SMITHSONIAN BOARD

Nov 26 2025BUSINESS

A Major Media Merger in Canada: Blue Ant Takes Over Thunderbird

In a significant move, Blue Ant Media is acquiring Thunderbird Entertainment for a substantial sum of C$89M. This deal includes both cash and shares, making it a lucrative offer for Thunderbird, known for producing popular shows like \\"Kim‘s Convenience, \\" \\"Highway Thru Hell, \\" and \\"Reginald the Vampire. \\" The acquisition values Thunderbird‘s shares at C$1...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 26 2025EDUCATION

Barberton Schools Face Big Money Trouble: What's Next?

Barberton City Schools are in a tough spot. They're looking at a huge $9. 2 million budget shortfall. This news came out during a recent meeting where teachers and the school board had a serious talk about what went wrong and how to fix it. Teachers are worried. They want to know how this happened and what the plan is to make sure it doesn't happen again. Krista McC...

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Nov 26 2025BUSINESS

Erin Truex's Journey: A New Chapter for Beverly Main Streets

Erin Truex, the leader of Beverly Main Streets, has announced her departure at the end of the year. She shared her thoughts with the community, expressing gratitude and pride in the work accomplished together. Truex took on the role in early 2024 and has since driven significant revenue for local artists, advanced the Downtown 2030 initiative, and fostered a strong b...

reading time about 1 minute
Nov 26 2025POLITICS

Indiana's Congressional Map Drama: A Sudden Shift

Indiana's political scene just got a lot more interesting. After saying they wouldn't touch it, state Republicans are now ready to vote on redrawing congressional maps. This u-turn comes after some serious pressure from the White House. Just a couple of weeks ago, Senate leader Rodric Bray said there weren't enough votes to even consider it. But now, he's singing a ...

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Nov 26 2025POLITICS

Peace Talks and Land Swaps: What's Really Going On?

A recent phone call between Steve Witkoff, a key figure in Donald Trump's team, and Yuri Ushakov, a top aide to Vladimir Putin, has shed light on the behind-the-scenes discussions about ending the Ukraine conflict. The conversation, recorded and later obtained by Bloomberg, revealed that Witkoff believes Ukraine might need to give up some land to achieve peace. Witk...

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Nov 26 2025POLITICS

The Controversial Rise and Fall of Lindsey Halligan

Lindsey Halligan, a 36-year-old lawyer, found herself at the center of a legal storm after a federal judge dismissed cases she oversaw against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The judge ruled that Halligan's appointment as acting U. S. attorney was unlawful, as it violated a federal statute limiting interim appointments to ...

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Nov 26 2025POLITICS

GOP's Sudden Shift: Protecting Obamacare Subsidies

Some Republicans are now pushing to extend a key part of the Affordable Care Act, even though they once fought hard against it. This change of heart comes as many of these lawmakers face tough re-election battles in districts where healthcare is a big issue. The subsidies in question help people afford their health insurance premiums. If these subsidies end, million...

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Nov 26 2025TECHNOLOGY

How Mercy Ships and Tech Partners Bring Healthcare to Remote Areas

Mercy Ships is on a mission to bring advanced healthcare to some of the most remote places in the world. They use two large hospital ships, the Global Mercy and the Africa Mercy, to serve low-income communities in Africa. These ships are like floating cities, with over 800 people on board, including medical staff, families, and volunteers. The ships dock in areas whe...

reading time about 3 minutes
Nov 26 2025EDUCATION

A Family's Legacy in Lockport Education

Lockport Township High School District 205 is grieving the loss of Della Travis, a former board member who dedicated four years of her life to the school district. Della, who was 84 years old, passed away recently, leaving behind a family that has been deeply involved in the community's education system for half a century. The Travis family's commitment to Lockport'...

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Nov 26 2025EDUCATION

Ridgefield Schools: New Leaders, Student Stars, and Big Talks

In Ridgefield, the school board just picked new leaders and had a busy meeting. Tina Malhotra is now the board chair, Jonathan Paradiso is vice chair, and Christine More is the secretary. Everyone agreed on these choices without any arguments. The meeting wasn't just about new leaders. Students from Ridgefield High School's Educators Rising club showed off their wor...

reading time about 1 minute