North American Community Hub Statistics

Month: July 2026

More U.S. Colleges Are Dropping Supplemental Essays for 2026-27 Admissions

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A student reviews college application materials on a tablet beside a notebook

Several selective U.S. colleges are reducing or eliminating supplemental essays for the 2026–27 admissions cycle. University of Miami, Tulane University, Washington University in St. Louis, and UNC–Chapel Hill are among the institutions changing their requirements. Cornell University removed its university-wide essay but kept prompts assigned by individual undergraduate schools. Fewer essays may reduce stress and … Read more

House Passes Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

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House Passes Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that could make daylight saving time permanent and end the practice of changing clocks twice a year. Lawmakers approved the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14 by a vote of 308 to 117. The bill received support from Republicans and Democrats. It now goes to the Senate, … Read more

A Popular Seafood, Manila Clam, Has Invaded the Massachusetts Coast, and Researchers Do Not Yet Know How Far It Will Spread

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Manila Clam Has Invaded the Massachusetts Coast

An invasive Manila clam prized in seafood markets has established breeding populations along the Massachusetts coast, ending the Northeast’s status as the last major part of the Northern Hemisphere where the species had not taken hold. Scientists have confirmed live Manila clams in Boston Harbor, on Cape Cod and as far north as Salem Sound. … Read more

Families in Illinois Can Now Report Unsafe Drivers for State Medical Review

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Older man with glasses drives a car along a rural road

Effective July 1, 2026, Illinois immediate family members can report relatives whose cognitive decline, physical limitations, vision problems, or medical conditions may affect safe driving. House Bill 1226, known as the Road Safety and Fairness Act, created the reporting process. Lawmakers passed it in May 2025, and Gov. JB Pritzker signed it in August 2025. … Read more

How Many People Are in the US Military in 2026?

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US military personnel stand in formation in camouflage uniforms and black combat boots

The United States has 1,349,597 active-duty military members across its six armed services. That figure includes full-time members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. It is the clearest answer to the question of how many people are serving full-time in the U.S. military in 2026. The number becomes … Read more

Second US Citizen Tests Positive for Ebola in Congo

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Second US Citizen Tests Positive for Ebola in Congo

A second known US citizen has tested positive for Ebola after working with a humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, federal health officials said. The patient contracted the Bundibugyo strain during the rapidly growing outbreak in eastern Congo. Medical teams transferred the person to a specialist isolation unit at Frankfurt University Hospital … Read more