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Apr 03 2026HEALTH

CDC Stops Many Lab Tests for a Quick Check

The CDC has stopped more than twenty lab tests. The pause is only for a short time. Officials say they are doing a routine check to keep tests accurate. The halted tests cover many diseases. Some can be done by private labs, like chickenpox and shingles. Others are rare, such as certain parasites o

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Apr 03 2026BUSINESS

Farewell to a Waltham Favorite: The Federal’s Seven-Year Run Ends

Waltham’s dining scene just lost a staple after seven years. The Federal, a spot known for its seafood and steak, shut down recently citing steep costs that made staying open unsustainable. Opened in 2018, the restaurant called itself a seafood and chophouse, serving dishes like fresh oysters, crab

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Apr 02 2026POLITICS

White House Ballroom Plans Face Legal Hurdles

President Trump wants a new ballroom in the White House. The room would cost about $400 million and cover 90, 000 square feet. Two days after a judge said the project cannot go ahead without Congress, Washington’s planning commission will vote on it Thursday. The National Capital Planning Commissi

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Apr 02 2026BUSINESS

A Denver Classic Fades Away

For over forty years, Imperial Chinese stood as a Denver landmark, serving up familiar flavors to generations of locals. But in early 2025, the restaurant quietly shut its doors after a sudden ownership change left fans confused. A simple note on the door blamed rising costs, but no one explained wh

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Apr 02 2026SCIENCE

Raccoons smartly crack puzzles, sperm struggles in space, and a lost Archimedes page reappears

Raccoons trash pandas are more than just pests rummaging through bins. Scientists at the University of British Columbia tested 20 captive raccoons with a clear box full of obstacles like latches and dials hiding a marshmallow prize. The team noticed something unexpected the raccoons didn’t just grab

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Apr 01 2026SCIENCE

Hybrid Crystal Keeps Boosting Light Signals Even Under Extreme Pressure

A special kind of crystal, made from both organic and inorganic parts, can change how it interacts with light when squeezed. Scientists usually expect that squeezing such materials will weaken their ability to produce a second‑harmonic signal, a process where incoming light doubles its frequency. Th

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Apr 01 2026POLITICS

NATO’s Future Hangs in the Balance as U. S. Signals Doubts

A top U. S. defense official recently avoided directly promising America’s protection under NATO, hinting instead that President Donald Trump would decide the country’s stance. This came after European allies didn’t join the U. S. in military actions against Iran, raising questions about NATO’s unit

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Mar 30 2026SCIENCE

Streamlined Powder Test: Using Pictures Instead of Lab Machines

Dry powder inhalers need a quick way to check how fine their particles are. Scientists usually rely on a big machine called the next‑generation impactor and then run a slow liquid test to measure the results. The new method replaces that slow step with smart image analysis. Images of the po

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Mar 30 2026SPORTS

Head‑Pat Hype: How Baseball’s New Replay Signal Is Changing the Game

Baseball fans have a new way to shout out a bad call: a quick pat on the head. The Automated Ball‑Strike Challenge System (ABS) lets each team challenge two calls in a game, and the signal is as simple as tapping the crown of the head while saying “challenge. ” It’s easy for players, coaches and eve

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Mar 30 2026SPORTS

Mavericks Plan a New Dallas Hub Before Lease Ends

The Dallas Mavericks are set to stay in the city as their lease at the American Airlines Center ends in 2031. During a recent panel, CEO Rick Welts said the team will not move away and wants to build a new arena in Dallas. Welts described plans that go beyond just a sports venue. A hotel wi

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