LND topic: bellingham-washington page 1

The Vatican’s leader recently said he had no intention of sparking a public quarrel with the U. S. president, and many officials felt relieved. His comments followed a speech in Africa that some media outlets linked to the president, though the pope clarified the remarks were made weeks before an

Why Washington’s Campaign Watchdog Team is Struggling to Stay Afloat

Two spots on Washington state’s Public Disclosure Commission are gathering dust while an important task waits unfinished. This watchdog group makes sure campaign dollars flow through clear pipes—so voters know who is backing each candidate. Yet with filing for the 2026 races opening in just three we

history

Local heroes: How St. Louis shaped the nation

St. Louis may be known for its iconic arch and deep-fried foods, but its real claim to fame might be the people who grew up there and went on to leave a mark on the whole country. From scientists to artists, this city has produced individuals who didn’t just blend into the background. Take Chuck Ber

Trump’s Ballroom Project Gets Green Light—For Now

A court just gave the go-ahead for a $400 million ballroom to rise where part of the White House once stood. But this isn’t the final word—just a pause in a legal fight. On Friday night, a federal appeals court put a lower judge’s order on hold, letting construction continue until June. That’s when

When Schools Draw the Line on Gender Rules

Back in 1972, a federal rule called Title IX arrived to stop schools from treating boys and girls differently. At first, it mostly helped girls join sports and science classes on equal footing. Now the rule is at the center of a new fight—not over girls versus boys, but over how to treat students wh

environment

Data Centers in Virginia: A Hidden Health Cost

Virginia hosts the world’s biggest cluster of data centers, a stretch known as “Data Center Alley. ” The region grew because it sits close to Washington, D. C. , offers cheap land, and has long‑standing tax breaks. Today, most of these facilities are in Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax counties,

Doctors Fight Back in the Midterms

A group of more than thirty doctors, nurses and other health experts have entered this year’s congressional races. They say they want to stop what they see as the Trump and Kennedy administrations’ harmful health policies, such as cutting Medicare and ending federal insurance subsidies. Some of them

Turkey Warns of Harm if U. S. Pulls Out of European Security Plans

Turkey’s foreign minister said the United States might pull out of Europe’s security framework, and that could cause big problems for the continent. He spoke at a meeting in Antalya but did not give details of what is being discussed. The main point was that any U. S. exit, even a partial one, would

religion

Nation Reads the Bible Cover to Cover for 250th Anniversary

Washington, D. C. will host a unique gathering in late April as more than five hundred Christian leaders and Hollywood personalities come together to read the entire Bible aloud. The event, called America Reads the Bible, runs from April 19 to 25 at the Museum of the Bible and celebrates the United

US Keeps Russian Oil Deal Open Amid Global Energy Chaos