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Mar 18 2026WEATHER

What Happens When the Pacific Ocean Changes Its Mood?

The Pacific Ocean is like a giant bathtub that never stops moving. Right now, it’s cooling down after a long phase called La Niña. Scientists say this phase is ending, and the ocean might warm up again soon. That warming phase is called El Niño, and it could show up as early as summer. El Niño and

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Mar 17 2026BUSINESS

Grains, Trade Checks and Weather: What Happened on March 17

Corn prices nudged up early in the morning, moving a few cents higher as farmers and traders reacted to fresh market data. May corn saw a small rise, while soybeans also edged up slightly; the byproducts of soy—meal and oil—displayed mixed movements, with meal falling and oil climbing. Wheat showed

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Mar 14 2026SCIENCE

Smart Nitrogen Use Saves Money and Protects Water

Farmers in the area are trying a new way to cut costs and keep groundwater clean. A local extension teacher started the “Nitrogen Challenge” after farmers asked if they were still adding too much fertilizer to their fields. The goal is simple: give each crop exactly the amount of nitrogen it n

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Mar 07 2026EDUCATION

A New Farm School Barn Brings Hands‑On Learning to Osceola

Osceola County is investing in its own future by building a new agricultural barn at Harmony Middle School. The structure will let students from sixth grade onward work with animals, grow plants, and learn about farm equipment. Construction is slated to start later this year, giving the school a lon

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Mar 03 2026ENVIRONMENT

Connecticut Groups Warn of Air Quality Damage After EPA Cuts Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency recently removed key rules that had protected air quality for almost twenty years. One rule, the 2009 endangerment finding, had helped set limits on greenhouse gases from cars and engines. The new decision also rolls back standards that limit pollution from coal‑p

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Feb 28 2026POLITICS

Utah’s Water and Land Laws Shake Up in 2026

Utah lawmakers are busy reshaping how the state handles water, land and mining. While the Great Salt Lake gets most headlines, several new bills aim to protect farmers, miners and public lands. One proposal lets the state’s natural resources department pay for legal fights over Colorado River water

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Feb 27 2026EDUCATION

Texas Textbooks Face Big Fix‑Up After Mistake Spree

The state’s new “Bluebonnet” reading guide, meant to add more religious ideas into schools, has been found full of mistakes. Teachers and officials spotted hundreds of errors after the books hit classrooms in 2024. Because of these problems, the Texas Board of Education approved a package of corr

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Feb 27 2026ENVIRONMENT

Desert Drivers Meet a Swarm Surprise

A quiet road in the Western Sahara turned into an unexpected battlefield when a gigantic group of locusts appeared out of nowhere. Drivers had to weave around the insects, which looked like a living cloud that blocked the highway and rattled cars. Locusts are notorious for destroying crops, and s

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Feb 26 2026BUSINESS

Future of a Pork Giant in Sioux Falls

A big change is coming to downtown Sioux Falls. The city’s leaders and the head of Smithfield Foods said that the company will leave its old plant near Falls Park for a new, larger site in an industrial area up north. The current facility has been there since 1909 and was bought by Smithfield in 199

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Feb 24 2026ENVIRONMENT

Solar Fields, Sheep and Wetlands: A New Twist on Clean Power

A fresh idea is shaping up in north Baldwin County: a 4, 500‑acre solar field that will also host sheep and protect nearby wetlands. The plan aims to power a future data center for Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, while keeping the local environment in good shape. The developers say

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