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May 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Books that capture the same grit as The Wire

Crime fiction doesn’t get much sharper than the work of the writers behind The Wire. These authors turned their firsthand experience into gripping stories long before they shaped the show’s legendary writer’s room. Dennis Lehane’s Mystic River, for instance, drops readers into a childhood friendship

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May 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Meet Dudley: A tiny frog with big dreams

A new animated film about a young frog named Dudley is making waves before its official release in 2027. "Dudley and the Space Slugs" tells the story of an adolescent frog tired of his father’s rules. Arthur, the town mayor, keeps Dudley on a tight leash, which frustrates the young frog. His big bre

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May 17 2026WEATHER

A Great Day to Work Outside, But Storms May Follow

This weekend in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley starts with clear skies and warm temperatures—a perfect excuse to finally drag out the lawnmower or clean up the garden. With a dry breeze coming from Canada, today feels like summer arrived early. The air won’t feel sticky, and the sun should stick around

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May 17 2026HEALTH

Hotter Days Mean More Hidden Health Risks

Scientists have been warning for years that a warming planet brings more than heat waves. It also spreads diseases once locked in one place. The recent hantavirus scare on a cruise ship off South America shows how quickly tiny changes in temperature can shift danger zones. Argentina has seen a shar

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May 17 2026OPINION

Why solar and wind farms are facing resistance in rural America

The idea of cleaner energy sounds great on paper, but many rural communities are pushing back hard against massive solar and wind projects popping up in their backyards. What started as a wave of excitement about renewable energy has turned into a heated debate between landowners, developers, and ne

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May 17 2026HEALTH

Alabama’s youth face major gaps in mental health support

Alabama lands at the bottom of the country for young people’s mental health care, according to the latest national rankings. The state sits in 50th place—just one spot above last—when looking at how often mental health struggles appear in youth and how easy it is to get help. Alabama isn’t alone in

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May 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

Crypto and AI: The future of money or just a tech dream?

Money moves differently in the age of AI. While humans still rely on banks, paperwork, and 9-to-5 services, AI agents don’t sleep, don’t need passports, and don’t wait for approvals. That’s why crypto might be their natural home, not ours. Traditional finance was built for people—with borders, work

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May 17 2026CRYPTO

Crypto Crashes Hard As Big Money Wipes Out Traders

Here's what happened: crypto prices took a steep dive, and in just 24 hours, over 100, 000 traders lost their positions worth a total of $700 million. One unlucky Bitcoin trader alone got cleaned out for $21 million. This flood of forced closures isn’t just bad news for those traders—it makes things

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May 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

Smart Switches: Simple Upgrades for a Smarter Home

Smart home gadgets aren’t just for new houses with all the latest tech. Even in older homes packed with regular appliances, smart switches can add modern convenience without breaking the bank. These small devices plug into existing fixtures and give basic machines new superpowers. Instead of replaci

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May 17 2026EDUCATION

Music program changes spark debate in Highlands schools

A proposed shift in how music classes are scheduled at Highlands schools has parents and students concerned about what might disappear from the curriculum. The debate centers on whether to consolidate certain electives that don’t have enough students to run separately, like music theory and jam band

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