REFORM

Jan 16 2025EDUCATION

New Chicago School Board Takes Charge Amid Union Contract Talks

A new era has begun for Chicago Public Schools with the swearing-in of a hybrid school board. This board, made up of elected and mayoral-appointed members, faces immediate financial challenges and tense negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) for a new contract. The power struggle has bee

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Jan 16 2025POLITICS

Unhealthy Foods: The Fight for a Healthier America

For a long time, the U. S. government has stayed clear of regulating unhealthy foods like junk food and fast food. But recently, things are changing. Some people close to President Trump want to take on the big food companies, also known as "Big Food. " They want to put warning labels on unhealthy f

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Jan 13 2025POLITICS

Why Land Prices are Making Homes Out of Reach

Ever felt like housing is becoming way too expensive? You're right, and it's not just because of the pandemic. The truth is, it's more about how much land costs these days. Prices have gone up even faster than housing costs, making land about 40% of what we pay for a home. In big cities like San Jos

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Jan 12 2025POLITICS

Meet the New Faces: The Democratic Party's Virtual Gathering

This weekend, the Democratic Party is hosting an online meetup with eight potential leaders. Though these candidates haven't officially declared their run, party members are eager to see who's up for the challenges ahead. The main goals of this chat are to learn from past errors, reconnect with supp

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Jan 12 2025HEALTH

Are Wheelchair Services Up to Snuff? Stakeholders Weigh In

Think of the wheelchair service delivery process (SDP) as a giant machine with lots of moving parts. With so many pieces, it's easy for things to go wrong. Stakeholders in the United States were asked about how well this machine is working. The results? Not so great. A survey showed that most people

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Jan 11 2025CRIME

Uncovering a Family's Dark Secret

Caroline Darian, the daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, has revealed her belief that her father drugged her and possibly raped her too. This shocking revelation came out during a major trial in France, where her father, Dominique Pelicot, and 49 others were found guilty of raping or sexually assaulting Gis

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Jan 11 2025EDUCATION

Rhode Island: Let's Boost Education for All Kids!

Rhode Island's education system isn't working for many kids, especially those from low-income families and communities of color. For example, in 2024, only about 24% of low-income third graders met reading expectations, compared to nearly 50% of their wealthier peers. Math scores show a similar gap.

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Jan 09 2025POLITICS

Rep. Roy's Plan: Boost Health Savings Accounts

Congressman Chip Roy from Texas is not wasting any time. He's just introduced a new healthcare bill called the Healthcare Freedom Act. The idea? Expand health savings accounts to give Americans more control over their medical choices. Roy thinks the current system is too bureaucratic and expensive,

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Jan 09 2025POLITICS

Immigration Debate: A New Path for Democrats?

With Donald Trump set to become president again, some Democrats and pro-immigration groups are considering new ideas to address immigration. Some want to reduce overall immigration numbers while creating better legal paths for immigrants based on the economy's needs and humanitarian relief. Represe

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Jan 08 2025POLITICS

Elon Musk's DOGE and FDR's Fight for Efficient Government

Back in the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was stressed out by a massive government that was hard to manage. He felt there were too many agencies doing similar things, and he couldn't control them all. This was a big deal because the Supreme Court had said these independent agencies could do

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