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Apr 09 2026LIFESTYLE

Akiko Freeman: A Winemaker Making Waves Locally and Globally

Akiko Freeman isn’t just a name on a bottle of wine—she’s a bridge between cultures. The co-owner of Freeman Winery in Sebastopol has spent years blending her Japanese heritage with California’s winemaking traditions. A major recognition is coming her way on April 23 in San Francisco, where she’ll a

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Apr 09 2026POLITICS

What happens when a fired official skips a congressional interview?

A former top prosecutor won’t show up for a House committee talk about Jeffrey Epstein files. The Justice Department says she doesn’t have to because she no longer works for the government. The committee wanted her to explain why some records were heavily edited when they were released. They also wa

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

Another Journalist Killed in Gaza as Fighting Continues

Four people died in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza this week, including Muhammad Washah, a journalist working for Al Jazeera. Local health officials say two strikes hit separate areas, one along Gaza City’s main road and another in the central part of the territory. While Israel has not commented on eit

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Apr 09 2026POLITICS

What the U. S. and Iran Really Agreed to (And What Lebanon Got Left Out)

Late last week, two big players tried to pause their fight. The U. S. and Iran reached a small deal to stop shooting for a few days. But here’s the catch: one side thought the break included Lebanon, while the other didn’t. That mix-up shows how even tiny details can cause big problems in peace talk

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Apr 08 2026CRIME

Behind the Headlines: Legal Cases and Unusual Events in Recent News

A man is about to face his third murder trial, twenty years after the crime first went to court. Brian Scott Lorenz was convicted in the 1990s for killing Deborah Meindl, but his case keeps getting tossed out and retried. The latest attempt began in 2025 after another deadlock, showing how long lega

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Apr 08 2026FINANCE

Banks still paying for old crimes decades later

A recent court decision shows just how long shadows from the past can stretch. A US judge rejected a big bank’s attempt to avoid responsibility for dealing with Nazi-linked accounts that only came to light years after lawsuits were settled. In 1999, UBS and Credit Suisse paid out $1. 25 billion to o

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Apr 08 2026CRYPTO

Why Most Crypto Startups Flopped in Early 2026

In early months of 2026, about one crypto project shut its doors every day. Eighty-six attempts finished—across wallets, NFT shops, finance robots, data tools, even chat add-ons. Some had big names, others were small corners of the market. What seemed like bad luck turned into a wave that swept ever

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Apr 08 2026EDUCATION

How UK Universities Shape Views on Muslims

Research shows universities in the UK can change how students see Muslims—but the effect depends on exposure. Many students enter higher education with some level of bias, often tied to stereotypes or limited interaction with Muslim communities. Universities, traditionally seen as places for open-mi

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Apr 08 2026TECHNOLOGY

The Fast Plane That Was Too Costly to Fly

The Concorde wasn’t just fast—it was a flying paradox. Built in the 1960s and 70s, only 20 were ever made, and fewer than half actually carried paying passengers. Most of its flights shuttled wealthy travelers between New York and two European cities: London and Paris. But its supersonic speed came

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Apr 07 2026EDUCATION

Amarillo Students Shine With New Scholarships and Community Wins

In March, two students from Potter County earned scholarships from Oklahoma State University’s Ferguson College of Agriculture for the 2026‑27 year. Maddie Barnett, who studies Animal Science, was awarded the Joseph Fleming Memorial Continuing Scholarship and later joined Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s

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