Explore

PEN America Reports Record High of 11,982 Book Bans in U.S. Public Schools for 2025-2026 School Year

PEN America Reports Record High of 11,982 Book Bans in U.S. Public Schools for 2025-2026 School Year

PEN America has reported an unprecedented 11,982 book bans in U.S. public schools during the 2025-2026 school year, marking the highest number since the organization began tracking such incidents. This figure was highlighted by County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Farris Sabbah during a benefit screening of the 2025 documentary 'The Librarians' in Santa Cruz, California. The event, organized by high school seniors Laird Bowser, Alec Thomsen, and Devin Protti, raised over $5,000 to purchase banned and challenged books for local school libraries. The documentary itself details the origins of the book-banning wave, tracing it back to former Texas State Representative Matt Krause and Governor Greg Abbott's 2021 list of 850 books targeted for removal, which subsequently fueled efforts by groups like Moms for Liberty. The film also draws parallels to historical instances of censorship, including Ray Bradbury's 'Fahrenheit 451' and McCarthyism.

University of Chicago Appoints First Banned Books Postdoctoral Scholar, Dulcey Hunter

University of Chicago Appoints First Banned Books Postdoctoral Scholar, Dulcey Hunter

The University of Chicago Library has appointed Dulcey Hunter as its first banned books postdoctoral scholar. This initiative follows Illinois becoming the first state in 2023 to enact a law allowing the secretary of state's office to withhold grant funding from libraries that do not adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which opposes the proscription or removal of materials due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Concurrently, the University of Chicago Library launched its Banned Books Initiative, collecting banned and challenged books in the U.S. and making them accessible digitally and through interlibrary loan. Hunter, an English language arts educator with over two decades of experience teaching middle and high school students in Florida, will dedicate the upcoming academic year to developing a pedagogical framework. This framework aims to help teachers understand the reasons behind the censorship of narratives depicting difficult life experiences and painful truths. Her r...

Why George McGovern Replaced His Running Mate During the Campaign

Why George McGovern Replaced His Running Mate During the Campaign

The 1972 United States presidential election featured a contest between incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon and Democratic Senator George ...

MCW Global Announces 2027 Young Leaders Fellowship in U.S. for International Youth

MCW Global Announces 2027 Young Leaders Fellowship in U.S. for International Youth

MCW Global has opened applications for its 2027 Young Leaders Fellowship, a year-long program designed for individuals aged 18 to 26 from around the world. This fully funded fellowship aims to develop leadership skills and facilitate community projects focused on education, health, and economic security. The program includes a virtual community needs assessment phase, followed by a 10-day in-person training experience in New York City and Burlington, Vermont, from July 20 to July 29, 2027. Participants will receive funded economy-class flights, accommodation, meals, and specified local transportation during the in-person component. Following the U.S.-based training, fellows will return to their communities to implement their projects with ongoing virtual mentorship from alumni. The application deadline is December 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM New York time. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to their local community, identify a relevant issue, and be fluent in English.

New York City Educator Paid $192K for Nonexistent High School Project

New York City Educator Paid $192K for Nonexistent High School Project

A New York City educator, Caleb Haraguchi-Combs, reportedly received a salary of over $192,000 for a high school project that never materialized. Haraguchi-Combs, who is also a rapper, was appointed as the project director for the Next Generation Technology High School. This school was intended to focus on artificial intelligence and computer technology. However, Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels canceled the proposal for the new campus in April. The New York Post reported that the cancellation was due to 'woke backlash over its merit-based admissions model and general fear of AI in schools.' Despite the school not opening, Haraguchi-Combs continued to receive his salary. He previously served as the vice principal at another school, earning over $140,000 annually.

Disability Recognized as Human Diversity, Highlighting Gaps in U.S. Accessibility and Inclusion

Disability Recognized as Human Diversity, Highlighting Gaps in U.S. Accessibility and Inclusion

The concept of disability as a form of human diversity is gaining recognition, emphasizing that human bodies and minds vary, and public life should accommodate this variation. While the United Nations adopted a convention in 2006 to accept 'persons with disabilities' as part of human diversity, the U.S. signed it in 2009 but has yet to ratify it, falling short of the required two-thirds Senate majority in 2012. This delay highlights ongoing challenges in the U.S. regarding accessibility and inclusion, with examples like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York committing to making only 95% of its inaccessible subway stations accessible by 2055. The discussion underscores that true inclusion requires not just policy but also practical implementation and a shift in societal default assumptions.

Largest US Muslim advocacy group suspends Florida operations over 'terrorist' designation law

Largest US Muslim advocacy group suspends Florida operations over 'terrorist' designation law

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Muslim advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations has suspended operations in Florida after the enforcement of a law that gave state officials power to designate groups ‌as "terrorist organizations," state officials and CAIR said.

Wall Street stocks rally after heavy AI-related selloff

Wall Street stocks rally after heavy AI-related selloff

By Chibuike Oguh and Marc Jones NEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Wall Street equities mostly rallied on Friday, reversing course after trillions of dollars of world stock market value were wiped out over fears that Democratic election victories this week would bring tighter US regulations for the

Ukrainian Poet Olena Boryspholets to Present Work at Cornell University on November 10

Ukrainian Poet Olena Boryspholets to Present Work at Cornell University on November 10

Ukrainian Poet Olena Boryspholets to Present Work at Cornell University on November 10

Bookstore Owned by Senator Wyden's Wife to Pay $1.5 Million for Improper Pandemic Loan

Bookstore Owned by Senator Wyden's Wife to Pay $1.5 Million for Improper Pandemic Loan

The Strand Book Store, a New York City establishment owned by Nancy Bass Wyden, wife of U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), has agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to the federal government. This settlement comes after the store improperly received a second round of pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. According to Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, the store received over $930,000 in the second round of funding, despite a December 2020 law explicitly barring businesses with significant direct or indirect stakes held by members of Congress or their spouses from receiving these funds. Bass Wyden had certified at the time that she met the necessary qualifications for the loan, a certification Pirro's office described as 'knowingly and materially false.' The initial PPP loan program in 2020 did not exclude businesses owned by members of Congress or their immediate families, and the Strand Book Store had previously received $1.7 million under those initial terms.

RAND Survey Reveals U.S. K-12 Public School Teachers Work 53 Hours Weekly, 15 Hours Beyond Contract

RAND Survey Reveals U.S. K-12 Public School Teachers Work 53 Hours Weekly, 15 Hours Beyond Contract

A 2024 'State of the American Teacher' survey conducted by the RAND Corporation indicates that U.S. K-12 public school teachers work an average of 53 hours per week. This figure, based on a nationally representative survey of 1,479 teachers in January and February 2024, is significantly higher than the 44 hours reported by other working adults. Approximately 15 of these hours, roughly a quarter of their total work time, fall outside of their contracted hours. This additional time is often dedicated to tasks such as grading, lesson planning, and communicating with parents, frequently extending into the evenings. The survey highlights the substantial time commitment required from educators beyond their official work schedules.

Bookstore Owned by Senator Wyden's Wife to Repay $1.5 Million for Improper Pandemic Loan

Bookstore Owned by Senator Wyden's Wife to Repay $1.5 Million for Improper Pandemic Loan

The Strand Book Store, a New York City cultural landmark owned by Nancy Bass Wyden, wife of U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), has agreed to repay nearly $1.5 million to the federal government. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement after determining the bookstore improperly received a second Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the initial PPP loan in 2020 did not have restrictions regarding congressional ties, a December 2020 law explicitly barred businesses from receiving a second round of funding if a member of Congress or their spouse held a significant stake. The Strand received over $930,000 in this second round despite Bass Wyden's ownership. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the PPP was intended to save American jobs, not to enrich ineligible entities, particularly those connected to U.S. Senators. Bass Wyden attributed the error to rapidly changing regulations and a lack of awareness of the new eligibility rules by the bookstore's accountant...