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Jan 01 2026ENVIRONMENT

Protecting People and Planet: EPA Takes Action on Harmful Chemicals

The EPA has decided to control the use of five common chemicals called phthalates. These chemicals are used to make plastics flexible. The EPA says these chemicals can harm workers and the environment. EPA head Lee Zeldin said the agency used solid science to make this decision. He said the chemica

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Jan 01 2026HEALTH

Uncovering Botulism: A Global Health Concern

Botulism is a serious illness that can be deadly. It comes from a toxin made by certain bacteria. This toxin can affect people, animals, and even the environment. It's not common, but when it happens, it can be very bad. There's no worldwide system to track botulism cases. But there is a way to get

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Jan 01 2026POLITICS

A Judge Stands Up for Migrants' Rights

A recent court decision has put a stop to a plan that would have forced thousands of migrants back to their home countries. A judge in San Francisco ruled that the Trump administration did not properly think about the dangers these people would face if they were sent back to Honduras, Nepal, and Nic

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Jan 01 2026BUSINESS

Big Companies and the Graying Workforce: What's Being Done?

The workforce is getting older, and big companies are starting to notice. Some are taking steps to keep older workers around, while others are lagging behind. Walmart, for example, is tweaking jobs to suit older employees. Microsoft is offering extra care to support aging workers. Google is helping

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Jan 01 2026BUSINESS

A Local Deli's Brief Journey: What Went Wrong?

In La Salle, a small business venture didn't quite make the mark. Illinois Food and Deli, a promising deli, shut its doors permanently on April 30, just under a year after it opened. The deli was a joint effort by Nizar Tharani and his partners, Pankaj Chaudhari and Nilesh Chaudhari, who had some ex

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Jan 01 2026BUSINESS

Applied Digital's Bold Move in the AI Infrastructure Game

Applied Digital, a company that started with cryptocurrency mining, is making big waves in the AI infrastructure world. It's splitting off its cloud computing business into a new company called ChronoScale Corporation. This move is all about focusing on AI workloads and making the most of the boomin

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Jan 01 2026BUSINESS

Retail Shake-Up: Big Names Bite the Dust in 2025

2025 was a tough year for big-name retailers. Many well-known stores shut down for good. Over 8, 100 stores closed across the U. S. This is a big jump from the year before. Why did this happen? It's a mix of things. Online shopping is growing. Plus, people are spending less. And some stores just cou

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Jan 01 2026EDUCATION

Why Some Families Are Choosing Classical Christian Schools

Parents in the Washington, D. C. area are increasingly turning to classical Christian schools. This isn't just about religion. It's about finding a different way to educate kids. Many feel that traditional public schools are not meeting their needs. They want a system that offers structure, moral gu

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Jan 01 2026EDUCATION

Young Coders from Akron Shine in National Tech Showdown

Akron Public Schools (APS) has something to celebrate! Their computer science students just won big in a national competition. Led by their teacher, Sam Appleby, two teams from APS took home first and third place in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. This co

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Jan 01 2026EDUCATION

Valencia's Jazz Singers Aim for Big Stage

Valencia High School's jazz choir, Two N' Four, is making waves. They've been invited to sing at the 2026 Jazz Education Network International Conference in New Orleans. This is a big deal! It's like the Olympics for jazz education. The choir needs to raise $7, 500 for flights. Every member should g

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