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May 17 2026OPINION

Portland’s Creative Pulse is Fading Fast

Portland still brags about being a city where art and small businesses thrive. But the places that once made it special are disappearing—not all at once, but one by one, like ice melting in spring. Rents are skyrocketing, forcing artists, writers, and shop owners to work extra jobs just to scrape by

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May 17 2026EDUCATION

Public colleges face tough questions about their future

Public universities were built to lift people up, not shut them out. But today, many wonder if these schools still serve the public good. Rising costs make families hesitate before signing up. Some question whether degrees still lead to good jobs. Others doubt if universities are spending money wise

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May 17 2026SPORTS

When Coaches and Their Families Cross the Line

Fran McCaffery spent 15 years coaching Iowa basketball, turning the team into a regular NCAA Tournament contender and earning a solid 297-207 record. But his time in Iowa City ended badly, partly because of friction with local media personalities. The most well-known was Gary Dolphin, the long-time

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May 17 2026CELEBRITIES

Two words that kept a marriage strong for over two decades

Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Brad Paisley have been married for 23 years, and she credits their lasting relationship to two simple words: “Don’t leave. ” Speaking at a film festival, she explained that the phrase sums up their approach to marriage—staying together through busy times and quiet momen

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May 17 2026HEALTH

Hospital techs get better pay after tense talks

A deal was struck just in time to avoid a walkout by hospital technicians who handle everything from X-rays to breathing machines. The agreement gives around 230 techs a raise of at least 3% over three years, plus extra pay for experience and limits on last-minute schedule changes. Most workers—96%—

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May 17 2026HEALTH

Understanding why newborns die in poorer countries

Many newborns in Africa and South Asia die from infections that doctors never get to diagnose in time. A big study tracked deaths in babies under a month old across seven countries—six in Africa and one in South Asia. Scientists looked at tissue samples after each death to find out exactly which ger

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May 17 2026LIFESTYLE

Simple Living in Western PA: Why Some Choose to Go Off-Grid

In Western Pennsylvania, a small but growing number of people are choosing to live without relying on local utilities or modern technology. They grow their own food, collect rainwater, and generate power from the sun—all while saving money and reducing their environmental footprint. While some fully

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May 17 2026LIFESTYLE

Why a 60-year-old’s warm online presence is winning millions of hearts

In a time when social media feeds overflow with noise and disagreement, a grandmother from Albion is quietly building one of the fastest-growing online communities. Diane Shiffer’s secret isn’t viral challenges or eye-catching edits—it’s steady kindness. Her posts, often simple selfies or short vide

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May 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Why AI in writing might be a sign you're not cut out to be a writer

Seth Rogen isn't holding back when it comes to his thoughts on using artificial intelligence to write scripts. The well-known filmmaker recently shared his strong opinions on the matter during a chat at Cannes Film Festival. He believes that leaning on AI for scriptwriting is a red flag. "If your fi

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May 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

Better Batteries Needed for Clean Energy Future

The push for greener energy has put batteries in the spotlight. Wind and solar power can't always match demand, so batteries store extra energy for cloudy or windless days. Most big projects today use lithium-ion batteries. But these have big problems. Mining lithium harms dry regions. Chile and Ar

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