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Feb 23 2026BUSINESS

Equipment Loans Surge Over 30% in January

U. S. companies borrowed more than a third more money for equipment in January compared with last year, according to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. The new financing reached $11. 6 billion after adjusting for seasonal changes, up 7. 8% from December. This amount is the highest

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Feb 23 2026BUSINESS

Local Hardware Shop Shuts Doors After 53 Years

A longtime fixture in Mountain View will close its doors this summer, ending 53 years of service to the community. The shop had survived the pandemic as an essential business, but its fortunes slipped sharply once restrictions eased. The owner noted that each year brought fewer sales. Customers who

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Feb 23 2026BUSINESS

Domino’s Plans to Double, and Why It Might Work

Domino’s stock went up after the company posted a better‑than‑expected quarter and announced bold growth goals. The pizza chain said its same‑store sales rose 3. 7%, beating analysts’ 3. 1% estimate, and revenue hit $1. 54 billion versus the expected $1. 52 billion, even as the broader pizza market

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Feb 23 2026POLITICS

Texas Schools Face Record‑High Choice Rush

Parents across Texas are lining up to send their children into a new state‑run program that lets them pick schools beyond their local district. The system, called Texas Education Freedom Accounts, launched with a $1 billion seed fund and has already received more than 118, 000 applications. The dead

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Feb 23 2026POLITICS

Education Dept. Outsources Jobs to State and Health Agencies

The U. S. Department of Education has begun handing over parts of its work to other federal bodies, a move that aims to reduce the size and reach of the education agency. Two new agreements were announced, each giving a different department specific duties that used to belong to Education. One part

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Feb 23 2026EDUCATION

Small School, Big Impact

A new learning hub is opening its doors for kids in Ogle and Lee counties who need a different classroom vibe. The place is called the Chana Education Center, and it’s built to help students who face anxiety, trauma, or learning differences thrive. Instead of a huge lecture hall, Chana offers a t

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Feb 23 2026EDUCATION

Science Fair Sparks Curiosity in Reading

Students from all over Berks County are gathering at Albright College on March 2 to set up their projects for the 74th Reading‑Berks Science and Engineering Fair. The event, which began in 1952, is the second‑oldest science fair in America and welcomes participants from grades six through twelve.

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Feb 23 2026SCIENCE

Young Scientist Brings Space Healing Home

Leanne Fan, an 18‑year‑old senior from Westview High School in San Diego, has turned her bedroom into a mini laboratory. She built a low‑cost device that spins samples to mimic the weightlessness astronauts feel in orbit, allowing her to study how living cells respond when gravity is absent. Inst

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Feb 23 2026SPORTS

Loughborough and SiS Team Up Again to Boost Sports Nutrition

Loughborough University has signed a new three‑year deal with Science in Sport (SiS), the world’s top brand for sports nutrition. The agreement keeps SiS as the official food partner for many of Loughborough’s elite teams and opens doors for fresh research projects. SiS is known for creating the

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Feb 23 2026OPINION

Truth Beats Compromise

Jeff Bezos argues that when we can find the real answer, we should not settle for a middle ground. He gives a simple example: in a room people guess the ceiling height. Instead of measuring it, they might settle on an average number. That is compromise, a quick but inaccurate solution. Bezos says t

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