NORTH STAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Jun 11 2026POLITICS

A New Way to Fund Kids' School Choices

Starting next year, families might get a fresh way to pay for K-12 education—and it all comes down to taxes. The Treasury Department is rolling out a new tax break called the Education Freedom Tax Credit. Instead of sending kids to the closest public school, this plan lets people donate to groups th

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Jun 11 2026WEATHER

North Jersey braces for a couple of steamy days

North Jersey won’t get much of a break this week—temperatures are climbing, and so is the humidity. The National Weather Service says the area should expect a heat advisory starting Thursday at noon, stretching until 8 p. m. Friday. That covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex coun

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Jun 10 2026POLITICS

New rules help Hagerstown save on property taxes

Starting last summer, Hagerstown in Maryland no longer has to pay certain property taxes on buildings that serve the public. This change covers places like sports centers and parks where people gather for fun or relaxation. The rule works for both land and the stuff built on it, as long as the main

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Jun 09 2026POLITICS

Faster US Visas Cost Extra – But Who Really Benefits?

Starting July, some US embassies will test a new way to speed up visa interviews. Instead of waiting months, applicants can pay an extra $750 on top of the usual $185 fee. The catch? Only certain embassies will offer this service at first, and even with the fast track, getting a visa isn’t guarantee

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Jun 09 2026FINANCE

Canada’s New Crypto Tax Rules: What You Need to Know

Starting in 2027, Canada plans to add new tax reporting rules for cryptocurrency transactions as part of Bill C-31. This change aims to make crypto dealings more transparent for tax purposes by integrating them into the federal income tax system. The goal is to collect user details like names, addre

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Jun 09 2026ENVIRONMENT

Heat waves hurt maize crops more than dry air in Northeast China

Northeast China grows a lot of corn—about a third of the country’s total. But the weather there has been getting more extreme. Scientists looked at 40 years of corn harvests, plant growth records, and weather data from local stations. Instead of blaming just rainfall or drought, they tested how heat

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Jun 06 2026HEALTH

Healthy Eyes Start with Simple Habits and Ancient Wisdom

Staring at screens all day makes eyes feel tired and dry almost instantly. But according to traditional herbal practices, the real problem begins long before those symptoms show up. Many people assume eye strain comes from overuse, yet traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) suggests deeper imbalances in

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Jun 04 2026EDUCATION

Planning for tomorrow’s schools today

School districts don’t work in isolation; they mirror the towns they serve. In the Freeport area, leaders have spent the past year not just running classrooms but also mapping out what those classrooms might look like years from now. Instead of focusing only on immediate needs like bus schedules or

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Jun 04 2026WEATHER

Northeast Ohio braces for summer storms after a dry spell

Northeast Ohio has enjoyed a stretch of clear, sunny days with little change in weather. From now until Friday, the region will stay mostly dry under a stable weather system pushing in from the north. Daily highs will rise gradually—from the mid-70s on Wednesday to the upper 80s by Friday—as warmer

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May 30 2026FINANCE

HSA Rules for 2027: What’s Changing and Why It Matters

Starting in 2027, people saving in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) will see slightly higher limits. Self-only plans can now accept up to $4, 500, while family plans rise to $9, 000. These adjustments follow inflation trends, meaning your money keeps up with rising costs. HSAs come with three big tax

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