CAT

Nov 23 2025SPORTS

College Football's Wild Ride: Who's In, Who's Out, and Who's Fighting for a Spot?

College football is heating up, and the stakes are higher than ever. With the College Football Playoff (CFP) spots up for grabs, teams are fighting tooth and nail to secure their place. The ACC is a mess, with three teams tied at the top. Virginia, SMU, and Pittsburgh all have just one conference loss, and Miami is still hoping for an at-large spot. It's anyone's gam...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 23 2025EDUCATION

Is More Money Always Better for Schools?

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, the idea that more money equals better test scores isn't always true. Some schools spend a lot per student but don't see high test results. Why? Because it's not just about the money. Things like where the school is and who the students are make a big difference. Experts say that schools with more students who need extra help, like thos...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 23 2025EDUCATION

New York's New Mayor: A Chance to Fix Schools

Zohran Mamdani is now in charge of New York City's schools. This is a big job. He has to make sure kids get a good education. But it's not easy. There are many problems. Some people want to talk about who controls the schools. Others want to talk about special programs for smart kids. But the real problem is in the classrooms. There are 78, 000 of them. Mamdani needs...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 23 2025EDUCATION

A Special Day of Giving and Growing at Altoona High

At Altoona Area High School, a unique tradition brings students and staff together in a way that goes beyond typical classroom learning. The Friendsgiving event is a big deal, not just for the delicious food but for the sense of community and personal growth it fosters. This year, nearly 70 Life Skills students took charge of planning, preparing, and hosting a Thank...

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Nov 23 2025EDUCATION

ODU and Google Join Forces to Boost AI Education

Old Dominion University (ODU) has taken a big step forward by teaming up with Google to create MonarchSphere, an AI incubator. This isn't just about using AI; it's about building a whole new way for students and teachers to work together with businesses to tackle real-life problems. The university's president, Brian O. Hemphill, sees this as a game-changer. He belie...

reading time less than a minute
Nov 23 2025SCIENCE

How Our Brain Uses What We See

The occipitotemporal cortex (OTC) in our brain is quite the multitasker. It's not just about recognizing faces, bodies, or scenes. It's about using what we see to guide our actions. Some researchers argue that we should shift our focus. Instead of just looking at categories like faces or places, we should see how the OTC helps us act on what we observe. This makes s...

reading time less than a minute
Nov 23 2025HEALTH

Maine Takes Bold Steps to Boost Youth Mental Health

Maine is stepping up to tackle the growing mental health crisis among young people. A big donation of $1. 6 million from David Evans Shaw is fueling a new project called the SHAW Challenge. This isn't just another quick fix. It's a four-year plan to make a real difference in schools and communities across the state. The SHAW Challenge is all about building a strong ...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 23 2025BUSINESS

Retirement Venture: Is a Winery the Right Move?

Retirement can be a time to relax, but for some, it's also a chance to start something new. One person is thinking about investing a big chunk of their savings into a winery. Is this a smart move or a risky gamble? Wine making is a tough business. Not many wineries are doing really well right now. Younger people are drinking less wine, and there are health concerns ...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 23 2025TECHNOLOGY

How Fiber Optics Are Boosting Data Speeds

Fiber-optic communication is changing how we send data. It uses light to transmit information, making it super fast and reliable. One key technology is DWDM, which packs multiple data streams into a single fiber. This boosts the amount of data that can be sent at once. But how do we measure how well it works? Experts look at how much noise affects the signal. Noise ...

reading time less than a minute
Nov 23 2025BUSINESS

Saying Goodbye: A Guide to Sharing a Life Well-Lived

In St. Paul, the city council has made a decision that might affect how people remember their loved ones. They've banned cryptocurrency kiosks, which might seem unrelated, but it's a sign of how technology is changing even our most traditional practices. When someone passes away, families often want to share their loved one's story. In St. Paul, this can be done thr...

reading time about 1 minute