US

Feb 27 2026ENVIRONMENT

Soil Microbes Find Common Ground After Adding Organic Matter

Researchers examined how adding organic material changes the tiny life in two different soils. The study focused on microbes that help break down nutrients and keep the climate stable. Scientists wanted to know if these tiny organisms would react in the same way when the soils receive the same organ

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Feb 27 2026ENVIRONMENT

Desert Drivers Meet a Swarm Surprise

A quiet road in the Western Sahara turned into an unexpected battlefield when a gigantic group of locusts appeared out of nowhere. Drivers had to weave around the insects, which looked like a living cloud that blocked the highway and rattled cars. Locusts are notorious for destroying crops, and s

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Feb 27 2026POLITICS

Medina Eyes New Buyers for City Lot

The city of Medina plans to open up a 410‑East Smith Road lot for public bids, according to the finance committee. The property was bought in 2012 and has been used mainly for storing city sanitation supplies, though a fire once damaged some buildings. The site sits behind the Sweets and Geeks shop

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Feb 27 2026SCIENCE

Global Hack to Find Coronavirus Drugs

A worldwide team of scientists and programmers joined forces in a blind test to spot the best computer tricks for hunting coronavirus medicines. They used secret data from a big AI project that looks for drugs against SARS‑CoV‑2 and MERS‑CoV enzymes. The challenge asked participants to guess how str

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Feb 26 2026POLITICS

Arkansas Prison Plan Sparks GOP Rift

The governor wants a new, huge jail that would cost $825 million and add 3, 000 beds to a rural area. Some Republican senators worry about the expense and how the new facility would affect local roads and water supplies. In response, the governor has targeted two senators for primary challenges. Th

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Feb 26 2026POLITICS

Kim Jong‑Un Says He Will Talk to the U. S. If It Calls North Korea a Nuclear Power

Kim Jong‑Un made a surprising offer at the Workers’ Party congress that could change how the United States views North Korea. He said he would be willing to improve relations if Washington officially recognized the country as a nuclear‑armed state. The congress, held every five years, is a key momen

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Feb 26 2026POLITICS

Cuban Boat Incident Sparks U. S. and Cuban Tension

The Cuban coast guard stopped a speedboat that had come from Florida near the El Pino canal. The boat carried weapons and a crew of ten Cuban nationals who lived in the U. S. When Cuban border guards asked for identification, shots were fired from the boat. The guard commander was hurt but

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Feb 26 2026BUSINESS

Future of a Pork Giant in Sioux Falls

A big change is coming to downtown Sioux Falls. The city’s leaders and the head of Smithfield Foods said that the company will leave its old plant near Falls Park for a new, larger site in an industrial area up north. The current facility has been there since 1909 and was bought by Smithfield in 199

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Feb 26 2026ENVIRONMENT

Engineers: Quiet Builders of Tomorrow

Engineers shape the roads, bridges and water that keep communities alive. Their work is often hidden behind everyday life, yet it decides how safe and clean our world feels. The latest National Engineer’s Week highlighted this unseen influence, urging young people to see engineering as a creat

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Feb 26 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Crime Stories Take Center Stage at SXSW Summit

Variety is launching its first True Crime Summit during the SXSW festival, with Investigation Discovery as the main sponsor. The event will bring together leading voices from film, TV and podcasting to discuss why audiences worldwide keep turning to stories of mystery, justice and deception. The

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