INFRASTRUCTURE

Apr 29 2026POLITICS

Fixing Michigan’s old dams: Why a billion-dollar plan matters

Michigan has over 2, 500 dams, most built more than a century ago to power mills or control water. Many now leak, crack, or no longer serve their original purpose. Between 2021 and today, the state spent $44. 5 million trying to fix the worst ones. Experts say that’s not nearly enough. A new report

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Apr 29 2026BUSINESS

Small shops fear more train shutdowns will break them

The G train in Brooklyn is taking another long nap. For ten more weekends through 2026 it will stay parked, plus some overnight weekday snoozes. Local leaders say the MTA keeps launching the same summer track fixes they tried last year and the year before, making the same promises that never seem qu

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Apr 28 2026TECHNOLOGY

IREN Shifts From Bitcoin Mining to AI Cloud, Stock Target Adjusted

Irene’s stock rating dropped from $125 to $100 per share after analysts noted the company is moving away from cryptocurrency mining toward large‑scale artificial intelligence services. The change does not signal a decline in IREN’s AI plans, but reflects two separate issues: the company is cutting b

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Apr 27 2026TECHNOLOGY

Itron Faces Cyber Intrusion, Claims Systems Safe

A U. S. energy‑tech firm called Itron said it was hit by a cyberattack in mid‑April, with hackers slipping into its network. The company filed a notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, telling investors it had been “notified” of an intruder. It didn’t name who warned it, but co

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Apr 26 2026FINANCE

Yorkville’s budget plan for 2027: What’s inside and why it matters

Yorkville is getting ready for its financial future with a 2027 budget that promises a steady five-year outlook. The city has set aside $27. 9 million for its general fund, enough to cover its yearly expenses without running short. This budget passed smoothly during an April meeting, kicking off a n

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Apr 25 2026TECHNOLOGY

Batteries Join Gas Plants to Power AI and Data Centers

Data centers need reliable power for AI tasks like training models. To meet this demand, companies are pairing fast-responding batteries with slower natural gas generators. This combo helps fill sudden energy gaps that gas plants can't handle alone. Batteries discharge power quickly, protect gas tur

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Apr 25 2026OPINION

Will trains make a comeback in Colorado?

Colorado is bringing back passenger trains after a long break. The new service will run three times a day between Fort Collins and Denver starting in 2027. It’s a big change from 1967, when the last passenger train left the tracks. Back then, people listened to songs like “Penny Lane” and “Purple Ha

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Apr 25 2026FINANCE

Big Loan Approved for Tanzania’s Railway Upgrade: Who’s Paying and Why It Matters

Tanzania is getting a massive $2. 2 billion loan to expand its railway network, with Standard Chartered leading the deal. This isn’t just a regular business transaction—it involves export credit agencies and development banks, meaning taxpayers in other countries may also be backing the project. The

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Apr 19 2026TECHNOLOGY

Alcoa’s Idle Smelter Finds New Life as Bitcoin Mining Hub

Alcoa, a major player in the aluminum industry, is close to selling its long‑abandoned Massena East smelter in upstate New York. The plant, which stopped operating in 2014 because of high energy bills and tough global competition, sits along the St. Lawrence River and is ready for a new purpose.

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Apr 19 2026FINANCE

Old factories get new life in the age of digital mining

Industrial buildings that once made metal now find new purpose feeding computers instead. In upstate New York, a shuttered aluminum plant along the St. Lawrence River could soon hum with activity again, not for smelting aluminum, but for minting digital coins. The facility has stayed dark since 2014

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