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May 20 2026POLITICS

When New York’s top bosses meet the mayor, who blinks first?

New York City’s business leaders had a golden chance to push back when Mayor Mamdani invited them for quick chats last week. The stated goal was smoothing feathers ruffled by his flashy social media post about billionaire Ken Griffin. Yet somehow Griffin’s name vanished from the private talks with J

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May 20 2026POLITICS

Austin’s Big Plan Falls Short on Business Growth

Austin’s next big development plan, set to be approved soon, promises big changes for the city. But so far, it’s mostly just words. The city talks about improving life here, yet the main focus seems to be on parks, trails, and housing—not business. Sure, some projects like new trails and a medical r

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May 20 2026HEALTH

Why Ebola in Africa is getting less attention than a cruise ship virus

Health experts are scratching their heads over why the world seems more worried about a handful of hantavirus cases on a cruise ship than a massive Ebola outbreak in Africa. While passengers played bingo on the water, a rare strain of Ebola was quietly tearing through the Democratic Republic of Cong

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May 20 2026TECHNOLOGY

A New Way to Build Homes Faster and Cheaper

Most people picture houses being built slowly on-site with cranes and lumber. One company, though, is doing things differently. They build entire homes in a factory, then fold them flat for easy transport. Once on site, these units unfold and lock into place like giant LEGO pieces. The idea isn’t ne

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May 20 2026POLITICS

Why Maine’s Spending Habits Aren’t Fixing Its Cost Problems

Maine keeps raising taxes and throwing cash at problems, but the state still struggles with high costs. Over the last few years, spending jumped from $7. 2 billion to over $12 billion. That’s a massive jump, but most people aren’t feeling the benefits. Instead of cutting waste or helping regular fam

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May 20 2026EDUCATION

Schools need more money—here's how the budget hike affects local homeowners

The Baldwin-Whitehall school system plans to spend about 100. 7 million dollars next year, which is nearly 10 million more than this year’s spending. To cover the gap, leaders suggest raising property taxes by 4. 7 percent. The current tax rate sits at 25 mills, but if the plan passes, it will climb

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May 20 2026LIFESTYLE

A Local Bar Gets a Fresh Makeover While Keeping Its Heart

The Idle Hour in Mount Morris wasn’t always a hotspot, but new owners Megan and Britton Brooks are changing that. Since buying the place in early 2024, they’ve given the back patio a glow-up, upgraded the stage for live music, and added more fun events like themed bingo nights and adult prom. But th

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May 20 2026HEALTH

Older adults and the quiet battle against hidden risks

A long-term study in Brazil tracked over a thousand older adults to see how their daily lives connected to their safety. Researchers checked in three times over a decade, asking about their work, social habits, and support systems. The focus wasn’t just on physical harm but on how vulnerable they fe

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May 19 2026CRIME

A Phone on a Bus Turns into a Tragedy

One ordinary Friday, a Cincinnati bus ride turned fatal when a 52‑year‑old passenger was shot three times over a borrowed cell phone. The victim, who had lent his device to a fellow rider, was killed while the other man fled. The accused, 27‑year‑old Leonte Coston, faces murder charges that could ke

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May 19 2026HEALTH

Community rallies after risky school experiment leads to serious injury

When a routine science experiment at Greeneview High School turned dangerous last week, the small town of Jamestown didn’t just watch from the sidelines—it stepped up in a big way. Chloe Walker, a student there, suffered severe burns covering over 40% of her body after a fire broke out during class.

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