EDUCATION

May 06 2026POLITICS

Religion and School Rules: Utah’s New Path

Utah lawmakers are moving forward with rules that let teachers talk about how faith shaped America’s past. The new laws do not require prayers or religious instruction, but they open classrooms to discussions about the Bible, the Ten Commandments and other holy books as historical documents. The

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May 06 2026POLITICS

A Local Board Member Steps Back: What Happens Next?

A long-time supporter of Ann Arbor Public Schools has decided to leave his role as treasurer on the school board. Don Wilkerson, who was elected in late 2024, stepped down this month for personal reasons. In a message to the community, the board president praised Wilkerson’s fifteen years of involve

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May 06 2026EDUCATION

Big Tech Money Fuels USC’s AI Push—But Can Universities Keep Up?

A $200 million donation from a Silicon Valley investor and Nvidia board member is reshaping USC’s future, but the move also highlights a growing divide in higher education. The gift will rename the School of Advanced Computing, fund AI research across disciplines, and help recruit top talent—but cri

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May 06 2026EDUCATION

Florida schools test a different take on U. S. history for college credit

Florida is rolling out a new history course this fall, one that skips the traditional AP U. S. history route. Instead of using the College Board’s well-known program, the state created its own version called FACT U. S. History. The goal? To give students another way to earn college credit while avoi

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May 06 2026CRIME

A Star Player’s Dark Side Emerges

Marcellus Wiley, a well-known NFL player turned sports media figure, now faces allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, stretching back decades. Four new accusers recently joined forces with three others who filed lawsuits earlier, claiming Wiley raped or assaulted them between the mid-

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May 06 2026EDUCATION

Smartphones in Class: Do Language Students Really Need Them This Much?

A recent study looked at how often third-year English students in a Chinese university used their phones. They tracked app usage for two weeks and asked students about their habits. The results showed that students spent over 2, 500 hours combined on apps like WeChat and Douyin. Surprisingly, most s

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May 06 2026CELEBRITIES

Princess Kate’s First Big Trip Back to Work

Princess Catherine is stepping back into her royal role with a short but meaningful visit to Italy this month. After taking a break for medical treatment, she’s heading to Reggio Emilia—a small but influential city in northern Italy. The stop isn’t just a casual return to duty. It’s a chance for her

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May 05 2026EDUCATION

Neighbors, No-Nonsense: A Lesson in Sharing and Boundaries

A local resident posted extra topsoil for free on a community board, hoping to help a neighbor in need. When the neighbor collected all of it, she later returned with a business card from a landscaping company and demanded that the donor pay for the service, claiming the soil was too heavy to spread

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May 05 2026EDUCATION

Behind the scenes: When substitute teachers go above and beyond

The recent awards for substitute educators Esther Yardumian-Smyth and Celia Effrig show that recognizing everyday heroes isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about seeing the quiet power of persistence. While full-time teachers often get the spotlight, these two winners prove that substitute roles c

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May 05 2026EDUCATION

Local students shine as they announce next steps after high school

Friday wasn’t just a normal school day for many students in Berks County. A special gathering at the Miller Center for the Arts turned the spotlight on young adults who are about to leave high school and start new journeys. Instead of walking out empty-handed, these career and technology students wa

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