Our second in a series of educational helps and tips to assist those interesting in joining our society…”The Royal Bastards…

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TikTok's China-based owner ByteDance will maintain ownership of TikTok's U.S. business operations and will cede control of the app’s data, content and algorithm to the newly formed joint venture, three sources familiar with the matter said.

ByteDance's bigger-than-expected role in the new TikTok entity lays out the continued and significant involvement of the China-based global tech giant.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a plan to sell the China-based company's TikTok U.S. operations to a consortium of investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and others to satisfy national security requirements.

The details about the ownership structure under discussion may raise questions in Congress and among critics about whether the deal approved by Trump represents a qualified divestiture of all of TikTok’s U.S. assets as required under a 2024 law, which required ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face a ban.

On Friday after a Reuters report, the chair of the House Select Committee on China John Moolenaar, a Republican, said he will conduct full oversight over the deal, adding that the deal should "preclude operational ties between the new entity and ByteDance."

"The law also set firm guardrails that prohibit cooperation between ByteDance and any prospective TikTok successor on the all-important recommendation algorithm," Moolenaar said.

The structure is still under discussion and could yet change, these sources said.

The White House did not reply to a request for comment. ByteDance did not reply to a request for comment after Asia business hours. TikTok in the U.S. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sources said the new U.S. TikTok would be divided into two companies. The joint venture that was announced by Trump will serve as the backend operations to the U.S. company and handle U.S. user data and algorithm. ByteDance is expected to be the single largest minority shareholder in the joint venture, sources said.

A separate division that will continue to be wholly owned by ByteDance will control the revenue-generating business operations such as e-commerce and advertising, these sources said.

The new U.S. company will be valued at around $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance said.

Reports in Chinese media published on Friday described a two-part structure in which ByteDance will continue to own the part of TikTok U.S. that will be responsible for e-commerce, branding operations and interconnection with international operations, while a separate new joint venture will handle the user data and algorithm. The reports by Chinese media outlets LatePost and Caixin were taken down later on Friday.

Saving TikTok in the U.S. is important to Trump. He talks about TikTok often and how it has helped him reach young voters. He has credited TikTok, which has 170 million U.S. users, with helping him win reelection last year, and has 15 million followers on his personal TikTok account. The White House also launched an official TikTok account last month.

Local historian and genealogist Desi Campbell will give a presentation at the 2025 Family History Fair Saturday in the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources building in Raleigh. The theme of this year’s fair is African American Genealogy and History and will focus on experiences with and tips for researching African American ancestry and history. 

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 109 E. Jones St. and is free and open to the public.

Genealogy enthusiasts invited to learn how to trace Revolutionary War patriots, transcribe history, and explore family roots

The Tennessee State Library & Archives invites the public to its free annual Family History Day on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., offering an engaging day of historical discovery, hands-on activities, and expert research assistance to help connect patrons to their family history and heritage.

This year’s featured speaker is MerryAnne Pierson, a nationally recognized genealogist and longtime Tennessee resident, who will present “Researching Your Revolutionary War Patriot.”

In her talk, Pierson will guide attendees through a wide range of resources available for discovering Revolutionary War ancestors—including digital archives, military records, land grants, published genealogies, and more. 

Her presentation will emphasize research strategies for identifying patriots from the original 13 colonies and will highlight contributions from Indigenous peoples, enslaved and free Black soldiers, and other often-overlooked figures of the Revolutionary era.

“As the premier genealogical resource center in Tennessee, TSLA offers a pathway for patrons to not only discover their ancestors, but also uncover their stories,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Getting to learn about the research process with Ms. Pierson will help connect Tennesseans with the tools and resources available to them through the Library & Archives that can support their research endeavors.” 

Pierson’s credentials in genealogical research are extensive. A retired surgical nurse and Ohio native, she has pursued genealogy with scholarly rigor, earning certifications from the National Genealogical Society, Boston University, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

She currently serves as the Tennessee DAR Lineage Research Chair and is active in several other heritage organizations, including the Mayflower Society and the United States Daughters of 1812.

Family History Day is more than just a lecture—it’s a celebration of discovery. Throughout the day, attendees can participate in a “Transcribe-a-thon,” helping to make digitized historical records more accessible to researchers by transcribing original documents from the Library & Archives’ vast collections.

“Our team is ready year-round to support researchers in their search for knowledge about their ancestors,” said Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist Jamie Ritter. “We are looking forward to seeing what special mementos and records people bring along with them, so we can help share preservation tips that help protect their items.” 

Public Services staff and volunteers will also be on hand to assist guests with their genealogical research, offering personalized guidance and access to unique Tennessee records and databases.

New this year, visitors can also take part in “Ask an Archivist,” an opportunity to bring questions about Library & Archives collections or their own family treasures. 

While staff cannot provide appraisals, they will share practical advice on preserving photos, letters, and other cherished materials for future generations. 

The event is free and open to the public, but registration for the presentation is required. To reserve your seat, access Eventbrite by clicking here. 

The Library & Archives is located at 1001 Rep. John Lewis Way North on the northeast corner of Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, across from the Tennessee State Museum. Parking is available for guests in the Library & Archives garage on Junior Gilliam Way. 

The Library & Archives is also open for research throughout the year, Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. The interactive exhibit lobby is open to the public Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT.

For more information, visit: Plan Your Visit | Tennessee Secretary of State (tn.gov). For more information about the Library & Archives, call 615-741-2764, email ask@tsla.libanswers.com, or visit https://sos.tn.gov/tsla.

A few strands of hair have uncovered secrets no one saw coming. Nearly two centuries after Ludwig van Beethoven’s death, a genetic analysis of his DNA has shed new light on his health—and sparked fresh questions about his family tree. What do these historic locks reveal about the man behind the music?

In March 2023, an international team of scientists released the findings of a comprehensive DNA study based on hair samples taken from Beethoven. Their goal: to unravel long-standing mysteries about his medical history and genetic background. What they found not only added new layers to our understanding of his final years—it also raised unexpected questions about his ancestry.

What Beethoven’s hair reveals

The genetic testing revealed several surprising insights into Beethoven’s health:

• His likely cause of death? Hepatitis B, worsened by heavy alcohol use.
• One theory dismissed: lead poisoning didn’t kill him.
• One puzzle remains: the cause of his deafness and stomach issues is still unknown.

These findings offer a clearer picture of the composer’s final chapter. The evidence suggests that hepatitis B, combined with alcohol consumption, may have led to his early death at age 56. That conclusion challenges the long-held belief that he died of lead poisoning—a theory that had persisted for decades due to 19th-century medical practices.

DNA analysis of Beethoven’s hair has solved many mysteries, some two hundred years after his death. © iStock

A family mystery in the genes

But the biggest surprise wasn’t about his health—it was in his DNA. When scientists compared Beethoven’s Y chromosome (passed down along the paternal line) with the Y chromosomes of living relatives, the results didn’t match. In other words, somewhere between 1572 and Beethoven’s birth in 1770, a child was born outside the official family line.

Timeframe	Discovery
1572–1770	A non-paternal event altered Beethoven’s direct male line

This revelation adds a fascinating twist to Beethoven’s family history. Somewhere between the birth of Hendrik van Beethoven in Belgium and Ludwig’s in Germany, the genetic line was disrupted. It’s a very human detail—one that reminds us that even the lives of legends are filled with unexpected turns.

What we still don’t know

Despite these breakthroughs, many questions about Beethoven’s health remain unanswered:

1. What caused his gradual hearing loss, which began in his twenties?
2. Why did he suffer chronic abdominal pain?
3. What was behind his ongoing digestive problems?

These mysteries continue to fascinate researchers and fans alike. His deafness—he became functionally deaf around age 48—is perhaps the most tragic. It’s a haunting paradox: a man who composed some of the world’s most powerful music, unable to hear it himself.

When a lock of hair rewrites history

There was one more twist: a lock of hair long thought to be Beethoven’s turned out to belong to an unknown woman. That mix-up underscores how tricky it is to authenticate historical artifacts—and why science matters when uncovering the past.

In the end, the genuine strands of Beethoven’s hair—taken after his death on a stormy March day in 1827—have revealed more than anyone could have guessed. They’ve offered new clues about his health, his ancestry, and the deeply human story behind a musical legend.

One of America’s most disturbing cold cases has been solved after more than 30 years of no answers. This week, police in Austin announced that the guilty party of the 1991 Yoghurt shop murders is Robert Eugene Brashers, a convicted felon, who died by suicide in 1999. The case left a lasting scar on the city and haunted it for years.

On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls, Amy Ayers (13), Eliza Thomas (17), Jennifer Harbison (17) and Sarah Harbison (15) were viciously murdered in a yoghurt shop. Their bodies were found bound, shot, and set on fire. The terrible crime traumatized Texas and led to numerous arrests and wrongful convictions, but ultimately no resolution in the case.

As time passed, advances in DNA technology, coupled with genetic genealogy, changed the case. Evidence that the fire had damaged was retested, and advances in methods allowed the extraction of usable genetic material. From genealogy databases, forensic genetics established a familial connection between the DNA and Brashers.

Brashers, who had a history of violent felonies, including sexual assaults and attempted murder in the Midwest, took his own life in 1999 while already involved in a police standoff. Although he will never face justice in the form of a trial, investigators emphasize that this identification provides closure after a long wait. For the families of the victims, this is a relief, but it is also immeasurably painful. One family member said, “We’ve waited 34 years for answers and finally, science has provided us with the truth.”

Investigators identified this case and how forensic science has prevailed, stating that with time and technology, justice can be served even 34 years later.

The Thomas Balch Library (of Leesburg, Virginia)  will host Joseph Roby for a virtual presentation on “Moving Beyond Tree Hints: Using the Ancestry & FamilySearch Catalogs” on Thursday, October 2, beginning at 7 p.m. 

Do you use tree hints on websites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org? Roby, a professional genealogist with deep Loudoun County roots, will demonstrate how to use the Ancestry and FamilySearch catalogs, a more calculated genealogical strategy. These catalogs are gateways to millions of records you may miss if you only use tree hints. Records will be easier to locate using the tools and skills learned in this session. Understanding how to use the catalogs will also make it much easier to take your research to libraries, archives, and other repositories. This presentation is primarily for beginner and intermediate level researchers, but every attendee will likely learn at least one new skill or tidbit of information.

Roby is a professional genealogist and member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). He has served as Chapter Representative and Program Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of APG, and is also a past board member of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania. Roby is currently a member of the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Thomas Balch Library, as well as a member of the Howe House Historians, part of the Friends of the Howe House in Montclair, New Jersey. He has spent hundreds of hours researching on-site in Virginia. Besides Virginia, Roby specializes in African American and slavery-era research. His current research focuses on the people his Dulany ancestors enslaved at Oakley, a farm outside of Upperville, Fauquier County. Roby lives in Stow, Massachusetts.

Pre-registration is required for this virtual event. Please call 703-737-7195, email balchlib@leesburgva.gov, or register online.

One of the most cherished print publications of the Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company of Canada, Ltd is now a digital publication.

The Trail Museum and Archives and Teck Trail Operations announced Wednesday that the “famed” Cominco Magazine — first issued in February 1940 until 1971 — will remain a valuable record of company operations, staffing and culture but in a digital format.

“The Trail Museum and Archives is thrilled to finally make this important collection digitally available,” said museum and archives manager, Sarah Benson-Lord, in a statement.

“Through our supportive partnership with UBO Okanagan Library’s archivist team and their B.C. Regional Digitized History program, the Cominco Magazine is another addition to our growing collection of digital assets made available for public research and enjoyment.”

Teck Trail Operations is happy that the Cominco Magazine collection is now available online, said Matt Parrilla, general manager.

“This remarkable archive is a window into the company’s history and showcases innovation, progress, and community across sites including Trail, Yellowknife, Pine Point, Kimberley and Potash (Saskatoon).

“For many, it will be a nostalgic resource offering opportunities to explore family connections and to see how jobs and the operations have changed and evolved. The collection offers a broad view of the company’s foundation and the legacy we continue to build on, now accessible to families, historians, and anyone interested in our shared past.”

The Trail Museum and Archives said Teck Trail Operations granted online access and funding for the digitization of 356 issues of the magazine, which occurred in summer 2024.

The collection can be viewed and searched within the Trail Museum and Archives pages on the B.C. Regional Digitized History website at https://bcrdh.ca/islandora/object/kcdh%3Aroot.

Cominco Magazine

First published in February 1940 in the S.G. Blaylock era, The Employees’ Magazine was a journal intended to document, feature and celebrate Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company of Canada Ltd. (CM&S/Cominco) employees, their families, and company operations.

It also served as supportive outreach to the many military service members overseas during the Second World War, of whom CM&S sent thousands. Adopting the title Cominco in April 1940, it finally took the name Cominco Magazine in August 1945. The magazine grew from 18 pages to as many as 32 pages over the years.

Cominco published the magazine monthly with a dedicated staff. Familiar names like Lance Whittaker, James Cameron and Craig Weir are just a few of the many editors, while renowned photographers Mickey Brennen and Jack LaRocque visually documented the era.

Joe Cushner’s unique safety posters are also prominent features.

Beginning in spring 1968, publication reduced to bi-monthly. Only one issue was published in 1971, the final edition of a storied legacy. In total, 356 issues of the publication were printed and distributed over 31 years.

The Peterborough Town Library will host “Family Archiving: Essentials Edition” on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 5:30 p.m. at 2 Concord St.

The free workshop, led by Program and Outreach Librarian Rebecca Enman, is designed to help participants organize and preserve their family’s history. Adapted from the library’s three-part “Family Archiving 101” series, the condensed session will provide practical strategies in a single evening.

Enman will cover how to sort through collections, decide what to keep or donate, preserve documents and photos and explore digitization. Participants will leave with an action plan tailored to their family archives.

Enman holds an MLIS in Archives Management from Simmons University and worked for 10 years as a professional archivist before joining PTL. She also draws on personal experience clearing family homes to offer practical advice.

Space is limited and registration is required. To sign up, visit peterboroughtownlibrary.org or call 603-924-8040.

Registration for the 2026 RootsTech Conference opened Wednesday, Sept. 24, FamilySearch announced.

The annual family history conference will take place March 5-7, 2026, both online and in-person in Salt Lake City, with select content available in multiple languages, according to a news release.

Early-bird tickets are $99 for a three-day pass and $69 for a one-day pass. Individuals can also tune in online for free. Register for the in-person conference on the RootsTech website or register for the free online option.