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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 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 2026BUSINESS

Money Talk: A New AI Coach Is Paying a Lot to Learn Finance

Elon Musk’s new venture, xAI, is looking for people who know money to help train its chatbot, Grok. The company wants real bankers and traders to act as tutors so the AI can understand how financial decisions are made. In its job ads, xAI asks for experts in investment banking, portfolio manageme

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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 2026POLITICS

Airstrike in Gaza Raises Tension as Iran Conflict Hits Ceasefire

The latest strike by Israeli forces in Gaza killed at least three people, including a child, according to local health officials. The attack hit a vehicle in the western part of Khan Younis, south of the enclave. Twelve others were wounded in the same incident. Israel says it targets Hamas

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Mar 17 2026POLITICS

Drinks Shut Down: Damascus Bars Face New Rules

The Syrian government has decided to shut down alcohol sales in restaurants and bars across the capital city. The order, announced by the local governor on Monday evening, says that venues must change their licenses from “nightclub” or “bar” to “cafe. ” Only sealed bottles can be sold for take‑away,

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Mar 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

Vivo’s X300 Ultra Gets a New Color System to Make Photos Look Real

Vivo is rolling out a fresh color system called “BluePrint Natural Color” for its upcoming X300 Ultra and the X300s, which should hit stores together. The aim is to give photos a more professional feel while keeping them natural and honest, according to industry observers. The new approach borrow

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Mar 17 2026SCIENCE

New Planet Finds: A Strange World of Lava Oceans and Sulfur Skies

Scientists have spotted a planet that doesn’t fit the usual categories we know. The world, called L 98‑59 d, was first spotted in 2019 but recent telescope data has opened a window into its bizarre climate. It is about one and a half times bigger than Earth, both in size and mass, making it a rocky

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Mar 17 2026TECHNOLOGY

AI Lab Turns Fast‑Paced Experimentation Into Business Wins

A startup that helps sales teams with software has turned a small, experimental group into the engine of its AI growth. The squad, made up of highly skilled engineers who can think like customers, builds tools that solve real problems for users and keeps the company’s own staff up to speed with new

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