In late January, a new spot opened in downtown Salem’s historic building known as The Forge. The venue sits on the basement floor at 285 Liberty St. NE and offers a relaxed space for gatherings of all kinds. The owner, Nat Borchers, runs Back Line Real Estate and co‑owns The Forge. He used to play
A Chinese gig‑app that let people pay for someone to bow at Lunar New Year celebrations was shut down after users complained. The service showed a worker in orange, kneeling before an elderly couple, and many people found the idea offensive. Critics said turning filial piety into a paid act hurt
In the small community of Tumbler Ridge, located deep in British Columbia’s Rocky Mountains, leaders from across Canada gathered to honor those lost in a recent shooting that shocked the nation. Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with opposition figures Pierre Poilievre and Yves‑François Blanchet, pu
A new law was meant to shine a light on deaths that happen in county jails. The idea was simple: an independent office would look into every case, tell families what happened, and make sure mistakes were fixed. But a year after the law went live, no single review has been finished. The problem star
Clairton, a small town in Pennsylvania, is known for its strong football team, the Bears. But now, the town is trying something new to help its students. The Clairton City School District has started a program called Beartopia. It's a fun way to teach kids about leadership, responsibility, and creat
College sports are getting a financial boost from an unexpected source: private equity. The University of Utah has just made history by teaming up with a private equity firm to support its athletics programs. This deal is a big shift from the usual way things are done. The university has set up a fo
Chicago is taking a big step. It wants to sell about $1 billion in debt. This debt comes from things like unpaid parking tickets. The city is hoping investors will buy this debt. But there's a catch. A top finance official says this is risky. The official warns it might be costly. Investors might no
A new fund is making waves in Africa's creative scene. The Next Narrative Africa Fund (NNAF) is putting $50 million into African stories. This money will go into films, TV shows, and new media projects. The fund wants to show that Africa's creative industry is not just a small market. It's a big opp
In the United States, a significant change is happening in the small-business world. Many business owners, especially those from the baby boomer generation, are getting ready to retire. This means that a lot of businesses will soon need new owners. These businesses are important because they provide
In the heart of Brooklyn, an 81-year-old man lost his life on a cold rooftop. Everet Goldberg, a long-time resident of a six-story building, was found dead on the roof of his apartment building. He had been trying to cross the icy roof to avoid using the broken elevator on his side of the building.
