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eric franks

Scottish soccer crowds show Boston who’s boss in drinking stakes

June 18, 2026

When Scottish soccer fans invaded Boston last weekend, they didn’t just cheer their team on—they emptied local bars faster than you can say “cheers. ” While Irish-American drinkers usually get the spotlight for their legendary nights out, the visitors from Scotland outdid them by swarming taverns be

crime

A local business owner and gun trainer made a deadly choice after a night out

June 18, 2026

Eric Franks had spent years teaching people in West Philadelphia how to handle guns safely. In one of his videos, he showed how to secure a belt loaded with gear so a firearm wouldn’t swing loose. Friends remember him repeating the same lesson: “Don’t pull your gun unless you have to. ” Yet on a Sat

politics

Why Latin America’s crime problem is fueling a political shift

June 18, 2026

Over the last few years, violent crime has become a defining issue in Latin America. While overall homicide rates have dropped slightly across the region, pockets of extreme violence—especially in cocaine-producing nations like Colombia and Peru—have kept fear high. Extortion cases have skyrocketed

sports

Two Caribbean kids who loved hockey and ended up skating toward the NHL draft

June 18, 2026

Jaxon Cover and Ryder Cali both showed up to the NHL’s Western New York scouting combine in June wearing numbers that didn’t yet belong to any NHL team. The 90 invitees spent a week running tests, talking to teams, and answering questions—skills that matter just as much as skating speed in today’s l

politics

How Fixing Potholes Became a Political Idea

June 18, 2026

Politicians today are borrowing an old idea from early 1900s Milwaukee, where socialists won votes by making sure streets and sewers worked better than anywhere else. Back then, critics joked that socialists cared more about pipes than big theories, but the joke backfired—good trash pickup and clean

politics

Why Iran can’t have missiles if rich neighbors can

June 18, 2026

A U. S. president recently argued that it was unfair for Iran to miss out on ballistic missiles while countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar already possess them. He suggested the world should accept Iran getting missiles too, provided they matched the stockpiles of their neighbors. The comment came

politics

Are We Moving Too Fast with Social Changes?

June 18, 2026

A recent survey shows Americans are split over whether society has changed too quickly on issues like gender identity, sexual orientation, and cultural acceptance. Nearly half of those asked believe the country has gone "too far, " while a third think it hasn’t gone far enough. That’s a shift from l

entertainment

Big names light up the 2026 World Cup stage

June 18, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off with star power right from the start during Team USA’s first game in Los Angeles. Celebrities didn’t just show up—they turned up in force, making appearances throughout the tournament. From music moguls to sports legends and Hollywood icons, the event became as muc

religion

Episcopal Church downsizes: Big building sold in NYC

June 18, 2026

The Episcopal Church is letting go of its tall headquarters in New York City, a building that once towered over the city’s skyline. This move isn’t just about real estate—it mirrors a bigger shift. Fewer Americans now identify with mainline Protestant churches, and many religious groups are rethinki

finance

How Stablecoins Are Changing Cross-Border Payments in Latin America

June 18, 2026

A $32 million funding boost is helping a startup called Trace Finance build safer bridges between traditional banks and digital money. The company connects banks in Brazil and the U. S. to stablecoin networks, making cross-border payments faster and more reliable. This move comes as Brazilian regula