REP

May 16 2026POLITICS

Diplomacy without deals: What Trump’s China visit really meant

Donald Trump returned from China with smiles and handshakes, but very few real promises. He called the trip “great” mostly because China announced plans to buy 200 Boeing jets and billions in soybeans. Those deals sound big, but no one has seen the fine print. Even the biggest moments were unclear:

reading time less than a minute
May 15 2026EDUCATION

Kids Get Hands‑On STEM with New Breadboard Kit

A senior from Auburn University just won a $75, 000 prize for a fresh idea that makes learning electronics easier and more fun. Joseph Rusk, who studies electrical engineering at Auburn, created a startup called The BreadBoard Company. His company sells a special kit that turns the confusing p

reading time less than a minute
May 15 2026CRIME

Rare skull taken from church sparks hunt in Czech Republic

Last week, a historic relic vanished from a quiet church in the Czech countryside. Police say a 35-year-old man is now in custody for allegedly taking the 800-year-old skull of Saint Zdislava. The saint lived from 1220 to 1252 and is famous for helping the poor. Her canonization by the Pope in 1995

reading time less than a minute
May 14 2026CELEBRITIES

New Life After Loss

Lauren Rucker welcomed a daughter named Rosemary Hazen Rucker, or Rose, three months after her husband Wes died in a car crash. She posted the news on X with a picture of herself holding the baby, saying that while it was painful to be alone, she could feel Wes’s presence with her. In a photo fro

reading time less than a minute
May 14 2026POLITICS

Northside Park Gets Green Light for Build

The City of Missoula has finally given the okay to start building a brand-new park near the north side of town. This project has been in the works for a while, with locals keeping an eye on updates. The park is planned to cover a good chunk of land, offering green space and recreational spots for fa

reading time less than a minute
May 13 2026POLITICS

Senators push to make social media safer for kids

A major step forward for online safety laws happened when a top Republican senator spoke in favor of a bill that would hold social media companies accountable for harming young users. The senator, who leads a key committee, made the announcement during a gathering near the Capitol with parents who l

reading time less than a minute
May 12 2026HEALTH

How tiny fats help viruses hide and reproduce

Most people know viruses make us sick, but how they actually do this inside our cells is still a puzzle. Some viruses use a clever trick—they hijack parts of our cells’ natural lipid system to create safe spots where they can copy themselves. These tiny fats, called phosphoinositides, aren’t well-kn

reading time less than a minute
May 11 2026POLITICS

Troy Jackson: A New Voice for Maine’s Reproductive Rights

Troy Jackson, a former Senate president, has long championed reproductive care in Maine. For seven straight years, his voting record earned him a perfect score from Planned Parenthood, reflecting his support for every bill that expanded or protected reproductive services. In 2022, Jackson introdu

reading time less than a minute
May 11 2026HEALTH

Why Nigeria’s Young Women Delay or Avoid Birth Control

This story looks at the real reasons some young women in Nigeria put off using birth control. Most are between 15 and 24 — an age when surprises, either wanted or unwanted, can change entire futures. Scientists wanted to know what pushes these decisions. At first glance, money and location pop up. B

reading time less than a minute
May 11 2026POLITICS

Montana Republicans face off in a crowded race for Congress

Western Montana’s Republican voters now have a tough choice to make in June. After Congressman Ryan Zinke announced a surprise retirement, a pack of candidates rushed to claim his spot in the House. The district covers 16 counties, stretching from the Idaho border to the Canadian line. What started

reading time less than a minute