Leonne's Daily Post
Friday, May 29, 2026
Friday, May 29
The U.S. Is Winging This Ebola Outbreak

The U.S. response to an Ebola outbreak that has already spread beyond Congo to neighboring countries appears reactive rather than proactive, raising concerns about pandemic preparedness. The escalating case count suggests the window for containment may already be narrowing.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
US and Iran 'very close' to deal but 'not there yet', Vance says

U.S. officials say the framework for a ceasefire extension with Iran has been agreed, pending final approval from Trump and Iranian leadership, suggesting a deal may be tantalizingly close. The timing remains uncertain despite optimistic signals.

Continue reading at BBC News
Netanyahu says he has directed IDF to increase control of Gaza to 70%

Netanyahu has stated he's directing the IDF to increase its control over Gaza to 70 percent, a directive that potentially contradicts the terms of the October ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The announcement suggests the conflict's end may be further away than anticipated.

Continue reading at BBC News
Exploding rocket casts doubts over Nasa's Moon plans

Blue Origin's rocket failure has ripple effects for NASA's lunar ambitions, since the space agency was counting on commercial providers like Blue Origin for parts of its Moon program. The setback could delay America's return to the lunar surface.

Continue reading at BBC News
Blue Origin rocket explodes into huge ball of flame on Florida launch pad

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket suffered a catastrophic failure on the launch pad, marking what founder Jeff Bezos called a "very rough day" for the company. The incident underscores the risks and challenges of heavy-lift rocket development.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Blue Origin rocket explosion rocks Florida's Space Coast

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, lighting up Florida's night sky in a dramatic setback for the company's ambitions. The failure raises questions about the reliability of next-generation launch systems.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
EPA Rollbacks Could Raise AC, Refrigeration Costs Despite Promise of Lower Prices

EPA rollbacks on chemical refrigerants promised by the Trump administration are likely to raise consumer costs while increasing emissions, contradicting official claims about the benefits. The contradiction underscores the tension between deregulation and real-world consequences.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
Ohio suspends data center tax break as tech firms face pressure to pay the cost to power AI

Ohio has suspended tax breaks for data centers as tech companies face mounting pressure to cover the substantial energy costs of powering AI operations. The shift reflects growing skepticism about subsidizing energy-intensive industries.

Continue reading at Associated Press
As Federal Wetlands’ Protections Falter, Washington State Scientists Turn to AI as a Conservation Tool

Washington state scientists are using AI tools to identify and protect wetlands as federal protections weaken, offering both agricultural and conservation interests better data. The approach shows how technology can help communities adapt when government support shifts.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
Innovent Biologics, Pfizer strike $10.5 bln cancer drug deal amid China biotech boom

Innovent Biologics and Pfizer have announced a $10.5 billion cancer drug deal, reflecting the booming landscape of Chinese biotech partnerships with major pharmaceutical firms. The agreement signals China's growing prominence in drug development.

Continue reading at Reuters
Dell lifts forecasts as AI data center buildout fuels demand, shares soar

Dell has raised its financial forecasts on strong AI data center demand and upgraded its guidance, sending shares higher in response. The upgrade reflects the company's strategic positioning in the booming AI infrastructure market.

Continue reading at Reuters
Alma customers benefit from expanded AI capabilities and smarter collaboration tools in the May 2026 feature release

Alma's May 2026 release introduces new AI capabilities for cataloging, streamlined acquisitions, and enhanced collaboration tools designed to help libraries manage increasingly complex workflows. The updates reflect how AI is becoming central to library operations.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Axiell launches Quria Discovery AI: AI-powered catalogue search for libraries

Axiell has launched Quria Discovery AI, a conversational search tool that brings natural language query capability to library catalogs with privacy protections built in. The tool promises to make catalog discovery more intuitive for patrons.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Library Perceptions 2026: Results of the nineteenth International Survey of Library Automation

Library Perceptions 2026 presents findings from the nineteenth annual international survey of library automation, analyzing how libraries worldwide experience their technology systems and vendors. The report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the library technology landscape.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Executive Perspectives: A Conversation on the Future of the Library Technology Industry

An upcoming Executive Perspectives panel will explore the positive and negative consequences of AI in library services, examining what's gained and lost as automation increases. The discussion promises to grapple with the complex implications of AI adoption.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
EveryLibrary Institute endorses Books Save Lives Act, connecting the right to read and civil rights protections

The EveryLibrary Institute is endorsing the Books Save Lives Act, which frames access to diverse library collections as both a First Amendment and civil rights issue. The endorsement connects intellectual freedom to broader equity concerns.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
EveryLibrary Institute launches National Survey on Cellphone-Free Schools and School Library Engagement

The EveryLibrary Institute is surveying school librarians about how cellphone restrictions are affecting reading and library engagement, early reports suggest students are showing increased interest in reading. The survey aims to document a potential cultural shift in school libraries.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Man jailed for 15 years over plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna

An Austrian man has been sentenced to 15 years for planning an attack on Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna, highlighting the real security threats that high-profile events now face. The case underscores the intersection of celebrity, terrorism, and public safety.

Continue reading at BBC News
Portugal breaks hottest May day record as Europe swelters in heatwave

Portugal has set a new hottest May day on record as Europe swelters under a intense heatwave, with students taking exams in baking schools and countries issuing red alerts. The heat is becoming a recurring crisis rather than an anomaly.

Continue reading at BBC News
Survival before safety for Delhi's poor as temperatures hit 45C

Delhi's poorest residents continue working despite temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius, prioritizing immediate survival over health precautions. The situation illustrates the inequality baked into climate vulnerability.

Continue reading at BBC News
Mother-in-law of Indian bride whose death set off media frenzy arrested

The mother-in-law of Indian bride Twisha Sharma, whose death sparked intense media speculation and competing claims of murder versus suicide, has been arrested. The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has riveted the nation.

Continue reading at BBC News
Eight students arrested in Kenya after suspected deadly school arson attack

Eight students have been arrested following a deadly school arson fire in Kenya that killed sixteen pupils, bringing the tragedy into the criminal justice system. The arrests raise difficult questions about youth culpability and trauma.

Continue reading at BBC News
Crews recover the remains of 6 of the 9 workers missing after Washington chemical tank rupture

Recovery efforts at the Washington chemical tank rupture site have located six of nine missing workers, though the search continues under difficult conditions. The discovery provides some closure while raising questions about industrial safety practices.

Continue reading at Associated Press
US government prepares to print $250 note featuring Trump's face

Trump allies in Congress are attempting to change federal law to allow printing the president's face on a $250 bill, bypassing the century-old prohibition on living people appearing on U.S. currency. The proposal highlights how political norms continue to shift.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
How jazz boosts my creativity in physics

A physicist writes about how his passion for jazz improvisation informs his approach to understanding and teaching complex physics concepts. The essay explores the unexpected connections between artistic and scientific creativity.

Continue reading at Nature
Inside Lebanon’s Fraught Push to Disarm Hezbollah

Lebanon faces a fraught challenge in attempting to disarm Hezbollah, one of the world's most heavily armed militias, without fracturing the country further. The process reveals the deep entanglement of military power and political identity in the nation.

Continue reading at The New Yorker
The Brazenness of DOJ’s Reported Investigation of E. Jean Carroll

The DOJ's reported investigation of E. Jean Carroll represents a brazen act of apparent retaliation against her Trump defamation suit, revealing the asymmetry of justice in the current administration. The move exemplifies an unprecedented level of weaponized hypocrisy.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
If It Quacks Like a Lame Duck….

Trump's willingness to demand absolute loyalty from Republicans while showing little in return, combined with his refusal to honor party orthodoxy, reveals a transactional relationship with the GOP. His personal priorities—from vanity projects to revenge campaigns—take precedence over partisan cohesion.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
A ‘Promising Democracy’ That Can’t Stop Fighting Itself

Colombia's April 1948 riots following a populist leader's assassination offer a historical mirror for understanding contemporary democratic backsliding and political violence. The historical parallel illuminates patterns of how democracies can turn on themselves.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Omaha Teen Debuts Stop-Motion Lego Movie

A Creighton Prep junior has spent five years crafting an 85-minute stop-motion Lego film that recently premiered at a local theater, showcasing remarkable dedication to a singular creative vision. The achievement speaks to what's possible with patience and passion.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Explosion and fire at Dallas apartment building kills at least 3 people, including a child

An explosion and fire at a Dallas apartment complex has claimed at least three lives, including a child, in what appears to be one of the city's deadlier recent disasters. Investigations are ongoing into the cause.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Hantavirus-exposed cruise passengers may soon be allowed to return home

Cruise passengers exposed to hantavirus may be permitted to leave confinement soon, though they'll remain under constant surveillance. The decision reflects a shift in containment strategy as authorities balance public health with practical concerns.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Clean-up of one of Europe's largest illegal dumps 'could begin in 2028'

Cleanup of one of Europe's largest illegal dumps in Northern Ireland may not begin until 2028, with completion potentially taking five more years. The timeline illustrates the enormous environmental challenges of remediating contaminated sites.

Continue reading at BBC Science
Record numbers of Dartford warblers at nature site

A nature survey has recorded a record 97 pairs of Dartford Warblers at an RSPB site in Dorset, suggesting conservation efforts for this once-rare bird are working. The population rebound is an encouraging sign for species recovery.

Continue reading at BBC Science
Ask a Climate Therapist: Is it still ‘catastrophizing’ if the threat is real?

A climate therapist addresses the question of whether catastrophizing is rational when the threat itself is increasingly real and worsening. The piece explores the psychological challenge of reckoning with climate reality.

Continue reading at Grist
Thursday, May 28
Pennsylvania’s Governor Has a Plan to Make Data Centers Bring Their Own Energy. Now Comes the Hard Part.

Pennsylvania's Governor Shapiro has released details on his "bring your own energy" plan to make AI data centers fund their own power needs. The proposal attempts to solve the growing problem of energy costs being externalized to the public.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
The world’s largest data center was supposed to run on 100% natural gas. Utah’s Republican governor says ‘never.’

Utah's Republican governor is opposing a 40,000-acre data center planned for northern Utah partly due to pollution concerns in an already smog-challenged region. The position shows growing concern about the environmental costs of the AI boom, even among conservative leaders.

Continue reading at Grist
Supertrawlers Are Taking Antarctic Krill That Whales Depend On

Supertrawlers are harvesting Antarctic krill at an accelerating pace for supplements and animal feed, potentially threatening the whales and marine mammals that depend on krill for survival. The competition for this resource highlights the tension between human commerce and ocean ecosystems.

Continue reading at Yale E360
Gaza City hospitals say several killed in strike, as Israel targets Hamas leaders

An Israeli strike in Gaza City has reportedly killed at least five children and appears to have targeted a Hamas commander, continuing the cycle of violence in the enclave. The attack underscores the toll civilian populations bear in the conflict.

Continue reading at BBC News
Israel hits Lebanese capital in 'targeted strike'

Israel has struck Lebanon's capital in what it called a targeted operation, marking an escalation in the region despite a supposed ceasefire. The move signals that the fragile peace between Israel and Hezbollah remains precarious.

Continue reading at BBC News
Iran says it targeted American base after fresh US strikes

Iran has launched strikes against a U.S. military base in response to recent American attacks, escalating tensions during what's supposed to be a fragile ceasefire. The tit-for-tat cycle threatens ongoing peace negotiations.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Second death confirmed after blast in Washington state, and no survivors expected

A second death has been confirmed in Washington state's worst industrial disaster in decades, with nine workers still unaccounted for and rescue efforts ongoing. The tragedy highlights the dangers of chemical processing.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Happy, who taught researchers that elephants can recognize themselves, is euthanized

Happy, the famous Bronx Zoo elephant who helped researchers understand animal self-recognition and became central to an animal rights case, has been euthanized at age 55. Her death marks the end of a life that challenged our understanding of animal cognition.

Continue reading at NPR Science
Inside Nasa's plans for a lunar base

NASA has released plans for robotic landers, hopping drones, and vehicles intended to establish a lunar base, detailing the hardware that will support humanity's return to the Moon. The specifics reveal the technical scope of the ambitious endeavor.

Continue reading at BBC Science
How We See the Beautiful, Violent Sun

A Quanta essay explores how scientists throughout history have studied the sun and continues to examine our evolving understanding of its violent dynamics. The piece connects ancient observations to modern solar physics.

Continue reading at Quanta Magazine
Jill Biden Worried Her Husband Was Drugged on Debate Night

During Biden's disastrous June 2024 debate performance, First Lady Jill Biden privately worried whether her husband had been drugged or was experiencing a medical episode, searching for explanations for what appeared to be a cognitive breakdown. The account offers an intimate window into the family's private fears.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
The TACO Equilibrium

The oil market remains surprisingly calm despite the Strait of Hormuz being closed for three months due to the Iran-U.S. war, defying predictions of economic catastrophe and suggesting a new equilibrium has emerged. Trump's refusal to rush toward peace means markets may have simply adjusted to the new reality.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
Warnings issued over toxic caterpillars

Warnings are being issued about oak processionary moth caterpillars, which can cause breathing difficulties and skin rashes in humans. The alert highlights an emerging public health concern tied to expanding insect populations.

Continue reading at BBC Science
New dark skies policy could boost night-time economy, says council

Scotland's Highland Council is promoting a new dark skies policy as a way to boost the night-time economy while supporting stargazing and dark sky tourism. The approach suggests environmental conservation and economic development can align.

Continue reading at BBC Science