Northwest Naturals, a pet food company, is recalling a batch of its raw turkey pet food after a cat died from bird flu linked to the product.In a press releasethis week, the Oregon-based company said its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food tested positive for the avian influenza virus.The recall highlights growing concerns about the potential for spread of bird flu among animals and humans, with recent cases reported in both cats and people. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the risk to the general public remains low.The voluntary recall applies to plastic bags with "best if used by" dates of 05/21/26 and 06/23/2026. The product was distributed through various retailers in the US and British Columbia.The Oregon Department of Agriculture also issued a statement about the recall, noting that testing confirmed a house catcontracted the H5N1 strain of the virus and died after consuming the product."We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food," said Oregon Department of Agriculture veterinarian Ryan Scholz in a statement. "This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other."Pet owners who purchased the product are advised to throw it out immediately and contact the company for a refund.This recall follows news from the CDC last week confirming the first US-based severe human case of bird flu in Louisiana, linked to exposure to sick birds in backyard flocks. Two additional human cases were recently reported by the CDC: an adult in Missouri in September and a child in California in November, both without clear exposure to sick animals.The bird flu also has been linked to a recent recall of raw milk in California that tested positive for the virus. Two cats that consumed the milk and later died were found to have the bird flu.For more information on the Northwest Naturals recall, consumers can contact the company at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872.

Residents of St. Paul have access to fiber, but if that's not a priority, there are lots of other options to choose from.

December 27, 20242 min readConcerning Bird Flu Virus Mutations Found in Severely Ill PatientSamples from a hospitalized patient in Louisiana show changes that could make the H5N1 virus spread more easily between humansBy Tanya Lewis edited by Dean Visser Matthias Kulka/Getty ImagesViral samples from a patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe H5N1 avian influenza show genetic mutations that could make the pathogen spread more easily among humans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a statement issued on Thursday.The mutations were found in samples taken from the patientbut not in those from the backyard poultry that were believed to be the source of the infection. This suggests the changes occurred within the patient. While this development has not changed the CDCs official assessment of risk to the general public, it does indicate that the H5N1 virus is capable of adapting to human airways.The detection of a severe human case with genetic changes in a clinical specimen underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance in people and animals, containment of avian influenza A(H5) outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry, and prevention measures among people with exposure to infected animals or environments, the CDC statement said.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.On December 18 the CDC confirmed the patient in Louisiana had been hospitalized with the first known severe H5N1 infection in the U.S. this year. The virus has been spreading among wild birds for several years. It was detected in U.S. dairy cows in March, and it has since infected hundreds of herds across 16 states. The Louisiana patients viral sequence matches a different strain of the virus called D1.1, which has been detected in wild birds and poultry in the U.S.The mutations seen in the Louisiana patients samples are confined to the viruss hemagglutinin gene, which encodes proteins that help the virus bind to cells and infect them. These mutations are only rarely seen in people; a few have been reported in severe human cases, all outside of the U.S. One of the changes was detected in viral samples from a teenager in Canada who was hospitalized with a severe H5N1 infection in November. The Louisiana patients samples did not show any changes in the N1 neuraminidase section of the viruss genome or other sections that could make the pathogen less susceptible to antiviral drugs. The sequences are also similar to those of existing H5N1 strains that can be used to make vaccines if needed.A total of 65 confirmed human H5N1 infections have been detected in the U.S. so far this year. Most have been linked to exposure to infected cattle or poultry, and the majority have been mild. Infections have occurred in several other animals, including pet cats that may have consumed raw milk or meat from sick animals. The virus recently killed more than half of the big cats at a wildlife sanctuary in Washington State.

Russia-linked cable-cutting tanker seized by Finland was loaded with spying equipmentListening equipment was placed on Eagle S and related tanker Swiftsea Rider to monitor Nato naval and aircraft activities, Lloyds List was told27 Dec 2024NewsEagle S, the Russia-linked tanker suspected of damaging an underwater electricity cable on Christmas Day, was kitted out with special transmitting and receiving devices that were used to monitor naval activity, according to a source with direct involvement in the ship, which has since been detained by Finnish police FREE TO READ Source: Finnish Border Guard / X Finnish coastguard with Eagle S shown in the background after suspected cable sabotage incident.RUSSIA-LINKED dark fleet* tanker Eagle S (IMO: 9329760), seized by Finland on December 25 for damaging an undersea cable, had transmitting and receiving devices installed that effectively allowed it to become a spy ship for Russia, Lloyds List has learnt.The hi-tech equipment on board was abnormal for a merchant ship and consumed more power from the ships generator, leading to repeated blackouts, a source familiar with the vessel who provided commercial maritime services to it as recently as seven months ago.Finland police seize Russian-linked dark fleet tanker Eagle S in cable-cutting investigationBy Michelle Wiese Bockmann26 Dec 2024Cook Islands tanker suspected of damaging Estlink 2 cable and possible other damage by police investigating aggravated vandalism on the undersea infrastructureAs well as Eagle S, another related tanker from the same ownership cluster, UK-sanctioned Swiftsea Rider (IMO: 9318539), also had similar equipment installed, Lloyds List was told.Cook Islands-flagged Eagle S and Honduras-flagged Swiftsea Rider are two of 26 elderly Russia-linked tankers with opaque ownership structures connected to three related shipmanagers, including two sanctioned by the UK government 12 months ago for propping up Putins war machine.The sanctions-circumventing tankers were bought between 2022 and 2023 and placed under bareboat charter arrangements with Eiger Shipping, the shipping arm of Russia oil trader Litasco.Eagle S was boarded by Finnish forces investigating sabotage of the Estlink 2 undersea cable that disrupted the supply of electricity to Estonia from Finland.The tanker slowed and dragged its anchor around the cable around midday, December 25, Finlands police said. Another three cables were also damaged.The source, who declined to be identified to protect their safety, supplied at least 60 confidential documents about Eagle S to Lloyds List in June, including the vetting report that outlined many safety deficiencies discovered during an inspection undertaken while at anchor in Danish waters that month.These documents, and others relating to dark fleet tankers providing confidential and private information about class, insurance, and flag, and other technical and regulatory requirements, were verified as genuine at the time.In July, Lloyds List reported the serious deficiencies on Eagle S that compromised environmental and crew safety, and underscored the poor maintenance and absence of adherence to regulatory and technical standards for the wider dark fleet.The source has since provided additional information, telling Lloyds List that an unauthorised person, who was not a seafarer, had been identified on board Eagle S.They said listening and recording equipment was brought on to the 20-year-old tanker via huge portable suitcases along with many laptops that had keyboards for Turkish and Russian languages when calling at Trkiyeand Russia.The equipment was kept on the bridge or in the monkey island, they said. The monkey island is the top-most place on the ship.The transmitting and receiving devices were used to record all radio frequencies, and upon reaching Russia were offloaded for analysis.They were monitoring all Nato naval ships and aircraft, Lloyds List was told.They had all details on them. They were just matching their frequencies.Russians, Turkish, Indian radio officers were operating it.Eagle S also dropped sensors-type devices in the English Channel during a transit, they said.They said no further equipment returned to the ship after it was offloaded for analysis, to their knowledge, but other devices were placed on another related tanker, Swiftsea Rider.Claims that Russian-linked merchant ships are being used for spying and sabotage activities in the Baltic Sea where Russia is surrounded by Nato allies underscores the rising geopolitical tension in the region amid calls by European political leaders for increased maritime infrastructure defence.The damage to the Estlink 2 cable is the second time vital undersea cables between Nato allies have been damaged in two months, and the first time a commercial ship suspected of sabotage has been taken into custody by authorities.In November, China-flagged bulk carrier Yi Peng 3 (IMO: 9224984)was accused of dragging anchor to damage the C-Lion 1 communication cable connecting Finland and Germany.The bulk carrier spent more than four weeks in international waters in the Danish straits as German, Sweden, Danish and Finnish officials investigated but ended up sailing last Saturday.The crew on Eagle S would have been aware of its spying activities as this could not be hidden but were threatened with their life, so everybody kept quiet, the source said.They have replaced captains when they raised this issue, they said.The beneficial owners of Eagle S and Swiftsea Rider are hidden behind complex corporate structures. The registered owner of Eagle S is a single-ship structure that purports to have an office in the business centre of a luxury hotel in Dubai.The shipmanager, Mumbai-based Peninsular Maritime India Private Limitedcannot be contacted. One of the telephone numbers on its website did not answer. A second number hung up when asked if this was the phone number for Peninsular Maritime. Emails were not answered.The companys website claims the company be registered in England, signalling it is likely a copy-and-paste of a template, commonly found in dark fleet shipping companies.* Lloyds List defines a tanker as part of the dark fleet if it is aged 15 years or over, anonymously owned and/or has a corporate structure designed to obfuscate beneficial ownership discovery, solely deployed in sanctioned oil trades, and engaged in one or more of the deceptive shipping practices outlined in US State Department guidance issued in May 2020. The figures exclude tankers tracked to government-controlled shipping entities such as RussiasSovcomflot, or IransNational Iranian Tanker Co, and those already sanctioned.Download our explainer on the different risk profiles of the dark fleet here

Bench, a Canada-based accounting startup that offered software-as-a-service for small and medium businesses, has abruptly shut down, according to a notice posted on its website.We regret to inform you that as of December 27, 2024, the Bench platform will no longer be accessible, the notice reads. We know this news is abrupt and may cause disruption, so were committed to helping Bench customers navigate through the transition.The companys entire website is currently offline except for the notice, leaving thousands of businesses in the lurch. Bench touted having more than 35,000 U.S. customers just hours before it was shut down, according to a snapshot saved by the Internet Archive.Bench, which had raised $113 million from high-profile backers such as Shopify and Bain Capital Partners, developed a software platform to help customers store and manage their bookkeeping and tax reporting documents.The move is a shock to current and former customers. Justin Metros, the co-founder and CTO of Radiator, said years of his companys accounting and tax documents are still stored on the site, although he no longer uses the platform. He learned about the shutdown from TechCrunch.Ive never seen anyone just shut down like that, Metros said. Thats crazy.Others are airing their concerns on social media, with one posting as a customer, Im pissed having just migrated from QuickBooks to Bench.Benchs notice says its customers should file a 6-month extension with the IRS to find the right bookkeeping partner. It also says customers will be able to download their data by December 30, and will have until March 2025 to do so.The notice recommends customers migrate to Kick, a new accounting startup that announced its $9 million seed raise in October 2024 in a round led by OpenAI and General Catalyst. Kicks CEO and founder, Conrad Wadowski, posted a message on LinkedIn to former Bench users about how Kick is working to get your financials back in your hands.Bench did not respond to requests for comment by TechCrunch as of press time.Wadowski did not respond directly to a question from TechCrunch about details of any possible agreement or other business relationship it had with Bench prior to the shutdown.As you saw on the website, were moving fast and are available to support many of Benchs customers with their bookkeeping needs, he told TechCrunch.Founded in 2012, Bench employed more than 600 staff, according to a snapshot of its About page. The startup was backed by investors, including IT firm Sage, Contour Venture Partners, and Altos Ventures. It was also a member of the TechStars accelerator.Bench last raised $60 million in a Series C round in 2021. Its co-founder and CEO Ian Crosby departed shortly after.Crosby posted on LinkedIn today that he was very sad to see Bench shut down, alleging he had been replaced by unnamed board members who wanted to bring in a new professional CEO to take Bench in a different direction.I hope the story of Bench goes on to become a warning for VCs that think they can upgrade a company by replacing the founder. It never works, Crosby wrote.

Encode, the nonprofit org that co-sponsored Californias ill-fated SB 1047 AI safety legislation, has requested permission to file an amicus brief in support of Elon Musks injunction to halt OpenAIs transition to a for-profit.In a proposed brief submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Friday afternoon, counsel for Encode said that OpenAIs conversion to a for-profit would undermine the firms mission to develop and deploy transformative technology in a way that is safe and beneficial to the public.OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, claim to be developing society-transforming technology, and those claims should be taken seriously, the brief read. If the world truly is at the cusp of a new age of artificial general intelligence (AGI), then the public has a profound interest in having that technology controlled by a public charity legally bound to prioritize safety and the public benefit rather than an organization focused on generating financial returns for a few privileged investors.OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit research lab. But as its experiments became increasingly capital-intensive, itcreatedits current structure, taking on outside investments from VCs and companiesincludingMicrosoft.Today, OpenAI has a for-profit org controlled by a nonprofit with a capped profit share for investors and employees. But in ablog post this morning, the company said it plans to begin transitioning its existing for-profit into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), with ordinary shares of stock and the OpenAI mission as its public benefit interest.OpenAIs nonprofit will remain, but cede control in exchange for shares in the PBC.Muskfiledfor a preliminary injunction to halt the companys transition to a for-profit, which has long been in the works, late in November. He accused OpenAI of abandoning its original philanthropic mission to make the fruits of its AI research available to all, and of depriving rivals including his AI startup, xAI, of capital through anticompetitive means.OpenAI hascalledMusks complaints baseless and simply a case of sour grapes.Facebooks parent company and AI rival, Meta, is also supporting efforts to block OpenAIs conversion. In December, Metasenta letter to California attorney general Rob Bonta, arguing that allowing the shift would have seismic implications for Silicon Valley.Lawyers for Encode said that OpenAIs plans to transfer control of its operations to a PBC would convert an organization bound by law to ensure the safety of advanced AI into one bound by law to balance its consideration of any public benefit against the pecuniary interests of [its] stockholders.Encodes counsel notes in the brief, for example, that OpenAIs nonprofit has committed to stop competing with any value-aligned, safety-conscious project that comes close to building AGI before it does, but that OpenAI as a for-profit would have less incentive to do so. The brief also points out that the nonprofit OpenAIs board will no longer be able to cancel investors equity if needed for safety once the companys restructuring is completed. OpenAIs touted fiduciary duty to humanity would evaporate, as Delaware law is clear that the directors of a PBC owe no duty to the public at all, Encodes brief continued. The public interest would be harmed by a safety-focused, mission-constrained nonprofit relinquishing control over something so transformative at any price to a for-profit enterprise with no enforceable commitment to safety.Encode, founded in July 2020 by high school student Sneha Revanur, describes itself as a network of volunteers focused on ensuring voices of younger generations are heard in conversations about AIs impacts. Encode has contributed to various pieces of AI state and federal legislation in addition to SB 1047, including the White Houses AI Bill of Rights and President Joe Bidens Executive Order on AI.

Earlier this week, DeepSeek, a well-funded Chinese AI lab, released an open AI model that beats many rivals on popular benchmarks. The model, DeepSeek V3, is large but efficient, handling text-based tasks like coding and writing essays with ease.It also seems to think its ChatGPT.Posts on X and TechCrunchs own tests show that DeepSeek V3 identifies itself as ChatGPT, OpenAIs AI-powered chatbot platform. Asked to elaborate, DeepSeek V3 insists that it is a version of OpenAIs GPT-4 model released in June 2023.The delusions run deep. If you ask DeepSeek V3 a question about DeepSeeks API, itll give you instructions on how to use OpenAIs API. DeepSeek V3 even tells some of the same jokes as GPT-4 down to the punchlines.So whats going on? Models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek V3 are statistical systems. Trained on billions of examples, they learn patterns in those examples to make predictions like how to whom in an email typically precedes it may concern.DeepSeek hasnt revealed much about the source of DeepSeek V3s training data. But theres no shortage of public datasets containing text generated by GPT-4 via ChatGPT. If DeepSeek V3 was trained on these, the model mightve memorized some of GPT-4s outputs and is now regurgitating them verbatim.Obviously, the model is seeing raw responses from ChatGPT at some point, but its not clear where that is, Mike Cook, a research fellow at Kings College London specializing in AI, told TechCrunch. It could be accidental but unfortunately, we have seen instances of people directly training their models on the outputs of other models to try and piggyback off their knowledge.Cook noted that the practice of training models on outputs from rival AI systems can be very bad for model quality, because it can lead to hallucinations and misleading answers like the above. Like taking a photocopy of a photocopy, we lose more and more information and connection to reality, Cook said.It might also be against those systems terms of service.OpenAIs terms prohibit users of its products, including ChatGPT customers, from using outputs to develop models that compete with OpenAIs own.OpenAI and DeepSeek didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted what appeared to be a dig at DeepSeek and other competitors on X Friday afternoon.It is (relatively) easy to copy something that you know works, Altman wrote. It is extremely hard to do something new, risky, and difficult when you dont know if it will work.Granted, DeepSeek V3 is far from the first model to misidentify itself. Googles Gemini and others sometimes claim to be competing models. For example, prompted in Mandarin, Gemini says that its Chinese company Baidus Wenxinyiyan chatbot.And thats because the web, which is where AI companies source the bulk of their training data, is becoming littered with AI slop. Content farms are using AI to create clickbait. Bots are flooding Reddit and X. By one estimate, 90% of the web could be AI-generated by 2026.This contamination, if you will, has made it quite difficult to thoroughly filter AI outputs from training datasets. Its certainly possible that DeepSeek trained DeepSeek V3 directly on ChatGPT-generated text. Google was once accused of doing the same, after all.Heidy Khlaaf, engineering director at consulting firm Trail of Bits, said the cost savings from distilling an existing models knowledge can be attractive to developers, regardless of the risks.Even with internet data now brimming with AI outputs, other models that would accidentally train on ChatGPT or GPT-4 outputs would not necessarily demonstrate outputs reminiscent of OpenAI customized messages, Khlaaf said. If it is the case thatDeepSeekcarried out distillation partially using OpenAI models, it would not be surprising.More likely, however, is that a lot of ChatGPT/GPT-4 data made its way into the DeepSeek V3 training set. That means the model cant be trusted to self-identify, for one. But what is more concerning is the possibility that DeepSeek V3, by uncritically absorbing and iterating on GPT-4s outputs, could exacerbate some of models biases and flaws.

From Atomic Monster and Blumhouse for New Line, the film, will be unlike any Mummy movie you ever laid eyeballs on, hitting theaters April 17, 2026.

The HBO Original drama series Dune: Prophecy has been renewed for a second season, ahead of its Season 1 finale, which debuts December 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Max.This new season will allow us to continue building out the groundbreaking, epic Dune franchise that has captivated audiences worldwide across its installments, said Jason Clodfelter, Legendarys President of Television. We look forward to continuing our incredible partnership with HBO and are thrilled for Alison Schapker, her team, and the cast and crew who have worked so passionately to bring this world-class source material from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to life."From the expansive universe of Dune and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, the series follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. Dune: Prophecy is inspired by the novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.Dune: Prophecy has captivated audiences around the globe thanks to the visionary leadership of showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker, who will continue to guide this grand tale of truth and power, said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming. We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Legendary and to our extraordinary cast and crew for their service to the Imperium. Were excited to collaborate with this team again to see what they have in store.The series stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Camilla Beeput, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, Yerin Ha, and Barbara Marten.Schapker serves as showrunner and executive producer. Diane Ademu-John co-developed the series and serves as executive producer. Anna Foerster executive produced and directed multiple episodes. Jordan Goldberg, Mark Tobey, John Cameron, Matthew King, Scott Z. Burns, and Jon Spaihts executive produce with Herbert, along with Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert as executive producers for the Frank Herbert estate. Anderson serves as co-producer. The series is co-produced by HBO and Legendary Television with Legendary also producing the film franchise that has released two installments.Studios providing VFX on the show include BOT VFX, Image Engine, Important Looking Pirates, Raynalt VFX, and Rodeo FX.Source: Warner Bros. Discovery Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

AN editors and contributors this year invested significant resources on stories that matter most, from anti-DEI legislation and its ramifications for architecture educators, interviews with leading practitioners, exhibition reviews in Beirut, and more. Here are some of the long-form pieces we published in 2024 that you may have missed. How anti-DEI legislation is impacting college architecture education across the countrySince 2023, 86 anti-DEI bills in 28 stateshave been introduced and 14 have become law. In October, Diana Budds wrore a story on this subject after interviewing architecture educators from across the country with an emphasis on those who work in Red States, namely Texas, Alabama, and Florida.Budds reported that, while academic freedom in places like Iowa and Kansas is certainly being infringed upon, Blue States like New York also saw limits on freedom of speech for educators and students, albeit with different machinations.Resiliency design in the RockawaysThe Rockaways have long offered respite and retreat for New Yorkers looking for sandy beaches. The peninsula is home to none other than Patti Smith, and thousands of people more broadly. But its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and low elevation makes it extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels.By 2100, sea levels may rise as much as 6 feet, flooding the Rockaways. What is to be done? This summer, AN intern Alexandra Surprenant interviewed Rockaways locals and architects looking to fortify the beloved locale from global warming.(Courtesy Nina Cooke John and Sekou Cooke)Nina Cooke John, Sekou Cooke, and their parentsThe holidays are a time for family. As such, one of the most wholesome pieces AN published this year came from a conversation with architect-siblings Nina Cooke John and Sekou Cooke, and their parents, Leroy and Cynthia.AN executive editor Jack Murphy talked to the family about growing up in Jamaica, how Nina and Sekou got interested in architecture, and more.ESOPs spread the wealthAs important conversations about labor and unions abound around water coolers, how exactly to make architecture firms more democratic has become a common talking point. Should architecture offices unionize? What mechanisms are at our disposal for placing power in the hands of workers?ESOPs are 100 percent employee-owned firms. And today, offices like Gensler, SHoP, Zaha Hadid Architects, and others all have them. Timothy Schuler interviewed workers and firm owners about ESOPs, and the value they offer.Indigenous architects todayWhat is it like for Indigenous architects to practice today? This was the point of departure for Diana Budds in her piece from our June issue.CanadasTruth and Reconciliation Commission, an initiative to repair the harms of colonialism, has done much to open up opportunity for Indigenous architects in that country. But in so many regards, the U.S. lags behind in such matters. Budds interviewed Indigenous architects to learn about what can be done and improved upon stateside.MSNs cinema tower connects users below ground. (Nate Cook/Courtesy Thomas Phifer and Partners)Thomas Phiferdesigned Museum of Modern Art opens in WarsawA culture project two decades in the making wrapped up in Poland this year. This fall, AN news editor Daniel Jonas Roche flew to Warsaw, interviewed Thomas Phifer, and spoke with local curators about the project, and what it means for the city.Anthony Acciavatti talks water rightsArchitect Anthony Acciavetti has been studying water rights for over 20 years. This year, AN tapped into this knowledge when Sebastin Lpez Cardozo and Harish Krishnamoorthy interviewed Acciavetti. The interview touched upon the latest book by Acciavetti,Groundwater Earth: The World Before and After the Tubewell. Jeanne Gang on The Art of Architectural GraftingFresh off a major addition to the American Natural History Museum, Studio Gang founder Jeanne Gang spoke with Jack Murphy about her new book, The Art of Architectural Grafting. Gang and Murphy talked additions, materials, and so much more.Rendering of the Museum of Freedom and Democracy (Bucharest Studio/Courtesy BIG)Bjarke Ingels on his design for the Museum of Freedom and DemocracyA megaproject could soon break ground next to the United Nations in New York. That project is being designed by Bjarke Ingels. It will include residences, hotels, and a potential casino (pending a gaming license). The developers driving the project also want to see a Museum of Freedom and Democracy atop the casino, designed by Ingels.AN interviewed Ingels about the museum, and how he went about ideating it.Khalil Khouri retrospective fills gaps in Lebanons collective memoryNadine Khalil, an art writer from Lebanon, wrote a heartfelt story for AN this year about late architect Khalil Khouri, and a show that was put on about him by his son, Bernard, during We Design Beirut. For the piece, Khalil interviewed Bernard Khoury, but also Mariana Wehbe, who organized We Design Beirut, and historian George Arbid.Page Comeaux ruminates on Louisiana State PenitentiaryShould architects withhold their labor from prison projects? Such questions have fueled numerous debates in the architecture community for some time now. And this year, a writer from New Orleans, Page Comeaux, wrote about one of the most brutal spaces of incarceration in the U.S. today, Louisiana State Penitentiary.Comeaux went into the history of carceral design, and meditated on its past, present, and future. A repurposed church in Buffalo houses an arts programStarted in 2014 by artist-architect-educator Dennis Maher, Assembly House 150 is a loose bag combining an arts and public outreach project sited in an old Buffalo church.On the altar of the 1850s gothic revival church, 12studentsand a small team of instructors dress a rough wood-stud-and-drywallconstruction with tape and mud. Architecture professor Adrienne Economos Miller wrote about the event, and its curatorial merits.Lynda Weinman and her husband Bruce Heavin founded Lynda.com in 1995. They commissioned Donaldson + Partners to design a house built on a hilltop site overlooking the Pacific Ocean. (Joe Fletcher)Hill House by Donaldson + Partners dazzled and impressedWhat is possible when the right client finds the right architect? Projects, for instance, like Hill House show what is possible. Jack Murphy interviewed the team at Donaldson + Partners who designed the project for the founder of Lynda.com. Designing for disability in UkraineThe question of reconstruction in Ukraine is an important one, but when and how that should look is to be determined. Ukrainian architecture student-turned-journalist Iryna Ivanivna Humenyuk interviewed leading Ukrainian architects and disability experts to learn how to design for disability in mind when the war eventually ends.Anne Holtrop on Kuwait and GazaAnne Holtrops architecture is concerned with fundamental questions about forms and materials, but also the material histories of Palestine. He doesnt want to define the form of things, so [he] build[s] in all kinds of constraints and conditions to make form happen in other ways, he told ANsexecutive editor Jack Murphythis year, just before his new Siyadi Pearl Museum opened in Muharraq, Bahrain.