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May 04 2026POLITICS

A Fresh Face Takes Over Illinois’ Watchdog Role

The new watchdog for Illinois state spending started his job this month, but not before a report highlighted problems in the agency he once led. The Illinois Finance Authority, which helps fund public projects, had failed for years to set up a proper internal audit system. A recent review found that

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May 04 2026FINANCE

Tiny cost. Big money lessons for small business owners.

Running a side hustle or a full-time gig takes more than just a good idea. Money moves matter just as much. Yet, many founders end up guessing when it comes to their own paychecks. A fresh bundle tries to fix that gap. For under $30, learners get 11 video courses and 160 hours of lessons on cash flo

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May 04 2026CRIME

Pras Michel’s Prison Time: What It Means for Campaign Finance and Foreign Influence

Pras Michel, known for his work with the Fugees, recently started a 14-year prison sentence at a federal facility in Arizona. His crime? Helping funnel over $120 million from a fugitive Malaysian businessman, Jho Low, into Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Low, infamous for the 1MDB embezzlem

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May 04 2026HEALTH

How close is too close? The link between city stores and habits

Cities have a way of making almost anything easy to find. Bangkok is no exception, especially when it comes to everyday products like alcohol and cigarettes. Researchers wanted to see if where people live and who they are plays a role in how often they end up buying these items. They looked at how f

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May 04 2026OPINION

Why being called a clown shouldn't bother you

The idea that the word "clown" is used as an insult is more about how people misuse language than anything else. Clowns have a long history tied to entertainment, laughter, and even cleverness in some cultures. They weren't always the red-nosed performers we picture today. Ancient jesters, for examp

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May 04 2026SCIENCE

Science in the Spotlight: How Experts Balance Truth and Public Needs

Scientists today face a tricky balancing act. On one side, they’re expected to deliver unbiased findings. On the other, they’re asked to step into the public eye and help shape policies or solve real-world problems. But what happens when these two goals clash? A recent study dug into this question b

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May 04 2026POLITICS

How religion quietly shaped America's beginning

The U. S. was built on ideas like freedom and fairness, but religion played a sneaky role in its early days. The founders didn’t set out to create a Christian country despite what some people claim today. Still, many of them grew up in a world where religion was a big deal, and that left its mark on

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May 04 2026RELIGION

What the founders really thought about religion

The debate over whether America was meant to be a Christian nation keeps coming up as the country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday. Some people strongly believe the founders wanted the U. S. to be a Christian country. Others argue that idea is a misunderstanding of history. The truth is more

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May 04 2026POLITICS

New Mexico governor race: Two Democrats, two visions

Voters in New Mexico got a close-up look at two different paths to the governor’s office during a Saturday debate in Albuquerque. Instead of a traditional setup, the event used a game-like format where candidates answered questions from local groups and earned flags from undecided voters for clear r

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May 04 2026POLITICS

Germany and the US: A tricky dance of diplomacy and military moves

German leaders keep saying they want strong ties with the US, but recent events show how messy things can get when two big allies don’t see eye to eye. The latest bump in the road came when the Americans decided to pull 5, 000 troops out of Germany, their biggest base in Europe. Berlin wasn’t expect

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