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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Future Firefighters Get a Boost in Ponchatoula

Air Products has given $18, 000 to the Ponchatoula Volunteer Fire Department’s High School Program. The money will help ten students start a career in emergency services during the 2025‑2026 school year. The grant comes from Air Products Lake Maurepas Community Fund, a local charity arm of the co

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

EU Leader Urges US and Israel to End Iran Conflict

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters in Brussels that the war involving Iran must stop. She said the EU is talking with Middle‑East governments to find a diplomatic way out of the fighting. Kallas added that Europe would not block naval traffic through the Strait of Horm

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Celebration of Farm and Fuel at the White House

President Trump has arranged a gathering for farmers and biofuel makers on March 27, aiming to honor the role of agriculture in America. The invitation signals a push to spotlight renewable fuels and support rural communities. While the event is slated for the White House, details remain sketchy as

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Syria Weighs a Bold Move While the U. S. Pushes for Action Against Hezbollah

The United States has urged Syria to consider sending troops into eastern Lebanon as a way to weaken Hezbollah, but the Syrian government is hesitant, fearing it could drag the country deeper into regional conflict and spark sectarian unrest. The proposal first surfaced in discussions between U.

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Spy Firm Visit Sparks Slovenian Election Fears

Slovenia’s political scene stirs after reports that a private Israeli intelligence company may have met with the opposition leader just before the country’s election. A group of journalists and activists say that representatives from the firm, known for its work in high‑profile investigations, flew

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Mar 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Fun Night at the Opera House Helps a Local Food Bank

Gardiner’s Johnson Hall Opera House is hosting an entertaining evening on March 21 to raise money for the Chrysalis Place Food Bank. The show, starting at 7:30 p. m. , mixes music, comedy, circus tricks and dance. Attendees can enjoy acts such as the Cowboy Angels, juggler Shane Miclon, the band B

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Mar 17 2026SCIENCE

Walnut Mixes: How Protein Meets Polyphenols for Health

Walnuts leave behind a lot of waste after the shells are removed. Scientists are turning that leftover into useful food ingredients. In this study, they looked at what happens when walnut protein fragments (called WPH) bind to different walnut polyphenols – specifically epicatechin, gallic acid, fer

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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Money Talk: A New AI Coach Is Paying a Lot to Learn Finance

Elon Musk’s new venture, xAI, is looking for people who know money to help train its chatbot, Grok. The company wants real bankers and traders to act as tutors so the AI can understand how financial decisions are made. In its job ads, xAI asks for experts in investment banking, portfolio manageme

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Prime Minister Meloni Goes Digital to Rally Youth for Justice Vote

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s leader, has joined a popular rapper’s online show to push voters toward a “yes” in the upcoming judiciary overhaul. The referendum, set for March 22‑23, will decide whether a plan that separates judges from prosecutors is adopted. Supporters claim the move modernises la

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Mar 17 2026HEALTH

Trust in U. S. Vaccines Drops as Debate Heats Up

A recent survey shows that only 60 % of Americans now trust the government’s advice on childhood vaccines, down from 71 % last June. The change follows a new schedule introduced in January by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , which cut the number of universally recommended vaccines from about

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