Notebook

NPR's reporter's notebook examines why conflicts over data center construction are dividing communities across party lines in the United States. The piece reports that opposition to new facilities is uniting residents who might otherwise disagree politically, as concerns over energy use, water, noise, and land crosses traditional partisan boundaries.

Pittsburgh Steelers coverage is focused on a team notebook item noting that the team's long touchdown drive to open scoring was not always pretty, with execution issues acknowledged along the way. The item sits within wider training-camp and preseason discussion of the Steelers' offense, which fans are scrutinizing as the regular season approaches.

USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale reports that 60 games is emerging as the key figure in negotiations between Major League Baseball and the players' union ahead of an imminent lockout. The number is being framed as a possible compromise point for the length of the season should the labor dispute delay the start of play.

Volkswagen has brought on UK autonomous driving startup Wayve as a partner for self-driving technology, according to German tech news roundup coverage. The item also flags cost pressure on notebook maker HP, criticism of German rail ticket apps, arrests following a cyberattack on the FBI, and a revamp of AI coding agent PI. The VW-Wayve tie-up is drawing attention as automakers increasingly rely on AI specialists for driver assistance and autonomous systems.

As artificial intelligence spreads through daily life, interest in analog products and experiences is growing, according to a new report from the Star Tribune. The piece describes a cultural counter-trend: people turning to vinyl records, film cameras, paper notebooks and other non-digital formats as a reaction to an increasingly AI-saturated world. Retailers are said to be responding to renewed demand for tactile, offline goods.

The Athletic's college football notebook leads with Oregon coach Dan Lanning outcoaching USC's Lincoln Riley, while Ole Miss suffered a humbling defeat. The roundup delivers 20 takeaways from the weekend's games, touching on the College Football Playoff picture and Florida's situation as the season's stakes come into focus.

A reporter's notebook examines whether a canal connection can lift a poor, economically stagnant region. The piece weighs the promise of improved shipping links and investment against doubts about whether infrastructure alone can transform a local economy that has long lagged behind the rest of the country.

A new project called PlayBook presents itself as a programmable paper notebook, aiming to bridge handwriting with software. Details beyond the headline and a short video demonstration are limited, but the concept has drawn attention in tech circles, with commenters intrigued by blending analog note-taking with programmable, digital features.

Manchester United are the focus of the latest club notebook from the Manchester Evening News, which highlights three talking points: Matthijs de Ligt's absence from the squad, a debut for young midfielder Sekou Baleba, and questions surrounding executive Omar Berrada. The piece bundles transfer, team selection and boardroom speculation for fans following the club's campaign.

Augustana and Wheaton remain undefeated in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin women's tennis, according to the latest CCIW notebook. The update rounds up results and storylines from around the conference as both programs continue perfect starts to their seasons.

The Riverview Raiders lost their latest matchup against Jeannette, according to a local sports notebook recap of the game. The roundup covers the team's recent results as part of ongoing coverage of high school sports in the region. Details of the final score and standout performances were not included in the available report.

Congress passed a stopgap measure to avoid a government shutdown this fall, but the deal only delays the underlying budget dispute. Lawmakers still face unresolved disagreements over spending levels and policy priorities, setting up a harder confrontation when the temporary funding runs out. Commentators warn the next deadline could be the real test.

A judicial notebook published by the American Psychological Association examines how law enforcement agencies use facial recognition technology in criminal investigations. The item addresses the psychological and legal questions raised by the tools, including accuracy and due process concerns. It adds to ongoing debate among courts, police and civil liberties advocates over how the technology should be regulated and used as evidence.

Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari addressed the proposed Protect College Sports Act, sharing his view on the legislation affecting college athletics, and also discussed Primetime at the Palace, the program's preseason showcase event. His remarks on how the act could reshape name, image and likeness rules and player compensation are drawing attention from fans following the Razorbacks' offseason.

A new report examines whether a canal connection could revive a struggling regional economy. The piece questions whether improved waterway links can bring trade, investment and jobs to an area described as an economic backwater, weighing infrastructure ambitions against practical realities on the ground.

An entertainment roundup notes the return of Mangetout alongside a new Black Zombie documentary. Both items are generating interest among entertainment readers, with the documentary's subject matter drawing particular curiosity. Further details about the projects, their creators, or release plans were not included in the brief item.

Brian Simone has published a training camp notebook for the Boston Celtics titled 'Keeping up with the NBA Joneses'. The piece examines the team's training camp preparations and how Boston stacks up against the rest of the league. Beyond the headline, no further details of the contents are available, and no audience reaction has been recorded yet.

Radio Digital Malayali, an online lofi radio station, is now streaming 'Hrithikavum Lofi Flip', a lofi rework by Joyal MJ based on the song 'Notebook'. Around 21 listeners were tuning in simultaneously when the track began. The station regularly showcases Indian lofi remixes and shares live 'now playing' updates to attract listeners to its web stream.

Japanese accessory maker Sanwa Supply has released new cases for the iPhone 17e and iPhone 16e that can be used in both folio (notebook-style) and cover configurations. The product, covered by Apple-focused news outlet AppleLinkage, drew light social chatter, with one commenter joking it would add to someone's temptations when it comes to buying iPhone accessories.

Google has completed a full rollout of voice chat in Gemini Notebook for Google AI Pro subscribers, according to a Japanese tech blog covering Android and Gemini news. The feature lets users hold spoken conversations with the AI notebook assistant, and it is now available across both Android and iOS platforms.

MUBI's Notebook has published an essay titled 'Pirating the Pirates', examining film fans who make authentic digital copies of cinema releases despite copyright laws. The piece portrays these amateur preservationists working against clueless, underfunded or hamstrung rights holders to keep films accessible, spotlighting a gray zone where piracy overlaps with genuine film preservation efforts.