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May 08 2026POLITICS

Taiwan’s Parliament Grants $25 Billion to Defence – A Step Short of the Plan

Taiwan’s lawmakers, led by the opposition party that holds most seats in the legislature, approved a new defence budget of about $25 billion on Friday. This amount is roughly two‑thirds of the larger sum that the government had requested to strengthen its military against a rapidly modernising Ch

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May 08 2026BUSINESS

Midcoast Villager Faces Staff Cuts to Stay Afloat

The Midcoast Villager announced a reduction of six employees, including its managing editor, last month as part of a cost‑saving plan. Publisher Aaron Britt said the decision was driven by financial necessity, not controversy. Three people opted for buyouts while three were laid off; the losse

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May 08 2026CRYPTO

Bitcoin’s New High: Is This Really the End of Crypto Winter?

Bitcoin’s recent climb past $76, 000 has investors buzzing about the end of a long downturn—but is this just another false start? In May, Bitcoin surged over 5%, marking its third straight month of gains. Historically, that’s rare in bear markets, but some warn that past performance doesn’t guarante

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May 08 2026SCIENCE

A Leader in Brain Research Steps Down

The world of brain science is losing one of its brightest leaders. After years of guiding a key journal, Professor Tara Spires-Jones is handing over the reins. Her work helped shape how we share new discoveries in brain research. But why does this role even matter? Journals like this one act as bri

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May 08 2026EDUCATION

Small School, Big Lessons: How a Local Garage Sale Teaches Real Business Skills

Every year around this time, students in Chippewa Falls transform Weber’s Field into a living classroom for one weekend. Instead of sitting through another textbook lesson, they set up a full garage sale that runs on real donations and real decisions. The twist? They’re not just selling old stuff—th

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May 08 2026BUSINESS

Hockey’s rising costs: when good games turn into greedy deals

In 2016, a businessman spotted an opportunity in youth hockey. Instead of just helping his son play, he built a business around it. He started buying ice rinks and local hockey clubs, turning a sport loved by families into a pay-to-play system. By 2023, his company had taken over a nonprofit team in

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May 08 2026HEALTH

How Virtual Reality Helps People Face the End of Life

Therapy tools don't have to be heavy metal machines or complicated pills. Sometimes, they come in the form of a headset that drops you into a quiet forest or lets you revisit a childhood home. In places like Thailand, where families carefully prepare for peaceful goodbyes and spiritual traditions gu

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May 07 2026POLITICS

City Law Tightens Rules for Businesses Near 82nd Ave

The city council voted to change a rule that lets businesses close if they keep being the spot for crimes. The new law says a shop or hotel must have three police reports in 90 days to be called a “problem spot. ” That’s a shift from the old rule, which only needed three reports in 30 days. The city

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May 07 2026SPORTS

UNC’s Big Bet on Football: Is the Risk Worth the Reward?

The University of North Carolina is doubling down on football, betting big on Bill Belichick to turn things around. Even after a rough first season, the school’s athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, insists the program is worth the $2. 5 million gamble. But where does that leave the rest of UNC’s sp

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May 07 2026BUSINESS

How a meat giant’s jet and a billionaire tied Brazil and the U. S. together

A private jet linked to the Batista family flew from Colorado to Washington on Wednesday, just one day before Brazil’s President Lula meets Donald Trump in the U. S. capital. The jet belongs to J&F, a holding company that runs JBS, one of the world’s biggest meat producers. While the plane’s movemen

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