GOVERNMENT

Apr 11 2026POLITICS

DHS Orders Employees Back to Work Even While the Government Is Shut

The Department of Homeland Security told all staff who had been furloughed to return on the next normal workday, most likely Monday. The instruction came after a memo from the White House that granted DHS employees the same pay and benefits they would have received if the agency had been fully funde

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Apr 11 2026POLITICS

Flock steps up in Richmond amid trust concerns

The City of Richmond wants people to reconsider their view of Flock, a system that tracks cameras and collects data in public spaces. Officials aren\'t trying to hide how it works anymore—they’re talking about it more openly. After some residents raised questions about privacy and how much informati

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Apr 11 2026POLITICS

Washington's Budget Battle: Where Money Goes and Where It Doesn't

The final budget plan from Washington’s mayor suggests big changes ahead. At $21. 2 billion, it’s a massive spending document that will face tough debates in local and federal government. With Republicans in Congress showing more interest in city matters, this budget could become a flashpoint. The m

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Apr 10 2026BUSINESS

White House Cracks Down on Government Bets During Iran Tensions

In late March, officials sent a memo warning staff not to use insider knowledge to bet on market movements tied to Iran. The email came just hours after a high-ranking official announced plans to delay potential military action against Iranian energy sites. Some staffers may have thought the delay w

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Apr 10 2026POLITICS

Redrawing the Lines of Vaccine Advice

The U. S. government just revised the rulebook for the committee that shapes vaccine recommendations for the country. The group, usually made up of doctors and scientists, now welcomes voices from toxicology and data analysis to weigh in on vaccine safety. Critics say this mix of expertise could dil

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Apr 09 2026TECHNOLOGY

Checking the facts: How the U. S. and China tackle fake influencers differently

Social media stars giving health tips without medical school degrees. Investors posting stock advice after watching a YouTube video. Tutors selling homework help with no teaching license. Both China and the U. S. now say this can’t go on. In China, the rule is simple: prove you’re qualified before

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Apr 07 2026HEALTH

How Remote Health Tools Changed Care for Veterans

Back in 2016, the VA launched a program to give tablets and health gadgets like blood pressure cuffs to veterans who struggled to reach clinics. The idea was simple: combine video calls with real-time health tracking to help people manage their conditions without traveling. But here’s the catch—no o

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Apr 07 2026POLITICS

More hands join to manage housing help in Richmond

Richmond is testing a new plan to hand out housing aid money without going through usual city channels. Instead of using government workers, private groups will decide who gets the funds. Officials hope this will speed things up and reach people faster. The move raises questions. Why switch to outs

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Apr 05 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Aliens, UFOs, and the stories we tell

Decades before movies started scaring us with the walking dead, sci-fi films filled screens with creatures from another world – big-headed, big-eyed beings often named aliens or UFOs. These images stuck in people’s minds, shaping how most Americans picture life beyond Earth. But fiction might soon f

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Apr 05 2026FINANCE

Big Tax Mistake Costs 50, 000 New Yorkers Money

In February, New York's tax office spotted a mistake in their paperwork that cost over 50, 000 people money. A wrong number in the tax tables meant some taxpayers paid more than they should or got smaller refunds. The error only hit certain groups—mostly married couples or single parents with income

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