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Mar 12 2026POLITICS

Budget Cuts Hit Early Learning and Schools in Washington

Washington lawmakers agreed on a new budget that will raise overall spending but slash money for early childhood programs and public schools. The plan pulls almost a billion dollars from the state’s rainy‑day reserve and adds a modest tax hike to cover the gaps. Even with these cuts, total state spe

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Mar 11 2026EDUCATION

Anchorage Schools Face Tough Choices, Voters Hold the Key

The Anchorage School District finished its spring break with a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2027, but the path to that balance was paved with hard cuts. Facing a $90 million shortfall at the start of this cycle, leaders had to make decisions none wanted. They trimmed administrative costs and cut

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Mar 06 2026POLITICS

China Cuts Waste, Aims for Smart Spending

Lan Fo’an told reporters that the government cannot keep spending endlessly. The finance minister said money is not endless, so every dollar must earn something back. He announced a smaller stimulus plan for this year. The goal is to reduce wasteful costs across ministries. He added that n

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Mar 06 2026POLITICS

Closed Meetings Block Budget Cuts in Elmhurst

Elmhurst’s finance committee, tasked with trimming the city budget, has spent most of its time in private sessions. Since late January, about two‑thirds of the committee’s hours have been closed to the public. In total, members met privately for roughly three and a half hours while only two hours we

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Mar 03 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Sony Gains Full Control of Peanuts

Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Sony Pictures Entertainment have secured an 80‑percent stake in the Peanuts franchise, paying $460 million to acquire the remaining shares from WildBrain. Sony Music Japan already owned 39 percent since 2018, so this deal adds another 41 percent and brings the belo

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Feb 24 2026FINANCE

Fed Holds Off on Rate Cuts While Inflation Sticks Above Target

The Chicago Fed chief, Austan Goolsbee, told a Washington conference that cutting interest rates now would be premature because inflation still lingers above the 2 % goal. He warned that past mistakes of assuming price rises were temporary should not be repeated. Goolsbee highlighted the latest d

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Feb 18 2026EDUCATION

School Money Crisis: Why Teachers and Students Are In Trouble

The state budget for 2027 has sparked anger among Connecticut school leaders. Superintendent Steven Rioux of Putnam Public Schools is asking the town to raise property taxes by 7. 23 %—a jump from last year’s 1. 66 %. He says the district needs $1. 6 million more to cover rising costs for health ins

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Feb 18 2026EDUCATION

LAUSD Faces Tough Choices: Job Cuts on the Table

The Los Angeles Unified School District is at a crossroads. Big changes might be coming. The Board of Education is thinking about a plan that could mean fewer jobs. This isn't a done deal yet. But if they go ahead, many people could lose their jobs. Why is this happening? Money is tight. The distri

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Feb 16 2026OPINION

Protecting Students with Medical Needs: Why School Nurses Matter

In Alaska, schools are facing tough choices about budgets. One area that's often on the chopping block is school nurses. But for kids with serious medical conditions, like Type 1 diabetes, having a nurse at school isn't just a comfort—it's a necessity. Type 1 diabetes isn't something that can be ma

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Feb 15 2026HEALTH

Flying Doctors Keep Lesotho’s Mountain Villages Alive

The highlands of Lesotho are a maze of peaks and valleys, making roads rare and travel hard. A team of doctors and nurses flies in helicopters to reach people who otherwise have no way to see a doctor. One of the team’s members, a young dental therapist, has been flying into these remote spots for e

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