ORA

Mar 21 2026BUSINESS

Money back after gym chain kept charging during shutdown

Thousands of former gym members in Massachusetts are getting refunds after being charged during a lockdown. Courts said the chain’s CEO broke rules by billing people in April 2020, even though all locations were closed. Customers tried canceling in every way possible—calls, emails, messages—but the

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Mar 21 2026HEALTH

A Small-Town Clinic’s Big Comeback

In Pineville, South Carolina, a once-forgotten health clinic has reopened its doors after years of neglect. The Maude E. Callen Clinic, which opened in 1953, was a lifeline for Berkeley County’s low-income families—especially Black women and children. For decades, it provided care where hospitals we

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Mar 20 2026EDUCATION

Kids Explore Space and Shipwrecks During Spring Break at Two Museum Spots

The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is adding a second temporary location for the busy spring break season. From March 27 to April 4, visitors can go to a new space‑themed site in the Grand Traverse Mall. The setup lets kids build, experiment and ask questions about astronomy and other STEM topics in

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Mar 20 2026TECHNOLOGY

Signal Founder Teams Up With Meta to Secure AI Chats

Moxie Marlinspike, the mind behind Signal, has announced a partnership with Meta to weave his AI privacy tech into the company’s new chatbot. The move aims to make sure that conversations stay private even when powered by artificial intelligence. The new AI, called Confer, is already built on a fou

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Mar 19 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Saving Earth: How a Crazy Idea Became a Sci-Fi Adventure

In 2021, a book hit the shelves that didn't just tell an out-of-this-world story—it built a world based on real science. "Project Hail Mary" isn't about superheroes or magic; it's about a scientist waking up on a spaceship with no memory, only to realize he might be humanity's last hope against a su

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Mar 19 2026ENVIRONMENT

The Hidden Battles to Restore Nature Before It’s Too Late

Scientists working behind the scenes aren’t waiting for politicians to act—they’re already using clever tricks to fix Earth’s big problems. One big issue they’re tackling is dirt. By 2050, some places might run out of healthy soil, which is like losing the foundation for growing food. Instead of jus

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Mar 18 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Upcoming Korean and Vietnamese films at Hong Kong's FilMart

FilMart in Hong Kong is buzzing with fresh Asian film projects, particularly from Korea and Vietnam. Among the highlights is Mr. Shota's Last Business Trip, a Korea-Japan collaboration. The drama follows two strangers in Japan—a tired office worker and a young Korean traveler—who bond over deliverin

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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Future Firefighters Get a Boost in Ponchatoula

Air Products has given $18, 000 to the Ponchatoula Volunteer Fire Department’s High School Program. The money will help ten students start a career in emergency services during the 2025‑2026 school year. The grant comes from Air Products Lake Maurepas Community Fund, a local charity arm of the co

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Mar 17 2026SCIENCE

Why Bamboo Sheaths Change Color: A Simple Look at the Science

"Bamboo is famous for tasty shoots, but what makes their outer sheaths look so different? Scientists studied five types of a popular bamboo called Chimonobambusa utilis. Each type was named C1 through C5, and researchers measured how bright or dull each sheath looked. One variety, C1, had a very lig

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Mar 16 2026BUSINESS

Horizon and Monroe Shareholders Give the Green Light to a New Deal

Horizon Technology Finance and Monroe Capital held separate votes, both ending in approval for the merger plan. The deal means Horizon will acquire Monroe, and shareholders from both sides had to agree on the terms. Horizon’s investors backed a proposal that would issue new shares as part of the

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