Boyd writes: “My acquaintance with Jorge Bergoglio dates back almost forty years to when we were students together in an intensive German-language program in Germany He was a kind if reserved classmate in a group of about ten students; only after a week or two did an Italian classmate and enjoying the small talk that was our daily conversation That same classmate met him about a year later in Rome—on a bus!—and he warmly asked about me That simple thought is something that has stayed with me since then as a mark of his thoughtfulness and generosity to others especially after I discovered that he was one of the rumored candidates for the papacy when Benedict XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger) was eventually chosen I happened to be in Istanbul when Jorge was elected pope “The man who became Pope Francis I was what he aspired to be—a good guy whose deep commitment to the things that matter most—human decency respect for others no matter their circumstances the fragile gift of the earth’s environment as well as the fragility of human life—was humbling but also inspiring and with the God who created everything we can know and even more that we can’t I believe that his death is only another stage along the way to God.” News discusses the latest Cobenfy data and implications for schizophrenia treatment In an exclusive interview with Psychiatric Times, Peter J. Weiden, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at SUNY Stony Brook, offered key clinical insights into the recently released study results evaluating Cobenfy (xanomeline/trospium) as an adjunct treatment for schizophrenia.1,2 Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024, Cobenfy represents the first schizophrenia treatment to target muscarinic acetylcholine receptors rather than dopamine pathways.3 “The FDA does not call it an antipsychotic because it is not a dopamine medicine,” said Weiden Its approval was based on phase 3 trial data showing efficacy as monotherapy in adult patients with schizophrenia with effect sizes on par with established agents such as olanzapine and risperidone announced via a Bristol Myers Squibb press release,1 evaluated Cobenfy’s efficacy as an adjunctive therapy when there is suboptimal response to a first-line antipsychotic The results did not meet the prespecified threshold for statistical significance “The results did not meet statistical significance in patients who were stayed on their primary antipsychotic and were randomized to Cobenfy versus placebo,” Weiden told Psychiatric Times it was numerically better than the placebo group.” Weiden attributed part of the outcome to a high placebo response which often complicates the interpretation of adjunctive studies “These studies are very hard to do,” he added is not a surprise… it's disappointing but it happens.” He also noted the press release had limited data so it is difficult to make grand conclusions without knowing more Weiden said unless there are additional studies or data these findings make it unlikely that Cobenfy will receive an expanded label for treatment resistance or adjunctive use at this time and this has not helped us think of it as a kind of clozapine.” the results are far from conclusive in clinical practice where antipsychotic combination strategies are common it's almost like a religion—either you believe in it “If you're a clinician who likes to combine antipsychotics for partial responders… where would Cobenfy fit in that Weiden explained the safety findings were reassuring “Nothing weird happened over the 6 weeks when patients were combined with Cobenfy and their current antipsychotic,” he reported Weiden emphasized that there is still more to learn “This is just the beginning of our understanding of the muscarinic system as a potential treatment approach for patients with schizophrenia.” Although the trial results may not lead to immediate regulatory changes “I think it's going to be a very important study no matter what,” he said “And there's still a lot more to be told.” Dr Weiden is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University in New York He is Psychiatric Times' Schizophrenia and Psychosis Section Editor Disclosure: Dr Weiden is a former employee of Karuna Therapeutics and is currently on the speakers bureau for Bristol-Myers Squibb 2. Kuntz L. Cobenfy as Add-On Treatment for Schizophrenia Fails to Meet Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 ARISE Trial. Psychiatric Times. April 22, 2025. Accessed April 25, 2025. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/cobenfy-as-add-on-treatment-for-schizophrenia-fails-to-meet-primary-endpoint-in-phase-3-arise-trial 3. Duerr HA. FDA Approves Cobenfy, A First In-Class Agent for Schizophrenia. Psychiatric Times. September 26, 2024. Accessed April 25, 2025. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/fda-approves-cobenfy-for-schizophrenia Deprescribing: Does the Term Belong in the Psychiatric Lexicon? Here's to a Psychedelic Revolution April in Review: Updates on the Psychiatric Treatment Pipeline Treating ‘Morally Objectionable’ Patients Transneural Therapeutics: A New Company to Develop Novel Neuroplastogens Cobenfy as Add-On Treatment for Schizophrenia Fails to Meet Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 ARISE Trial 609-716-7777 December 17, 2024 by Yvonne Krumrey, KTOO This is Tongass Voices, a series from KTOO sharing weekly perspectives from the homelands of the Áak’w Kwáan and beyond. Oncologist Dr. Paul Weiden has been treating patients with cancer in Southeast Alaska for 23 years. Now, he’s retiring at 83. For the past two decades, he would travel to Juneau monthly to see patients who might have otherwise flown to Seattle to see a specialist. He also provided remote care for patients in other Southeast communities. Although he’s seen treatment access improve over the years, he says there are still gaps. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity. Paul Weiden: I’m Paul Weiden. I’m a physician, a medical oncologist, hematologist, and I have come to Juneau monthly to see folks up here since November of 2001. In the 20 years prior to that, I was at Virginia Mason, and we saw a lot of patients who came from Southeast Alaska – particularly Juneau – to Seattle, particularly to Virginia Mason for care for cancer. So the folks that bothered me most were the patients at the end of life who had been treated up here and would come down to see if there was anything more that could be done. And they’d come with the patient and the family, often spending their last resources — monetary resources, energy resources, psychological resources — to come down, and almost always for me to say, you know, “You’ve had pretty good treatment up there in Juneau or Wrangell or wherever you were, and there’s really nothing more that could or should be done.” So when I left Virginia Mason, I said, you know, “I don’t need to have those folks come down here, I can go up there.” If I have a patient in Sitka or Wrangell or Skagway, or whatever, we do telemedicine, unless they need to come to Juneau for the radiology facilities that are here. There are more towns in Southeast Alaska now that are able to do that, but it stretches their resources, because not so much the administration of the chemotherapy. That’s not so hard, but it’s the complications of the chemotherapy that occur unexpectedly between the times a patient gets chemotherapy, and that’s a lot of responsibility for somebody, and let’s say in Skagway or Wrangell or Petersburg, where there are limited resources, so that that is still a tension. But on the other hand, I think that problem is better solved by us here in Juneau being the center hub than trying to do it when I was practicing in Seattle, I didn’t really understand where the hell Skagway was in relation to Juneau. So now I have a pretty good understanding of where everything is, and can work with the patient and the family and whatever local medical facility is in that town to see what’s reasonable to do. You know, you also understand that a patient from Skagway can get to Juneau pretty reliably in the summer, but come winter, and, you know, it’s a little dicey. As I say, it’s rare that a patient really needs to, let’s say, get the hell out of town to get good care. And there are two or three patients over these 20 years that I really struggled to get out of town today, and not only get out of town, but to go somewhere where they would be taken care of that night. And there are at least two that come to mind who, if you know, I hadn’t seen them on the day that I saw them and made the diagnosis and understood the situation, if they’d called the University of Washington or Virginia Mason and said, “I’m sick,” they’d get appointment for two weeks later, or even a week later, they’d be dead. That’s rare. I mean, it’s good television drama, but it’s actually very rare, and I can think of two in 20 years for that. Now, I’ve probably forgotten two, but it’s not 10s or 20s, it’s single digits of patients where that kind of encounter is a difference between life and death. And if I go back to like the 30, 40 years before 2000, there are also two or three patients in my career where I can think, on this day, I made the difference between life and death. It’s rare, but it is, you know, extraordinarily exciting and rewarding. Friends and colleagues will celebrate Dr. Weiden’s retirement Thursday at 5 p.m. at Amalga Distillery. KTOO"Through my reporting and series Tongass Voices and Lingít Word of the Week I tell stories about people who have shaped -- and continue to shape -- the landscape of this place we live." Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week Copyright © 2025 KTOO Public Media Tlagóo! We\'re rolling out some improvements to the layout and design of KTOO.org. Read more Standing out for beer in the German state that introduced Oktoberfest to the world is a tough proposition but Lino Molter and his family have found a way is the owner of Brauerei Molter in Irchenrieth just over 10 miles southeast of Tower Barracks Molter makes organic beer with antique equipment using local ingredients The cozy back-alley eatery opened a year ago and is in operation during the five-month cold stretch of the year serving up artisanal brew and market-fresh cuisine When the brewpub closes for the season in April all the Molters’ food and beverage service switches to the beer garden and brewery about 6 miles away it’s important to drink or eat a product where I know where it comes from and it’s a good quality,’” Molter said “That’s very important because I do it for myself I went to Sudhaus Molter with my wife and kids The intimate eatery and its wooden beer hall-style furniture were radiant with relaxing candlelight The original brewery plans and historic photos of influential Weideners adorned the walls I ordered an organic festbier and my wife ordered her favorite strong and flavorful; hers was crisp and refreshing I was slightly disappointed on this trip because they were out of the rotbier Molter inherited beer bona fides from his father his parents brought the family to Irchenrieth where they purchased and began operating the old Hoesl Brewery with roots dating back to 1587 and equipment from the turn of the 20th century They were forced to close in 2010 because of its deteriorating condition Renovations concluding in 2020 put a modern twist on traditional methods The father-son duo still uses wood to fire its two massive kettles and a grist mill to grind the malt The menu at Sudhaus Molter is always changing because they serve only what is fresh and seasonally available This goes for beer as well as meat and vegetables from local suppliers and markets pale-gray Bavarian brats topped with thinly sliced onions and pickles The sausages were plump and juicy and complemented nicely by the sweet and savory combination of soup and shaved pickles we ordered an Alsatian flammkuchen topped with creme fraiche beans and corn in a sweet sauce and slices of homemade German bread on the side nullifying the efforts of the howling wind to break our spirits Although the eatery doesn’t have a dessert menu there is an apple-and-cinnamon flammkuchen topped with sugar and creme fraiche to tempt the sweet tooth Sudhaus Molter is a time machine that transports patrons back to the genesis of Bavarian beer culture and the brews there more than do justice to the centuries-old tradition the Molter family is honoring The restaurant closes for a beer garden at the brewery on May 1 Brewery tours are available by appointment Prices: Range is from 2.70 euros for a pretzel to 14.90 euros for smoked organic trout from Weiherblasch Flammkuchen is 12.50 euros and the chili is 9.50 euros Commentary It's time to better support clinicians prescribing clozapine (This is the second part of a video interview on the recent US Food and Drug Administration’s joint advisory committees vote to dismiss the clozapine REMS protocols. The first video discussed what the dismissal may mean for clinical care.) Peter J. Weiden, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine, shared critical insights into the challenges surrounding Clozapine prescribing in the wake of the FDA advisory committee’s recommendations to overhaul its REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies) system The committee’s 14-1 vote to reduce barriers could profoundly impact access to this life-saving medication but significant hurdles for prescribers remain It’s like [it needs] its own psychopharmacology textbook,” Weiden told Psychiatric Times emphasizing the complexity of prescribing and managing this medication he explained that clozapine requires intensive monitoring which can be burdensome for clinicians already strained by limited time and resources When reflecting on REMS and the importance of clozapine as a resource he thinks of the support that should be provided to clinicians to make prescribing clozapine easier for them including providing real-time training as needed Weiden explained the systemic issues that disincentivize the use of clozapine such as inadequate training and logistical barriers “If you have not trained in it or had experience with it He empathizes with clinicians who are tempted to avoid using clozapine while acknowledging these challenges often leading to both underprescribing of clozapine and general overprescribing with the lure of relying on relatively quick polypharmacy “Not to say that polypharmacy never works,” Weiden said Weiden posed a case situation that may be common to a busy practice and how the REMS may be problematic for getting a patient on clozapine “If I have 15 minutes per patient and I have a treatment resistant patient who might be a candidate for clozapine am I really able to get that patient on clozapine [in that short time?” he said “Even if I have the discussion [with the patient] because they're going to have a tough time likely with sedation or the up titration I'm going to have to train them as to how to get the blood tests And am I getting any extra RVUs [relative value unites] or credit or anything else besides that I know I'm doing the right thing its just much easier for me to add a second medicine for treatment.” the recent joint advisory committees have recommended significant changes to the REMS system including removing the requirement for absolute neutrophil count (ANC) documentation and simplifying pharmacy dispensing protocols These changes aim to address what Weiden described as “hassles and mishaps” that have discouraged widespread clozapine use Weiden argues that reform must go beyond regulatory adjustments to address clinician education and support “We need to understand more the human factors among us that make it harder to prescribe,” he said calling for a cultural shift that reduces blame on clinicians and prioritizes practical assistance As the FDA considers the committees’ recommendations the psychiatric community has a unique opportunity to advocate for reforms that both simplify clozapine prescribing and enhance outcomes for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia Weiden’s insights underscore the urgency of these changes as well as the potential for systemic improvements to unlock the full benefits of this critical medication Follow the discussion on Psychiatric Times by subscribing to our e-newsletter Lifestyle Interventions for ADHD Brief Book Reviews: May 2025 Maydays! For Mental Health Month FDA Filing Fee Waiver for New Drug Application of NRX-100 for Suicidal Depression We have investigated the mechanism for the deterioration in immune status produced by tuberculosis in AIDS patients We have observed that tuberculosis accelerates AIDS by enhancing viral replication and mutation in the lung Tuberculosis also alters chemokine co-receptor expression on macrophages creating a permissive environment for production of pathogenic viral phenotypes alveolar macrophages do not support HIV-1 replication cellular factors actively inhibit viral replication in the lung We searched for transcription factors that repress the HIV-1 LTR promoter in the absence of inflammation and found that alveolar macrophages normally express dominant negative transcription factors that represses the HIV-1 LTR Production of these transcriptional repressors is a novel interferon response Monocytes are unable to produce the repressors and so investigation of blood monocytes did not reveal this pathway that controls HIV-1 replication in the lung Differentiation of monocytes to macrophages is required for production of the transcriptional repressors and antiviral effect of interferon or IL-10 Lymphocyte/macrophage or PMN/macrophage contact is required for loss of the dominate-negative transcription factors Signaling through both CD40 and CD80/86 is required for de-repression; this in combination proinflammatory cytokines or reactive oxygen intermediates are necessary and sufficient for the high level of HIV-1 replication observed during tuberculosis De-repression of macrophages mediated through co-stimulatory molecule signaling is a novel mechanism of immune activation leading to enhanced HIV replication in the innate and cellular immune response Professor, Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine MD from State University of New York at Stony Brook Restaurant culture in northern Bavaria includes a lot of schnitzel But an Asian fusion oasis in Weiden that opened in January is all the buzz Kaiza Bar and Restaurant was founded by three Vietnamese Germans They decided to launch after prodding from customers who described Weiden as an Asian food desert The establishment has quickly become the talk of the town among U.S primarily because of its use of fresh ingredients Kaiza is located downstairs in the Johannisstrasse arcade in downtown Weiden about 10 miles southeast of Tower Barracks The eatery features some of the best sushi and other Japanese food in the area A giant mural of a kimono-clad beauty serving tea among fluttering cherry blossoms provides a youthful edge I went once in May and again in June to sample the menu The restaurant was packed both times and had a line of people trying to get a seat a personal favorite from my time living in Asia complemented nicely by the sweet condensed milk This Japanese dish is a perfect test for the freshness of any restaurant But Kaiza passed with flying colors; the seaweed was chilled and crisp and had the right amount of sesame flavor I ordered a few different pieces of sushi a la carte The salmon nigiri and the tuna were as good as you’ll get in any fast food sushi-go-round in Tokyo which was surprising since Kaiza is 300 miles from the nearest ocean While you’ll rarely find much variety of fish in Germany it shows that quality is possible with tuna and salmon My Japanese wife wondered aloud where they could have possibly obtained Asian sprouts radish and beet topped with spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce in a soft tortilla which isn’t always easy to pull off in cooking the stubborn waterfowl We also enjoyed the flaky salmon roll with avocado and cheese with ingredients melded together like a crunchy burrito covered in corn flakes which typically uses subtle flavors of soy sauce which customers cannot help but feel as soon as they enter Add to that well-prepared dishes that bring so many Asian specialties to small-town Bavaria and you have a winning formula to fill a void in the local restaurant scene Prices: From 2.70 euros for a single piece of kampyo nigiri sushi (dried gourd) to 22.90 euro for grilled duck Mini pho was 6.50 euros and the duck roll was 7.50 euros This interview is from SDPB's daily public-affairs show, In the Moment What happens when everyone in a community is encouraged to read the same book The South Dakota One Book for 2022 is Our History is the Future by Nick Estes the Siouxland Libraries host "One Book Siouxland." This year's title: the novel Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden The books is a thrilling crime drama that unfolds primarily in the Rosebud Reservation It's protagonist is a complicated hero named Virgil Wounded Horse He's about to be forced to rethink everything he knows about his own identity as he is thrown in to a web of crime and deceit that reaches his own family in tragic ways Author David Heska Wanbli Weiden joined us in the SDPB Sioux Falls studio The following transcript was autogenerated and edited for clarity It's been such a gift to be able to read it And lots of people in this community are reading it too My father was from Avon and my mother grew up on the Rosebud reservation so this is like coming home to me but this really is my home in so many ways I'm sure you know this as a writer: There are so many books where the setting is one the reader is familiar with but you can point out all the things that the author got wrong Or a town that's slightly misnamed or something where the reader would say that wouldn't really happen in South Dakota," or "That wouldn't really happen here." Everything about it feels so authentic and real Tell me a little bit about why that was important to you to get those details right This is a novel and you can take liberties with it but it is so grounded in this sense of place I want to say right off the bat that I did make up a few things in there There are some buildings and establishments that don't actually exist in the book but I did try to keep it fairly grounded in reality There are a couple of chapters in Denver I know I portray those accurately I mainly wanted to portray the Rosebud Reservation accurately I think too often we get caught up in what's called poverty porn I wanted to portray the reservation as it exists His job is to get paid pocket money to take care of business that the tribal police or the federal police are unwilling or unable to address He's the guy you call when you want a problem solved which is very meta because you're also talking about tribal law and the restrictions and the limitations of that legal system and yet he's wrestling with how violent he should be Virgil Wounded Horse is the favorite character He's my favorite by far; He's such an interesting guy in so many ways You can hire him if someone harms your daughter I should note that I am a professor of Native American studies and so I've been teaching about these issues for decades The context is there's a law called the Major Crimes Act which says that any felony crime committed on the reservation must be farmed out to the FBI and the US attorney's offices they are declining to prosecute a fair number of these cases somebody hurt your child and you see the offender walking down the street you might be sorely tempted to hire a vigilante like Virgil Wounded Horse He is dealing with his ex-girlfriend Marie there's a lot going on in this novel; He's grappling with various issues because she is such a complete rich character Part of that is because we see these flashes of her as a child She's the kid who comes to school wearing wolf ears for a week The other kids think she's a little strange also she's grown into this fascinating adult who is discovering what food means in her life and in the life of her community but she can also forage for turnips and turn them into something indigenous and healthy Tell me a little bit about working with her character Marie Short Bear is the character I grappled with more than anything So I went back to the drawing board and I tried to give her a history I give a little bit of her backstory when she's in elementary school— she wears wolf ears and she howls I have two sons and that actually happened in one of my son's elementary schools I gave her a backstory that she's wealthier She sometimes feels she doesn't fit in on the reservation She wants to also learn how to cook indigenous food be part of this indigenous food renaissance that's happening across the country who said crime fiction is the new "literature of resistance." Boy Talk about that a little bit in the sense that crime fiction as its best is a place to deal with people who are that much closer to violent crime I need to credit Sulari Gentill who came up with that I think she's crystallized a thought that's been rolling around in my head about crime fiction and other genre fiction I think in many ways crime fiction is picking up the mantle of the social novel We are grappling with issues of social justice not all — but literary fiction writers have dropped My argument is that crime fiction and other genre fiction is really the new social novel that examines these issues critically I want people to stay up all night reading and because they need to find out what happens next I also hope they walk away with an understanding of what life is like for indigenous people also an understanding of these political issues that continue to plague native people today I definitely stayed up all night finishing this book and definitely will be thinking about it for some time to come but do you know how to break someone's thumbs? (Laughter) Because there is some detailed thumb-breaking in this book Tell us about crafting scenes of violence in a way that is never gratuitous but yet is completely authentic to the character and the details I want to give fair warning that there are some very violent scenes in the book I hope that the violence is in context and is consistent with what is going on with the characters but I did in fact have to Google how to do it I wrote that and then some of the other scenes as well I worked very hard to craft the violent scenes so that A but B that there wasn't anything that was gratuitous I really struggled with those and I hope I succeeded I'm a tender soul regarding violent moments But those scene were not something that got in my way at all of my deep involvement with the book but am led to believe that this is a character who could handle many books in the future I was originally going to call it Wounded Horse but my partner is the indigenous writer Erica Wurth And she has a novel coming out from Flat Iron called White Horse We decided that's too many horse books in one household in fact the next book will be called Wisdom Corner All of the characters that you love will be back plus really new The book has been optioned for film production but a quite well-known production company has in fact purchased the rights especially about how you handle Virgil Wounded Horse's navigation of traditional values Tell people about that part of his character development An iyeska is a Lakota word that meant translator who speaks white it's not a term that you throw around lightly He is living in between two worlds and so really the book is a story of identity I think we will have to portray how Virgil navigates these traditional waters of Lakota culture with his moments of resistance against them It's such a great book it's called Winter Counts Tonight you are on stage with Vernon Brown at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Sioux Falls at 6:30 p.m Registration is required so go to Siouxlandlib.org/onebook It's been a delight and I very much look forward to the next book Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here The owner of Steaklounge in downtown Weiden could have rested on her laurels after opening the successful meatery in 2019 Annalena Hastaedt launched the family-friendly gourmet Das Louis in June of last year which is named for a beloved family dog and not the former kings of France leans into the royal iconography with the sign above the door but works to capture the easygoing playfulness of a bounding golden retriever The affordable pricing certainly lacks pretention and we want to give this feeling back with the restaurant,” Hastaedt said We love what we do; we love cooking fresh.” The focus is placed quality ingredients and a relaxing visually appealing atmosphere that Hastaedt hopes feels like a second home Hastaedt spared no expense on the interior elevated nooks and wine refrigerator seating located approximately 15 miles southeast of Tower Barracks Asian and Bavarian cuisine as well as an impressive selection of wines and craft cocktails patrons can sit outside and participate in some expert-level people-watching Chef Korbinian Braun’s menu is relatively short but quality is clearly prioritized over quantity served with sesame dressing and a hint of wasabi was nicely seared with the right amount of pink on the inside The thin coating of toasted sesame seeds added a crunchy counterpoint and the seaweed salad on the side was topped with tart local berries The smashed cheeseburger looked too good to pass up topped with thick-cut bacon and onions soaked in red wine on an artisanal bun The 180-gram (6.4-ounce) Angus beef patty looked like something out of a culinary magazine with its orange cheddar glaze assortment of vegetable toppings and a heap of steak fries The burger was another example of expert execution by the kitchen staff The patty was right in the sweet spot of being cooked thoroughly but still juicy and flavorful while the bacon was both chewy and crunchy and the onions added a hint of glorious sweetness The steak fries were crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside which arrived with a side salad and smashed potatoes The meat is dry rubbed and slow-cooked for 24 hours before being finished on the grill It came slathered in homemade barbecue sauce The staff generously allowed us to feed outside food to our youngest I plan to return to sample the wine list someday when my wife and I can sneak away Das Louis has 125 different types from all over the world but the homemade chocolate mousse and tiramisu beckoned Hastaedt has really created something special with Das Louis It has the same quality of Steaklounge but is more relaxed and family-friendly It’s great for that lazy Saturday after a bike ride sipping some wine and watching the people walk by sat down with Psychiatric Times’ Editor-in-Chief at the 2024 Annual Meeting CONFERENCE REPORTERPsychiatric Times Editor-in-Chief, John J. Miller, MD, sat down with his colleague, Peter J. Weiden, MD, of the State University of New York at Stony Brook at the 2024 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting Miller and Weiden discuss long-acting injectables then and now Dr Weiden is a professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook See more coverage from the 2024 APA Annual Meeting in Psychiatric Times at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/conferences/apa The “DIY” Psychiatry Movement: A Potential Threat to Patient Welfare and Wellbeing Four Myths About Lamotrigine Treating Schizophrenia: Bringing Together Pharmacists and Clinicians for Patient Care Difficulties With Insurance and Patient Care: “Why Is the System So Complicated?” became one of just a handful of Native American writers ever nominated for an Edgar Award the highest honor in the world of mystery fiction the back cover of the book features rave reviews from two leading authors in the new wave of Native American writing that spans both genre and literary fiction an enrolled citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and a former attorney who teaches Native American studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver themed his book around the 1885 Major Crimes Act which places felony crimes committed on a Native reservation under federal jurisdiction is a vigilante trying to catch heroin dealers bringing drugs onto Native land The Alcalde talked to Weiden about his journey to writing and the universal appeal of a good mystery I felt this was such a great character that I’d created I felt very intimidated by writing in the long form—I honestly didn’t know if I had the chops to write a novel—but 2017 rolled around I made a commitment to get up every morning at 4 a.m before my kids are up and write for two hours a day which is what I did for 18 months to complete that novel and revise it Was the plot inspired by your real life or anything you had encountered in your teaching career so I’ve been aware for a long time of some of the issues that befall Native reservations in America: criminal justice The plot of Winter Counts deals with the Major Crimes Act which is a law that says Native nations may not prosecute felony crimes that occur on their own lands So maybe there’s a person who commits a felony crime on a reservation and the tribal police catch him—the tribal police are then obligated to contact the FBI and the U.S Attorney’s office and refer the case to them given that Native nations are sovereign and independent nations but it’s made even worse by the fact that federal authorities are declining to prosecute about 30 percent of these felony cases and if you’re a person whose child has been harmed and the feds won’t do anything there is a class of hired vigilantes who will go and beat the tar out of someone on a Native reservation for a price Virgil’s price is $100 for each bone he breaks Did you make a deliberate choice to write in this genre I used to read a lot of Agatha Christie; as a kid I loved James Bond novels; I love Martin Cruz Smith’s books I never read some of the classic works of crime fiction such as Raymond Chandler and others until graduate school “You need to read the classics.” He assigned me a diet of the classic crime novels including some of the best crime noir novels And I was blown away and embarrassed that I had never read those My already existing love for crime fiction became even deeper when I realized I had neglected some of the great books I think crime fiction can often get at greater truths in a more direct way than literary fiction can The crime fiction I like best is crime fiction that has something of the social novel to it Crime fiction that comments on inequities in society can really illustrate some of these problems of social justice and racial justice that in ways maybe other genres cannot I love what’s often called literary fiction—I love Updike who made waves in 2019 with his novel There There Do you feel like there’s some momentum behind Native American literature right now A lot of literary scholars who study this have said that right now we’re in the middle of what’s called the fourth wave of Native literature when you had the first great group of Native writers—James Welch and so many others It’s been argued that we’re now in the fourth wave where Native folks are writing not just standard literary fiction but branching into genre My friend Stephen Graham Jones is writing indigenous horror; there are a number of indigenous science fiction writers There’s absolutely a new movement and energy of Native writers right now and I’m happy to be included in that group Photograph by Aslan Chalom; book image courtesy of Ecco Press psychology lecturers share their most important insights on teaching together with a team of colleagues and students 'Students often think: who am I to criticise a published article?' what lessons have they learned from this project This module has been designed to help students with critical reading The ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical application’ modules are currently integrated into courses within the Master's specialisation in Economic and Consumer Psychology The ‘critical writing’ module is optional and linked to the thesis Evaluations show that students feel significantly more confident in their critical reading skills although the ‘critical application’ module still requires some refinement There is not yet enough data on the ‘critical writing’ module to draw any conclusions The module was developed with the support of Mineke van der Salm and Thijmen Zaalberg from SOLO and Chantal de Beun and Maarten van de Ven the Leiden Learning & Innovation Centre At present, the module is only accessible via Brightspace, but Van der Weiden hopes to eventually make the course materials, including manuals and evaluations, available online. This would allow lecturers to adapt the exercises to their own course literature. Are you interested in the course or have any questions about it? Feel free to send a message to a.van.der.weiden@fsw.leidenuniv.nl Are you a lecturer at the Institute of Psychology and do you want to tell colleagues about how you teach Or would you like to nominate an inspiring colleague for the next column You can send a mail to news.psy@fsw.leidenuniv.nl putting ‘Educatip’ in the subject field News release from Vestas Northern and Central Europe Hamburg Vestas has received an 84 MW order from BE Energy GmbH to repower a part of the Neusiedl-Weiden wind energy project in Austria Vestas will deliver 14 V150-6.0 MW wind turbines Vestas will service the turbines under a 25-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement designed to ensure optimised performance of the assets “Neusiedl-Weiden is one of Austria’s largest repowering projects to date with 44 older turbines due to be replaced This underlines the great significance repowering projects can have for the energy transition as fewer and more powerful units will be installed in an already developed location,” states Christoph Manseder “We are grateful to be part of such an important project and look forward to continue our collaboration with BE Energy GmbH.” says; „The whole of Burgenland and we as a company can be proud that we are now starting Austria's largest wind repowering project innovative wind turbines from Vestas for this project and are delighted that we have concluded a supply and maintenance contract we have a reliable partner at our side to achieve the desired energy independence in Burgenland and are convinced that the desired quality and delivery dates will be met." Turbine delivery is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2025 with commissioning scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2025. For more information, please contact: Yannick Kramm External Communications Specialist, Vestas Northern & Central Europe Mail: yankr@vestas.com Tel: +44 (0)77 9528 4694 About Vestas Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe and with more than 179 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries we have installed more wind power than anyone else Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 149 GW of wind turbines under service and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions Vestas’ more than 30,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on: https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels: David Heska Wanbli Weiden has been hailed as a major new voice in crime fiction An enrolled citizen of the Sicangu Lakota nation David is author of the novel Winter Counts nominated for the 2021 Edgar Award for Best First Novel The novel was also awarded the Spur Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and Best First Novel and was named one of the Best Books of 2020 by NPR His book recently won a 2021 High Plains Book Award for best book by an indigenous author Winter Counts is the story of a local Native American “enforcer” on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota who becomes obsessed with finding and stopping the dealer who is bringing increasingly dangerous drugs into his community and lack of adequate healthcare on the reservation Erika T. Wurth is a writer of fiction She teaches creative writing at Western Illinois University and has been a guest writer at the Institute of American Indian Arts Her books include Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend Erika is of Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee descent and was raised outside of Denver where she lives with her partner David Weiden Her new novel Whitehorse is forthcoming via Flatiron/Macmillan Her work has appeared in numerous journals including Buzzfeed Wurth are among a growing number of Native American writers that are garnering public attention and literary accolades providing compelling narratives of the American experience that has rarely includes the Native American perspective Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The already limited options for Italian food in the German city of Weiden dropped even more due to a tragedy one La Vita restaurant patron died after drinking Champagne that had been spiked with ecstasy Several others were sickened and police are still investigating what happened La Vita had been my first choice for this review I searched for similar fare within driving distance of the U.S and it wasn’t too crowded on the Wednesday I visited The ambiance was nothing special and the light above my table was off so I didn’t get much of a look at the food that was served so I was able to peruse the offerings immediately after being seated wine and cocktails both alcoholic and nonalcoholic That put the onus on the food to deliver flavor L’Italiano’s lasagna also is a generous helping but the restaurant overdid it with the curious addition of peas Whereas choices abound on most of the menu The sparse selection is highlighted by the seasonal homemade tiramisu An underground parking garage is just a short walk away from the restaurant I found the staff helpful with recommendations and attentive without being overbearing Italian and German and online at wp.litaliano-weiden.de/litalianoweiden Weiden joins the Illini with more than a dozen years of FBS operations experience including spending last season as the Chief of Staff at Wisconsin CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Peter Weiden has been named the Illinois football program's Director of Operations, head coach Bret Bielema announced Weiden (WY-den) joins the Illini with more than a dozen years of FBS operations experience Weiden will be reunited with head coach Bret Bielema after spending seven years together at Wisconsin (2010-12) and Arkansas (2013-16) Weiden's experience includes 11 bowl games "I am excited to have Pete Weiden join us here at Illinois," said Bielema "I have been with Pete at two previous programs and he has helped us win many games and championships His extensive experience in college football will help our program and student-athletes in a number of ways I can't wait to have Pete join us in Champaign." "I'm honored to have the opportunity to rejoin Coach Bielema and be a part of the program he is building here at the University of Illinois," said Weiden "I've had the opportunity to work for Coach B for seven seasons at the two previous institutions I admired the culture he brought to the programs and the character of the individuals he surrounds himself with both players and staff I could not be more excited to get started." There are currently no upcoming BIG+ streams Thanks for visiting left me feeling uneasy about the quality of the local restaurant scene Would I be able to find modern dining in a place whose history dates back over 1,000 years The Steaklounge may not be the answer to all these questions but it will check some of the boxes until my search continues The waitstaff and bartender were very welcoming and happy to accommodate an American with little to no experience speaking German And the availability of English menus made ordering effortless as I’ve seen the place get quite busy on weekends The visually pleasing presentation of both the platter and the drink set my expectations high While the shrimp were the highlight of the appetizer the chorizo could have used a little less cooking time Both drinks I ordered were on par with the German take on classic cocktails having all the right parts but put together with one ingredient out of place I would recommend checking out the large wine list instead With a cozy atmosphere and relaxed environment this is a great place for date night or a special occasion The waitstaff ensures that you aren’t rushed during or after the meal and the intimate setting provides ample opportunity for conversation without a feeling of being overcrowded The entree and side dishes were the saving grace of my dining experience at Steaklounge I had the locally sourced fillet of gold beef although it lacked the melt-in-your-mouth quality of a higher-end steak The side dishes were more like the Batman to the entree’s Robin The truffle fries with truffle mayonnaise were a perfect golden-brown with truffle shavings on top The grilled vegetables made even a crayon-eating Marine like me want to come back for more the dish exuded the customary custard flavor I would rate my experience at Steaklounge as pleasant enough the search for a restaurant in my new home that measures up to all my admittedly lofty specifications is bound to continue Appetizers are in the 10-20 euro range; drinks cost 5-10 euros soldier assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment was killed Tuesday when a Stryker she was traveling in collided with a truck on highway A93 near Weiden in der Oberpfalz The armored vehicle was traveling north as part of a military convoy that was merging onto the highway at about 11:15 a.m. a 57-year-old German driving a semi truck in the right lane was unable to switch lanes in time was looking out of the roof hatch of the vehicle “She was so badly injured that she died a short time later in a nearby hospital,” Juergen Harwardt Weiden law enforcement officials weren’t available Tuesday night to answer whether the soldier was wearing a helmet during the collision No other injuries were reported among the military personnel or the German truck driver involved in the accident Emergency responders closed the highway for several hours as German and U.S Army military police investigated the accident scene The soldier’s identity is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification Weiden is about 30 minutes from the main gate of the Grafenwoehr Training Area The accident marks the second tactical vehicle crash involving Army troops in less than a week during training in Bavaria The accident Tuesday also was the third motor vehicle-related death of a U.S Stars and Stripes reporter Michael Slavin contributed to this report the campus exists within a park-like setting that offers views towards the alps the challenge for the architects was how to integrate a building three times the size of the original while preserving the bucolic qualities and atmosphere of the outdoor space image © mikael olsson (also main image) and visitors are greeted with views into the sunken sports hall and the conference hall are wrapped tightly around the gym creating this immediate adjacency and visual exchange,’ kuo continues ‘the gym is something usually hidden or sometimes even put into an entirely separate building the classrooms on the upper two floors are connected through large central halls punctuated by four courtyards that bring daylight into the space inverting the relationship between inside and outside where the outside actually becomes an intimate almost sound insulated room within this larger or active field,’ the architect explains these halls are typically used as study spaces but they are also capable of being used for a wide range of school events read designboom’s in-depth interview with jeannette kuo, founding partner of karamuk kuo architects, here happening now! partnering with antonio citterio, AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function, but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style, context, and personal expression. Volume 11 - 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00560 or maintaining interpersonal relationships) people often get in conflict with their short-term goals (e.g. Previous research suggests that people who are successful in controlling their behavior in line with their long-term goals rely on effortless strategies we aimed to track how self-control capacity affects the development of good habits in real life over a period of 90 days Results indicated that habit formation increased substantially over the course of three months especially for participants who consistently performed the desired behavior during this time self-control capacity did not seem to affect the habit formation process Directions for future research on self-control and other potential moderators in the formation of good habits are discussed This raises the question how exactly do habits form over time although these studies have indicated that self-control is related to habit strength they do not provide insight in the role of self-control capacity in the initial stages of habit formation The current study was a first attempt to track how self-control capacity affects the development of good habits in daily life over a relatively long period of time We expected both repeated goal-congruent behavior performance and self-control capacity to facilitate the formation of good habits self-control capacity may affect habit formation via increased behavior performance (as the initiation of new behavior and inhibition of conflicting behavior requires self-control at first) we recruited people who wanted to form a good habit in the domain of health behavior (eating fruit or vegetables interpersonal relationships (making more contact with others or environmental-friendly behavior (recycling) we then measured their goal-congruent behavior performance and habit strength to examine how self-control related to behavior performance and habit strength over time A community sample was recruited via the population register of the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands as well as social media and the alumni register of Utrecht University Anyone between the age of 18 and 65 who possessed a smartphone was eligible (we could provide a limited number of participants with a smartphone for the duration of the study if they did not possess one All participants indicated they wanted to form a habit in the health The within-subjects design consisted of a pre-measurement administered in groups of 2–13 participants at a university location,1 followed by a three-month interval of daily measures administered through an in-house developed mobile application a post-measurement (again in group sessions at a university location) 180 people participated in the pre-measurement of whom 90 participated in the post-measurement Participants took part in the daily measures over a range of 17–110 days (M = 77.0 the number of bi-weekly self-control assessments ranged from 1 to 10 (M = 6.5 which were alternated with bi-weekly habit strength assessments of which the number ranged from 2 to 9 (M = 5.7 146 participants (118 women; Mage = 31.9; SDage = 12.7; range 18–61 years) who completed at least one follow-up assessment of habit strength were included in the analyses More than half of them (65.8%) were community residents (including alumni) and the remainder (34.2%) were bachelor students Based on participants’ postal code (which is indicative of education and work status; Netherlands Institute for Social Research) About 10.3% of the participants lived in underprivileged neighborhoods and 26.0% came from privileged neighborhoods (postal code data was missing for 4 participants) Participants’ initial level of habit strength was moderate (M = 3.1 Those who were interested in participating received an information letter via e-mail containing a link to register for the study with a unique participation code participants were reminded of the terms and conditions (i.e. after which they were required to give their consent for participating in the study Participants could then schedule an appointment for the pre-measurement It was emphasized that the selected behavior needed to be personally relevant to them had to be a behavior they did not regularly perform yet and had to be feasible for them to perform on a daily basis participants had to specify for themselves what this behavior entailed (e.g. it was explained that a ten minute routine at home was more feasible on a daily basis than an hour at the gym) participants were intrinsically motivated and there was room for forming a new habit Overview of the number of participants selecting each behavior Please note that exercise (“sporten” in Dutch) and physical activity (“bewegen” in Dutch) refers to different types of behaviors Whereas exercise is typically associated with certain rules and competitiveness physical activity refers to more casual and less intense behaviors (e.g. we developed a mobile app (which ran on iOS and android) to assess self-control capacity and habit strength on a regular basis participants were instructed to install and use this app for daily tests and questionnaires Participants were also informed that they would receive a reminder every morning via the mobile app On a daily basis, participants indicated (dichotomously) whether or not they had performed the self-chosen behavior that day, and whether they performed this behavior in their self-chosen context.5 Self-control capacity was assessed bi-weekly with the Brief Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004) “I am good at resisting temptation” or “People would say I have iron self-discipline”) participants indicated to what extent they felt the statement applied to them on a scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much) The scale proved reliable with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.79 we also tried fitting a less constrained power curve (y = axb) We therefore decided to analyze the data on the group level instead Number of observations for habit strength (total N = 836) plotted against the number of participants (N = 146) We examined the data in SPSS 24 with the Linear Mixed Models we carried out a growth curve modeling for habit formation and fixed effects of a linear and a quadratic time trend were estimated the random slopes of the linear and quadratic trend were tested to allow for individual differences in the growth curve In a second analysis we tested whether habit formation was influenced by self-control capacity and the performance of the behavior the random intercept was included to determine the intraclass correlation (ICC) of habit strength as an indicator of the variance at person level habit strength at the previous measurement) was entered to analyze habit formation Because we controlled for lagged habit strength the linear and quadratic trend were not included in this analysis self-control capacity at the previous bi-weekly measurement of self-control and daily practice of the chosen behavior (measured by the proportion of daily app-measurements in which the chosen behavior was performed during the interval between the previous and the current habit assessment) was entered the measurement number of bi-weekly habit assessment the length of the interval since the previous habit assessments and the number of daily behavioral assessments We first examined whether habit strength increased over time. Figure 3 shows a significant increase of about 0.8 SD (a large effect size according to Cohen, 1992) in habit strength over a period of 110 days with a stronger increase in beginning of the study period p < 0.001) and the quadratic trend (t = −3.39 Adding the random slopes for the linear (Wald Z = 5.37 p < 0.001) and quadratic (Wald Z = 2.40 p < 0.05) improved the fit of the model showing that habit formation differed over participants showed stronger increases in habit strength In line with the trend in habit formation shown before the umpteenth time) had a small negative influence on habit strength increase This is in line with the lower increase in habit strength later on during the study period The multilevel regression of habit strength we did not find support for self-control capacity as a predictor of the habit formation process Future research could extend the current findings by assessing how often people run into temptations during long-term goal pursuit and whether its impact on the habit formation process is modulated by self-control capacity future research could investigate whether habit formation can be facilitated even more by frequent monitoring at regular intervals during the day Even if cue-behavior associations were formed they did not result in instant increases in habit strength as habit formation unfolded gradually over the course of several months leaving room for self-control capacity to influence the habit formation process to further investigate the role of self-control capacity in the presence versus absence of cue-behavior associations in an experimental field study Yet another reason for not finding an effect of self-control on the habit formation process may be that we focused on trait rather than state self-control. Although trait self-control did increase over time (see de Ridder et al., 2019; and hence may have benefited the habit formation process) trait self-control is a relatively stable factor Future research should assess within-individual fluctuations of state self-control in the habit formation process – preferably also fitting habit formation on the individual level Our findings suggest that more data points are required for such analyses Future research may instead opt for online computer measurements our study was the first to track the role of self-control capacity in the habit formation process in a longitudinal field experiment Although we did not find evidence for self-control as a facilitator of habit formation the current findings do offer new directions for future research on self-control and other potential moderators in the formation of good habits The datasets generated for this study are available on request to the corresponding author The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by The Faculty Ethics Review Board – Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Utrecht University The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study and DR developed the theory and study design AW carried out the experiment and data preparations and took the lead in writing of the manuscript AW and JB performed the individual-level analyses All authors provided critical feedback and helped to shape the analyses and manuscript The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest We would like to thank Django den Boer and Roy van Koten for developing the Habit Tracker app and Demi Blom for recruiting participants and keeping them involved The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00560/full#supplementary-material Habits as knowledge structures: automaticity in goal-directed behavior Effortless inhibition: habit mediates the relation between self-control and unhealthy snack consumption CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar PubMed Abstract | Google Scholar Just do it: engaging in self-control on a daily basis improves the capacity for self-control CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Effects of circadian cortisol on the development of a health habit MouseTracker: software for studying real-time mental processing using a computer mouse-tracking method More than resisting temptation: beneficial habits mediate the relationship between self-control and positive life outcomes A systematic review and meta-analysis of applications of the self-report habit index to nutrition and physical activity behaviours Modelling Habit Formation and Its Determinants In The Psychology of Habit (Cham: Springer International Publishing) Google Scholar Self-control predicts exercise behavior by force of habit a conceptual replication of Adriaanse et al Effortless self-control: a novel perspective on response conflict strategies in trait self-control CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Implementation intentions: strong effects of simple plans CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Does monitoring goal progress promote goal attainment A meta-analysis of the experimental evidence Google Scholar Ego depletion–is it all in your head implicit theories about willpower affect self-regulation Exercise habit formation in new gym members: a longitudinal study How are habits formed: modelling habit formation in the real world CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar “Activation of lexical memory,” in Proceedings of the meeting in the Psychonomic Society Google Scholar Effective techniques in healthy eating and physical activity interventions: a meta-regression Mechanisms of self-control failure: motivation and limited resources How do people adhere to goals when willpower is low The profits (and pitfalls) of strong habits Perceived and actual triggers of habits in daily life Habit and intention in everyday life: the multiple processes by which past behavior predicts future behavior CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Trait self-control predicts performance on behavioral tests of self-control High self-control predicts good adjustment Reflections on past behavior: a self-report index of habit strength1 CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Does changing behavioral intentions engender behavior change How do implementation intentions promote goal attainment CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Ybema JF and de Ridder D (2020) How to Form Good Habits A Longitudinal Field Study on the Role of Self-Control in Habit Formation Copyright © 2020 van der Weiden, Benjamins, Gillebaart, Ybema and de Ridder. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Anouk van der Weiden, YS52YW4uZGVyLndlaWRlbkBmc3cubGV1ZGVudW5pdi5ubA==; Y29udGFjdEBhbm91a3ZhbmRlcndlaWRlbi5ubA== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish has been named a finalist in the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE (Western Access Video Excellence) Awards Formerly known as NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman The episode will feature a review of the month’s top stories in Pasadena CEO and general manager of the Rose Bowl Stadium Weiden took over from longtime general manager Darryl Dunn in July 2022 Weiden previously served as the Rose Bowl Operating Company’s Chief Revenue Officer Weiden worked for the San Francisco Giants and was responsible for all non-baseball events at Oracle Park He has also held positions at 24 Hour Fitness Corp where he led marketing efforts and at the American Golf Corporation where he was a general manager PT on the fourth Friday of every month on Pasadena Media’s Arroyo Channel and streaming apps available on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse supervised by producer Jasiri Jenkins-Glenn and chief executive produced by George Falardeau CEO and executive director of Pasadena Media “This is must-watch television each month for everyone who cares about this city,” Falardeau said Chapman won two 1st place journalism awards from the Los Angeles Press Club as well as two 3rd place awards and two finalist positions He has won a total of 10 awards from the LA Press Club in recent years won a 2nd place award in News Programming at the Alliance for Community Media West’s WAVE video awards Guests on Pasadena Monthly and NewsRap Local have included Congressmember Judy Chu; Congressmember Adam Schiff; Assemblymember Chris Holden; Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo; Pasadena City Manager Miguel Márquez; LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; JPL director Dr Chapman was the youngest elected official in LA County when he served on the Altadena Town Council at age 19 He has served on a number of local boards and wrote hundreds of articles for two dozen print and digital publications He was a professional child actor who starred in dozens of movies He previously served as Communications Officer for USC’s Pacific Council on International Policy and currently serves as the District 6 Council Liaison/Field Representative to Pasadena Vice Mayor Steve Madison Learn more at justindouglaschapman.com and pasadenamedia.org More » The ‘Humming-Byrd’ House: A Mid-Century Storybook Ranch Surrounded by Nature Pasadena Now has been published daily since April 2004 and is among the very oldest continuously operated community news websites in the U.S Pasadena Now strives to publish a full spectrum of news and information articles in service to the entire community The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls Copyright © 2025. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content Subscribe to our feeds to get the latest headlines summaries and links back to full articles – formatted for your favorite feed reader and updated throughout the day The Rose Bowl Stadium executive leadership team is chief development officer; Monique Rodriguez general manager/chief executive officer; George W The Rose Bowl Stadium will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year and Jens Weiden is stepping in as general manager/chief executive officer in time to prepare for the venue’s “party of the century.” “I think right now is a very interesting time for the Rose Bowl,” said Weiden who transitions from the Rose Bowl Operating Company’s chief revenue officer to the new role on Friday “It will be important in my new role that I focus on listening to stakeholders and help tell the story of how we can ensure that America’s Stadium is relevant for another 100 years We’re a 100-year-old building and we have to stay relevant in the most competitive stadium market in the world.” Among the competition is Dodger and SoFi stadiums Weiden said it’s imperative to work hard to ensure Rose Bowl Stadium will be around and utilized for another century “That’s what sets us apart from SoFi and other big buildings in town SoFi wishes they had the beautiful setting here We have 300 acres of beautiful park land in the middle of the central arroyo “It’s something SoFi would never be able to replicate and it was a no-brainer for me to take this job.” in coordination with the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation will celebrate its anniversary on Saturday Weiden is replacing retiring general manager/chief executive officer Darryl Dunn He is looking forward to working in a larger capacity with the stadium by bringing a new voice “that can speak toward the future “I am truly honored to continue to build upon the 27-year legacy that Darryl established supported by an unbelievable team of professionals throughout the RBOC organization We will work collaboratively with the mayor city manager and all Pasadena residents to ensure that the Rose Bowl campus remains a world-renown destination and point of pride for the community I am grateful to the RBOC’s board of directors’ confidence in my abilities and leadership and I am eager to begin the next chapter in our storied history.” said the governing body asked Dunn to develop a deep pool of executive staff to ensure that a transition would go smoothly — and it paid off “We are thrilled that we can stay within the organization as Jens has proven to be invaluable in so many ways during his tenure in Pasadena,” Haderlein said “We are excited about what the future holds and are confident that Jens a small town of 6,000 in the northern area of the state He wrapped up his college sports career with rugby He continued his love of baseball by working with Giants Enterprises as marketing manager promoting all nonbaseball events at then-AT&T Park he jumped at the chance to work in one of the “more iconic buildings in the world.” “It’s an amazing gathering place for Pasadena and Southland,” Weiden added During his tenure as chief revenue officer Weiden has led a team who has increased enterprise event revenue by over 500% the Rose Bowl campus held events deemed safe during the COVID-19 pandemic Weiden has also been leading the Rose Bowl Stadium Premium Seating & Sponsorship teams and has attracted top musical acts and sporting events to America’s Stadium and 1-year-old son moved to the Pasadena area about nine years ago Weiden said Dunn has been a “great leader and a great mentor” at the Rose Bowl Stadium He described Dunn as someone who’s respected by clients “I’m happy to take off where he left off,” he said “Darryl is one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met He has almost zero pride when it comes to his relationships He handed over his whole contact list and said You just call and tell them you work with me.’ A lot of leaders hold on to their contacts It’s indicative of the person he was here.” He said Dunn is planning a vacation upon retirement “There’s one thing that Darryl is terrible at and that’s taking time off,” Weiden said with a laugh “He’s going to do a trip to Europe and meet up with his son who is biking across Europe He deserves to have a good time and enjoy his retirement he’s one of the most respected venue people I think Darryl will be as busy as Darryl wants to be.” “What excites me most about this opportunity is the quality of the team here at the Rose Bowl Operating Company,” he said “From leading our industry with drive-in programing during the pandemic to creating the best music festival site in LA County our staff is made up of some of the best in the business Getting the chance to work next to these leaders is very exciting.” Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Subscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownDavid Heska Wanbli Weiden On Exploring A Lakota Worldview Through Crime FictionTexting with the author of BuzzFeed Book Club pick Winter Counts I chatted with David via text message about reaching a cross section of readers balancing a story about a single Native nation with an exploration of "issues that transcend tribal boundaries," and how Neil Young helped him figure out the ending It’s Arianna — thanks for taking the time to chat today Thanks for taking the time to chat with me We’re wrapping up our Winter Counts discussion in the book club this week What’s it been like to have your debut novel out in the world It’s been amazing and humbling and wonderful I’ve had many readers contact me and tell me that they learned so much from the book It seems like a cross section of folks have enjoyed the novel: crime fiction fans I’ve been most honored by Native readers who told me that they’ve moved closer to their own culture after reading the novel That’s something a few people have mentioned in the book club: It reads like a thriller and keeps you flipping through the pages but they left it feeling like it expanded their understanding of a community that they’re not part of Which is an amazing thing to do with a book but I’d imagine it also might be an intimidating prospect — that people are kind of looking to you to represent an entire culture Is that something you grappled with at all There are nearly 600 Native nations within the US alone and my book only speaks to the culture of the Sicangu Lakota people there are some common issues that unite all Natives: substandard healthcare So I tried to give both a representation of the Lakota worldview but also touch upon these issues that transcend tribal boundaries I know you mentioned first writing about Virgil in a short story in 2014 How did you start to realize his story wasn’t finished that these issues would come together around him I actually wrote the story in 2010 but didn’t publish it until 2014 but the character of Virgil just kept reappearing to me I found myself thinking about his world and how he’d react to certain issues such as the Keystone pipeline protest and I decided in 2017 that I needed to bring him back and fully explore his world and those around him more and more issues and plot points came to me and I actually had to discard certain themes as I felt the book was getting too unwieldy Can you talk about anything that was in an earlier draft but had to go There was an extended scene where Virgil and Marie go hunting for wild turnips I loved the scene and thought that it added a lyrical interlude to the novel but my editor requested that I cut 10,000 words from the entire thing I had to cut a lot of Tommy scenes as well I had much more material on the flawed juvenile justice system on Native lands but there just wasn’t space to fit that in as well I’m hoping to write a nonfiction piece on that issue at some point in the future Do you think you’ll spend more time writing about Virgil I know a few book club members are hoping this might be book one of a series.. I am beyond thrilled to announce that there will be a sequel to Winter Counts so here’s a teaser for the readers: In the sequel Marie will run for election to the Tribal Council in order to atone for the sins of her father I should also note that I just finished a new short story featuring Virgil and Tommy; it will appear in the anthology Midnight Hour coming from Crooked Lane Books in February 2021 I’m a wannabe musician but learned early on that my talent lies in appreciating music and I gave a lot of thought to what type of music each of the characters listens to whereas Marie likes alternative rock and goth but I was in residence at the MacDowell colony in New Hampshire and could not figure out the ending to the book I started playing a classic album by Neil Young and the mood of that album helped me write those final scenes I love that (possibly because I’m a big Neil Young fan) He has a massive 10-CD/digital box set coming out soon and I’m going to ask my girlfriend to get me that for my holiday present last question: How would you describe Winter Counts in three emojis Winter Counts is a tough one to emoji-fy (?) and all of the readers for their wonderful support of the novel Parts of this interview have been edited for length and/or clarity Chef Wolfgang Schlitter cut his teeth in Michelin-starred kitchens around the world and now serves up burritos that kick The German is one half of the fictitious luchador tag-team duo The inspiration for Marcio is his girlfriend WAM offers Mexican fare made with fresh ingredients homemade sauces and proprietary spice blends “People from Mexico say it tastes like home,” Schlitter said Feb grew up modestly in neighboring Neustadt an der Waldnaab He always dreamed of being a chef and received training at the renowned Jörg Müller restaurant on the German island of Sylt The experience laid the groundwork for WAM as the restaurant was split into fine dining and also down-home comfort food He went on to work in restaurants in Denmark While working as a sous chef for the Bellagio in Las Vegas in 2006 he lived with a Mexican family and learned about its cuisine The main event there is obviously the burritos which are finished off in a press to give them a crispy exterior from chipotle pulled pork carnitas to carne asada; he also does monthly specials like Bavarian weisswurst such as cauliflower asada and chorizo tofu which comes from a can because of scarcity The restaurant also has a selection of sauces that are made in-house The burritos range from 8 euros for a chico luchador burrito to 10 euros for full size They also offer burrito bowls for 10 euros and a selection of french fries platters or nachos The assortment of beverages includes horchata a freshly made rice drink that a guest I dined with enjoyed adding that it wasn’t overly sweet like some lesser versions Jarritos Mexican and bottles of Corona are also stocked in the fridge I’ve been to WAM several times now and I’m always amazed at the quality and flavor The chipotle pulled pork had a nice texture and pulled apart effortlessly I added some burrito sauce to give it a little zing My favorite is the chorizo — minced meat with a proprietary chorizo spice blend — topped with a little burrito sauce and “bang bang” sauce for a spicy kick Every bite exploded with the meat’s natural juices and spice and there was a wonderful synergy between the meat I finished it off with a cold mandarin Jarritos the undisputed champion of Mexican fare near the garrison at Grafenwoehr has to be WAM Burrito They will deliver 15 burritos or more to Tower Barracks in Grafenwoehr; send a request via Instagram In the heart of the Bavarian city of Weiden is Pallas a restaurant that has been serving Greek and Mediterranean cuisine for more than three decades I have eaten there several times and consider it my favorite local place to go for Greek food and that is where I was seated during my most recent visit and I was grateful to be placed near a heater which offset the unforgiving rain and temperatures in the 30s I opted for a dark beer and the warm starter plate which features several time-tested Greek standards which is a puffed pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese; tiropita which is another phyllo pastry filled with a cheese-egg mixture.; garlic bread; beans; hot peppers and tzatziki It’s packed with flavor from shrimp and grilled calamari which comes with a mixed salad on the side and has gyro meat The gyro on the plate was better than what I’ve had at Kostas The tender meats make the Poseidon a generally good pick though I found the rice a bit cold and unappealing But you do get the most for your money with this dish Although Bavaria doesn’t exactly compete with the Aegean Sea on seafood quality Pallas does well with what packs and freezes without much loss of flavor; you’ll find sole A nip of ouzo on ice accents the dishes well If you’ve never had this Mediterranean mainstay enjoy the show as the clear liqueur turns milky when you add water but I think it’s a nice change of pace after a beer which is a Greek pastry filled with custard and accompanied by ice cream but I will caution you to ensure that your drink order is right the first time which is a popular German beer and lemonade mix got mixed up with what tasted like grape juice I recommend you park in the nearby underground garage Credit cards accepted including American Express Information: +49 0961 431 62; info@pallas-weiden.de Podcasts and Analysis Serving People who Organize One of the most iconic sports venues in the world will have a new leader this summer The Rose Bowl Operating Company’s Board of Directors announced that Jens Weiden will become the new general manager and chief executive officer effective July 1 pending formal approval of the full board in the coming weeks Weiden will replace the retiring Darryl Dunn I am grateful to the RBOC’s Board of Directors’ confidence in my abilities and leadership Weiden currently serves as the venue’s chief revenue officer Weiden has led a team that has increased enterprise event revenue by over 500 percent since arriving at the Rose Bowl Weiden has also been instrumental in leading the Rose Bowl Stadium premium seating and sponsorship teams the Board asked Darryl Dunn to develop a deep pool of executive staff to ensure that a transition would go smoothly and it paid off,” said RBOC Board of Directors President Steve Haderlein “We are thrilled that we can stay within the organization as Jens has proven to be invaluable in so many ways during his tenure in Pasadena We are excited about what the future holds and are confident that Jens Don’t miss out on our featured stories of the week. Subscribe to the weekly SportsTravel newsletter to keep up with the latest news in the sports-event industry. To subscribe, click here Friction between federal law enforcement and Native American nations is the focus of a new novel by Denver author David Heska Wanbli Weiden and a landmark ruling issued by the U.S The July decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma reaffirmed a nearly 200-year-old land treaty with the Creek Nation effectively removing from the State of Oklahoma authority to enforce certain state laws against members of Native nations on tribal lands and affirming the federal government’s jurisdiction to prosecute certain crimes on those lands While the court’s decision upholds a federal treaty with Native nations, Weiden, a professor of political science and Native American Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver considers federal law enforcement’s jurisdiction on Native lands to represent a broken promise to Native Americans The rate at which the federal government declines to prosecute felonies referred from Native nations is “astounding,” he said burglars … the government is not prosecuting them for a variety of reasons and they release these men and women to go out and commit more crimes,” he said The federal government’s failure to protect Native peoples is the inspiration for Weiden’s forthcoming novel, “Winter Counts,” which will be released Aug. 25 by Ecco Books The novel’s protagonist is a vigilante who goes after heroin dealers on the Rosebud Indian Reservation The fictional Virgil Wounded Horse has personal motivations to catch criminals himself after his nephew nearly dies of a drug overdose “What has happened on certain reservations is and the government won’t do anything The 2019 annual report from the Department of Justice shows that the U.S Attorney’s Office filed charges in 788 cases of violent crime in Indian Country but declined to prosecute in 786 – 50% of referred cases The declination rate for violent crimes in the rest of the country was 46% “The reluctance to prosecute certain felony crimes on reservations is well known in Indian Country, and it has led to a virtual open season on Native women,” Weiden wrote last month in an op-ed in the New York Times The case that brought the issue before the Supreme Court itself could be a crime novel the State of Oklahoma convicted Jimcy McGirt McGirt’s lawyers argued that the state didn’t have jurisdiction was committed not on state land but on federal “Indian Lands.” Oklahoma had owned and controlled that land for more than 100 years but it had been promised to the Creek Nation The Supreme Court’s majority opinion in McGirt (penned by Justice Neil Gorsuch a Coloradan) begins by referencing that treaty and the Trail of Tears a period ushered in by the Indian Removal Act of 1830 during which some 60,000 Native Americans were forcefully removed from their ancestral homes in America’s Deep South The Native peoples marched hundreds of miles west on the promise that they would forever be granted replacement land in the so-called “Frontier,” which is today Oklahoma “On the far end of the Trail of Tears was a promise,” Gorsuch wrote before outlining the long history of U.S. relations with Native nations. He specified the law-enforcement arrangements outlined by the Major Crimes Act of 1885 which grants jurisdiction to federal courts – not states or Native nations – in trying felony crimes such as murder and sexual assault committed by Native Americans in “Indian Country.” The Creek reservation’s boundaries have been diminished over time practically but not legally and the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the land defined in the original treaty remains a reservation regardless of the legal complexities that could arise for the state “The magnitude of a legal wrong is no reason to perpetuate it,” Gorsuch’s majority opinion concluded it broke many treaty promises that had once allowed tribes like the Creek to try their own members Congress allowed only the federal government All our decision today does is vindicate that replacement promise.” Upholding a promise that maintains federal authority to prosecute specific crimes on Tribal land isn’t the solution Native nations need who is an advocate for returning criminal jurisdiction to Native nations His hope is that Congress will take another look at the Major Crimes Act “Winter Counts,” the first of a two-book series with HarperCollins, is available for preorder from various retailers It is one of the first crime novels written by a Native author to be published by one of the Big Five publishing houses in the U.S Receive the latest news from MSU Denver twice a month Experts question how the aid relied on by millions will be administered under the Small Business Administration Many headlines say pollsters missed the mark (again) MSU Denver students go behind the scenes of a Jeffco election facility to learn how votes are processed Interim Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs The University’s most engaging stories delivered to your inbox David Heska Wanbli Weiden's debut thriller novel reveals problems on U.S Note: If you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. 5280 does not accept money for editorial coverage, be it a review or a mention in a story. Read more about our policy Winter Counts packs a lot into its 336 pages: Written by Denver’s David Heska Wanbli Weiden a private enforcer hired to rough up crooks when the legal system fails But after a heroin overdose hospitalizes his nephew Virgil must find the supplier while confronting problems that mirror real-life issues on U.S we asked Weiden about his Sicangu Lakota identity and why he thinks more Native Americans should write crime fiction Purchase Winter Counts on Amazon With Germany’s less-than-balmy winter in full swing cuisine that provides a warming sensation in addition to the sustenance can be most welcome That was the rationale that led me to Ganesha Whether it’s such basic staples as naan or any of the vast array of spicy chicken and vegetarian dishes it is advisable to visit Ganesha on an empty stomach because the extensive menu is a paradise for the palate a deep-fried appetizer consisting of homemade cheese coated with chickpea flour The veggies in this starter are deep-fried in the same flour as the pakora Both appetizers are complemented with a side salad but also make a good choice for extra-hungry patrons who crave a filling first course The staffers at Ganesha fostered a warm atmosphere which made my experience there pleasant and relaxing They had me in the right frame of mind to enjoy my meal My favorite dishes are the butter chicken with some added heat and the vegetable korma The latter has a sauce of almonds and coconut surrounding the fresh vegetables and this entree also furnishes the kick I was seeking Ganesha’s limited on-street parking fills up quickly I recommend that you park in the nearby underground garage it’s about a five-minute walk to the restaurant The Rose Bowl Operating Company’s Board of Directors has announced that Jens Weiden will become the new General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the organization effective July 1 pending formal approval of the full Board of Directors in the coming weeks Weiden will replace retiring General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Weiden currently serves as the RBOC’s Chief Revenue Officer Weiden has led a dynamic team that has increased enterprise event revenue by over 500% since arriving at the Rose Bowl the Rose Bowl campus became one of the most dynamic entertainment venues in the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic putting on innovative events that provided safe entertainment during a difficult time Weiden has also been instrumental in leading the Rose Bowl Stadium Premium Seating & Sponsorship teams and has been integral in attracting world-class musical acts and sporting events to America’s Stadium supported by an unbelievable team of professionals throughout the RBOC organization,” said Weiden “We will work collaboratively with the Mayor City Manager and all Pasadena residents to ensure that the Rose Bowl campus remains a world-renown destination and point of pride for the community where he led marketing efforts and was a General Manager for the American Golf Corporation the Board asked Darryl Dunn to develop a deep pool of executive staff to ensure that a transition would go smoothly—and it paid off,” said RBOC Board of Directors’ President Steve Haderlein As a former employee of the City of Pasadena and Safety Officer for public and employee safety I inspected the Rose Bowl with a fine tooth comb I know every inch of that Historic Stadium and that my great grandfather helped build I know you maintain and protect all traditions that have been established there I can’t wait to see what new traditions you develop as we move forward Customers googling the endless pages of restaurants in the Grafenwoehr area might see Pegasus Pizzeria as just another Italian restaurant being named after the winged horse of Greek mythology hints at the feature that sets it apart from the rest The pizzeria is built next to the active runway of the Weiden Airport and Aero Club allowing patrons to watch planes take off and land a pie with a side of aviation makes for a popular combo Unreserved tables with a view get swooped up quickly so follow my lead and either show up early or make a reservation Those looking for Italian food that will give their taste buds a flavor explosion probably aren’t going to consider this the right place — or right country the quality service and unusual experience stand out in the local restaurant scene I kept it on brand and ordered an Aperol spritz Youngsters and customers who prefer nonalcoholic options can choose from a long list of juices Having tried the pasta on previous occasions I decided to get two of their normal pizzas I chose a Margherita pizza as my baseline for testing a more ambitious pie against it Although it didn’t particularly stand out from those served elsewhere in the area I went with something called “mix,” featuring salami I was pleasantly surprised with my selection and the meat and veggies really drove the taste home What did stand out for me is the Vitello Tonnato but more adventurous diners should give it a try While I did not stick around for dessert on the most recent visit The delicious treat and the plane-watching made for a pleasant top-off experience The indoor seating is good for larger parties and of course the winter months making the adjacent air show much less of a spectacle Information: www.pegasus-weiden.de/speisekarte +49 961 27094 Rose Bowl Operating Company General Manager and CEO Jens Weiden [RBOC]Three days after his first year anniversary of helming the Rose Bowl Operating Company General Manager and CEO Jens Weiden presided over a turnaround Fourth of July at the Rose Bowl The Rose Bowl was transformed from being the host of the traditional AmericaFest fireworks show for a half-filled stadium and to the tune of $500,000 in losses into becoming ground zero for a Major League Soccer match that drew in a frenzied crowd of 82,110 and likely was a significant financial boon The evening was capped off by its own fireworks show Weiden was named General Manager and CEO in late May last year replacing longtime predecessor Darryl Dunn and bringing fresh perspective to the 100-year stadium He reported to work in the position on July 1 which was then slowly coming out of the pandemic The Rose Bowl Operating Company’s fiscal position has also improved “We’re back to as busy as we’ve ever been when it comes to large-scale events and then some of our smaller-scale community events have come back So it’s been a really fun year to get back to the business of events the management was projecting that over the next five years they would face millions in lost revenue and need the city to step in and cover bond debt and other expenses of the stadium has shown progress towards turning this around and has found new ways to thrive and the success of its music festivals have helped in improving RBOC’s fiscal position Weiden said the improved outlook will help attain RBOC’s goal to have a balanced annual operating budget and to generate reinvest in the stadium “The stadium is owned by the people of Pasadena it’s as vibrant as it’s ever been but it needs continual investment just like a hundred year old home We need to continue to invest in it so that it stays vibrant Weiden believes the Rose Bowl stadium still stands out among other venues given the stadium’s setting and its history and tradition Weiden said he will work towards making sure that RBOC’s events will be successful “The more successful the music festival is the more money we make and the sooner we can get to a point where we can invest dollars back in the building and in the Central Arroyo to make those events even more successful.” “My goal is to try and strengthen the health of our tenants that are here Weiden is welcoming his second year in office said he hopes it will be one of the busiest years in RBOC’s history Tuesday | May 06 2025 | Design a tagline that sticks in the mind of the consumer and can be easily recalled "Just Do It." Do you ever wonder who is the creative genius behind this who always thought outside of the box and gave the advertising industry a new creative definition. released an official statement after his death mentioning that they were heartbroken by the loss They have overcome with gratitude and love and have thanked him for allowing people to live up to their potential a native Oregonian who had completed his education at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication in 1967 Before entering into the advertising world he had gained prior experience in public relations He had his roots connected to the advertising sector as his father was in the business with Gerber Advertising He began freelancing in the commercial sector quickly realising that he had a flair for it. the agency would go on to create advertising campaigns for companies like McDonald's and Old Spice that are known to most people. But the company earned its recognition worldwide when they crafted a tagline for a recognisable brand The tagline was "Just Do It." It had created a huge buzz and had appeared in a TV commercial in 1988. Spreading their footprints across the globe His ad agency is always intended to be independent and creatively driven Many awards were bestowed upon him for his advertising work which included Oregon's Entrepreneur of the Year award and he was on Time Magazine's list of 50 Cyber Elite He was also involved with his alma mater's Hall of Achievement. Another noble initiative taken by him was the founding of Caldera an Oregon-based educational nonprofit for young people in Sisters Subscribe to our newsletter to get updates on our latest news of the Metropolitan State University of Denver faculty recently won a fellowship to the prestigious MacDowell Colony in Peterborough an associate professor of political science and Native American studies will be provided unlimited time to write at the Colony this summer He will spend much of his time working on a novel called “Winter Counts,” an expansion of a short story he wrote by the same name The Insider asked Weiden for his thoughts about the honor Insider: Can you tell us more about the MacDowell Colony Weiden: The MacDowell Colony is the nation’s oldest artist colony They provide a space for about 300 writers playwrights and architects each year to create their art and free from the distractions of everyday life Residencies range from two weeks to two months Their website states that MacDowell Fellows have won 83 Pulitzer Prizes eight Oscars and eight National Medals for the Arts Some well-known alumni are Thornton Wilder Weiden: Pretty much every serious artist knows about the MacDowell Colony I really didn’t think I’d be chosen because admissions are exceptionally selective I was surprised and truly honored to be selected Although the Colony doesn’t provide statistics on fellows a friend of mine who went there told me that only about 10 Native American artists have been chosen in the last 110 years and I’m apparently the first Lakota to become a fellow – as well as the first MSU Denver professor (I’m an enrolled member of the Sicangu Lakota nation.) Because I’m a single father raising two young boys A month is longer than I’ve ever been away from them Insider: How will you spend your time there What aspects of Native American culture will you examine Weiden: I’ll be working on my novel “Winter Counts.” The novel is set on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota who is hired by Natives who can’t get justice from the American legal system It’s a literary crime thriller in which themes of Native American identity and agency are examined I’m trying to provide a depiction of the myriad humiliations and degradations that indigenous people face every day in their struggle to survive and I show how Natives are transcending the circumstances of their environment and refusing to be victims I want to write a page-turner that will make people stay up all night reading to find out what happens Insider: You wrote “Winter Counts” initially as a short story a few years ago What made you decide to expand the story to book length Weiden: I really liked the characters in that early version So I worked on expanding the story with my instructors at my MFA program I’ll graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing this summer from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe I’ll also attend the Tin House Writers Workshop this summer and will have the teachers there give me feedback I’ve recently signed with a literary agent for representation Insider: What other authors and writers have influenced you and shaped your writing Louise Erdrich (who was also a MacDowell Fellow) has always been one of my favorite writers along with James Welch and Leslie Marmon Silko American Indian writers have shied away from crime fiction who teaches at University of Colorado Boulder who’s one of the greatest crime writers out there a local crime author who writes great stuff I’ll be reading with Ben Whitmer and Jon Bassoff at Bookbar in Denver on April 15 at 5:30 p.m Insider: You’re not only a professor of Native American studies but also teach political science and are a lawyer How do these disciplines intersect for you I’m under contract to write the first introductory textbook in the discipline of Native American studies and that text will have chapters on Native law I’ve also just sent off my manuscript for a children’s book titled “Spotted Tail.” That book is an early reader and is the first biography for kids of the great Lakota leader Spotted Tail Insider: How do you think this fellowship will inform your teaching at MSU Denver Weiden: I don’t teach English or creative writing here but I’m certainly happy to meet with any creative-writing student even though I’m in the Political Science Department in my introductory Native American studies course I have the students read some indigenous literature to try and bring the concepts I’m teaching to life Students should realize that the arts work synergistically with the sciences and the professions I just met a University of Colorado med student Richard Froude – who’s graduating this month – who has an MFA as well as an M.D and he’s planning to use literature in his psychiatry practice That’s just one example of how the arts benefit everyone We have a truly extraordinary institution here at MSU Denver and coming here has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made I really enjoy helping all of the students here traditional and first-generation and students of color alike and I hope that I can help aspiring writers in addition to my work assisting the pre-law and Native American Studies students The iconic festival is moving to Boulder in 2027; here’s everything you need to know about its ripple effects the tour pays tribute to the Black musicians and venues that shaped American music in the shadows of segregation Anthropology professor’s groundbreaking research deciphers hand gestures in writing and art as dates on an ancient calendar affiliate professor of Music and director of MSU Denver’s mariachi ensemble gets to the heart of the genre’s origins and influence