STATE OF AMERICAN

May 13 2026ENTERTAINMENT

New Plans for a Big Entertainment Zone Near Oklahoma City

Officials in Oklahoma and Norman have just launched building work for a huge entertainment area called the Rock Creek Entertainment District. This isn’t just another construction project—it’s a major step toward giving the area a fresh, lively boost. The plan isn’t just about building more stores or

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May 12 2026HEALTH

Staten Island trains workers to spot suicide and overdose risks at the same time

Staten Island is tackling two big problems—overdose deaths and suicide—by teaching frontline workers how to handle both at once. Around 300 people have already gone through a six-part training that mixes mental health and drug-use screening. The idea is to catch warning signs early, whether someone

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May 07 2026POLITICS

AI at the table: Next week's meeting could change tech talks

Officials from the US and China might add AI to the list of topics for their upcoming high-level meeting. The possible talks could happen during a summit planned for next week in Beijing. This isn't confirmed yet, but sources say both sides are looking at the idea seriously. The American team might

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May 04 2026POLITICS

Tech Money Meets Politics: Why AI and Crypto Are Changing Elections

Americans are spending record amounts on politics this cycle, but they're not happy about two rising players: AI and crypto. Fundraising reports show super PACs tied to these industries flooding races with cash to push their agendas. In some cases, their spending already matches what traditional par

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May 01 2026POLITICS

The British Royals Visit America: A Show of Splendor and Strangeness

Americans may have tossed tea into the harbor over 200 years ago to reject monarchy, but royal drama still draws huge crowds. This week, King Charles III and Queen Camilla swapped Buckingham Palace for Washington, D. C. , and New York in a carefully planned four-day tour meant to boost U. S. -U. K.

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Apr 27 2026POLITICS

Where U. S. and New Jersey politics stand right now—and who benefits

Americans see a president pushing policies that confuse even his own team. On Iran, Trump extended a shaky ceasefire while keeping pressure with a naval blockade that does little to change Tehran’s calculus. The Strait of Hormuz stays tense, and Iran’s leaders show no sign of backing down. Meanwhile

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Apr 21 2026POLITICS

Prediction Markets: Who Gets to Tax Them?

States want to raise money from online prediction sites, but they’re not sure what those sites actually are. The debate centers on whether the sites should be treated like sports betting, financial derivatives, or something else entirely. If they’re seen as gambling, states could tax them the sam

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Apr 21 2026WEATHER

Cold Weather and Pollen Alert for Staten Island

Staten Island residents can expect a sharp temperature dip after Monday’s brief showers. The National Weather Service says it will be partly sunny in the morning, with a high around 54°F. At night, the temperature will plunge nearly 20 degrees, settling near 34°F by Tuesday morning. Sunlight

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Apr 21 2026POLITICS

Gas prices: Why official predictions keep changing

Officials keep giving different answers about when gas prices might drop. First they said weeks, then months, then maybe never before the election. Energy Secretary Chris Wright started with a confident \"weeks\" timeline in early March. By April, he called summer a \"very aggressive\" guess. Just d

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Apr 20 2026WEATHER

Spring Weather Switch: Rain, Wind, and Allergies Hit Staten Island

Staten Island is about to face a spring mood swing this week. After a taste of warm 80-degree days last week, the upcoming forecast is bringing it back to typical spring unpredictability. Rain showers are expected to roll in starting Sunday, kicking off a stretch of days that feel more like April th

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