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Apr 13 2026OPINION

Remembering Two Firefighters Who Gave Everything

Two local firefighters died this month while saving others. Jeff Buck and Robert Shick Jr. worked for the Walnuttown Fire Company for decades. Buck joined at 17 and led the company for seven years. Shick started even younger, serving for over 40 years in different roles. Their deaths were sudden. A

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Apr 13 2026HEALTH

Understanding measles protection in kids after early vaccination

Vaccination experts worry about kids catching measles before they get their shots. That’s why some countries give the first measles vaccine at just six months instead of the usual twelve. South Africa tested this idea by giving babies their first dose at six months and a booster at one year. The goa

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Apr 13 2026HEALTH

Keeping moms and babies safe: What South African healthcare workers say about tracking vaccine side effects

South African health clinics give vaccines to pregnant women every day. But what happens when these vaccines cause unwanted reactions? A recent study asked workers on the front lines how well they monitor these side effects. Most know vaccines prevent diseases, but many struggle to follow the rules

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Apr 13 2026FINANCE

New Crypto Fund Bridges Old Finance and Blockchain

A group of finance professionals who cut their teeth in traditional markets is launching a fresh take on crypto investing. Calling themselves Tok-Edge, they've quietly built a platform that mixes the rules of hedge funds with digital assets. After spending a year in stealth mode, they've just reveal

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Apr 13 2026CRIME

SUV driver crashes, then stabs himself after police try to calm him down

Around six in the evening, a grey Mercedes SUV drifted north on Interstate 5 and clipped a grey Lexus before speeding off. Witnesses called it in, and California Highway Patrol quickly tracked the plates to a Santa Clarita address. When officers knocked, the driver reacted strangely: he locked himse

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Apr 13 2026HEALTH

How childhood whooping cough vaccines keep working in different kids

Doctors know kids get whooping cough vaccines early, but they still get sick sometimes. That’s why researchers tested blood from three groups of children who got different vaccine versions. Group one had an older whole-cell shot first, then two newer acellular boosters. Group two started with one ac

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Apr 13 2026EDUCATION

Testing Too Much, Teaching Too Little?

Many parents trust test scores more than their own kids’ struggles. But scores can hide big gaps. For example, a Texas mom saw her children ace standardized tests every year. Yet her second grader didn’t know what spelling was. Her first grader couldn’t handle simple addition. Their school focused s

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Apr 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Nature’s Classroom: How Outdoor Education Builds Youth and Community

Kids today spend far more time staring at screens than exploring outdoors—sometimes up to seven hours daily. That’s a trend that worries educators, especially when combined with the growing political divide over how much we should even care about environmental issues. A new documentary, however, doe

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Apr 13 2026RELIGION

How America's Early Ideas Shape Its Success Today

Back in the 1700s, many leaders saw education as key to building a strong nation. Noah Webster, famous for his dictionary, was one of them. He believed schools should teach values that match the country’s beliefs. For America, he argued, that meant following Christian principles. Some people still p

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Apr 12 2026ENVIRONMENT

Community Green Day Sparks Hope in DeKalb

The campus of Northern Illinois University buzzed with excitement on Saturday as DeKalb County Earth Fest returned for its third year. The celebration, built through a partnership between DeCarbon DeKalb and the university, aimed to connect people with nature without heavy guilt. The opening keynot

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