ART

May 14 2026POLITICS

Chamber Threatens Court Battle Over Portland Arts Tax Revamp

The largest business group in Portland is ready to sue the city council if it moves forward with a plan to change the city’s arts tax. In a letter sent to all 12 council members, the Chamber said that lawmakers cannot alter taxes without voters’ consent. The warning is stronger than before; it sp

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May 14 2026CRYPTO

KDDI Buys a Piece of Japan’s Crypto Market

KDDI, one of the biggest phone companies in Japan, is buying 14. 9 % of Coincheck Group for $65 million. The deal means KDDI will own 28. 5 million new shares at $2. 28 each, and it should finish in June. Coincheck said the purchase is part of a larger partnership. Both firms will share customers,

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May 14 2026HEALTH

Heart Disease Surge in Africa: What the Health System Can Do

Recent data show that heart attacks and related problems are climbing fast in sub‑Saharan Africa. Cities grow, people eat differently, and many now live with high blood pressure or diabetes—factors that feed this trend. Because the region’s hospitals were built mainly to fight infections and hel

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May 14 2026HEALTH

Home Comfort Lowers Blood Pressure

A study examined how moving into new, well‑insulated apartments with good ventilation affects people’s blood pressure. Researchers measured participants’ BP twice a year for two years before the move and again after they settled in. They tracked morning and evening readings for nearly 180 people eac

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May 14 2026POLITICS

Big Day for the PM, Bigger Problems at Home

The annual State Opening of Parliament is usually a show of tradition and stability in British politics. This year, it became another pressure point for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Just hours before King Charles delivered a speech outlining the government's plans, whispers turned into real talk—Hea

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May 14 2026BUSINESS

Walmart’s Tech Shake-Up: Why 1, 000 Jobs Are on the Move

Walmart is reshuffling about 1, 000 tech and AI workers, but don’t blame the robots—at least not directly. The cuts aren’t about AI replacing human roles. Instead, the retail giant spent the past year merging three separate tech teams (for U. S. stores, Sam’s Club, and international operations) into

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May 13 2026SPORTS

Chicago’s New Stadium Gets a Big Name: McDonald’s Park

The Chicago Fire soccer team has just announced that its upcoming stadium, located at The 78 in the South Loop, will be called McDonald’s Park. This naming deal is a first for the fast‑food giant in a U. S. professional sports venue and will last until at least 2040. The Fire’s owner, Joe Mansueto,

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May 13 2026CRIME

Airbnb steps up checks before busy holiday weekend

This Memorial Day weekend could see thousands of Airbnb bookings get extra screening. The company says it uses software to spot rentals likely to host parties. Guests who raise red flags—like booking a whole house last minute or having a history of disruptive stays—may get blocked or steered toward

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May 13 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Behind the scenes of Hollywood: A family’s food fight against chaos

A reality show has taken a fresh bite out of Hollywood’s usual behind-the-scenes drama. Instead of gossip about A-list actors or director meltdowns, this one zooms in on the real MVPs—the people feeding entire film crews every day. The family at the heart of it has cooked meals across icy northern O

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May 13 2026EDUCATION

How Philadelphia can make fairer school decisions

Philadelphia is dealing with big choices about schools—some might close while others may need renewal. These aren’t just numbers on a page; buildings left empty and fewer students mean tough times for neighborhoods. But when schools shut down or charters lose approval, whole families feel it. Parent

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