KANSAS CITY STAR

May 25 2026EDUCATION

Economics: The Missing Piece in Kansas Schools

Kansas students are learning about government rules and how to manage their own money, but a vital topic remains absent from the curriculum. The state has pushed for civics tests and personal finance classes, yet many lawmakers treat these subjects as interchangeable. Without economics, learne

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May 25 2026HEALTH

Boost Your Chances of Pregnancy With Smart Choices

Starting a family can feel like a roll‑of‑dice, but there are real steps you can take to tilt the odds in your favor. First, keep your body healthy: a balanced diet and regular movement help regulate ovulation for women and improve sperm quality for men. If you’re carrying extra weight, consider saf

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May 25 2026SCIENCE

Dilithium: The Tiny Crystal That Powers the Star Trek Fleet

Starships in the famous space series rely on a tiny, pink mineral to travel faster than light. This mineral, called dilithium, is not a real rock but an imagined piece of technology that helps turn the violent clash between matter and antimatter into controlled energy. In practice, a ship’s engin

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May 20 2026CRYPTO

Bitcoin: What Happens When You Invest $100 Every Month for Over a Decade?

Starting in 2015, putting $100 into Bitcoin each month would have turned $13, 700 into over $632, 000 by mid-2026. That’s a massive 4, 515% return. But here’s the catch: this strategy didn’t make anyone rich overnight. Prices swung wildly, and at one point, the total investment lost 76% of its value

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May 19 2026BUSINESS

Road work headaches: Ottawa County’s summer traffic shuffle

Starting this spring, Ottawa County drivers face a rolling series of detours while crews upgrade aging pipes and potholed roads. In Port Sheldon Township, 160th Avenue at Van Buren Street vanished for a water-line upgrade that won’t finish until late May. Commuters now snake through quieter side str

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May 19 2026HEALTH

How cities, dirtier air, and shifting weather harm our lungs

City living used to mean better hospitals and faster ambulances. Now it often means breathing air that quietly damages lungs over years. Poor air quality isn’t just annoying—it rearranges how infections spread inside our chests. Warm air holds more water, which helps viruses and bacteria travel far

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May 12 2026SPORTS

Kansas baseball slides in rankings after tough week

Kansas baseball had a rough week at the plate and in the standings. A seven-day stretch that included four defeats pushed the team out of the top ten in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. The Jayhawks entered the past week ranked ninth with an overall record of 37 wins and 15 losses. But los

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May 11 2026HEALTH

How first-year students handle stress and why some struggle more than others

Starting university is often seen as a fresh start, but it can also bring unexpected pressure. Many students face state anxiety—stress that shows up in the moment—when dealing with new routines, academic demands, and social changes. Some handle it well, while others find it hard to adjust. Research

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May 10 2026POLITICS

Why Kansas Voters Rarely Get a Real Choice

Kansas stands out in American politics for a surprising reason: nearly one-third of its state legislative races in 2024 had no competition at all. That means 57 winners took office without facing a single opponent, locking in their positions before any votes were cast. The pattern isn’t random—two-t

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May 09 2026FINANCE

China now allows two more firms to audit Hong Kong-listed firms

Starting mid-May, Chinese companies trading in Hong Kong will have more options when picking auditors. The country’s finance and stock market watchdogs just greenlit RSM and Baker Tilly, two accounting firms based in China, to handle these audits. This move follows a 2025 decision to expand the list

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