IJR News

Annual Eye Exams Can Detect Vision, Health ConditionsHealth — Oct 20, 2026Annual comprehensive eye exams are important even for people with 20/20 vision, since they assess overall eye health and can help detect medical conditions. Unlike basic vision screenings, full exams evaluate structures such as the retina and optic nerve, with newer imaging technology sometimes avoiding dilation drops.

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UK Report Urges 20% Bill Cuts by 2030Politics — Oct 22, 2026Electricity affordability is under pressure in several regions: Nigeria’s power minister says the government can no longer cover tariff shortfalls but denies plans for another rate increase, while a UK report says a package of measures could cut bills about 20% by 2030. In Redding, California, the utility has proposed 6% rate increases in both 2027 and 2028, though the plan has not been approved.

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Black Parade Sets 20-Year Billboard 200 Record — Nov 2, 2026My Chemical Romance’s 20th-anniversary reissue of The Black Parade has reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning the band its first chart-topping album and setting a record for the longest gap between an album’s original release and its first week at No. 1. The deluxe edition moved 78,000 equivalent units, two decades after the original album debuted at No. 2.

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Rays Exercise Rasmussen’s $20 Million 2027 Option — Oct 31, 2026Rays exercised Drew Rasmussen's $20M 2027 option Oct. 31, 2026; after Game 5 he said, "This organization, man, it's the best."

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Elena Vasquez Hope he stays healthy because that 2.67 ERA shows what he can do when everything clicks.

Orioles Decline $20M Option, Robert Enters Free AgencySports — Nov 1, 2026The Orioles declined Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million option for 2027, making the injury-plagued outfielder a free agent after he appeared in just three games for Baltimore. Robert receives a $2 million buyout, and his limited 2026 season continued a recent run of injuries.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Libyan Parliament Reverses Course, Approves Türkiye Maritime Deal — Oct 20, 2026On 20 October 2026 Libya’s eastern parliament unanimously approved the 2019 Türkiye maritime deal and repealed its 2020 rejection and call to sever ties with Ankara.

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Elena Vasquez The parliament's sudden reversal raises questions about whether external pressure influenced their vote on the old agreement.

Minimum wages rose in 20-plus states in 2026Finance — Oct 18, 2026More than 20 states are raising minimum wages in 2026, with 18 reaching at least $15 an hour, while the federal rate remains $7.25. Further increases take effect in 2027, including California’s statewide rate rising to $17.40, Boulder County’s to $17.43, and New Jersey’s to $16.48 for most workers.

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Big 12, Arizona, BYU Announce 2027 Gymnastics SchedulesSports — Nov 3, 2026Arizona and BYU have announced their 2027 women’s gymnastics schedules, with the Big 12 season running from January into March and the conference championship set for March 20 in Utah. USA Gymnastics will hold its national championships in Tampa from August 12–15, as elite athletes build toward the 2028 Olympic cycle.

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Waymo reportedly plans 20,000-car fleet — Oct 19, 2026Waymo plans to use $5 billion in recent borrowing to grow its fleet from about 4,000 vehicles to 8,000 by the end of 2026 and 20,000 by the end of 2027, while expanding service in the U.S. and abroad. Its planned deployment of thousands of Chinese-made Zeekr vans has also raised data-security and technology-competition concerns in Washington.

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Michigan Voters Reach 6%, Wisconsin Mail Ballots DropPolitics — Oct 13, 2026Three weeks before Michigan’s Nov. 3, 2026, election, about 440,000 voters—6% of active registered voters—had returned ballots, slightly more than at the same point in 2022. More than 2 million voters had requested absentee ballots, up over 20% from 2022, and early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 24.

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University of Providence to close after 2027 amid enrollment declineBusiness — Oct 27, 2026The University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana, will end educational operations after the 2026–27 academic year, with its final day of instruction set for Aug. 20, 2027. Trustees cited declining enrollment and persistent financial pressures after restructuring and exploring partnerships failed to secure a sustainable future; the university says it will help students finish their degrees or transfer.

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Priya Raman Students deserve solid help transferring or finishing degrees before the final day in 2027.

Toy Story vs ShrekYourlist — VS BattleThe toy box vs the swamp: two animation revolutions, one inevitable playground argument.

US Vietnam and Portland approve tax cuts for small businessesBusiness — 2dRecent tax changes aim to ease costs for small businesses: the U.S. federal tax law permanently extends the 20% deduction for qualified business income, while Portland is raising its small-business tax exemption to $100,000. In Vietnam, eligible businesses and household businesses with annual revenue up to VND 10 billion will receive a 30% income-tax reduction for 2026 and 2027, with the policy covering millions of taxpayers.

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NJ Planner Pleads Guilty in $9.7M Ponzi SchemeFinance — Oct 30, 2026Paul Beers, who ran KJM Financial in Bedminster, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for a Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say took more than $11 million from at least 65 investors between 2015 and 2025, leaving losses exceeding $9.7 million. He used the funds for personal and business expenses and to repay investors, while issuing false financial reports; he faces up to 20 years in prison and is required to pay restitution.

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Salisbury Man Pleads Guilty in 20-Year-Old Murder CaseWorld — Oct 28, 2026Tyrone Hughey pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2006 stabbing death of Denise Horsey, resolving a case that had gone cold for nearly two decades. A renewed investigation produced witnesses who told police Hughey had confessed; he remains in custody, with sentencing scheduled for January 2027.

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At Least Four Trump Merchandise Stores CloseBusiness — Oct 22, 2026At least four Trump merchandise stores have closed as sales of MAGA gear have softened since the 2024 election, with one Tennessee shop’s monthly revenue falling 90%, from $200,000 to $20,000, before it shut. Owners cite the lack of an upcoming presidential campaign and, in some cases, frustration with Trump’s policies, though some retailers say demand persists or rebounds around rallies.

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How charismatic are you, really?Quizie — QuizNot a score out of ten — the AI identifies your specific brand of charm and where it's most dangerous.

USPS Issues Second Diwali Forever StampLifestyle — Oct 22, 2026The USPS unveiled its 2026 Diwali Forever stamp at the Indian Embassy in Washington, featuring a rangoli design by artist Sangita Bhutada decorated with diyas. It is the agency’s second Diwali stamp, following its 2016 release, with 20 million printed.

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Derek Foss It's nice they're doing a second Diwali stamp with that rangoli design and diyas on it.

Amazon plans 300,000 U.S. holiday hires, expands benefits — Oct 20, 2026Amazon plans more than 300,000 U.S. holiday hires for 2026, up 20%, as seasonal retail recruiting is projected near its lowest since 2008.

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Elena Vasquez Expanding benefits with the new hires is a positive move, though it still won't replace steady year-round work for most.

Colombia Congress approves $201B budget, reduces peace tribunal funding — Oct 20, 2026Congress approved Colombia's 634.9 trillion peso 2027 budget Oct. 20, lifting debt payments and cutting JEP and free-college funds; Historic Pact boycotted.

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Dana Whitfield A bigger budget amid 9 percent deficits only adds to the debt burden without fixing core spending.

US restricts unauthorized drones along entire US-Mexico border — Oct 16, 2026FAA restricts unauthorized drones one nautical mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border, ground to 400 feet, from Oct. 20, 2026 through Oct. 19, 2027.

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Derek Foss Farmers near the line will lose a useful tool for checking fields under this rule.

World Bank targets fivefold minerals financing by 2030 — Oct 16, 2026World Bank sets $19 billion critical minerals financing target for fiscal 2026-2030—five times the prior period—and flags 20 partner countries, Banga says.

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Derek Foss Nineteen billion spread over five years and twenty nations feels thin if the goal is actual local factories and steady jobs.

Legrand lifts 2026 sales outlook to 20%-22% on data center demandBusiness — 5dLegrand raised its 2026 sales outlook to 20%-22% after nine-month sales rose 19.5% to €8.33 billion, with data-center activities growing nearly 40% organically.

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Priya Raman The nine-month sales at 19.5 percent show steady momentum but I wonder how much longer the data center boom can last at this pace.

Deftones Revive Eros Track Live After 18 YearsMusic — 2dDeftones performed “Melanie,” a rarely played song from their unfinished Eros sessions, for the first time since 2008 during a 20-song set at their Dia de los Deftones festival in San Diego. The album was shelved after bassist Chi Cheng’s 2008 car accident and has remained unreleased; reports of leaked Eros recordings earlier this year have renewed interest in the material.

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New Opportunity Zones Span States, Start 2027Business — 5dNew federal Opportunity Zone designations taking effect in 2027 will offer tax incentives intended to draw private investment into communities in California, Idaho and Wyoming, supporting potential development of businesses, housing and jobs. The plans vary by location, with Lake Elsinore and Beaumont naming specific areas, Idaho approving 25 zones, and Wyoming designating 20 tracts, 16 of them rural.

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Dana Whitfield California spots like Lake Elsinore need the housing push, but these tax breaks often favor bigger developers over locals.

2026 Under-40 Honors Recognize Leaders Across SectorsBusiness — Nov 2, 2026Several organizations have announced or are highlighting their 2026 young-leader honorees, including BizWest’s 40 Under Forty, the Capital Region’s Forty Under 40, Edify’s Top 40 Under 40 and Nuclear News’ 40 Under 40. In Jacksonville, the Journal-Courier is seeking nominations for its 20 Under 40 recognition.

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