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Jun 20 2026HEALTH

Measles concerns grow as World Cup visitors arrive in California

California is seeing a rise in measles cases just as thousands of soccer fans flood the state for the World Cup. A traveler from Hong Kong carrying the virus passed through Los Angeles International Airport on June 11, possibly exposing others to measles. That same week, another infected person trav

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Jun 19 2026POLITICS

Why California’s governors keep being Catholic

California often gets labeled as the most progressive state in America, full of tech billionaires and Hollywood dreams. But look closer and you’ll notice something odd: nearly every governor in recent decades has been Catholic. Five in a row, to be exact. That streak isn’t just a coincidence. The st

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Jun 18 2026POLITICS

Why missing Colorado’s June elections could shape your November choices

Colorado’s primary elections in June often get ignored despite how much they decide the November race. While November draws big crowds, June’s ballots go largely unopened—especially by unaffiliated voters who make up over half the state’s electorate. Many don’t realize they can vote in either party’

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Jun 17 2026POLITICS

California budget plan gets mixed reviews as new costs loom

California politicians recently approved a huge $356 billion spending plan that’s now waiting for the governor’s final okay. To pay for it, they’re adding three new tax ideas that could hit wallets soon. One plan extends a tax on health care providers that normally brings in money for Medi-Cal, but

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Jun 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

Why can driverless cars drive cities but not farms?

California first put rules in place for farm vehicles back in 1977, long before smartphones existed, let alone robots that could steer a tractor. Today’s farms use smart tools like AI cameras and GPS maps to grow food more carefully and cheaply. But those same farms are stuck with an old rule that s

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Jun 16 2026EDUCATION

How Oregon Helped Launch Big Names Nearly Anywhere

Oregon certainly isn’t just pine trees and rain—it’s a quiet springboard for outsized success across fields most people never connect to the state. Long before Phil Knight laced up his college sneakers or Steve Prefontaine set Oregon’s hills on fire in running shoes, the university was quietly stack

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Jun 16 2026POLITICS

Why Michigan leaders ignore local worries about big tech projects

Michigan’s governor has a habit of pushing big projects while brushing off public concerns. At a recent event celebrating a new data center, she seemed to dismiss opposition with a blunt remark. The message was clear: complaints don’t matter in the end. This isn’t just about one project—it’s about h

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Jun 14 2026BUSINESS

When Big Mergers Get Messy: The Fight Over a $111 Billion Hollywood Deal

California isn’t ready to let this mega-merger sail through smoothly. Even though federal regulators gave the green light to the Warner Bros. and Paramount Skydance union, state officials are digging deeper. The California Attorney General’s office just signaled it’s not backing down, hinting the de

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Jun 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Nye Beach water quality warning ends in Oregon

Oregon authorities recently removed a health notice about water conditions at Nye Beach in Newport. Officials had spotted higher than usual bacteria after testing the ocean water. Follow-up checks showed the bacteria levels dropped to normal, so the warning was taken down on June 12. The initial co

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Jun 12 2026POLITICS

California’s tax vote: Should high earners keep paying more for schools?

California voters will soon decide if wealthy residents should keep paying extra taxes to fund public schools. Enough signatures have been gathered to put the question on the November ballot. The proposal would lock in higher tax rates for top earners, originally approved in 2012 and extended in 201

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