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Washington State earns 70-58 victory over Seattle U
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Rihards Vavers had 24 points in Washington State's 70-58 win over Seattle U on Wednesday night.
Singer "Kid Rock" & Entertainment Policy Advocates Testify on Concert Ticket Fees
Singer "Kid Rock," Live Nation Entertainment VP Dan Wall & entertainment policy advocates testify to a Senate Commerce subcommittee on ticket prices and fees.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
OpenAI’s latest product let’s you vibe code science
OpenAI just revealed what its new in-house team, OpenAI for Science, has been up to. The firm has released a free LLM-powered tool for scientists called Prism, which embeds ChatGPT in a text editor for writing scientific papers. The idea is to put ChatGPT front and center inside software that scientists use to write up…
Open enrollment in Virginia's health insurance marketplace is lagging
Friday is the last day to enroll in state-offered plans or change your coverage.
Keystone Science School opens summer 2026 enrollment for its 50th year
Keystone Science School has opened enrollment for its summer 2026 programs, and the nonprofit said sessions are already filling quickly. Each summer, Keystone Science School serves approximately 1,600 campers in grades K-12 through programs including...
AI can develop 'personality' spontaneously with minimal prompting, research shows. What does that mean for how we use it?
When large language models (LLMs) are allowed to interact without any preset goals, scientists found distinct personalities emerged by themselves.
This AI thinks it’s the 1800s
What happens when you train an LLM only on limited historical data?
CT health plan subsidies set to be available beginning Feb. 1
Access Health CT said it will launch an enrollment period Feb. 1 for eligible customers to enroll in coverage with the new state subsidy.
Health insurance enrollment declines in Colorado, but not as much as feared
Enrollment in health insurance plans through Connect for Health Colorado declined for 2026, but not as much as state officials had feared.
Health Insurance CEOs Testify on Health Care Affordability
The House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on health care affordability with testimony from health insurance CEO's.
Built to last: governance for multigenerational family businesses
When starting a company, nimble decision-making and founder-led intuition are often hallmarks of success. More structure is needed with complexity.
Without insurance, thousands in WA are betting on their health
New enrollment is down while active cancellations are up, according to preliminary data released by the state health insurance exchange.
In Good Health: What We Know About ADHD : 1A
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, affects tens of millions of people in the U.S.About one in nine children and one in 16 adults have ADHD. That’s according to an analysis from the nonprofit Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or CHADD.As researchers learn more about the brain and its complexities, they’re also gaining new insights into what the condition looks like across different ages, genders, and races.In recent years, more adults — especially women — are being diagnosed than ever before. In this installment of our series “In Good Health,” we focus on ADHD – from symptoms, to diagnoses, to treatments.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
A community-codesigned LLM-powered chatbot for primary care: a randomized controlled trial
Nature Health - A multimedia e-learning chatbot codesigned with community stakeholders increased health awareness in a randomized trial of 2,113 participants in urban and rural areas across 11...
Mexican Marvel: how an international business got a much-needed health boost with flexible, scalable fulfillment
A leading wellness company transitioned from an outdated, underperforming supply chain to a professional, future-ready, digital logistics solution cutting logistics costs by 30%.
Map: See where ACA health insurance enrollment dropped in 2026
ACA subsidies expiring leaves 1.4 million fewer insured compared to 2025, as CMS data shows enrollment declines in Florida and other Southern states.
Willmar restaurant workers detained by ICE agents who visited business for lunch
Trump announces health care plan to cut costs, but it needs Congress’ approval
The plan, announced the same day Affordable Care Act open enrollment ends in most states, offered few details and largely restated proposals Trump has previously outlined.
Final day to select ACA health plans arrives in most states, with no subsidy deal yet
The open enrollment window ends Thursday in most states for plans that start in February.
Science Meets Shoreline
UNH’s Lakes Lay Monitoring Program (LLMP) plays a key role in keeping the state's lakes healthy and safe for residents and offers students valuable hands-on experience in the field and in the lab.
GOP Cuts Will Cripple Medicaid Enrollment, Warns CEO of Largest Public Health Plan
Martha Santana-Chin, a daughter of Mexican immigrants, last year took the helm of L.A. Care, the nation’s largest publicly operated health plan. She warns that looming federal cuts will push up to 650,000 people off L.A. Care’s Medicaid rolls by the end of 2028.
Civilization VII comes to Apple Arcade in February
Longtime fans of the franchise were disappointed in this latest installment.
Mosh Pit Science: What Heavy Metal Concerts Can Tell Us About the Human Condition
A 2013 research paper discusses how heavy-metal mosh pits "have this gas-like state" when concertgoers start moshing (no, not like that).
More Texans have signed up for ACA health coverage despite expiring subsidies and falling national enrollment
The Jan. 3 snapshot, though incomplete, indicates a stabler marketplace and less coverage loss than many experts and insurers feared.
Illinois extends health insurance marketplace enrollment deadline to Jan. 31
Alliance Entertainment Named Exclusive Physical Media Distribution Partner for Amazon MGM Studios in North America
Deal strengthens Alliance’s leadership in premium home entertainment distribution across major franchises and catalog titlesPLANTATION, Fla., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: AENT), a premier distributor and omnichannel fulfillment partner to the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry, supplying more than 340,000 unique SKUs across music, video, video games, licensed merchandise, and exclusive collectibles to over 35,000 retail an
Immigrant families are shying away from medical care. A new court decision could worsen fears.
Clinics across Massachusetts report rising no-shows, delayed care, and fear-driven disenrollment from insurance programs.
The 2026 Golden Globes start now: How to watch tonight, start time, TV channel, full nominee list and more
Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the 83rd installment of the awards ceremony tonight. Are you ready?
2026 Golden Globes: How to watch tonight, start time, TV channel, full nominee list and more
Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the 83rd installment of the awards ceremony is this weekend. Are you ready?
Google: Don’t make “bite-sized” content for LLMs if you care about search rank
Google says creating for people rather than robots is the best long-term strategy.
2026 Golden Globes: How to watch, start time, TV channel, full nominee list and more
Hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, the 83rd installment of the awards ceremony is this weekend. Are you ready?
Amazon is planning to build a Walmart-style supercenter
A Chicago suburb greenlit Amazon's bid to build a 225,000 square-foot mega store with in-person shopping and e-commerce fulfillment.
Streaming widens sports marketing field: Here’s what the numbers say
Airing games across both linear and streaming platforms can help boost performance, according to Nielsen data.
The 2025 Sports News Cycle, Charted: Data Viz
Check out a timeline of the biggest 2025 sports news stories in one chart, including the Luka Dončić trade, the tush push and Steve Ballmer.
Xbox’s Developer Direct returns on January 22nd with Fable and Forza Horizon 6 gameplay
The new installments in two of Microsoft’s biggest Xbox franchises are releasing this year.
Developer_Direct Returns January 22: Watch Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation Gameplay, Direct from the Studios
We're kicking off 2026 with the fourth installment of Developer_Direct on January 22 – bringing you new gameplay and insights for Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation.
Building Open-Source AI Models That Emphasize Generating Mental Health Advice
I discuss what open-source means in the realm of AI and LLMs. There are efforts to devise open-source LLMs for mental health guidance. An AI Insider scoop.
Access Health CT urges residents to enroll as deadline extended
State officials are urging people to take advantage of health insurance subsidies before the enrollment period closes at the end of the month. Access Health Connecticut Executive Director James Michel also suggested people contact a broker, even if they selected a plan last year, to see if they qualify for enough help to afford a better plan. “We’re going to…
Berrien County Health Dept. to open enrollment for RX Kids program in select communities
Berrien County Health Department is launching Michigan State University's Rx kids program.Beginning January 12th pregnant mothers in the cities of Benton Harbor
Recent $11 Million Grant to Hallmark Farms Highlights Economic Partnerships Between Business and State, Federal Government - Alabama Department of Labor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 7, 2026 Recent $11 Million Grant to Hallmark Farms Highlights Economic Partnerships Between Business and State, Federal Government Montgomery, Ala. – The recent award of $11 million in federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program funding to the Alabama Farm Center is a shining example of cooperation and strategic partnerships […]
Tillman’s leadership shapes national, global public health - News
Dr. David Tillman, chair and professor of Public Health at Campbell University, continues to receive national and global recognition for… More on this post
Senators discuss open enrollment extension for compromise health plan
Republican and Democratic senators want to soften the blow of lapsed Obamacare tax credits.
Employers, workers look to value-based care, other plans to keep 2026 costs down
Enrollment in alternative health plan designs doubled from 2025 to 2026, with most salary ranges seeking ways to control skyrocketing costs.
Code Vein II Tells A Time-Traveling Story That Will Tug On Your Heartstrings
The next installment of Bandai Namco's anime souls-like mixes rousing gameplay with raw emotion.
Glass ' 16 lead Washington State past Oregon State 81-67
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Aaron Glass ' 16 points helped Washington State defeat Oregon State 81-67 on Sunday.
Delta Air Lines Named Official Airline Partner of Sphere
Delta Air Lines Will Entitle Sphere’s First Branded Hospitality Space – The Delta SKY360° Club At Sphere Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR ) today announced Delta Air Lines as the Official Airline of Sphere. As part of a multi-faceted partnership, the Delta SKY360° Club also becomes the first branded hospitality space in the immersive entertainment venue. “Delta and Sphere share a commitment to innovation, technology and connecting people through world-class experiences,” said Marcus Ellington, Executive Vice President, Ad Sales and Sponsorships, Sphere. “We are proud to welcome Delta as our partner on two firsts for Sphere – our first official airline and first branded hospitality space – and we look forward to building on this collaboration, offering guests an elevated experience, and showcasing the best of each of our brands.” “At Delta, our mission is to make every journey matter, and that extends beyond the flight,” said Alicia Tillman, Chief Marketing Officer at Delta Air
As More Americans Turn to Self-Employment, Rob Tillman Named 2025 Best Business Coach by Best of Small Business Awards
The 2025 Best Business Coach Award was presented to Rob Tillman as layoffs, AI adoption and job uncertainty drive more Americans toward entrepreneurship. I see this award as a reflection of the smart, talented and driven professionals I’ve worked with, whose real-world outcomes gave voters and judges a basis for their decision.” — Rob Tillman […]
Access Health CT extends insurance enrollment deadline to Jan. 31
According to Access Health CT website, customers can enroll Jan. 31 in coverage that begins Feb. 1.
Hochul: Average health insurance premiums up 38% after ACA subsidies expire
The governor said about 140,000 New Yorkers will face steep health care costs as early as this week.
Medicaid, ICE and a ticking clock for undocumented Californians
A looming enrollment freeze and immigration officials' push to access health data are forcing undocumented Californians to weigh free health care against deportation risks.
Everything Apple Is Releasing in 2026: iPhone Fold, LLM Siri, Low-Cost MacBook and More
If rumors are accurate, 2026 is going to be a huge year for Apple. We're expecting the first foldable iPhone, an all-new home hub device, updated...
Top 10 Moments In Entertainment
Top 10 Moments In Entertainment including black films, Beyonce, Kara Young, and Kendrick Lamar
Apple may see the future of LLMs very differently than most: report
A new report may help explain why, in part, Apple’s AI approach thus far has differed so much from competitors.
Health insurance enrollment on Colorado’s marketplace running even with last year, even with subsidies slated to expire
Health insurance enrollment on Connect for Health Colorado, the state-run marketplace, is running nearly even with last year, even with federal subsidies slated to expire in January. As of Dec. 23, 256,422 Coloradans had enrolled...
Health insurance enrollment on Colorado’s marketplace running even with last year, even with subsidies slated to expire
Health insurance enrollment on Connect for Health Colorado, the state-run marketplace, is running nearly even with last year, even with federal subsidies slated to expire in January. As of Dec. 23, 256,422 Coloradans had enrolled...
What Health Care Consumers Need to Know About ACA Marketplace Coverage for 2026 - State of Delaware News
Dover, DE (December 30, 2025) —Time is running out – enroll for 2026 now. January 15 is the final deadline to enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan for 2026. Individuals who don’t act by Jan. 15, 2026, may not get coverage for 2026 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on circumstances such […]
Health insurance 2026: What Michigan residents need to know about expiring ACA credits
Survey shows 25% of people may go uninsured rather than pay doubled premiums when enhanced subsidies expire, with enrollment deadline approaching.
Memorial Health System welcomes Dr. Joan Allman to ranks
PARKERSBURG – Memorial Health System has welcomed longtime Mid-Ohio Valley provider Dr. Joan Allman, D.O., to the Department of Primary Care in Parkersburg. With over two decades of experience serving patients in the local community, Allman brings to Memorial Health System the compassion and skill that patients have come to know and trust while under […]
These were the most explosive moments so far in California’s war with Trump
Targeting California — through lawsuits, policies to undermine state laws and insults hurled at its leaders — has become a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
How Hallmark built a holiday media empire, complete with cruises
Hallmark has built a holiday movie juggernaut and is now expanding that business into live experiences, such as a Christmas cruise.
Obamacare sign-ups are steady, but warning signs emerge
While sign-ups are above 2024, some states are concerned about higher terminations, fewer new enrollees and more consumer calls for help. If Congress fails again to extend enhanced subsidies in January, they say enrollment could drop.
The Year in Entertainment 2025: The TV that was top
The small screen took us everywhere from the shores of Cousins Beach to the emergency room at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center this year. Here's a look at the shows and limited series that defined 2025:It was the medical procedural drama The Pitt that scored the top prize at the Emmys this year. Led by Noah Wyle, who won the best actor in a drama Emmy for his portrayal of Dr. Robby in the new series, The Pitt's first season followed the challenges faced by health care workers on the front lines over the course of a single, 15-hour shift at the hospital. Other big winners at the ceremony included Seth Rogen's new comedy series The Studio, as well as the Netflix limited series Adolescence.Many prestige shows captured the cultural zeitgeist in 2025. Fans traveled to Thailand to check in for season 3 of The White Lotus, while the mystery at Lumon Industries continued to unfold as Severance season 2 rolled out. The Last of Us viewers mourned a fan-favorite character during its sophomore season, while Star Wars fans returned to a galaxy far, far away to bid farewell to Andor as it debuted its second and final season.Nobody could stop talking about The Summer I Turned Pretty. Whether you were team Conrad or team Jeremiah, fans couldn't keep their eyes off the dramatic third season of the teen romance series, which spanned from the U.S.'s East Coast all the way to Paris. While the series ended with Belly finally picking which brother she wanted to be with, the story isn't quite over. A feature film that will end the romantic saga has been greenlit by Prime Video.Finally, the year ended with the release of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. It turned Netflix's streaming records upside down, accumulating 59.6 million views in its first five days and becoming the best-ever premiere week viewing numbers for an English-language series on the streaming platform.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Madeleine’s Shin Splint Scare Leads to Leg-Saving Play at MU Health Care
Madeleine cherished the camaraderie of college soccer, but recurring injuries — including a chronic stress fracture in her right tibia — ultimately ended her career and required surgery during Thanksgiving break in 2022. A surgical complication involving a nerve block caused severe damage, leading her surgeon to refer her to MU Health Care’s Limb Preservation Program.
US judge rejects business group's challenge to Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee
A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a challenge by the largest U.S. business lobby group to President Donald Trump's $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign workers, saying it fell under his broad powers to regulate immigration.
Family, friends remember former WBRC sports reporter Christina Chambers
A funeral Mass was held Monday morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cullman. Chambers was killed at her home in Hoover on Dec. 16, 2025.
Scientists who use AI tools are publishing more papers than ever before
Science is entering a massive publishing boom, in large part due to artificial intelligence. New research published in the journal Science has revealed that scientists who use large language models (LLMs) ...
We share some of the 'most' challenging stories we've worked on (Politics+) : The NPR Politics Podcast
It's another installment of our series, "Political Mosts," where we answer a superlative-type question about covering politics and our careers in journalism. Today, Sarah McCammon (national political correspondent) and Sam Gringlas (Congress reporter) each take a turn answering this question: "What's been the 'most' challenging political story you’ve worked on?" They also answer this question from a listener: “Who is the politician, living or dead, you’d 'most' like to interview?” Listen to find out how you can submit a most-type question for us to answer in a future bonus episode!
Washington West African Center to host community health fair
The center, along with local health departments, will provide health insurance enrollment assistance, free vaccines and other health services.
The Ars Technica AI coding agent test: Minesweeper edition
How do four modern LLMs do at recreating a simple Windows gaming classic?
LLMs’ impact on science: Booming publications, stagnating quality
Once researchers turn to LLMs, paper counts go up, quality does not.
Follow the Money Episode 2: Inside the Sports Media Biz with Sam McCleery and Steve Hellmuth
Welcome to the Sports Video Group’s new interview series, Follow the Money, designed to help SVG members and sponsors have a deeper understanding of ...
Americans Facing Soaring Health Insurance Costs May Get a Lifeline in 2026, Experts Say
By Amina Niasse and Ahmed Aboulenein NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Americans facing skyrocketing Obamacare health insurance premiums could still get a break from expanded government subsidies in 2026 through retroactive legislation and possibly a special enrollment period, investors,
Starbucks is doubling down on its free bachelor's degree program as enrollment surges 60%
Starbucks' Chief People Officer Sara Kelly spoke to Business Insider about the company's increasingly popular free college program.
A new era for sports communication at UNC Hussman | UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
As director of UNC Hussman’s Sports Communication Focus Program, Distinguished Associate Professor of Sports Communication Livis Freeman is building on the work of the school’s legendary Distinguished Professor for Sports Communication John Sweeney. Sweeney, who retired last year, developed one of the most respected sports communication programs in the country. Freeman, now in his 12th year at the school, is launching an ambitious expansion of the program that is transforming how UNC prepares students for careers in sports media. The most visible change came this fall with a reimagining of “MEJO 377: Sports Communication.” Previously offered as two sections with 30 students each, the course expanded to 96 students and welcomed former UNC basketball star and NBA veteran Tyler Hansbrough as the co-instructor with Freeman, bringing real world professional experience directly into the classroom every week. The course has been a huge success. Students have participated in recording a podcast with Hansbrough and learned from an impressive lineup of guest speakers. Steve Kirschner, UNC’s senior associate director of athletics for communications, was the first in the course’s guest speaker series, followed by UNC Hussman alumni including Kaitlyn Schmidt ’23 from Bleacher Report, Deaton Bell ’90 from Turner Sports and Becca Royer ’19 from the Philadelphia 76ers. Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, also shared his insights with the class. The highlight of the semester came when Roy Williams, who coached Hansbrough and the Tar Heels to a national championship in 2009, visited the classroom. Former UNC men’s basketball players Luke Maye and Marcus Ginyard showed up to support their former coach and Hansbrough, creating an unforgettable experience as Williams entertained students with stories and insights that captivated the room. Student demand has been overwhelming. The course reached capacity within two days of registration opening, with more than 40 students on the waitlist. “Students want to learn from people who have actually lived these experiences,” Freeman said. “Tyler shares insights into media relations, broadcast production and athlete communications that you simply can’t get from a textbook.” The model proved so successful that the school secured funding to continue it for the next five years, with a different former professional athlete co-teaching each fall. The school’s curriculum committee approved a proposal to expand the course to 150 to 200 students starting in fall 2026. This change will make it an introductory course accessible to students from across the University, transforming it into a showcase course for the entire campus. The course redesign represents just one piece of a broader sports communication program overhaul. This fall, the curriculum committee approved “MEJO 390: Sports Play by Play,” the first course of its kind at UNC. Limited to 10 advanced students, the course will be taught by Matt Krause, the current voice of UNC women’s basketball and an ACC Network broadcaster. Students will call actual games across multiple sports including women’s softball, soccer, volleyball, field hockey and lacrosse, as well as men’s soccer and lacrosse. They will also shadow broadcasts of men’s and women’s basketball games. “The sports broadcasting industry is exploding with streaming platforms and conference networks creating unprecedented demand,” Freeman said. The course emerged directly from student advocacy, led by Anna Laible ’26 and others who pushed for hands-on broadcasting experience. Professional equipment has been acquired, partnerships with UNC Athletics are in place and a soft launch began this semester with three experienced students calling games to test the system. The program’s growth extends into other specialized areas as well. Last spring, Stembler Professor Charlie Tuggle launched a new sports event management and hospitality course in partnership with On Location, a company that manages major sporting event experiences. The course provided students with opportunities to travel to the Super Bowl and NFL Draft, and Tuggle plans to take a group to the 2026 Milan Olympics this spring. Looking ahead to spring 2026, Associate Professor Ryan Thornburg will debut a sports data visualization course, adding another dimension to the program’s skill-building offerings. The curriculum expansion reflects the increasingly diverse career paths available in sports media, from traditional journalism and broadcasting to digital analytics and strategic communication. The program is also diving into one of college athletics’ most transformative developments: Name, Image and Likeness rights. Freeman’s “MEJO 466: Sports Marketing” class collaborated last spring with Associate Professor Gary Kayye’s “MEJO 371: Advertising Creative” class on a project with UNC’s Carolina NIL group to help rebrand their organization. That same semester, Kayye’s class envisioned Chapel Thrill, UNC football’s new pregame concert and entertainment experience. And Shaun Anderson, the school’s Knight Chair in Sports, Race and Media, continues to explore the broader implications of NIL through his research and teaching. These NIL-focused initiatives give students direct exposure to the business side of college athletics at a moment when the landscape is rapidly evolving. “Our students aren’t just learning about these changes,” Freeman said. “They’re actively helping shape how schools and athletes navigate them.” The transformation of UNC Hussman’s sports communication program reflects a broader philosophy about how to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing industry. By bringing in professional practitioners like Hansbrough and Krause, partnering with industry leaders like On Location and ACC Network, and engaging with current issues like NIL, the program ensures students graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. For alumni who remember the foundations John Sweeney built, the expansion represents an evolution rather than a departure. The program still emphasizes strong reporting, strategic communication, ethical communication and critical thinking. But now it also offers students the chance to call live games, work on real NIL campaigns and learn directly from former professional athletes. “We’re not just teaching students about sports media,” Freeman said. “We’re giving them the tools, experiences and connections to actually build careers in it.” With new courses launching, professional partnerships deepening and enrollment expanding, UNC Hussman’s sports communication program is positioning itself as a national leader in preparing the next generation of sports media professionals. For current students, the message is clear: if you’re interested in sports communication, there’s never been a better time to be at UNC Hussman. And for the hundreds of students trying to get off waitlists and into these new courses, the school is working to create more opportunities. The program John Sweeney built is growing in ways that honor his legacy while meeting the demands of a new era in sports media.
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