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09/26/2025

The latest episode of "Group Chat" covering all things physical media to live music, is available now everywhere!✨

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09/26/2025

University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi gave his final State of the University address, Friday. Tripathi will step down from the position in July 2026 after 15 years at the helm.

University at Buffalo President, Satish Tripathi, gave his final State of the University address Friday. Tripathi will step down from the position in July 2026 after 15 years at the helm.

09/26/2025

Trump has been more direct about defending his administration's private business interventions, including after Intel agreed to sell a 10% stake of the company to the U.S. government following Trump's calls for its chief executive to resign.

The U.S. government will collect a multibillion-dollar fee from the American investors who will take over TikTok. Some experts call the fee and other deals like it "extortion."

09/26/2025

Rocky Horror still plays at midnight in more than 200 theaters across the U.S. Fans are marking 50 years with special events and performances, and there's a new documentary, Strange Journey, out this week.

Fifty years ago, on Sept. 26, 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show flopped at the U.S. box office — then became the longest-running theatrical release in history.

09/26/2025

World leaders at the U.N. General Assembly laid out a new plan for combating certain diseases. The inclusion of dementia is particularly significant for lower-income countries, many of which are still in "denial" about the condition.

For the first time, the United Nations has put forward a political declaration pledging to address dementia. Will it make a difference?

09/26/2025

More than 5,000 actors and filmmakers, including Pedro Pascal, Javier Bardem and Selena Gomez, signed an open letter on Sept. 9 pledging to boycott Israeli film groups. But another pledge signed by other A-listers rejects the boycott.

Over 1,200 Hollywood figures, among them Liev Schreiber, Mayim Bialik and Sharon Osbourne, signed a letter on Thursday rejecting a previous call to boycott Israeli film groups.

09/26/2025

The Justice Department has leveled charges against former FBI Director James Comey, after President Trump demanded prosecutors speed up their pace in an investigation targeting one of his most prominent critics.

Comey faces one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice in connection.

09/26/2025

Elected officials in Amherst are seeing the $1 sale of the long vacant site to Erie County for a massive park and golf course as a win. But, the move has brought a lawsuit from the Republican candidate for town supervisor alleging missteps.

Elected officials in Amherst are seeing the $1 sale of the long vacant site to Erie County for a massive park and golf course as a win. But, the move has brought a lawsuit from the Republican candidate for town supervisor alleging missteps.

09/26/2025

Congress and the White House have released not one, not two, but three competing funding visions for the nation's K-12 schools in fiscal year 2026. And education researchers warn that two of those three proposals would impose steep cuts on communities.

Education researchers warn budget proposals from the White House and House Republicans would impose steep cuts on some of the nation's most vulnerable students and disadvantaged school communities.

09/26/2025

The City of Buffalo's top lawyer, Cavette Chambers, has "mutually agreed" to resign from her role as corporation counsel according to Buffalo Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon.

The City of Buffalo's top lawyer, Cavette Chambers, has "mutually agreed" to resign from her role as Corporation Counsel, says Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon.

09/25/2025

This week on “Group Chat,” we’re starting with the newly announced Coachella lineup, from the surprise early drop to the headliner strategy behind it.

We explore Sabrina Carpenter’s headlining moment and what it could mean for the future of pop.

We also dig into the pull (and the problems) of physical media in a streaming world, before wrapping with personal live music stories, from chaotic festival memories to the magic of first concerts.

Join us 10 a.m. Friday on BTPM NPR!

09/25/2025

Capital upgrades are in store at the Essex Street Arts Center, made possible by $140,000 in state funding. Most of that money will cover updates to the center’s 5,000 square-foot studio space, including new doors, windows and safety systems, as well as a large-scale mural for the building's facade.

Much-desired upgrades are in store at the Essex Street Arts Center, made possible by $140,000 in state funding. It will help with renovations to the center's studio space and creating a large-scale mural.