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Feb 13 2026ENTERTAINMENT

A Fresh Hangout Below The Forge

In late January, a new spot opened in downtown Salem’s historic building known as The Forge. The venue sits on the basement floor at 285 Liberty St. NE and offers a relaxed space for gatherings of all kinds. The owner, Nat Borchers, runs Back Line Real Estate and co‑owns The Forge. He used to play

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Feb 13 2026LIFESTYLE

When Respect Becomes a Service

A Chinese gig‑app that let people pay for someone to bow at Lunar New Year celebrations was shut down after users complained. The service showed a worker in orange, kneeling before an elderly couple, and many people found the idea offensive. Critics said turning filial piety into a paid act hurt

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Feb 13 2026POLITICS

A Quiet Town Stands Together After Tragedy

In the small community of Tumbler Ridge, located deep in British Columbia’s Rocky Mountains, leaders from across Canada gathered to honor those lost in a recent shooting that shocked the nation. Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with opposition figures Pierre Poilievre and Yves‑François Blanchet, pu

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Feb 13 2026POLITICS

Bangladesh’s New Leader Promises Big Changes

The Bangladesh National Party has taken control after a long wait, winning a strong majority in last week’s elections. Tarique Rahman, son of the party’s founder, is expected to become prime minister and bring a fresh direction after two decades out of office. Rahman’s campaign slogan, “Bangladesh

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Feb 13 2026POLITICS

A New Way to Tackle Empty Homes in Colorado

Colorado lawmakers heard a proposal that would let local governments tax vacant houses. The idea, called a “ghost tax, ” was meant to force owners of empty homes to pay extra money and help fund affordable housing. The House Finance Committee voted it down, but the discussion is far from over. The

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Feb 13 2026SPORTS

Inter Milan Weighs Selling French Forward for Summer Budget Boost

Inter Milan is looking at the possibility of parting with French striker Marcus Thuram to help fund major upgrades during the upcoming transfer window. The club’s leadership has been discussing how best to build a stronger squad for next season, and Thuram’s departure could bring in a large sum of m

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Feb 13 2026SCIENCE

New Way to Predict Light‑Driven Chemical Reactions

Scientists have found a fresh method to model how light powers chemical changes on tiny catalysts. Traditional calculations look only at the ground state, missing key details of how photons influence reactions. The new approach adds excited‑state information directly into energy diagrams, giving a c

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Feb 13 2026TECHNOLOGY

New Investor Boosts Energy Tech Company

Volue, a company that makes software for power systems, has added TA Associates to its group of investors. The move comes after Volue sharpened its focus on energy over the last year and a half, selling off parts that were not core to its mission. The firm now concentrates on tools for power trad

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Feb 13 2026POLITICS

AI Rules: How the U. S. Can Stay Ahead

The United States is at a crossroads with artificial intelligence. Big states like New York and California have already passed laws that aim to keep AI safe for everyday life. These rules cover things such as protecting consumers, respecting civil rights, and preventing misuse in schools and workpla

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Feb 13 2026POLITICS

California’s Jail Death Review: A Promise Gone Cold

A new law was meant to shine a light on deaths that happen in county jails. The idea was simple: an independent office would look into every case, tell families what happened, and make sure mistakes were fixed. But a year after the law went live, no single review has been finished. The problem star

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