STATE OF OZ

May 12 2026HEALTH

Staten Island trains workers to spot suicide and overdose risks at the same time

Staten Island is tackling two big problems—overdose deaths and suicide—by teaching frontline workers how to handle both at once. Around 300 people have already gone through a six-part training that mixes mental health and drug-use screening. The idea is to catch warning signs early, whether someone

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May 07 2026POLITICS

AI at the table: Next week's meeting could change tech talks

Officials from the US and China might add AI to the list of topics for their upcoming high-level meeting. The possible talks could happen during a summit planned for next week in Beijing. This isn't confirmed yet, but sources say both sides are looking at the idea seriously. The American team might

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Apr 21 2026POLITICS

Prediction Markets: Who Gets to Tax Them?

States want to raise money from online prediction sites, but they’re not sure what those sites actually are. The debate centers on whether the sites should be treated like sports betting, financial derivatives, or something else entirely. If they’re seen as gambling, states could tax them the sam

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Apr 21 2026WEATHER

Cold Weather and Pollen Alert for Staten Island

Staten Island residents can expect a sharp temperature dip after Monday’s brief showers. The National Weather Service says it will be partly sunny in the morning, with a high around 54°F. At night, the temperature will plunge nearly 20 degrees, settling near 34°F by Tuesday morning. Sunlight

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Apr 21 2026POLITICS

Gas prices: Why official predictions keep changing

Officials keep giving different answers about when gas prices might drop. First they said weeks, then months, then maybe never before the election. Energy Secretary Chris Wright started with a confident \"weeks\" timeline in early March. By April, he called summer a \"very aggressive\" guess. Just d

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Apr 20 2026WEATHER

Spring Weather Switch: Rain, Wind, and Allergies Hit Staten Island

Staten Island is about to face a spring mood swing this week. After a taste of warm 80-degree days last week, the upcoming forecast is bringing it back to typical spring unpredictability. Rain showers are expected to roll in starting Sunday, kicking off a stretch of days that feel more like April th

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Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Nordic Countries Back Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Move

Officials from Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark spoke up after Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for ships. The statement followed a truce worked out in Lebanon, which paused a long-running dispute in the area. The Nordic leaders didn’t just cheer Iran’s words—they stressed that real peace

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Mar 28 2026POLITICS

U. S. Plans Limited Iran Action Without Ground Forces

Officials in Washington believe they can handle Iran’s military threats without sending soldiers into combat. Speaking after meetings with global allies, a top diplomat said the U. S. expects to wrap up its campaign in weeks, not months. The focus is on weakening Iran’s ability to launch missiles an

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Mar 25 2026WEATHER

What’s Next for Staten Island’s Weather?

Staten Island starts the week with quiet, cool days. Tuesday feels a little chilly, with highs sitting just below the usual range for this time of year. The skies stay mostly clear, but clouds begin to gather by Tuesday night. Those clouds aren’t bringing rain yet—just a hint of what’s coming. By W

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Mar 06 2026ENVIRONMENT

Wheat in Danger: How Rising Ozone Cuts Yields Across India

Ozone at ground level has climbed steadily over the last twenty years, and it is hurting one of India’s most important crops. Farmers in the fertile Indo‑Gangetic Plain see their wheat produce shrink each season because of this invisible gas. Scientists measured the amount of ozone that reaches w

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