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Apr 30 2026WEATHER

Rain Arrives in New Jersey, Bringing Relief from Drought

New Jersey will see a spread of rain starting in the west by late Wednesday afternoon and moving east toward the coast early Thursday. The showers could drop between a quarter inch and three‑quarters of an inch, giving much-needed moisture to the state. Around the same time, isolated thunderstorm

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Apr 30 2026POLITICS

Gary leaders share big wins and next big challenges

Gary’s mayor pulled back the curtain on the city’s latest progress during his annual speech, but not everyone agrees on what counts as real improvement. While crime numbers look better than they have in decades—homicides dropped 30% from 2024 to 2025 and gun deaths fell by 24%—critics say those wins

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Apr 30 2026CRIME

What happens when a group promises freedom but delivers control? UK cult crackdown raises tough questions

UK police arrested nine people last month after a woman spoke up about severe abuses inside a religious group. The arrests happened at Webb House, a former orphanage turned commune in Crewe where over 100 people lived. Authorities confirmed six men and three women were taken into custody, including

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Apr 30 2026POLITICS

Pressure on Trump to speak up for imprisoned religious figures ahead of key China meeting

Former officials from Trump’s first term are pushing the former president to bring up the cases of religious prisoners during his upcoming talks with China’s leader. Over 20 national security experts signed a letter urging Trump to press Xi Jinping to free a detained Protestant pastor and a prominen

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Apr 28 2026POLITICS

Small Village, Big Conflict

In the quiet village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon, a sudden air attack left two soldiers wounded and three rescue workers trapped beneath rubble. Lebanese army officials confirmed the injuries, while civil defense reports say a joint effort is underway to free those buried. The Israeli forces

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Apr 28 2026WEATHER

Rain Brings Hopeful Relief to Dry New Jersey

New Jersey’s long‑dry spell may finally get a break. Late Wednesday, rain will roll in from the west and linger into Thursday night. The National Weather Service says showers could bring between a quarter inch and three‑quarters of an inch of water, though stronger bursts might produce more. The

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Apr 28 2026RELIGION

The Real Talk About a Bishop’s Year on a Faith‑Freedom Panel

A Catholic bishop accepted an invitation from the White House to sit on a new commission focused on religious liberty. He was surprised by how quickly his name appeared and how the invitation made sense, given his church’s long history of championing faith rights. Over the course of a year, the g

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Apr 28 2026RELIGION

Why young adults are choosing spiritual classes in big numbers

Every year, more than a million young people worldwide sign up for faith-based classes run by the Church. These classes, called Seminaries and Institutes, have hit a record enrollment just as the program turns 100 years old. The leader of the Church, President Oaks, recently sent videos urging 14-to

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Apr 27 2026SPORTS

Five‑Year Playtime: College Athletes Get Extra Years

The NCAA has moved a step closer to changing how long student‑athletes can compete. A new plan would let Division I players use five years to play, instead of the usual four. The extra year would start in the first school year after a player finishes high school or turns 19, whichever comes fi

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Apr 27 2026POLITICS

Israel Escalates Attacks in Eastern Lebanon Despite Ceasefire

Israel launched new air raids on the eastern part of Lebanon, breaking the calm that a ceasefire agreement had tried to bring. The strikes hit areas in the Bekaa Valley for the first time since mid‑April, when a U. S. ‑mediated pause had reduced but not stopped fighting with the Iranian‑backed group

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