UCA

Apr 19 2026POLITICS

A Mayor and a Former President Share a Story Hour in NYC

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor, recently spent Saturday morning surrounded by kids and parents at a Bronx childcare center. His guest? Barack Obama. Instead of a boardroom chat, the two leaders spent time reading picture books with toddlers, a moment that stood out from typical political inte

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Apr 19 2026EDUCATION

How one Columbia school leader is shaping education beyond the usual classroom

Columbia Public Schools has tapped Douglass High School Principal Eryca Neville to lead a new role focused on students who need learning options outside traditional classrooms. Neville steps into the executive director of alternative education position after nearly a decade as Douglass High’s top ad

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Apr 19 2026POLITICS

When Schools Draw the Line on Gender Rules

Back in 1972, a federal rule called Title IX arrived to stop schools from treating boys and girls differently. At first, it mostly helped girls join sports and science classes on equal footing. Now the rule is at the center of a new fight—not over girls versus boys, but over how to treat students wh

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Apr 18 2026EDUCATION

Why Debate Matters in School

Debate is not just a classroom game; it is the engine of learning. When people argue, they practice thinking. They test ideas and grow wiser. In the past, a famous scholar named W. E. B. DuBois wrote a book for an American group that wanted people to value all cultures. He was one of the first b

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Apr 18 2026POLITICS

School Choice and the Fight Over a Tax Credit

A group of lawmakers is trying to stop a tax credit that lets families buy scholarships for education. The plan was created by former President Trump to give students more choices, not just in private schools but also public ones. The credit is funded by private donations and could give students mon

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Apr 18 2026POLITICS

Head Start in Massachusetts Faces Funding Crunch

In Massachusetts, about 1, 300 spots for young children in Head Start programs have vanished over the past three years because federal money has stopped growing while program costs keep climbing. Nationwide, enrollment fell from roughly 1. 1 million kids in 2013 to around 785, 000 in 2022. The stat

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Apr 18 2026POLITICS

New Mexico’s Future: What Could Hold It Back

The state has many strengths. Beautiful landscapes, a mix of cultures and natural resources, and people who are friendly and hardworking. Because of these assets, a plan to stop progress would have to be long‑term. One simple way to drag the state down is to ignore its problems. If leaders do nothi

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Apr 18 2026SPORTS

Shaq’s Secret Rule for Texting

Shaquille O’Neal, the former basketball legend now in his mid‑fifties, has a strict policy about who he texts. He says he never reaches out to current or former NBA stars because, in his words, they can be difficult people. He has been very clear about this stance for years. He even stepped away

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Apr 18 2026EDUCATION

New Tech‑Ready Classes at Brentwood High

Brentwood High School is rolling out a fresh lineup of courses that blend modern technology with practical life skills. The new classes include AI Foundations, Intro to Computer Science, Music Theory, Digital Art II, and an updated Personal Finance course. The goal is to keep students interested whi

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Apr 18 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Community Music Night Raises Funds for Local Schools

A quiet evening in Santa Clarita turned into a vibrant fundraiser when the local piano teacher, Oksana Kolesnikova, opened her first event for the Oksana Foundation. The night began with her own piano compositions before guests heard Ardeshir Farah, a former member of Strunz & Farah, and guitarist L

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