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Duke Football: NC State Preview
Get ready for a neighborhood brawl.
Former NBA Star Predicts Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Return to Bucks
As Miami’s season turns cold, DeMarcus Cousins claims the Greek Freak’s heart remains in Milwaukee.
Sophia Choukas-Bradley and Longfei Shangguan were named Rising Stars of Science
The ranking by Research.com highlights exceptional early-career researchers.
Healthcare powers Democrats’ midterm rout: 4 takeaways
Voters sent a strong rebuke of the GOP health agenda on Tuesday night as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress, rejecting Republicans who pushed sweeping healthcare cuts.
Trump faces new political reality as Democrats vow investigations
President Donald Trump was left to grapple on Thursday with the stinging rebuke from voters after a midterm election rout, while triumphant Democrats vowed to lower prices and combat the "cartel" within...
Economic Development Director Announces Quarterly “Rochester Business Exchange” to Connect Business Owners with Local Government, Other Resources
Rochester Economic Development Director Michael Scala is pleased to announce “Rochester Business Exchange,” an informal discussion connecting municipal officials and staff, developers, and business owners and managers to share information, exchange ideas, discuss local issues, and strengthen relationships within Rochester’s business community. The purpose of the meetings is to share updates related to municipal government,...
Rural voters were feeling left behind before the midterms, poll shows
Polling done for the Guardian shows plummeting support from a former key constituency of Donald Trump’s base
Healthcare powers Democrats’ midterm rout: 4 takeaways
Voters sent a strong rebuke of the GOP health agenda on Tuesday night as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress, rejecting Republicans who pushed sweeping healthcare cuts. Here are f…
Trump faces new political reality as Democrats vow investigations
President Donald Trump was left to grapple on Thursday with the stinging rebuke from voters after a midterm election rout, while triumphant Democrats vowed to lower prices and combat the "cartel" with...
Sports owners bet big on Republicans. What does their defeat mean for US sports?
Sports billionaires backed Republicans, but Democratic victories leave familiar questions over gambling, stadium subsidies and who really holds power.
UK can avoid euro but must accept free movement to rejoin EU, says former top Brexit negotiator
Michel Barnier says Britain could avoid having to join the single currency, but free movement is non-negotiable
Art is good for your health? Allow me a quick eyeroll
Some now suggest a monthly dose of art can boost wellbeing. But the last thing we need is another item on our to-do lists, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes
Luka Doncic Scores 40 as Kings Fall to Lakers at Home
Luka Doncic’s historic scoring tear continues as Los Angeles exploits a massive free-throw discrepancy to stifle Sacramento, overshadowing a brilliant double-double performance from rookie guard Darius Acuff Jr.
Government CEO defends response to healthcare report
Paul Wylie said the future of health funding is one of his "most significant priorities" following criticism
Democrats won on affordability. Can they deliver it?
Democrats will hold Congress but President Donald Trump still has the power to block their plans.
Regal Rexnord considers selling its autonomous mobile solutions business amid portfolio review
Milwaukee-based manufacturer Regal Rexnord announced that it will perform a comprehensive portfolio review in which it will explore the possibility of
TOP 10 PLAYERS: AEK Athens 2–3 Real Madrid
A narrow escape in the Luka Jovic reunion
Vance walks Trump tightrope with scathing election critique blaming Iran war
The vice-president's blunt assessment of Republican election defeat marked one of the sharpest breaks with a sitting president in recent memory.
‘Rent is due’: Mamdani on Americans rebuking Trump administration
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told CNN’s Jake Tapper that the midterm election results reflect working-class Americans’ frustration over the government’s failure to address their concerns.
The Republican missteps that laid the groundwork for a historic midterm rebuke
A campaign that put a distracted President Donald Trump front and center, and a war no one asked for, led the party into a wall of voter anger.
What 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan said most recently about Brandon Aiyuk
The San Francisco 49ers are currently preparing for their upcoming matchup on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. The team has gotten off to a great start this year despite playing without Brandon Aiyuk , who has been away from the team but reportedly may show up to practice on Friday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Now, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan […] The post What 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan said most recently about Brandon Aiyuk appeared first on ClutchPoints.
'Hopefully things get done': Americans react to historic political shift
The BBC spoke to voters from different states for their reaction to Democrats taking control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Sunflower Sports Report (11/1)
Next weekend's Turnpike Tussle carries major weight in the MIAA.
Political Analyst: Midterms in Virginia were a rebuke of Trump
Randolph-Macon Political Science Professor Rich Meagher says Tuesday’s midterm elections in Virginia were a rebuke of President Donald Trump and his record on the economy.
Packers defensive end Micah Parsons talks after returning to practice
Watch the complete interview from Green Bay Packers star defensive end Micah Parsons after he made his return to practice.
Traditional Korean paper becomes breathable patch for future wearable health care
Wearable health-monitoring devices are becoming increasingly important for personalized health care, but conventional patches often rely on substrates that restrict airflow, trap sweat and cause skin ...
Numbers Like Duke to Continue Winning Streak vs NC State
The Blue Devils are looking to win their seventh game of the year.
UK Veterinary Science Marks Opening of the Sports Medicine Research Center
The new industry-supported facility will advance research on musculoskeletal conditions to improve equine and human health and welfare.
How a blue wave crushed the tech right
The Democratic wins that swept America on election night was a backlash against data centers, and a rebuke to Silicon Valley elites.
National bowl projections for Duke football following Week 9
A look at the latest bowl projections for Duke heading into Week 10 of the 2026 college football season.
National blue wave brings a high tide for Dems in the high desert
By Pat Davis, New Mexico Political Report — President Donald Trump told voters heading into the 2026 midterm elections to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” They did just that. In a national rebuke of Trump’s policies, voters gave Democrats a clear majority in the House and Senate and flipped a half-dozen governors’ mansions and every […]
Trump’s billionaire-blue collar coalition has been smashed by class politics
As tech bosses get richer and ordinary Americans struggle, Democrats put the case against the US’s grotesque unfairness – and voters responded, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
Brandon Aiyuk’s NFL Reinstatement Bid Could Force 49ers’ Hand
San Francisco may soon have to decide the receiver’s future.
Vance: ‘The reason we lost is the war’
The morning after voters delivered a blistering midterm rebuke of President Donald Trump, with Democrats flipping both chambers of Congress and racking up victories even in deep-red bastions, Vice President
Luka Doncic Loses A Stat And The Lakers Love It
Luka Doncic went backward in one stat on Monday, and the Lakers are thrilled. Here is why losing a technical foul is actually a big win for their star.
British healthcare worker with Ebola to be evacuated from DRC to UK, document shows
Patient, who is in stable condition, is expected to arrive in Britain on Wednesday or Thursday
Abdul El-Sayed, Melat Kiros, Adrian Boafo: The politicians with African roots making history in the US midterms
For some young Africans, these victories offer a glimpse of what a new generation of voters could do at home.
Russia giving some missiles greater range, larger warheads: Ukraine
The new assessment from Ukraine's military intelligence said Russia has stockpiled thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles.
CVS Health to split pharmacy chain from health insurance
CVS Pharmacy will be separate from CVS Health, housing major insurer Aetna and benefits manager Caremark
UK government announces public interest investigation into Sky deal to takeover ITV's media arm
U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says she will intervene in the planned 1.6 billion-pound or $2.2 billion deal between Sky and ITV’s media and entertainment arm. Nandy said Wednesday that
UK government announces public interest investigation into Sky deal to takeover ITV's media arm
U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says she will intervene in the planned 1.6 billion-pound or $2.2 billion deal between Sky and ITV’s media and entertainment arm. Nandy said Wednesday that she will...
Brandon Aiyuk reporting to 49ers
San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk has submitted paperwork to be reinstated, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said.
Time to focus on cost of living, says PM after US election results
Andy Burnham says prices won't come down until the US's conflict with Iran is resolved.
Elon Musk's millions fail to deliver Texas for the Republicans
The billionaire's political action committee (Pac) contributed $47m (£35m) to Ken Paxton's campaign.
Moderate drinking carries health risks even within UK alcohol guidelines
A new study estimates the lifetime risks of drinking alcohol and explains why staying within the UK’s 14-unit weekly limit doesn’t guarantee safety.
‘A win the size of Texas’: Democrats celebrate shrinking Republican dominance in a big state
Voters watched results in near disbelief as James Talarico claimed victory in Senate race and Gina Hinojosa was elected state’s first Latina governor
Democrats win governorships in Texas and other GOP-controlled states in rebuke to Republicans
The wins delivered a majority of governorships to Democrats for the first time in two decades, allowing them to put up a stronger defense against Trump's second-term agenda.
Post-Election Analysis: The Annihilation of the Trump Coalition
Ten years ago, Donald Trump shocked the political world with an Electoral College victory that hurled defiance at the polls, the pundits, and the traditional tenets of the Republican Party. On Tuesday night, Republicans in Congress received a rebuke from voters that was equally earth-shattering.The sheer size of the Democratic wave — they are on track to flip at least 40 seats in the House and seven in the Senate — is even more impressive given how many of those seats Trump carried by double digits just two years ago.
Milwaukee Brewers 2026 report card: Jackson Chourio
The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series Champions for the first time in franchise history. After finishing the regular season with a 103-59 record, they steamrolled through the postseason, going 11-2 overall and knocking off some of the best teams in baseball on their way to hoisting the commissioner’s trophy. As is the case with every [...]
Walking more shows sharper links to lower health care costs as adults age
More than 60 years after "I look up as I walk," known worldwide as "Sukiyaki," became Japan's most famous song about walking, a new study finds that as walkers look up, their predicted health care costs ...
A blue tsunami wipes out Republicans
Jonathan Freedland and Shrai Popat run through the results of the US midterms, on a historic night for Democrats and a night to forget for Republicans
Scientists find evidence of rarest particle decay after 42-years | Science and Technology Facilities Council
UK physicists have found the first evidence of an extremely rare particle decay at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), after a 42-year hunt.
How a scientist went from hero to traitor in a US water crisis
When the water in Flint, Michigan, became contaminated with dangerous levels of lead, Dr Siddhartha Roy, then a third year PhD student, was part of the team of scientists who publicly contradicted state and federal claims that it was safe. He became a local hero until a new piece of research challenged the idea that children in Flint had been left permanently brain damaged by the crisis. His adherence to the evidence, no matter who it offended, has earned him the 2026 Maddox prize, which recognises individuals who stand up for science and evidence, despite challenges or hostility. He tells Ian Sample how he reflects on his experience in Flint, and why he lost friends as a result of his work there
49ers Get Strong Message After Brandon Aiyuk Hires Drew Rosenhaus
After being away from the news cycle for a few months, San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk is back after he hired Drew Rosenhaus to represent him. As a result, Aiyuk looks ready to return to playing football, but will that be with the Niners?Aiyuk will need to apply for reinstatement, given that he’s on […] The post 49ers Get Strong Message After Brandon Aiyuk Hires Drew Rosenhaus appeared first on HEAVY.
Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan race for Senate
El-Sayed bested Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim senator in US history.
Ex-UK political aide Steve Hilton loses bid for California governor
Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, faced an uphill battle as a Republican in the widely liberal state.
WATCH: Democrat Troy Jackson speaks after Maine Sen. Susan Collins concedes
Jackson won election Wednesday to the U.S. Senate representing Maine, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
Democrats win control of the U.S. House
Democrats win the U.S. House and take unified control of Congress as voters deliver resounding rebuke to Trump.
Charity donates mental health packs to primary schools
Amy Watson is offering support through a charity she set up after the death of her partner Joe Phipps.
Flats plan for aparthotel in Reading after business changes
City Wall House's apartments are used less following the pandemic, the building's owner says.
Trump says Democrats 'did a good job,' blames Republican candidates for midterm losses
Voters delivered a significant rebuke to President Donald Trump on Tuesday by handing Democrats control of the Senate, rejecting his handpicked candidates while airing widespread concerns about high costs in the wake of his war against Iran and his punishing tariff policy.
AFGHS co-signatory countries ask health care users to help fill the financing gap
Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV on antiretrovirals could be targeted for user fees or community health insurance schemes requiring modest premium payments, according to the April 2026 version of the country’s America First Global Health Strategy implementation narrative.1 As part of the “sustainable financing for the private not for profit sector” strategy, 491 facilities will be targeted for a phased introduction of user fees and scale up of community health insurance programs.2 In the Ugandan context, PNFP facilities include faith-based hospitals and other health facilities, US missionary organizations and centers of excellence—services that are often co-located at government facilities but run with additional financial and technical resources. 402,000 people—or about 28 percent of the total Ugandan adult PLHIV population on treatment—get ART from the private not for profit sector. The selected facilities provide the majority of ART and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services. The plan doesn’t give the total number of clients served by the 491 facilities, so it is not possible to give a precise number. But the majority of 402,000 is a figure in the hundreds of thousands—hence the estimate I’m using.3 The April draft of the Ugandan implementation plan narrative is the only one I’ve been able to review. But the government of Uganda is not alone in turning to health care users to help fill the financing gaps caused by the abrupt withdrawal of US funds. In July 2025, the Government of Liberia introduced user fees for previously free services including “registration, accommodation, patient feeding, hospitalization, and a wide range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.”4 Earlier that year, Liberia rolled out a revolving drug fund designed to stabilize drug supplies by “allowing patients to pay a small fee for standardized, quality medications,” according to a Ministry of Health press release.5 (Both of these approaches had been proposed in the National Health Policy 2022-2031; media coverage explicitly connects the launch with the US foreign aid cuts.) The health financing strategies proposed by Uganda and established in Liberia are qualitatively different from user fees officially adopted by specific health facilities to cover funding shortfalls caused by the new US approach.6 The latter is a stopgap, adhoc change. The former is a national governmental adoption of policies that pass costs on to health care users, despite evidence that such approaches can exacerbate inequities and leave deficits unfilled. Two countries does not make a pattern, but they do point to urgent questions: Have other countries, including Liberia, included user fees or community health insurance schemes in their implementation plans? If so, do any of these narratives have what Uganda’s lacks: a fall-back plan in place in case these strategies for sustainable health systems fail to deliver—as they have before? I wonder if you think about it Subscribe Predictable pitfalls Both community-based health insurance and user fees are as old as the hills. And after decades of people climbing up these hills, duking it out, climbing back down—neither strategy has shown the results the Ugandan implementation plan is counting on. This is, in fact, a hill some folks are willing to die on. (You knew I’d get there, right?) In November 2025, an African-led team of health system experts published a paper directed at low- and middle income country governments trying to figure out how to create self-sustaining health systems. The money wasn’t coming back. It had been more than nine months since the season of freezing, waivering and wood-chippering; two months since AFGHS tumbled into the world touting co-financing requirements and reductions in future US government health aid. Governments were looking for strategies for sustainable, self-financed health systems, the authors wrote. For countries considering user fees and community health insurance to fill the financing gaps, they had a simple message: Don’t. On user fees, the paper states: “Reliance on user fees is ultimately a regressive and inequitable approach. It places a disproportionate burden on the poor and undermines health system goals of equity and financial protection. […] There is overwhelming evidence that user fees mobilise very limited resources for the public health sector, making it an inefficient mechanism for revenue mobilisation.” On community health insurance: “Attempting to shift the burden of funding previously donor-funded services, such as HIV care and management, and TB treatment, onto contributory schemes would exacerbate their fragility and fail to protect the population.”7 The WHO says that community-based health insurance “cannot be expected to provide a major source of funding or coverage,” and noted that most schemes offer only moderate benefit to individuals paying into them, and exclude the poorest segment of the population.8 And yet, the US-Ugandan implementation plan says that community health insurance is “the central pillar of this [PNFP] sustainability strategy” and that this approach that will generate “pre-paid pooled funding at facility and community level [that] improves financial risk protection for households, reduces catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure, and generates structured, transparent revenue streams that can progressively absorb recurrent costs including health worker salaries.” Unfortunately, Uganda’s own history suggests the pillar might not be able to bear this weight. Ugandans Have Been to this Rodeo Before—and Some Want Their Money Back Uganda introduced its first community health insurance scheme in 1996 with support from international donors.9 Thirty years later, somewhere between 0.2 and 0.3 percent of the population is covered by CHI; just over 1 percent has any kind of health insurance.10 User fees were universally introduced in 1993 as a condition of a World Bank loan.11 They were abandoned in 2001, and in 2004—the year I moved to Uganda to watch the free HIV program get underway—a definitive study found that the fees did not improve health systems and outcomes.12 In 2004, most clinics and hospitals had ‘free’ and ‘fee for service’ options for getting care.13 The fee for service, or “cash and carry” programs had often been established in the years prior to PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. People who could afford to paid for the drugs, often at facilities in the private-not-for-profit (PNFP) sector. When free drugs arrived, some people who’d been paying kept on doing so, perhaps because of shorter wait times, greater confidentiality, convenience or other factors. But in the year that I spent visiting the same clinics around the country week after week—including a “center of excellence” that maintained separate days for cash and carry clients and those accessing free ARVs—lots of people who had been paying tried to switch to the free option. They’d paid because they had no other choice. They’d sold pieces of family land, begged family members for loans, bought pills by the week, and sometimes by the day. Or they were just cash-strapped, like most of us, and wanted the funds for other things. 14 Twenty-two years later, this hasn’t changed. Ugandans pay out of pocket for 30-40 percent of their health care costs, leading one paper to declare that “falling ill is more than a health crisis. It is a financial emergency.”15 One recent study found that up to 48.5 percent of households dealing with tuberculosis sold something, took out a loan or dug into savings to defray the costs of TB care—which is supposed to be universally free.16 The Ugandan implementation plan does anticipate challenges. It proposes a phased approach, with 187 facilities introducing user contribution systems in Year 1, 152 in Year 2, and 153 in Year 3. Willingness to pay and feasibility studies will precede roll out; fees will be tiered by region, and a waiver system is proposed to ensure that no one has to pay who is unable to. Moreover, the plan provides for quarterly reviews of epidemiological data to “ensure that user contributions do not compromise epidemic control gains, ART continuity for the client cohort, TB case management, or PMTCT services.” Alt text: A screenshot of a table included in the implementation plan narrative that is the subject of this stack. It’s got a fetching pink bar at the top. It uses the abbreviation “CHI” which is Community Health Insurance, and FBO which is Faith Based Organizations, and it details the number of facilities that will implement user fees with waivers and community health insurance schemes over the five years of the agreement. As I said in the footnote, this is a super interesting document with a lot of other rich material. Tell me what you see—and what you would have focused on. And if you’ve seen something like this, or anything else that strikes you, in another implementation plan, tell me that too. You can use the Substack message platform or try me on Signal at @endaplague_again.25 (because @mercoonfan was, weirdly, taken). But the plan doesn’t fully explain what will happen if this approach doesn’t work out. Yes, progress will be monitored, and corrective action triggered. However, there is no specified funding replacement if premium and fee revenue prove inadequate. Instead, the authors write, “Currently, COEs serve a total client cohort of over 180,000 across 28 facilities. In the initial years, the U.S. Government (USG) will provide financial support for clients; over time, user fees generated by COEs will become the primary source of funding for sustaining their services.” Failure does not really seem to be an option. Health insurance schemes are more acceptable to the Ugandan population than user fees. Members of Parliament and civil society traveled to Ethiopia to see how that country’s scheme worked. In a follow up report, a veteran civil society group recommended allowing the “health insurance ecosystem to grow organically and [to] keep reviewing the law and regulations as this growth takes root.”17 One study found that more than three-quarters of Ugandans were willing to join a health insurance program.18 However, coverage of community-based health insurance is minimal, as is coverage of any kind of insurance—including private plans.19 A national health insurance scheme bill has been stalled for several years and presently sits with President Yoweri Museveni.20 Community-based health insurance scheme that do exist are expanding in number, but losing enrollees. Between 2022 and 2026, the number of community-based health financing schemes across the country increased by 42 percent, while the number of people enrolled decreased by nearly 11 percent.21 None of this means that community-based health insurance should not happen in Uganda—or that people do not want insurance. It doesn’t even mean that user fees and waivers won’t ever work. But there is highly relevant evidence from Uganda and the surrounding region that it is quite optimistic to describe community health insurance and user fees as central supports for sustainable financing in any sector of the health system. And now for the best-case scenario In the best-case scenario22, the Ugandan approach does exactly what it sets out to do, and so does the Liberian fee structure and revolving pharmacy fund—though I’ve not confirmed that these are in the MoU. In one best-case scenario, Uganda is an outlier, and user fees and community health insurance are not recurrent pillars of self-sustaining financing in other countries’ implementation plans. In another best-case scenario, all countries that include these strategies enjoy success beyond anyone’s evidence-informed wildest dreams: reliable funding generated by health care users fees, great health care outcomes for everyone, no exacerbation of inequities, no crippling household debt. No sold land, repurposed school tuition or high-interest loans. In the best-case scenario, not one of the hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV receiving antiretrovirals from 491 PNFP facilities misses a refill or leaves care because of user fees or community health insurance premiums. This is the best-case scenario for these people for their own health, and for their families. It is also the best-case scenario if Uganda wants to stay on the path to eliminating HIV as a public health threat. According to the country’s most recent data, 96.5 percent of people living with HIV on antiretrovirals are virologically suppressed. Epidemic control depends ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those individuals are on ART, and 95% of those individuals are virologically suppressed. Uganda is still struggling with the first “95"—a frankly abysmal 85.3 percent. If HIV epidemic control and the attendant prevention of new infections, avoidable suffering and premature death matter, the country cannot afford to lose any clients who are currently in care.23 As I write this a couple hours before the polls close for the US elections in the city I live in, I say with soul-deep sincerity: I am rooting for the best-case scenario. I think it’s safe to say that we all are.24 I think it’s also safe to say that if the US and co-signatory governments have inked plans that lead to successful expansion of community health insurance and strategic use of user fees, we all would like to know, now, so that we don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate when success happens. The implementation plan narratives have to enter the public domain. They are the fullest expression of a strategy co-created by two governments. There are assumptions and details that people living in the US and co-signatory countries need to understand that are not available in the MoUs or, to date, in the Congressional Notifications. Some of these details can help other countries that are, as I write this, still working on implementation plans. Others, like a solid count of how many other countries have plans for expanding user fees or health insurance, are important for regional and global health architecture reform initiatives. No matter how this election night turns out, there will be a slew of new Congressional member orientations, briefings and talking points papers in the next few months. Release of implementation narratives should be a bullet point in every context that AFGHS is discussed. These documents can be redacted so that procurement sensitive information isn’t disclosed. There is much more historical precedent for sharing such documents than there is for relying on user fees to fill health financing gaps. Let’s look at the information together so we can hope for the best and prepare for, you know, the other thing. Alt text: A substack first: a bicep selfie! It’s my arm - peachy-white skin, black shirt (flannel, notch neck, too hot for this appallingly balmy November weather, if you’re wondering) and a sticker that says I VOTED 2026. Beige letters on red for I voted. Beige on blue for 2026. You bet I did.25 In your wildest dreams. Subscribe 1 This is a really, really rich 95 page document. There are fascinating ideas and detailed plans in it. It is all worth reading AND I have, in this post, highlighted an instance of content that could pose challenges and certainly posits success of strategies that haven’t worked before. I would love to hear what readers’ see that’s interesting and should be lifted up as something to check for in other implementation plans. I will also shortly be adding a static page to the substack site where implementation plan documents will live. I will put the url into this footnote and it will also be there on emilybass.substack.com by the end of the week. Uganda Implementation Narrative Section 4 April 22 2026 Draft 1.51MB ∙ PDF file Download Download 2 User fees are costs charged for visits, labs, medicines or other health services, usually at the time they are provided. Community health insurance, or community-based health insurance, is what the World Health Organization calls “micro insurance,” which is health insurance targeted at low-income people. 3 As usual (by which I mean always), please prove me wrong. 4 https://smartnewsliberia.com/liberias-ministry-of-health-announces-2025-hospital-service-fees-for-public-facilities/?utm 5 https://moh.gov.lr/news/2025/grand-cape-mount-leaders-residents-embrace-new-community-pharmacy-program/?utm 6 https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/09/hiv-usaid-pepfar-africa-foreign-aid-cuts-mission-hospitals/?utm 7 https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/11/e021270 8 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/community-based-health-insurance-CBHI 9 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2827475/ 10 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 11 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC527704/ 12 Same citation as the footnote 2 - the article is called “Learning from failed health care reform in Uganda.” To which I say: If only. If. Only. 13 There is a whole taxonomy of user fees to be aware of, if not commit to memory. Out of pocket costs are everything that someone pays for themselves. In this Stack, user fees are planned and policy-supported out of pocket costs. There are also out of pocket costs that people pay to buy drugs or receive tests or health care assessments that would be free if the drugs were on the shelves, or the machines or kits were available, or the staff were on site. A user fee is usually designed to be modest, pegged to willingness to pay, and may be waiveable at the point of care for anyone who is unable to do so. The costs for things that would otherwise be free are whatever the market will bear and people either have to pay them or go without. Out of pocket costs for services and stuff that aren’t available in public facilities are different again from bribes or unofficial fees that some health workers may impose, even though most are indefatigable, tireless and tired, and devoted to their clients. 14 For the record—which really is these footnotes—I would give a whole stack of fridge magnets for a systematic analysis of the economic and social impact of the Mass Unemployment Event in AFGHS countries among the very people who used to be able to afford and cover user fees, both for themselves and vast family networks. Locally employed USAID technical staff, house cleaners, caregivers, drivers and technicians were financial anchors for cousins, friends, friends’ children, friends’ childrens’ cousins, teachers, pastors, neighbors and so many other kinds of kin. Aid recipients lost direct funding; many other people who had not been aid recipients, but parts of the elaborate care webs that function as safety nets for so many people, lost crucial support too. And that’s even before we get to the people who worked at the hotels and restaurants and bars where people employed by the US and its implementing partners used to spend disposable income. Those businesses have lost revenue; those folks have lost jobs. It will be some time coming—and someone will have to fund this work—but I do hope it happens. And I hope, as usual, to be proven wrong. 15 https://eprcug.org/blog/how-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs-keep-driving-ugandans-into-poverty/ 16 Another straight-to-the-point journal article title. Households experiencing catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in Uganda: magnitude and cost drivers. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32938411 17 https://www.cehurd.org/download/technical-policy-brief-on-community-health-insurance-scheme/?wpdmdl=13661&refresh=6ae9122f5d4ed1793659439 18 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10125197/ 19 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 20 https://ugandapost.news/uganda-to-make-health-insurance-mandatory-by-2026/ 21 https://shu.org.ug/download/235 22 With a nod, tip of the stack hat, and wag of the Mercoon tail to a deeply valued reader who told me that I have a tendency to speculate about the worst-case scenarios a little too much of the time. 23 https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/10/uphia-2025-shows-ugandas-hiv-status-awareness-gap-despite-strong-treatment-outcomes/ As you’ll see in the next footnote, I’ve already written a subSubstack on another topic, so I will be brief with regard to the study referenced in this article. The Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment, or UPHIA, will never happen in this way again. For more than a decade, PHIAs have been supported by the US government as a way to generate accurate estimates of country progress on key HIV indicators. They are a holdover from the PEPFAR program that was laser focused on ensuring US taxpayer dollars subsidized progress in pandemic control. There may be other population-level surveys and the data may even be publicly released, as the entire set of FY2026 MER data have not. But PHIAs will never happen again. If you’re wondering whether the estimates of HIV progress at country level might get less reliable….you’re not alone. 24 Ooh baby, I hate “we” in almost all forms. But sometimes I go there, when I am looking for company, which I am. Because this Stack moves into the somewhat-uncharted territory of assessing what the implementation plan narratives may suggest about co-signatory countries’ roles and responsibilities to the people living within their borders. The MoUs, specimen and data sharing agreements were templates. Countries’ answers fit into pre-specified questions that did not include, “how are you going to fill financing gaps and stabilize your health system as this plan unfolds?” In contrast, the implementation narratives are open form—the product of co-creation between the two governments. Co-creation can mean lots of things, but nothing leads me to believe that implementation plans are ghost-written by the US government, or that contents were imposed by the US counterparts. Instead, I think the parts of the plans that read like country government initiatives are endorsed, if not initiated by, those governments. For instance, the Ugandan implementation plan narrative describes plans for revenue-generation through fees charged for equipment calibration, repair and maintenance provided through Uganda’s National Equipment Calibration Laboratory, and laboratory accreditation through the Uganda National Accreditation Service (UGANAS), targeting private sector, PNFP, research and academic clients. That’s super specific and also quite ambitious. It doesn’t read like an American idea. There’s also a provision for solar panels, and other stuff that feels country owned and driven. This is where it gets interesting. If co-creation is the case, then both the US and co-signatory governments are accountable for the contents and the outcomes. Most discourse about AFGHS to date has focused on the decisions that America has made, or demanded that other countries make. The AFGHS architects have monopolized the hot seat. As they should, in so many ways. America absolutely created the conditions under which countries needed to come up with health financing strategies to fill unanticipated, catastrophic funding gaps. And with not-too-long a lens, we can look back and see that America is also on the hook for its role in the Bretton Woods institutions that made user fees and health system fiscal austerity conditions of loans during the era of structural adjustment. But in the here and now, it is not at all clear to me that the US is requiring Uganda or any other country to implement specific approaches to sustainable financing. Instead, it is as the authors of that paper up in footnote 6 suggest: African governments have agency. As implementation plans roll out—whether or not the narratives are shared—it will be important to understand what this agency looks like and what it means for people, including the poorest of the poor. And it will be important to figure out how to talk about it safely, respectfully and critically in places other than the literal and metaphorical footnotes. 25 This week’s song is “Once upon a time” by the Moody Blues. (I know, this is gonna be a weird, largely banger-free end of 2026 playlist. HMU with requests.) AND please do watch the video and appreciate the truly amazing opening sequence—a drum kit wasteland, a coupla plastic bags, a bit of sand. Sort of like the hill where fiscal austerity policies that put costs on health care users might go to perish. But then there’s a lady with amazing hair. It’s worth it.
A ‘bloodbath.’ Georgia Democrats sweep statewide offices in historic political upheaval
A Democratic wave ended decades of GOP dominance in Georgia and threatened the GOP's grip on the state Legislature.
Democrats eye sweeping gains and reshaping of political map
Two Senate races that a year ago were thought to be battlegrounds turned out to be slam-dunks for the Democrats.
Yankees’ perfect trade offer for Brewers’ Trevor Megill
The New York Yankees should pursue Trevor Megill with an offer that supports the Milwaukee Brewers’ championship defense. New York needs late-inning pitching , but Milwaukee needs a reason to surrender its proven closer. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Monday that the Brewers would at least listen to offers for Megill. This package is a proposal, with […] The post Yankees’ perfect trade offer for Brewers’ Trevor Megill appeared first on ClutchPoints.
North Carolina voters elect Roy Cooper, state’s first Democratic senator in 10 years
Cooper, the state’s former governor, defeated former RNC chair Michael Whatley by focusing his campaign on lowering costs
Luka Doncic’s Season Off to Historic Start
Lakers superstar Luka Doncic is off to a historic start to the 2026-27 NBA season, averaging 38.3 PPG and putting up unprecedented offensive numbers. The post Luka Doncic’s Season Off to Historic Start appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Bengs speaks on data centers, money in politics ahead of elections
The war in Ukraine, data centers and the release of the Epstein files. All topics expectant voters wanted Brian Bengs, South Dakota’s independent candidate for U.S. senate, to comment on...
Loughborough expert features on leading science podcast
Professor Vicky Tolfrey, Director of Loughborough University's Centre for Para and Disability Sport Innovation, is featured in a new episode of the chart-topping A Question of Science podcast, released 4 November.
Former Duke QB Daniel Jones Named as Surprise Trade Candidate
There could be a big surprise at the trade deadline involving a former Duke player.
Meta delays new business terms after outcry over potential web scraping of news sites
Meta is delaying new terms for business accounts after a backlash from media companies and open-web advocates. The terms, set for October 30, would allow Meta to use automated tools to scrape data from business accounts. Critics argue this could lead to Meta building competing services using the scraped content. A Norwegian court recently suspended the terms, and the UK is investigating. Meta insists the terms are about accurate product information, not news scraping. Despite Meta removing the word "train" from the terms, European critics remain unsatisfied, emphasizing the impact on journalism and media diversity.
The Xbox Nano Controller is here, and it's incredibly cute (and hides a surprise)
The Xbox Nano Controller drops on November 4, 2026 for the United States, UK, and other select markets. Here's some early impressions ahead of the full review.
Many voters see midterm election as a rebuke of Trump, NBC News Exit Poll shows
The president’s approval rating is dismal among voters, who have big concerns about the economy, according to early polling results.
Blood drive in Rome to celebrate Leukemia survivor
A blood drive will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Uvanni Motors at 5829 Rome-Taberg Road, according to organizers.
Who celebrities are voting for in the L.A. mayoral election
Jane Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson, George Lopez, Stevie Wonder, Bob Odenkirk, Mindy Kaling, Adam Scott and Jaboukie Young-White reveal whether they're voting for Karen Bass or Nithya Raman.
What the White Sox can learn from Milwaukee’s title run
Despite hitting 57 fewer homers than Chicago in 2026, Milwaukee manufactured enough offense to capture its first title
ASRA NOMANI: Muslim reformers reject ‘fire will rise’ warning if El-Sayed loses as 'Jihad First'
Wajahat Ali's warning that "the fire will rise" if Abdul El-Sayed loses the Michigan Senate race draws a sharp rebuke from Muslim reformers.
Fiserv Small Business Index Shows Sales Momentum Heading into Holiday Season
Index rises to 146 as sales increase +2.3% year over year and +0.3% month over monthMILWAUKEE, Nov. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology, today published the Fiserv Small Business Index for October 2026, showing encouraging momentum for small businesses as the holiday season gets underway. Sales rose +2.3% year over year, the strongest year-over-year gain since July 2025, and +0.3% month over month. The
Federal Bill Would Bar Certain Website Tracking Litigation Plaguing Businesses – What You Need to Know
New federal legislation would give businesses some relief from a recent deluge of litigation targeting commonplace website tracking tools like cookies and tracking pixels. The Halt Abusive Internet Lawsuits Act, introduced by Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) in September, would bar lawsuits brought under federal and state wiretapping and related surveillance laws for the collection, processing, or disclosure of information when it is used for a commercial purpose. If passed, the legislation would significantly reduce exposure for businesses small and large who have faced expensive litigation for utilizing everyday website tools. Here’s what you need to know about the bill and its chances of becoming law – and some steps you can take while we wait to see what happens.
UK climate minister Katie White: COP31 must respond to ‘really scary’ science
The upcoming COP31 climate talks need to respond to the latest science on global warming, says UK climate minister Katie White.
All aboard with Kaptain Kemi, lost at sea on the good ship amnesia
Launching a defence plan on a rusty sloop, and dogged by a UK Iron Dome that never was, the Tory leader has forgotten her party’s 14 years in power
How Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals are testing clinical AI
The Clinic, UH Cleveland Medical Center and Mass General Brigham have tapped into AI to achieve surgical efficiency, improve health assessments and more.
An anonymous celebrity loses UK court bid to block reports of alleged sexual misconduct
A U.K. court has denied an unidentified celebrity's request to block news outlets from publishing allegations against him | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
An anonymous celebrity loses UK court bid to block reports of alleged sexual misconduct
A U.K. court has denied an unidentified celebrity's request to block news outlets from publishing allegations against him | WWL
Lakers’ Luka Doncic Continues His Historic Stretch
After posting an historic stat line on Sunday against Toronto, not even the second night of a home back-to-back could slow down Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic. Just 24 hours after filling up the stat sheet with 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals and a block in a 131-125 home victory over …
Your Website May Be Sharing Health Data Even If You’re Not a Healthcare Company: 7 Steps to Take After Landmark Appeals Court Ruling
In what appears to be the first federal appellate decision addressing pixel tracking on a health-related website, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals just revived a class action accusing an eyewear retailer of sharing its website visitors’ health information with a social media company. In its October 23 Rand v Eyesmart decision, the 5th Circuit held that everyday shopping and scheduling activity on a healthcare-adjacent website can possibly count as protected health information, even when customers never typed in a diagnosis or symptom. For businesses like optical chains, pharmacies, dental practices, wellness providers, and telehealth platforms, the decision means higher litigation risk tied to particular data flows and identification practices, rather than a categorical prohibition on website analytics or advertising tools. Here’s what happened, what the court decided, and seven steps to consider now.
How sporting events are being impacted by Middle East conflict
BBC Sport takes a look at how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has affected sporting events in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the wider area.
Christian voters in Washington state divided by common religion: ‘I don’t think the US is God’s kingdom on Earth’
Christians in the south of the state seek to vote their values – but a common faith does not mean a common politics
Best Early Black Friday Mac Deals: Save Hundreds on MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and More
We're getting closer to Black Friday, which lands on Friday, November 27 this year. In the lead-up to the shopping holiday, we're tracking a few lowest-ever prices on Apple's most popular Macs, including the M5 MacBook Air, MacBook Neo, and the new Mac mini and Mac Studio. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Lakers Earn Biggest Win of Season Behind Luka Doncic Masterclass
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a big win against marquee opponent the Miami Heat, winning 128-117 in a 42 point explosion from Luka Doncic. The post Lakers Earn Biggest Win of Season Behind Luka Doncic Masterclass appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Guaranteed pension income ‘resurrected’ for 17m private sector workers
Ministers propose new guided retirement scheme to help give savers protection for life
MLB roster cleanup has begun. No Dodgers moves yet
The Major League Baseball offseason technically began last week, after the Milwaukee Brewers closed out the World Series last Wednesday, and free agency began on Thursday. Nine Dodgers became free agents last week, headlined by Tarik Skubal and four relievers who were the longest-tenured pitchers on the team’s 40-man roster. By Monday, all major league […]
Poseidon Expeditions' new UK business development head
Poseidon Expeditions names Vladislav Saveliev head of business development for the UK, focusing on trade growth and distribution.
Vodafone Business Joins NYU WIRELESS as the Research Center Expands its Work on Network Resilience
Vodafone Business has joined NYU WIRELESS, the research center at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, as an industrial affiliate, in a partnership that will connect NYU’s Brooklyn and London locations with the UK’s largest mobile operator.
Luka Doncic Explains How Lakers Have Improved After Heat Win
Doncic is happy with where the Lakers are at seven games into the new season.
‘The output of a lunatic asylum’: what the Bloomsbury group can tell us about mental health
From Virginia Woolf’s horrifying views on eugenics to James Strachey’s seminal translations of Freud, the Bloomsbury set didn’t only experience mental illness, they shaped how society thinks about it
Study: How Live Entertainment Turns Attention into Action
The international study The Live Effect 2026 reveals why live entertainment continues to deliver unmatched engagement, brand impact and commercial value. Four of the world’s largest live entertainment markets were examined.