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Feb 15 2026SCIENCE

Microbes in Cold Soil: How They Change When the Ground Thaws

Scientists studied 125 samples taken from five deep cores that reach 15 meters below the surface on the Qinghai‑Tibet Plateau. The samples spanned from the top active layer, where plants grow, down to the frozen permafrost below. Using DNA sequencing they looked at the bacteria living in each depth

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Feb 15 2026POLITICS

Crypto Kiosks: Why Washington Needs New Rules

People in Washington shops are finding small machines that look like ATMs but let you buy or sell digital money. These kiosks are not backed by banks and do not follow the same rules that protect regular banking transactions. They can be handy, but many scammers use them to steal from people who tru

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Feb 15 2026FINANCE

Big Bitcoin Deal: A Beach House Worth Millions in Crypto

Grant Cardone, a well‑known real estate investor, has put his 10, 000‑square‑foot Golden Beach mansion up for sale only in Bitcoin. The asking price is 700 BTC, which is about $46. 6 million with today’s rates. The house has seven bedrooms, six garages and its own private shoreline. He says he woul

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Feb 15 2026HEALTH

China Adds Risk‑Based Payments for Tough TB Cases

In China, treating tuberculosis that resists standard drugs is harder and costs more than usual cases. Until recently, the national payment system did not account for this extra difficulty. A pilot city in 2022 changed that rule by adding a risk adjustment to its diagnosis‑intervention packet pay

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Feb 15 2026OPINION

“City’s Money, Team’s Future: A Closer Look at the Moda Center Deal”

The city owns a 30‑year‑old arena that the Portland Trail Blazers call home. It is in need of a makeover to keep up with NBA standards. The mayor says the renovation will be energy‑efficient, but that is a side note to the main goal: upgrading the venue. The plan would use $75 million from a clea

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Feb 15 2026ENVIRONMENT

Climate Resilience Becomes Core Business in 2026

Corporate leaders are shifting focus from just cutting emissions to actually preparing for the storms and heat waves that are becoming more common. Recent discussions in boardrooms reveal that weather surprises can damage factories, disrupt delivery routes and make workers less productive. The

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Feb 15 2026LIFESTYLE

Life in the Quiet Treasure Coast

A seasoned reporter has called the Treasure Coast her home for over three decades. She first arrived in 1995 to cover local towns, noticing a landscape that had yet to see the mall or major highway development. Beaches were still easy to reach, and parks offered simple walking paths. Her career has

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Feb 15 2026EDUCATION

Students Gain Real‑World Skills Through School Business Club

Valley High’s business club, DECA, is turning ordinary classes into real‑world training. The club has grown fast in its third year, thanks to teacher Nick DeFrancesco’s guidance. Students meet after school and sometimes more often, practicing role‑plays and case studies that mimic real busines

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Feb 15 2026POLITICS

Local Leaders Step Up When Federal Rules Backfire

The place where everyday life is shaped by policy is the local government. It decides if schools get enough money, if fire trucks can arrive fast, if homes stay affordable and if families feel safe in their own neighborhoods. Right now those decisions carry extra pressure. City and town leaders m

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Feb 15 2026OPINION

Neighbors United: How Two Maine Towns Showed Love and Action

The recent winter brought more than snow to Lewiston and Portland. A sudden increase in ICE patrols sparked fear among immigrant families, especially those from Somalia, Afghanistan, the Congo, Angola and Ukraine. Their worries were clear in hushed conversations and hurried steps through town street

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