IJR News

PEN America Uses a Shoddy Methodology . . . Again1 source — 2d

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“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, ye — 2dPosted to IJR by IJR.

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PEN Reports Nearly 12,000 School Book Bans — 6dPEN America reported a record 11,982 book bans in U.S. public schools in 2025-26, with Texas alone logging over 8,100 after SB13.

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Tom Gallagher It's troubling to see over 8,100 bans in Texas alone after that new law. Kids need access to all kinds of books to learn.

European stocks post modest gains as French fiscal worries persistFinance — 6dEuropean stocks rose modestly Tuesday as Brent fell below $100 after Nasdaq's AI-led record; Le Pen warned France was heading toward debt default.

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Nicole Hardy Brent falling below 100 is helpful for energy costs but the modest European gains show investors are still cautious on fiscal risks.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, ye — Oct 1, 2026Posted to FaithTap by IJR.

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AP Top 25 College Football TeamsRankingCollege football fans argue endlessly over which programs deserve the top spots in the AP Poll based on wins, schedule strength, and legacy.

French Far Right Wins 14 Senate Seats, Forms Caucus — Sep 27, 2026RN and allies won 14 French Senate seats on Sept. 27, 2026, clearing the 10-seat bar for their first caucus. Le Pen called it a historic victory.

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Maya Lindstrom The far right finally getting a Senate caucus shows real progress for Le Pen's party before 2027.

Yankees Reinstate Clarke Schmidt After Tommy John Surgery — Sep 13, 2026The Yankees plan to activate Clarke Schmidt off the 60-day injured list and use him in relief down the stretch as he returns from Tommy John surgery and an internal brace; executives anticipate him contributing out of the bullpen in October with an eye toward a longer-term role in 2027. The activation involves roster moves to clear space and underscores the team’s bullpen reshaping as Schmidt rebuilds his form, with velocity in line with pre-injury and late-season competition for spots among solid pen options.

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Country Songs Penned by Helicopter Pilot and 13-Year-Old Became Chart Hits — Sep 12, 2026A set of origin stories highlights how iconic songs and careers were shaped by quick inspiration, youthful breakthroughs, and unlikely paths—from Loretta Lynn writing You Ain’t Woman Enough in 10 minutes after a backstage confrontation, to Tanya Tucker recording The Jamestown Ferry at 13, and Barry White turning a country tune into a soul classic with You’re The First, The Last, My Everything. The articles also recount Kris Kristofferson’s Me and Bobby McGee written during Gulf of Mexico helicopter work, and Tucker’s hit Love’s the Answer marking an early peak in a long, Hall of Fame career.

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Rachel Meyers Kris writing Me and Bobby McGee between helicopter flights is the kind of detail that makes you appreciate how songs really get made.

Deer Season Opens in Pennsylvania, Minnesota Licensing ChangesEnvironment — Oct 3, 2026Minnesota’s new mostly digital licensing system has prompted the DNR to urge deer hunters to buy licenses early, with harvests also requiring electronic validation instead of physical tags. Pennsylvania’s archery season now includes Sunday hunting and updated rules for disposing of potentially disease-carrying deer parts, while proposals to let Pennsylvania hunters choose the firearms opener and restore baiting in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula face uncertain prospects.

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Obama Endorses Shapiro for Pennsylvania ReelectionPolitics — 2dPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigned at Penn, urging young voters to turn out and highlighting priorities including a $15 minimum wage and transit funding. Barack Obama endorsed Shapiro for reelection, while President Donald Trump backs Republican challenger Stacy Garrity; polls cited in the articles showed Shapiro with a substantial lead.

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Botched Execution, Planned Livestream Reignite US Death-Penalty DebatePolitics — 2dThe Pentagon’s reported plan to livestream the firing-squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, alongside reports that Christa Pike survived a lethal-injection attempt in Tennessee, has reignited debate over capital punishment and how executions are carried out. Supporters argue public executions could deter crime, while critics say broadcasting a killing would turn justice into revenge and spectacle, with troubling historical associations; opponents of the death penalty also question its deterrent value and reject it on moral grounds.

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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.

PennLive plans 10 free high school football streamsSports — 4dPennLive is livestreaming several Pennsylvania high school football matchups, including Harrisburg at Central Dauphin East, Elizabethtown at Governor Mifflin, Altoona at Bishop McDevitt, and Warwick at Fleetwood. The games feature playoff implications for several teams, while undefeated Harrisburg and shutout-streak leaders Bishop McDevitt look to keep their strong starts going.

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Pennsylvania Plans Unapproved Vape Enforcement October 19Health — 3dPennsylvania will begin enforcing Act 57 on October 19, barring retailers from selling vape and e-cigarette products not listed in the state’s approved directory. Officials say inspections will initially emphasize compliance education, while repeat violations can bring escalating fines and other penalties; retailers warn the restrictions could affect much of their inventory.

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PennDOT plans bridge inspections across PennsylvaniaPolitics — 6dPennDOT inspections will cause daytime lane restrictions on Route 30, I-81 and Route 283 in Lancaster and Dauphin counties on scheduled October dates, with work subject to weather. The agency will also hold a November public meeting to discuss the future of the Norman Wood Bridge between York and Lancaster counties.

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Chester County Rescinds Policy; Pennsbury Faces ComplaintPolitics — Sep 28, 2026A Pennsylvania school system, Chester County Intermediate Unit, rescinded a policy that restricted staff from telling parents about students’ transgender status, following a legal challenge. Separately, Liberty Counsel asked the U.S. Department of Education to investigate Pennsbury School District, alleging staff used a student’s male name and pronouns for nearly three years without informing the parents.

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Soccer vs American FootballYourlist — VS BattleThe world's game versus America's obsession — simplicity against spectacle.

Pentagon reinstates mandatory testosterone screening for troops over 30 — Sep 18, 2026The Pentagon has reissued and standardized mandatory testosterone deficiency screening for male service members aged 30 and older after previously pausing guidance, with under-30 personnel eligible for screening on request and a structured symptom-risk assessment followed by two fasting morning tests. It also clarifies that treatment is for diagnosed deficiency only and should not be used to boost battlefield performance, with no penalties for declining treatment.

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Tom Gallagher Smart move keeping treatment limited to diagnosed cases instead of turning it into some performance shortcut.

State Museum Shifts Programs to Harrisburg Library During Renovations — Sep 14, 2026While The State Museum of Pennsylvania remains closed for a major renovation through early 2029, it is extending access to its programs by partnering with the Dauphin County Library System to bring hands-on history, art, and science sessions to the George & Hettie Love Memorial Library for pre-K through second graders this fall. The 45-minute, noon sessions cover daily life in Revolutionary Pennsylvania, William Penn’s birthday celebrations, the Eastern wild turkey, and the Eastern hemlock, with pre-registration available for each program at 530 S. 29th Street in Harrisburg.

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WHYY Names Vigeant WPSU General ManagerBusiness — 5dWHYY has named public media veteran Fred Vigeant general manager of WPSU, effective Oct. 26, after completing its acquisition of the Pennsylvania station from Penn State. He will oversee WPSU’s radio, television and digital services as the outlet retains its name and local focus under WHYY’s ownership.

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Democrats Seek State Role in Europe Troop Review — Sep 17, 2026Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and fellow Senate Democrats urge Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure the State Department is fully involved in the Pentagon-led Europe Force Posture Review, arguing that ambassadors and diplomats must be consulted to account for diplomatic and alliance implications. Critics warn that sidelining State Department input could strain NATO ties, especially with Baltic states, as Russia intensifies hybrid threats, while the administration maintains an interagency review is needed to balance diplomacy with defense considerations as the review runs toward its year-end conclusion.

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Congress passes bill ending penny production — Sep 29, 2026The Senate passed the bipartisan Common Cents Act, sending it to President Donald Trump to formally end production of pennies, which cost nearly four cents each to make and are expected to save the government about $56 million annually. As pennies become scarcer, businesses could round cash transactions to the nearest five cents; existing pennies would remain valid, and electronic payments would be unaffected.

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Scientists identify new penguin species after century — Sep 27, 2026Genomic analysis has revealed that gentoo penguins comprise four distinct species, including the newly identified southeastern gentoo, Pygoscelis kerguelensis, on the remote Kerguelen Islands—the first penguin species newly named in more than a century. Researchers warn that three of the four species could face severe habitat loss, underscoring conservation risks that may be obscured when the penguins are treated as one species.

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Iran Executions Spur Anti-Death-Penalty Rallies Across Europe, USWorld — 2dOn World Day Against the Death Penalty, Iranian communities in the U.S. and Europe rallied against executions and called for the release of political prisoners, while religious leaders condemned a U.S. plan to livestream a firing-squad execution after a botched execution drew renewed scrutiny. Laos, which has gone more than 30 years without carrying out executions despite retaining capital punishment in law, was highlighted as an example of restraint as countries move toward abolition or narrower use of the penalty.

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USC set for Penn State White OutSports — 5dPenn State enters its White Out matchup with USC under pressure after a rough start to Big Ten play, with an ineffective running game and questions about the team’s identity. The Trojans bring freshman edge rusher Luke Wafle, a former Penn State recruiting target who has emerged as a standout, into Saturday’s Beaver Stadium game.

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Pheasant Seasons Set to Open in Minnesota, PennsylvaniaLifestyle — 3dPheasant seasons are opening across the Upper Midwest and Pennsylvania: Minnesota’s starts Oct. 10, with state reports showing higher bird numbers than last year, while Pennsylvania’s junior hunt begins Oct. 10 and its regular season opens Oct. 24 with expanded hunting dates and about 232,000 pheasants slated for release. South Dakota is also seeing rising interest ahead of its season, reflected in increased small-game license sales as crop harvesting may improve hunting opportunities.

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Erie Pennsylvania mass shooting