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Apr 25 2026CRIME

Topeka’s crime drops but traffic stays risky—what’s really happening on the streets

Last year, Topeka saw fewer violent and property crimes, which the police department calls a win. But one problem didn’t budge: traffic incidents stayed stubbornly high. The numbers tell a clear story—thousands of crashes, hundreds of DUIs, and tens of thousands of traffic stops. Speeding, distracte

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Apr 25 2026BUSINESS

Big Plans Coming to Sterling Heights’ Old Mall Spot

Sterling Heights is pushing forward with a huge plan to turn the old Lakeside Mall into a new community hub. The city wants to spend $270 million over 30 years to fix up the area, calling it a "brownfield" project. Brownfields are places that might have pollution issues, making them tricky to redeve

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Apr 25 2026FINANCE

Big Loan Approved for Tanzania’s Railway Upgrade: Who’s Paying and Why It Matters

Tanzania is getting a massive $2. 2 billion loan to expand its railway network, with Standard Chartered leading the deal. This isn’t just a regular business transaction—it involves export credit agencies and development banks, meaning taxpayers in other countries may also be backing the project. The

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Apr 25 2026HEALTH

Phones and Memory: Can They Really Help?

People today often turn to smartphones for daily tasks like keeping in touch or managing schedules. For those facing memory challenges, these devices might seem like helpful tools. But science isn’t sure if phones actually improve memory outside of lab tests. Most studies focus on artificial setting

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Apr 25 2026CRIME

Supporting Survivors in Genesee County: Local Nonprofit Steps Up

Genesee County faced over 170 reported rape cases last year, highlighting the urgent need for community support. One organization tackling this crisis head-on is the YWCA of Greater Flint, which has been a steady presence since 1908. Beyond just offering crisis intervention, it provides long-term ho

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Apr 25 2026POLITICS

Senate Steps Up to Limit Presidential Military Moves on Cuba

A group of U. S. senators plans to push forward next week with a vote that could block President Trump from taking military action against Cuba without Congress’ approval. The move comes after Trump repeatedly hinted that Cuba would be the next target following recent U. S. strikes in Venezuela and

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Apr 25 2026ENVIRONMENT

Words we lose, world we forget

Everyday speech used to include mossy banks, singing bees, and blade-soft grass. Yet over two centuries, these small picturesque labels have quietly slipped out of books and conversations. A study tracking 28 simple nature words finds they appear sixty percent less now than in 1800, matching a paral

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Apr 25 2026HEALTH

Hidden Chemicals: What’s Really in Our Blood?

Most people don’t know it, but tiny amounts of PFAS—man-made chemicals in everything from nonstick pans to firefighting foams—are likely floating around in their blood. Tests on over 10, 000 American blood samples found these substances almost everywhere. Out of nearly 10, 600 people, only 19 had ju

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Apr 25 2026POLITICS

Pandas return to Atlanta Zoo after years apart

After a gap of more than ten years, giant pandas are heading back to Atlanta. The zoo there will welcome two new arrivals, continuing a tradition where China loans pandas to other nations as part of wider diplomatic efforts. The move comes as global tensions rise, especially between China and the Un

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Apr 25 2026HEALTH

How expert advice helps speed up safe drug trials for muscle diseases

Back in 2009, a small group of experts started giving free, no-nonsense feedback to anyone trying to turn a muscle-disease idea into a real treatment. Their main job was to stop bad drugs from reaching patients too early, and to make sure good drugs had a fair shot at proving they worked. Over 15 ye

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