Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · 2d

As a GBV guy, can't help but share this. Really captures the output and the nuance that is Robert Pollard - America's greatest living rock n' roll songwriter.

open.substack.com/pub/excitedo...

A Universe Within A Universe Within A Universe: A Conversation With GBV Producer Travis Harrison

On recording GBV's current run of albums, including their electrifying, live-in-the-studio forthcoming album, 'Thick Rich and Delicious,' out October 31

open.substack.com

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · 2d

"Entering just five prompts into ChatGPT is the equivalent of fully charging your cell phone or drinking an entire 8-ounce glass of water."

www.iedconline.org/news/2025/10...

Data Centers: The New Economic Development Gold Rush? - International Economic Development Council

www.iedconline.org

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · 3d

If offshoring is a no-go for national defense / patriotic justifications, this sector could definitely be a Rust Belt Reviver.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/t...

Factory Towns Revive as Defense Tech Makers Arrive

www.nytimes.com

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · 9d

The other reality is that because of the nutso incentives used to win many of these projects, there won't be much benefit to tax rolls.

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Sep 8

The game is won when the cameras are off.

Of the top 10 research institution contributors to science journals, 8 are Chinese. A decade ago, there was only 1.

Harvard is the only U.S. institution on the current list.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/o...

Opinion | We Are Watching a Scientific Superpower Destroy Itself

www.nytimes.com

1

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Sep 6

Level of myopia to think that a "Manhattan Project to restore the nuclear family" will succeed without more affordable housing, middle-class opportunity jobs, immigration reform, and open trade is ludicrous.

www.newsweek.com/heritage-fou...

Project 2025 group making plans to boost US birth rate

The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank involved in crafting Project 2025, is planning to tackle the declining birth rate.

www.newsweek.com

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Sep 2

Billionaires who fund STEM colleges > than billionaires who buy super yachts.

www.nwaonline.com/news/2025/au...

Walton family eyes 2028 opening for new university, seeks president committed to STEM education | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

BENTONVILLE -- The Walton family has put out a call to find the inaugural president of a new business-oriented university focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with the aim of o...

www.nwaonline.com

4 6 60

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Aug 29

The new calculus of sports stadium development. Battery-charged/inspired and all about the $$$$.

As an urbanist, it's great that "live, work, play" is actually used outside of a planning nerd context. But still not sold on a greenfield approach, especially in KCMO.

www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...

Where will your team's next ballpark be? What Royals can teach us about the future of MLB stadiums

Kansas City's ongoing search for a new home provides three models other franchises could follow.

www.espn.com

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Aug 27

Congrats to #PearlandTX for ranking #3 nationally and #1 in TX on US News' best places to live 2025.

BRS principals have managed all 4 Pearland Prosperity plans so we have seen first hand their vision to shoot for the stars and the perseverance to reach them.

realestate.usnews.com/places/texas...

realestate.usnews.com

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Aug 23

Georgia Tech is arguably the number two asset in the state after Hartsfield-Jackson.

www.cnbc.com/2025/08/23/p...

The 10 public colleges with the best ROI in the U.S.

If you're borrowing money to get a college education, it's smart to pick a school that helps you pay it back. These schools offer the best value.

www.cnbc.com

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Aug 12

This says a ton about what the data show about Birmingham vs. Huntsville trajectory.

www.al.com/news/2025/08...

IKEA is coming to Alabama: Where it will be and when it will open

IKEA has consistently been on a "most-wanted" list among shoppers.

www.al.com

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Aug 1

So much about the OKC example is illustrative for #econdev strategy:

--Qualify of life > talent > jobs + investment > repeat
-- Transformational resources have to be approved/generated locally
--Lasting change takes time & perseverance
--Promoting your story matters

www.news9.com/story/688c34...

The Rise of OKC: How MAPS and the Thunder transformed Oklahoma City

From Bricktown to the Oklahoma City Thunder, OKC has transformed a lot over the last 30 years. Karl Torp looks at what made the change possible.

www.news9.com

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 29

Amazingly enough, the cop's name was Officer Jerry.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jul 29

“Chuck E.’s busy right now.”

A man dressed as Chuck E. Cheese was arrested at a Tallahassee, Florida, location of the children’s restaurant chain. He is facing charges of credit card fraud.

‘Come With Me, Chuck E.’: Mouse Arrested for Credit Card Fraud

At a Tallahassee, Fla., Chuck E. Cheese location, a police officer told children: “Chuck E.’s busy right now.”

nyti.ms

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 27

"Boys of Summer" circa 2025.

"I saw a Harambe plate on a Mercedes Benz..."

Was the driver by any chance extremely hairy?

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 20

I think you could add Birmingham to the list, too. Lots of jobs, affordable suburban housing with solid schools, competitive quality of life amenities, traffic bad in stretches but only during peak periods.

I truly believe we're seeing the migration but the Census doesn't capture it.

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 17

Attracting a research professor's well-funded lab is the economic equivalent of a small steel mill. Never understood why #econdev doesn't reach out to institutions to support these types of efforts.

www.science.org/content/arti...

Large study of scientists who move their labs reveals how location drives productivity

Concentrating funding at high-powered universities can maximize output, paper argues, but may sacrifice broader benefits

www.science.org

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 15

I should add, making a subsistence wage.

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 15

And when it's a working single parent, even the best educational support program in the world won't make a difference for those kids.

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 14

Props for at least reaching for the Holy Grail. They'd rule the world for sure if this works.

Nature @nature.com · Jul 14

Beijing’s reorganization of science is a broad, systemic effort to reshape how research is conducted, applied and evaluated nationwide

go.nature.com/44Eba5j

China’s shift towards ‘organized research’: how can coordination and innovation co-exist?

Beijing’s reorganization of science is a broad, systemic effort to reshape how research is conducted, applied and evaluated nationwide.

go.nature.com

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 9

Seems to come up in every strategic process.

The #econdev component is attracting the tournaments. Ton of spending and secondary effects.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jul 9

An American obsession with youth sports is attracting investments in baseball fields, volleyball courts and football camps, intensifying the gap between families with means and those without.

Youth Sports Are a $40 Billion Business. Private Equity Is Taking Notice.

An American obsession is attracting investments in baseball fields, volleyball courts and football camps, intensifying the gap between families with means and those without.

trib.al

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jul 1

Plus, CB's food sucks and Buc-ee's is actually really quality-focused.

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jun 28

Until they pronounced it "Publee."

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jun 26

A Muslim Socialist beat the heavily funded Democratic machine candidate in the NY mayoral primary.

Progressive voters are pissed and have no confidence in the establishment that handed the election to Trump.

There's gonna be a shift left to candidates who are ready to truly fight for Democracy.

Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jun 26

We went to Inter Miami v Porto. A lot of Porto fans came over which made the atmosphere very "European."

Probably won't be many PSG fans but the Messi Cult will make up for it.

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Alex Pearlstein @alexpearlstein.bsky.social · Jun 20

Excited to read/admire it.

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