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May 14 2026BUSINESS

Dutch Bros makes its first Chicago stop in Melrose Park

A coffee chain famous for its high-energy crews and custom drinks is opening its first Illinois location outside the college towns it usually targets. Dutch Bros picked Melrose Park, a mostly residential suburb west of the city, to launch its Chicago-area push. More shops are planned for Oak Park an

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

The AI race heats up as businesses switch to a new leader

Businesses in the U. S. are now more likely to pay for Anthropic’s AI tool than OpenAI’s. In April 2026, Anthropic’s adoption hit 34. 4%, while OpenAI’s dropped to 32. 3%. The shift happened quickly—just a year ago, OpenAI led with 32%, and Anthropic barely registered. What changed? Anthropic’s codi

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May 14 2026POLITICS

Judge Halts US Sanctions on UN Rights Expert After Free-Speech Concerns

A federal judge recently put a temporary stop to US sanctions placed on a UN investigator looking into Palestinian territories. The judge argued the punishment likely broke her free-speech rights because it came after she publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. Normally, sanctions like these b

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

Tech workers push back against AI training that spies on workers

Company insiders say they’re fighting a new system that watches every mouse twitch and keystroke to teach artificial intelligence. Teams in multiple offices are posting flyers that ask blunt questions: why should daily work turn into free training material for company AI? The anonymous handouts call

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May 14 2026BUSINESS

Walmart’s Tech Shake-Up: Why 1, 000 Jobs Are on the Move

Walmart is reshuffling about 1, 000 tech and AI workers, but don’t blame the robots—at least not directly. The cuts aren’t about AI replacing human roles. Instead, the retail giant spent the past year merging three separate tech teams (for U. S. stores, Sam’s Club, and international operations) into

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

A smart move: why a tiny defense firm just became a big player in drone tech

Last week, a small NASDAQ-listed company named Quantum Cyber saw its stock price skyrocket over 80% in a single day. The jump came after it announced a deal with BP United, an energy firm that also builds drone systems for defense use. Instead of selling drones themselves, Quantum Cyber licensed the

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

Older adults and AI: missed chances or hidden potential?

Many seniors today still see AI as something only younger people use or something too complex to bother with. Studies show that over half of Americans born between 1928 and 1945 have never tried AI tools. Even among those born between 1946 and 1964, nearly four in ten say they’ve never used AI. Most

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

A Tiny Chip That Could Change How We Explore Space

Space missions face a big problem: their computers are slow and outdated. Most current chips, like the RAD750, rely on old technology that struggles with modern tasks. That’s where a new NASA-Microchip project comes in. They’ve created a small but powerful processor called HPSC, designed to handle t

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May 13 2026SPORTS

Top Boys Volleyball Stars in Michigan

The sport of boys volleyball has just started its first season as a state‑recognized competition, sparking excitement across Michigan. As regional tournaments loom in just over two weeks, teams are sharpening their skills to vie for the state title. To spotlight individual talent, a list of st

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May 13 2026SPORTS

Winners Rise as Bay County Teams Break Streaks

The high school sports scene in Bay County has seen a shift. On Senior Day, Central’s softball squad snapped a 24‑game losing streak by beating Flushing and Ogemaw Heights, ending their long drought. The Wolves played with freedom and joy, a change the coach praised for showcasing their team culture

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