BEN BLACK

May 26 2026POLITICS

A Look Back at a Springfield Leader’s Impactful Life

Ben Swan’s death at 92 leaves behind a legacy tied to civil rights and public service in Springfield. He wasn’t just a politician or activist—he was someone who turned his principles into action, long before holding office. Swan’s early years in the segregated South shaped his drive for justice. By

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May 25 2026POLITICS

Benin's Finance Chief Switch: A Seasoned Hand Returns

Benin’s government has just made a big move in finance. The new president picked Aristide Medenou as the man in charge of money matters. Medenou isn’t new to this game. He’s worked in Benin’s finance ministry before, handling budgets and planning for nearly a decade. Then he took a break to join the

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May 19 2026POLITICS

Ben Cline Eyes Fifth Term After Redistricting Shake‑Up

Ben Cline announced his intent to seek another term in Congress after the Supreme Court refused to revisit a challenge to Virginia’s 2024 election map. The decision, which ended the legal fight over the April 21 vote that counted more than 1. 6 million “yes” ballots, gave Cline a clear signal that t

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May 11 2026BUSINESS

BlackRock bets big on blockchain with new money fund plans

BlackRock is taking another step into crypto by planning two new funds that trade on blockchain instead of traditional exchanges. The move shows how Wall Street is slowly merging with digital money systems, even as regulators try to keep up. The first fund copies a well-known $6. 1 billion US Treas

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May 09 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Behind the Mask: How Blackface Shaped America’s Hidden Culture

Blackface wasn’t just a stage act—it was America’s unofficial pastime for a century. A new book digs into how everyday people, not just performers, kept this racist tradition alive, turning it into a tool for politics, profit, and power. From government-sponsored shows during the Great Depression to

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May 02 2026CRYPTO

BlackRock’s Crypto Fees: Small Bite, Big Price Tag

BlackRock’s crypto division made $42 million in fees during the first quarter, a modest amount compared to its total ETF revenue. The firm’s overall ETF business earned more than $2. 4 billion in the same period. Crypto products hold about 1. 11 % of BlackRock’s $5. 48 trillion in ETF assets,

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Apr 22 2026FINANCE

Smart Money Watching BlackSky as Stock Nears Yearly Peak

BlackSky’s shares are closing in on their highest point in a year, sitting just below $40. 62. That’s interesting because most stocks tend to pull back when the market is shaky. But here, the price is holding strong near the top instead of falling. This often means big investors are quietly buying u

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Apr 20 2026EDUCATION

A Rare Shot at Gunsmithing School in Arkansas

Black River Technical College in Arkansas just joined an exclusive club. It’s one of only four schools in the U. S. that teach short-term gunsmithing courses approved by the National Rifle Association. Most of these programs have been around for decades, but Black River only started in 2020. That’s

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Apr 18 2026CRYPTO

Crypto Skeptic Turns Spotlight on Bitcoin

Ben McKenzie, once famous for a teen drama, now leads a new film that looks at the ups and downs of digital money. In his office, he wears a T‑shirt that carries the logo of FTX, the crypto exchange that collapsed after its founder was convicted of fraud. He admits his spouse won’t let him wear it a

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Apr 17 2026POLITICS

Benin’s Next Leader Steps Forward with Big Win

Benin’s top court recently made it official—the country’s new president will be Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni. His victory in last weekend’s election was confirmed with a massive 94. 27% of the vote, leaving his only rival, Paul Hounkpè, far behind at just 5. 73%. The turnout reached 63. 57%, sho

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