Common Ground

A permit has been issued for a small mixed-use development at 4911 North Pulaski Road in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood. The project will place three residential units above ground-floor retail space. The approval reflects the kind of modest infill development common along Albany Park's commercial corridors as the Northwest Side neighborhood continues to see gradual residential and retail growth.

Japanese golf instructor Kaori Aoyama says many amateur golfers are setting up wrongly by resting their iron flat on the ground at address. In a lesson carried by golf media outlet Golfavo, she explains the correct way to position the club at setup, touching on lie angle and how address affects the swing. The tip is aimed mainly at beginners looking to fix basic swing faults and add distance.

The European Economic and Social Committee is calling for health diplomacy and civil society to take a central role in rebuilding trust in a fractured world. The argument is that in an era of geopolitical division and weakened multilateral cooperation, health offers common ground, and organised civil society can help bridge gaps between governments and citizens on global health policy.

A college newspaper column argues that television, often dismissed as isolating, can actually foster genuine human connection. The writer suggests shared shows give people common ground for conversation and comfort, and that watching together or discussing favorite series builds relationships rather than replacing them. The piece invites readers to rethink assumptions about screen time and loneliness.

Giant tusks unearthed in Siberia were long believed to be the horns of the mythical unicorn, according to a Live Science feature on fossil interpretation before vertebrate paleontology existed. In the Middle Ages, huge bones and teeth found in the ground were commonly explained through myth, legend and folklore rather than science, with mammoth remains among the most famous examples of such misinterpretation.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has released a new book addressing political hostility and division in American public life. The Republican governor, known for calling for civility after the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump, uses the book to argue that Americans must lower the temperature of political rhetoric and find common ground across party lines.

A golf course superintendent is warning that common insect repellent sprays can cause serious damage to golf course turf and greens. The warning highlights how chemicals carried on players' shoes or bags can harm carefully maintained grass, prompting courses to ask golfers to be mindful of what they bring onto the grounds.

A 2.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded near Home Garden, California, on September 20, according to a Sacramento Bee report. The quake was small and there are no reports of damage or injuries. Residents of the small Central Valley community are noting the temblor, though minor earthquakes of this size are common in California and typically cause no effects on the ground.

Finance commentators are revisiting what history's most successful investors have in common ahead of a possible bear market. The argument: the best investors consistently share a single habit — commonly understood as disciplined, steady investing through downturns rather than timing the market. With market volatility fueling fears of a downturn, articles urging calm, historically grounded strategies are gaining attention among retail investors weighing whether to sell or stay the course.

The Apple Boys, a new musical aiming for Broadway, will premiere Off-Broadway ahead of a potential transfer. The announcement gives the show a staging where it can build an audience and critical reception before moving forward. Theatre watchers are taking note as Off-Broadway runs are a common proving ground for Broadway-bound productions, and attention now turns to casting and opening dates.