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Mar 17 2026EDUCATION

College Costs: Most Think It’s Not Worth It

A recent nationwide survey of 1, 456 adults shows that a majority—about 59 percent—believe a four‑year college degree does not justify its price. Only 24 percent see it as worthwhile, while the rest are undecided. The finding signals a sharp decline from earlier decades when most people viewed highe

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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Future Firefighters Get a Boost in Ponchatoula

Air Products has given $18, 000 to the Ponchatoula Volunteer Fire Department’s High School Program. The money will help ten students start a career in emergency services during the 2025‑2026 school year. The grant comes from Air Products Lake Maurepas Community Fund, a local charity arm of the co

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

EU Leader Urges US and Israel to End Iran Conflict

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters in Brussels that the war involving Iran must stop. She said the EU is talking with Middle‑East governments to find a diplomatic way out of the fighting. Kallas added that Europe would not block naval traffic through the Strait of Horm

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Spy Firm Visit Sparks Slovenian Election Fears

Slovenia’s political scene stirs after reports that a private Israeli intelligence company may have met with the opposition leader just before the country’s election. A group of journalists and activists say that representatives from the firm, known for its work in high‑profile investigations, flew

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Mar 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Fun Night at the Opera House Helps a Local Food Bank

Gardiner’s Johnson Hall Opera House is hosting an entertaining evening on March 21 to raise money for the Chrysalis Place Food Bank. The show, starting at 7:30 p. m. , mixes music, comedy, circus tricks and dance. Attendees can enjoy acts such as the Cowboy Angels, juggler Shane Miclon, the band B

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Mar 17 2026SCIENCE

Walnut Mixes: How Protein Meets Polyphenols for Health

Walnuts leave behind a lot of waste after the shells are removed. Scientists are turning that leftover into useful food ingredients. In this study, they looked at what happens when walnut protein fragments (called WPH) bind to different walnut polyphenols – specifically epicatechin, gallic acid, fer

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Prime Minister Meloni Goes Digital to Rally Youth for Justice Vote

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s leader, has joined a popular rapper’s online show to push voters toward a “yes” in the upcoming judiciary overhaul. The referendum, set for March 22‑23, will decide whether a plan that separates judges from prosecutors is adopted. Supporters claim the move modernises la

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Mar 17 2026HEALTH

Trust in U. S. Vaccines Drops as Debate Heats Up

A recent survey shows that only 60 % of Americans now trust the government’s advice on childhood vaccines, down from 71 % last June. The change follows a new schedule introduced in January by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , which cut the number of universally recommended vaccines from about

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Mar 17 2026HEALTH

Gut Myths Busted: What a GI Doctor Says You Should Stop Believing

A lot of people hear about gut health from social media and end up believing odd tricks. A healthy diet full of plant foods is the real key, but many still eat too much processed food and not enough fiber. This problem is part of why colon cancer is rising in younger adults, a leading death cause fo

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Mar 17 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Starry Astrophage Burst: A Movie‑Inspired Sip You Can Only Find in the Movies

Pepsi has launched a new drink that looks straight out of a sci‑fi film, but it won’t show up on supermarket shelves. The soda is part of the brand’s “Drips” collection, a line that promises bold layers and playful mix‑ins for every mood. The newest addition is called Starry Astrophage Burst, a f

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