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university of florida literacy institute

Storm Alert: Big Hail and Strong Winds Near Chicago

April 4, 2026

A warm front is moving across north central and northeast Illinois, bringing a mix of thunderstorm danger, powerful winds, and large hail. Officials say the risk isn’t limited to a single county; it spreads over many areas including Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Lake, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Kane, DuPage

sports

Cardinals Find Turf Home While Weather Hits Their Backyard

April 4, 2026

North Idaho College’s softball squad has been on a quest for a stable playing field, juggling venues from high‑school parks to the city’s own Memorial Field. This spring, a mix of mild temperatures and persistent rain forced the team to relocate their home games to an artificial turf field at the Ma

weather

Storms Leave Tornado‑Like Damage Across Northern Illinois

April 4, 2026

The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak tornado, rated EF‑1, struck parts of Lee County last Thursday night. A survey team was dispatched to inspect the damage and is still checking sites in nearby Ogle County. Meteorologist Lee Carlaw reported that crews were on the move early Frid

weather

Rainy Easter in New Jersey: Plan for Showers and Storms

April 4, 2026

New Jersey residents heading out for Easter must bring umbrellas, especially on Sunday. \n\nSaturday is expected to start sunny in the south and partly clear up north, though a few brief showers could appear over the northern half. \n\nSunday will be much cloudier, with a high chance of rain and som

weather

Unexpected Winter Surprise Hits Northland

April 4, 2026

The Northland region faced an early April snowstorm that began on Thursday and lingered into Friday. While the first wave left only a modest amount of snow, it caused some difficult driving conditions. A second snowfall is expected later that night, and forecasts suggest it could be heavier. During

politics

Reality Star Shakes Up LA Mayor Race

April 4, 2026

Spencer Pratt, once known for his reality TV antics, has surged into second place in a recent poll for the Los Angeles mayoral race. The new survey from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs shows the incumbent, Karen Bass, leading with 25% support. Pratt follows closely with 11%, pushing a celebri

politics

A New Vote in a Town That Lost Its Job

April 4, 2026

A big meat plant in Lexington, Nebraska shut down at the end of January. The closure cost about 3, 200 jobs, wiping out roughly a third of the town’s people. Juan Laguna Jr. , 20, had never attended a political gathering before. He joined his family to hear Dan Osborn speak about the Senate. Osborn

politics

Government Shutdown Drama: A Tale of Politics, Money and Chaos

April 4, 2026

The U. S. government hit a pause button in the fall, shutting down for 43 days – the longest ever – until a deal let most agencies run through January. That stop‑gap was meant to ease into a longer agreement, but events in Minnesota shook the plans. Immigration agents killed Alex Pretti, and Senate

politics

State Lawyers Block Trump‑Era College Data Push

April 4, 2026

A federal judge in Boston has stopped the Trump‑era Department of Education from demanding years of race and gender data from public universities in 17 states. The order was requested by the Democratic attorneys general of those states, who are fighting a new survey that would have forced schools to

politics

The Real Debate Over Israel Funding

April 4, 2026

Israel support is a hot topic in U. S. politics, but the way it’s talked about can be misleading. Some politicians criticize a group that pushes for strong U. S. –Israel ties, saying it hides behind fear and conspiracy. Others defend the group, arguing that it represents normal American politi