MELVILLE, La. ( ) – Council members and residents in the Town of Melville are waiting for answers after Mayor Caretta Robertson allegedly paid herself more than double the salary initially budgeted for the mayor's office."We are a small, financially strapped town. We cannot afford this. She took advantage of our town to use our town finances as a personal bank account," say Mayor Pro-Tem, Natasha Oliney.Mayor Pro-Tem Natasha Oliney says when Robertson began her term as mayor, it was understood by Robertson as well as the town council that the salary for the mayor would be the $11,000 dollars that was paid to the previous mayor. However, Oliney says Robertson presented an ordinance to the council seeking to raise her pay from $11,000 to $16,000. Oliney says the council approved the raise, but they were surprised to see the pay far exceeded that amount."Right now, year to date is she's at $15,000. Last year she paid herself $30,000," says Oliney.Oliney also says the council is questioning Robertson's lack of a pay schedule, as some months she was paid multiple times and at different amounts from month to month. Oliney also says she and members of the council have reached out to Mayor Robertson about holding a public meeting to discuss the concerns. "We want to rectify this problem. We want to hear an explanation and we want the mayor to tell us how she's going to fix this."When asked about her salary, Robertson released a statement saying they are in the process of introducing and adopting all of the ordinances required to fulfill the vision she has for Melville.Robertson says she will receive a similar salary to other mayors in the surrounding area, they are just formally establishing the amount."Every community is different. We have three businesses in Melville. We don't have what other communities have. We don't have the resources. We still have citizens that have water leaks, sewage backups. We ride on gravel roads in Melville. How can we get what Opelousas is getting or Washington or any other community around us?"Oliney said she simply hopes to see open communication between Mayor Robertson, the council and the public to rectify the situation.<h2>Latest Stories</h2><li> St. Landry Parish to receive settlement in Kroger opioid lawsuit </li><li> Hot Days With Rain Chances Through the Weekend ... </li><li> Melville Town Council question Mayor's salary increase </li><li> Former Cajun softball coach addresses new team; new Louisiana coach </li><li> Jury orders NFL to pay nearly $4.8 billion in 'Sunday Ticket' case for violating antitrust laws </li>

Council members and residents in the Town of Melville are waiting for answers after Mayor Caretta Robertson allegedly paid herself more than double the salary initially budgeted for the mayor's office.

Melville Mayor Caretta Robertson allegedly paid herself more than double the salary initially budgeted for the mayor's office. Mayor Pro-Tem Natasha Oliney says the council is questioning Robertson's lack of a pay schedule. Robertson says she will receive a similar salary to other mayors in the surrounding area, they are just formally establishing it.

Melville Town Council question Mayor’s salary increase

Maximus Posada/Courtesy photoRebecca Li/Courtesy photoDaniel Kim/Courtesy photoBY JOYCE A. GUZIK Phi Beta Kappa Los Alamos Association Thanks to the generous support of alumni donors, the Los Alamos Association of Phi Beta Kappa is pleased to announce $1000 scholarship awards to Max Posada, Rebecca Li, and Daniel Kim, 2024 graduates of Los Alamos High School. Max Posada will attend Columbia University in New York City and plans to double-major in political science and business while continuing to perform cello with Columbia's chamber music ensemble. Posada hopes to pursue a career in law and American politics. Li will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles, and is majoring in psychobiology in hopes of going to medical school. Kim will attend Rice University in Houston and plans to major in electrical engineering and computer science while also participating in track and field. Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 to acknowledge and honor the pursuit of academic excellence in the arts and sciences. Chapters are based on college campuses, and there are 50 alumni associations across the country. The Los Alamos Phi Beta Kappa Association has been awarding scholarships to members of each Los Alamos High School graduating class since 1957, supported by generous donations from local Phi Beta Kappa members. Members who would like to contribute to future scholarships or participate in Association activities may contact officers Joyce Guzik and Wendee Brunish at . Donations may also be made via the PayPal link:

Maximus Posada/Courtesy photo Rebecca Li/Courtesy photo Daniel Kim/Courtesy photo BY JOYCE A. GUZIKPhi Beta KappaLos Alamos AssociationThanks to the generous support of alumni donors, the Los Alamos Association of Phi Beta Kappa is pleased to announce $1000 scholarship awards to Max Posada, Rebecca Li, and Daniel Kim, 2024 graduates of Los Alamos High School.Max Posada…

Max Posada, Rebecca Li, and Daniel Kim, 2024 graduates of Los Alamos High School, will receive $1000 scholarship awards. Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 to acknowledge and honor the pursuit of academic excellence in the arts and sciences. The L.A. chapter has been awarding scholarships to members of each Los AlamOS High School graduating class since 1957.

LAHS Students Max Posada, Rebecca Li, Daniel Kim Awarded 2024 Los Alamos Phi Beta Kappa Scholarships

OKLAHOMA CITY — State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced at an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting that public school districts will be required to incorporate the Bible in their curricula effective immediately.Citing a state statute that directs the Oklahoma State Board of Education to adopt academic standards that include the study of important historical documents, Walters made the announcement at the beginning of Thursday's meeting. He said each school district will be required to incorporate the Bible in its curriculum and ensure that a copy is kept in every classroom."My staff has been looking at Oklahoma state statutes," he said. "We've been looking at the Oklahoma Academic Standards, and it's crystal clear ... that the Bible is a necessary historical document to teach our kids about the history of this country, to have a complete understanding of Western civilization, the basis of our legal system and is frankly ... one of the most foundational documents for the Constitution and foundation of our country."Although Walters said repeatedly that Bibles must be kept in every public school classroom in the state, a memorandum from Walters to superintendents, Oklahoma's congressional delegation, Gov. Kevin Stitt, House Speaker Charles McCall and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat states that the edict applies only to grades five through 12.The memorandum also states that OSDE "may supply teaching materials for the Bible, as permissible, to ensure uniformity in delivery."Walters did not say what version of the Bible would be authorized.By law, the state establishes Oklahoma Academic Standards, which serve as expectations for what students should know and be able to do by the end of the school year, but what curriculum and materials are used to meet those expectations is decided by locally elected school boards.When reached Thursday afternoon, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office said state law already allows teachers to have Bibles in the classroom and incorporate them into instruction.After the meeting, Walters told reporters that the biblical instruction would be strictly from a historical perspective and would focus solely on its role in American history.However, he did not provide a timeline on when guidance on the memo would be released. The earliest Tulsa-area schools to start the 2024-25 academic year begin classes on Aug. 7."We've got to make sure that our kids look back at our founding and can have an understanding of the role the Bible and the faith of the founders played," said Walters. "And we're going to make sure Oklahomans understand that."The announcement was met with sharp criticism Thursday from several members of the Oklahoma Legislature, as well as from some of the communities that would be directly affected by its implementation.State Reps. Melissa Provenzano and John Waldron, Democrats from Tulsa who are former public school educators, in a shared statement advised district leaders to "carefully review and follow existing state law when it comes to religious instruction in schools."Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts In 2016, Oklahoma voters rejected a state question that would have amended the state constitution to remove language barring the use of public funds for religious purposes."We know from the outcome of SQ 790 that Oklahomans are overwhelmingly against using public dollars to fund religious purposes," Provenzano said. "The Oklahoma Constitution is very clear on what is allowed when it comes to public education."Waldron called the directive "ridiculous" and "unconstitutional" with no connection to the academic goals set for state public schools.Sen. Carri Hicks, another former classroom teacher, also released comments on the directive from Walters, saying, "This new order does not provide solutions to the real problems facing our schools, and yet again, more taxpayer dollars that could have better supported our students and teachers will likely be diverted to address legal challenges."In an email Thursday morning, Adam Soltani, executive director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, also condemned the announcement."Religious freedom, as outlined in the Constitution, allows for the academic instruction of religion in subjects such as geography, social studies and history," Soltani wrote. "To require religious scripture, regardless of which one it may be, to be incorporated into lessons in our schools, however, is a clear violation of the establishment clause of the Constitution and infringes on the rights of our students and their families."Ryan Walters should reconsider his actions of using his position and influence to promote what appears to be a personal Christian Nationalist agenda, as it does not contribute to the advancement of our children's education."Walters' announcement was also denounced by the Oklahoma Education Association, whose members would be among those expected to carry out the directive.In a written statement, the organization pointed to a recent Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling upholding Edmond Public Schools' inclusion of "The Kite Runner" and "The Glass Castle" in its library as proof of school districts' right to decide what materials to include in their curricula rather than the state superintendent's."Teaching about the historical context of religion (and the Bible) is permissible; however, teaching religious doctrine is not permissible," the OEA said in the statement. "Public schools cannot indoctrinate students with a particular religious belief or religious curriculum."The State Superintendent cannot usurp local control and compel education professionals to violate the Constitution."<h3> The Tulsa World is where your story lives</h3></h2>

The state superintendent cited a statute directing the Oklahoma State Board of Education to adopt academic standards that include the study of important historical documents. #oklaed

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters says public school districts will be required to incorporate the Bible in their curricula. Walters cites a state statute that directs the Oklahoma State Board of Education to adopt academic standards that include the study of important historical documents.

Updated: Ryan Walters announces Bible directive for Oklahoma public schools

The University of Pittsburgh aims to increase enrollment on the main Oakland campus by about 3,200 students or 11% in five years and likely will add faculty and undergraduate housing. The ambitious goal , contained in the school's updated strategic plan , could bring Oakland enrollment to nearly 33,000 — highest in decades.It comes amid a slumping student market generally, but also at a time when Pitt's main campus is seeing record numbers of applications, Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel said Thursday."We think we have a really strong product for our students," she said. "We have very strong placement, we have capacity, and we want to educate as many students as we can."But in a wide-ranging interview with TribLIVE as she approaches a year in the job, Gabel also spoke of the importance of Pitt's four branches, even if enrollment has fallen at those locations by 32% in a decade.Pitt-Greensburg, Bradford, Johnstown as well as Titusville, which is now a workforce training site, are important academically to their regions and as economic anchors."We have several thousand students on those campuses who are earning degrees that serve in industries that are creating economic development opportunities," Gabel said. "They create a tax base in those communities. We're still in an investment and re-frame mode. So I am optimistic."Gabel was hired in April 2023 from the University of Minnesota , where she was president of the system and its Twin Cities campus. On July 17, s he began her duties as the 19th and first woman chancellor at Pitt, with 34,000-students on five campuses and 14,000 employees.During the interview, Gabel discussed topics such as Pitt's next capital campaign, the state budget and performance funding proposals, and the recent pro-Palestinian protest encampment and why she declined to meet with protesters to discuss their demands.The recent campus protestThe 30-hour encampment in early June spawned vandalism and scuffles with campus police outside the iconic 42-story Cathedral of Learning and came amid a spring of campus unrest nationally over the Israel-Hamas war.Pitt Divest from Apartheid, which organized the protest, accused Pitt police of excessive force and accused Gabel of wanting to call in state police to sweep the protest site on the Cathedral's Fifth Avenue side.Their demands included a call for Pitt to shed investments that aid the Israeli campaign in Gaza.Gabel did not directly address the state police allegation but said she was in communication with that agency and a number of other agencies as the conflict escalated."I would argue that this is the hardest thing we've gone through this year," Gabel said.Asked why she did not meet with the protesters, Gabel said investment decisions regarding Pitt's $5.5 billion endowment are a board of trustees-level decision above her. As such, Gabel said Jeffer Choudhry, the university's chief investment officer, was the logical person, and he was willing to talk to the protesters."The offer was made to meet," she said. "They declined.'"Divest Pittsburgh could not immediately be reached for comment late Thursday on Gabel's account.Gabel said the fall may bring renewed protests."I think the underlying dispute continues. So I think we expect there to be continued advocacy, which, of course, is the right of our community to express their advocacy and voice on the issue."She reiterated her belief that Pitt successfully balanced free speech and safety concerns.She also said, "It's one thing to say that we all believe in free speech, and another to have someone say something that you so fundamentally disagree with or that you're personally offended by.''Capital campaign plannedPitt has not had a universitywide capital campaign in more than a decade since "The "Building Our Future Together" campaign raised $2.135 billion for various endeavors across at Pitt during the administration of Mark Nordenberg.Pitt is conducting a campaign readiness assessment, Gabel said, and could make an announcement as early as next spring about a campaign.Early on, the new chancellor sought to update the university's "Plan for Pitt," a five-year strategic document focusing on areas from student success and funded research to furthering Pitt's national stature and community engagement.In April, it yielded what leaders say are measurable initiatives that would make college more affordable.Among them are lowering each year average debt carried by Pitt graduates of more than $38,000 and expanding a program in which the university matches federal Pell grants for its neediest students up to the maximum $7,395.One ambitious goal is boosting enrollment on the main Oakland campus by 3,170 students to 32,658 by 2028, leveraging record demand for the Oakland campus, even in a slumping student market.Based on a review of the plan, undergraduate enrollment of 20,220 would grow in stages by 9%, or 1,780 students, to 22,000 by 2028. Graduate enrollment would expand by 15%, or 1,390 students, to 10,658.To help achieve that growth, Pitt intends to recruit more Pell-eligible students each year by expanding Pitt Success Pell Match program.Pell-eligible students currently account for 18% of main campus enrollment.Many of the additional graduate-level students contemplated for the main campus by 2028 would likely be enrolled online or as hybrid students in Oakland, so additional demands on infrastructure would be limited, Gabel said.But housing beyond the 8,332 beds on campus would be needed for undergraduate growth, and planners are currently reviewing that.For decades, out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students have occupied an increasing share of main campus seats. Those students accounted for 23% of the Oakland total in 2004; 36% in 2014 and 44% by last fall.Pitt's branches, though, enroll mostly Pennsylvanians. As the number of traditional-age college students has fallen, the branches have continued to see student numbers shrink – down by 32% from 6,317 students in 2014, to 4,283 as of last fall.No state budget yetThe June 30 deadline for passing astate budget looms. Among the issues are proposals to tie funding of universities to academic, workforce and other performance measures. Gable said she is comfortable with that."There are lots of states that do this, and so, and I've worked in a couple of them over the years and seen it be pretty productive," she said. "So the devil's in the details, as things often go."

The University of Pittsburgh aims to increase enrollment on the main Oakland campus by about 3,200 students or 11% in five years and likely will add faculty and undergraduate housing. The ambitious goal, contained in the school&rsquo;s updated strategic plan, could bring Oakland enrollment to nearly 33,000 &mdash; highest in

Pitt aims to increase enrollment on the main Oakland campus by about 3,200 students. The ambitious goal could bring Oakland enrollment to nearly 33,000 — highest in decades. It comes amid a slumping student market generally, but also at a time when Pitt's main campus is seeing record numbers of applications.

Exclusive: Pitt looks to add 3,200 students to Oakland campus, Chancellor Joan Gabel says

From atop Monument Circle, U.S. Sen. Todd Young looked out over a sea of black and gold."I think it's fair to say that, as of today, this world-class city has at least one world-class university," Young said with a grin. "I choose my words carefully."Purdue University in Indianapolis will officially launch Monday, marking the official end of IUPUI. Indiana University Indianapolis also begins operation as a separate school the same day, taking the majority of the partnership's buildings and programs.In a ceremony Thursday, top state and local officials celebrated what many called an "Indianapolis expansion of West Lafayette's campus." Purdue President Mung Chiang described shuttles going back and forth between West Lafayette and Indianapolis, creating an "integrated, smooth experience."No more IUPUI: Indiana University/Purdue split likely means big changes in downtown. Why some are worried. Most new Purdue construction will be located on 28 acres west of West Street, south of Indiana Avenue and north of Michigan Street, said Dan Hasler, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis campus. Historically, IUPUI had played a part in razing historic Black neighborhoods on Indiana Avenue , but Mitch Daniels, Purdue president emeritus and former governor, said Hasler had met with the neighborhood to try to enhance it.The first new building, a mixed-use academic building, was approved by Purdue trustees June 7; it'll be at the intersection of West and Michigan streets and is estimated to cost $187 million.School officials intend to integrate other buildings into the community, Hasler said. For example, Purdue's new animal science research facility with Elanco is next to Elanco, and a recent partnership with Dallara is located at Dallara's headquarters.More than 800 students to start their first year at Purdue University in Indianapolis in the fall, Hasler said. Degrees and tuition will mirror those on Purdue's flagship campus. Current IUPUI students aiming for a Purdue diploma can continue their current plans of study.Purdue partnership: School and Elanco to create 3-acre research facility near former GM stamping plant site Currently, Purdue University's Indianapolis location only supports a few engineering programs. However, the school expects to add programs such as nursing, business and hospitality before August 2025. These programs will be different enough to IU Indianapolis that there won't be competition, Hasler said.Officials highlighted how the new campus will bring jobs and new innovation to Indiana."Seventy-five years ago, Neil Armstrong was planting the Purdue flag on the moon," Gov. Eric Holcomb said. "Think about what will not only be discovered here in Indiana, because of Purdue and the students and faculty, but about how that will then in turn improve our quality of lives and our quality of place."

The West Lafayette-based university expects to welcome more than 800 students to its new Indy campus this fall.

Purdue University in Indianapolis will officially launch Monday, marking the official end of IUPUI. Indiana University Indianapolis also begins operation as a separate school the same day. Most new Purdue construction will be located on 28 acres west of West Street, south of Indiana Avenue and north of Michigan Street. Currently, Purdue's Indianapolis location only supports a few engineering programs.

Purdue University celebrates opening of Indianapolis campus

Candidates for the Leon County School Board talked about vouchers, teacher pay, the possibility of rezoning the school districts and much more on Wednesday at the WFSU studio. The candidates for Districts 2 and 4 were also asked to give Superintendent Rocky Hanna a letter grade. The forums were co-hosted by the Tallahassee Democrat and the League of Women Voters.Rosanne Wood is the two-term incumbent in District 2, challenged by Daniel Zeruto. She's been in the Leon County schools as a teacher, a principal and a school board member. He's a PTO dad who's been on the school advisory council and the district advisory council.In District 4, Laurie Lawson Cox is the incumbent, a teacher who retired after 36 years. Challenger Jeremy Rogers is a firefighter and the owner of a pre-school and a summer camp.The candidates were asked what they thought about the use of vouchers to pay for students to attend a school other than a traditional public school. And how would they, as school board members, compete with that choice to maintain a healthy school system?"I'm anti-voucher," said Rogers. "I think that is just a sneaky way to privatize public schools. I don't think public money should be going into private entities in any way, shape or form. I think that money needs to go into teacher pay."Lawson Cox said she was a product of the Leon County public schools and a "huge advocate" for them. "But at the end of the day, I also realize that parents should be able to choose the best place that they want their kids to be educated, whether that's private, charter, home school..."And how can the public schools compete with those options?"There is a financial hit," she acknowledged, "and it means we have to re-align what we're doing and make sure we're offering the best programs, the best academics at our schools, that parents feel comfortable and confident sending their kids to our schools.""Charter schools at least have some accountability," Wood said. "I've come to think of them as another alternative for parents. It's not a level playing field, however, because there's a lot of choice about who gets to come to your school, so that's a problem I have. But at least they're graded with the same accountability measures."Asked how public schools can compete for students, Rogers said, "It's certainly not by spending $100,000 on a logo," referring to a recent controversy. "If you want to compete, you've got to take care of your house...And that starts with paying teachers more, coming up with fun and creative curriculums, getting the kids back outside. Farming public money to private companies? It's just odd. I don't know why we would even do that."'EXISTENTIAL THREAT'Asked to identify what she considered the "existential threat" to public schools, Wood said she's concerned that parents might be attracted to "what sounds private." She said there are 46 private schools in Leon County, but some have only two or three students. "I think that's the existential question, the future of public schools – which I think is the great equalizer in our country."For Zeruto, the existential threat "in our district is the lack of transparency and communication between the district, the teachers with administrators, administrators with teachers, and parents as well. And I think that's what's causing parents to leave the public schools."School board races are nonpartisan, at least in theory, but that may soon change. This November, Florida voters will be asked to decide whether to amend the state constitution to make races for the 67 local school boards partisan. Both the District 2 and District 4 races have a Republican and a Democrat – but all four candidates said they prefer the current structure."I like the fact that it's nonpartisan," said Lawson Cox, "because we're dealing with children." She said she understood where the Legislature was coming from, though. "They want your point of view, your values, maybe."Rogers agreed. "When you start getting partisan, you start inviting extremist groups like Moms for Liberty in..." He said he couldn't support banning books or any kind of censorship."We have too much partisanship in this country right now," Wood said. "Too much division. When you're a school board member, you're not thinking 'Republican, Democrat, Independent.' You're thinking 'child.'Zeruto agreed.William Hatfield of the Democrat asked the candidates about their political affiliations.Zeruto and Wood are registered to different political parties, as are Rogers and Lawson Cox."Recently we learned that my opponent's campaign just hired a very heavy hitter in the Republican Party and raised ...and is there to raise a bunch of money from those donors," said Rogers."Who are you talking about?" responded Lawson Cox. "And to me, my opponent is the one who's trying to bring partisan politics by labeling me as an extremist. And anyone who knows me knows that is the farthest thing from the truth."Rogers suggested that "giant, dark, corporate PACs" are supporting Lawson Cox. Hatfield pressed Rogers for an example of one, but Rogers came up zero.Wood said she hoped the Legislature would funnel more funds toward teacher pay. She said teachers started at $36,000 when she became a teacher, some 50 years ago, and now they're making $47,500.The other candidates also cited the importance of raising teacher pay.Recently another member of the Leon school board, Alva Smith, suggested a dialogue on closing schools due to declining enrollment. Lawson Cox said it's not necessary at this time."I've taught at schools that are busting at the seams, and that creates its own challenges," she said. "And I've taught at schools that were under capacity, and there are some true benefits in having a smaller school setting. We need to continue to be fiscally responsible, but I think we can come up with creative ways and hopefully not close schools anytime soon."Her opponent Rogers agreed. "I love that she said, 'creative ways,' because that's exactly it," he said. "We've just got to dig in. We've got to roll our sleeves up and we've got to get to work. Weve got to figure out how we can save those schools. We've got to bring the whole community involved. We need to make sure all the stakeholders are involved. We need to keep these classrooms smaller."Zeruto wants to have the dialogue Smith proposed. "I think we should have the tough conversations," he said, adding that if one accounts for population growth in Leon County, school enrollment has substantially declined."I happen to believe in smaller schools," Wood said. "You get to know the children that way." She said the school district still has some 30,000 students to serve.Do the Ten Commandments belong in the classroom? Wood said no, citing the separation of church and state. Zeruto said yes. Asked why, he replied, "It's part of our founding documents. It's part of our Founding Fathers."The candidates were asked what school has the most pressing need at the moment. Zeruto said he'd have to talk to every school in order to answer. Wood said there were several but wouldn't name them. "Those are the schools that need the most help," she said, adding, "I'm not going to mention the names because I don't believe in school grades."Lawson Cox: A- or B+Rogers: CWood: AZeruto: C+***

Candidates for the Leon County School Board talked about vouchers, teacher pay, the possibility of rezoning the school districts. The candidates for Districts 2 and 4 were also asked to give Superintendent Rocky Hanna a letter grade. The forums were co-hosted by the Tallahassee Democrat and the League of Women Voters.

School board candidates show wide range of thought in debates

To conform with state law, Wyoming's largest school district based in Cheyenne has adopted a policy requiring teachers notify parents of changes in a student's character or wellbeing. The district took its policy a step further than state law, and specified that this includes students' requests to change their names. The mandate on names was approved Monday during a public meeting of the Laramie County School District 1 board to conform with a state law that passed the Wyoming Legislature late this winter.Late Change</h2> Board Vice-Chair Christy Klassen added the late change to the policy draft, which prompted the board to adopt it on an emergency basis instead of a permanent basis. This allows the public another 45-day period to comment on Klaassen's amendment. Klaassen proposed, and the board approved in a 4-2 vote, the change requiring teachers to notify parents if a student asks to be called by a new name or nickname. Board Treasurer Brittany Ashby and Trustee Renee Hinkle voted against the amendment. The new wording could go into effect as a permanent policy around the start of the new school year.'Sad Day,' Says Former School Board Candidate</h2> Todd Reynolds, an education professor at University of Wyoming and a former school board candidate, called it a "very sad night for this district." He clarified that the board had to adopt the policy change to comply with state law. But he said he disagrees with Klassen and the board majority's name change addition. "It's one of the most anti-student things I've heard this board say," said Reynolds. He theorized that requiring teachers to report new-name requests by kids with alternate gender identities could lead to their harm, if their parents resent people who identify differently. Under The Law's Umbrella</h2> State Sens. Evie Brennan, R-Cheyenne, and Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, both countered, saying the name change criterion wasn't far from legislators' minds when they passed the policy's underlying law earlier this year. Both senators are members of the Senate Education Committee, which sponsored the Parental Rights In Education Act in the 2024 session of the Wyoming Legislature. "I think that's a good change," said Steinmetz. "I think that was the intent of the Legislature, that parents be notified when that happens." Steinmetz countered Reynolds' claim that the change poses a hazard to kids, saying it's generally more harmful to cut parents out of their own children's lives during the crucial stage of adolescence. Brennan agreed, saying parents, not teachers, are ultimately responsible for raising their own children and are generally invested in their wellbeing. Brennan said Klaassen's wording change is more specific than the Legislature intended, but not outside the law's scope.The Policy Says ...</h2> Mirroring the statute's language, the policy says district employees who learn of a change in a student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health will report that change to an administrator who in turn tell the student's parents. But if the employee "reasonably believes" the change is from suspected abuse or neglect, he or she must first report the abuse to law enforcement or the Wyoming Department of Family Services. Then, after law enforcement or DFS has cleared the school to do so, the school will notify the parents of the change. Reynolds said he disputes this concept as well because it puts teachers in a difficult position of being liable if they fail to report the abuse, but having future problems with parents if they report them as potentially abusive. State lawmakers went rounds with questions of abuse during their session as well, with detractors of the new law saying it will over-involve abusive parents, and proponents of it saying teachers are required to report suspected abuse anyway, with or without this law. LCSD1's new policy mirrors other portions of the state law, such as a mandate to notify parents before teaching kids about sexual orientation.

Teachers in Cheyenne will now be required to notify parents when their kids want to go by other names or nicknames, including transgender names. The…

Laramie County School District 1 adopted a policy requiring teachers to notify parents of changes in a student's character or wellbeing. The district took its policy a step further than state law, and specified that this includes students' requests to change their names. The new wording could go into effect as a permanent policy around the start of the new school year.

Cheyenne Teachers Now Required To Notify Parents…

</h2>The town annexed a portion of Lakeview Acres near the lake.Ground was broken for the town's first solar house on the southwest side.Roy Carr was appointed to the town board. He replaced Jerry Wilson, who resigned due to a move out of town.Laurie Dishman chosen president of the Jaycee Women.Eldo Householter was lauded for outstanding service by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.Jill Tolan was named the top employee at Maple Lawn.Eureka College formed a committee in their search for a new president.Heather Godsey, Josh Gross and Leah Yoder recently completed associate's degrees from Hesston (Kan.) College.The county's Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society raised $88,000.Ellen Rigbsy retired after a quarter century as financial aid director at EC.</h2>Glenn Busenitz was selected as a district director with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) alumni association.Karen France was part of a group of Girl Scouts who embarked on a tour of the country of Mexico.The village board gave support toward a proposed county economic development committee.Glen Nyberg recently completed a doctorate in applied physics from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.Marie Blunier became a centenarian.Steve Bates recently finished up a management degree from Sangamon State University in Springfield.Marc Knepp recently obtained a doctorate in medicine from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria.Recent high school graduate Jake Zimmerman received an industry fund scholarship from Illinois State University, Normal.Colleen Oltman was recognized for two decades of service with the Advocate Medical Group.Chief Jeff Smith took parti in a course to become an official fire investigator.</h2>Gary Janssen and John Welch bought Polly's Glass from Eldon Polhemus and re-named the establishment G & J Tap located along Chestnut Street in the downtown business district.Fred Rutkowski retired after four-plus decades with the Illinois Central Railroad.The high school class of 1949 held a reunion at Capponi's Restaurant in Toluca.Victoria Rowland retired after a decade-plus as director at the Filger Library.Paula Hartzler appeared on the dean's list for the spring semester at Taylor University in Upland, Ind.The Boy Scouts held a paper collection drive.The high school class of 1947 recently held a reunion at Capponi's Restaurant.A recent fundraiser netted over $3,200 for Fieldcrest's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).</h2>

Roy Carr was appointed to the town board. He replaced Jerry Wilson, who resigned due to a move out of town. Ellen Rigbsy retired after a quarter century as financial aid director at EC. Garry Janssen and John Welch bought Polly's Glass from Eldon Polhemus and re-named the establishment G & J Tap.

YEARS AGO

Navient, one of the nation's largest student loan companies, has entered into a $1.85 billion settlement with a coalition of state attorneys general to resolve allegations that it steered borrowers into costly repayment plans and predatory loans. The agreement Thursday puts to rest multiple state probes into the company's loan servicing and lending practices dating back to when it was known as Sallie Mae. The agreement spans 39 states and the District and will deliver $1.7 billion in private student loan cancellation to 66,000 borrowers nationwide, and another $95 million in payouts. "This settlement not only holds [Navient] accountable but brings real relief to hundreds of thousands of Americans who are struggling to pay their student loans," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who helped lead the coalition, said in an interview. "We're going to hold the powerful institutions in this country accountable when they take advantage of people." Student loan servicer Navient lands in the crosshairs of Pennsylvania attorney general Navient vehemently denies all charges and insists there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations. The decision to settle was purely an economic one, according to the company, as it would cost less to resolve the cases, some of which are more than eight years old, than to fight each individual lawsuit. "This is really about eliminating a time-consuming, distracting and costly process," Jack Remondi, Navient's chief executive, said in an interview. "With the ability to explicitly deny the claims that were made in these cases and borrower harm, I think it's noteworthy that we're not giving up on our defense here. We're just agreeing that it's time to move on." Shapiro contends that "actions speak louder than words" and, in the end, a corporation that placed "profits before people" is being held to account. Pennsylvania is among several states, including Illinois , California and Washington , that accused Navient of encouraging struggling borrowers to postpone payments through forbearance rather than enroll in low-cost repayment plans tied to their income. California plans to sue one of the nation's largest student loan companies Prosecutors said the company — which long managed federal student loans on behalf of the Education Department but said in the fall that it would transfer accounts to another company — opted for a faster, cheaper route that requires less paperwork. But prosecutors say the move cost borrowers as the accumulated unpaid interest on their loans were tacked onto their balances. The states allege that Navient customers who were enrolled in multiple, consecutive forbearances from January 2010 to March 2015 had more than $4 billion in accrued interest added to their principal. About 350,000 federal student loan borrowers who were placed in certain types of long-term forbearances will receive payments of about $260. Eligible borrowers will receive a postcard in the mail this spring from the settlement administrator. The lion's share of the settlement money will arrive in the form of debt cancellation for tens of thousands of people who borrowed money from Sallie Mae to primarily attend for-profit colleges, including ITT Technical Institute campuses and the chain of Art Institute schools. State prosecutors claim the lender originated private student loans that carried interest rates as high as nearly 16 percent and fees equal to 9 percent of the loan. Those "subprime" loans were provided to students with poor credit and who attended colleges where barely 50 percent of people graduated, prosecutors say — an indicator that borrowers were at risk of not completing their degrees and being unable to repay the debt. Sallie Mae allegedly used those private loans to develop relationships with colleges and universities. In the lead-up to the 2008 recession, colleges had what's known as preferred lender lists, made up of companies that offered a full suite of federal and private loans. Although Sallie Mae expected its subprime loans to default en masse, prosecutors say, having the loans as an option in the company's package was critical to persuade schools to include them on the lender list. Navient absorbed Sallie Mae's liabilities and 95 percent of its assets, including servicing rights to $300 billion in student loans, when the companies split in 2014. That means Navient is responsible for any expenses, losses and remediation arising from the lawsuits. The company disputes the characterization of Sallie Mae's lending strategy and said it stopped lending to students at troubled schools long before the Education Department cut them off. The loans in question have largely been in default for a number of years, and Navient said it did not expect to recover much of what was owed. Nicole Scavo, 33, is one of the beneficiaries of the debt forgiveness. She received a call from Shapiro's office informing her that the $81,685 she owed for her certificate in restaurant management from the Art Institute of New York City, which closed in 2019, would be canceled. "I can't explain how grateful I am," said Scavo, whose training never yielded a job in the field. "These loans affect everything. Because my debt-to-income is so high I can't get good rates on a car loan or a mortgage." Scavo, who works for a pharmacy in Pennsylvania, originally borrowed about $39,000 in 2007, but the interest rate on her loans ranged from 9 percent to 12 percent. She struggled to keep up with her payments over the years and worried that the debt would make homeownership impossible. Now, she said she is looking forward to a financial future with better possibilities. Borrowers who are eligible for loan forgiveness will receive a formal notice from Navient by July, along with refunds of any payment made on the canceled private loans after June 30. No action is needed to qualify for relief. In the Washington region, nearly 2,000 residents of Virginia will receive a total of $51.3 million in loan forgiveness, while another 13,588 people are due to receive forbearance payouts. In Maryland, 1,103 residents will have $34.4 million in debt canceled, with another 11,836 set to receive payouts. And 190 District residents will no longer owe $5.9 million in private loans, while 1,709 will receive compensation. "Virginians struggle under the massive weight of student loan debt — something that has a negative effect on almost every aspect of their lives," Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring said in a statement Thursday. "Student loan servicers who use deceptive practices and predatory lending tactics must be held accountable for taking advantage of the hardworking men and women." The agreement, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, requires court approval.

Navient will cancel $1.7 billion in private student loan debt and pay out $95 million to borrowers it is accused of steering into costly repayment plans.

Navient, one of the nation's largest student loan companies, has entered into a $1.85 billion settlement. The agreement puts to rest multiple state probes into the company's loan servicing and lending practices. Navient vehemently denies all charges and insists there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations.

Navient reaches $1.85 billion settlement over student loan practices

A Missouri church has apologized after an alarming advertisement was published in its bulletin. Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield - about two hours outside of Jefferson City - posted an ad in its June 16 bulletin calling for young men to join a militia. 'JOIN NOW' was written in large bold letters on the announcement that called for men aged 18-29 to form the group 'The Legion of the Sancta Lana.' Alongside a large QR code that directed people to an application, the ad explained that members would 'protect the holy eucharist, congregation, clergy, and church ground from violent and non-violent attacks.' The Catholic church quickly retracted the advertisement with Rev. Eugene Schaeffer, the associate pastor of the parish, branding it a 'mistake.' 'The advertisement, which included a QR code with an application for membership, suggests that a militia would be formed and that this group would be affiliated with Ascension parish. This is, of course, untrue,' the church said in a statement on its website . 'To be perfectly clear, there is no militia being formed, and we regret that this item was included in the bulletin. 'Furthermore, the suggestion that our community might require a militia in order for us to celebrate the Eucharist is both inappropriate and unhelpful. 'We sincerely apologize for this error and the anguish it has caused, and we believe it is in the best interest of our parish and our community for us to clarify that we do not support this activity,' the statement added. The advertisement explained that interested members would need to go through training that entailed 'strict physical fitness standards, classroom study, and instruction in military operations.' A militia is commonly known as an organized army of non-professional and part-time soldiers that band together for emergency situations. The church assured parishioners and the public that 'there have been zero threats' that would require a group of young men to protect the religious community. A male parishioner, who chose to remain anonymous, told Fox 2 echoed the Reverend's acknowledgment of the error. 'It was an advertisement that was printed without any review by the parish, and I think it slipped through the review process cracks,' he said. Although the church's bulletins are published by an outside agency, longtime members of the parish were shocked to see the peculiar advertisement inside. 'It was kind of a surprise, because it's contradictory to everything that the school and church preaches in the parish,' a parishioner said. The church has two Catholic schools - The Little School for children ages two-five and Ascension Catholic School for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. The parish has not identified the person who paid for the advertisement, but the QR code link says that the application form is 'no longer accepting responses.' DailyMail.com contacted Ascension Catholic Church for comment. Another church recently garnered national attention as leaders banned the parish from using its amphitheater for Sunday prayers. Town officials in Dillon, Colorado blocked all non-town sponsored groups from using the space - including Dillon Community Church which had held events there for 42 years - after being inundated with rental requests. The decision has catapulted the 1,000-person town to the center of a debate over worship in public facilities. Pressure groups on both sides went on to threaten lawsuits, with some demanding the church be given special dispensation to gather, while others slam the preferential access as 'Christian privilege.' Town manager Nathan Johnson told The Denver Post: 'There needs to be a separation of church and state. We cannot favor one denomination over another.'

Ascension Catholic Church is Chesterfield, Missouri made national news this week over an alarming advertisement published in its bulletin. The parish has since retracted the ad.

Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Missouri posted an ad in its June 16 bulletin calling for young men to join a militia.

Missouri church is forced to apologize after publishing concerning ad in its bulletin

CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Gov. Roy Cooper visited a Concord preschool Thursday to make a case for additional funding for early childhood education.He visited Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, which has been operation for around 10 years, and offers teaching for both Spanish and English-speaking children in language programs before they enter public school. Controversial mask, campaign finance bill is vetoed by NC Gov. Cooper The trip is one of several Cooper has made across the state as those preschools and places of early childhood education are facing a funding shortfall July 1. The funding shortfall is tied to the end of COVID relief funds and the lack of an approved state budget.Cabarrus Bilingual has used the funds to help bring more students into the preschool and also has offered their teachers raises. Director Aurora Swain explained, without that money, services they offer could be dramatically reduced."This would be detrimental to what is coming for these kids for their future," Swain said."We are at a critical juncture in our state," Cooper added after meeting with students. "We are in an emergency situation."The visit to Concord comes as the State House approved a $67 million plan to keep funding in place through September, but it has yet to be passed by the Senate.Cooper has proposed a $765 million investment in childcare, saying "the state can't be first in business, and be last education.""This would allow these facilities to pay their teachers more, it would allow them to lower costs to the parents," he added.Parents also spoke about the value of these programs, which include some at-home learning.Antonyia Rumph, a parent of three children who have made their way through Cabarrus Bilingual, said the preschool was instrumental in helping her become a nurse, while also offering her children the chance to learn a second language."Two of my daughters are part of (gifted) and Spanish immersion programs in school today," said Rumph.

CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Gov. Roy Cooper visited a Concord preschool Thursday to make a case for additional funding for early childhood education. He visited Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool, which has been operation for around 10 years, and offers teaching for both Spanish and English-speaking children in language programs before they enter public school. […]

Gov. Roy Cooper visited Cabarrus Bilingual Preschool in Concord Thursday. Preschools and places of early childhood education are facing a funding shortfall July 1. The funding shortfall is tied to the end of COVID relief funds and the lack of an approved state budget. Cooper has proposed a $765 million investment in childcare.

In visit to bilingual Concord preschool, Cooper calls childcare shortfall an ’emergency situation’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — "A miracle" — that's how one Jelly Roll fan described what unfolded at his Nashville show as the singer offered to help pay her college tuition.Joy Gadalla said she waited in line for about five hours to watch Jelly Roll perform for free at the Skydeck on Broadway, calling it a much-needed outing with her cousin after spending the last month looking after her grandmother in the hospital.According to Gadalla, the singer's story already helped shape her life, but now even more so. "I'm going to give you the opportunity to change your life right here on this date," Jelly Roll said from the rooftop stage on Monday, June 17 while pointing at Gadalla.It was prayers that Gadalla said got her there, standing feet from Jelly Roll as she made the last-minute decision to hold up a sign on her phone."I took like a black picture and then wrote, 'Please pay my tuition,' and just held it up," she recalled.The "Save Me" singer acknowledged that message after his first song, according to Gadalla."We will help you get through school," he promised. Gadalla's priceless reaction was captured by fans."I was just in shock, in incredible shock," she described. Jelly Roll vowed to help her with tuition if all checks out, even though he had no idea about Gadalla's story and how he impacted it."I am a year and seven months sober," Gadalla told News 2, adding that Jelly Roll played a role in her journey to sobriety. Gadalla said her family moved to the U.S. from Egypt to live the American dream. Like Jelly Roll, she was also raised in Antioch.The 18-year-old said she recently completed high school online with a 3.8 GPA: "I've been doing online since the seventh grade because I was bullied."Jelly Roll's accomplishments inspired Gadalla to do more with her own life, including enrolling at Belmont University just days before his Nashville concert in hopes of becoming a criminal justice lawyer. However, she didn't know how she was going to afford that dream, and reality set in the night before the show."I was crying, I was stressing, I took a moment to breath and pray, and I knew that everything was going to be okay," Gadalla recalled. "I knew God was going to take care of everything"Gadalla said it looks like the musician did just that. While the official details about how much Jelly Roll will help the teen haven't been made clear, she told News 2 his management has been in touch. Regardless, Gadalla expects tuition will cost about $40,000 a year, so she said any amount will be a blessing.

"A miracle" -- that's how one Jelly Roll fan described what unfolded at his Nashville show as the singer offered to help pay her college tuition.

Joy Gadalla said she waited in line for about five hours to watch Jelly Roll perform for free. The 18-year-old recently completed high school online with a 3.8 GPA. Jelly Roll vowed to help her with tuition if all checks out, even though he had no idea about Gadalla's story.

Jelly Roll vows to help pay Belmont student’s tuition

Oak Lawn</h4>St. Catherine of Alexandria, 10621 S. Kedvale Ave: The Rev. Dennis Ziomek is retiring as pastor of the church June 30 after 11 years there. A celebration of his ministry took place June 1. The new priest, the Rev. Matt Litak, will start July 1.During his 46 years of ministry, Ziomek has served five parishes and spent 23 years teaching at Quigley Seminary South and at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He served the Presbyteral Council, the Association of Chicago Priests, was administrator of St. Christina and continues as dean for the nine parishes of Deanery D Vicariate V. "I'm retiring from the administrative responsibilities of a pastor but not retiring from priesthood," he said. He's proud of his teaching because several young men were ordained priests, including the Most Rev. Kevin Birmingham, auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago before his death in 2023.During Ziomek's tenure at St. Catherine of Alexandria, Friday Masses began at the school, which serves about 500 students in preschool through eighth grade. "I have enjoyed working with our schoolchildren for sacramental preparation and various celebrations," he said. "With Jesus as the vine, we have worked together in the vineyard of the Lord as His missionary disciples, bearing much fruit."Ziomek, whose nickname is Zi, said the church "is much more than the buildings. It's the people. I will miss the many people I have worked with and come to love. ... I will miss seeing school children running up to me and saying 'Hi, Father Dennis!'"He's enjoyed his work. "I've liked being a priest of the Lord. I enjoy celebrating Mass and sacraments such as communion and marriage, anointing of the sick. I enjoyed working together with my parishioners and praying together and growing in our love of the Lord," he said, "being with people and celebrating joyous occasions but also in times of sickness and being able to counsel people with the faith we have."He's looking forward to visiting family and friends, vacationing with priest friends, skiing and running and doing 5K races "as long as my knees allow me."Calvary Church, 10056 Central Ave.: Summer Sunday unity services are set at 10 a.m. June 30, Aug. 4 and Sept. 1. Coffee and doughnuts follow the service. Information: thisiscalvary.org/oaklawn.708-422-0790. Homer Glen</h4>Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, 14719 W. 163rd St.: Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon July 8 to 11. Participants will look at how God's love is reflected in classic Disney movies that include "Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King," "Zootopia" and "Elemental." It's open for children 4 years old through fifth grade. Fee is $15 per child. Information: crossofglory.com or 708-301-6998. Palos Heights</h4>Anchor Church Palos, 6600 W. 127th St.: Vacation Bible School from 6 to 8:15 p.m. July 8 to 12. The theme is "Breaker Rock Beach," and it challenges kids to discover that God's truth never changes. It's open to children entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Family picnic is planned from 6 to 8:15 p.m. July 12. Register by July 8 at anchorpalos.org/vbs. Information: www.anchorpalos.org or 708-925-9296.What's going on at your church? Let us know by sending us an email including time, date, place and public contact information at least two weeks before the event or reservation deadline at

What's going on at your church? Let us know by sending us an email at least two weeks before the event at religion@southtownstar.com.

The Rev. Dennis Ziomek is retiring as pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Oak Lawn. He has served five parishes and spent 23 years teaching at Quigley Seminary South. "I'm retiring from the administrative responsibilities of a pastor but not retiring from priesthood," he says. He's looking forward to visiting family and friends, vacationing with priest friends.

Religion roundup: St. Catherine priest retires, VBS set, more

The Chicago Teachers Union is announcing its endorsements for Chicago's first elected school board — a major step for the powerful political force that helped to elect the city's mayor.The CTU is not publicly saying how much they will devote to support these candidates and, so far, none of the candidates have reported contributions from CTU to the Illinois Board of Elections. In addition to money, the CTU has about 30,000 members who have been key in knocking on doors and getting out the vote.The endorsements come less than a week after the deadline to file petitions to get on the ballot. Forty-seven people are running to represent 10 geographic districts, which cover several neighborhoods. Challenges to petitions must be filed by July 1. Election day is November 5, with voters casting ballots in the district where they live.The CTU endorsed one candidate in nine districts and two in district six where a former teacher and a leader from a parent advocacy group both got the nod. Among the group, several are former teachers, some are activists and at least one describes herself as a full-time mom.Despite the candidate filing period just ending, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said the union's process for choosing who to endorse was more robust than usual. The union's protocol is that a committee vets candidates and then brings recommendations to the union's full House of Delegates, who are the representatives elected by members.Gates said she is enthusiastic about the election and the candidates, many of whom are former teachers and parents."Here in Chicago, Black people, brown people, working class people who send their children to the Chicago public schools get an opportunity to engage in actual debate about school policy," she said. "I, for sure, was skeptical more than once that this would ever happen and I'm just very proud of it honestly, that people get to do this."Gates noted the union's Political Action Committee does not have much money on hand. At last reporting on March 31, it only had $42,000, but most members opt to give monthly to the PAC, paying a fee above their dues, she said.The union is criticizing the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, which is expected to play a role in the school board election. INCS had about $2 million as of March and earlier this month got $1 million from James Franks, the Winnetka-based CEO of Wheels.com.In its press release, the CTU sharply criticizes INCS' big bank account and the influence it might have in the election. "Despite their long history of demanding policies that increased racial inequity at CPS and denied parents a voice, these organizations now want to buy their way into influencing the election and running our schools," according to the CTU press release.INCS fired back. In a statement, officials said INCS' PAC has a "very clear goal — to support candidates who embrace a student-centered vision for what education can be in Chicago." INCS officials said parents are making informed choices where to send their children to school and "we intend to defend that right."INCS President Andrew Broy said the organization will only make endorsements after candidates fill out questionnaires and are interviewed. The organization is also waiting for the ballot to be finalized after petition challenges. However, INCS has already provided some in-kind support to a few candidates.Some of CTU's endorsements are no surprise. Political organizer Aaron "Jitu" Brown has long stood arm in arm with the CTU. He said they worked together "opposing the purging of Black teachers from CPS and racist mass closing, while pushing the scam called 'school choice.'"Among their most high profile collaborations — which briefly included now-Mayor Brandon Johnson — was a hunger strike in 2015 that successfully halted the closing of Dyett High School.Brown said he was "honored and humbled" to get the endorsement, noting that other progressive groups, such as the Network for Public Education, are also backing him.Other endorsed candidates include a dean at suburban school district who sends her children to CPS, a band director at Back of the Yards College Preparatory IB and a community organizer at One Northside, a Rogers Park-based organization.

Just days after the candidate filing period ended, the CTU is out with 11 endorsed candidates for 10 seats, including parents, educators, faith leaders and community organizers.

The Chicago Teachers Union is announcing its endorsements for Chicago's first elected school board. The endorsements come less than a week after the deadline to file petitions to get on the ballot. Forty-seven people are running to represent 10 geographic districts, which cover several neighborhoods. Election day is November 5, with voters casting ballots in the district where they live.

CTU endorses slate of candidates for Chicago’s first elected school board

Marseille are showing interest in Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier. The Yorkshire club, whom Mail Sport exclusively revealed in May must raise up to £100million in player sales after their failure to win promotion back to the Premier League , were expecting Meslier to attract interest ahead of the summer window. Leeds would want a fee in excess of £20m for the 24-year-old Frenchman, who has made 175 appearances for the club since his move to Elland Road from FC Lorient in 2020. The shot-stopper played 49 matches across all competitions for Leeds last campaign, keeping 21 clean sheets. Meslier played a key role for Leeds during their last stint in the Premier League, impressing as a young goalkeeper capable of making important saves and playing out from the back. Sources close to top-flight clubs expect a fire sale at Elland Road this summer following the club's defeat by Southampton in the Championship play-off final last month, with Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville deemed most likely to leave as of last month. Amid growing financial concerns at Leeds, promotion back to the Premier League would have eased — yet not entirely alleviated — the club's need to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules. Anticipating that Meslier would attract interest, Leeds have been evaluating potential replacements between the sticks. Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak is one name on the list, although Leeds approaching the Slovakian is by no means a certainty at this stage. The Championship outfit are also in talks to sell Diego Llorente to Real Betis following his season-long loan spell at Serie A club Roma. The centre-half, who was initially lining up to stay at Roma, could join fellow Leeds team-mate Marc Roca at Betis, with the midfielder in advanced talks to stay at the LaLiga club on a permanent deal this summer after impressing on loan last term.

SIMON JONES: Leeds would want a fee in excess of £20m for the 24-year-old Frenchman, who has made 175 appearances for the club since his move to Elland Road from FC Lorient in 2020.

Marseille are showing interest in Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Leeds would want a fee in excess of £20m for the 24-year-old Frenchman. The shot-stopper played 49 matches across all competitions for Leeds last campaign, keeping 21 clean sheets. Leeds must raise up to £100million in player sales after their failure to win promotion back to the Premier League last season.

Marseille show interest in Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier... as the Yorkshire club bid to raise up to £100m this summer after failing to win promotion back to the Premier League

JOPLIN, Mo. — Community generosity helps an area food and clothing ministry stay open.About a month ago, we reported that Crosslines Ministries in Joplin was seeing a financial shortfall significant enough it could potentially force them to close their doors by early July.But, after seeing our story, members of St. Philip the Apostle Episcopal Church in Joplin decided they wanted to help.Today (6/27), they presented Crosslines with a $2,000 dollar check, and issued a challenge."Actually, we are issuing a challenge to other churches in the area. St. Phillips was one of the first nine churches — the original nine churches that went together to form Crosslines Ministries — so we just wanted to rededicate ourselves to that effort," said Reverend Deacon Carol Peterson of St. Philip the Apostle Episcopal Church"We are in a little better predicament than we were earlier, and we are just very appreciative of the donations just like what St. Phillips is giving today," said Carrie Pence, Executive Director of Crosslines Ministries in Joplin.Pence says other businesses and individuals saw our story and made contributions.During their busiest time of the year, Pence says they provide food and clothing to as many as 400 families a month.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Community generosity helps an area food and clothing ministry stay open. About a month ago, we reported that Crosslines Ministries in Joplin was seeing a financial shortfall significant enough it could potentially force them to close their doors by early July. But, after seeing our story, members of St. Philip the Apostle […]

A month ago, we reported that Crosslines Ministries in Joplin was seeing a financial shortfall. After seeing our story, members of St. Philip the Apostle Episcopal Church decided they wanted to help. They presented Crosslines with a $2,000 dollar check, and issued a challenge to other churches.

Critical donations will keep Crosslines Ministries open

The vote, organised by a coalition of youth organisations and charities, saw 23,000 people aged seven to 17 take part across England and Wales. The Our Generation. Our Vote mock election was held to give young people a voice and hear first-hand views about the policies of the main parties, according to the coalition which stressed that the organisations involved are politically neutral. The overall results saw 32% voting Labour, 29% choosing the Green Party, 13% going for the Liberal Democrats, 10% picking Reform UK and 9% favouring the Conservatives. For Wales alone, the results were 30% for Labour, 22% for the Green Party, 14% for Reform UK, 10% for the Liberal Democrats, 9% for Plaid Cymru and 8% for the Conservatives. The coalition behind the campaign, including Save the Children, UK Youth and Girlguiding, said more than a fifth (22%) of the children who took part had highlighted education as the policy area that influenced their vote the most. This was followed by health and climate and environment (joint on 18%). Cost of living was an issue for 16%, while 12% cited safety. Immigration and refugees was mentioned least, with 8% saying this had influenced their vote. A total of 22,889 children cast their vote before polls closed at 5pm on June 21, with results coming from 112 schools and youth groups which submitted voting data, rather than being seen as a nationwide poll. The Children's Charities Coalition, made up of Action for Children, Barnardo's, the National Children's Bureau, NSPCC and The Children's Society, said: "The 'Our Generation Our Vote' poll shows how engaged children and young people are in the political decisions that affect them and their families' welfare and wellbeing. "With only days before the next election the main political parties have still got time to publish child-friendly versions of their manifestos helping young people feel included in the political process. "We need the next Prime Minister and Chancellor to be champions for children and prioritise measures that support children to engage positively in the democratic process."

A children’s vote held ahead of the General Election has seen Labour come out on top, with the Conservatives last – below Reform UK.

The Our Generation. Our Vote mock election was held to give young people a voice and hear first-hand views about the main parties. The overall results saw 32% voting Labour, 29% choosing the Green Party, 13% going for the Liberal Democrats, 10% picking Reform UK and 9% favouring the Conservatives.

Labour tops children’s mock election with Conservatives last behind Reform UK

BALTIMORE, Md. — Months of work lie ahead before the first students will move into the first privately-built, off-campus housing for Morgan State University in two decades, but "The Enolia" will carry the name of Enolia Pettigen McMillan who spent much of her life being first."She was the first and only woman to serve as the president of Morgan's Board of Regents," said MCB Real Estate Co-Founder David Bramble, "She was the first president of the NAACP."Dr. Tiffany Mfume, one of McMillan's granddaughters, joined in the naming ceremony."She dealt with outright, overt sexism and racism, you know, for Colored Persons Only, places you can't go, things you can't do, things you can't say," said Mfume.The nearly 500-bed development is less than a mile from Morgan State University's campus and is scheduled to open late next year.With more than 10 thousand students expected this fall, the university is experiencing growing pains and desperately needs the private development."Morgan is one of the fastest, if not the fastest growing institutions right now in our state," said MSU President Dr. David Wilson, "We cannot accept any more students. We have reached capacity."It's a modern-day challenge that can be met, in part, by transforming what was once an eyesore into a 21st century housing complex with all of the amenities, which now pays tribute to the woman who led the fight to transform the historically black college into the successful research university that it has become today.

The first privately-build housing complex to serve Morgan State University students in two decades will carry the name of a Baltimore civil rights leader.

"The Enolia" will carry the name of Enolia Pettigen McMillan. She was the first and only woman to serve as the president of Morgan's Board of Regents. The nearly 500-bed development is less than a mile from Morgan State University's campus. It is scheduled to open late next year.

Housing development marries the future with the past

DETROIT (WXYZ) — We want to look back on the life of William Pickard, a giant in business and philanthropy and a strong believer in education. He passed away on June 12th.We sat down with a friend and business partner to learn more about a man who meant so much to Detroit, the state, and one whose legacy will be remembered.To watch William Pickard, interact with young people, you'd never know this giant in business and multi-millionaire came from such humble beginnings. He mentored Sylvester Hester from his senior year in college."I came in and here was this young charismatic leader and I wasn't the only one there were several young engineers both male and female that he had hired," said Hester.Hester went from intern to leading several of Pickard's businesses to now ownership of his own company, LM Manufacturing, and Pickard's legacy of teaching the importance of generational wealth will continue."We had to lay out our credit reports down and then we had to go through steps of improving our credit reports and then we'd have book reading assignments," said Hester. "He even helped us get out of debt; he was so committed to the cause of making sure the knowledge was passed down from generations."Now 37 years later Hester carries a heavy heart. Pickard passed away at 83 years old on June 12th in Florida, surrounded by family.Known across America, he would receive two appointments from Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He held many titles: founder of GAA Manufacturing, partner of MGM Grand Detroit Casino, CEO of a McDonald's management chain, and co-owner of five newspapers. Yet he always remained humble."He was just as comfortable in the presence of presidents as he would be down on the neighborhood," said Hester.His motto: 'You cannot be what you cannot see'. So in 2003, he helped fund Real Times Media, LLC. He founded the Michigan Chronicle and purchased other African-American-owned newspapers.Born in Georgia, Pickard would go from community college to earn his PhD and as he got older, he would travel to inspire college students."He would go to HBCUs and other colleges and he would talk about entrepreneurship," said Hester.In 2017, he published his book, Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship. He had the golden touch."I said well Bill, exactly how many millionaires have you helped create and I remember like it was yesterday, he stopped, he paused, he looks up, and says 46," said Hester.He was also a professor at several universities. Western Michigan University named a residence hall in his honor, along with Ronald Hall and Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer.He was a true giver from the heart, of his time and his wealth."He was probably the most generous person that I have ever met in my life," said Hester."His core belief? You're blessed to be a blessing," said Hester.On June 28, 2024, Pickard's life will be on full display at the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History followed by a private funeral on Saturday.

We want to look back on the life of William Pickard, a giant in business and philanthropy and a strong believer in education. He passed away on June 12th.

William Pickard was a giant in business and philanthropy. He mentored Sylvester Hester from his senior year in college. Pickard passed away at 83 years old on June 12th in Florida, surrounded by family. His life will be on full display at the Charles H Wright Museum of African American History.

Looking back on the life of philanthropist and business giant Dr. William Pickard

Another National Teacher Appreciation Week has come and gone. It's a time when we traditionally honor educators for who they are and what they do. But as usual, we're failing to recognize what they truly need to succeed.Teachers in our state are quitting the profession in record numbers. Texas Education Agency data shows that 13.4% of teachers left the profession in 2022-23, the most in 15 years.That should be enough to prompt action, yet momentum has stalled since the state's Teacher Vacancy Task Force published its recommendations two winters ago.We have a revolving door of educators. It's a vicious cycle fueled by schools hiring uncertified teachers who have never trained in a live classroom environment to fill critical gaps — a situation Education Commissioner Mike Morath recently described as "hiring people off the street."As it stands, one in three Texas teachers — a historic high — is uncertified. And while there are non-certified teachers who are crushing it, the state education agency reports that just 37% of these teachers stay for five years, compared to 56% of certified teachers.By turning to uncertified teachers with no live classroom training, we're filling schools with well-meaning but inexperienced educators who have not been given a chance to master the softer skills of teaching, such as building productive relationships with students or being sensitive to social issues students may bring into class. This is clearly not a fair, or sustainable, solution for either teacher or student.As a former educator, I know firsthand that this job requires deep preparation: learning to teach curriculum and appreciating the delicate skills required to mold young minds and the complexity of today's classroom, particularly in high-poverty schools and high-need subject areas.Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts With bare-minimum training, new teachers are up to three times more likely to switch careers. This churn is a self-perpetuating, expensive problem with districts pressured to keep hiring novice teachers who are less qualified and less likely to stay. This carousel damages the learning and emotional health of students. It has to stop.When teachers are set-up for success through accessible, rigorous training and wraparound support, turnover rates will subside.The needed support includes residencies in classrooms, akin to doctors in hospitals. On-the-ground learning itself can combat turnover: A report from the University of Texas at Austin found that university-certified teachers who completed residencies had a 24% higher retention rate than teachers certified via alternative methods. Data from my organization, City Teaching Alliance, shows that those who had completed our full multi-year coaching and coursework had statistically higher math achievement relative to comparison teachers' students.Those undertaking residencies get a chance to learn on the job, develop best practices in dealing with the intangibles of classroom life, and learn quickly if teaching is even the right long-term career for them. Aspiring teachers are able to witness experienced educators addressing real-life challenges as they unfold.Residents who spend a year on campus and then go on to teach there learn much more than pedagogy. They become familiar with the campus environment and neighborhood community they'll be teaching in, enabling more seamless integration. We've had the pleasure of seeing teachers who start their first day of work not only already knowing their co-workers, but also familiar with students and their families as well. That's a huge head start.Recent news that the State Board of Education voted to create an "Enhanced Standard Certificate" designation specifically for teachers who complete a residency program was a welcome step in the right direction. This designation will ultimately demonstrate how more rigorous training sets candidates apart from others, and may eventually lead to differentiated pay structures for teachers who've earned a certificate — a strong incentive to undertake more robust training.Students deserve teachers with staying power. Deeper investments in supporting early-career teachers will reduce our retention crisis and help build a thriving community where youth can reach their potential. That would be a fantastic way to show our appreciation.Anthony Hernandez is a former high school teacher and the executive director in Dallas-Fort Worth for City Teaching Alliance, whose mission is to improve educational and life outcomes of children in urban schools by preparing culturally responsive, effective career educators. This column was distributed by Tribune Content Agency.With bare-minimum training, new teachers are up to three times more likely to switch careers. This churn is a self-perpetuating, expensive problem with districts pressured to keep hiring novice teachers who are less qualified and less likely to stay. This carousel damages the learning and emotional health of students.Pullquote Catch the latest in Opinion</h2>

We have a revolving door of educators. It’s a vicious cycle fueled by schools hiring uncertified teachers who have never trained in a live classroom environment to fill critical gaps

Teachers in Texas are quitting the profession in record numbers, says Anthony Hernandez. He says schools are hiring uncertified teachers who have never trained in a live classroom. Hernandez: This churn is a self-perpetuating, expensive problem with districts pressured to keep hiring novice teachers who are less qualified and less likely to stay.

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