ISM

Apr 18 2026CRYPTO

Crypto Skeptic Turns Spotlight on Bitcoin

Ben McKenzie, once famous for a teen drama, now leads a new film that looks at the ups and downs of digital money. In his office, he wears a T‑shirt that carries the logo of FTX, the crypto exchange that collapsed after its founder was convicted of fraud. He admits his spouse won’t let him wear it a

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026CRIME

Hate Targets Two Simi Valley Places in Quick Succession

A church on E. Cochran Street had its welcome sign defaced with slurs against the LGBTQ+ community on April 16, a week after a mosque in the same city faced a possible hate crime. Police arrived at about 12:42 p. m. to see the sign that originally read “Jesus accepts everyone” altered with hateful l

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026OPINION

When the Captain Steps Back: Why One Fire Chief Called It Quits

Jarrod Emes spent years as the voice of calm during emergencies on Berks County’s roads. Dispatchers and crews knew his steady tone meant problems were under control. But behind the radio commands was a growing pile of missed meals, canceled plans, and empty chairs at family events. Volunteering as

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Graduate fights back against US visa crackdown over pro-Palestinian views

A young academic from Turkey who completed her doctorate in the US has packed her bags and gone home after months of legal battles. Rumeysa Ozturk was studying child development at Tufts University when her student visa mysteriously vanished without explanation. No crime was committed, no new policy

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026OPINION

How NPR talks about Iran - and why it matters

NPR often calls Iran a "regime" but calls other governments just "governments. " It’s a simple word difference, but it shows how news organizations pick sides. Look at Israel, for example: it holds elections but only for about half its population. Meanwhile, Iran holds real elections across its whol

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Why people fall for obvious lies

Many people know Donald Trump has a habit of making bold claims that ignore facts. A recent example involved a controversial image that he shared, which showed him dressed as Jesus. When critics pointed out the oddity, he changed his explanation three times. First he said it was a joke, then claimed

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Tunisia’s comedy crackdown: Where art and politics collide

Lotfi Abdelli isn’t your average comedian. Known for decades of sharp satire, he’s made a career out of poking fun at Tunisia’s politicians—especially those with too much power. But this time, his jokes landed him in legal trouble. A Tunisian court recently sentenced him to 18 months in prison in ab

reading time less than a minute
Apr 18 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Why photo colors favored light skin (and how art fights back)

Back in the days of film cameras, photo labs used color-correcting guides called Shirley Cards. These cards featured a white woman named Shirley, which meant photos of Black people often came out looking too dark or unnatural. The mismatch wasn’t intentional at first—Shirley was just a Kodak employe

reading time less than a minute
Apr 17 2026RELIGION

Pope Leo speaks out against global leaders fueling chaos, while Cameroon takes a temporary step toward peace

During a trip across Africa, Pope Leo XIV didn’t hold back. In Cameroon, he called out leaders who use power to destroy instead of build. He didn’t name names, but his message was sharp: powerful figures twist faith and turn wealth into weapons. In Bamenda, a city caught in years of unrest, he point

reading time less than a minute
Apr 17 2026CELEBRITIES

A Fresh Look at How Women Are Treated in TV

The show Girls rewrote the rule book for female characters on television. It let audiences see women who are messy, real and imperfect instead of flawless icons. The idea was bold and changed the conversation about what women can do on screen. Men who take creative risks are usually praised, but a w

reading time less than a minute