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New York politicians defend thwarted meeting with Iran
The State Department quashed the engagement, with an official telling Spectrum News it was “unconscionable.”
FTO designation exposes compliance gaps in Brazil’s entertainment sector
Following a domestic money-laundering probe that linked funk artists to Brazilian criminal groups and the subsequent US designation of two cartels as terrorist organisations, Brazilian legal practitioners tell Latin Lawyer they are updating sanctions-screening systems for entertainment-industry clients, reassessing their own onboarding processes for artists and producers and reaching out to Mexican peers for guidance on managing the fallout.
UAMS, Mena Regional Health System to Sign Co-Management Agreement
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and Mena Regional Health System are planning to sign a co-management agreement, pending final approval by the Arkansas Department of Health. The agreement was approved on Tuesday night by the Mena City Council and the Mena Hospital Commissioners.
Colorado receives $5.8 million in federal weatherization assistance grants
Colorado has received nearly $6 million in federal funds through the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program after U.S. senators expressed worries about potential delays. In May, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Susan Collins, R-ME, issued a letter urging Energy Secretary Chris Wright to release nearly $360 million in WAP funds […]
Baseball fans celebrate the sport’s biggest stars outside Independence Hall ahead of All-Star Game in Philadelphia
The MLB All-Star Game starts at 8 p.m., featuring the best players from the National League and American League.
Good News About Health Care at Santa Barbara County Jails
Jails see dramatic increase in the number of inmates receiving Medically Assisted Treatment for addiction issues.
Dozens of New York cooling towers test positive for Legionnaires’ bacteria as outbreak reaches 60 cases
New York City is managing a community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases on the Upper East Side that officials believe is tied to bacteria found in cooling towers. Towers on 76 buildings on the Upper East Side have tested positive for the bacteria, the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Tuesday.
Pa. health department launches dashboard of reported measles cases in the state
The database will be updated three times per week with details about the county, age and hospitalization status of each case.
Sen. Padilla tours Boyle Heights warehouse fire site amid community health concerns: LAFD chief says ammonia wasn't leaked
While it was originally thought that ammonia had leaked during the fire, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jamie Moore, who led Tuesday's tour, said the ammonia in the building was never exposed to any flames and was never a threat.
Small Business Optimism Rises as Oil Prices Moderate
Small business optimism increased in June, driven by owners’ expectations for better business conditions and sales, the National Federation of Independent
CT sues, again, over withheld school mental health grants
CT joined a second lawsuit against the U.S. Education Dept as it continues trying to end federal grants for school mental health services.
47 revelatory hours with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
To review this month’s supposed remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, I must first correct the record. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a game about pirates (and assassins) in the 18th century Caribbean. Sure, sure, that’s what the trailers would have you believe. They’ve go their clips of Edward Kenway swinging his swords and steering his pirate ship into cannon-blasting combat against British frigates. Is Resynced truly a pirate game? Of the 47 hours I spent playing Resynced over the past few weeks, I will admit I spent maybe 44 (?) of them collecting plunder with Blackbeard, drinking rum with Anne Bonny and debating the pros and cons of the lawless pirate-run settlement Nassau with Benjamin Hornigold. I may in fact have spent dozens of hours sailing to remote islands, reading treasure maps, opening messages left in bottles, sinking the odd Man o’ War with a well-timed broadside, collecting sea shanties for my crew, befriending a pet monkey, and hunting whales. I am nevertheless neither so Gullible nor so Narrow-Minded as to call the magnificent Resynced a “pirate remake.” Oh no. Forget any reviews of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced you may have read. Forget what you yourself may have played, if you’ve spent any time with the game since its launch. What Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is really about I’m here to give you the scoop (spoilers for Resynced’s Animus menu lore, which many players are probably not going to see): Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the new game whose development was led by Ubisoft Singapore, is set in the year 2096. It’s about a societal split, about revolution, about an old Assassin’s Creed adventure repurposed in the series’ distant future as propaganda or samizdat. It’s about the overheated future of 2096, essentially conquered by the series’ well-established nefarious Templar-run company Abstergo. (In this future, Abstergo is, among other things, remaking a 2013 pirate movie called Devils of the Caribbean, but this time in VR. The VR version will be backed by a marketing plan that involves AI influencers, a 10,000-avatar “metaverse premiere event” and that manufacturing of memes aimed at “50 million VR nodes.” See what I mean about Abstergo being evil?) Resynced is about a late 21st-century population mollified by the widespread use of Abstergo’s Animus devices which let people experience the lives of historical figures culled from “genetic memories.” It’s about an insurgent faction of Assassins. And it’s about a plan to wake the population into revolutionary fervor by showing them the memories of 18th century pirate Edward Kenway, who—as depicted in the original Black Flag and again in Resynced—gradually comes to an understanding about the Assassins of his day and their centuries old fight for freedom. Resynced is also about an AI developed within the late 21st-century Animus, called Ego. It has found a way to alter genetic memories, to create and show Animus users false ones. The game is about Ego’s efforts to tell the people experiencing Edward Kenway’s memories that Kenway was wrong, that fighting against order is folly, that we should crave a world where “compliance is rewarded with power.” Who are we in this game? We’re an unnamed Animus user in 2096 who experiences Kenway’s journey virtually. At four moments during Kenway’s exploits in the Caribbean our virtual jaunt can be interrupted for 10-15 minutes, as we explore Animus “rifts” where Ego explicitly tries to tell us how wrong Kenway was. None of this is what 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was about, of course. That was a different game, even if you also spent dozens of hours pirating as Kenway in that game, across missions and a map that’s been faithfully reintroduced and rebuilt for Resynced. The 2013 Black Flag was about you playing as an unnamed researcher newly hired in 2013 by Abstergo Entertainment, the video game development wing of the Templars’ evil-corp. In that game, you were assigned to use the Animus to dive into the genetic memories of Desmond Miles, a man who died in Assassin’s Creed III and who was descended from a long line of Assassins (and at least one Templar) whose adventures were featured across the prior AC games. In 2013’s Black Flag, your mission was to plumb the Edward Kenway experience for material that Abstergo could use in productions such as the motion picture Devils of the Caribbean, though the Templars had some ulterior motives for the assignment. Resynced is therefore not a remake of 2013’s Black Flag. It’s a sequel. It is a new game about a new exploration of Edward Kenway’s pirate/assassin journey, set 83 years after the framing sequences of the original game. Resynced provides a new narrative framework that, thanks to the concept of an AI that wants to alter historical memories, arrives with creative justification to tweak a now-classic 13-year old game. That makes Resynced, already a hot seller, a tantalizing hint of where Ubisoft could go with a line of Assassin’s Creed remakes. They could remake the first game, the Ezio games, even the recent ones set in ancient Egypt and Greece. And for each, they could not just modernize the graphics and controls but expand and alter their sequences of events to use them as reference points for a conflict set in the late 21st century, as rival factions try to weaponize historical memories. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, even when that work consists of ravings about Assassin’s Creed’s modern day plot, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe A story most players will probably miss If you didn’t know any of this, I’m not surprised. If you played the game and still didn’t catch it, I’m not a bit shocked. If Ubisoft has no plans to do more of this, I won’t fall down. Almost all of what I’ve described is optional and missable in Black Flag Resynced. I nearly missed it myself, as I planned for a breezy playthrough of an old Assassin’s Creed favorite. Instead, I found myself in a 40+ hour hunt for the “real” story, buried deeper in Resynced than any gold-filled chest. The story of 2096 is Resynced’s meta-story, told in two remote pockets of the game: 1) four optional playable “rifts” that players may find as they proceed through Resynced’s pirate fantasy , 2) in dozens of text files tucked three menus deep in the game’s barely-interactive Animus hub. Assassin’s Creed games have almost always had a meta-story about people in the 21st century (usually matching the game’s release year) and their connections to the main history portions you play. Those meta-stories have always been squeezed into the margins, though seldom as severely and as, uh, graphiaclly simple, as in recent games. Back in 2013, the modern-day exploits of you as an Abstergo Entertainment employee were prominent. They were portrayed via first-person portions that occasionally interrupted the third-person Kenway experience and could be explored for hours, complete with their own missions, side quests and puzzles. Resynced’s 2096 story—of Assassin “Watchers” vs. Abstergo/Tempar goons, of rogue AIs, of panicking scientists, of a woman wondering why her Animus-addicted husband is muttering about Mary Read (“What does he mean by Assassins?”), of a fight for the population’s hearts and minds via varying interpretations of Edward Kenway’s life choices—is mostly told through unlockable text files. The files are interesting. Offered via diary entries, intercepted chats and news reports, they present varied perspectives of a world in crisis. One set works as a narrative puzzle as it reveals the Rashomonic interpretations of a massacre, or was that a successful Assassin hit? Another favorite reveals the rising bitterness of a person who, through Edward Kenway’s journey, now shakes at the ignored evil around him. One surmises that Ubisoft is averse to putting the Assassin’s Creed’s meta-story in the way of more marketable pirate playgrounds and ninja/samurai epics. Instead, we get a better-than-nothing text-in-menus approach introduced in 2025’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In Shadows, players unlocked the meta-story text files largely via time-gated missions that called on the user to kill X number of enemy type Y, clear three enemy castles, re-win a three-phase fighting tournament, and other grinds. Time restrictions on accessing these missions and unlocking the files meant it could take players months to access the full story in-game. But even in the most hardcore Assassin’s Creed hangouts, the fanbase instead seemed to throw up their hands rather than grind to keep up. In Resynced, Ubisoft has shown some mercy, diminishing the amount of new text files that are tied to timed grinds. Now, most of the text-based 2096 lore are associated with “data file” collectibles that players can find in the world. That includes a batch of written entries that explain a historical link between the feudal Japan era in Shadows and the piracy adventures in Black Flag. Players who explore a lot will find dozens of data files, though the game does not appear to offer any in-game tracker for finding each one. You just need to keep looking for them. As of this writing, I have most of them, but not all. I can’t find any full guide for them online. And even Ubisoft’s optional $5 microtransaction that reveals lots of items in-game does not appear to reveal the locations of the text files (at least the official description omits them from its collectibles list). That’s not a huge bother, because tracking the data files down compelled me to re-explore the waves and islands of Black Flag. That was a thoroughly pleasant task to do for the first time in a dozen years. I expect many players, though, will be content to wait for the files to be reproduced in an online AC wiki somewhere, the easier to read on a web page. It may not seem enticing to play a video game in order to gradually unlock pages of text to read. Why not, you may ask, just read a book, where they put the pages in order? For one, they’ve not tucked this latest installment of Assassin’s Creed’s meta saga in a book. I also enjoy the unordered delivery, the dawning comprehension of a story about 2096’s desperate people and questionable tech, which I glimpsed first at its middle, then the end, then the front, then other moments in between1. I am also enamored with the idea of the Assassin’s Creed games I’ve previously played, including Black Flag, being repurposed for an information war. The ideas in Resynced’s meta-story, which builds off characters and ideas in Shadows’ chunks of text, are strong. The potential of where they could go with it is exciting. As for the pirate stuff? Looks great, controls pretty well, is fun to play and oh so speedy in terms of how much of a good time you can have with each sit-down. It never gets old to chase a new shanty page across a rooftop, bombard a fort with upgraded mortars or use a diving bell to explore sunken wrecks (hats off to the team at Ubisoft Barcelona that worked on the underwater portions in Resynced; that team is now facing layoffs, such is the misery of modern gaming and oft-troubled Ubisoft). New pirate missions in Resynced involving new ally characters are brief, dramatic and add more to Edward’s story, even if the gameplay perks they provide barely enhance the gameplay. A new denouement for high-class pirate Stede Bonnet is affecting; a new hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure is a welcome extra moment. A new epilogue to hunt down a pirate killer, on the other hand, over-complicates Kenway’s character. The ending credits remain my favorite of any game I’ve ever played. Black Flag provides great source material. The revisit is well-made and a great sign of what could be. It is offered in a different wrapper that hints at an opportunity for more interesting remakes to come, should Ubisoft choose to pursue such treasures—and as we brace to resist or comply with an Abstergo future. 1 The messages that Edward Kenway finds in bottles tell another out-of-order story, one about a man reckoning with the strange memories and voices he’s heard in his head since he was a boy. That tale was also in the 2013 game and develops into one of Black Flag’s most compelling character arcs. In Resynced, it has lost its climax, because the bottle story previously paid off in the halls of the first-person Abstergo Entertainment, which is exclusive to the older game. An altered resolution, written by the 2013 game’s lead writer is fine, doesn’t invalidate the 2013 version, but makes for an inferior final note.
National Science Foundation selects URochester to lead new laser tech program
The National Science Foundation has chosen the University of Rochester to lead a $15 million laser technology program, boosting Rochester's optics innovation cluster.
Fifth Measles Case of 2026 Confirmed by Wyoming Department of Health
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has confirmed a fifth case of measles in Wyoming in 2026, and the fourth in Teton County. The case is an adult with no identified links to the previous three Teton County cases. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause severe illness. The public may have […]
Michigan Health Officials Eye Lettuce as Culprit in Explosive-Diarrhea Outbreak
The state health department in Michigan, where there are thousands of cases, pointed to prewashed salad kits as a possible culprit.
Health Officials Zero In on Lettuce in Explosive-Diarrhea Outbreak Probe
The state health department in Michigan, where there are thousands of cases, pointed to prewashed salad kits as a possible culprit
Fall sports updates and information
The fall sports season will be here before we know it! Here are some key summer details for students and families as we look forward to the coming season. Registration begins: High school football (grades 9-12): July 17 All other high school fall sports (grades 9-12): July 24 Modified football (grades 7-8): July 27 All other modified fall sports (grades 7-8): July 31 Please register via Final Forms. Sports physicals: All student-athletes interested in trying out for a fall sport must have an up-to-date physical submitted to Final Forms in advance of the first day of tryouts and practices. Families are encouraged to get a completed physical from their child's physician. If you are unable to get a physical from your child's physician, you can schedule a physical with Whitney Young's school-based health center by calling (518) 573-2556. Appointments will be available at Albany High School in room 4253 during July on the following dates: Thursday, July 16 between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 30 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Again, you must call (518) 573-2556 to schedule your appointment and receive instructions. Whitney Young does require paperwork that must be filled out by the child's parent or guardian in order for them to be seen by the provider. Tryouts & practices begin: High school football (grades 9-12): Aug. 17 All other high school fall sports (grades 9-12): Aug. 24 Modified football (grades 7-8): Aug. 27 All other modified fall sports (grades 7-8): Aug. 31 High school student-athletes are encouraged to take part in our open gym sessions during July and August in preparation for the fall sports season. Stay tuned for fall practice schedules and competition schedules, which will be posted on our Athletics page! If you have additional questions, please contact the Athletics Department at (518) 475-6310. Let's go Falcons!
Man found with stolen items after George County business burglary, deputies say
Officials identified Michael Keel as a suspect and said he was found in possession of the stolen items.
Building on UC Health campus briefly evacuated after bomb threat
A building on the UC Health campus was briefly evacuated after a bomb threat Tuesday morning, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Trump administration claims healthcare fraud crackdown has saved taxpayers $5.56B in six months
A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General shows most of the money comes from a small number of huge cases, where the federal government was able to reclaim hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds being abused by criminal defendants.
Health officials investigate multiple cases of Cyclosporiasis in Erie County
Officials with the Erie County Health Department have launched an active investigation into multiple confirmed cases of Cyclosporiasis within the county.
U.S. Small Business Confidence Improved in June
The National Federation of Independent Business said its small-business optimism index rose 2.1 points in June to 97.4, versus economists’ expectations of 95.7.
Bipartisan bill seeks to bolster AI use in pediatric cancer care
Members of the Childhood Cancer Caucus are proposing the Accelerating Innovation for Kids Act, aimed at fast-tracking the deployment of this tech in pediatrics.
Mental health grant cancellations at issue in new lawsuit from 15 states
The attorneys general say the department plans to terminate the grants despite a prior injunction protecting them.
The Independent Retailer Built on Prioritising Black Buying Power
James Whitner’s multibrand business, which includes stores like A Ma Maniére and Social Status, is manoeuvring through a tough retail environment by serving Black communities that fashion has traditionally overlooked.
Health department rescinds freeze on $10 billion for 5 Democratic states
The reversal of the funding pause came after the administration faced repeated setbacks in a suit challenging the decision, which could have jeopardized programs for low-income households.
Health Dept. Rescinds Freeze on $10 Billion for 5 Democratic States
The reversal of the funding pause came after the administration faced repeated setbacks in a suit challenging the decision, which could have jeopardized programs for low-income households.
Family seeks answers months after Chicago business owner dies in ICE custody, 1 of dozens nationwide
While some ICE detainees have since been deported, or after legal fights returned home to Chicago, one man will never return home.
Letter to the Editor: A give-away contract with Another Planet Entertainment
The contracts proposed, between the San Francisco Recreation and Park Dept. and APE fall short of the industry standard. The APE contracts are not typical for a venue this size, potentially costing…
Scientists’ credibility depends on audience and perceived motives
A new study from Virginia Tech found that scientists’ credibility often hinges on their perceived motivations. “Our study finds that perceptions of scientists’ motivation to serve the public good are the strongest predictor of whether Americans trust them, accept their information as credible, and support science-based policies,” said Dara Wald, associate professor in environmental policy and planning.
Stephen Miller remembers Lindsey Graham's vibrant political career and dedication to service
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller reflects on Sen. Lindsey Graham's, R-S.C., political journey, highlighting his transformation into a steadfast Trump supporter and his passion for public service on 'The Will Cain Show.'
Parkland to loan mental health agency Metrocare $18M to avoid collapse
The Parkland board chair said the emergency loan is to prevent disaster from hitting residents and incarcerated people in the Dallas County jail who depend on Metrocare’s mental health services.
Abortion provider sues Ohio Department of Health for delay in licensing paperwork
Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio has filed the case in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.
Donald Warren "Don" Iwerks
Donald Warren “Don” Iwerks, the Oscar ®winning film pioneer, Disney Legend, and son of Mickey Mouse co-creator Ub Iwerks, whose
Start your business with Chicago's free entrepreneur certificate program | ChicagoLIVE
Want to learn more about getting your business off the ground? Ivan Capifali, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, joins ChicagoLIVE to discuss the city's free Entrepreneur Certificate Program and how you can get involved.
John P. Morgan honored with emeritus status
A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 26 years, Morgan provided many years of distinguished contributions and leadership to the Department of Statistics and the College of Science.
Trump's HHS abandons threat to withhold Medicare and Medicaid funding over trans care
NPR has learned that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing its most aggressive attempt to end gender affirming care for youth nationally.
Health Department declares measles outbreak in Teton County
Wyoming reports third case amid heavy influx of tourist crowds in Jackson and Grand Teton National Park.
The Quintessential Trump-era Politician
In 2020, I wrote an article about collaboration and collaborators. The title was History Will Judge the Complicit, and it started with the story of two famous East Germans, Markus Wolf and Wolfgang Leonhard, who both landed in East Berlin just after the end of the war. Although they came from very similar backgrounds, the former stuck with the regime, eventually becoming its spy boss; the latter, horrified by the brutal reality of Soviet-style communism, escaped. By way of juxtaposition, I also wrote about Lyndsey Graham and Mitt Romney. These two men also made very different decisions when confronted by Donald Trump’s assault on the ideals that they had both grown up believing: A glance at their biographies would not have led many to predict what happened next. On paper, Graham would have seemed, in 2016, like the man with deeper ties to the military, to the rule of law, and to an old-fashioned idea of American patriotism and American responsibility in the world. Romney, by contrast, with his shifts between the center and the right, with his multiple careers in business and politics, would have seemed less deeply attached to those same old-fashioned patriotic ideals. Most of us register soldiers as loyal patriots, and management consultants as self-interested. We assume people from small towns in South Carolina are more likely to resist political pressure than people who have lived in many places. Intuitively, we think that loyalty to a particular place implies loyalty to a set of values. But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.” In the wake of Graham’s unexpected death on Saturday, I wrote about him again. He was, in many ways, the quintessential politician of Trump’s Washington, a man who shifted 180 degrees. Graham had been a fervent American patriot, proud reserve officer and military lawyer; he became one of the most important defenders of a president who believes soldiers are “suckers and losers” and shows no respect for law of any kind. As his politics changed, his language grew coarser and his behavior grew worse: He urged Israel to “level the place” in Gaza, and insulted the Danish prime minister in Munich, prompting a colleague, Senator Elissa Slotkin, to issue an apology. Here’s an excerpt from the article, which you can read in The Atlantic (gift link here) Like his close friend John McCain, Graham believed that America should stand at the center of a broad democratic alliance. The few times I met him were in that context, at the Munich Security Conference or at other European-American gatherings, which he once attended with great regularity. He also took seriously the practice of American democracy at home. In a 2014 conversation with The Atlantic, he described himself as a pragmatic politician who eschewed populist slogans. “I know Washington is broken, but what’s broken about it is everybody yelling and nobody trying to fix it,” he said. “I’m trying.” When Donald Trump first appeared in U.S. politics, Graham recognized him immediately for what he was: the spokesman for an alien ideology, one radically different from the idealistic patriotism that Graham had practiced and preached since childhood. Trump privately mocked the military that Graham loved as nothing but “suckers and losers.” He put falsehoods, cynicism, and personal greed at the center of his politics, while expressing disdain for transparency, accountability, and democracy itself. In 2015, Graham described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot” who should “go to hell.” Also as a “nutjob.” When Trump won, Graham understood, as did so many others, that he would have to make some important choices. For a while, he went silent. In the spring of 2016, I saw him at one of those conferences in Europe. He seemed too depressed to speak. But then, like many other Republicans—and, more important, like many other people who have lived under political occupation or experienced radical regime change—he made the decision to abandon his previous ideals, to bury the patriotism that was once so important to him, and to become, instead, a loud, opportunistic collaborator. As I wrote in 2020, it’s very hard to look in to anyone’s heart and to understand their motivations from the outside. But it does seem that Graham had a deep need to be relevant, to be in the game, to be a player, at any cost. And that, rather than any particular achievement, is what he will be remembered for. Continuing to monitor conflicts of interest, ostentatious emoluments, outright corruption and policy changes that will facilitate outright corruption. (Read my original article, Kleptocracy Inc and check out the SNF Agora Institute chart) June 27 Trump diverted funds from more than 900 projects nationwide—including safety upgrades at national parks—to finance beautification projects around Washington, including $700,000 used to fix a White House walkway. June 28 After a years-long Department of Justice investigation into Abbott Laboratories over its management of a baby formula facility where potentially deadly bacteria turned up enough evidence to criminally charge the firm, top department officials instead opted for a financial penalty—illustrating the department’s move away from strict corporate enforcement under the Trump administration. June 29 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stacked the Defense Policy Board—which is charged with providing independent national security recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of Defense—with Trump allies, including tech billionaire Marc Andreessen, who has invested in defense contractors like OpenAI and SpaceX, after purging the panel last year. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock in Axon—which makes about 90% of US tasers—two weeks before ICE solicited bids for a $220 million taser contract. The White House unveiled limited-edition US passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a portrait of Trump overlaid on the Declaration of Independence. June 30 Trump made around $1.2 billion from his various crypto companies last year, including more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial and $600 million from sales of his meme coin. Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. These are expected to be largely doled out through the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s informal network of intermediaries. White-collar defense attorneys say they can typically win pardons for clients for $2 million. Last year, Trump administration officials awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million to Clark Construction for the White House ballroom—negotiations in which the president was directly involved. July 1 The Amazon MGM Studios documentary about Melania Trump earned the First Lady more than $10 million. Trump made hundreds of individual stock purchases worth as much as $12.8 million the day before his announcement pausing “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days sent the S&P 500 soaring nearly 10%—one of the largest single-day gains ever. Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral saw record surges in revenue during Trump’s first year in office, earning $77.5 million and $121.9 million respectively, compared to average annual revenues of $25 million and $75 million during Trump’s first term. Entities across the Persian Gulf paid more than $300 million to Trump’s businesses last year, including $263 million from the sale of half his stake in World Liberty Financial to a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a top UAE royal and brother of the country’s president. Kash Patel failed to properly disclose his stock purchase of a Department of Justice contractor, MicroStrategy, worth up to $250,000 last year, despite laws requiring disclosure within 45 days of the trade. July 2 Trump has been directing administration officials to steer more government contracts—so far worth more than $2.4 billion—to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace firm, after Amazon gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donated to the White House ballroom project, and reached a $40 million deal to license a Melania Trump documentary. Alongside the billions he made from cryptocurrency last year, Trump earned millions of dollars from real estate licensing fees, including $21 million from organizations in the UAE and $9.2 million in Saudi Arabia, along with smaller sums from merchandise sales, including $4.7 million from Trump Watches and $35,920 from 45 Guitar, a guitar brand endorsed by the president. House Democrats accused consultants tied to the Trump administration of financial fraud, alleging they gave prospective donors to America250—the bipartisan committee created by Congress to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial—the banking and routing numbers for Freedom 250, the White House’s fund for events like the UFC cage fight. Democrats also allege that Freedom 250’s CEO traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to solicit donations from foreign government officials and business leaders. The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of gun regulations would lift the prohibition on mailing handguns to individuals, a significant win for GrabAGun—the direct-to-consumer firearm retailer on whose board Donald Trump Jr. sits and in which he holds a 1.1% ownership stake. GrabAGun currently must rely on a middleman to transfer firearms to customers. Trump’s financial disclosure revealed that he made more than 21,000 securities trades during his first year back in office, growing his investment account to at least $858 million across stakes in around 1,600 companies, compared to the 13 total trades Joe Biden made during his entire presidency. July 4 Nearly 1 million people who bought the president’s meme coin—Trump Coin—collectively lost $3.8 billion on the token, while he walked away with $636 million. July 6 Shares of Dell closed up 4.4% after Trump recommended people buy the firm’s computers during a speech announcing the launch of Trump investment accounts for children, boosting the more than $1 million worth of shares the president owns in the company. July 9 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh named crypto investor and Trump ally Marc Andreessen to a task force aimed at modernizing the Federal Reserve, including rethinking its approach to inflation—a key factor keeping interest rates elevated. Palm Beach International Airport has officially changed its name to Trump International Airport—a move that will require Florida to pay royalties to the president’s family for licensing his name. I was there a few months ago, during a trip to Barcelona. The sculptures were a revelation, I’d never seen so many together before. Each one has its own personality. Enjoy the good weather, if you are lucky enough to have it. History Will Judge the Complicit The Quintessential Politician Autocracy Inc Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Missouri governor signs wide-ranging bi-partisan healthcare bill into law
A bipartisan healthcare bill with several provisions promoting maternal health in Missouri was signed into law Monday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.
HHS & VA Announce Bold, Comprehensive Partnership to Advance Rapid-Acting Mental Health Treatments for Veterans
HHS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration on the research, clinical development, and responsible deployment to veterans suffering from serious mental health conditions.
Polymarket Promo Code SBWIRE Get $50 Bonus for World Cup, Politics & More For July 13
Use Polymarket promo code SBWIRE to skip the waitlist AND claim a $50 bonus with a $20 deposit welcome offer. Start trading prediction markets immediately.
A New Habitat at the Bottom of the Ocean Is Waiting for Its First Aquanauts
Four scientists could soon live and work beneath the Florida Keys for days.
US outbreak of parasite causing ‘watery diarrhea’ rises to more than 2,800 cases
Outbreak comes a year after Trump administration cut funding for state and local health departments
Exclusive: Corner Health raises $25 million to turn nurse practitioners into entrepreneurs
Women dominate NP roles—and can double their salaries in 27 states where they're permitted to practice independently.
Man found with stolen items after George County business burglary, deputies say
Deputies said the burglary at Southern Structure was reported Saturday, July 11.
Man found with stolen items after George County business burglary, deputies say
Keel was arrested and charged with commercial burglary.
Fourth Measles Case of 2026 Confirmed by Wyoming Department of Health
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has confirmed a third case of measles in Teton County, marking the state’s first measles outbreak of 2026. The case is an adult with an unknown vaccination status and is linked to the previous two Teton County cases through the same chain of transmission. Measles is a highly contagious […]
Group of 11 athletes challenge new NCAA eligibility rules in suit
Eleven Division I athletes -- all who depleted their eligibility in the 2025-26 season, have filed a federal class action lawsuit alleging that the NCAA's new eligibility rules adversely affected their ability to extend their college careers.
Deputies: Four suspects wanted after breaking into Pendleton business
The break-in happened on the morning of July 4.
States sue Department of Education over alleged unlawful termination of mental health grants
State attorneys general sue the Department of Education over unlawful termination of mental health grants for public school students.
CIO: Digital transformation depends on strong foundations, unity of purpose
Endeavor Health Chief Information Officer Deb Anderson says lasting innovation requires infrastructure, governance and organizational agility – with technologies working holistically, not individually – before new IT investments can deliver value.
Aynor celebrates Independence Day with annual After the 4th celebration
Residents and visitors gathered Saturday at Aynor Town Park for the town’s annual After the 4th celebration, enjoying live music, local food vendors, family activities and a fireworks display that extended the Independence Day festivities beyond the July 4 holiday.
Browns roster: CB depth chart and expectations
How will Cleveland’s safety room shake out in 2026?
Body found near business in Folsom under investigation
(FOX40.COM) — The Folsom Police Department is investigating the discovery of a body that was found near a business early Monday morning. FPD said officers and detectives responded to reports of a b…
Federal health watchdog reports $5.56 billion in expected recoveries, cost savings
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General said its investigations into alleged fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in federal healthcare programs stem from tips submitted through its hotline. During the…
Scientists' credibility depends on audience and perceived motives
A new study from Virginia Tech found that scientists' credibility often hinges on their perceived motivations. "Our study finds that perceptions of scientists' motivation to serve the public good are ...
Commentary: What we’ve learned from the fight to save SNAP
Coalition organized by the Greater Chicago Food Depository helped preserve an essential benefit for thousands around Illinois.
Parties and Electoral Reform: Insights from Political Operatives
In-depth interviews with operatives in both major parties reveal how insiders view primaries, electoral reforms, and the real path to stronger parties.
Servier completes the acquisition of Edgewise Therapeutics' Muscular Dystrophy Business
/PRNewswire/ -- Servier, an independent international pharmaceutical group governed by a foundation, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of...
VFW cartoon showing veterans facing a firing squad sparks calls for an investigation
A cartoon depicting a firing squad of bureaucrats and media with rifles aimed at US veterans has prompted a powerful congressman to call for an investigation into one of America’s oldest veterans advocacy groups, stoking a debate over free speech for political satire.
Purple Line Small Business Grants Offer Up to $50,000
The Maryland Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for another round of awards from its four-year Purple Line Small Business Grant Program.
Handover of Health Commodities
Joint Handover of Health Commodities Speech of Chargé d’Affaires Steve Bremner (…) Thank you for joining us. I am here today to demonstrate how U.S. foreign assistance under President Trump’s America First Global Health Strategy and our bilateral health MOU makes America safer and stronger while helping Madagascar build a more self-reliant health system. Through our bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2025 with the Ministry of Public Health, our two governments outlined shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on infectious disease threats and Madagascar’s increasing ownership and co-investment in its own health system. The MOU outlines the structure and terms of U.S. support to Madagascar’s health sector from 2026 through 2030, with a total commitment of $134,305,000 from the U.S. government and $41,216,252 from the Government of Madagascar to work jointly to address malaria, maternal and child health, polio and global health security issues. Stronger health systems help prevent instability and reduce the risk that infectious diseases reach the United States, making both our countries safer. America First foreign assistance is clear and disciplined: It is a tool of strategic engagement, not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar must show measurable results, reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources, and support greater self-reliance in recipient countries. Support must be efficient and targeted, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. This year, through the U.S.-funded Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management project, we are distributing: 989,250 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, worth $2,000,000 to 63 districts and 1,661 Community Health Centers across Madagascar, with the third and final delivery of these nets having arrived in late June. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) project, we are funding: The full cost of Starlink internet connectivity equipment procurement, installation, and one-year subscription for 31 priority District and Regional Health Offices. Through the U.S.-funded Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems project, we are supplying: 908,523 pieces of critical medical equipment and a modernized digital surveillance system to the Ministry of Public Health. These materials will strengthen health systems, improve response capabilities, and help those most in need of protection from mosquito-borne diseases — particularly malaria, which continues to claim the lives of children and women at an unacceptable rate. Deployed effectively, they will contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality in rural and hard-to-reach communities where the need is greatest. In these same underserved areas, Starlink connectivity will play a critical role in enabling the rapid transmission of health data and information to central levels, ensuring that decision-makers receive timely, actionable intelligence and can mount swift, coordinated responses to protect populations. For Americans, this support delivers concrete benefits. Stronger health systems in Madagascar help detect and contain infectious diseases before they spread across borders, protecting American and Malagasy families. More stable, healthier countries can expand trade and economic cooperation with the United States. Our goal is not permanent support; it is temporary, targeted assistance that helps Madagascar save lives while achieving greater self-reliance and independence from foreign assistance. To the health workers and community health agents here that will use the products we’re delivering today: your dedication and skills save lives. Your work exemplifies the kind of local ownership that will enable Madagascar to reduce dependence on foreign assistance and manage the country’s health challenges. This targeted support delivers results today while helping Madagascar build toward a future where it can sustain and expand those health gains independently, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s self-sufficiency. Thank you, Misaotra.
Minister suggests Shabana Mahmood will use visa threats to deport Rochdale grooming gang leader to Pakistan
Cather Atkinson hinted that the Home Office may threaten to stop issuing visas to Pakistan unless it agrees to accept Shabir Ahmed
United States Delivers Life-Saving Health Supplies and equipment to Madagascar
United States Delivers Life-Saving Health Supplies and equipment to Madagascar U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Steve Bremner presided over a handover ceremony to the Government of Madagascar, represented by President of the Refoundation Col. Michaël Randrianirina, marking the delivery of nearly one million mosquito nets, over 900,000 pieces of critical laboratory equipment, and 33 internet connectivity systems. The assistance – valued at more than $2.2 million – is part of a broader U.S.-Madagascar health partnership, outlined in our bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2025, totaling $134 million from the U.S. government from 2026 through 2030. “This assistance is clear and disciplined – it is a tool of strategic engagement, not global charity,” said Chargé d’Affaires Steve Bremner. “Every U.S. taxpayer dollar must show measurable results, reduce long-term dependence on U.S. resources, and support greater self-reliance. Stronger health systems in Madagascar help detect and contain infectious diseases before they spread across borders, protecting American and Malagasy families alike.” The assistance includes: 989,250 long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets - worth $2 million – will be distributed to 63 districts and 1,661 community health centers across Madagascar. Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death in the country, claiming the lives of children and women at an unacceptable rate. The third and final delivery of these nets arrived in late June and will be distributed starting this July until mid-October, ensuring that those most at risk of mosquito-borne disease now have access to this basic but life-saving protection. U.S.-funded Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project will ensure the distribution. 908,523 pieces of critical medical and laboratory equipment – valued at $180,000 – including personal protective equipment, laboratory supplies, diagnostic tools, and cold chain equipment – along with a modernized digital surveillance system to Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health. This support through the STRIDES (Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems) program bolsters Madagascar’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks of diseases such as monkeypox, plague, rabies, polio, and Ebola before they become regional or global threats. Over $30,000 of funding for the full procurement, installation, and first year of service for 33 Starlink satellite internet systems at priority districts and regional health offices across the country. These systems will allow health workers in remote and underserved communities to transmit health data quickly to central decision-makers – enabling faster, better-coordinated responses when disease outbreaks occur. U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) will implement this project. As the country’s largest bilateral health donor, the United States remains committed to the principle that a stronger, healthier Madagascar makes for a stronger, safer world – and a stronger, safer America.
HHS presses ahead with effort to curb antidepressant use
In a private meeting, HHS officials met with mental health professionals to work on guidance for stopping SSRIs.
Gossip: Chelsea consider move for Wharton
Chelsea are looking at a move for Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton after Liverpool and Manchester United both cooled their interest in the 22-year-old. Caught Offside) Serie A side Roma want Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho. Gazzetta dello Sport - in Italian) With Garnacho's expected departure, Chelsea have opened talks with the representatives of Bologna's English winger Jonathan Rowe, 23.
North Carolina reports an increase in cyclosporiasis cases, health officials say
NORTH CAROLINA — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says the state is seeing an increase in cyclosporiasis cases.Cyclosporiasis is an in
Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception
“Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve” explores conservation, restoration, science, and stewardship at
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on Prado de Lana Sheep Farm Yarn & Wool Shop
The family-run sheep farm and yarn shop enters a new chapter at Stockbridge’s historic train depot, with more room for classes and community.
US health watchdog expects $5.56 billion in recoveries and savings
The federal watchdog for the U.S. health department generated $5.56 billion in expected recoveries and projected savings over six months and barred 1,212 individuals and companies from federal programs, it said on Monday, even as its overall enforcement activity fell to the lowest level in two years.
US Health Watchdog Expects $5.56 Billion in Recoveries and Savings
By Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - The federal watchdog for the U.S. health department generated $5.56 billion in expected recoveries and projected savings over six months and barred 1,212 individuals and companies from federal programs, it said on Monday, even as its overall ...
Independent mechanics lose business as cars get more expensive to fix
Car owners and independent mechanics, like those at Cass Auto, are frustrated and losing business as vehicles become more expensive to repair.
Tennessee Department of Health confirms state’s second case of measles this year in Middle TN
The TDH released a list of locations and times when the public could have been exposed.
Japanese Astronomical Society ex-president Shigeru Ida joins China’s Westlake
Top planetary scientist will lead young university’s new astronomy department after decades shaping human understanding of the universe.
Michigan AD Warde Manuel's job in jeopardy as internal investigation reaches athletics leadership
Michigan's Board of Regents is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the findings of an independent investigation into the athletic department's culture
‘Quadruple threat’ John L. Beyer treats older adults’ mental health as
Beyer and his colleagues in the Department of Psychiatry are seeking to expand access to mental healthcare across both the region and the lifespan.
Austin Fire Department responds to smoke coming from roof of S Austin business
The Austin Fire Department stated Sunday evening that they were responding to a business under construction in South Austin that reportedly had smoke coming fro
Sources: Michigan regents to discuss investigation Thursday
The University of Michigan regents are expected to discuss an investigation into the culture of its athletic department on Thursday, sources told ESPN, and as part of the review, a decision on the future of AD Warde Manuel is expected in the coming days.
New polling shows Talarico leads Paxton among Hispanic business owners
Among the reasons are the Trump administration’s increasingly unpopular deportation practices and the rising cost of living.
Police working to identify suspect accused of burglarizing Scottsville business
The Scottsville Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect who allegedly broke into a local business on multiple occasions.
Urban Alaska’s high costs of living driven by healthcare and groceries
Juneau is the costliest of the state’s three major cities, followed by Anchorage and Fairbanks, according to the annual analysis by the Alaska Department of Labor.
Richmond County Health Department location closing temporarily for repairs
The Richmond County Health Department at 950 Laney Walker Boulevard will be closed for repairs on Monday, July 13, and Tuesday, July 14, 2026, according to the department.
‘A key link’: Trump’s Senate whisperer is gone
Lindsey Graham’s death deprives President Donald Trump of one of his most effective Capitol Hill operators — and leaves Senate Republicans without one of their strongest links to the White House.
Unidentified suspect seen on security cameras stealing brass from Scottsville business
The Scottsville Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying an individual seen on security cameras stealing from a local business.
Browns roster: DT depth chart and expectations
How will Cleveland’s defensive tackle room shake out in 2026?
Scottsville PD seeking assistance ID individual
The Scottsville Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying an individual who has been seen breaking and entering a local business.
Apple's M7 Ultra Chip Designed to Match a 2019 Mac Pro Feat
Apple's M7 Ultra chip coming in 2028 is designed to support up to 1.5TB of unified memory, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. However, whether such a configuration is offered may depend on the state of the ongoing memory chip shortage. However, whether such a configuration is offered may depend on the state of the ongoing memory chip shortage.
Steelers training camp: Projecting the Steelers first offensive depth chart
The Steelers will release their first official depth chart in a few weeks and we take a shot at predicting what the offense will look like.
Natrona County health and food inspections (7/3/26–7/9/26)
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper-Natrona County Health Department inspects restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, mobile food units, commissaries and
Laramie County health and food inspections (7/3/26–7/9/26)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department inspects restaurants, bars, convenience stores, delis, grocery stores, bed and breakfasts
Health and elections: Vote like your life depends on it
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming ranks 29th in the nation for overall health, according to the America's Health Rankings 2025 Annual Report. That middling score
Health and elections: Vote like your life depends on it
CASPER, Wyo. — Wyoming ranks 29th in the nation for overall health, according to the America's Health Rankings 2025 Annual Report. That middling score
Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport
The Health Department says a person with measles traveled through the airport on the Fourth of July.
Nashville doctors sue to protect 400 immigrant children from losing critical medical care in Tennessee
Nashville doctors are fighting to keep 400 immigrant children in a TN healthcare program amid deportation fears.
Seahawks Issued Compelling Take on Raiders’ Maxx Crosby
The Seattle Seahawks have one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushes, which helped fuel their run to winning a Super Bowl last season. Nonetheless, the Seahawks were able to get to the quarterback without having a premier pass rusher. Seattle made the opposing signal-caller uncomfortable with a constant pass rush, thanks to their depth. […] The post Seahawks Issued Compelling Take on Raiders’ Maxx Crosby appeared first on HEAVY.
PSP Mercer investigating stolen checks from business, nearly $40k taken
The person deposited the amount of $37,800 into an unknown PNC Bank Account.
Other voices: The Fed’s independence is unfinished business
“The evidence is overwhelming that central bank independence in the conduct of monetary policy is indispensable — so overwhelming, in fact, that few politicians any longer challenge the idea.”
Taco Bell and junk fees: On the job with Mamdani's consumer czar
Sam Levine runs the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. He told BI about his consumer gripes and Taco Bell celebration with Mamdani.