Leonne's Daily Post
Monday, May 18, 2026
Monday, May 18
DPLA to put libraries at the center of the AI age

The Digital Public Library of America received $1.1 million to position libraries at the center of AI governance, ensuring the technology serves the public good.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
How worrying is the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo?

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared a health emergency with almost 250 suspected cases, raising global concerns.

Continue reading at BBC News
At least six Americans exposed to Ebola during DR Congo outbreak

At least six Americans were exposed to Ebola during an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with one reportedly showing symptoms.

Continue reading at BBC News
'This may be the last time you hear my voice': Political executions surge in Iran since start of war

Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February, the UN has verified executions of at least 32 political prisoners, marking a surge in reprisals.

Continue reading at BBC News
UAE reports strike near Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant

The UAE reported a strike near its Abu Dhabi nuclear power plant and is investigating the incident as a 'dangerous escalation.'

Continue reading at BBC News
Thousands of U.S. countertop workers could have damaged lungs, safety expert says

Over 550 countertop workers in California have fallen ill from cutting stone, pointing to a widespread occupational health crisis that extends beyond state lines.

Continue reading at NPR Science
What Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy's loss means for upcoming Republican primaries

Senator Bill Cassidy's primary loss in Louisiana underscores Trump's significant influence over Republican nominations, reshaping the party's loyalties.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Why the Supreme Court's voting rights ruling could play a big role at the local level

A recent Supreme Court ruling on voting rights could significantly impact how racial-minority voters influence elections at state and local levels.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
What Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy's primary loss says about Trump's grip on the GOP

Cassidy's primary defeat reveals both the depth of Trump's influence on GOP candidates and the ongoing importance of voting rules in shaping electoral outcomes.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Trump warns 'clock is ticking' for Iran as peace progress stalls

Trump warns that time is running out for Iran as diplomatic progress stalls, though Iran reports ongoing exchanges with the U.S.

Continue reading at BBC News
Israeli forces boarding Gaza-bound flotilla near Cyprus, activists say

Israeli forces are boarding boats attempting to breach the Gaza maritime blockade as part of a flotilla challenge near Cyprus.

Continue reading at BBC News
Can Hakeem Jeffries Lead a Democratic Takeover of the House?

Hakeem Jeffries faces an uphill battle toward a Democratic House majority as Trump-led gerrymandering and internal party divisions complicate his path forward.

Continue reading at The New Yorker
The Newest Oldest President

Trump became the oldest president to take office at 78, but his advancing age receives less scrutiny than Biden's did, raising questions about media consistency.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
The History Wars and America at 250, with the Historian Jill Lepore

Historian Jill Lepore and peers discuss how America's 250th anniversary arrives amid politically charged debates over national historical narratives.

Continue reading at The New Yorker
How AI is revolutionizing archival research

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool for making archived collections discoverable and usable without exhausting library staff resources.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Utah’s fragile desert could feel like the Sahara if America’s biggest data center gets built

A massive celebrity-backed data center planned for rural Utah would double the state's electricity consumption and emit enormous carbon loads, sparking fierce resistance.

Continue reading at Grist
Gas prices are rising. So is public transit ridership.

Rising gas prices—now exceeding $6 per gallon in California—are driving Americans back to public transit, though car-centric infrastructure limits the shift.

Continue reading at Grist
China’s Xpeng begins mass production of robotaxis in Guangzhou

Chinese EV maker Xpeng is beginning mass production of autonomous robotaxis in Guangzhou, signaling accelerated development of self-driving technology.

Continue reading at Reuters
Indian court tells Apple to 'cooperate' in antitrust case

An Indian court has ordered Apple to cooperate in an antitrust investigation, intensifying scrutiny of the tech giant's business practices.

Continue reading at Reuters
China's CXMT expects revenue to surge as memory chip demand soars

Chinese memory chip manufacturer CXMT expects significant revenue growth as global demand for semiconductor memory surges.

Continue reading at Reuters
How Trump’s crypto venture and Iran’s top exchange tapped into the same industry networks

Trump's cryptocurrency venture and Iran's top crypto exchange have tapped into overlapping industry networks, raising questions about global financial connections.

Continue reading at Reuters
Revamped Siri will reportedly offer autodeleting chats

Apple's redesigned Siri will reportedly offer auto-deleting chat histories, positioning privacy as the company's differentiator in a crowded AI chatbot market.

Continue reading at The Verge
Thousands of New York commuters braced for Monday morning chaos due to rail strike

Thousands of New York commuters face potential chaos Monday morning as a rail strike looms, with authorities urging remote work where possible.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Strike over high fuel prices paralyses transport in Kenya

High fuel prices have triggered a transport strike in Kenya, leaving key roads empty and forcing some schools to close temporarily.

Continue reading at BBC News
Driver of crashed train tested positive for drugs, Thai police say

The driver of a freight train that collided with a bus in Bangkok—killing eight people—tested positive for drugs, raising questions about safety oversight.

Continue reading at BBC News
Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship docks in the Netherlands after deadly outbreak

A cruise ship dealing with a deadly hantavirus outbreak has arrived in Rotterdam for disinfection, highlighting emerging health risks in close-quarters travel.

Continue reading at KETV Omaha
Escaped tiger shot by German police after attacking man

German police shot an escaped tiger that attacked a man, the animal having fled from a facility run by a local trainer known as the 'Tiger Queen.'

Continue reading at BBC News
Fighter jet crews parachute safely after collision at US air show

Fighter jet crews safely ejected after their aircraft collided mid-air during a U.S. air show demonstration, with all crew members in stable condition.

Continue reading at BBC U.S.
Sea Level Rise and Sunny-Day Flooding Can’t Stop a Building Boom on the Jersey Shore

Despite rising sea levels and frequent flooding, developers continue building million-dollar properties on the New Jersey Shore, relying on policy interventions for relief.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News
Commonwealth Bank of Australia names Mary-Anne Williams as chief AI scientist

Australia's Commonwealth Bank appointed Mary-Anne Williams as chief AI scientist, reflecting growing institutional commitment to artificial intelligence leadership.

Continue reading at Reuters
GPO doubles congressionally mandated reports on GovInfo

The U.S. Government Publishing Office has doubled its collection of Congressionally Mandated Reports on GovInfo, now exceeding 1,000 documents from 90 federal agencies.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
EBSCO Information Services unveils new full-text database for child and adolescent studies

EBSCO launched Child & Adolescent Studies Source, a comprehensive full-text database supporting interdisciplinary research and teaching on youth development.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
EBSCO Information Services expands CINAHL Ultimate with new instructional videos for nursing education

EBSCO expanded CINAHL Ultimate with 186 new instructional videos for nursing education, bringing the total collection to over 300 practical skill demonstrations.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Coursera and Udemy are now one company, creating the world's most comprehensive skills platform

Coursera and Udemy have merged to create a unified skills platform reaching 290 million learners, reshaping the online education landscape.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Stony Brook University joins JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services charter program

Stony Brook University joined JSTOR's Digital Stewardship Services charter program as a Tier 3 member, working toward AI-assisted collections management.

Continue reading at Library Technology Guides
Sunday, May 17
A revolutionary cancer treatment could transform autoimmune disease

CAR T cell therapy, a revolutionary cancer treatment, is showing promise in transforming autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.

Continue reading at Ars Technica
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump, loses his seat in Louisiana

Senator Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump, lost his reelection bid in Louisiana, while voter confusion over rescheduled House races added to the Saturday primary chaos.

Continue reading at NPR Politics
Large-scale Ukrainian drone attack kills three in Moscow region, says Russia

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow that killed three people, which Kyiv's president framed as justified retaliation for Russian attacks.

Continue reading at BBC News
Barney Frank’s Second Coming Out

Barney Frank, now 86, is drawing unexpected parallels between his coming out as gay decades ago and his current willingness to critique left-wing orthodoxy in the Democratic Party.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
A Strikingly Complex Portrait of a Founding Father

A new visual portrait of George Washington complicates America's tendency to canonize the founding father, arriving as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

Continue reading at The Atlantic
University of Arizona students boo Eric Schmidt’s AI cheerleading during commencement

University of Arizona students booed former Google CEO Eric Schmidt's commencement remarks about AI, reflecting widespread anxiety about technology's impact on jobs.

Continue reading at The Verge
Chevron wants a school district tax break for a data center power plant

Chevron is seeking a Texas tax break worth hundreds of millions to build a gas plant powering a data center rather than serving residential customers.

Continue reading at Grist
What To Expect as El Niño Approaches

As El Niño develops, scientists warn of intensified heatwaves, droughts, and floods this year, though it remains a secondary player in climate extremes.

Continue reading at Inside Climate News