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May 17 2026SCIENCE

Microbes in Groundwater: How Oil Pollution Changes Their World

The study looks at how oil spills alter the tiny life that lives in underground water and the soil around it. Scientists collected samples from a site where oil had leaked into the ground, taking both water and the rock‑filled layers that sit below it. They also gathered “clean” samples from a nearb

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May 17 2026WEATHER

Summer Heat Hits Chicago, Storms on the Horizon

The Chicago region will feel a strong summer breeze this Sunday, with temperatures climbing into the mid‑80s and clear skies expected by evening. A quick cloud cover may appear overnight, setting the stage for showers that could make Monday mornings rainy and slick. By mid‑day on Monday, the skies w

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May 17 2026OPINION

Rent Control Isn’t the Fix for Housing Prices

A group of city leaders in Massachusetts has spoken out against a plan that would force every town to follow the same rent‑control rules. The proposal, set for a 2026 vote, would apply one rule to all 351 municipalities. It ignores the unique needs of each community. Worcester, the state’s sec

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May 17 2026ENVIRONMENT

New Tools Fight Desert Spread in China’s Farmlands

China has started fresh projects to stop farmland from turning into desert, especially in the western province of Xinjiang. Scientists at the local ecology institute are trying new ways to hold back sand, reduce wind damage and tackle salty soils that threaten crops. These experiments are part of a

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May 17 2026CELEBRITIES

Why Michael Jackson still rules pop culture decades later

Back in the 1980s, getting Michael Jackson to a basketball game was like summoning a force of nature. Magic Johnson once recalled how the singer’s presence turned a normal sports event into controlled chaos. Fans rushed from all directions, forcing officials to pause the game just to clear a safe ex

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May 17 2026ENVIRONMENT

Public Lands in Montana: Who Really Benefits?

Montana’s open spaces, forests, and wildlife belong to everyone—not just a few. Yet state leaders keep pushing to sell or lease these shared treasures to the highest bidder. These moves often favor short-term profits over long-term health, ignoring the fact that public lands support local jobs in to

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May 17 2026SPORTS

When Coaches and Their Families Cross the Line

Fran McCaffery spent 15 years coaching Iowa basketball, turning the team into a regular NCAA Tournament contender and earning a solid 297-207 record. But his time in Iowa City ended badly, partly because of friction with local media personalities. The most well-known was Gary Dolphin, the long-time

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May 17 2026HEALTH

Hospital techs get better pay after tense talks

A deal was struck just in time to avoid a walkout by hospital technicians who handle everything from X-rays to breathing machines. The agreement gives around 230 techs a raise of at least 3% over three years, plus extra pay for experience and limits on last-minute schedule changes. Most workers—96%—

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May 16 2026OPINION

Scientists, Politics and Food: A Mixed‑Bag Review

The article starts by pointing out that chasing endless economic growth is not a solution for the planet’s limits. A United Nations report, led by António Guterres, calls for new measures that look beyond GDP. It suggests 31 indicators—many tied to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals—to capture h

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May 16 2026CRIME

The Rise and Fall of a 1960s Star

Claudine Longet started in Paris but found fame in America during the swinging sixties. She sang on TV shows and even acted in a famous comedy movie that later inspired another comedian’s spoof. Her biggest hit in music came from a Beach Boys cover decades later when it played in a popular TV series

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