Podcasts about Preliminary

                                     Honduras Election Chaos: Leftist Defeat and Geopolitical Implications — Evan Ellis — Ellis analyzes the chaotic Honduran presidential election wherein the ruling leftist Libre Party experienced electoral defeat after preliminary projections suggested victory. Ellis details the tight electoral race between centrist candidate Nasralla and Trump-endorsed candidate Asfura, warning that the electoral outcome will substantially impact U.S. counter-narcotics cooperation effectiveness and whether Honduras restores diplomatic recognition to Taiwan or maintains China relations. 1866

In a time when organizations are navigating generational change, evolving leadership expectations, and shifting workforce dynamics, cooperative boards have a unique opportunity to lead differently, anchored in values, purpose, and shared ownership. This episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast features FCCS SVP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton, Vice President of Organizational Development for FCCS Jay Lux, and Angie Coleman, Organizational Development Consultant with FCCS. Their conversation centers around director strategies for connecting with the spirit of cooperative identity so that every choice made in the boardroom strengthens both the organization and the people it serves.    Episode Insights Include:   What makes cooperative governance distinct? The cooperative structure is made up of the members, for the members.  Decisions made by the board directly impact those whom it serves.  Boards include member-owners of the organization.  Cooperative governance starts with member benefits, not shareholder return.  Decisions are made with and for the people that the board serves.  Cooperatives exist to create value with their people.    The future of cooperative boards As businesses grow in complexity, cooperative boards offer insights into how to best serve their members.  Shifting workforce and generational shifts are aligned with what cooperatives value.  Board focus is shifting toward what really matters to employees today.  The collaborative nature of how organizations are structured and governed is revealing.  Key differentiators between corporate and collaborative structures benefit the patrons of the cooperative, rather than the owners.  Cooperatives exist to create value with their people. These principles matter in today's current landscape more than ever before.    Three leadership challenges that cooperatives address Employees are distrustful of organizations that value profit over people.  The triple bottom line affects consumer and employee decision making.  Workforce expectations have shifted toward what the cooperative structure offers.  The cooperative model is uniquely positioned toward employee expectations.  Performance and purpose are effectively addressed by the cooperative model.   Board decision-making principles in the cooperative model  All seven cooperative model principles may show up in the boardroom at any given time Cooperative boards are focused on long-term viability of the business, and ultimately, the member-owner. Annual returns are positively impacted by the cooperative model.  These principles are the foundation for the structure and purpose of the institution.    Employee engagement and good governance Employees today expect transparency, participation, and purpose.  Employees want to know the why behind decision making.  High-performing teams have clear expectations, visibility, and effective feedback loops.  When people understand the why, the don't just buy-in, they believe-in. Board decisions need to reflect employee needs. Respectful dissent in the boardroom is addressing conflict done well.  Healthy conflict requires getting curious and asking clarifying questions.    Shifting governance expectations in the face of leadership transitions and increased complexity Demographic changes for management transitions with the new generation.  Growing organization size creates new complexities. Technology advancements are regular conversations in today's boardroom  Businesses are run of people, by people.  Regulatory landscape requirements have made business operations increasingly challenging.  Individual expertise must be balanced with collective decision making at the board level.    Effective board and management collaboration and education Preliminary preparation is essential for effective conversations.  Engage in robust debate about ideas, not individuals.  The executive session is a powerful tool for meaningful board discussions. When in doubt, bring in a subject matter expert.  Directors have a responsibility to build regular learning into the boardroom.  Annual board performance reviews are essential.  Succession planning should be embedded throughout the boardroom culture.    This podcast is powered by FCCS.   Resources   Connect with Jay Lux — Jay Lux   Connect with Angie Coleman — Angie Coleman   Get in touch   info@fccsconsulting.com   "Cooperative governance starts with member benefits, not shareholder return." — Angie Coleman   "Cooperative boards are focused on long-term viability of the business, and ultimately, the member-owner, not just the profit of the cooperative institution itself." — Jay Lux   "When people understand the why, the don't just buy-in, they believe-in." — Angie Coleman   "In the cooperative model, it's not optional to have a voice. It's part of the cooperative principle." — Angie Coleman

Andy’s Brave New World: Part 1 Ranger Andy survives, the apocalypse in Yosemite. Based on a post by the hospital. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Day 1, Yosemite National Park The park was busy with spring visitors when the first reports came in. Tourists coughing in the visitor center, a family requesting medical assistance at Upper Pines campground. Andy helped coordinate with the park's small medical team, radioing updates to other rangers. Standard protocol for illness in the park, nothing too concerning yet. That evening, things took a turn, with the news reporting an alarming spread of similar outbreaks across California, and the world. Possibly a new avian flu, they said. Day 2 Everything accelerated. Half the ranger staff called in sick. The small park clinic was overwhelmed. Andy helped organize an evacuation point at the visitor center, trying to get sick tourists to hospitals in Fresno or Modesto. His training kicked in, calm, professional, reassuring visitors even as his colleague Declan started coughing blood next to him. The ill began dying in droves. The park superintendent ordered all non-essential personnel to evacuate. Andy stayed, helping the remaining medical staff set up an impromptu care center in the lodge. By the evening, Andy felt a fever rise and was soon sweating through his clothes and coughing up a lung. He weakly barricaded himself in his cabin and prepared to die like the others. Day 3 The next morning, Andy woke to fine himself still alive, surprised to feel slightly better than the night before. He pulled himself out of his cabin and began his duties. The radio channels went quiet one by one. No response from Fresno hospitals. The lodge had become a morgue. He spent the morning doing rounds, checking campsites, finding mostly bodies or critically ill visitors who died within hours. By evening, he was the only ranger still moving around. He did his best to care for the sick and dying. Andy wasn't entirely sure if this was all just an awful dream. Day 4, Morning The cough remained in his chest that morning, but Andy forced himself to continue his rounds. The ranger truck's tires crunched over broken glass in the parking lot as he checked North Pines Campground. Most sites were abandoned, their occupants having fled days ago. Others contained what he couldn't let himself think about yet. His fevered brain kept switching between ranger protocol and survival instinct. Check each site. Document. Radio in-- no, the radio was silent now. Just static and occasional distant screams that were becoming less frequent. That's when he saw it, an expensive ultralight tent in millennial pink and gray, surrounded by matching gear that looked straight out of an R E I catalog. Too pristine, barely used. A small solar charger lay futilely pointed at the clouded sky. "Hello?" His voice was rough from coughing. "Ranger service. Anyone alive in there?" "Define 'alive,'" came a strained but steady voice, followed by a cough. Andy approached cautiously, unsnapping his holster out of habit though he knew he wouldn't need it. Inside, a young woman sat cross-legged in the tent entrance, her expensive Lululemon sports bra and high-waisted hiking shorts soaked through with fever sweat. Despite everything, the death, the horror, his own fever, Andy couldn't help noticing how the wet fabric clung to her curves. Her figure was exactly the type that dominated outdoor Instagram, slim waist, toned stomach, curved hips, the sports bra struggling to contain what was clearly meant to be shown off just enough to stay within platform guidelines. He tried to push the thoughts away and focus, but his eyes kept betraying him. She looked up at him with clear eyes, fever-bright but alert. Mixed Asian-white features that hit that perfect social media sweet spot, even through the fever, high cheekbones, full lips, almond-shaped hazel eyes. Her carefully highlighted hair was plastered to her neck, mascara smudged but intact, like she'd been maintaining her appearance out of sheer habit until the fever hit. A few light freckles stood out against her flushed skin. "I'm guessing the 'shelter in place' order isn't working out great for everyone else either?" "I'm Ranger Rhee. Andy," he said, noting how her hands trembled slightly as she reached for her water bottle. "You're sick, but; not like the others." "Sarah Chen-Mitchell," she managed between sips. "And yeah, I noticed. Been listening to people cough and die all night while I just sat here with what feels like a really bad flu. Not exactly the wilderness experience I was going for." Her attempt at humor was undercut by the raw edge in her voice. Andy saw her Instagram-ready camp setup, the coordinated cookware still in its packaging, the expensive camera carefully wrapped in a rain cover, the rose gold water bottle. "We need to get you somewhere safer. Can you walk?" "Yeah, just;" She stood unsteadily, unconsciously adjusting her sports bra, a reflexive gesture that seemed absurd given the circumstances. "My car's blocked in. I tried to leave but;" She gestured at the chaos of abandoned vehicles hemming in her pristine Subaru, many with now-deceased occupants. "Look, I've got medicine and supplies back at my ranger unit," Andy said. "Pack whatever clothes and valuables you need. Leave the camping gear, we can always come back for it if;" he trailed off, not sure how to end that sentence. "Right," Sarah said, still shivering slightly in her wet athletic wear. "I should probably change too." "Do you need help?" Andy asked, then immediately regretted how that might sound. "I mean, with packing. You seem pretty weak." "No, I've got it," Sarah said quickly, pulling herself more upright. "Just; give me a few minutes?" Despite everything, there was still a hint of self-consciousness in her voice. Andy nodded and stepped away from the tent. "Take your time. We're not exactly on a schedule anymore." He heard the tent zip closed, followed by the sounds of her moving around inside. The rustle of fabric as she changed. Multiple bags being opened and closed, more than strictly necessary for just grabbing essentials, he thought. A few quiet muttered comments to herself about what to take. The distinct sound of what had to be a hairbrush being used. Even now, even here, some habits die hard. Or maybe it was just her way of holding onto normalcy for a few more minutes. Andy stood guard, trying not to listen too closely to her movements, scanning the eerily quiet campground. A crow called somewhere nearby. The mountain air was cool and clean, carrying no hint of the devastation it had helped deliver. "Ready," Sarah called softly. The tent zipper opened and she emerged with a large designer backpack, now dressed in a black Alo Yoga tube top that showcased her toned shoulders and pushed up her cleavage, paired with high-waisted leggings that clung to every curve. Her face was scrubbed clean of makeup, but her dark hair was neatly brushed, falling in waves around her shoulders. The fever flush in her cheeks only enhanced her natural beauty, that calculated mix of exotic and approachable that had probably earned her thousands of followers. She caught Andy's gaze traveling over her body and gave a small, knowing shrug, arching her back slightly. "I know, I know. Not exactly survival wear. But it's what I brought for my Instagram hiking content, so;" She did a little pose, definitely more displaying than mocking now, the movement emphasizing her curves. Andy found himself watching much longer than he should, and her slight smile suggested that was exactly the response she'd wanted. "We can probably find you something more practical at the gear store," he managed, forcing his eyes back to her face. "Heavy duty pants, boots, proper rain gear." "Perfect," she smiled, her voice dropping slightly despite her obvious exhaustion. "Though I did bring some actually useful stuff." She knelt by her bag, the movement making Andy struggle to keep his eyes up. "Latest gen military water filter, my dad's company makes them for the marines. Handles way more volume than those little Life Straws. Satellite uplink that'll work even if the normal networks are down. And this;" She pulled out a sleek black device. "GoPro 12 with infrared. Not even on the market yet, I was supposed to demo it next month." Clean water for a larger group. Communications. Night operations. He tried not to sound too eager. "That; could all come in really handy." As they walked to his truck, both carefully kept their eyes forward, ignoring the abandoned cars and what lay inside them. Andy carried her bag despite her token protest, noticing how she stayed close to his side. "So," Sarah said once they were in the truck, adjusting the AC vent toward her flushed face. "How long have you been a ranger here?" The question seemed deliberately normal, almost absurdly so given the circumstances. "Three years here. Before that, two years at Joshua Tree." "Oh, I was just at Joshua Tree! That Hidden Valley trail at sunset, it was so beautiful." She spoke wistfully, her enthusiasm fading as the weight of everything they had experienced in the past three days settled back. Andy gestured at her bag. "Tell me about that gear, you said there was a satellite uplink?" "Right." Sarah dug through her bag, pulling out sleek boxes with military-style lettering. She started reading, her voice growing more confident as she went. "Okay, so this is a 'Starlink Tactical Ground Array', it's got four encrypted receiver units that can talk to each other from anywhere on Earth. Says here it can maintain 4G speeds even without ground infrastructure." She looked up. "Guess Dad's company wasn't just being paranoid with all this survivalist tech." "Wait, you mean that little thing has internet access? I don't see a satellite dish anywhere." "Yeah I think so. I think the array can mimic the behavior of a dish without actually needing one." "That's huge. We really need more information about what's going on." Andy said, feeling hopeful about something for the first time in days. She nodded and moved on to the water system. "This one's cool, processes up to 25 gallons per hour, removes everything down to 0.0001 microns. Works on chemical and biological agents too. If we can get some acid and lye we can keep reusing it forever." "And the camera?" Andy asked. "Let's see; Military-grade infrared imaging, 4K resolution in complete darkness, range up to;" she squinted at the manual. "Thermal detection at 200 meters." "Could probably rig that into a decent night sight," Andy mused, then caught himself. Sarah glanced at his holstered pistol, then out at the empty park road. After a long pause, she cleared her throat and went back to the manual, her voice quieter. "It's got some kind of A I field-of-view system too;" Day 4, Evening After getting Sarah settled at his unit, Andy continued searching for survivors and checking on the dying. Near the clinic, he found Miguel Martinez slumped against a supply cabinet, still in his blood-stained uniform but maintaining his ramrod-straight Marine posture even now. The room around him showed signs of his final efforts, organized medical supplies, careful notes on symptoms, a log of those he'd tried to help. He looked up weakly from his notebook when Andy arrived. "Rhee." Miguel's voice was barely a whisper. "You made it. Figured you might. Always had the look." "Miguel," Andy started, but the older ranger cut him off with a weak wave. "Save it. Listen. Daniela's following protocol at home. She got sick two days ago. But she's stronger. Already sounding better on the radio this morning. She must be immune, like you, alaba al Señor". Immune. Were they immune? The idea hit Andy like a truck. Andy knew Daniela, had helped train her on basic ranger procedures, watched her grow up these past three years. Though only fourteen, her prepper father had subject her to a rigorous marine-style training regimen that made her an extremely competent survivalist. She'd always seemed almost comically over-prepared, showing up to basic first aid training with a full combat medical kit. If there was anyone left to laugh, they wouldn't be now. "Her isolation ends tomorrow morning," Miguel continued. "She knows what to do, but;" Another coughing fit wracked him, blood spattering his arm. "She'll need;" He grabbed Andy's wrist with surprising strength. "You take care of her. After. Promise me." "If it comes to that. I swear." Andy attempted a smile. "Although, she might be the one taking care of me in the end." Miguel chuckled softly. Andy tried to help Miguel up, but the older ranger shook his head. "Too late for me. Already tried everything here. Nothing helps. Just;" He pulled himself straighter. "Just let me finish my notes. Document everything. Might help someone." Andy nodded, throat tight. He gripped Miguel's hand one more time, and they looked each other in the eyes. He gave Miguel a solemn nod, and headed to the Martinez cabin. Through a small clear section in the sealed window, he could see Daniela's silhouette moving around inside, her survival supplies arranged with precision. Just like her father had taught her. "Daniela?" he called softly. She approached the window, and even through the plastic he could see the fever flush in her cheeks. But her voice was strong, clear. "Ranger Rhee. Status report: began showing symptoms approximately 36 hours ago. Fever peaked at 101.2 last night. Currently maintaining isolation." A pause. "Dad mentioned you were coming." "Seems you're also OK, like me. I found another survivor too." Daniela nodded, processing. "Isolation ends at 0600 tomorrow. That's when Dad's supposed to come get me, " Her voice caught. "Is; is dad;? I haven't asked, but; he sounds really weak right now." "We'll see. He's not looking great to be honest, Daniela. I'm sorry." The poor girl tried to maintain composure but Andy could see her eyes well up. She turned away briefly, then turned back. When she spoke again, her voice was wavered slightly. "I'll maintain quarantine until morning." "Are you sure you don't want to go see him? You seem OK, I don't think it would hurt." She shook her head "No. I'll talk to him on the radio. Protocol is protocol." "OK. I'll come get you at six." Andy headed back to his cabin, to Sarah, the weight of Miguel's last watch at the clinic and his daughter's words falling on his shoulders. Tomorrow morning would come too soon, and not soon enough. Day 4, Late Night The commissary had been eerily quiet, its automatic doors frozen half-open. Andy had gathered what he could, protein bars, dried fruit, bottles of water. The walk back to his cabin felt longer than usual, each shadow holding the potential for another body, another victim. He saw the Starlink array before he reached his door, a sleek black apparatus that looked more like a piece of modern art than military hardware. Sarah had positioned the nodes in a complex nested arrangement. Andy was mildly impressed, it looked precisely done. The cabin door creaked slightly as he pushed it open. "Sarah, I got some-" He stopped short. She was curled up in his bed, wrapped in her sleeping bag despite the warmth of the evening. Her face was peaceful in sleep, the fever flush finally fading from her cheeks. Her dark hair spilled across his pillow, and he noticed she'd changed into a pale pink Alo Yoga tank top that looked brand-new. The transformation from her carefully curated daytime appearance was striking. She looked younger, more vulnerable. Andy set the supplies down as quietly as he could and backed out of the cabin. She needed the rest more than she needed food right now. Outside, his phone buzzed, the first notification he'd received in days. The Starlink array hummed softly, its status light steady green. He pulled out his phone with slightly trembling hands and watched as notifications began flooding in. Email. Twitter. News alerts. The world outside the park still existed apparently, somehow. He sat heavily in one of the wooden chairs on his small porch, opened his laptop, and began downloading the prepper manuals Miguel had mentioned so many times, "Emergency Protocols for Systemic Collapse", "Catastrophic Event Recovery, Reference Encyclopedia" and "Technology Bootstrapping, How to Restart Industrial Society". The download started immediately, the normalcy of a digital download almost shocking after days of internet silence. Then he opened Twitter, and his breath caught in his throat. The feed was sparse but active. Scattered voices calling out from around the world, trying to find others. A woman in Seattle reporting that her entire family had survived. A doctor in Mumbai documenting recovery rates. A thread from the CDC, last updated two days ago, describing it as an avian flu with aerosol human-human and human-bird transmission, confirming what Miguel had alluded to, some people got deathly ill, a tiny fraction just got sick and recovered, and there seemed to be no pattern to it. Someone, a software engineer in Morocco, according to the about page, had anticipated the grid's imminent collapse and created a simplified Twitter clone called Beacon. It apparently ran on a solar-powered home server farm with redundant battery backups, designed specifically to operate via Starlink. The site was bare-bones but functional: just a global chronological feed, basic search, hashtags, geotags, and posts limited to 280 characters. One tweet from a virologist caught his eye: "Preliminary data suggests  roughly a point 8% survival rate globally. Fascinating gender disparity, female survivors outnumbering male 7 to 1. Genetic factor? Hormonal? Need more data." Andy scrolled through location tags, trying to piece together the scale of it. The posts from major cities painted a chaotic picture, hundreds of survivors in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, but all isolated, scattered across vast urban landscapes. No real organization yet, just desperate attempts to connect. "Anyone alive near Brooklyn Heights?" "S O S from Miracle Mile L A, have supplies, need medical." "Twenty survivors at Pudong Hospital Shanghai, seeking others." The shock was still fresh, the posts raw with grief and disbelief. Nobody was talking about rebuilding yet. They were still counting their losses. The manuals finished downloading, and Andy forced himself to close Twitter. He needed to focus on what he could control, keeping Sarah and Daniela alive, gathering supplies, and getting out of Yosemite to a more major population center. The wider world would still be there tomorrow, whatever was left of it. He looked up at Half Dome, now silvered by moonlight. The ancient granite face was unchanged, indifferent to the apocalypse that had just played out beneath it. Somewhere in the darkness, coyotes began to howl, a sound that had always made the park feel wild and untamed. Now it felt like a reminder: nature was already moving on, reclaiming what had briefly been borrowed. Andy opened the survival manual's PDF, finding the section on "Social Collapse and Communication Strategies." The manual laid out different strategies based on mortality rates, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 99%. With a grimace, he scrolled to the 99% section. "In the immediate aftermath of a >99% mortality event, social structures will be broadly erased and surviving population density will be too low for the immediate formation of antagonistic groups. Unlike smaller-scale disasters where existing social structures remain partially intact, catastrophic collapse temporarily eliminates the organizational capacity for coordinated action, hostile or otherwise. Survivors in the first weeks will be focused on immediate personal survival. During this brief window, other survivors can generally be trusted to be cooperative and helpful, as the shared experience of massive loss promotes prosocial behavior." The manual continued, further down: "Warning: This cooperative phase is temporary. As basic survival needs are met, humans will inevitably begin forming new social groups, 'tribes,' and power structures to replace those lost. Competition for resources will resume once excess pre-collapse supplies have been exhausted. Early contact and alliance formation during the cooperative phase is essential for long-term survival." Upon reading this, Andy elected to make the following post on twitter: "Ranger Andy Rhee, Yosemite National Park. Three possibly immune, North Pines/Ranger housing. Food plentiful, limited medical. Starlink operational. Main roads clear, helicopter landing sites available. Will monitor channel here & @Beacon." He followed it up with a post linking the survival manuals. He then switched to Beacon, created an account, and made the same posts. A slight rustling from inside the cabin drew his attention back to their immediate situation. He quietly stepped inside, retrieving the digital thermometer from his first aid kit. Sarah stirred slightly as he approached but didn't wake when he gently pressed the thermometer to her temple. 99 point 1, much better than this morning. He checked his own temperature next: 98 point 9. Their mild cases seemed to be resolving as quickly as they'd come on. He set his phone alarm for 5:30AM, enough time to get to Daniela's cabin by six as promised. The couch wasn't particularly comfortable, but he'd slept in far worse places. As he settled in with a spare blanket, his ranger training kicked in, categorizing the night sounds filtering through the cabin walls. Crickets. An owl. The distant yip of coyotes. Normal sounds. Safe sounds. The last thing he saw before drifting off was the green status light of the Starlink array through the window, blinking steadily like a new kind of star. The group assesses their situation, plans to leave Yosemite. Day 5, Pre-Dawn The alarm's buzz jolted Andy awake, but another sensation immediately registered, the rich aroma of fresh coffee. Sarah was curled up in his reading chair, scrolling through her phone, but as soon as she heard him stir, she immediately switched it off and turned her full attention to him. She'd changed into a new Alo Yoga set, a lavender sports bra under a white cropped tank, paired with high-waisted leggings in a matching shade. Her hair was pulled back in a messy-but-somehow-perfect bun, showing off her neck and shoulders. The fever flush was completely gone, replaced by her natural warm complexion. "Morning," she said warmly, uncurling from the chair with a practiced, fluid grace. "Made coffee. The fancy pour-over kind I found in your kitchen. Hope that's okay." Her hazel eyes met his, lingering just a moment too long as she took in his rumpled ranger uniform. "Sorry about commandeering your bed. I just meant to take a quick nap." She gave him an apologetic smile. Andy accepted the steaming mug she offered, trying not to notice how the morning light played across her toned body. "No problem. I'm used to sleeping rough. Comes with the job." Sarah tucked her legs under her on the couch next to him. The expensive fabric of her leggings caught the light as she moved, and she settled slightly closer than necessary, her knee just barely brushing his thigh. "I need to head out in about thirty minutes," Andy said, checking his phone. "There's another survivor at the park. A ranger's daughter. Her quarantine period ends at six." Sarah's eyes lit up. "Wait, really? Someone else made it?" She sat straight. "Yes. Daniela. She's fourteen, Miguel's daughter, one of our senior rangers. He;" Andy paused, remembering Miguel's final words. "He's not gonna make it." He took a deep breath. "Miguel was a big prepper. He made sure Daniela would be ready for anything. Kid's probably better prepared for this than me, honestly. He was ex-Marine, trained her in everything, survival skills, firearms, emergency medicine. I've seen her take apart and reassemble a rifle blindfolded." Sarah's eyebrows rose. "Fourteen? God." Her expression softened. "Must have been intense, growing up like that. Learning survival stuff instead of just; being a kid." "Miguel was," Andy searched for the right words. "He was paranoid I guess. We used to joke about his 'disaster preparedness' lectures." He snorted gently, irony in his voice. "And her mom?" "Passed away years ago, while Daniela was a child. Aneurysm." Andy took another sip of coffee. "Miguel basically raised her alone." Sarah held her coffee mug, pulling her legs toward her and wrapping her arms around them. "Damn, she's been through a lot already, huh? I hope she's alright." She glanced down at her designer workout wear and gave a small, self-aware smile. "Well, we should probably get ready to meet our teenage survival expert. Think she'll judge my completely impractical apocalypse wardrobe?" Andy couldn't help but smile. "Probably." He paused, then added, "Have you found Beacon yet? The Twitter alternative?" "Yeah, I was just reading through it earlier," Sarah leaned forward, coffee forgotten. "There's a virologist who's been collecting data. Says survival seems almost completely random, except for this weird seven-to-one female-to-male ratio and a slight correlation with genetic relatedness,, like if your sister survived, you had maybe a tiny bit higher chance. But besides that;" She shook her head. "No pattern. Not health status, not location or exposure level, or ethnicity, not even age. Just random genetic lottery. Either your b-cells already make the right antibodies, or they don't. I'd guess there's actually some correlation with age like there is with any disease, old immune people might still die from the mild flu symptoms we had. But; well," she sighed. "I doubt enough people are surviving in the first place right now to get that kind of data." Andy raised an eyebrow. She caught his look and shrugged, waving her hand casually. "I'm a biology major. Molecular cell biology. We learned some of this stuff last year." She continued, "Anyway, other than that it was mostly random people and groups asking for help, or offering help. It seems like all our old governments, systems, whatever, they're all gone." "Yeah. It's a whole new world out there." Andy said. "Have you thought about posting anything?" "I wasn't sure if it would be safe," Sarah admitted. "Announcing our location." "Actually," Andy said, "I already made a post last night. I was able to download survival manuals last night and they had an interesting take on it, right after something this catastrophic, people are still in shock, focused on basic survival. They don't have the resources or organization yet to be really dangerous. It's actually the best time to make contact, before people start forming new power structures and competing for resources and territory." "I see," Sarah said, working through the implications. "So what did you post?" "Just the basics. That there were survivors at Yosemite, that we have Starlink, medical supplies. That the roads are clear if anyone needs to reach us. Links to the same survival manuals." He took another sip of coffee. "Figured we should make connections while people are still helping each other." Sarah's lips curved slightly into a soft grin. "So, if you'd found me a few weeks from now, you wouldn't have been so friendly?" "Hey, don't ask me," Andy raised his hands in mock defense. "The manual knows best. Apparently I'm destined to become dangerous and territorial any day now." "Guess I met you at just the right time then," she said softly, her eyes meeting his for a moment before looking away. A quiet moment passed between them, the morning sun slowly brightening the cabin. "Where are you studying?" Andy asked, then caught himself. "Or; were you studying?" Sarah's face flickered with something complicated. "Was. Am? I;" She took a breath. "Biology at UCLA. Second year." Her voice grew quiet. "I kept searching Beacon for anyone from campus, but; nothing yet." Day 5, Morning Daniela was already sitting outside on a bench by the cabin when they arrived, military-surplus backpack at her feet, a shotgun slung over her shoulder, dressed in practical outdoor wear that made Sarah look especially out of place. She stood as they approached. Her dark hair was pulled back in a tight, no-nonsense braid, and she sat with straight-backed posture, almost too straight, like she was holding herself together through sheer will. "Ranger Rhee," she said crisply, standing as they approached. She let her eyes drift to Sarah, taking in the expensive athleisure wear and aggressively feminine curves with a quick, assessing glance that held equal parts teenage girl's envy and survival expert's dismissal. "Daniela, this is Sarah," Andy said. "She's another survivor, immune like us." Daniela gave a short nod, then launched into what felt like a rehearsed speech. "Status report: fever peaked at 101.2 three days ago, now normal temperature for 48 hours. No remaining symptoms." She gestured to her pack, her words coming slightly too fast. "I've assembled primary survival gear, in case we need to leave in a hurry. Secondary cache inside includes a hand-crank radio set, four topographical maps of Yosemite and surrounding regions, California road atlas with marked backup routes, water filtration system, three weeks of MRE, six hundred feet of para-cord in various thickness, four heavy-duty tarps." She took a quick breath, her rehearsed rhythm barely faltering. "We also have a weapons cache. One Remington 700 bolt-action with scope and 1000 rounds, one Mossberg 500 shotgun with 1000 shells, four Glock 19s with 1000 rounds of 9mm, two semi-automatic AR-15s with 5000 total rounds. RPG-7 with eight rockets. Two cases each of fragmentation grenades and flashbangs. Ten pounds of C4 with detonators. A dozen anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines." Andy's eyes widened at the arsenal, and Sarah let out a quiet "wow." Daniela continued at top speed without acknowledging their reactions. "Two sets of Level IV body armor with trauma plates. Four tactical vests. Medical supplies organized by emergency type. Dad's old paper survival guides and field manuals. Solar oven. Basic vegetable seed packets. Shortwave radio. Antibiotics." She paused. "And a sewing machine. Manual one. For repairs." That last item seemed to crack her professional veneer slightly. She looked at Andy, her carefully maintained composure slipping. "Have you; have you seen my dad since;? He; he hasn't been responding." Andy's expression told her everything before he could speak. "Not since the clinic," he said softly. Daniela's chin trembled once, but she snapped back into her military bearing so quickly it was painful to watch, like a child playing soldier to keep the monsters away. Her voice was smaller but desperately steady when she spoke again. "What's our next move, sir?" Andy stroked his chin, considering his words carefully. "I've only got the broad strokes of a plan right now. We've got internet at my cabin, Sarah brought a military-grade Starlink array." He gave Daniela a quick overview of what they'd learned: the devastating global death toll, the seemingly random pattern of who lived and died. He mentioned the scattered posts they'd seen on Beacon, survivors in major cities trying to connect, the complete collapse of traditional infrastructure. "Here's what I'm thinking," he continued, in an attempted measured tone. "We can't stay in Yosemite. Winter's going to be tough up here, isolated, we could probably survive if we stay indoors and eat canned food or whatever we can hunt the whole time but what would that get us? We wouldn't be any closer to setting up a long term settlement, even with your father's preparations;" He paused, careful with his words. "We need to find more people. We need to probably get to a major population center. More people means more survivors means more knowledge, more resources, better chances of rebuilding something sustainable." Daniela nodded, her expression suggesting she'd already run similar calculations. "I'd say we take a day or two here first," Andy added. "Sweep the park a few more times for survivors. Gather whatever useful supplies we can find from the stores, visitor centers, other ranger stations." "Ok, that makes sense. Where's my dad?" Daniela said quietly. Andy didn't hesitate. "He's at the clinic. East wing, near the supply cabinets. Do you want us to come with you?" She shook her head. "I'll go by myself." She was already turning to leave. Andy watched her go, knowing that splitting up wasn't ideal but reasoning that the park was likely empty now except for them, and with her confident shotgun slung over her shoulder, she could probably take care of herself. "Meet us back at my cabin later," he called after her. "And keep an eye out for any large trucks or gas canisters while you're out. We'll be checking the valley store," he added. "See what we can salvage." Sarah spoke up. "I'm really glad to meet you, Daniela. It's; it's good to have another girl alive." She gave a small self-deprecating smile. "I'm obviously not as prepared as you, but; I'll do my best to not be a burden." Daniela merely nodded, wearing a worried, distant expression, and headed off toward the clinic, her stride purposeful but tense. Day 5, Morning The morning air was crisp as they headed toward the valley store, Half Dome looming above them in the clear sky. Sarah walked close to Andy's side, her earlier morning quietness replaced by an almost nervous energy. "She's so; composed," Sarah said, shaking her head in wonder. "I mean, she's cataloging military-grade weapons like she's reading a shopping list." She adjusted her designer backpack, suddenly self-conscious. "Did you see how she looked at me? I swear I could hear her mentally calculating how quickly I'd die in the wilderness." The path narrowed between some fallen trees and Sarah stepped ahead, her juicy curves swaying hypnotically as she walked. Andy gave in and let himself watch, taking in how her expensive leggings showcased her plump rear and hips rolling side to side with each step. Her ass was built for likes more than functionality but no less captivating for it. "You know, she's not actually hating on you," he said, forcing his attention back to their conversation. "She just processes everything as tactical information, it's how Miguel trained her. Analyzing strengths, weaknesses, capabilities." Sarah tucked a strand of highlighted hair behind her ear. "An RPG though? Like, an actual bazooka? Does he expect to fight a freaking tank?" "Maybe. I wouldn't put it past him." Andy replied with a shrug. "But explosives actually have a lot of use besides tanks you know. If you need to blow up a wall or car someone is hiding behind for example. In war, you're often running out of RPGs before you run out of bullets." Sarah paused, considering. "Where does a park ranger even get that kind of stuff anyway?" "Miguel had connections from his Marine days. Never talked about them much." "God, poor kid." Sarah's voice softened. "All that training, and she still lost him anyway." She was quiet for a moment, then added, "At least she knows what to do now. I'm totally useless here." Andy glanced at her. "Hey, you brought the Starlink. And the filtration system. That's not nothing." "Yeah, but I wasn't even planning to use them." She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I didn't even know how they worked until yesterday. I was just supposed to make them look good in pictures." They rounded a bend in the path, the store's entrance coming into view. Sarah slowed slightly, her voice more thoughtful. "You know when Daniela was listing all that gear, there was something about the sewing machine. Do you think it was her mom's?" Andy nodded. "It was just;" She trailed off, searching for words. "Like for a second the whole soldier act dropped, and she was just a kid who lost her parents." Andy nodded, remembering the slight tremor in Daniela's voice at that moment. They reached the store's entrance, its glass doors standing partially open. Sarah instinctively moved closer to Andy's side as they faced the quiet and empty building. The morning light streamed through the store's high windows and skylights, illuminating neat aisles of outdoor gear and camping supplies. Everything was still in its place, the pandemic had moved too quickly for panic buying or looting. The store felt frozen in time, like its staff had simply stepped out for lunch and never returned. "Boots and outdoor gear are in the back left," Andy said, gesturing. "Look for something waterproof, with good ankle support. And grab some proper hiking pants, the kind with zip-off legs and plenty of pockets. I'm going to check our food supplies in the storage room." Sarah nodded, already moving toward the clothing section. "I'll try to channel my inner Daniela. No more Instagram fashion choices." Andy headed to the back of the store, past rows of camping equipment and climbing gear. The storage room door was locked, but a few solid swings with the fire axe he'd retrieved from its wall mount made short work of the deadbolt. Inside, he swept his gaze across rows of shelves stacked with boxes and crates. His shoulders relaxed as he took inventory, hundreds of cans of chili, soup, and vegetables. Sealed packages of dried fruits and trail mix. Energy bars by the case. Enough preserved food to feed a small group for months, maybe longer if they rationed carefully. Way more than they could possibly take with them. Returning to the main area, Andy methodically selected gear from the high-end section, a rugged Carhartt jacket, some water-resistant hiking pants, and a pair of well-reviewed Merrell boots to supplement his ranger gear. He grabbed a Leatherman Wave+ multi-tool, a pair of Vortex binoculars, and several high-end headlamps and lanterns with spare batteries. Making his way to the women's section, he found Sarah studying her reflection in a full-length mirror. She'd changed into a pair of olive-green tactical pants that, despite their utilitarian design, hugged her curves perfectly where they cinched at her waist. A cropped camo compression top showed off her toned midriff while providing actual support and protection. Black Salomon hiking boots replaced her pristine Nikes, and an Arc'teryx jacket in sleek black completed the ensemble. She'd managed to find gear that was both practical and flattering, the pants especially seemed designed to enhance rather than hide her natural assets. She turned slightly, checking the fit from different angles. "What do you think?" she asked, adjusting the jacket. "The pants are actually really comfortable. And this top breathes really well." She moved through a few stretches, testing the range of motion, the gear moving naturally with her body, causing her ample bust to jiggle pleasantly. Andy tried not to stare. "Those boots are perfect," Andy said, nodding approvingly. "Salomon makes some of the best. They'll last for years if you take care of them." Sarah bent down to grab another small pile of clothes from the floor. "I grabbed some things for Daniela too." "Good idea. How do you know what size she is?" Andy asked, eyeing the stack of clothing. Sarah laughed, a glint in her eyes. "Trust me, I can tell. It's a girl thing." She folded the clothes with efficiency, tucking them into a rugged canvas duffel bag and her new backpack. "Plus, everything I picked has adjustable waists and drawstrings. She'll be able to make it work." Day 5, Evening The crackling of the campfire filled the silence between them as they sat in front of Andy's cabin, the flames casting flickering shadows across their faces. Steam rose from their bowls of rehydrated beef stew. Daniela sat cross-legged on a log, her new pants and boots looking almost too perfect, still creased from their packaging. Her dark hair was pulled back in a fresh braid, but a few strands had escaped during the day's labor, clinging to her neck. Her spoon moved mechanically from bowl to mouth, her expression distant and detached. The blisters on her hands from digging the grave were hidden beneath fingerless gloves. Sarah sat on a camp chair, somehow making even that look graceful. She'd changed into black leggings and an oversized ranger station sweatshirt she'd found, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Her eyes kept flicking to Daniela. Each time she caught herself watching too long, she'd look away quickly, taking small, careful bites of her stew. Andy was hunched over his phone, the light illuminating his face as he scrolled through Beacon posts. The Starlink array hummed softly behind them, its status lights reflecting off the cabin windows. "More reports coming in from the Bay Area," he said finally, breaking the silence. "Sounds like they're organizing some kind of central meeting point in San Francisco. Using the Presidio as a base camp." Sarah nodded, seizing the conversation attempt. "Makes sense. I've been there before. It's really pretty." Daniela continued eating mechanically, showing no response. The fire popped loudly, sending up a shower of sparks. Daniela's hand dropped down to her holster before she realized what she was doing, then went back to her food. Her face remained carefully blank, but her knuckles whitened around her spoon. Sarah's eyes met Andy's over the fire. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, turning her attention back to her own bowl. Andy set his phone down, choosing his words carefully. "We should probably talk about where we're heading. We've got some options to consider." Sarah chimed in again. "Yeah, like you said, the Bay Area seems to be organizing faster than anywhere else," she offered. "And my parents live in Palo Alto." She let the thought hang unfinished. "L A is an option, too;" Andy said, for now trying to brush past thoughts of Sarah's lost loved ones, and by extension his own as well. "More spread out, might be easier to find supplies. And Sarah you know the area pretty well I assume?" She nodded. He continued, thoughtful. "The Central Valley has farming potential, but no real organization showing up yet. Portland and Seattle are possibilities, but that's a long trek north. If we want to go south, Vegas and Phoenix also exist." The logo of Fallout New Vegas appeared in his mind's eye. "South is out," Daniela spoke suddenly, her voice flat. "Can't farm without major irrigation infrastructure. Nobody's maintaining those systems anymore." It was the most she'd said since returning from the clinic. Andy nodded. "True. We could probably gather enough fuel to make it across the country if we wanted to risk it, but;" "That's a lot of unknown territory to cover," Sarah finished. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through Beacon posts. "Though from what I'm seeing, the East Coast isn't doing any better than we are. Maybe worse, winter is coming." "The cold and snow would be a major disadvantage," Daniela said, her voice taking on the precise tone she used when reciting her father's lessons. "Increased resource consumption, limited farming windows, higher risk of mechanical failures in vehicles and equipment." She set her empty bowl aside. "California's the logical choice. Better climate, more stable growing seasons." "Agreed," Andy said. Daniela seemed to find stability in talking about this. "So that brings us back to L A versus the Bay." "The Bay Area is the only logical choice between the two." Daniela began ticking points off on her fingers, echoing discussions that had happened many times before. "The peninsula provides natural defensive positions. Multiple deep-water harbors for future maritime operations. Significantly more unpaved space for urban agriculture compared to the L A concrete sprawl." She continued briskly. "Plus, direct river access to the Central Valley farming regions around Stockton, where there's plenty of water for farming. From L A, you'd have to cross the Transverse Ranges to get to Bakersfield- that's a major liability for supply lines." Her voice took on an edge of disdain. "And farming that far south in the Valley isn't going to be viable anymore anyway, they're almost as reliant on irrigation as Phoenix or Las Vegas." She shook her head decisively. "The L A positioning is completely unsustainable. Anyone there should be evacuating to the Bay immediately." Andy nodded slowly, impressed but not surprised by the depth of analysis. He'd seen this level of preparation in everything Miguel and Daniela did. He glanced at Sarah, eyebrows raised in silent question. Sarah gave one of her small, self-deprecating smiles. "Don't look at me for expertise. The most strategic thinking I've ever done is planning photoshoots." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But Daniela's logic makes perfect sense. I mean, it's clearly been; thoroughly thought through." "The Bay it is then," Andy said, straightening up. "We should take two days to prepare; we can stock up on food, supplies, and then pick cars. There are plenty of abandoned vehicles in the valley, we'll need time to find the right ones and load them properly. It's not a long drive, but we should be thorough." He looked between them both. "We leave in three days." To be continued. Based on a post by the hospital, for Literotica.

Fertility & Sterility on Air is at the 2025 ASRM Scientific Congress & Expo in San Antonio, Texas (Part 3)! In this episode, our hosts Pietro Bortoletto, Blake Evans, Eve Feinberg, and Richard Paulson cover: Advancing ICSI robotics: follow up on the transition from remote to fully automated intracytoplasmic sperm injection with Gerardo Mendizabal (01:06) Overcoming challenges in ovarian visualization: a case report of a magnetic resonance imaging-guided oocyte retrieval resulting in live birth with Samir Babayev (11:02)  Early pregnancy RhD-immune globulin practice patterns among REI physicians and the need for ASRM guidelines for RhIG administration with Nimerta Sandhu (20:30)  At-home and mail-in semen analysis: a critical review of scientific validation, regulatory oversight, and marketing claims with Juan Varela (25:00)  Preliminary analysis of a prospective cohort study of an epigenetic sperm quality test ("SpermQT") to predict success rates of ovarian stimulation treatment with Cassandra Roeca (31:05)  A discussion with the 2025 Ira and Ester Rosenwaks New Investigator Award recipient, Min Yang (34:50)  How combining medicine and coaching can empower patients through their fertility journey with Erica Bove (43:45) View Fertility and Sterility at https://www.fertstert.org/  

On this week's episode: Semi finals recap Burying sausages Losing experience in Matthew Clarke The broader benefit of goal celebrations Preliminary finals preview GUEST: Demons midfielder, Megan FitzsimonTo get in touch on Instagram follow georgie_parker19 and sarah___burt, or EMAIL at aflw.weekly@nine.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And we thought they were only connected by wearing LAD caps. But no, Kiké Hernandez apologies to all of Puerto Rico from his hospital bed for having to miss the WBC due to shoulder surgery. Just last week his twin, Prince Harry, was apologizing to all of Canada. PCA and Corbs join Team USA and dear young Pete makes Mr. Judge feel his age. Welcome to little outlaw super athlete child, Josie James Swanson. Turns out our terrible predictions were only a little terrible – we aced Cy Young and the NL! The movement to keep LAD from visiting the White House gains traction, and the aerial tramway to the stadium loses some. The Trop is back and we want to know if the ceiling will still be “where the hell is the ball white.”Baseball United is back, including Barry Larkin Field outside of Dubai, more home grown talent, and some questionable rule changes. The Police Blotter is all sports betting because it is really hitting a new level and we don't miss the irony of the GMs meeting in a casino last week. Preliminary labor talks give Patti her second favorite quote of the week. We crosstrain with the fascist in chief's visit to the Commanders vs Lions game last week and more happily with the PWHL's Takeover Tour. Stay tuned – the WPBL's draft is coming up!We say, “You manifested the orangeness,” “That was putting the camel before the horse,” and, “You could have funded healthcare with that flyover.” Fight the man, send your game balls to Meredith, get boosted, and find us on Bluesky @ncibpodcast, on Facebook @nocryinginbball, Instagram @nocryinginbball and on the Interweb at nocryinginbball.com. Please take a moment to subscribe to the show, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to NCiB. Become a supporter at Patreon to help us keep doing what we do. We now have episode transcripts available!  They are available for free at our Patreon site. Say goodnight, Pottymouth. 

On today's episode: Senate takes first step toward ending the government shutdown Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani and others who backed efforts to overturn 2020 election, official says Preliminary tests find germ that causes botulism in ByHeart baby formula Former French President Sarkozy will be released from prison under judicial supervision BBC bosses resign after criticism of the editing of a Trump speech Typhoon Fung-wong blows away from the Philippines, leaving 4 dead and 1.4 million displaced Trump administration demands states 'undo' full SNAP payouts as states warn of 'catastrophic impact'. At US bases overseas, workers go without pay because of shutdown. US travelers scramble to adjust as airlines cut 1,000 flights because of shutdown. UPS and FedEx grounding MD-11 planes following deadly Kentucky crash. Investigators look into 'repeating bell' heard during takeoff of UPS cargo plane that crashed. Stocks wind up mixed on Wall Street after spending most of the day in the red. A Taylor-made performance for the Colts in Germany, New England keeps pace with Indianapolis and Denver atop the NFL, football’s former longtime commissioner dies, a preseason No. 1 returns to the top 10, a last-minute TD saves No. 2 Indiana, two MLB pitchers are indicted for betting and an NBA legend dies. Donald Trump booed as the 1st sitting US president at a regular-season NFL game since Carter in 1978. Israel says forensic testing confirms it has received the remains of a soldier killed in Gaza in 2014. Russian strikes hit an apartment building and energy sites in Ukraine, killing 4. Pakistan–Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul fail amid rising border tensions. Gaza death toll tops 69,000 as Israel and militants again exchange remains. Russian strikes hit an apartment block and energy sites in Ukraine, killing 4. On this week's AP Religion Roundup, the German government bans a Muslim group, and Jewish reaction to the election of New York first Muslim mayor. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

Preliminary election results show Vancouver voters rejecting Charter Amendment No. 13, a proposal to create voting districts for City Council elections. With 14,800 votes against and 11,235 in favor, the measure appears headed for defeat. The results will be certified Nov. 25. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/news/preliminary-results-show-voters-rejecting-charter-amendment-no-13/ #VancouverWA #ElectionResults #CityCouncil #CharterAmendment #LocalPolitics #ClarkCountyElections #VancouverPolitics #MunicipalGovernment #CommunityRepresentation #PublicVote

Send us a text and chime in!Included in this release is a link to the Yavapai County's Unofficial City of Prescott Election Results, Unofficial Election Results, and below is a summary of the preliminary unofficial numbers as provided to the City Clerk's Office by the Elections Department. City Council Three 4-Year Seats: Henry Ebarb II – 6,920 Votes Mary Frederickson – 8,743 Votes Robert “Jim” Garing – 8,853 Votes Greg Lazzell – 5,896 Votes Jay Ruby – 7,223 Votes Based on Prescott City Charter Article IX, Section 9 “the candidates equal in number to the persons to be elected who shall receive the highest number of... For the written story, read here >> https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/preliminary-unofficial-election-numbers-released-for-prescott/Check out the CAST11.com Website at: https://CAST11.com Follow the CAST11 Podcast Network on Facebook at: https://Facebook.com/CAST11AZFollow Cast11 Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/cast11_podcast_network

VIDEO GUEST - RANDY PEPPLE (LIKE PEBBLE) - LONGTIME REPUBLICAN POLITICAL STRATEGIST. It's General Election Day in Washington state: Here are the key races to follow. Preliminary data shows historically low WA voter turnout. Bruce Harrell, Katie Wilson tell a tale of 2 Seattles in mayoral race’s last days // I STAND CORRECTED // Tom Brady admits dog Junie is a clone of ‘beloved’ late pet Lua: Our ‘second chance’. Is this love or marketing?  He’s invested in the company

VIDEO GUEST - RANDY PEPPLE (LIKE PEBBLE) - LONGTIME REPUBLICAN POLITICAL STRATEGIST. It's General Election Day in Washington state: Here are the key races to follow. Preliminary data shows historically low WA voter turnout. Bruce Harrell, Katie Wilson tell a tale of 2 Seattles in mayoral race’s last days // THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 1845 - The First Tuesday Election Day in US History // Tom Brady admits dog Junie is a clone of ‘beloved’ late pet Lua: Our ‘second chance’.  Is this love or marketing?  He’s invested in the company

Gilbert Clark of Meridian Mining talks about the recent developments in the Cabaçal Au-Cu-Ag Project, focusing on the approval of the preliminary license and the upcoming installation license. They delve into the importance of long-term planning in the mining industry, the socio-economic and environmental considerations involved, and the positive market reactions to these developments. Gilbert emphasizes the company's commitment to building a mine and making strategic decisions that will benefit shareholders in the long run.

Today - Chelan County moves forward with a $62 million preliminary budget, despite a lingering deficit — and introduces a hiring freeze to tighten the reins.Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's 11th nationwide centralized drug procurement round has selected 55 medicines, including antivirals and diabetes treatments, which are expected to become available at lower prices from February 2026, theNational Healthcare Security Administration said last week.国家医疗保障局上周表示，我国第十一批全国药品集中采购已敲定55个品种，涵盖抗病毒、糖尿病治疗等多类用药，预计2026年2月起落地执行，价格将显著下降。Preliminary results from the bidding process, held in Shanghai on Oct 27, show that the chosen drugs cover a wide range of therapeutic areas such as infections, allergies, cancers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar,inflammation and pain relief.10月27日在上海完成的竞标结果初步显示，中选药品覆盖感染、过敏、肿瘤、高血压、高血脂、高血糖、炎症及镇痛等广泛治疗领域。Among the successful bids are the flu drug oseltamivir, a first-line diabetes medication called metformin and targeted cancer drug olaparib.流感药物奥司他韦、一线糖尿病用药二甲双胍以及抗癌靶向药奥拉帕利等药品均在中选药品名单之列。During this round ofbulk-buy——where drugmakers cut prices to win bids for large-volume supply contracts with public hospitals——794 products from 445 enterprises participated in the bidding. Ultimately, 453 products from 272 companies were selected.本次集中采购中，药企通过降价竞标，以获得公立医院的大批量供应合同，共有445家企业的794个产品投标，最终272家企业453个产品中选。Around 46,000 medical institutions had submitted their procurement demands in advance, some specifying preferred brands. The administration said that 75 percent of these requested volumes were successfully matched with winning products.全国约4.6万家医疗机构提前提交了采购需求，部分还标注了品牌偏好；国家医保局表示，申报需求量的75%已顺利匹配拟中选产品。"The selected brands closely match clinical needs, and the majority of chosen manufacturers are established firms with proven supply capacity and reliable quality," it said. "Each region will be supplied by multiple winning manufacturers, ensuring a diverse and stable product selection."国家医保局称：“拟中选品牌与临床需求高度契合，中选企业多为产能充足、质量可靠的行业龙头；各区域将由多家同时供货，保障品类多元、供应稳定。”Beyond addressing clinical demand, this procurement round emphasized quality assurance and discouraged abnormally low bids.本轮集采在保障临床供给的同时，把质量门槛再抬高，并遏制异常低价竞标行文。To reinforce quality control, bidding manufacturers were required to demonstrate prior experience in producing the same category of drugs. Additionally, the production line for the bid drug must have had no manufacturing practice violations within the past two years.为强化质量管控，参与竞标的企业需具备同类药品生产经验，且投标药品的生产线在过去两年内无药品生产质量管理规范违规记录。"Regulatory authorities will conduct comprehensive supervision and inspections of all selected products in the future," it added.监管部门补充，其将对中选品种实施全覆盖检查与持续监测，确保质量全程可控。The competition in this round was notably more intense compared with the previous 10 rounds. Tomitigate excessive competition and avoid extremely low bids, the administration introduced measures including an anchor price reference, a revival mechanism and proactive communication with companies to encourage reasonable pricing.相比前十轮，本轮采购竞争更为激烈。为缓解过度竞争、避免极端低价竞标，国家医保局推出锚定价格参考、复活机制等措施，并主动与企业沟通，引导合理定价。As a result, the round maintained a relatively high selection rate, while the average price gap among winning drugs was substantially smaller than in earlier batches.最终，本轮采购保持了较高的中选率，且同类品种价差显著收窄，市场格局更趋均衡。The administration also emphasized efforts to preventbid-rigging and collusion, as well as to promote a fair and competitive market environment.国家医保局还强调，将着力防范串通投标、合谋抬价等行为，营造公平竞争的市场环境。Since the centralized procurement program was launched in 2018, a cumulative total of 490 drug varieties have now been included through 11 rounds.自2018年“4+7”试点启动至今，国家集采已开展十一轮，累计将490个药品品种纳入降价范围。National Healthcare Security Administration国家医疗保障局inflammation/ˌɪn.fləˈmeɪ.ʃən/n.炎症bulk-buy集中采购mitigate /ˈmɪt̬.ə.ɡeɪt/v.使缓和；减轻（危害等）bid-rigging串标

This is an excerpt from my podcast This Week in Geopolitics. I record new episodes every Monday so give me a follow if you would like to see more!

“Coherence in the orbitofrontal cortex” simply means that this part of the brain — the one that helps us handle emotions, make choices, and connect with others — is in sync with the rest of the brain. When that happens, we feel calmer, think more clearly, and relate to people more easily. It's like when a band is playing together perfectly — everything just feels smooth and balanced.This is found in preliminary findings of the new research conducted by Dr. Kenna Stephenson.

Today's top stories:Preliminary hearing began Tuesday in trial over death of Genesis MataFormer CSU Bakersfield basketball coach accused of pimping scheduled to appear in courtPlans for SW Bakersfield temple for Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints still in planning stagesFor more local news, visit KGET.comStream local news for free on KGET+. Visit KGET.com/plus for more information.

In this episode, we explore practical tips for caring for older adults in the clinical setting through a case-based discussion highlighting common perioperative challenges and strategies for success. We also take a deeper dive into the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program, including its goals, impact, and how clinicians can get involved in advancing surgical care for the aging patient population. Take Home Points:  The older adult population is the fastest growing patient population and it is important we focus on patient-centered care for this population, as this is a population that almost all of us will engage with.  If you or your hospital isn't prepared to get verified yet, there are still small processes that can be implemented that can make an impactful difference on your patients. Geriatric Surgery Verification is at the cutting edge of quality improvement. Like other verification programs (trauma, bariatric) patients will soon seek out these centers that can best address their personal needs. Hosts:  Agnes Premkumar, MD - General Surgery Resident at Creighton University, @agnespremkumar Nicole L. Petcka, MD – General Surgery Resident at Emory University, @npetcka2022 Guests:  Marcia M. Russell, MD - Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair for Quality and Safety at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Caroline Smolkin, MD - General Surgery Resident at Northwell and American College of Surgeons Clinical Scholar Resources:  American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/accreditation-and-verification/geriatric-surgery-verification/  Katlic MR, Wolf J, Demos SJ, Rosenthal RA. Making a Financial Case for the Geriatric Surgery Verification Program. Ann Surg Open. 2024 May 13;5(2):e439. doi: 10.1097/AS9.0000000000000439. PMID: 38911623; PMCID: PMC11191881. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38911623/ Remer SL, Zhou L, Cohen ME, Russell MM, Rosenthal R, Ko CY. Discharge to Post-Acute Care as a Benchmarking Metric for Elderly Surgical Patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2025 Aug 14. doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001495. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40810404. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40810404/ Jones TS, Jones EL, Richardson V, Finley JB, Franklin JL, Gore DL, Horney CP, Kovar A, Morin TL, Robinson TN. Preliminary data demonstrate the Geriatric Surgery Verification program reduces postoperative length of stay. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 Jul;69(7):1993-1999. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17154. Epub 2021 Apr 7. PMID: 33826150. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33826150/ *** UNC Surgery is inviting you to participate in a national survey designed to understand general surgery residents' perspectives on core curriculum content, structure, & delivery. The results of this survey will inform the development of a standardized general surgery education curriculum.    SURVEY LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJztQwgB1rJXpCtvboHprGB_gmHGG4UzY1HITAHRmMx9FcRQ/viewform Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.   If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://behindtheknife.org/listen Behind the Knife Premium: General Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/general-surgery-oral-board-review Trauma Surgery Video Atlas: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/trauma-surgery-video-atlas Dominate Surgery: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Clerkship: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-clerkship Dominate Surgery for APPs: A High-Yield Guide to Your Surgery Rotation: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/dominate-surgery-for-apps-a-high-yield-guide-to-your-surgery-rotation Vascular Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/vascular-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/colorectal-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Surgical Oncology Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/surgical-oncology-oral-board-audio-review Cardiothoracic Oral Board Review Course: https://behindtheknife.org/premium/cardiothoracic-surgery-oral-board-audio-review Download our App: Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049 Android/Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app&hl=en_US

Today's top stories:New details in alleged North Edwards child abuse case Preliminary hearing confimed for this week in Genesis Mata case Plea deals reached in EBT card skimming fraud caseJury deliberations continue in Madison Williams' DUI case Pinpoint Weather Forecast: Oct. 27, 2025For more local news, visit KGET.com. Stream local news for free on KGET+. Visit KGET.com/plus for more information. 

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Nicola Lindson discuss emerging evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Justin Strickland, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Associate Professor Jamie Hartmann-Boyce and Associate Professor Nicola Lindson discuss the new evidence in e-cigarette research and interview Justin Strickland, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In the October 2025 podcast Justin Strickland talks about his work on e-cigarette withdrawal syndrome presented at the 13th Annual Vermont Center on Behavior and Health Conference, held in Vermont, USA. Justin is a behavioural pharmacologist working with substance use and substance use disorder. His research applies behavioural economic methods to evaluate choice and decision-making mechanisms that may underlie substance use and identify targets for their reduction. Justin begins by describing behavioral economics and how our environment and context shape the decisions we make, for example, how the cost of goods can influence patterns of consumption. As a relatively new class of products less is known about e-cigarette withdrawal than tobacco withdrawal syndrome. Justin describes his ongoing study of e-cigarette withdrawal syndrome among people who have exclusively used e-cigarettes. Participants stay in a residential unit for one week, where their behaviour, physiology and other measures, including their nicotine clearance, are measured. Preliminary findings indicate that participants do experience withdrawal to e-cigarettes, for example cravings that reduce over time. Looking to the future he calls for longer-term trials to observe behaviour and to explore predictors of complete cessation. Such research could inform the development of more effective behavioral interventions or pharmacological treatments to support individuals experiencing e-cigarette withdrawal. This podcast is a companion to the electronic cigarettes Cochrane living systematic review and Interventions for quitting vaping review and shares the evidence from the monthly searches. Our searches for the EC for smoking cessation review carried out on 1st October 2025 found: 1 new study (10.18332/852498tivblr); 2 ongoing new studies (ISRCTN12504090, 10.1177/29768357251337050); and 4 linked reports (10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108414, 10.1037/pha0000803, 10.1093/ntr/ntaf200, 10.1101/2024.06.21.24309282). Our search for our interventions for quitting vaping review carried out 1st October 2025 found: 1 new ongoing study (10.3389/fpubh.2025.1618341). For further details see our webpage under 'Monthly search findings': https://www.cebm.ox.ac.uk/research/electronic-cigarettes-for-smoking-cessation-cochrane-living-systematic-review-1 For more information on the full Cochrane review of E-cigarettes for smoking cessation updated in January 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010216.pub9/full For more information on the full Cochrane review of Interventions for quitting vaping published in January 2025 see: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD016058.pub2/full This podcast is supported by Cancer Research UK.

Preliminary work has begun in preparation for the demolition of the old Wayne County jail in downtown Detroit. WWJ's Chris Fillar and Jackie Paige have your Monday morning news. (Photo credit: WWJ's Charlie Langton)

Plus: Gov. Youngkin declares state of emergency over lapsing SNAP funds; National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday; Preliminary results from a new survey of families waitlisted for subsidized child care in the commonwealth have been released; and other stories. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Dr. Kelly Makielski and Dr. Jaime Modiano from the University of Minnesota join us on OsteoBites to discuss comparative extracellular vesicle (EV) biomarkers for osteosarcoma risk and prognosis.They are investigating extracellular vesicle (EV) transcriptomic profiles as minimally invasive biomarkers in canine and pediatric osteosarcoma in two ongoing studies. In the Canine Osteosarcoma Early Detection (COED) study, they are sequencing EV RNA from otherwise healthy dogs in breeds at elevated risk of osteosarcoma to identify gene signatures for the early detection and risk assessment of osteosarcoma. In parallel, they are conducting the KIDsCAN study, where we are sequencing EVs from pediatric osteosarcoma patients to identify prognostic signatures that could ultimately guide treatment intensity, aiming to minimize long-term therapy-associated morbidity without negatively impacting survival. Preliminary results from COED will be shared, along with how their comparative approach is helping to guide the KIDsCAN study.Kelly M. Makielski, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) is an Assistant Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and Masonic Cancer Center. Her research focuses on extracellular vesicle (EV) biology and comparative oncology, using naturally occurring cancers in dogs to inform human cancer biology and treatment. She is the recipient of an NIH K01 investigating EV–based biomarkers for osteosarcoma prognosis in pediatric osteosarcoma, to guide personalized therapy and reduce treatment-related morbidity.Dr. Jaime Modiano holds the Alvin and June Perlman Endowed Chair of Animal Oncology and is director of the Animal Cancer Care and Research Program of the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. He completed his training through the Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program (VMD, PhD) at the University of Pennsylvania, and he followed it with a residency in Clinical Pathology at Colorado State University and a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine. Before joining the University of Minnesota, he served on the faculties of Texas A&M University and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Dr. Modiano has also worked in the private sector, as founder of several start-up companies, and as Director of Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy for the Donald Monk Cancer Research Foundation. Through his research, Dr. Modiano seeks to understand how and why cancer happens and to develop strategies for improving the health and well-being of companion animals and humans alike.

zipbomb defeated, Optimizing ZFS for High-Throughput Storage Workloads, Open Source is one person, Omada SDN Controller on FreeBSD, Building a Simple Router with OpenBSD, Back to the origins, Enhancing Support for NAT64 Protocol Translation in NetBSD, and more NOTES This episode of BSDNow is brought to you by Tarsnap (https://www.tarsnap.com/bsdnow) and the BSDNow Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/bsdnow) Headlines zipbomb defeated (https://www.reddit.com/r/openzfs/comments/1niu6h7/when_a_decompression_zip_bomb_meets_zfs_19_pb/) Optimizing ZFS for High-Throughput Storage Workloads (https://klarasystems.com/articles/optimizing-zfs-for-high-throughput-storage-workloads?utm_source=BSD%20Now&utm_medium=Podcast) News Roundup Open Source is one person (https://opensourcesecurity.io/2025/08-oss-one-person) Omada SDN Controller on FreeBSD (https://blog.feld.me/posts/2025/08/omada-on-freebsd) Back to the origins (https://failsafe.monster/posts/another-world/) Google Summer of Code 2025 Reports: Enhancing Support for NAT64 Protocol Translation in NetBSD (http://blog.netbsd.org/tnf/entry/gsoc2025_nat64_protocol_translation) Undeadly Bits j2k25 - OpenBSD Hackathon Japan 2025 (http://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20250601104254) OpenSSH will now adapt IP QoS to actual sessions and traffic (http://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20250818113047) Preliminary support for Raspberry Pi 5 (https://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20250903064251) OpenBSD enters 7.8-beta (https://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20250911045955) Full BSDCan 2025 video playlist(s) available (https://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20250912124932) OpenBGPD 8.9 released (https://undeadly.org/cgi?action=article;sid=20250926141610) Tarsnap This weeks episode of BSDNow was sponsored by our friends at Tarsnap, the only secure online backup you can trust your data to. Even paranoids need backups. Feedback/Questions Brad - a few things (https://github.com/BSDNow/bsdnow.tv/blob/master/episodes/632/feedback/Brad%20-%20a%20few%20things.md) Send questions, comments, show ideas/topics, or stories you want mentioned on the show to feedback@bsdnow.tv (mailto:feedback@bsdnow.tv) Join us and other BSD Fans in our BSD Now Telegram channel (https://t.me/bsdnow)

In this newscast: Preliminary results are in for Juneau's 2025 municipal election; No developers have bitten on 200 acres of city land upzoned for denser housing on Douglas Island and in Auke Bay; The interim superintendent for Ketchikan's school district submitted her letter of resignation months into the job; Some Alaskans feel they don't have a meaningful say in the process as a proposed gold mine in Canada goes through its environmental assessment.

Today is Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

FreeBSD Foundation Q2 2025 Status Update, Keeping Data Safe with OpenZFS, Ollama on FreeBSD Using GPU Passthrough, ClonOS, Preliminary support for Raspberry Pi 5, Sylve: Manage bhyve VMs and Clusters on FreeBSD, Preventing Systemd DHCP RELEASE Behavior, Call for testing - Samba 4.22, and more

This episode is presented by Create A Video – North Carolina Auditor Dave Boliek joined me to discuss the release of a preliminary report examining the security contracts on the Charlotte Area Transit System. The report found the number of armed guards declined about 40% over 6 years, while spending skyrocketed from $5.9 million to $18.4 million. Help Pete’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s! Subscribe to the podcast at: https://ThePetePod.com/ All the links to Pete's Prep are free: https://patreon.com/petekalinershow Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code! Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com Get exclusive content here!: https://thepetekalinershow.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vince dives into the preliminary investigative report into CATS, released by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek. Plus, looking at the fallout from the government shutdown. That and much more on The Vince Coakley Radio Program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

In 2011, Coca-Cola introduced a white version of their Coca-Cola can. The drink inside was identical to original Coca-Cola, but customers drinking from this white can hated the taste.  The white can made buyers think the Cola tasted worse.  To explain why, I need to delve into the science of sensehacking. With Professor Adrian North, I'll explain why tennis players grunt loudly, why cars smell different when new, how a tablecloth alters our taste, and that music changes what you buy.  ---  Join the Nudge Vaults waiting list: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Join the Nudge Unit waiting list: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list   Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/   Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/  ---  Today's sources  Bschaden, A., Dörsam, A., Cvetko, K., & Stroebele-Benschop, N. (2020). The impact of lighting and table linen as ambient factors on meal intake and taste perception. Food Quality and Preference, 79, 103797. Cañal-Bruland, R., Müller, F., Lach, B., & Spence, C. (2018). Auditory contributions to visual anticipation in tennis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 100–103. Garber, M. (2012, July 26). The future of advertising will be squirted into your nostrils as you sit on a bus. The Atlantic. Golan, M., & Fenko, A. (2015). Toward a sensory congruence model: Matching sounds with material properties. Food Quality and Preference, 46, 33–43. Guéguen, N., Jacob, C., Lourel, M., & Pascual, A. (2012). When drivers see red: Car color and driving behavior. Color Research & Application, 37(5), 452–455. Hanss, D., Steger, D., & Giesel, F. (2012). The influence of car color on driver behavior and perceptions of speed. Color Research & Application, 37(4), 304–309. Hirsch, A. (1991, February 4). Preliminary results of olfaction Nike study. Marketing News, 25, 1–2. Horswill, M. S., & Plooy, A. M. (2008). Auditory feedback influences perceived driving speed. Perception, 37(7), 1037–1043. Leenders, M. A. A. M., Smidts, A., & El Haji, A. (2019). Ambient scent as a mood inducer in supermarkets: The role of scent intensity and time-pressure of shoppers. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 48, 270–280. Milliman, R. E. (1982). Using background music to affect the behavior of supermarket shoppers. Journal of Marketing, 46(3), 86–91. North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J., & McKendrick, J. (1999). The influence of in-store music on wine selections. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(2), 271–276. Spence, C. (2021). Sensehacking: How to use the power of your senses for happier, healthier living. Viking. Wall Street Journal. (2012, October 23). Why consumers doubt silent vacuum cleaners. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203406404578074671598804116 Zellner, D., Geller, T., Lyons, S., Pyper, A., & Riaz, K. (2017). Ethnic congruence of music and food affects food selection but not liking. Food Quality and Preference, 56, 126-129.

Here is the 2-min "Sniff Test" on how you can avoid going after the wrong deals for you. It will eventually get to the point where it can be done in a few seconds but start out going deep into about 20-30 business summaries (CIMs) to get a handle on things.   SMBs are the biggest target for cyber attacks. Protect your business with Inzo Technologies. Check out....www.inzotechnologies.com, I-N-Z-O, or email Nick directly at nick@inzotechnologies.com.   Get expert M&A guidance, valuations, and fractional executive support from Amplēo. Learn more at www.ampleo.com/lets-buy-a-business-podcast/.   Buying or selling? Business Valuation help? - Lean on Peak Business Valuation and their expertise now.  https://hubs.li/Q03zlvqH0   Join the How to Buy a Business Cohort - Oct 2025? https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/p/how-to-build-a-business-cohort-with-ryan-condie/   Sourcing List:https://www.letsbuyabusiness.com/source

Today is Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

The Northfield City Council last night choose to set the Preliminary Tax Levy at a 10.2% increase. KYMN's Logan Wells talks about how we got here, the discussion and next steps.  

The news from Northfield, Minnesota on Friday, September 19th 2025:Northfield City Council Set to Approve a 9.9% Preliminary Tax Levy on Tuesday; Ice Arena The Main Driver of Costs; $1.3 Million in Budgets Cuts Needed

Today is Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. The Brainerd Dispatch Minute is a product of Forum Communications Co. and is brought to you by reporters at the Brainerd Dispatch. Find more news throughout the day at BrainerdDispatch.com.

It's EV News Briefly for Wednesday 17 September 2025, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show. Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDaily LEAPMOTOR TO BUILD CARS IN SPAIN https://evne.ws/4mgfwEX SK ON OPENS SOLID-STATE BATTERY PILOT PLANT https://evne.ws/4poDxws RIVIAN BREAKS GROUND ON GEORGIA PLANT https://evne.ws/3VWurJG RENAULT 4 EV GETS A CARGO VAN VARIANT https://evne.ws/4nDkCwo UK GEELY EX5 CUSTOMERS GET FREE ANDERSEN A3 HOME CHARGER INSTALLED https://evne.ws/47G1wRs GAC AION V APPROVED FOR AUSTRALIA https://evne.ws/465ShsA TESLA MELBOURNE FSD TEST WAS NOT APPROVED  https://evne.ws/4nrNoQc TESLA ADDS 7‑YEAR WARRANTY TO SOME PARTS https://evne.ws/3IgdcQE NHTSA OPENS PROBE INTO 2021 TESLA MODEL Y DOORS https://evne.ws/465VwjM SUZUKI LAUNCHES E VITARA EV IN JAPAN IN JANUARY https://evne.ws/4prFSqo ID. TOUAREG COULD BE THE FIRST SSP MODEL https://evne.ws/3VkOLo4 VOLKSWAGEN DROPS FLUSH DOOR HANDLES FOR FUNCTION https://evne.ws/4gs1T4t NISSAN CUTS NEW LEAF OUTPUT OVER BATTERY SHORTAGE https://evne.ws/3VlzNya LEAPMOTOR TO BUILD CARS IN SPAIN Stellantis will enable Chinese automaker Leapmotor to assemble vehicles at a Spanish plant to bypass steep EU import tariffs, likely beginning with the B10 electric SUV next year. The €1.5 billion joint venture includes major investment in battery production at Zaragoza, positioning Leapmotor for broader European expansion under Stellantis's international partnership. SK ON OPENS SOLID-STATE BATTERY PILOT PLANT SK On has opened a Daejeon, South Korea pilot facility focused on sulphide- and polymer-oxide solid-state battery development, aiming for commercialization of sulphide-based cells in 2029—one year ahead of schedule. Backed by Solid Power's tech, the facility will produce prototype batteries featuring advanced lithium-metal and silicon anodes with targets up to 1,000 Wh/l energy density. RIVIAN BREAKS GROUND ON GEORGIA PLANT Rivian has started building a $5 billion EV plant in Georgia, aiming for 200,000 vehicles yearly by 2028, unaffected by the discontinuation of federal EV tax credits. The facility will support scale and lower costs for new models like the R2, following Tesla's profitability playbook as Rivian moves into higher-volume, lower-priced vehicles. RENAULT 4 EV GETS A CARGO VAN VARIANT Renault's new electric 4 is now offered as a cargo van with a load capacity of 1,045 litres and up to 254 miles of range, priced in France from €29,300 before VAT. The conversion is managed in-house by Renault at its Maubeuge plant, with multiple battery and power options for commercial customers. UK GEELY EX5 CUSTOMERS GET FREE ANDERSEN A3 HOME CHARGER INSTALLED Geely will provide buyers of the all-electric EX5 a free Andersen A3 home charger, featuring unique design and smart charging integration, for orders placed before October 23, 2025. The charger, which includes full installation and a seven-year warranty, is compatible with solar power and smart charging tariffs. GAC AION V APPROVED FOR AUSTRALIA Chinese automaker GAC's Aion V electric SUV has been cleared for sale in Australia, featuring a 75 kWh LFP battery for up to 374 miles of range and fast charging from 30% to 80% in 16 minutes. Pricing will start below $45,000 AUD, with deliveries and detailed specs announced closer to launch. TESLA MELBOURNE FSD TEST WAS NOT APPROVED Victorian authorities confirmed Tesla was not authorized to test "Full Self-Driving" on Melbourne's public roads after a viral video showed a Model Y performing an autonomous hook turn in the city center. Tesla says FSD is driver-supervised and not yet legal for autonomous use in Australia, where regulatory permits are required for such trials. TESLA ADDS 7‑YEAR WARRANTY TO SOME PARTS Tesla's 2026 model year vehicles in the US and Canada now carry a “High-Priced Propulsion-Related Part Warranty,” giving seven years' coverage for key electrical components like the power conversion system and high-voltage parts. This new warranty is separate from existing battery and drive unit terms, aimed at lowering costly repair risk for buyers. NHTSA OPENS PROBE INTO 2021 TESLA MODEL Y DOORS U.S. safety regulators have launched a probe into 174,000 Model Y vehicles from 2021 after reports the electronic door handles could fail, potentially trapping children inside. Preliminary findings suggest the issue is linked to low-voltage battery problems, and several parents broke windows to access their children during incidents. SUZUKI LAUNCHES E VITARA EV IN JAPAN IN JANUARY Suzuki's first battery-electric car, the e Vitara SUV, will go on sale in Japan in January 2026, produced in India for export and offering 267 miles per charge at around $27,000. It represents Suzuki's major push into global EVs with significant investments and ambitions for high-volume exports. ID. TOUAREG COULD BE THE FIRST SSP MODEL Volkswagen may transform its Touareg into the first fully electric SSP platform model, with combustion production ending in 2026 and SSP assembly possibly starting in Bratislava by 2029. The SSP platform promises cost savings and fast charging, with VW's wider rollout across brands and models to follow. VOLKSWAGEN DROPS FLUSH DOOR HANDLES FOR FUNCTION Volkswagen will move away from flush-mounted door handles in favor of traditional grab handles in response to customer frustration, as outlined by the brand's CEO at IAA Mobility. The company's next-gen ID. models will prioritize practicality to appeal to mainstream buyers over early adopters. NISSAN CUTS NEW LEAF OUTPUT OVER BATTERY SHORTAGE Nissan has halved production plans for its new Leaf due to shortfalls in battery supply, with revised output at the Tochigi plant being several thousand lower per month. The cutback delays a key launch for Nissan, which is betting on the new Leaf to reinvigorate its lagging EV business.

San Francisco had never recalled an incumbent Supervisor, until September 16th, 2025, when Joel Engardio lost his seat on the Board of Supervisors. Preliminary results showed that 64.6 % of the voters in District 4 voted to recall him. Early into the evening, Engardio conceded the loss, but claimed that he was on the right side of history.Albert Chow is a resident, voter and small businessman in D4 and played a leading role in the Recall campaign.

For years, the St. Louis metropolitan area has shown troubling signs when it comes to its population numbers. Preliminary results from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey offer both encouragement and caution for the region's future. Demographer and St. Louis University Professor Ness Sándoval breaks down the latest census data and shares why elected officials and residents should prioritize the development of single family homes to boost — or at least maintain — the region's population.

Interview with Rory Quinn, President & CEO of Yukon MetalsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/yukon-metals-cseymc-launching-major-drill-program-in-2025-7124Recording date: 10th September 2025Yukon Metals Corporation (CSE:YMC) represents a compelling early-stage copper and gold exploration opportunity positioned to capitalize on favorable market conditions and strong preliminary drilling results across three strategic properties in Canada's Yukon Territory.The company's flagship Birch project has delivered encouraging validation of its geological model, with scarn mineralization encountered in every drill hole across a substantial 750-meter strike length. The consistency of this mineralization is particularly significant for early-stage exploration, indicating a robust and extensive system with substantial discovery potential. Recent drilling has intersected up to 46 meters of continuous scarn mineralization between 250-300 meters depth, suggesting significant vertical continuity. Preliminary visual assessment by Dr. Quinton Hennigh, a highly respected geologist, indicates potential copper grades of 1.5-2% with accompanying gold content, though final assay results are pending.Complementing the copper focus at Birch, the Star River property presents exceptional high-grade silver and gold potential. Surface sampling has yielded remarkable results including up to 11,000 g/t silver and 101 g/t gold, with visible galena mineralization containing 1,800 g/t silver and 20% lead. Current drilling targets shallow mineralization at approximately 150 meters depth, supported by an 800-meter gravity anomaly that correlates with known high-grade surface showings.A critical value driver for Yukon Metals lies in its systematic approach to operational scaling through permit advancement. The company currently operates under Class 1 permits that limit operations to 10 people and restrict drilling scope. However, management is actively pursuing Class 3 permits that would dramatically expand capabilities to 50 people on site with virtually unlimited drilling capacity for a 10-year period. CEO Rory Quinn emphasized this represents a significant value inflection point, stating the permits will create a huge amount of value and enable much larger exploration programs.The company maintains a strong financial foundation with $11 million raised in April, supporting approximately 9,000 meters of drilling across the three properties. Management operates a lean structure with only a three-person Vancouver office, ensuring capital allocation is directed primarily toward exploration activities. This disciplined approach maximizes shareholder value while maintaining operational flexibility.Market conditions appear increasingly favorable for copper exploration, driven by electrification trends and supply constraints. Quinn noted strong institutional interest and the presence of generalist funds and US capital, describing current conditions as "the best vibe I've felt here in a long time" in what "really does feel like a bull market." The company's stock price has reflected this positive sentiment, advancing from $0.60 to the $0.80-$0.90 range following positive drilling results.The management team brings valuable experience and strategic relationships within the mining finance community. Key personnel include Keith Neumeyer, who helped structure the company and brings committed investor networks, and Patrick Burke, former head of capital markets at Canaccord Genuity. Quinn's background with Wheaton Precious Metals provides institutional market familiarity that should prove valuable as projects advance.With pending assay results, permit advancement progress, and favorable market conditions for strategic commodities, Yukon Metals appears well-positioned to deliver value through systematic project advancement and discovery potential across its diversified property portfolio.View Yukon Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/yukon-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Mayor Michelle Wu and challenger Josh Kraft will go head to head on the November ballot for Boston mayor.

It's the eve of Boston's preliminary election and according to a new poll from Emerson College, incumbent mayor Michelle Wu is leading top rival Josh Kraft by 50 points. Wu drew 72 percent support from likely voters, compared with just 22 percent for Kraft. Two lesser-known candidates, Domingos DaRosa and Robert Cappucci, drew 2 percent and 1 percent. Who is your mayoral candidate and why? Spencer Kimball, the Executive Director of Emerson College polling joined us to discuss what the polls say.

US job growth was far less robust in the year through March than previously reported, adding to mounting pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.The number of workers on payrolls will likely be revised down by a record 911,000, or 0.6%, according to the government’s preliminary benchmark revision out Tuesday. The final figures are due early next year.Before the report, the government’s payrolls data indicated employers added nearly 1.8 million total jobs in the year through March on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, or an average of 149,000 per month. The revision showed average monthly job growth was roughly half that. For instant reaction and analysis, Bloomberg's Tom Keene and Scarlet Fu spoke with: Ira Jersey, Bloomberg Intelligence Chief US Interest Rate Strategist Michael McKee, Bloomberg International Economics and Policy Correspondent Stephanie Roth, Wolfe Research chief Economist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sponsor Details:This episode of SpaceTime is brought to you with the support of Insta360. Capture your adventures with their latest game-changer, the GOUltra. For a special SpaceTime listener offer, visit store.insta360.com and use the promo code SPACETIME at checkout. Help support SpaceTime and get a great deal. Win/win!In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover groundbreaking discoveries in planetary science and solar physics, including the remnants of ancient asteroids on Mars, the recovery of the Mother's Day meteorite, and new insights into solar energetic particles.Asteroid Remnants Found in Martian MantleA new study reveals that fragments from ancient asteroids, which significantly impacted Mars around 4.5 billion years ago, are now trapped within the planet's mantle. Data from NASA's Mars Insight lander has provided unprecedented insights into the Martian interior, showing that these remnants, some up to four kilometres wide, offer a unique glimpse into Mars' geological history. The findings suggest a sluggish evolution of the Martian mantle, contrasting sharply with Earth's dynamic tectonic processes.Mother's Day Meteorite DiscoveryIn an exciting expedition, scientists from Curtin University have successfully recovered a meteorite that lit up the skies over Western Australia on Mother's Day. Using the Desert Fireball Network, researchers pinpointed the meteor's landing site and undertook a challenging journey to retrieve samples. Preliminary analysis indicates that the meteorite is an ordinary chondrite, providing valuable insights into its origins and the solar system's history.Tracing Super Fast Electrons from the SunAstronomers have identified two distinct origins for energetic particles emitted by the Sun, thanks to observations from the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter mission. The research highlights the difference between solar energetic electrons linked to solar flares and those associated with coronal mass ejections. Understanding these two types of solar energetic particles is crucial for predicting space weather and protecting satellites and astronauts from radiation hazards.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesNASAhttps://www.nasa.gov/Curtin Universityhttps://www.curtin.edu.au/European Space Agencyhttps://www.esa.int/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-space-astronomy--2458531/support.

IRS releases preliminary list of occupations for qualified tips deduction, entertainer found to be a California resident and more.

This week we look at: Eleventh Circuit: Gross Valuation Misstatement Penalty in a Conservation Easement Case Treasury & IRS: Preliminary Guidance on Tipped Occupations Eighth Circuit: Medtronic Transfer Pricing Dispute Remanded Again California OTA: Entertainer Found to be a California Resident Pitfalls in IRA Bankruptcy Exemptions: Farber v. Feldman

Josh Kraft joins WBUR's Morning Edition to discuss the state of his campaign for Boston mayor.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports a preliminary statement on Lisbon's streetcar tragedy is expected.