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Pitch Perfect, Week 2: Redemption

Pitch Perfect, Week 2: Redemption

Two 1-0 results this past week - one swinging the ‘Cats’ way, the other not - has Northwestern in an interesting spot.

NC State heads to UVA as 5.5-point underdog

NC State heads to UVA as 5.5-point underdog

We’re wasting no time in 2026 getting right to the important games on the schedule, and there is pressure on both NC State and Virginia to get off on the right foot. If getting to the ACC title game is going to be a possibility for both, then winning what looks pretty close to a […]

Gopher Football Preview: Upgrade or Downgrade at Linebacker

Gopher Football Preview: Upgrade or Downgrade at Linebacker

Replacing one starter, will the Gopher linebackers be an upgrade or a downgrade in 2026?

New Sinopec boss presses reset for world's biggest oil refiner

New Sinopec boss presses reset for world's biggest oil refiner

(Corrects dateline to Aug 25) By Chen Aizhu SINGAPORE, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Hou Qijun has set out to transform Sinopec, the world's largest refiner, as it faces dwindling fuel demand, overcapacity in petrochemicals and the world's worst oil crisis, when he could be coasting into retirement like other

Shein's up to $1.8 billion Hong Kong IPO order book covered, sources say

Shein's up to $1.8 billion Hong Kong IPO order book covered, sources say

By Scott Murdoch and Kane Wu HONG KONG, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Online fast-fashion retailer Shein's Hong Kong IPO book to raise up to $1.8 billion has been fully covered by investor demand, two sources said, bringing it closer to its long-awaited market debut amid growing business and regulatory

Trae Young’s historical comps have something in common, and that could be a problem.

Trae Young’s historical comps have something in common, and that could be a problem.

Sometimes Past Me annoys Present Me. Today is one of those times. Past Me promised a statistical doppelgänger article about Trae Young. Present Me looked at the numbers and wants to write about Something Else. But…well…crap, a promise is a promise. The first challenge is that Young didn’t play much last season. Just 10 games […]

4 performances of note from the Patriots’ 21st training camp practice

4 performances of note from the Patriots’ 21st training camp practice

Who caught our eye during the Patriots’ practice on Monday.

The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur News and Links for Tuesday, August 25

The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur News and Links for Tuesday, August 25

After a slow start to the year, we’re beginning to get a lot of new music. Some of the ones fitzie has been interested in: Dry Cleaning, Rolling Stones, Linda Lindas, and Yard Act. There’s another band to add to that list now – Fontaines D.C. The Irish group announced they are releasing their sixth […]

The No. 2 Pencil: An Enduring American School Supply Staple

The No. 2 Pencil: An Enduring American School Supply Staple

The No. 2 pencil has become a uniquely American school supply staple, symbolizing childhood and academic rites of passage for generations. Despite its origins not being in the United States, American industry and innovation transformed it into an iconic item. Key American contributions include painting the pencil yellow and adding an eraser, a feature not standard in other parts of the world. John Thoreau, father of Henry David Thoreau, was an early American pencil maker, and his son is credited with pioneering the grading scale of pencils from 1 to 4, with No. 2 offering an optimal balance of graphite and clay for writing. This grading system is distinct from the 'HB' scale used internationally. Another American invention is the ferrule, the metal piece that has secured the eraser for over a century, with temporary shifts to plastic or cardboard during World War II due to rationing. Even in an increasingly digital age, the No. 2 pencil maintains its relevance.

Gen Xers Face Retirement Insecurity Amid Social Security Funding Crisis and Shift from Pensions

Gen Xers Face Retirement Insecurity Amid Social Security Funding Crisis and Shift from Pensions

Generation X, comprising individuals aged 46 to 61, is confronting significant challenges regarding retirement security. Many Gen Xers, whose oldest members will reach the earliest Social Security claiming age next year, have insufficient savings to cease working. This situation is exacerbated by a projected Social Security funding shortfall in 2032, which could lead to benefit cuts just as this generation enters retirement. The shift from employer-funded pensions to employee-managed 401(k) plans, which occurred as Gen X entered the workforce in the 1980s and 1990s, has placed a greater burden on individuals to save and invest for their retirement. Consequently, many Gen Xers now anticipate Social Security will be their primary, or sole, source of retirement income, despite its design as only one component of a three-part retirement strategy. Structural issues, such as the lack of automatic 401(k) enrollment early in their careers, and economic pressures like job losses and divorce, have also forced some t...

GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Reduced Tuberculosis Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

GLP-1 Drugs Linked to Reduced Tuberculosis Risk in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

A recent global analysis of millions of health records suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, are associated with a lower risk of tuberculosis (TB) in patients. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, compared GLP-1 therapies with four other widely used diabetes drug classes: sulfonylureas, metformin, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT2 inhibitors. Researchers found that individuals with type 2 diabetes initiating GLP-1RA therapy had a significantly lower incidence of TB compared to those on other medications. This protective association was observed for both pulmonary TB (in all four comparisons) and extrapulmonary TB (compared with sulfonylureas and DPP-4 inhibitors). The findings highlight a potential additional benefit of GLP-1RAs beyond glycemic control, cardiovascular, and renal protection.

Federal Government Finalizes Colorado River Water Rules, Imposing Cuts on Lower Basin States

Federal Government Finalizes Colorado River Water Rules, Imposing Cuts on Lower Basin States

The federal government has finalized new rules for operating the Colorado River's largest reservoirs for the next two years, effective October 1. This plan, replacing guidelines from 2007, mandates significant water supply cuts for California, Arizona, and Nevada, collectively known as the Lower Basin states. These states will lose 1.25 million acre-feet of water annually, impacting tribes, agriculture, and major cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles. Colorado and other Upper Basin states are spared from mandatory cuts, instead developing a smaller, voluntary conservation plan funded by the federal government. The decision comes as Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at historically low levels, with Lake Powell nearing 'minimum power pool,' a point where it cannot generate hydroelectric power.

Kongsberg NanoAvionics Unveils Enhanced Satellite Bus for Defense and Intelligence Missions

Kongsberg NanoAvionics Unveils Enhanced Satellite Bus for Defense and Intelligence Missions

Kongsberg NanoAvionics has introduced a 500-kilogram version of its MP42D satellite bus, significantly increasing its maximum mass capacity. This new bus is designed to support more demanding defense and intelligence missions, capable of carrying payloads up to 250 kilograms. The announcement, made on August 24, also includes upgrades to its smaller MP42 and MP42H platforms as part of a second-generation product line. The standard MP42 has seen its maximum spacecraft mass increase from 150 to 200 kilograms, with payload capacity rising to 100 kilograms. Across the Gen-2 family, improvements include a more than threefold increase in downlink data rates, enhanced pointing accuracy, and improved radiation tolerance and navigation-jamming resistance. The Lithuania-based manufacturer has already built or delivered five satellites based on the Gen-2 MP42 family for clients such as Spanish Earth observation specialist Satlantis, U.K.-based SuperSharp, and an undisclosed Southeast Asian operator, representing over...

GeneDx Study Supports Hospital-Wide Adoption of Rapid Genomic Sequencing at Seattle Children's

GeneDx Study Supports Hospital-Wide Adoption of Rapid Genomic Sequencing at Seattle Children's

GeneDx, in collaboration with Seattle Children's, has published new data in *Genetics in Medicine* demonstrating the benefits of implementing first-tier rapid genome sequencing (rGS) broadly across inpatient pediatric care units. The study, which evaluated over 1,000 pediatric inpatients over 3.5 years, found that rGS significantly improves diagnostic rates, patient outcomes, and operational efficiency within health systems. Historically, rGS has been primarily used for critically ill infants in intensive care settings. However, this research indicates that its benefits extend to non-ICU inpatient wards, with a 43% diagnostic yield in these units. Notably, children experiencing faltering growth showed a 63% diagnostic yield, identifying 37 distinct genetic diagnoses in 36 patients. The study outlines a scalable model for genomic medicine that allows hospitals to deliver earlier genetic diagnoses to more patients without significantly increasing genetics staffing.

Moderna CEO Warns of China's Heavy Investment in mRNA Technology Amid US Funding Pullback

Moderna CEO Warns of China's Heavy Investment in mRNA Technology Amid US Funding Pullback

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel has issued a warning regarding China's substantial state-backed investments in mRNA biotechnology, contrasting it with a reduction in U.S. funding for similar projects. Bancel highlighted that while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has scaled back nearly $500 million in mRNA vaccine development projects through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), China is actively pouring state money into this sector. The Chinese Communist Party has designated biotechnology as a 'strategic emerging industry,' providing significant financing and subsidies to domestic firms with the aim of dominating key areas of the industry. Bancel emphasized the importance of maintaining drug manufacturing within the U.S., citing Moderna's facilities in Massachusetts, to safeguard both American patients and the nation's leadership in healthcare. He noted that the mRNA technology has demonstrated its efficacy during the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccines and is ...

Consumer Reports Identifies Widespread Label Inaccuracies in Prenatal Vitamins

Consumer Reports Identifies Widespread Label Inaccuracies in Prenatal Vitamins

Consumer Reports has released findings from its testing of 17 prenatal vitamin products, revealing significant inaccuracies between the nutrient levels stated on product labels and their actual contents. While the good news is that no safety concerns related to contaminants were found in any of the tested vitamins, only two out of the 17 products met industry-accepted potency ranges for every nutrient examined. These two products were Carlyle For Her Prenatal Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Formula and Bird&Be’s Complete Prenatal Pack. The investigation highlighted a lack of regulatory definition in the U.S. for what constitutes a prenatal vitamin or what specific nutrients it should contain. Despite these inaccuracies, Consumer Reports advises individuals not to stop taking their prenatal vitamins, as no safety issues were identified. They recommend looking for third-party verification seals like USP or NSF International and consulting with a healthcare provider before making any changes to supplement regimens.

Phoenix Children's Appoints Jamie Wiggins as Executive Vice President, COO, and Chief Nursing Executive

Phoenix Children's Appoints Jamie Wiggins as Executive Vice President, COO, and Chief Nursing Executive

Phoenix Children's has announced the appointment of Jamie Wiggins, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE, FAAN, to the newly integrated leadership role of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Nursing Executive. This unique position combines operational and nursing leadership at a crucial time for the health system's expansion. Wiggins brings extensive experience in pediatric healthcare, having previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Arkansas Children's. His career also includes leadership roles at Manning Family Children's Hospital, Nicklaus Children's Health System, Children's Minnesota, and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. John R. Nickens IV, President and CEO of Phoenix Children's, highlighted Wiggins' rare combination of expertise as both an accomplished operations and nursing executive and a lifelong pediatric nurse. Wiggins is also committed to developing future pediatric nurses and healthcare leaders, having served as an Assistant Professor at the Universi...

Community Security Service Partners with Magen David Adom for Enhanced Trauma Response Training in U.S. Synagogues

Community Security Service Partners with Magen David Adom for Enhanced Trauma Response Training in U.S. Synagogues

The Community Security Service (CSS) has announced a new partnership with American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) to provide specialized trauma-response training to its network of 7,000 volunteers across U.S. synagogues. This initiative aims to equip community members with critical skills to respond effectively during mass-casualty incidents, such as terror attacks. The training, known as MDA’s “First 7 Minutes” incident-response program, draws on Magen David Adom's extensive experience in managing terror attacks in Israel. It focuses on assessing emergencies, prioritizing care, controlling severe bleeding, and making decisions under pressure. CSS volunteer instructors will undergo this training at the CSS Academy and then integrate it into their existing security and safety curriculum for grassroots volunteers. This partnership acknowledges the increasing threat of terrorist attacks in the United States and seeks to empower communities to protect themselves and save lives before professional emergenc...

False Active Shooter Report Prompts Large Police Response at Strong Memorial Hospital

False Active Shooter Report Prompts Large Police Response at Strong Memorial Hospital

Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, experienced a significant police response early Monday morning following a false report of an active shooter. Authorities stated that officers were dispatched to the hospital around 2 a.m. after receiving a 911 call alleging an active shooter inside the facility. Upon arrival, law enforcement quickly determined that the report was unfounded and no shooting had occurred. Police located the individual responsible for the false report, identified as a 39-year-old Spencerport man, within the hospital. The man was subsequently placed under mental health detention and issued an appearance ticket for third-degree falsely reporting an incident. The incident caused a large-scale mobilization of emergency services, highlighting the protocols in place for such critical situations.

Texas Faces Grid Instability as Data Center Boom and Transmission Line Delays Threaten Energy Supply

Texas Faces Grid Instability as Data Center Boom and Transmission Line Delays Threaten Energy Supply

Texas is grappling with significant challenges to its electrical grid due to a surge in data center development and political pushback against new transmission lines. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) reports nearly 2,000 requests for grid connection, with 90% from data centers, representing a demand five times the grid's peak record. This rapid growth has overwhelmed ERCOT's forecasting capabilities, leading to an almost certainly overestimated future demand. Simultaneously, plans to build 765-kilovolt transmission lines across West Texas, intended to bolster capacity, are facing delays and calls for cancellation from local residents and some legislators concerned about land use. Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an audit of data centers seeking grid connections, further pausing ERCOT's efforts to streamline the approval process. This situation has created uncertainty for industries needing grid access and raised concerns about potential rolling blackouts, particularly in West Texas, where ...