YOUTH

Apr 20 2026POLITICS

Small Steps, Big Impact: How Two Teens Changed Laws in Virginia

Back in 2023, hate crimes in Virginia jumped up by 15%, even as the rest of the country saw a slight drop. That surprising difference made Randall Nied, a high school sophomore, curious. During a family dinner, his dad—a lawyer—suggested he dig deeper. Randall found out Virginia had strong privacy p

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Apr 19 2026POLITICS

Should kids get tested on their bodies to play sports?

Parents sign their kids up for school sports so they learn teamwork, make friends, and stay healthy. But a new proposal in Colorado could change that – and not for the better. Initiative 109 says schools must split sports teams by the sex listed on a student's birth certificate. Supporters say it’s

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Apr 18 2026SPORTS

Alaskan Athletes Shine at State Sports Awards

Kristen Faulkner, a cyclist from Homer, and Gus Schumacher, a skier from Anchorage, were honored this week as Pride of Alaska winners at the state’s Sports Hall of Fame Directors Awards. The award recognizes top athletes from across the state, and both Faulkner and Schumacher earned their spots in a

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Apr 18 2026HEALTH

Video Games: A Popular Pastime with Hidden School Struggles

Around the world, kids and teens spend hours glued to screens, not just for fun but as a major way to pass the time. In some places, online gaming has become so common that experts started wondering if it’s affecting school performance. A study looked at students in Jordan to see if there was a link

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Apr 17 2026EDUCATION

Discover Fun Learning at the 4‑H Science Hub

The University of Maine’s Extension team is inviting kids and their families to a free, hands‑on gathering at the Lafayette and Rawcliffe 4‑H Science and Engineering Learning Center in Orono. The open house will run from ten a. m. to one p. m. on Saturday, May 2, and no sign‑up is needed. Inside th

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Apr 17 2026POLITICS

Why Ohio’s New Bills Could Put Kids’ Mental Health at Risk

Ohio lawmakers are pushing two bills that have mental health experts raising eyebrows. One would let schools bring in untrained religious volunteers to counsel students, while the other would make it harder for teens to get therapy without their parents’ permission. Critics say the first bill’s defi

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Apr 16 2026HEALTH

Diabetes in kids: More than just medicine

Kids with diabetes often face struggles most adults wouldn’t imagine. Daily life isn’t just about school and friends—it’s about managing a serious condition. Some families skip meals so their child can take their insulin. Others stretch doses to save money. This isn’t rare. In tight neighborhoods, c

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Apr 15 2026SPORTS

A New Basketball Space for Vietnam’s Youth

The District 10 Children’s House in Ho Chi Minh City now has a fresh basketball court that can host games for more than 10, 000 kids each year. The upgrade began on April 9 and finished by April 20, turning a plain 28 × 15‑meter surface into a safe and inviting arena. Materials chosen for the

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Apr 15 2026CRIME

When Police Power Crosses the Line

A 17-year-old in California just wanted to relax with friends after a day of trouble she didn’t start. Instead, a police officer slammed her face-first into the ground so hard she blacked out. The officer said she fought back, but video shows he yanked her by her SpongeBob backpack and threw her lik

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Apr 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

Nature’s Classroom: How Outdoor Education Builds Youth and Community

Kids today spend far more time staring at screens than exploring outdoors—sometimes up to seven hours daily. That’s a trend that worries educators, especially when combined with the growing political divide over how much we should even care about environmental issues. A new documentary, however, doe

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