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beth vottero

Art, Sand and Community: A Fresh Look at Valparaiso’s First Fest

June 29, 2026

Valparaiso welcomed a lively gathering that turned downtown into an open‑air gallery and playground. The highlight was the new Sand+Steel Art Fest, where artists mixed traditional craft with playful experimentation. Wes Thorn, a self‑taught carpenter from Portage, showed how he transforms roug

politics

Why Many Queer Alaskans Feel Done With Voting — And One Candidate Who Might Change Their Minds

June 29, 2026

Across Alaska, over 65 LGBTQIA2S+ people—artists, shop owners, teachers, and others—are stepping into the spotlight. They aren’t just fighting for visibility; they’re asking hard questions about how queer and trans lives fit into the state’s future. Pride Month usually feels like a time of celebrati

sports

Detroit High School Sports Night: Stars, Wins and Stories

June 25, 2026

The MotorCity Casino Hotel hosted a glittering ceremony on June 24, celebrating more than 300 Detroit-area athletes. The event highlighted the top performers across every sport, from football and basketball to cross‑country and gymnastics. Key awards included the overall boys and girls athlete

technology

Alibaba Allegedly Steals AI Knowledge from Claude

June 25, 2026

Anthropic, the maker of the Claude chatbot, claims that between April 22 and June 5, 2026, a group linked to Alibaba used fake accounts—about 25, 000 in total—to chat with Claude over 28. 8 million times. The company says this was an effort to copy Claude’s abilities so that Alibaba could build a co

health

Nurses Needed: University Tour Tackles Georgia Shortage

June 24, 2026

Augusta University’s leader, Russell Keen, is on a road trip through northern Georgia. His goal is to talk with former students, supporters and future applicants about the school’s plans. The trip starts in Athens and will stop in cities like Dalton and the Classic City. Keen says Georgia f

celebrities

Celebrities born on June 23rd

June 24, 2026

June 23rd brings a mix of well-known faces from music, film, and television. Among the stars celebrating birthdays today are Selma Blair turning 54 and Jason Mraz at 49. These two have made their mark in very different ways: Blair in acting and Mraz in music. Blair recently joined MrBeast’s show as

politics

Housing Law Wins in a Trump‑Led Congress

June 23, 2026

The U. S. Senate is about to pass a big new housing bill that could make homes cheaper and easier to build. Senators voted 87‑8 last week, and the bill will next go to the House before reaching the President’s desk. The measure is a welcome win for Republicans, who have worried that voters think

politics

Michigan's top health official steps aside just months before governor's term ends

June 23, 2026

Elizabeth Hertel, who runs Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services, announced she will leave her job at the end of June. Her departure comes months before Governor Gretchen Whitmer finishes her term in January 2027. The announcement didn’t say where Hertel is going next, leaving many curi

entertainment

How AI is helping to bring forgotten Black history to life

June 21, 2026

The upcoming documentary "Declarations" is taking a fresh approach to telling history by using AI to animate portraits of four Black Americans from the Revolutionary War era. Instead of relying on the usual old paintings or photos—which often show Black figures as background characters or stereotype

crime

Bethel Police Chief Faces 70 Charges After Return to Ohio

June 20, 2026

Chad Essert, once the head of Bethel’s police force, is back in Clermont County after being extradited from Florida. The sheriff’s office booked him into jail late Thursday evening, and he will stay there without bail while 70 felony counts loom. His first court date is set for Monday. The indictme