APRIL PADALIK

Nov 28 2025CRIME

A Deadly Attack on Guardians of the Capital

A tragic incident shook Washington, D. C. , as a gunman opened fire on two National Guard members. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, now faces first-degree murder charges after one of the victims, Sarah Beckstrom, succumbed to her injuries. Beckstrom, a 20-year-old Army specialist, was pronounced dead, leaving her family and colleagues in mourning. The attack occur...

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Nov 28 2025CRIME

A Refugee's Dark Past: From Afghan Battles to D. C. Shooting

A man now accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D. C. , once fought in Afghanistan as part of a controversial paramilitary group. This group, known as a “Zero Unit, ” worked closely with the C. I. A. and was notorious for its harsh tactics. Human rights groups even labeled them “death squads. ” The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, grew up in a ...

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Nov 28 2025ENTERTAINMENT

San Diego's Vibrant Arts Scene: A Look at Upcoming Events

Jazz enthusiasts in San Diego have a lot to look forward to this holiday season. The Jacobs Music Center is hosting a special event celebrating John Coltrane's iconic 1958 album "Blue Train. " This concert features Brian Levy on tenor sax and includes Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet. The show starts at 6:30 p. m. , with the Young Jazz Conservatory opening the performa...

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Nov 28 2025POLITICS

Who Vetted the Afghan Shooting Suspect? A Look at the Facts

A recent shooting in Washington, D. C. , has sparked a heated debate about immigration policies. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the U. S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome. This program was created by President Joe Biden to help Afghans who had worked with the U. S. government during the war in Afghanistan. Lakanwal was gra...

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Nov 27 2025POLITICS

Trump's Ukraine Deal Dilemma: A Leaked Call Sparks Controversy

A recent phone call leak has stirred up quite the storm in Washington. Steve Witkoff, a key figure in the Trump administration, was caught giving advice to a top aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation revealed Trump's eagerness to strike a deal with Russia to end the Ukraine conflict, even if it means making significant concessions. The leaked ca...

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Nov 27 2025FINANCE

UK's 2025 Budget: Tax Hikes and Freezes Explained

The UK's finance minister, Rachel Reeves, recently shared a budget plan that includes several tax changes. These changes aim to bring in more money for the government. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) shared some details ahead of time, calling it a "technical error" later. One big change is the freeze on income tax thresholds until 2030/31. This means peop...

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Nov 26 2025FINANCE

Budget Changes: What's in it for You?

The recent budget announcement has brought several changes that could impact your wallet. Let's break it down in simple terms. First off, taxes might be a bit tougher. The income tax bands, which decide how much tax you pay, won't increase with inflation until 2031. This means if you get a pay raise, you might end up paying more in taxes than you expected. In Scotla...

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Nov 26 2025HEALTH

Stomach Bug Season: What's Going On?

The U. S. is seeing a jump in norovirus cases, often called the stomach bug. This is according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bug causes vomiting and diarrhea. It's a big deal because it spreads easily and makes people very sick. The CDC reports that almost 14% of tests for norovirus came back positive in mid-November. ...

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Nov 26 2025SCIENCE

Boeing's Starliner: A Rocky Road to Space

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft has had a bumpy journey, to say the least. After several setbacks and a failed mission, NASA has decided to cut back on the number of planned Starliner flights to the International Space Station (ISS). Originally, Boeing was supposed to send six crewed missions under a $4. 5 billion contract. But now, NASA has reduced that number to just...

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Nov 26 2025BUSINESS

A Shake-Up in the C-Suite: Keurig Dr Pepper Welcomes New Finance Chief

Keurig Dr Pepper has a new top finance executive. Anthony DiSilvestro is stepping in as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He's coming from Mattel, where he was the CFO for five years. DiSilvestro will be based in Burlington and will report to CEO Tim Cofer. This change comes at an interesting time for Keurig Dr Pepper. The company is planning to buy JDE Peet’s,...

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