diff --git a/src/config_manager.py b/src/config_manager.py
index b6a9d7de..4173d235 100644
--- a/src/config_manager.py
+++ b/src/config_manager.py
@@ -7,11 +7,9 @@ class ConfigManager:
         # Use current working directory as base
         self.config_path = config_path or "config/config.json"
         self.secrets_path = secrets_path or "config/config_secrets.json"
-        
         self.config: Dict[str, Any] = {}
-        self.load_config()
 
-    def load_config(self) -> None:
+    def load_config(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Load configuration from JSON files."""
         try:
             # Load main config
@@ -26,10 +24,13 @@ class ConfigManager:
                     # Deep merge secrets into config
                     self._deep_merge(self.config, secrets)
             
+            return self.config
+            
         except FileNotFoundError as e:
             if str(e).find('config_secrets.json') == -1:  # Only raise if main config is missing
                 print(f"Configuration file not found at {os.path.abspath(self.config_path)}")
                 raise
+            return self.config
         except json.JSONDecodeError:
             print("Error parsing configuration file")
             raise
diff --git a/test_news_manager.py b/test_news_manager.py
index 8ccd3453..9bf93814 100644
--- a/test_news_manager.py
+++ b/test_news_manager.py
@@ -15,10 +15,19 @@ def main():
         config_manager = ConfigManager()
         config = config_manager.load_config()
         
-        # Initialize display manager
-        display_manager = DisplayManager(config.get('display', {}))
+        if not config:
+            print("Error: Failed to load configuration")
+            return
+            
+        display_config = config.get('display')
+        if not display_config:
+            print("Error: No display configuration found")
+            return
         
-        # Initialize news manager
+        # Initialize display manager
+        display_manager = DisplayManager(display_config)
+        
+        # Initialize news manager with the loaded config
         news_manager = NewsManager(config, display_manager)
         
         # Test the scrolling behavior
@@ -38,6 +47,8 @@ def main():
         print("\nTest interrupted by user")
     except Exception as e:
         print(f"Error during test: {e}")
+        import traceback
+        traceback.print_exc()
     finally:
         print("Test completed")