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May 09 2026BUSINESS

Shareholders Question Willis Lease Finance Over Big Payouts

Back in 1985, one man started a company that now rakes in millions for its top boss. That man is Charles F. Willis, IV, who still owns about 40% of Willis Lease Finance Corporation and calls the shots. The board of directors, packed with his family and a few supposedly independent members, has been

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May 09 2026ENVIRONMENT

Tracking War’s Hidden Damage to the Black Sea’s Waters

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the Black Sea’s northwest coast has faced pollution it wasn’t ready for. Before the war, this area already dealt with natural shifts and years of human impact from farming and industry. Now, the fighting has added sudden bursts of harmful substances while making it hard

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May 09 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Cool trucks, big dreams: Vocational students meet monster truck stars

Vocational students got a rare chance to see monster trucks up close before the big show rolled into town. About 80 students from two technical high schools spent Friday morning with drivers and crews, learning how these giant vehicles work. Three girls from Blackstone Valley Tech were especially im

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May 09 2026POLITICS

When good teachers get cut while flashy projects get funded

A teacher with 14 years of experience just lost her job—not because she did anything wrong, but because the school district needed to cut costs. Across Lee County, hundreds of educators are losing contracts as budgets tighten. At one high school alone, 18 teachers and 6 support staff are gone. The d

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May 09 2026LIFESTYLE

Local fun shouldn't be overlooked this summer

The change of seasons brings predictable excitement. After a long winter, people naturally crave outdoor activities when spring arrives. Instead of waiting for perfect weather, many start planning their summer adventures early. While big trips and events sound appealing, the best experiences often s

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May 09 2026HEALTH

Cruise ship concerns: Tracking hantavirus spread and its impact

A rare virus called hantavirus has caused serious health issues during a recent cruise ship crisis. Unlike common illnesses, this one spreads differently—not through air or touch, but by contact with infected rodents or their waste. Reports show it has appeared in several U. S. locations, raising qu

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May 09 2026POLITICS

Behind the Headlines: Unusual Releases and Global Updates

The U. S. government recently uploaded a collection of files about unidentified flying objects to its public website. These documents include blurry footage, internal reports, and statements from pilots and astronauts. One notable mention comes from an Apollo 11 astronaut who spotted an unusual ligh

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May 09 2026ENVIRONMENT

Trace metals in water: why some algae struggle more than others

Algae act like the grass of underwater worlds, turning sunlight into food for fish and other creatures. But tiny amounts of metals in water can harm them. A new study looked at how different algae types react to these metals. Researchers found that diatoms—algae with silica shells—are easily damage

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May 09 2026SPORTS

College sports: Where big budgets win and small programs lose

Money talks louder than rackets in college sports these days. While basketball courts are flooded with new sponsor cash from beer and liquor brands, smaller sports like tennis and golf are getting the short end of the budget stick. This year alone, several top tennis programs vanished, including Ark

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May 09 2026FINANCE

A Crypto Company Tries to Stay Afloat by Branching Out

Crypto trading used to be the main thing keeping a major exchange alive. When prices of Bitcoin and unknown coins crash, so do the exchange’s profits. That is exactly what happened recently. Its stock price dropped 5 percent before the market even opened, after the company reported a loss in the fir

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