Edition 65 · Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Here's what happened.
Michigan utility customers could be asked to bear $6.4 billion in costs for two new gas plants sought by DTE Energy to meet rising data-center demand. The dispute reflects nationwide tensions over how the costs of rapid data-center expansion should be divided between utilities, businesses and households.
Arrests for minor offenses such as vagrancy increased across the United States in 2025, even as violent crime rates fell to historic lows. The findings come from an analysis by criminal-justice reform group FWD.us.
California state workers say they are tired of governors balancing the budget on their backs and are beginning a statewide strike. The dispute centers on pay cuts and could have broad implications for state government operations.
A state watchdog found that nearly a third of local agencies maintaining Central Valley flood-control levees have provided unacceptable upkeep, in some cases for years. The Department of Water Resources has not taken over the systems as required by state law, while state water managers dispute the findings and say maintenance is only one factor in flood risk.
California revenues came in $2.9 billion above forecast as the state’s innovation economy continued to grow. The update points to stronger-than-expected state finances and is relevant to the budget outlook.
Saudi Arabia canceled its well-known “Davos in the Desert” investor meeting because of strikes by Houthi forces in Yemen. Britain has offered military support amid the attacks.
British counterterrorism police rearrested two men investigating an alleged threat against an English air base used by U.S. bombers. Police said the men were working on behalf of Iran.
Character.AI has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after legal challenges and the loss of top talent. The company lets users create custom chatbots for immersive roleplaying, raising questions about the wider AI industry.
Google has joined Amazon in releasing a developer tool that helps PyTorch users move their applications off Nvidia GPUs. The effort challenges Nvidia’s dominance among AI application developers.
A NASA-highlighted study revises projections for Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, finding that some model simulations allow for as much as twice the glacier’s current projected contribution to sea-level rise by the end of the century. The result underscores uncertainty around one of Antarctica’s most closely watched ice systems and the potential consequences for coastal planning.
WIRED reports that Germany is weakening planned requirements for new data centers to reuse waste heat, after developers argued the rules could hinder construction. The reversal highlights a broader European tension between expanding energy-intensive AI infrastructure, reducing dependence on US computing capacity, and meeting emissions targets.
NASA Earth Observatory documents an intense extratropical cyclone that formed from the remnants of Hurricane Isaias and passed near Iceland. The storm underwent exceptionally rapid deepening, produced hurricane-force conditions, and brought major wind impacts to Iceland and parts of the North Atlantic region.
The Orionids, a meteor shower produced by debris from Halley’s Comet, are a fall highlight for stargazers. The shower is known for bright, fast streaks that can sometimes remain visible for minutes.
Australian researchers identified a subtype of depression linked to disruptions in the body’s internal clock. In a study of 11,380 people with mostly severe and recurrent depression, it accounted for nearly a quarter of participants and appeared less responsive to traditional antidepressants.
Families bereaved after deaths in England’s mental health wards are calling for a ban on Oxevision, a camera monitoring system used in half of the country’s mental health wards. Lawyers told an inquiry that improper use of the system puts vulnerable patients’ lives at stake.
Most of Georgia’s counties do not have a labor and delivery unit, so the state is considering equipping emergency rooms to handle obstetric emergencies. Doctors and advocates warn that emergency departments should be a stopgap rather than a replacement for maternity services.
France is facing a worsening conflict between public anger over affordability and the demands of bond investors. The turmoil illustrates the challenges for governments trying to respond to unhappy citizens while maintaining market confidence.
The Agriculture Department will provide aid to farmers hurt by high diesel prices under the $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program. The plan is intended to cover farm losses linked to those elevated fuel costs.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is facing backlash from conservative politicians and commentators after calling wealth inequality a “danger to society.” He also advocated for a national wealth and inheritance tax in a recent interview.
Democratic state attorneys general and other election officials are accelerating coordination ahead of the November midterms. The effort includes weekly calls and in-person exercises focused on countering possible federal intervention as President Trump continues to make false claims about widespread voting fraud.
California is asking a federal judge to block the Trump administration from forcing the state to set aside up to 20,000 ballots that prosecutors say may have been mailed to noncitizens. Attorney General Rob Bonta made the request in a federal court filing in Los Angeles, escalating a dispute over election administration.
NatWest will require nearly 40,000 UK employees to work from the office at least two days a week starting in February 2027. The change will end its remote-first policy and increase office attendance for 13,000 staff currently attending two days a month, drawing union anger.
Paddy Power is cutting 1,400 jobs and attributes the reductions to higher betting taxes. The government increased taxes on online casino and sports betting in last year’s Budget.
LeBron James scored 14 points on his Philadelphia 76ers debut as they beat the reigning champion New York Knicks on the NBA’s opening night. The result marked the start of a new season and the first game for James in a 76ers uniform.
The Champions League produced another high-scoring round and set a new goals record for the season. The result has renewed debate over whether the competition’s new format is succeeding, despite questions about its lack of jeopardy.
Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance said the administration would give right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley $10,000 and launch a $25 million public fraud-reporting bounty program. Shirley previously published a viral video alleging fraud at Minnesota daycares operated by members of the Somali community.
Australia is reportedly preparing legal action against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube over alleged non-compliance with its nationwide ban on teen users. The government’s planned lawsuit would target several major social platforms at once.
Xbox is reportedly planning three further rounds of layoffs, beginning this month and continuing in November and January 2027. The cuts are described as part of Microsoft’s gaming division reset under CEO Asha Sharma.
A survey by Vivrato found that 97% of studio leaders in Europe and North America have used AI in some form during development. It also found that 94% had used AI in at least one of nine production stages.
Sensor Tower research commissioned by GamesIndustry.biz found that indies and original intellectual property accounted for a much larger share of the biggest PC and console games in 2026 than in 2025. The finding points to a notable shift in the year’s leading releases away from established properties.
Electronic Arts appears to be reviving its long-dormant Fight Night boxing series. The publisher created social media accounts for the franchise, and its first post said that Fight Night is coming back.
Springfield, Ohio, was thrust into the national spotlight by a false claim about Haitian migrants and pet eating. Years later, the town remains central to the immigration debate as President Trump’s deportation drive reshapes it again.
A housing and hotel project in Boca Raton, Florida, is tied up in lawsuits. Buyers who placed seven-figure deposits are seeking refunds after paying toward luxury condominiums that have not been delivered.
Actor Richard Riehle, best known for his role as the anxious “people skills” character in *Office Space*, has died at 78. His career in theater, television and film lasted more than half a century.
The Gambia says it has received $2.5 million from the sale of a Maryland mansion seized from former leader Yahya Jammeh. The proceeds will be paid to victims of Jammeh’s rule.
Pakistan has arrested a man wanted by the United States in a $126 million postage-fraud case. He allegedly sold more than five million fake postage labels for $2 each.