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Oct 30 2025POLITICS

Washington's 2026 Harvest: A Looming Labor Crisis

The harvest season in Central Washington is wrapping up, and it's been a good one. Farmers have had the support they needed, and the crops are looking healthy. But looking ahead to 2026, there's a big question mark hanging over the next harvest. The reason? A perfect storm of immigration policies and economic pressures is brewing, and it could leave farmers scramblin...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 29 2025CRIME

The Martha Moxley Murder: A Half-Century Old Mystery

Fifty years ago, a shocking crime shook the quiet town of Belle Haven in Greenwich, Connecticut. Fifteen-year-old Martha Moxley was found dead under a pine tree in her backyard. She had been brutally attacked with a golf club and a piece of it. Her pants and underwear were pulled down, but there was no sign of sexual assault. This crime was rare in such a wealthy and...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 27 2025BUSINESS

Local Leaders Make Waves in Their Fields

In the world of engineering, Mehdi Mehrabi, Ph. D. , P. E. , has just taken on a big new role. He's now the manager of the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) division at McCarthy Engineering Associates Inc. Mehrabi isn't new to the game. He's been a senior mechanical engineer there for a while, bringing a lot of experience and know-how to his new position. Un...

reading time about 2 minutes
Oct 26 2025ENVIRONMENT

Boosting Composting with Heat-Loving Microbes

Farm waste is a big deal. It can pollute the environment and harm soil health. But what if we could turn it into something useful? Scientists are looking into ways to make composting better, especially when dealing with waste that has heavy metals in it. One way to do this is by using microbes. These tiny organisms can help break down waste and make it safer. Scient...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 24 2025BUSINESS

Europe's Winter Grain Planting Gets a Weather Break

Europe's farmers are having a better time planting winter grains this year. The weather has been kinder than in the past two years. This could mean more stable grain areas, even though prices are low. The early part of October was dry. This let farmers plant a lot before the wetter weather came. The rain that's coming should help the crops grow. Soft wheat is Europ...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 24 2025POLITICS

Mexico and US Talk Cattle Border Reopening Amid Worm Crisis

A big problem is brewing between Mexico and the US. It's all about cattle and a nasty pest called the screwworm. This worm eats flesh and can kill animals. It's been spreading from Central America into Mexico. Now, it's causing tension between the two countries. Mexico's agriculture minister is heading to Washington. He wants to talk about opening the border for Mex...

reading time less than a minute
Oct 20 2025ENVIRONMENT

Smart Farming: How Healthy Soil Can Save You Money

Soil health is not just good for the planet; it's also good for your wallet. Recent research shows that farmers who adopt soil health practices can save money and even boost their income. This is big news for those who thought improving soil health would only cost more. The study looked at 20 farms in Southcentral Nebraska. It found that farmers who used soil health...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 19 2025EDUCATION

Helping Kids Who Struggle with Reading

Kids who don't like reading can be a big challenge for parents. It's not just about getting them to read, but also making sure they enjoy it. Reading is super important for kids. It helps them learn better, do well in school, and even understand their feelings. But sometimes, kids resist reading because they feel nervous or find it hard. There are many reasons why k...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 16 2025SCIENCE

The Tiny World of the Rice Weevil: A Winning Perspective

In the vast world of tiny things, a single image can tell a big story. A photo of a rice weevil perched on a grain of rice has taken the top spot in the 2025 Nikon Small World contest. This isn't just any photo; it's a close-up that shows the intricate details of a common pest. The photographer, Zhang You from Yunnan, China, managed to capture something special. Anot...

reading time about 1 minute
Oct 15 2025ENVIRONMENT

Turning Trash into Treasure: How Bugs Can Help Farms and Fish Tanks

Aquaculture is growing fast. This means more fish farms, and more fish waste. This waste is wet and hard to deal with. It costs a lot to get rid of. But what if this waste could be turned into something useful? Enter the black soldier fly. These bugs are like tiny recycling machines. They can eat organic waste and turn it into two useful things. First, the bugs them...

reading time about 1 minute