you here. Having worked as a journalist for 24 years, I can report with some authority that journalists are both lazy and cheap. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that much of the material you’re seeing written about this study is drawn from the freely-available abstract (above) only, and not a deep dive into its methodology or data. And that’s a problem, because abstracts are where researchers are able to break from their numbers and editorialize their opinions about conclusions. So what’s getting reported isn’t based on numbers, it’s based on an opinion designed for a specific audience, not the general public. Hell yeah ladies, kick that bear’s ass. The Methodology is Designed to Support a Predetermined Conclusion One of the biggest issues with the science that everyone likes to cite about bear spray’s efficacy is that no one understands that study was designed for a specific audience, looking for a specific answer. And since that audience is not the public, and our safety was not the question being asked, its conclusion is rendered irrelevant to our needs. Yes, I’m talking about Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, which was created by Tom Smith and Stephen Herrero, two of the same scientists who put together this dog-bear conflict analysis. In the spray study, the purpose was to present relevant agencies with the information they needed to issue their field workers with bear spray. As such, incidents where people were unable to access the spray or similarly failed to get it deployed in time were excluded from the results, and only incidents they deemed successful were included. Could a ranger roll down their vehicle’s window and scare a bear away from a dumpster by spraying it? Turns out the answer was yes, and that was good enough for the purposes of that study. The sample size of actual bear attacks—the thing you and I would want bear spray to provide a solution to, was too small to draw conclusions from, and didn’t indicate success in that role. Is a Dog a Help or Hindrance in Bear Country? has similar limitations. “Insights provided here are intended to help wildlife managers create effective guidelines regarding the presence of domestic dogs in bear habitat,” is explained clearly by the study’s text. To conduct the study, Smith and Herrero went looking for publicly available reports of dog-bear conflicts: “All incidents included in our analysis involved at least one bear, one dog, and one person who was at immediate risk of injury (e.g., not in a protective structure such as a cabin or vehicle), injured, or killed,” explains the report’s methodology. Why is that a problem? “We recognize that data used in this study are biased in that people generally only report adverse interactions with bears, not benign ones. Consequently, we assume that for the most part, people and their dogs pass through bear country without incident.” As was the problem with the bear spray study, people are drawing conclusions here from a study that was never intended to be relevant to the general public. The Smith-Herrero database famously excludes Alaska’s Defense of Life and Property records, which are elsewhere considered the largest and most authoritative source on human-bear conflict. The Dataset is Absurdly Limited A 2009 study conducted by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife estimates that each year there are at least 43,000 documented complaints of human-bear conflict across North America. Is a Dog a Help or Hindrance in Bear Country? Examined those reports for years ranging from 1901 to 2023, and only managed to find 326 such incidents that met the criteria explained above. Let’s do some quick math, poorly. 43,000 incidents x 122 years = 5,246,000 total incidents of documented human-bear conflict. Smith and Herrero were only able to find 326 incidents that met their criteria for dog+human+bear+risk or occurrence of injury. That means there’s a 0.006 percent chance that the study’s conclusion—that dogs make bear encounters more dangerous—even gets a chance of occurring. And remember, that’s only in documented conflicts. There’s no way to know how many people across North America run into a bear in any given year without any conflict, but it’s probably safe to assume that the total number is well in excess of 43,000. And, dig deeper into the study and you can find further restrictions that skew its conclusions even more. “While the people involved in these incidents did not report the level of training their dogs had received, it is our assumption that most were untrained companion dogs as opposed to well-trained bear dogs, such as Karelians and livestock guardian breeds that have proven to be significant aids in bear country,” the study’s methodology explains. And that’s a problem, because an ongoing study here in Montana is finding that the simple presence of a Kangal like our youngest dog Teddy can reduce visits to private property from grizzly bears by 87.8 percent. In addition to being a badass, Teddy is also a companion animal. And in my admittedly limited sample size of the three dogs currently present in our living room, she’s no more effective than her mutt brothers. Plenty of people own a dog capable of deterring bears, even if they didn’t set out to own a bear dog. The real purpose of this study appears to be a recommendation that leashes are mandated and recreationists pursue training in their deterrent of choice. But that doesn’t make for sensational headlines. Are There Any Real Takeaways Here? Let’s throw some numbers around, just to try and get our hands around what the larger picture might look like for bears and dogs here. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 42.6 percent of American households own a dog. The Canadian Animal Health Institute says roughly 35 percent of households in Canuckistan own a dog. In an attempt to create the worst possible result for dogs, let’s run with that 35 percent number. And given that outdoorsy and rural people are more likely to both own a dog, and have bear encounters, let’s just make a giant assumption and apply that number to those 43,000 conflicts documented annually. If 35 percent of 43,000 human-bear encounters involve a dog, then we can assume that at least 15,050 dog-bear conflicts are occurring annually in North America. 15,050 x 122 = 1,836,100. Smith and Herrero were only able to find 326 incidents that met their human, dog, chance or occurrence of injury criteria across 122 years. And only 170 documented human injuries. So, with all the obvious caveats about these numbers in no way describing reality beyond narrow study parameters, what they actually found is that your risk of injury if your dog tangles with a bear is only 0.009 percent. I’ll take those odds next time I’m hiking my dogs in bear country. Top photo: “Superintendent Horace Albright, eating pancakes with bears, at Lake Lodge, Yellowstone National Park.” NPS. A journalist with more than two decades of experience working around the world, Wes Siler is here to cut through the outrage and disinformation to bring you the factual, insightful, actionable reporting you need to understand what’s going on. Upgrading to a paid subscription supports this reporting, and buys personal access to Wes, who will help you save money on gear, plan outdoor adventures, and prepare for real life, and who promises he’s less salty in real life than he sometimes comes across as on the Internet. Wes Siler’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
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