Greece and Cyprus are making a big change for New Year's Eve in 2026. Instead of loud fireworks, they are opting for quieter celebrations. This shift is all about making the festivities more enjoyable for everyone, especially kids and pets. Athens started this trend last year with "quiet" fireworks
Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest point in 2025, giving homebuyers a bit of good news as the year comes to a close. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is now at 6. 15%, down from 6. 18% the previous week. This is a significant drop from the start of the year, when rates were aro
The EPA has decided to control the use of five common chemicals called phthalates. These chemicals are used to make plastics flexible. The EPA says these chemicals can harm workers and the environment. EPA head Lee Zeldin said the agency used solid science to make this decision. He said the chemica
The workforce is getting older, and big companies are starting to notice. Some are taking steps to keep older workers around, while others are lagging behind. Walmart, for example, is tweaking jobs to suit older employees. Microsoft is offering extra care to support aging workers. Google is helping
Valencia High School's jazz choir, Two N' Four, is making waves. They've been invited to sing at the 2026 Jazz Education Network International Conference in New Orleans. This is a big deal! It's like the Olympics for jazz education. The choir needs to raise $7, 500 for flights. Every member should g
At Disney World, a brave employee named Robert stepped up during a live stunt show to shield spectators from a runaway prop. The incident happened during the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Hollywood Studios. A massive boulder, meant to chase the titular character, veered off course and hea
Clinicians at Legacy Health have a new deal to consider. This comes after a strike that started on December 2nd. The group, which includes nurse practitioners, physician associates, and clinical nurse specialists, is represented by the Oregon Nurses Association. They unionized late last year and wor
Florida is in the middle of a big debate about straws. Some people think paper straws are better for the environment. But now, there's a new problem: paper straws might not be as safe as we thought. A new bill in Florida wants to stop cities and towns from making their own rules about straws. The b
A night out in Fort Lauderdale's entertainment district turned scary when five people got shot. It happened early Sunday morning, around 2 a. m. on December 28. Police and the FBI are now looking for the person or people responsible. When cops arrived, they found five adults hurt. All of them were
In 2025, crypto wallets started to look a lot more like regular banking apps. People used them for more than just trading. They started spending money with them too. This shift shows that crypto is becoming a part of everyday life, not just something for investors. Trading was still big in 2025. Th
