WILL AMERICA

Mar 15 2026SCIENCE

Science Day at Willow Bend Turns Into a Treasure Hunt

Willow Bend’s annual Science Saturday has become a lively hunt for hidden relics, drawing families and curious minds to the park’s winding paths. The event opens with a brief welcome that explains how participants can search for small artifacts buried in the soil, each item linked to a story about l

reading time less than a minute
Mar 12 2026ENTERTAINMENT

A New Kid on the Block: A Teen’s Fight with Anxiety

Will Ropp, who has acted in shows like “The Way Back” and “Love, Victor, ” decided to step behind the camera. He wanted a script that felt real. Ropp tried to sign up for The Black List, but the site said he had no film credits. He then used a friend’s login and looked through about one hundred scri

reading time less than a minute
Mar 05 2026CRYPTO

American Bitcoin’s Big BTC Grab While Banks Push Back on Crypto Yields

American Bitcoin, a mining firm linked to the Trump family, has added more than 6, 500 bitcoins to its treasury, pushing it into the upper tier of publicly listed companies that hold crypto on their books. The move came after the company bought 500 bitcoins in the last three weeks, valuing its holdi

reading time less than a minute
Feb 28 2026BUSINESS

Big Airline Clash at Chicago O’Hare and FAA’s Plan to Cut Flights

American Airlines and United are fighting over gate space at Chicago O’Hare, a battle that has pushed the airport to its limits. The dispute began when American lost several gates because it didn’t rebuild its schedule quickly enough after the pandemic, a move that came sooner than lease agreemen

reading time less than a minute
Feb 27 2026CRYPTO

Trump Sons’ Bitcoin Company Loses $59 Million in Fourth Quarter

American Bitcoin, a mining firm linked to former President Donald Trump’s sons, posted a $59. 45‑million loss in the last quarter of 2025. The company earned a profit of $3. 48 million in the same period last year and had made money in the previous quarter, showing a sharp reversal. Revenue cl

reading time less than a minute
Feb 24 2026POLITICS

Scientists Head to Australia for Better Funding

American researchers are moving overseas because money for science in the U. S. is shrinking. The last year’s cuts hit projects on inequality, gender and climate change hard. Universities stopped hiring new staff, cut graduate spots and reduced PhD places. Other countries see this as a chance

reading time less than a minute
Feb 18 2026EDUCATION

Barbour’s Quiet Fight for Equality

William “Wilbur” Miller Barbour grew up in Middletown and later made a name for himself far beyond his hometown. After finishing high school there, he went on to study at Elizabethtown College and then pursued a career in social work. He joined the National Urban League, where he helped plan program

reading time less than a minute
Feb 15 2026BUSINESS

Domestic Mining Push: A New Path for Critical Minerals

American companies that build batteries, cars and tech gadgets depend on graphite. China supplies most of it, making the U. S. vulnerable to supply cuts or price hikes. A new law encourages domestic mining projects like Graphite One’s Alaska deposit, the biggest graphite site in America. The bill as

reading time less than a minute
Feb 14 2026CRIME

Ames Creator Shines Light on Unsolved Crime's Impact

Willy Nast, a resident of Ames, has taken a unique approach to true-crime storytelling. His podcast, "City of Lights, " focuses on the aftermath of a tragic event rather than the crime itself. The story begins in Aurora, Illinois, where Nast, then a 22-year-old creative writing student, knocked on t

reading time less than a minute
Jan 29 2026HEALTH

A Glimpse into America's Health: Good News and Challenges Ahead

America's health story is a mix of good news and tough challenges. In 2024, the average American's life expectancy hit a record high of 79 years. This is a big deal because it's a 0. 6-year jump from the previous year. The main reason? A drop in drug overdose deaths. This is a win for public health

reading time less than a minute