‘Like a weight off my shoulders’: Low COVID case numbers bring optimism, change
MADISON, Wis. – Low COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations have Rock County Epidemiologist Nick Zupan’s spirits high.
In the run-up to the 2026 midterm elections, the political parties in many states are working to redefine their congressional district maps to gain every possible edge. From California and Texas to Tennessee and Virginia, redistricting efforts have taken center stage. The Supreme Court has sanctioned partisan gerrymandering, and the system has evolved to one in which state legislature majorities get to determine who is most likely to fill those seats in Congress.
In short, gerrymandering has become a central feature of the system, not a bug. But what if we rethink the structure entirely?
Fake Hermès Birkin bags and other counterfeit luxury goods are popular not only with people on a budget, but also with those with deeper pockets, a new study suggests.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore analyzed millions of counterfeit purchases by American consumers from more than 24,000 U.S. zip codes on a major cross-border, e-commerce platform. They found that both lower- and higher-income individuals are “significantly more likely” to buy fake luxury items than middle-income consumers, according to a press release by INFORMS on Monday.
A new study from INFORMS suggests warehouse robots perform better when they work together instead of operating independently.
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MADISON, Wis. – Low COVID-19 case numbers and hospitalizations have Rock County Epidemiologist Nick Zupan’s spirits high.
Gowanda native and 2012 graduate Zach Steever took a winding road to get to where he’s recently gotten. Following his graduation from Gowanda High School, he attended the University at Buffalo to pursue a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. Steever translated that degree, followed by a master’s in operations research into a job with the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League.
Customer loyalty programs have been around for decades and are used to help businesses, marketers and sellers build a sustainable relationship with their customers. But do they work? A recent study sought to find out and researchers learned that while yes, customer loyalty programs do work, perhaps not in ways most may assume.
Michigan and Minnesota both had ample opportunities to push out vaccines through professional health care settings and into the arms of patients. They have essentially the same numbers of hospitals, rural clinics and doctors per capita.
More than a year into the pandemic, issues in the supply chain are still causing shortages.

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