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May 19 2026POLITICS

Thinking about justice and cruelty in conflict zones

Reports from Palestinians suggest some Israeli forces have used sexual violence in prisons. These accounts include beatings, public shaming, and torture that targets both adults and minors. The claims are serious enough to demand thorough, unbiased investigations. Even if only partly true, they rais

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May 18 2026TECHNOLOGY

Police Use More Car‑Plate Cameras in Montgomery County

The county police have rolled out almost 800 cameras that read license plates, recording more than 93 million scans in 2024—up from about 52 million the year before. By next year, officials expect to reach around 110 million reads. The new devices do more than just capture numbers; they can note a c

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May 18 2026SPORTS

High School Sports Highlights: Wins, Records and New Talents

The spring season is heating up, and the local high schools are producing a steady stream of standout performances. One player in Saugatuck soccer turned heads with four goals and two assists in a decisive 7‑0 victory, while another from Black River followed up her hat trick with a game‑winning goal

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May 18 2026POLITICS

Climber Takes Gaza Kids’ Wishes to the Highest Peak

A 56‑year‑old mountaineer from Jordan and Palestine is climbing Mount Everest with a kite that bears the Palestinian flag colors. The kite carries handwritten notes from children who live in Gaza, a place that has been devastated by war since October 2023. Those messages are simple yet powerful, sho

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May 18 2026HEALTH

Getting Care Fast: Why Maine Needs a New Primary Health Plan

Maine’s people often wait too long to see a doctor. When small problems slip past, they can grow into bigger emergencies that push hospitals and urgent‑care centers to the front line. This chain reaction costs money, hurts health, and makes it harder for families to get the help they need on time.

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May 18 2026OPINION

A Fresh Plan to Clean Portland’s River and Save the Island

Portland is famous for its parks, trees, and rivers, but a hidden problem lurks in the Willamette River. A 10‑mile stretch near the harbor has been listed as a Superfund site since 2000, meaning it is heavily polluted from past industrial use. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set

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May 18 2026OPINION

Quonset Runway Closure: A Question of Priorities

The Rhode Island Airport Corp. decided to shut down runway 5‑23 at Quonset State Airport, a move that many see as politically driven rather than technically justified. The runway sits on Narragansett Bay, where winter winds make it a key spot for pilots. Yet the decision was made without hearing

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May 18 2026OPINION

Virginia Court’s Vote: A Lesson in Rules and Democracy

The Virginia Supreme Court recently struck down a referendum that would have let the state’s lawmakers draw congressional districts to favor one party by a large margin. The decision was made after the legislature introduced an amendment just days before voters could cast ballots in the November ele

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May 18 2026TECHNOLOGY

ChatGPT Gets Inside Your Wallet – A Big Deal

OpenAI’s new feature lets ChatGPT peek at bank accounts, credit cards and investments through a service called Plaid. It is only for paid users in the United States right now, but it can reach more than 12, 000 banks and financial firms. The idea is that the AI will give you advice about spending, s

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May 18 2026WEATHER

Southwest China Shakeup Forces Thousands to Leave Homes

A sudden tremor rattled the Guangxi province early Monday, sending shockwaves through Liuzhou and its surroundings. The quake registered a magnitude of 5. 2 on the Richter scale, enough to trigger panic and prompt emergency response teams to spring into action. Two people lost their lives in the bl

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