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Mar 19 2026SPORTS

March Madness Begins: Key Facts and Surprises

The first round of the tournament starts Thursday. Twelve games begin just after noon and keep going into the night. Fans expect close play, last‑second shots, and maybe a surprise win. A student manager named Amir “Aura” Khan is back on the scene. He helped McNeese beat Stephen F. Austin to earn a

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Mar 19 2026FINANCE

Hidden Risks in the $3 Trillion Credit Boom

Private‑credit lending, a fast‑growing but less visible part of finance, is now catching the eye of investors and banks alike. The sector, which lets private‑equity firms and other nonbank entities lend to companies such as software developers and auto lenders, has ballooned to about $3 trillion.

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Mar 19 2026OPINION

China’s Oil Grip and the New Face of U. S. Strategy

The fight with Iran has gone beyond missiles and bombs, turning into a battle of words and data that reaches every screen. In the first weeks, Washington imagined a quick win, but now it faces an opponent that will not back down easily. The real war is happening in the flow of information, whe

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Mar 19 2026WEATHER

Tornado Touches Down in Carroll County, Leaves Mild Damage Behind

A wind storm hit western Carroll County on Monday, and a small tornado touched down. The National Weather Service said the twister was about 150 yards wide and reached speeds up to 80 mph. It earned an EF‑0 rating, the lowest on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornado moved roughly 1. 6 miles from S

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Mar 19 2026LIFESTYLE

Fast food meets face masks: Taco Bell’s bold beauty experiment

Fast food chains aren’t just selling tacos anymore. Taco Bell is now diving into skincare with a surprising new product: Baja Blast under-eye patches. These caffeine and citrus-infused stickers promise to "energize skin and deliver cooling hydration, " blending two worlds that don’t seem to mix. The

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Mar 18 2026POLITICS

Trump temporarily lifts ship rule to keep oil flowing

President Trump has announced a 60‑day pause on the Jones Act, an old law that requires U. S. ships and crews for domestic cargo moves. The waiver is aimed at speeding the flow of oil, gas, fertilizer and coal into American ports while military operations in the Middle East continue. The move comes

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Mar 18 2026FINANCE

Unexpected Drop in Dow as Inflation Surprises Investors

The stock market took a sudden dip today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling after new inflation figures appeared more alarming than expected. Analysts had anticipated a moderate rise in prices, but the data showed a sharper increase that made investors uneasy. Because of this surprise,

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Mar 18 2026POLITICS

A New Senate Hope: Illinois Votes for a Black Woman with Big Support

Illinois voters have chosen a new face for the Senate, electing a Black woman who has long worked under Governor JB Pritzker. The win shows how powerful state politics can be when a governor’s backing is combined with substantial outside money. The campaign began when the incumbent senator, Richard 

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Mar 18 2026CRYPTO

Crypto Prices Dip as Inflation Surges, Market Wavers

The prediction market Myriad has shifted its outlook on a potential “crypto spring. ” Earlier in the day, participants set the chance of a rally at more than 62 %. By evening, that figure fell below 50 % as the market adjusted to recent price moves. Myriad’s rules require at least four of five ta

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Mar 18 2026SPORTS

Ready for March Madness 2026? Play, Win, and Watch the Action

The 2026 NCAA Tournament brackets are out, giving fans a new reason to get excited. Duke tops the men’s list while UConn leads the women’s, both expected to be hot picks in any office pool. If you want to join the fun, CBS Sports offers free bracket pools on its website and app where friends, family

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