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Canelo Banks Massive Payday For Halloween Title Fight
Canelo Alvarez will make his long-awaited return to the boxing ring this Saturday (Oct. 31, 2026) for the first time since losing to Terence Crawford over a year ago to face off against WBC’s interim super middleweight champion, Christian Mbilli, inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on DAZN PPV. Despite the loss to “Bud” […]
Caesars Entertainment records stronger regional casino growth than with Vegas properties
Caesars Entertainment NASDAQ:CZR traded flat in postmarket action as investors sized up the casino operator's third-quarter earnings report.Revenue was up 2.4% compared to a year ago at $2.94B to miss the consensus estimate by $20M. Regional casinos saw a 5.9% increase in revenue during the quarter…
Nithya Raman Is Not L.A.’s Mamdani. But She Might Become Mayor, Too.
Little known a year ago, Nithya Raman is a Democratic Socialist drawing comparisons with New York’s Zohran Mamdani. She has mounted a strong challenge to the incumbent, Karen Bass.
Farmington handles business, beats Pulaski Academy
FARMINGTON -- The Farmington Lady Cardinals have talked about getting back to the state volleyball championship game all season after falling to Marion in Hot Springs a year ago.
Farmington handles business, beats PA
FARMINGTON -- The Farmington Lady Cardinals have talked about getting back to the state volleyball championship game all season after falling to Marion in Hot Springs a year ago.
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
Mississippi declared infant mortality a public health emergency a year ago. What have officials done since then?
In 2025, an infant mortality report showed Mississippi’s infant mortality rate rose from 8.9 in 2023 to 9.7 in 2024 – nearly twice the national average.
Little Rock Central High science building dedicated to retired principal Nancy Rousseau
Little Rock Central High School's new science building, which opened a year ago, now sports a new name: the Nancy Rousseau Science Building.
Can fantasy managers trust Rhamondre Stevenson tonight?
On paper, Rhamondre Stevenson looks like a safe fantasy bet in Week 7 on Thursday Night Football. Of course, the same could have been said a year ago.
Here's why a family health insurance plan costs more than $28,000
The average family health insurance plan offered through an employer cost $28,303 this year, an increase of 5% from a year ago, according to KFF.
Energy Dept to loan part of home heating oil reserve to ease prices, drawing bipartisan praise
The Department of Energy plans to loan 315,000 barrels from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve as fuel oil prices surge 70% from a year ago.
Casper mobile auto repair business puts down roots on Beverly
CASPER, Wyo. –– About a year ago, James Sullivan was employed by an oilfield contractor doing work he enjoyed. There was one problem, however: there
Organizations look to consultants for help with tax law
A Modern Healthcare survey found demand for healthcare-related consulting services has increased compared with a year ago.
Student-produced film captures Ireland sports experience | UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
The documentary created by a UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media team premieres on campus Oct. 22 and Oct. 23. — This story, written by UNC Hussman alumnus Michael Lananna ’14, was originally published at unc.edu. — Carolina senior Anna Laible came up with the idea about a year ago. At the annual UNC Sports and Entertainment Summit, the journalism student walked up to then-athletic director Bubba Cunningham and took a chance. “Hi, Bubba, I’m not sure if you remember me, but I’m part of the student broadcast team from the Olympics,” Laible told him. “I have this idea to do an Ireland documentary on the football team.” Encouraged by the enthusiastic response to the proposal, Laible and a team of students from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media worked diligently to turn that vision into reality. In August, Laible and seven peers traveled to Dublin, Ireland, with the Carolina football team and women’s soccer team. Equipped with video cameras, the student journalists covered both teams during their international games — both wins — and filmed scenes throughout Dublin, interviewing Irish locals, Tar Heel fans and key Carolina figures who helped make the trip possible. Back home, Laible’s team put the finishing touches on the documentary, with its first screening at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22-23 in Carroll Hall room 111. The project is the latest in a long line of sports documentaries produced under the guidance of C.A. Tuggle, John H. Stembler Jr. Distinguished Professor. Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Tuggle and the Hussman school have sent journalism students to cover each of the Summer Games, and Tuggle’s students have also produced documentaries on Carolina teams that win national championships. But this Ireland excursion presented a new kind of opportunity. “This trip is really unique,” Tuggle said. “Bubba liked the idea, so we started working on it, and it’s all because Anna was forward-thinking and assertive.” Laible’s team worked to create a holistic depiction of the Dublin trip, billed as “Much More Than a Game.” The documentary’s 12 chapters cover Irish culture, music, trips to the Guiness Storehouse and the myriad connections between Tar Heels and Ireland. “Our main focus was to make sure we gave a whole encompassing idea of what this experience was like,” Laible said. “We wanted to show not just the student-athletes, but other students, other Carolina fans, Carolina alumni, the music and really incorporate that all in the documentary.” Joining Laible in Dublin were juniors Emily Brietz, Cooper Hall, Eliza Jennings and Katherine McCullough and seniors Molly Malek, May Proctor and Merrily Tew. Those students also traveled to Milan for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in February. Those kinds of opportunities wouldn’t be possible without the support of UNC Hussman and, in the case of the Ireland trip, the Carolina athletic department. UNC Hussman students create Ireland trip documentary. (Submitted photo) “Never in a million years did I think I would have the opportunity to go to the Olympics or to the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, and now I’m even being presented with potential opportunities go to the Super Bowl,” said Malek, who served in a leadership role with Laible in Dublin. “I think that Carolina does a terrific job of connecting us to these opportunities that almost no other university does. This is a university where you have the opportunity to have an interdisciplinary education and to learn and experience a lot of things all at once.” With the support of UNC Hussman, Tuggle and fellow students like Malek, Laible turned a spur-of-the-moment idea into a documentary. When the film screens, Laible said she’s not quite sure what emotions to expect. “I’m a little worried that I might cry — not that crying is a bad thing,” Laible said, laughing. “But I’m really grateful for so many people helping, and I’m excited for everyone to see it.”
Can U.S. Rep. Don Davis beat a gerrymander?
A year ago, Republican state lawmakers redrew North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District to make it more conservative. But as Election Day draws near, incumbent Congressman Don Davis appears to have an increasingly strong shot at keeping his seat.
China's economy accelerated in the July-September quarter on robust exports
China says its economy grew 4.5% for the July-September quarter from a year ago. That moves the country closer to meeting its annual growth target as the year nears its
China's economy accelerates on robust exports as domestic weakness persists
China says its economy grew 4.5% for the July-September quarter from a year ago, moving closer to meeting its official annual growth target as the year nears its end. The
Frontier, fuboTV, E.W. Scripps, Sphere Entertainment, and AMC Entertainment Stocks Trade Down, What You Need To Know
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after The LSEG/Ipsos Primary Consumer Sentiment Index fell 5.3 points from September to 45.2 in October 2026, the lowest reading since October 2011. According to LSEG, the survey was taken from Sept. 25 through Oct. 1. The monthly drop was the second-largest on record, behind only April 2020. The index is now below its May 2020 pandemic low of 45.4 and is 7.7 points under its level of a year ago.That kind of break in confidence hits the companies
Ubisoft plans cuts at German studios, adding to wave of workforce reductions
Ubisoft is planning to reduce its workforce in Germany, where it operates a trio of studios, by about 100 workers, Game File has learned. The company wants to offer employees buyouts to, should enough people accept, avoid having to lay anyone off. “In Germany, we initiated discussions with the Works Council last week regarding a proposed voluntary departure plan across Ubisoft Dusseldorf, Ubisoft Berlin & Ubisoft Mainz,” a company rep told Game File. A “works council” is a union-like group representing employees. “The voluntary plan is the primary measure being proposed to support the intended organizational changes,” the Ubisoft rep added. The company declined to confirm the scale of the potential headcount cut. Of the impacted studios, Mainz might be the best known to the public. It leads development of the Anno series and shipped the well-reviewed strategy game Anno 117: Pax Romana in November 2025. Berlin and Dusseldorf operate as support studios within Ubisoft’s creative network. Berlin recently supported the development of Rainbow Six Siege and the Rayman Legends Retold remake. Dusseldorf also contributed to those projects, as well as The Settlers and Ubisoft-branded escape rooms. Dusseldorf is the biggest of the three studios, with some 400+ workers, compared to just over 100 at the other two, a source familiar with the reductions and the teams told Game File. More than half of these new reductions of about 100 people are expected to happen at Dusseldorf. The planned cuts were announced at a town hall for the German studios on Tuesday of last week. In an email follow-up, the studio group’s managing director, Benedikt Grindel, said the cuts were intended to “best position our German studios for the future... with a clearer focus on their role, capabilities and organizational setup needed for the work ahead.” The email was an echo of the past. In January 2025, Grindel had emailed the Ubisoft developers in his region (or studio “zone”) to explain that a round of 185 cuts at the time, including about 65 at Dusseldorf, were “essential to improve our operational efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of our studios, the zone and the company.” A half-decade of continued job cuts Ubisoft has been aggressively cutting its headcount for years. At the end of September 2022, it had 20,729 workers. By the end of March 2026, that total was down to 16,590. Studio management is trying to trim costs as it grapples with a changing industry and a drought of releases, let alone hits. The company announced earlier this year that it had reduced its costs since 2022 by “nearly €325 million” ($362m) and planned to lower them through 2028 by another €180 million ($200m). In June the company said it was closing down its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and cutting roles in its Barcelona team. Even commercial and creative success hasn’t spared studios from this ongoing company-wide contraction. As Game File was nailing down details around the proposed cuts in Germany, Ubisoft management was informing workers of cuts in its Singapore studio, which shipped a hit remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag this past July. Some 70 positions in Singapore are being eliminated “to align the studio with upcoming production needs,” per a company rep’s statement to Game File. In early 2024, a large team in the Singapore studio launched the multiplayer pirate game Skull & Bones. It performed poorly but has been supported with regular content updates since. Many of Ubisoft’s studios around the world are heavily subsidized via regional grants and tax breaks. Singapore had been among them for years, but received no such local assistance in the 12 months ending this past March. News of the Singapore cuts broke today alongside word that Ubisoft is also proposing the closure of RedLynx, pending negotiations with officials. The Finnish studio behind the motorbike series Trials was founded in 2000 and sold to Ubisoft in 2011. As reported by VGC (and corroborated by Game File), Ubisoft management told employees it could not come up with a new, sustainable assignment for RedLynx. The 2025 workforce at Ubisoft Dusseldorf were straight-up cuts. This time, Ubisoft is hoping the reductions at its trio of German studios will largely come from workers taking a payout to leave. The company offered such voluntary dismissals at its Massive Entertainment studio (The Division) a year ago. For the German studios’ buyouts this time around, Ubisoft and the Works Council had discussed a formula that’d pay a worker’s monthly salary multiplied by 1.5 and by the number of years they’ve worked at the company, according to Game File sources. The formula is still subject to negotiations with the Works Council and has not yet been part of an official offer to workers. It could be adjusted up or down, and it could be supplemented with additional bonuses. Asked about the floated payout formula, a Ubisoft rep told Game File, “The terms of a potential voluntary departure program remain subject to negotiation with employee representatives. No final agreement has been reached, and we won’t comment on specific proposals while discussions are ongoing.” Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: Epic’s AI adventures Epic Games (Fortnite, the Unreal engine) is all-in on using AI to try to transform the way it makes video games and game-making tools. It’s leaders appear to be undeterred by any resistance among gamers and some game developers around generative AI—and instead emboldened by advances, particularly in AI-assisted programming. A recap of the last three days: On Monday, Bloomberg reported that Epic management told workers last week that development of an upcoming game combining Star Wars and Marvel characters would be “AI first.” Employees would be expected to use AI models such as Claude to code the game. A manager told Epic’s developers there would be “[n]o more hand-written code” and that art for the game would be “generated with full AI workflows,” per the outlet. Just ahead of that story running, Epic founder Tim Sweeney tweeted: “We have a huge pivot underway here at Epic, moving developers around to retool for maximum AI acceleration. The aim isn’t to do the same stuff with fewer people, but to enable everyone here to build MORE and BETTER stuff, and to bring the benefits to all teams using Unreal.” In a follow-up, Sweeney predicted that most game development processes would be at least three times faster a year from now than they were in January 2026, thanks to AI. To a person on X who told him he was failing to read the room, Sweeney said: “Much of the room wants it to be 2016 again, but it’s not. Our job, as the provider of tools and technology to much of the industry, is to design for the present that is and the future that will soon be.” On Wednesday, Epic announced it was releasing a faster launcher for its Epic Games Store marketplace. It did so by stating in a blog post as clear as could be that the launcher is an AI-enabled, vibe-coded project: Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look. Programming is hard? That was unexpected phrasing from a company founded by a legendarily great programmer. Back in 2011, Sweeney told me that he’d picked up programming quickly as a kid and rejoiced at the power it gave him. “I could look at any program that anybody else had written and, with enough effort, build something cooler.” Item 3: The Xbox Labs experiment (and one of the people behind it) Microsoft’s Xbox division, which is flooding the zone with announcements lately, yesterday revealed a new internal tech-tinkering team called Xbox Labs. In the words of Xbox boss Asha Sharma Labs is “a small group of game makers, engineers and scientists whose job is to turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience.” Conventional wisdom coming out of the announcement is that Labs is a team that’ll focus on ideas driven by generative AI. In her announcement, Sharma cited some of the dizzying achievements in tech and gaming over the past month as AI agents and other AI tools have been deployed to swiftly figure out how popular games work, then rebuild them and mix them up. She mentioned seeing ”games rapidly decompiled and rebuilt to run on hardware they were never originally designed to support” and said “[p]erhaps more surprisingly, we’ve seen many of the biggest games in the world have been remixed into the source code of another.” (Minecraft plus Elden Ring, for example, or Fortnite + Super Monkey Ball + Overwatch + Diablo + others.) Sharma also cited the work of Windows PC games being ported to run in browsers, a seeming reference to a recent AI-assisted fan port of Halo. Or perhaps Call of Duty or GTA. Sharma didn’t use the specific term “AI” in her memo, but she came close, citing AI “agents” and their potential for game-making tools that Labs could help craft: I think XBOX has an important role to play here. Coding became the first major workload for agents because they can write, run, and test software. Games share many of those same properties, and people spend more than 72 billion hours a year playing XBOX games, roughly five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. We’ve spent 25 years learning how to make great games, and I want our game makers to help shape what these new technologies make possible. As we learn, we’ll share the tools we build with developers across the industry, just as we always have. When I asked an Xbox rep if Labs was an AI-centric team, they said genAI was not the focus, describing it as having a broader mandate for using new tech in new ways in gaming. As an example, they pointed to Xbox’s recently launched disc-to-digital gaming usage rights program. Microsoft didn’t specifically name anyone involved full-time in Xbox Labs yesterday, but on social media and LinkedIn, I spotted Adrian Mato IDing himself as leading the creatio of tools at Labs and talking up the launch. Mato first caught my attention in late September, when he said on X that he was “starting to build a new team at Xbox focused on products and tools for how games get built and distributed as agentic tools become more capable.” At the time, he framed AI-based tools as a supplement to traditional game dev tools. “I don’t think we need to replace them,” he said. Since then, he’s publicly shown interest in AI and in games. He’s recently spent some of his X feed marveling at the power of AI agents and praising the lighting in the latest Gears of War. Following the Labs announcement yesterday, he enthused about the Xbox Labs’ stylish landing page. He wrote: “We built some fun tools to art-direct shaders in real time, experimented with interactive ASCII art, and sprinkled in lots of tiny details. “Move your mouse to leave a colorful trail that reveals the original footage, or interact with the video to trigger bursts of particles. “A lot of love went into making it all feel just right. “More to come”
Nico Iamaleava’s Post-Tennessee Saga Takes Another Twist at UCLA
Nico Iamaleava still can’t really find his footing since leaving the Tennessee Volunteers. His name was massively in the headlines more than a year ago, when he wanted more money from the Vols and couldn’t get it, so he hit the transfer portal. Iamaleava hasn’t lived up to that saga, though. He keeps hitting bumps […] The post Nico Iamaleava’s Post-Tennessee Saga Takes Another Twist at UCLA appeared first on HEAVY.
Dodgers Reunite With Former Top Prospect Dustin May in NLCS
Former Dodgers top prospect Dustin May is returning to LA as a Milwaukee Brewer for the NLCS after getting traded a year ago.
Bills cornerback Max Hairston apologizes for snubbing reporters
Buffalo’s first-round pick out of Kentucky a year ago, Hairston had a forgettable outing in his fourth start of the season.
Seattle-area businesses feel sting of ‘obscene diesel prices’
In Washington, the average cost for a gallon of diesel was around $7.37 Friday, according to the American Automobile Association, almost $2.50 more than a year ago.
Badenoch returns to Conservative conference much stronger than a year ago
Approval ratings for Tory leader and her party have crept up as she has asserted her style and authority but big challenges lie ahead
Asha Sharma Says 'Xbox Is Not For Sale' Amid Concerns Microsoft's Gaming Business Is Being Streamlined For A Spin-Off
Xbox is already looking very different than it did a year ago
Is Applied Materials Still The Business You Bought?
You may own Applied Materials (AMAT) as a chip equipment maker that aims to hand most of its spare cash back to shareholders. A $10,000 holding a year ago is now worth about $24,500. Your stake in this business is far bigger than it was.
Blumenthal, Lamont: Trump blocking CT grants for political reasons
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Gov. Ned Lamont complained Friday that the Trump administration has yet to release federal energy grants terminated a year ago on the basis of whether the recipients were in states won by Kamala Harris in 2024 and are represented by Democratic senators.
Virginia businesses feel squeeze as diesel prices soar
Diesel prices in Virginia hit a record high this week and remain about 78% higher than a year ago, driving up costs for several industries.
Big business warns Trump against diesel export ban in joint letter
The national average for a gallon of diesel reached $6.51 on Thursday, nearly $3 more than the same period a year ago, according to data from AAA.
A year of wellness: Stilwell center a healthy hit
Since opening a year ago, the Cherokee Nation’s $21 million wellness center in Stilwell, Oklahoma, is paying off for more than 6,700 members.
Four clubs eyeing struggling Arsenal star
Viktor Gyokeres moved to Arsenal just over a year ago, but he already finds himself struggling for regular action despite arriving as one of the deadliest strikers in the world.When he competed for Sp...
High diesel prices forcing Vermont business to ‘eat’ the cost
Vermont truck drivers are now paying $6.45 for a gallon of diesel fuel. That’s $2.46 more than they paid a year ago.
Steelers vs Patriots live updates: TV info, live stream, odds for Week 2 game
Pittsburgh stole a 21-14 victory against the Patriots a year ago by generating five turnovers against quarterback Drake Maye and Co.
Steelers vs Patriots prediction: T.J. Watt, defense will flummox Drake Maye again
The Steelers forced five turnovers in beating the reigning AFC champions at Gillette Stadium almost exactly a year ago.
ESPN’s fifth-place Knicks ranking is already missing the point
ESPN put the Knicks fifth in its latest three-year future power rankings after having them third a year ago. The […]
Investors get down to business as Climate Week returns to New York
A year ago, investors arrived in New York for the annual Climate Week confab ready to regroup after digesting the scope of damage by an incoming Trump administration bent on rolling back climate progress. This year, the mood is decidedly down to business.
Liverpool linked with move for former Bayern youngster
A year ago, Bayern Munich agreed to sell Paul Wanner to PSV for a reported €15 million while including a buy-back clause in the deal.According to Bild’s head of football, Christian Falk, Liverpool...
Kenneth Walker III will have another monster game vs. Colts
Kenneth Walker III’s Kansas City Chiefs debut was lit. He announced himself as the new major weapon of an offense that suddenly looks far more dangerous than it did a year ago. After torching the Denver Broncos for 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Walker now gets a matchup that could be even more favorable. The Indianapolis Colts just watched […] The post Kenneth Walker III will have another monster game vs. Colts appeared first on ClutchPoints.
CenterPoint to sell Ohio natural gas business, affecting more than 300K customers
The buyer, National Fuel Gas Company, announced this week that the sale should be finalized around Oct. 1. The $2.6 billion acquisition was first announced a year ago.
Three Big Takeaways From UConn Basketball's Big East Schedule
The Huskies will be looking to win the conference after finishing second a year ago.
Filling up with gas in Michigan is nearly $20 more than a year ago
The increased fuel price is both affecting the economy and adding to household expense burden.
Colts’ Daniel Jones Contrast Painfully Obvious vs. Ravens
Injuries can ruin a season, as the Indianapolis Colts learned a year ago when Daniel Jones missed the stretch run and Indy collapsed all the way out of the playoffs. But injuries, for the most part, are unpredictable. The Colts’ 2026 season outlook depended on much more than health. It depends on whether Jones looks […] The post Colts’ Daniel Jones Contrast Painfully Obvious vs. Ravens appeared first on HEAVY.
Prediction For Buccaneers Season Opener Against Cincinnati Bengals
Tampa Bay faces off against Cincinnati in a Week 1 matchup between two much-improved teams looking to move past disappointing seasons a year ago.
3 burning Blackhawks questions entering 2026-27 NHL season
The Chicago Blackhawks once again missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. The Blackhawks did not reach the highs that similar teams such as the San Jose Sharks reached a year ago. But Connor Bedard and his teammates still made progress as a team in 2025-26. The Blackhawks want to turn the corner sooner rather than later. Chicago has some very […] The post 3 burning Blackhawks questions entering 2026-27 NHL season appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Church-focused agency rebrands from KingsCover
The agency has saved clients more than $3 million since launching less than a year ago
Plastics treaty: Cordano presents “Aid to negotiations” but disappoints science
The document released by the INC Chair ahead of the meeting of heads of delegation in Bangkok is an even weaker version of the text already rejected at INC-5.2 a year ago
CNBC's Official NFL Team Valuations 2026: Here's how the 32 franchises stack up
The average National Football League team is now worth $10.36 billion, up 35% from a year ago.
Nashville executive sues for control of dissolved business
An executive has filed for control of a Tennessee-based recruiting business involuntarily shut down by the state over a year ago.
Nashville executive sues for control of dissolved business
An executive has filed for control of a Tennessee-based recruiting business involuntarily shut down by the state over a year ago.
Blaze destroys A340-300 centrepiece of Turkish aeronautical science park
Converted ex-Turkish Airlines airframe opened as interactive aviation technology exhibit less than a year ago.
Some DragonCon fans furious; Six kids living in deplorable conditions; Entertainment center's upgrade 97.5 Glory FM | North Georgia's Family Radio Station
(GA. NEWS NETWORK) *DragonCon is in Atlanta this weekend, but some fans are not happy. They booked at Stockbridge Suits nearly a year ago. But the hotel clo ...
ESPN to debut Peter Schrager’s new daily afternoon show next week: Sources
A longtime on-air presence with NFL Network, Schrager moved over to ESPN a year ago.
Scottsdale investment firm acquires Shasta Pools, plans nationwide growth
It was more than a year ago when Jeff Thiessen, president of Scottsdale-based Dansons Capital Group, was in the middle of having a pool built in his backyard when the builder couldn't finish the job.
Only Koby Howard Days Until Penn State Football
Penn State is less than a week away as the Lions will be at home in six days to take on Marshall. Wide receiver Koby Howard will be wearing No. 6 for Penn State this season. A year ago, Howard was getting buzz in camp about his play, but he didn’t really start seeing the […]
Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules
The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston
Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules
The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston
Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules
The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston
Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules
The decision largely piggybacks on findings from nearly a year ago by a U.S. district judge in Boston
Jefferson takes care of business on the road, handily gets by Loyola 48-14
MISSOULA, Mont. - A rematch from week number one from a year ago, that saw the Jefferson Panthers get the best of the Loyola Rams 27-20. Rams looking to avenge
Las Vegas’ long standing gap in specialized pediatric care meets a franchise level response as the Raiders deliver a $25 million gift to Intermountain Health
The Raiders organization and Intermountain Health have worked closely since the team's relocation to Las Vegas, yet discussion for their most impactful collaboration didn’t begin until less than a year ago.
Patriots reloading by using strength in numbers
YATESVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— The energy was high, and the pads were popping ahead of Pittston Area’s season opener against East Stroudsburg South. The team will have a new look, though, as they look to replace eight starters on both sides of the ball. “We put ourselves in a position a year ago where we […]
NFL fans make their picks in the South divisions
This week our SB Nation Reacts surveys gauged who NFL fans believe will win the AFC South and the NFC South. A year ago the Houston Texans were dethroned as AFC South Champions by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Indianapolis Colts got off to a hot start but faded after quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a season […]
Is Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) A Bargain Following Mixed Q2 Earnings?
Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) has just reported its second quarter and first half 2026 results, with lower revenue than a year ago but higher net income and earnings per share, drawing renewed attention to the stock. See our latest analysis for Melco Resorts & Entertainment. At a share price of US$5.49, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has seen short term share price support, with a 1 day move of 2.62%. However, the year to date share price return is down 26.9% and the 1 year total...
Trump is taking credit for sharply declining drug prices. The reality is more complex
New federal data that shows U.S. prescription drug prices fell 0.8% in July and are down 3.1% from a year ago, the steepest year-over-year drop since 1963.
Google quietly resurrects a Pixel gesture we first spotted over a year ago
Google appears to be expanding its long-awaited Pixel double-tap-to-lock feature to work on both the home and lock screens.
Byron business celebrates grand opening thanks to Business Builder Grant
LINCOLM, Neb. — A year ago, Free Day Popcorn in Byron received a Business Builder Grant award through the Nebraska Regional Food Systems Initiative — part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Rural Prosperity Nebraska. This...
Cerebras Systems Fast Inference Cloud Business Nearly Quadruples in Second Quarter 2026
GAAP cloud revenue grew 281%, core cloud revenue grew 287% from a year ago600 MW of data center capacity now under contractManufacturing capacity to scale more than 10x in 2026OpenAI launch partner for frontier model GPT-5.6 SolPartnerships with AMD and AWS establish Cerebras as the leader in disaggregated inference SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerebras Systems (NASDAQ: CBRS), maker of the world’s fastest AI infrastructure, today announced financial results for the second
Local Business Spotlight: Schroeder Short Stop
A year after opening its bar on the West End of Cook County, the Schroeder Short Stop continues to grow, adding new food and drink options and expanding its staff. Owners Tim Saetre and Emma Sievers opened the Schroeder Short Stop bar just over a year ago, adding to their existing Electric Trails e-bike rental...
5 bold predictions for the 2026 BYU football season
Expectations for the Cougars haven’t been this high in years — but that’s what a 23-4 record since the start of 2024 will do for your program. Perhaps Kalani Sitake’s crew finally gets over the hump this fall to earn a College Football Playoff bid, or maybe BYU will suffer a similar regression to that of Big 12 foes Baylor or Colorado last season. A year ago, I took a stab at guessing what the Cougars would accomplish in 2025, offering five bold predictions which you can read here.
DHS testimony confirms raid of Newsom press conference was ‘political,’ ‘a stunt’
A year ago, when immigration agents raided a gubernatorial event, DHS said the agents were “focused on enforcing the law.” We now know that wasn’t true.
Retirees may need $185K for healthcare, Fidelity estimates
The new estimate from Fidelity Investments is up 7.5% from a year ago.
Bill requiring greater imaging price transparency advances in Senate
First introduced a year ago, the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act would require hospitals to post the cost for 300 “shoppable” services across radiology and other specialties.
UFL is hiring a head of business operations for seven of its teams (but not Birmingham)
The UFL is in its offseason, and the UFL offseason a year ago was an occasion to move three teams of the eight teams.
iPhone Loyalty Rate Climbs to 87% as Switching to Android Slows
iPhone owners are sticking with the platform at a higher rate than a year ago, with new research firm CIRP putting iPhone loyalty at 87% for the first quarter of 2026. CIRP's latest quarterly survey found that just 12% of new iPhone buyers in the March quarter had come over from an Android phone, with the remaining 1% arriving from a feature phone, a different smartphone platform, or buying a smartphone for the first time.
I Think ESPN's FPI Is Too Low on Oklahoma State
ESPN's Football Power Index isn't as high on Oklahoma State as I am. The Cowboys are underdogs in several key Big 12 games, but I think the model is underrating a team with 87 newcomers, Drew Mestemaker and Caleb Hawkins. This isn't the same team that went 1-11 a year ago.
Politics: What Changing Political Tides Mean For Gaza
Israel is expanding its command of Gaza and now controls almost 70 percent of the tiny enclave that’s home to more than two million people.More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas nearly a year ago. Some 73,000 Palestinians have been killed in total since Israel’s military offensive began after Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023. Meanwhile, dozens of aid groups have been barred from operating in Gaza.Almost every Gazan is dealing with hunger, with 77 percent of the population facing high levels of food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme.So, what do these shifting lines of control mean for those in need? And how could changing political tides affect the situation?Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.
What changing political tides mean for Gaza
More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas nearly a year ago.
Lubbock woman’s custom shoe business now selling internationally
Natalie Buxkemper, owner of The Sewing Studio on the South Loop, started Patchwork Kicks about a year ago.
Business offices to hopeful homes: Milliron Foundation moves forward with plan for veterans, seniors
That recommendation will now be sent to City Council for its vote on the building the Milliron Foundation purchased for $1 million a year ago
At midyear, Sioux Falls CEOs hold more optimistic view of business conditions, local economy
Sioux Falls CEOs are seeing much the same business conditions as a year ago -- while feeling more optimistic about what's ahead in 2026.
As AI becomes integral to nursing, AI involvement becomes key to nurses’ job satisfaction
The portion of nurses regularly using AI is skyrocketing. It’s at 44% now after slouching in at just 15% a year ago. Yet only 8% of nurses say their organization has spelled out what it wants them to do with the technology.
One year after federal funding cuts, Mississippi's Vietnamese health navigators face an uncertain future
More than a year ago, federal cuts to health-related grants threw into uncertainty Mississippi’s only advocacy group devoted to serving the needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders statewide, and they are still working to figure out how to recover.
Just hopes agent is 'busy' after World Cup impact
Elijah Just hopes his agent is "busy at the moment" as the New Zealand midfielder hinted at a possible summer exit from Motherwell after impressing at the World Cup. Just only joined Motherwell from Danish club Horsens a year ago and is under contract until next summer, with the Scottish Premiership club having an option of extending that by a further year. "The World Cup has given me added belief and also motivation to keep pushing," Just told the NZ Herald.
Good Sports: Former Bulldog track and field athlete aims to be flag football Olympian
Last June, Kaja Bins didn't know what flag football was. Kaja now has the potential to become an Olympian in a sport she learned a year ago.
Corus Entertainment reports $36.5M Q3 loss, revenue down 26 per cent from year ago
TORONTO — Corus Entertainment Inc. reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $36.5 million in its latest quarter as the company behind Global Television saw its revenue fall 16 per cent compared with a year ago.
A new paper argues Microsoft exaggerated its quantum claims a year ago
A peer-reviewed critique of Majorana 1 claims Microsoft did not conclusively demonstrate a working topological qubit. Microsoft disagrees.
Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote
The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston effectively converts a preliminary injunction she issued a year ago, in which she temporarily blocked many of Trump’s efforts to overhaul elections, into a permanent ban.
What early Cannes Lions conversations reveal about AI, creators and agencies
After my first day at Cannes Lions, two things stood out immediately: the festival feels busier than it did a year ago, and the mood feels more optimistic.
U.S. Bank Survey Finds Gen Z Small Business Owners Are Making Bigger Bets to Drive Growth
Gen Z Momentum: Gen Z owners are nearly twice as likely as Gen X and Baby Boomer owners to make bigger bets on growth, while also reporting stronger business performance Growth Continues, But Less Widespread: Many small businesses are still expanding, though fewer are doing so as economic pressures persist AI Adoption Gap: Businesses adopting generative AI and digital tools are more likely to be in a growth phase U.S. Bank released its fourth annual Small Business Perspective survey report today, highlighting how small business owners are navigating a more constrained environment, and how a new generation is building businesses differently. The nationwide survey of 1,000 small business owners, including an oversample of 200 Gen Z owners, shows that while many small businesses are still expanding, fewer are growing than a year ago amid ongoing economic pressures and rising costs. U.S. small businesses are still seeking to grow, despite economic concerns. “Growth may not be as
2026 World Cup | What should France expect from Iraq?
A year ago, when Graham Arnold was appointed, no one believed he could take Iraq to the World Cup. Morale was at an all-time low after losing 2-1 to Palestine, relinquishing a lead late on. The Lions ...
Mamdani's affordability problem worsens as NYC business leaders blast his housing plan
‘The Big Money Show’ discusses Manhattan's median rent, which climbed to a record $5,125 in May, up 7% from a year ago, raising new questions about affordability as demand continues to outpace housing supply across New York City.
Schlage’s UWB-enabled smart lock launches this month
The Sense Pro deadlock was announced over a year ago.
Me, worry? For US small businesses, Trump’s tariffs are now a non-issue
A year ago it was the hot topic, but business owners have seen there’s a limit to the president’s royal decrees
A Nebraska immigration raid shut businesses down a year ago. The fallout is ongoing, officials say.
Local businesses have taken a hit as families and workers grapple with the effects of the raid last June on the Glenn Valley Foods meatpacking plant, community members said.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave gets Nintendo Switch 2 release date, Dagdan Collection revealed
After it was announced close to a year ago, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave received its release date on Nintendo Switch 2 today. The game will be available on September 17, 2026. A special edition has also been revealed, pictured above. We originally found out about Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave during a Nintendo Direct last September. Nintendo only committed to a...
Sports’ most depressing team, plus the Knicks take a 2-0 Finals lead
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! At least the weather is nice in Orange County today. Coming up: 🫠 The hopeless Angels 🏀 Knicks in the driver’s seat 🎾 A historic title bid Has your team ever had the second-worst farm system in baseball, sat in last place, trailed 7-0 at home against a team that lost 119 games a year ago, and then gone down more when your right fielder missed a fly ball with his glove and volleyed it over the wall with his head for a home...
AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE review: Shrinkflation isn't just for groceries anymore
The superior RX 9070 also launched for $549 just over a year ago.
Insight: Drone crashes and severed fingers at a $13 billion Silicon Valley military startup
A year ago, Ryan Tseng, the head of U.S. defense tech startup Shield AI, announced his company had turned a new page.
Learning to Love Again
A year ago, I was writing prodigiously about the upcoming 2025 Penn State football season. Repeatedly, I remember noting that this was the most anticipated season in Happy Valley since Sports Illustrated tabbed the Nittany Lions No. 1 back in the preseason of 1999. My excitement for the season was at that proverbial fever pitch, […]
Idle Hands Theatre presents 'Much Ado About Northing' at Kismet Improv
A year ago, Naomi Tyler was involved in a Shakespearean play along with David Raposo. “We saw eye-to-eye on a lot of things,” said Tyler in a recent interview. “Over