Many famous faces started out as ordinary people in small towns. Some were classmates, neighbors or childhood friends before the red carpets arrived. A young Hilary Duff rode bikes with future fans in Houston, while Barack Obama’s college roommate remembers him lending a hand to servants in Pakistan
Spokane Valley just got a major upgrade in local sports facilities. The Plantes Ferry Sports Complex, a long-time hub for youth games and tournaments, has finished a decade-long makeover. The park sits between Wellesley Avenue and the Spokane River, offering 12 soccer fields, five baseball and softb
May in Portland isn’t just about layers and rain—it’s a month when the city turns into a giant playground for creative minds. The Cinco de Mayo party at Waterfront Park mixes music, food, and crafts in ways that surprise even locals. Mariachi bands play while kids spin on carnival rides, and artists
For decades, drug testing followed the same slow rhythm. Researchers ran trials in stages, then paused for months to analyze data before asking regulators for the next step. Patients waited years for treatments while paperwork piled up. Now, a new FDA approach cuts out the waiting by letting regulat
Half of New York City students in third to eighth grade can’t read at grade level. That’s a problem because reading isn’t just about passing tests. It’s about opening doors. When kids read, they don’t just learn words—they build worlds in their minds. They start to see themselves differently. They g
Koyo Kouoh returned to her hometown of Basel, Switzerland, in May. She told her husband that she had good news and bad news. The good part was that a scan showed no lung cancer, after she had been feeling weak on a trip to Senegal. The bad part was that she had liver cancer. Kouoh was only 57 years
A night that was meant for journalists and politicians turned tense when a gunman tried to shoot the president at a White House dinner. After the event, the leader of the country spoke about coming together and said he saw people from both sides united. He also warned that hateful words can create d
Stephen Colbert has just finished the last episode of his long‑running show on CBS, a decision that sparked many guesses about why the network ended it. In an interview with The New York Times, Colbert explained that early on he wanted to step away from politics after moving from “The Colbert Rep
The U. S. State Department is preparing a small batch of special passports for the country’s 250th birthday. The new design will include a portrait of President Donald Trump, making him the first living president ever to appear on a U. S. passport. The idea has been in discussion for months and was
A debate held at Pomona College drew eight hopefuls for California’s governor seat. The event was watched by students just before the state begins mailing ballots for its June primary. The race is tight, with five contenders hovering near each other in the polls. A televised showdown was seen as a c
