BUD

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 19 2026CRIME

What Massachusetts Crime Victims Could Lose Without New Funding

Victims of crime in Massachusetts may soon face major service cuts unless state senators approve a last-minute funding boost. A proposed $13. 8 million amendment aims to prevent a 35% loss in support for programs helping survivors of domestic violence, child trafficking, and sexual assault. Without

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May 18 2026POLITICS

Reducing School Costs Through State‑Wide Health Coverage

School districts in Maine are facing a sharp rise in health insurance expenses. In one district with more than 600 staff members, premiums have climbed by over $1 million, pushing the total employer outlay to nearly $10 million. These figures only represent the portion paid by schools; employees the

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May 18 2026FINANCE

Budget Carelessness Weakens Nations

A growing debt problem means a nation can no longer act on its promises. When politicians focus on short‑term popularity—cutting taxes or adding programs that the budget cannot support—they give up long‑term stability. Even if a state or country has big ideas, its future is cut short by the co

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May 18 2026POLITICS

Property Tax Plan Draws Strong Opposition From Voters

The latest budget from Australia’s centre‑left government has sparked a sharp backlash among the public, according to two influential polls. The government announced changes that would reduce tax breaks for property investors, aiming to level the playing field across generations. Critics argue

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May 18 2026POLITICS

Trump’s Ballroom Funding Hits a Senate Snag

A recent Senate roadblock threatens to derail Republican efforts to funnel $1 billion into the White House ballroom project, raising questions about how public money gets spent on presidential whims. A top Senate official ruled that the funding proposal stretches beyond the usual budget rules, forci

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May 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

Why the US Navy picked the F/A-18 Super Hornet over a single-role fighter

The US Navy once relied on specialized fighters like the F-14 Tomcat, but today it mostly uses the F/A-18 Super Hornet, with the newer F-35C joining the fleet. The Navy considered replacing the Tomcat with a dedicated air superiority jet, but budget cuts and the end of the Cold War made that idea le

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May 16 2026TECHNOLOGY

Getting Smart About Money: How AI Can Help You Manage Your Cash

These days, AI isn’t just for telling jokes or writing essays. It’s also trying to become your personal money coach. A new tool lets ChatGPT peek at your bank accounts, credit cards, and even investment apps—but only if you want it to. Through a service called Plaid, the chatbot can pull in transact

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May 15 2026RELIGION

Buddhism’s Path Across Asia

Siddhartha Gautama, who would later be known as the Buddha, was born in a small village called Lumbini. Historians agree that this happened sometime around the middle of the sixth century B. C. , though some count it a little earlier. When he was about thirty‑five, the man who would become a teacher

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May 15 2026RELIGION

Taiwan: Where Old‑World Buddhism Finds a New Home

In the bustling streets of Taipei, amid neon signs and old colonial facades, a quiet religious tradition quietly thrives. The island’s Buddhist temples are not just places of prayer; they are living museums where Chinese folk beliefs, Taoist myths, and the original teachings of Siddhartha Gautama in

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