Times Herald-Record
Social media shaping kids’ career dreams
A second grader in Norway drew a YouTube logo when my colleagues and I asked what they wanted to be when they grow up. When we asked why, the child explained that YouTubers are famous and make lots of money. When we asked second graders in Wisconsin...
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NY reports hundreds of ‘explosive diarrhea’ parasite cases
Health officials are tracking a rise in cyclosporiasis cases in New York and across the United States as investigators work to identify possible sources of exposure linked to the foodborne parasite. As of July 10, preliminary data from New York state...
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Hochul orders one-year ban on data centers in NY
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul planned to sign an executive order banning new hyperscale data center development for one year on Tuesday, July 14. Through the moratorium, state environmental permits for data centers that can use 50 or more megawatts of...
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Heat waves turn homes dangerous for all ages
Most people know that heat waves can be dangerous. What they may not realize is that the heat indoors can be much worse than outdoors. When the power goes out and air conditioning stops, a house starts to function like a greenhouse. Heat enters...
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Population paradox
New York’s overall population has grown over the last decade, but many of the state’s regions are experiencing persistent population declines and have a higher share of older residents than younger ones. Data from the newly released Citizens Budget...
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Trump picks hold near perfect record
With five months left until the 2026 elections, President Donald Trump holds a near perfect record when it comes to endorsing winning Republican primary candidates. In only a few cases has his preferred candidate lost this year, demonstrating that even...
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Ceasefire falls apart as Iran buries slain leader
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to have fallen apart over continued strife over the Strait of Hormuz as Iranians buried their supreme leader, killed by U.S.-Israel forces at the outset of the war. There were no new...
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‘NOT NOW, NOT EVER’
Under an occasional faint drizzle, about 300 Hudson Valley residents and elected officials gathered in Algonquin Park on the evening of July 7 for a “No ICE in Newburgh” rally. With a long line of vehicles parked along the grass perimeter, the...
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Report: Systemic oversight failures plague NY prisons
A deep dive into several Department of Corrections and Community Supervision facilities across New York revealed oversight, discipline and accountability issues in the state’s prisons, prompting calls for an overhaul of the system. Following the death...
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Safety issues beset Silicon Valley defense startup
Ayear ago, Ryan Tseng, the head of U.S. defense tech startup Shield AI, announced his company had turned a new page. h After a gory incident that partially severed a U.S. Navy official’s fingers during a test of its V-BAT drone, Shield AI had addressed...
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Feds halt funds for Medicaid fraud probes
The Trump administration has opened a new skirmish with New York over Medicaid fraud by cutting off funds for the state unit that investigates such cases and accusing it of slacking on prosecutions. A federal official notified state Attorney General...
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SHIP LANTERN’S LIGHT FINALLY DIMS
The century-old Ship Lantern Inn, a mid-Hudson Valley signature restaurant, had its last day of service on June 28. It’s an end of an era, said Mike Foglia, who represents the third generation of the Foglia family that led the fine dining restaurant...
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Searching for a lost Revolutionary War site
ERIE, PA – More than a decade ago, a group of historians, archaeologists and wilderness conservation advocates set out on an ambitious expedition to determine the precise location of the only Revolutionary War battle fought in northwestern...
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Nature has better solutions to algae
When the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green with algae just days after a $15 million renovation, the U.S. government scrambled for chemicals and expensive technical solutions to fix the iconic landmark. Trying to kill algae with chemicals...
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HELP ON HOLD
New York’s domestic violence hotline has “significant issues,” an audit released by the state Comptroller’s Office on July 1 revealed. The review, which examined the state’s Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) from January 2019...
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THE MEANING OF REVOLUTION
Like Americans today, the people living in the United States in 1826 were preparing to celebrate a milestone for their country. July Fourth of that year marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As what was known as the “Jubilee”...
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High court upholds birthright citizenship
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on June 30 rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to redefine who is an American, striking down the limits on birthright citizenship that were a centerpiece of his hard-line approach to immigration. The ruling landed...
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What NY’s legal battle means for ICE detainees
As the mask ban on most law enforcement officers and other provisions related to immigrant detainment went into effect on June 26, the status of detainees held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Orange County Jail remains precarious. On...
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Trump, Hochul trade lawsuits
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Trump administration have filed dueling lawsuits in the governor’s fight to enact Immigration and Customs Enforcement restrictions in the state. Late last month, the state Legislature passed and Hochul signed a...
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Fight for America
In a letter to George Washington in January 1776, John Adams declared that New York “is the Nexus of the Northern and Southern colonies, a Kind of Key to the whole Continent, as it is a Passage to Canada, to the Great Lakes and to all the Indian...
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Trump sees wins on immigration, guns
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump victories in two immigration cases June 25. In the divide between gun rights and gun violence, the justices struck down another state law, this one in Hawaii, aimed at curbing guns in public...
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Nuclear future comes into focus
The last time a nuclear reactor was built in New York was 1975 when the state was faced with surging demands for electricity. The 842-megawatt James A. FitzPatrick Clean Energy Center in Oswego County is still chugging along, churning out enough...
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Rest and revitalization
Sullivan County will have a new $16 million destination spa with a focus on health, relaxation, tourism growth and new jobs for area residents and vendors. The Eldred Preserve in conjunction with the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic...
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Trump: Iran agreed to nuke inspections
DUBAI – President Donald Trump said on June 23 that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into “infinity,” despite Tehran’s denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States. Washington agreed...
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Fresh, local produce is not far away
Whatever your reason for visiting farmers markets – freshly cut flowers, nutritious greens and vegetables, zesty pickles, aromatic herbs and candles, scones, cooking demos, links to local farming communities – the mid-Hudson Valley has plenty to choose...
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HISTORY HITS THE ROAD
New York State is issuing a special commemorative license plate to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. And it can be ordered at your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, as well as online. Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck,...
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RED, WHITE AND 250
This Fourth of July is the nation’s 250th anniversary, a semi-quincentennial, and celebrations are abundant across the mid-Hudson Valley. To honor the occasion, local mid-Hudson Valley municipalities are going all out, from the classic fireworks...
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Next round of Iran peace talks on hold
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire June 19 after escalating violence between Israel and Lebanon complicated President Donald Trump’s efforts to reach a final peace agreement with Iran. Still, negotiations to end the war appeared to be delayed,...
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LOWER CRIME RATES AT RISK
The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in more than a century. Homicides across 35 major American cities fell 21% in 2025, amounting to 922 fewer...
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Trump’s legacy rests in U.S. federal courts
President Donald Trump is pursuing his objectives with unbridled ambition – but whether those policies will go into effect is largely still in question. Though the legislative branch of government has shown little appetite to restrain him, the...
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WINDS OF CHANGE
The United States is in a bizarre situation in 2026: It’s facing a looming energy shortage, yet the Trump administration is making deals to pay offshore wind developers nearly $2 billion in taxpayer money to walk away from energy projects. These...
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U.S. deal with Iran leaves uncertainty
The United States and Iran were set to begin a week of high-stakes diplomacy after announcing on June 14 a framework deal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a preliminary agreement that has already pushed oil prices lower but leaves the...
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Rolling into summer
The Hudson Valley food scene has much to offer, and there’s no shortage of local food trucks to try, either. If you haven’t explored this realm of the area’s culinary landscape, we’ve got you covered. We gathered food truck festivals, along with...
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FORGING TRIBUTE
Ayears-long plan to honor those who served in the quick and oft-forgot 1991 Operation Desert Storm peaks this fall when a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., will be dedicated as part of USA 250 celebrations. Much of the project’s...
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Views are split on White House UFC event
It was 2001, and mixed martial arts fighting was on the ropes. Banned in 36 states, booted from cable operators, derided as “human cockfighting” – it was such an outcast sport that it traded hands for $2 million. A song. The new owners of Ultimate...
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25 million people lost Medicaid after pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people covered by Medicaid rose month after month – an unusual pattern for the government’s insurance program for people with low incomes and disabilities. Why? A policy of continuous coverage during the...
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Village at Tuxedo Reserve eyes fall opening
The Village at Tuxedo Reserve, a new 1,200-acre development located near the Tuxedo Park gated community, is planned to open in the fall in Orange County. “Tuxedo Reserve represents a transformative investment in our community and the broader region,”...
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April freeze costly for New York farmers
Jeff Crist had written down the spring date an unseasonal cold front dropped on his apple farm in Walden – April 21 – destroying future crops with temperatures in the 20s. Before the freeze warning on April 20, the weather had been summerlike just days...
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In recent years, fish have spent more time near the surface of the water What is killing Atlantic sturgeon?
Mike Fitzgerald hesitated. He feared the large, white object stranded on a beach along the Hudson River could be a dead body. h It was surrounded by vultures. So, Fitzgerald grabbed his binoculars. h He spied what some call “the dinosaur of the sea,” a...
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Relics tell history’s tale
On the third floor of the New York State Museum building in Albany one recent morning, a treasure trove of American relics usually kept hidden from public view fill a seemingly never-ending room. h Up here, the mostly darkened space is quiet and warm...
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Big water problems need big solutions
When a drought turns into an urban water crisis, a city’s first step is often to limit lawn watering and launch a campaign to encourage everyone to conserve. It might raise water-use rates or offer incentives for installing lowflow devices. h While...
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Data center moratorium expected to pass in NY
A New York bill banning data center construction statewide for one year is expected to be passed by the state Legislature before their session ends this week. It’s a lesser version of a bill being championed by Assemblymember Anna Kelles, D-Ithaca,...
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Former trooper sentenced in Monica Goods’ death
Former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner was sentenced June 2 to 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 years in state prison after he was previously found guilty of causing the death of 11-yearold Monica Goods on the New York State Thruway. New York State Attorney...
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Ads for GLP-1 drugs flooding the internet
If you watched the Super Bowl in 2026, you likely saw Serena Williams share her weight-loss journey on GLP-1 medications in a commercial. h Like millions of others around the country, if you’ve ever considered taking one of these drugs, you probably...
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Iran suspends talks over Lebanon attacks
Iran halted indirect talks with the United States over Israel’s intensifying attacks on Lebanon, according to Iranian media reports, signaling a possible breakdown in diplomatic efforts to end the 3-month-old war. The Iranian semi-official Tasnim news...
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Nancy Smith’s suspected killer dies by suicide
The 2001 murder of Nancy Smith of New Windsor has been solved, New Windsor police announced May 28. But there will be no prosecution because the alleged suspect died by suicide shortly after being interviewed by investigators in April. On Dec. 5,...
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From the first phone call to fiber and AI, AT&T keeps people linked How MA Bell became a Modern Giant
You’d need a pretty good chart to keep track of AT&T’s breakups, reorganizations, acquisitions, subsidiaries, CEOs, strikes, settlements, patents, innovations...The list goes on. h The telecommunications company that traces its roots to Alexander...
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Potential Iran deal puts Trump in a bind
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump finds himself in a bind as he seeks to end the war against Iran: He is under pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and get U.S. gasoline prices down but at the same time faces a potential backlash from Iran hawks...
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Testing the waters for a comeback
The grassroots movement to restart the Beacon-Newburgh ferry picked up support recently when the Orange County Industrial Development Agency agreed to kick in $100,000 for a weekend ferry pilot program. But that’s still about $100,000 shy of what’s...
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Assembly passes massive budget deal
It was a big day for the state Legislature in Albany on Tuesday, May 26, as the fourth budget bill revealed what auto insurance, Tier 6 pension and climate law changes would be coming for New Yorkers. Lawmakers deliberated the Transportation, Economic...
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‘There is no higher calling on planet Earth’
WEST POINT - As a soft rain fell May 23 at Michie Stadium, 998 West Point cadets raised their right hands and took the oath of office that officially made them second lieutenants in the United States Army. h Before that, they were welcomed by Secretary...
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THE LIMITS OF LOCKDOWNS
There have been 63 school shootings – meaning any time there is gunfire on a school campus – so far in 2026. h They happen so often that preparing for one has become normal. Students as young as 4 years old routinely practice for the possibility of a...
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‘We Need More Love’
The new owners of a historic estate in Sparrow Bush want to contribute to the Hudson Valley region through their initiative termed, “We Need More Love.” Seeking submissions by June 1, the offering includes the gift of a wedding celebration for one...
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Could LIRR strike deal lead to fare increases?
The Long Island Rail Road resolved a three-day strike by five of its unions with an agreement Gov. Kathy Hochul said will not impact fares on Metro-North Railroad or city subways and buses. But questions remain whether some of the Metropolitan...
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Miracle on 34th?
The Trump administration and Amtrak announced a master developer team to lead the redesign and construction to expand New York Penn Station, the busiest transportation hub in North America. “We are one step closer to delivering a world-class travel...
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Trump visit sparks backlash, reactions
President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit alongside Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., in Rockland County on Friday has sparked reactions online from political candidates and local officials. While supporters have promoted the event, some Democratic candidates...
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Surveillance pricing bills pass NY Senate
A ban on surveillance pricing in New York state is seeing some progress as New Yorkers are showing increased concern about the practice. The state Senate advanced two bills — one banning electronic shelving labels and another prohibiting online...
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Former Chester highway superintendent sentenced
Former Chester Town Highway Superintendent John Reilly III has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for shooting a DoorDash delivery driver. Judge Craig Stephen Brown pronounced the sentence in Orange County Court on May 18 for an aggregate term of...
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RISING COSTS
Americans’ concerns about being able to afford electricity and home heating fuel have been elevated since the beginning of the Iran war. But recently released nationwide data shows that even before the war began, these concerns were widespread,...
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Neversink man sentenced 25 years to life for shooting father
A Neversink man previously convicted of murdering his father was sentenced May 15 to 25 years to life in state prison. Sullivan County District Attorney Brian Conaty announced the sentence for Drew Botsford, 49, of Neversink. The sentence was...
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NY officer decertified after misconduct
In November of last year, Ryan Zarnowski’s public career as a peace officer appeared to have ended. h Internal documents show mistakes and discipline marked his only year as a jail deputy at the Oswego County Sheriff ’s Office: He failed to complete...
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Weinstein’s 3rd NY rape trial ends in mistrial
NEW YORK – Harvey Weinstein’s third trial in New York over allegations he used his Hollywood clout to prey upon and sexually abuse women ended in a mistrial on May 15, after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on a charge he raped the aspiring...
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Aroma Indian offers a variety of spice levels
The Goshen Plaza has a new restaurant, The Aroma Indian Kitchen and Bar, offering Indian food for vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters alike. The establishment opened its doors on April 30, according to co-owner Sukhbir Singh, who can be found at hand...
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Into the tic it
Gear up, New Yorkers. This year’s tick season could be among the worst, according to federal and state experts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Tick Bite Data Tracker, which uses real-time emergency room surveillance, shows weekly...
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Illness on cruise ship renews concern
One viral outbreak on a cruise ship was already commanding worldwide attention last week when health officials reported another on a separate vessel. Oceanwide Expeditions’ MV Hondius was grappling with hantavirus cases that resulted in three deaths...
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AI-integrated cameras raise alarms
For decades, cars dictated urban planning in the United States. h Few could have predicted that they would one day also double as nodes for surveillance. h In thousands of towns and cities across the United States, automatic license plate readers have...
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Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
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Massive data center planned in East Fishkill
Plans are afoot behind the scenes for a new data center in Dutchess Center with vast power needs — far greater than any similar facility now operating in New York. The site is a wooded tract in East Fishkill where a New Jersey developer initially...
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Historic Trust group recognizes Opus 40
Opus 40, a massive sculpture park in Saugerties, has received new national recognition from a major historic preservation organization. The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced May 5 that Opus 40 was one of 13 new members joining its...
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RACE TO REDRAW NY POLITICAL MAP
New York Democrats are vowing to redraw the state’s congressional lines to match Republican-led states in the latest burst of partisan redistricting around the U.S. to grab House seats and hold power. But a long battle lies ahead before New York can...
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NY lost $1.2 billion to toll evaders
Police could confiscate the license plates of drivers caught trying to evade tolls on New York roads, bridges and tunnels under legislation proposed by Albany lawmakers in response to a surge in ghost plates. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority,...
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U.S. says ships sailed through strait
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on May 5 said two U.S. commercial ships and two Navy destroyers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz, embarrassing Iranians who claimed the key waterway was closed and demonstrating it is safe to pass while a blockade of...
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More than 25 ways to make mom’s day
Planning for Mother’s Day just got a lot simpler. For the special mother in your life, we’ve pulled together more than 25 mid-Hudson Valley options to help you plan the perfect celebration. The big day is coming up soon on Sunday, May 10, and the...
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Microplastics could be overestimated
It seems like every day a new study finds tiny plastic particles called microplastics where they should not be: in our bodies and our food, water and air. Yet finding and identifying microplastics is extremely challenging, especially given their small...
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How American Express built a global reputation on reliability, innovation, and connection
American Express has been around for more than two thirds of the United States’ existence. h Like the nation, AmEx has seen dramatic growth and cultural shifts. h With a business model that has adapted to changing needs and changing markets, American...
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