REFORM

Dec 22 2024CRIME

New York City's Police Department Gets a Fresh Start

When Jessie Tisch took over as the new Police Commissioner, she faced an immediate challenge: a high-profile shooting in Manhattan. But once the suspect was caught, Tisch turned her attention to some big changes needed within the NYPD. One of her first moves was to send 500 officers back to their r

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Dec 19 2024EDUCATION

New York's Top Schools: A Battle Over 'Equity' and Testing

Imagine this: some folks in New York City are trying to change how kids get into the best public high schools. They say it's about being fair, or "equity, " but it's causing a lot of worry for families. The city's Panel for Education Policy is voting on whether to keep using a special test to get in

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Dec 17 2024POLITICS

Energy Deal Stalls: Senate Senators Blame House GOP

Senators Joe Manchin (I-W. Va. ) and Tom Carper (D-Del. ) have announced that their push to include “permitting reform” in important legislation this year has failed. They both pointed the finger at House Republicans. Manchin said it was unfortunate that the U. S. was missing out on a significant ch

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Dec 16 2024CRIME

Milestone Case: Army Officer Convicted of Sexual Harassment

In a significant ruling, a military court found a former Army battalion commander, Herman West, guilty of sexually harassing a female officer. This case comes after recent changes in the military's legal system that now classify sexual harassment as a crime. Colonel West, based at Joint Base Lewis-M

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Dec 16 2024POLITICS

Why Are People So Angry at Health Insurance Companies?

Senator Bernie Sanders recently spoke about the tragic murder of a health insurance CEO and the growing frustration people feel towards the industry. He emphasized that violence is never the answer, but acknowledged that many people are upset with how health insurance companies operate. The shootin

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Dec 14 2024POLITICS

The UnitedHealthcare Tragedy: A Wake-up Call for Healthcare Reform

The death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked a new push for healthcare reform. On December 8, Thompson was shot outside a Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealth Group held their annual investor conference. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested in Pennsylvania with a "ghost gun, " a s

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Dec 13 2024HEALTH

China's Medical Blend: Mixing Pavlov with Tradition, 1949-1961

In 1949, a new chapter began for China with the establishment of the People's Republic. The nation's leadership aimed for rapid growth across all sectors, including medicine. They looked to the Soviet Union for guidance, and in medicine, that meant embracing Pavlovian theory. This Soviet theory, foc

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Dec 12 2024POLITICS

President Biden Gives a Fresh Start to Over 1, 500 Americans

Imagine this: 1, 500 people get a second chance at life, thanks to a presidential decision. These individuals were serving time at home due to COVID-19 safety measures and have shown they're ready to be productive members of society again. Plus, 39 people with non-violent crime records will have the

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Dec 12 2024POLITICS

Sprucing Up Texas' Ethics Watchdog

The Texas Ethics Commission (TEC), tasked with keeping political players honest, is facing some hurdles. A recent review by the state's Sunset Advisory Commission staff found that the rules making sure politicians and others follow campaign finance laws are too complicated. These rules are hard to f

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Dec 09 2024EDUCATION

Higher Education: A Bipartisan Fix?

The incoming Trump administration is facing a big challenge with higher education. The root problems, like the value and cost of college, need immediate attention. While the plans aren't clear yet, early signs show the administration might focus on controversial issues like stopping debt cancellatio

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