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Feb 15 2026OPINION

Parents Decide: Why Louisiana Should Fund the GATOR Program

The idea is simple: parents should guide their children’s schooling, not the state. Louisiana lawmakers are urged to approve Governor Landry’s request for full funding of the GATOR initiative, a popular school‑choice program. Last year, the Senate President hesitated to meet the budget request, but

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Feb 15 2026OPINION

Neighbors United: How Two Maine Towns Showed Love and Action

The recent winter brought more than snow to Lewiston and Portland. A sudden increase in ICE patrols sparked fear among immigrant families, especially those from Somalia, Afghanistan, the Congo, Angola and Ukraine. Their worries were clear in hushed conversations and hurried steps through town street

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Feb 15 2026OPINION

Kansas Tax Cuts Show Why Spending Matters

In 2012, Kansas lawmakers slashed income‑tax brackets and even set the rate for many small businesses to zero. The plan sounded like a boost for growth, but it left the state’s coffers thin. By 2014, general‑fund receipts had dropped by about $600 million – a hit that the state could not recover wit

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Feb 15 2026POLITICS

A Fresh Look at the Upcoming GOP Race

Senator Dan Foreman faces a tough challenge from Rep. Lori McCann in the next primary. McCann has already proven she can win close contests, beating him by 200 votes in a three‑way race two years ago. In that same year, Foreman won by about 400 votes. The real test is the general election.

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Feb 15 2026SPORTS

When a Sports Columnist Gets Stuck

The period right after the Super Bowl is a tough patch for Chicago sports writers. No Bulls are in the NBA All‑Star Game, the NHL is on a break for winter events, and the Cubs and White Sox are still in Arizona warming up. With no big local stories or national drama to chew on, the usual routi

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Feb 15 2026SPORTS

College Sports in a New Money Game

Washington State University is now part of a fast‑moving world where athletes can earn money and transfer schools at will. The old rules that kept players in one place for years have been replaced by a free‑market system. Players can now enter the transfer portal and move whenever they want, as long

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Feb 15 2026BUSINESS

Oregon’s Small Businesses Face a New Bankruptcy Surge

The state has seen a sharp rise in company bankruptcies, climbing 25 % last year to the highest level since 2013. Nationwide, many people and firms are filing for bankruptcy, but Oregon’s rate is almost four times faster than the national average. High interest rates and inflation are squeezin

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Feb 15 2026LIFESTYLE

Building Real Friendships: A Simple Story and Key Lessons

A farmer in a quiet village wanted to meet his neighbors, so he set up a big meal and asked his daughter to invite everyone. Instead of shouting about the feast, she ran out yelling that a fire had broken out and begged for help. A few neighbors came because they were ready to aid her, while others

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Feb 15 2026BUSINESS

A Luggage Dream That Fell Flat

The seventh season of the popular business show came in 2015, and among the hopefuls was a pair who called their suitcase “Trunkster. ” The idea was simple: a bag that rolls up and down, has a USB port, can be tracked with GPS, and even weighs itself. It was expensive – about $500 – but the founders

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Feb 15 2026POLITICS

Ukraine’s President Calls Russian Leader a “War Slave”

Zelensky delivered a sharp message at the Munich Security Conference, calling Russia’s president a “slave to war” and warning that the conflict will not end by giving up territory. He compared current negotiations to the 1938 Munich Agreement, where European powers gave in to Hitler before World War

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