PACT

Jan 14 2025BUSINESS

COVID-19's Hit on Small Businesses: A Deep Dive into North Carolina

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the nation, it posed new hurdles for businesses and worker safety. In response, a team of experts from various fields conducted the COVID-19 Worksite Impact Survey. This survey aimed to understand how the pandemic was affecting small and medium businesses in te

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Jan 14 2025CRYPTO

Crypto: Just Speculation and Crime?

Cliff Asness, a big shot at AQR Capital Management, isn't buying into the crypto hype. He thinks bitcoin is nothing more than a bubble ready to pop. After bitcoin soared past $100, 000 following the November presidential election, Asness is skeptical. He believes crypto is only good for two things:

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

New Tool to Spot Microbial Metal Rust on Steel

You know how simple metal rust can cause big trouble, like leaks that hurt the environment? But did you know microscopic critters can also cause metal to rust? Yep, tiny organisms can create what’s called microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). This is different from regular rust (abiotic corr

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Jan 14 2025HEALTH

COVID's Mixed Impact on Graduate Behavioral Health Students

Picture this: 83 graduate-level students, scattered across two universities, are all enrolled in different behavioral health programs. These include clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychiatric nursing, and social work. They all have one major thing in common these day

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Jan 14 2025ENTERTAINMENT

Beyoncé Steps In: Stars Join Fire Relief Efforts

Wildfires in Los Angeles are causing quite a stir, affecting movies, TV shows, and even music. With weak winds and tough firefighting, things are slowly getting better. But the showbiz world is still facing delays. The Producers Guild put their nominations on hold, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex,

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Jan 13 2025ENTERTAINMENT

Oscars Shift Schedule Due to LA Wildfires

The Oscars have decided to push back their nomination voting period and change the date of their announcement due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. The voting, which was supposed to end on January 14, will now close on January 17 at 5 p. m. PT. Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards will be

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Jan 13 2025ENTERTAINMENT

Sundance 2025: Moving Forward Despite LA Wildfires

Just days before the highly anticipated Sundance Film Festival, organizers are working hard to ensure the event runs smoothly, despite the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. With strong winds expected in the coming days, the situation could worsen and impact the festival's operations in Park City, Ut

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Jan 13 2025ENTERTAINMENT

Celebs Pitch In: Fighting Fires, Helping Communities

The recent wildfires in California have been devastating. Thousands of homes are gone, and sadly, 24 lives have been lost. It's not just the local communities that are affected—the entertainment world is feeling the heat too. Several projects and events, like the Producers Guild nominations and Megh

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Jan 13 2025POLITICS

How Undocumented Workers Fund Social Security

You won't believe who's helping to keep Social Security running: undocumented immigrants. In 2022 alone, they contributed a whopping $25. 7 billion in taxes to the program, according to a study by a tax research group. The kicker? They can't collect benefits without legal status, so their money supp

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Jan 13 2025ENVIRONMENT

LA Wildfires: Burning Schools and Outdoor Classrooms

As wildfires rage around Los Angeles, families and educators are mourning the loss of beloved outdoor learning spaces and the impact on students. Irina Contreras, a program manager, saw her daughter's outdoor education sanctuary go up in flames. The fires have hit various educational settings hard,

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