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Latest News - Page 570

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's Jens Andersson on defining 'a MachineGames adventure'
2025-05-07

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's Jens Andersson on defining 'a MachineGames adventure'

Jens Andersson, the design director behind last year's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, has a long history of working on first-person games that don't play anything like a standard FPS. Read more

With Its Destruction of Government Data Silos, DOGE Is Building a ‘Surveillance Weapon’
2025-05-07

With Its Destruction of Government Data Silos, DOGE Is Building a ‘Surveillance Weapon’

There's a reason the government's vast trove of data is compartmentalized.

Foreign Interests Appear to Be Pouring Millions Into Trump’s Meme Coin
2025-05-07

Foreign Interests Appear to Be Pouring Millions Into Trump’s Meme Coin

Democrats have introduced legislation that would ban the president, members of Congress, their families, and other officials from creating and selling crypto assets

Disney to build its 7th theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates
2025-05-07

Disney to build its 7th theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates

Disney will build its seventh theme park, this one in the United Arab Emirates. The waterfront resort will be built on Yas Island on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi city. The theme park will be built and operated by a...

2025-05-07

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 10:39 a.m. EDT

The Steelers move on from George Pickens by trading mercurial receiver to Cowboys

Disney construirá parque temático en Emiratos Árabes Unidos
2025-05-07

Disney construirá parque temático en Emiratos Árabes Unidos

Disney construirá su séptimo parque temático, este en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos, informó la compañía de entretenimiento el miércoles.

2025-05-07

China missing facts of the day

Not long ago, anyone could comb through a wide range of official data from China. Then it started to disappear. Land sales measures, foreign investment data and unemployment indicators have gone dark in recent years. Data on cremations and a business confidence index have been cut off. Even official soy sauce production reports are gone. [...]The post China missing facts of the day appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION.

Cardinals electing the next pope begin processing into the Sistine Chapel to open the conclave
2025-05-07

Cardinals electing the next pope begin processing into the Sistine Chapel to open the conclave

Catholic cardinals are filing into the Sistine Chapel for the start of the conclave to elect a new pope to follow Pope Francis. As they processed into the chapel adorned with Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement,” the 133 cardinals chanted the...

Trump's DC prosecutor now seems doomed — and it couldn't happen to a nicer fellow
2025-05-07

Trump's DC prosecutor now seems doomed — and it couldn't happen to a nicer fellow

Ed Martin came out of old-school conservatism — and might be the very worst Trump appointee of 2025. So long!

2025-05-07

Utah Mammoth is the permanent name of the NHL team in Salt Lake City

The NHL team in Salt Lake City is now known as the Utah Mammoth.

2025-05-07

AP Entertainment SummaryBrief at 10:33 a.m. EDT

The Met Gala is over, but dandyism isn't. Here's how to dress like a dandy in everyday life

2025-05-07

At age 87, Kenyan author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o remains impassioned about the power of language

Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o is 87 and has struggled with his health in recent years, but he still hopes to complete a new book. He spoke with passion and energy about his current book, “Decolonizing Language.” It includes...

'Boardwalk Empire' star Michael Pitt arrested for sexual abuse
2025-05-07

'Boardwalk Empire' star Michael Pitt arrested for sexual abuse

‘Boardwalk Empire’ star Michael Pitt was arrested on Friday and charged with a series of sex crimes and assaults that occurred throughout 2020 and 2021.

2025-05-07

Debrief: The Three-Body Problem - Aviation Week

Debrief: The Three-Body Problem Aviation WeekNASA faces cuts to rocket program and lunar space station in Trump's 2026 budget CBCElon Musk Set to Win Big With Trump’s Trillion-Dollar Pentagon Budget The InterceptMDA shares walloped by White House space cuts The Globe and MailNASA cuts: ESA in talks about the 'full repercussions' dw.com

The hidden cost of hydropower: Biodiversity at risk
2025-05-07

The hidden cost of hydropower: Biodiversity at risk

Two recent studies published in Biological Conservation and Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, led by researchers from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) and the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlight the profound impacts of hydropower on biodiversity in river channels and at the land-water surface.

Oak Ridge National Lab Secures Key AI Research Awards, Aims to Revolutionize Science with Supercomputing
2025-05-07

Oak Ridge National Lab Secures Key AI Research Awards, Aims to Revolutionize Science with Supercomputing

Six projects at Oak Ridge National Laboratory received NAIRR and INCITE awards for AI foundation models advancing scientific research in areas including energy, cancer screening, and natural disaster monitoring.

Arctic fossils reveal world's oldest salmon and carp relatives
2025-05-07

Arctic fossils reveal world's oldest salmon and carp relatives

Most people picture the time of dinosaurs as a steamy, tropical world. But during the Late Cretaceous period, northern Alaska was a different kind of wild. Located far above the Arctic Circle, it endured months of winter darkness and freezing temperatures—even as much of the planet remained warm. Think sub-Arctic Canada today: cold, wet and seasonal.

2025-05-07

New Study Tracks Air Pollution and CO2 Emissions Across Thousands of Cities Worldwide

In a sweeping new study of more than 13,000 urban areas worldwide, researchers have mapped air pollution levels and carbon dioxide emissions, providing comprehensive global analysis of urban environmental quality.

2025-05-07

This impressive dark matter found 13,000 feet deep could be the origin of life on Earth and even elsewhere. - Farmingdale Observer

This impressive dark matter found 13,000 feet deep could be the origin of life on Earth and even elsewhere. Farmingdale Observer

Nonverbal Neuralink Patient Is Using Brain Implant and Grok to Generate Replies
2025-05-07

Nonverbal Neuralink Patient Is Using Brain Implant and Grok to Generate Replies

The third patient of Elon Musk's brain computer interface company Neuralink is using the billionaire's foul-mouthed AI chatbot Grok to speed up communication. The patient, Bradford Smith, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is nonverbal as a result, used the chatbot to draft responses on Musk's social media platform X. "I am typing this with my brain," Smith tweeted late last month. "It is my primary communication. Ask me anything! I will answer at least all verified users!" However, as MIT Technology Review points out, that could come with some downsides, blurring the line between what Smith intends to [...]

Research to Impact: Highlighting the journey of one FSU graduate student through the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program
2025-05-07

Research to Impact: Highlighting the journey of one FSU graduate student through the National Science Foundation's I-Corps program

Florida State University is translating academic research into commercial innovation and jumpstarting student success at the same time through a National Science Foundation program. Nethraja Kandula, a doctoral student in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Food Sciences, was part of a recent cohort of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) I-Corps program, an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact for scientific researchers.

2025-05-07

Study Reveals New Source of the Heavy Elements

Magnetar flares, colossal cosmic explosions, may be directly responsible for the creation and distribution of heavy elements across the universe, suggests a new study.

2025-05-07

Homo sapiens regularly crossed the Pyrenees during the Ice Age—here's what they took with them - Phys.org

Homo sapiens regularly crossed the Pyrenees during the Ice Age—here's what they took with them Phys.org

Homo sapiens regularly crossed the Pyrenees during the Ice Age—here's what they took with them
2025-05-07

Homo sapiens regularly crossed the Pyrenees during the Ice Age—here's what they took with them

A fine mist accompanies the clan as the sun rises and they begin their journey. There are 12 people in total, some of them adults, some children, and others so small that they have to travel on the backs of the women.

How maximum security prison inmates and officers worked together to create a farm behind bars
2025-05-07

How maximum security prison inmates and officers worked together to create a farm behind bars

At Macquarie Correctional Centre in western New South Wales, a story of collaboration and persistence is unfolding. Inmates and prison officers are farming commercial quantities of fresh food in a purpose-built indoor facility.

Yankees beat Padres as Wells' grand slam gives him 5 RBIs in 10-run 7th inning
2025-05-07

Yankees beat Padres as Wells' grand slam gives him 5 RBIs in 10-run 7th inning

The New York Yankees rolled to a 12-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.

2025-05-07

Tigers roar past Minford for run-rule victory

With Minford threatening early in the game putting runners into scoring position with one out in each of the first two innings, the Waverly Tigers' defense was able to escape the jams without surrendering a run.

PSG vs. Arsenal predicted lineups, projected starting XI: Thomas Partey back to boost midfield
2025-05-07

PSG vs. Arsenal predicted lineups, projected starting XI: Thomas Partey back to boost midfield

The two sides will meet in Paris for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals

Curry leaves Warriors' series opener vs. Wolves in 2nd quarter with strained hamstring
2025-05-07

Curry leaves Warriors' series opener vs. Wolves in 2nd quarter with strained hamstring

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Golden State star Stephen Curry exited in the second quarter of the second-round series opener at Minnesota with a strained left hamstring, and the Warriors said he would not return to the game on Tuesday night.

Pacers take 2-0 lead over Cavs back home for Game 3 of NBA Playoffs: How to get tickets
2025-05-07

Pacers take 2-0 lead over Cavs back home for Game 3 of NBA Playoffs: How to get tickets

The action shifts to Indianapolis in the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, where the surging Indiana Pacers host Games 3 and 4 of their conference semifinal against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

China launches a blitz of policies to help its economy, plans talks with the US on trade
2025-05-07

China launches a blitz of policies to help its economy, plans talks with the US on trade

BEIJING (AP) — China has announced a barrage of measures meant to counter the blow to its economy from U.S. President Donald Trump ’s trade war, as the two sides prepare for talks later this week.

Pedro Lopez fans 11 as Twins thrash Orioles
2025-05-07

Pedro Lopez fans 11 as Twins thrash Orioles

Pablo Lopez threw five quality innings and Byron Buxton homered and drove in four as the Minnesota Twins posted a 9-1 victory over the visiting Baltim

“Still Too Close”: Donovan Mitchell Checking Cavs Crowd for Mocking Tyrese Haliburton Rubs Fans the Wrong Way
2025-05-07

“Still Too Close”: Donovan Mitchell Checking Cavs Crowd for Mocking Tyrese Haliburton Rubs Fans the Wrong Way

Every year, one NBA player gets the unfortunate label of being named the league’s most overrated player. This season, the tag went to Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton. How did Hali respond to the vote? He dropped 22 points and 13 assists against the Cavaliers in Cleveland, leading his team to a Game 1 victory [...]The post “Still Too Close”: Donovan Mitchell Checking Cavs Crowd for Mocking Tyrese Haliburton Rubs Fans the Wrong Way appeared first on The SportsRush.

Brewers get off to fast start, hang on to edge Astros
2025-05-07

Brewers get off to fast start, hang on to edge Astros

Jake Bauers homered to cap a four-run first inning, rookie Chad Patrick took a shutout into the seventh and the Milwaukee Brewers hung on for a 4-3 vi

2025-05-07

Attorney general visits Ardmore, talks high prescription drug costs

ARDMORE, Okla. (KTEN) — Prescription drugs were the main topic of a public forum in Ardmore Tuesday night led by Attorney General Gentner Drummond and Deputy Attorney General Michael Leake; specifically, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs.

Josh and Jase 4
2025-05-07

Josh and Jase 4

British influencers Josh and Jase pose for a photo on May 6, 2025 in L'Auberge Lake Charles.

Bobby Witt Jr.'s walk-off completes Royals' 9th-inning rally in win over White Sox
2025-05-07

Bobby Witt Jr.'s walk-off completes Royals' 9th-inning rally in win over White Sox

Bobby Witt Jr.'s long walk-off single capped the Kansas City Royals' two-run rally in the ninth inning as they earned their fourth straight win, 4-3,

Steph Curry knocked out of Game 1 with hamstring injury
2025-05-07

Steph Curry knocked out of Game 1 with hamstring injury

The Golden State Warriors’ championship hopes may be in some deep trouble. Warriors star Steph Curry suffered a hamstring injury during Game 1 of his team’s second-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

PHOTOS: Cavaliers-Pacers Game 2, May 6, 2025
2025-05-07

PHOTOS: Cavaliers-Pacers Game 2, May 6, 2025

Tim Phillis’ photos from Cavaliers-Pacers Game 2 on May 6, 2025.

Milton student makes return to high school sports months after suffering cardiac arrest
2025-05-07

Milton student makes return to high school sports months after suffering cardiac arrest

After months of recovery, 16-year-old Dominic Barcomb is back in action once again playing high school sports with the people who supported him along the way. On January 2 of this year, Dominic's life changed forever. His heart stopped on the basketball court during a game between Milton and Spaulding High Schools. He collapsed, going into cardiac arrest, leaving his loved ones on the sidelines hoping and praying for a heartbeat.

Andor Recap: The Galaxy Is Watching
2025-05-07

Andor Recap: The Galaxy Is Watching

We’ve seen plenty of Star Wars scenes with a barrage of laser-gunfire. We’ve seen fewer where this many bodies pile up as a result.

Horrifying footage reveals devastating aftermath of India's strikes on Pakistan
2025-05-07

Horrifying footage reveals devastating aftermath of India's strikes on Pakistan

Tensions have soared between the nuclear-armed neighbors since last month's massacre of tourists in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan for backing the militant attack, which Islamabad has denied.

Nonprofit to lay off up to 175 staff after losing drug-counseling contract at Folsom, other state prisons
2025-05-07

Nonprofit to lay off up to 175 staff after losing drug-counseling contract at Folsom, other state prisons

A change of vendors offering drug-counseling services is leading potentially to permanent layoffs of 175 positions at Northern California state prisons, including the two in Folsom.

Photos: Stephen King Adaptation “The Long Walk”
2025-05-07

Photos: Stephen King Adaptation “The Long Walk”

The first photos are out from “The Long Walk,” the dystopian horror film directed by “The Hunger Games” alum Francis Lawrence and based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Stephen King. Penned under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman and perceived as a political allegory for the Vietnam War, King’s story is set in [...]The post Photos: Stephen King Adaptation “The Long Walk” appeared first on Dark Horizons.

Turnkey selects NORCAT as partner to advance telecom integration in mining
2025-05-07

Turnkey selects NORCAT as partner to advance telecom integration in mining

Turnkey Communications – one of Canada’s leading providers of telecommunications infrastructure and systems integration – has selected NORCAT to accelerate the adoption and commercialization [...]The post Turnkey selects NORCAT as partner to advance telecom integration in mining appeared first on Canadian Mining Journal.

2025-05-07

AP Business SummaryBrief at 10:43 p.m. EDT

China launches a blitz of policies to help its economy, plans talks with the US on trade

Grammy-winning soprano named Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' artistic director
2025-05-07

Grammy-winning soprano named Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' artistic director

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis found its next artistic director within its ranks – a stage director, teacher and Grammy Award-winning soprano.

2025-05-07

Surviving the Storm: Part One

SULPHUR, Okla. (KTEN) - It has now been over a year since the deadly EF-3 tornado ripped through Sulphur, Oklahoma. This past summer, we met with several storm survivors to hear their stories. Today we will hear from Camden Grey...

Airlines re-route, cancel flights due to India-Pakistan fighting
2025-05-07

Airlines re-route, cancel flights due to India-Pakistan fighting

By Ben Blanchard, Abhijith Ganapavaram and Dan Catchpole

NBA playoffs are seeing close games become the norm. And there have been some heroic moments, too
2025-05-07

NBA playoffs are seeing close games become the norm. And there have been some heroic moments, too

Aaron Gordon went to the postgame interview room after his latest heroic moment for the Denver Nuggets, took a seat with his two nephews on his lap and waited for somebody to say something.

Everything you need to know about the Academy of Country Music Awards - host to major milestone
2025-05-07

Everything you need to know about the Academy of Country Music Awards - host to major milestone

New stars, veteran favorites, and a decade-spanning opening performance await at the 2025 ACM Awards as fans gear up for a night of amazing music

2025-05-07

Legal expert weighs in as Tyre Nichols jury begins deliberation

The second of three trials surrounding the death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis police officers is almost over.

2025-05-07

This dormant volcano had been silent for 250,000 years, but geologists are raising alarms due to signs of awakening. - Farmingdale Observer

This dormant volcano had been silent for 250,000 years, but geologists are raising alarms due to signs of awakening. Farmingdale ObserverScientists explore the anatomy of a ‘zombie volcano’ that’s showing signs of activity CNNScientists solve mystery of 'zombie' volcano displaying signs of eruption for decades ABC NewsA Zombie Volcano Hasn't Erupted in 250,000 Years—But Scientists Say It’s Still Alive Popular MechanicsScientists spark fears as 'zombie' volcano dormant for 250,000 years shows signs of eruption Yahoo News UK

2025-05-07

López fans 11 as Correa, Buxton homer in Twins' 9-1 win over Orioles

Pablo López struck out a season-high 11 batters and Carlos Correa hit an upper-deck two-run homer during a five-run third inning as the Minnesota Twins opened a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles with a 9-1 win. Byron Buxton also...

The Rookie Season 7 Episode 17 Recap: Mutiny and the Bounty
2025-05-07

The Rookie Season 7 Episode 17 Recap: Mutiny and the Bounty

We have a scene-by-scene breakdown of The Rookie Season 7 Episode 17's Mutiny and the Bounty. Details are here!The post The Rookie Season 7 Episode 17 Recap: Mutiny and the Bounty appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Another Thing Folks Like About The South: Public Education's Revival
2025-05-07

Another Thing Folks Like About The South: Public Education's Revival

Another Thing Folks Like About The South: Public Education's Revival Authored by Vince Bielski via RealClearInvestigations,GEO Prep Mid-City Academy, located in one of the poorest sections of Louisiana, did something almost unheard of in public education – it went from dying to thriving in just a few years. The Baton Rouge K-8 school, which is almost entirely filled with disadvantaged black students drawn from a lottery, repeatedly received a failing grade until new leadership took over in 2017. It steadily improved and landed in the top third statewide in reading proficiency last year, not by following newfangled pedagogical trends but by focusing intensely on the basics of learning: a proven curriculum, teachers trained to master it, and testing to hold everyone accountable for progress. “We are just completely devoted to academic achievement,” said Kevin Teasley, the head of GEO Academies. “We don’t chase fads like a lot of schools. My inbox is full of them. Our success comes from our repetitive and long-term commitment to getting results.”Mid-City is emblematic of the surprising public school revival in a handful of mostly southern states, with Louisiana and Mississippi leading the way. Over more than a decade, these two states have skyrocketed from the very bottom to near the top in the rankings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the gold standard of proficiency tests. As public education sinks deeper into a crisis of low performance and high absenteeism, the southern states are demonstrating how schools can significantly lift student achievement. From dying to thriving: GEO Prep Mid-City Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Louisiana and Mississippi’s rise is all the more improbable because they are the two poorest states in the nation, a condition that researchers trace to the particularly deep penetration of slavery in their economies and their subsequent anti-union laws that have suppressed wages. Not surprisingly, both states are in the bottom quartile in public education spending, suggesting that better schools aren’t just a matter of funding. Both also have relatively weak teachers’ unions that typically oppose the kinds of reforms that are driving up proficiency scores in the two states.The question is whether this reform movement, dubbed the Southern Surge, can break out of its niche and expand into more liberal states in the Northeast and West to make a bigger national splash. There are reasons for doubt. States like New York and Washington, with powerful teachers’ unions, have moved in the opposite direction, tamping down rigor, such as testing for graduation and accelerated programs, to achieve “equity” for disadvantaged students. They see accountability through testing as part of the problem.“Southern states have seized on a political environment that allows them to do the things that matter,” said Rick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute. “These states have weaker teachers’ unions and Republican dominated political cultures. To drive improvement, it's easier if you have the politics of Mississippi than the politics of Massachusetts.Pushing Literacy ReformFollowing the South, most states have passed laws promoting what’s popularly called the science of reading, or phonics-based curricula, that’s been repeatedly shown to improve literacy. The intent is to boost reading proficiency in the crucial early elementary grades, which largely determines whether students succeed in later years. But enacting new laws has been the easy part of reading reform, and they appear to be little more than window dressing in many states because of the heated politics around classroom practices. Local school districts have considerable control over what goes on inside classrooms and are skeptical of state interference, while unions guard teacher autonomy as a top priority. In Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, it took many years to persuade districts to replace a mishmash of ineffective reading curricula with content backed by research that was vetted by the states. Just as important, teachers had to undergo intensive training to understand the many components of the science of reading since university programs haven’t kept pace with changing classroom practices and don’t adequately cover it. Even more controversial, states had to toughen their lackluster accountability systems, the main driver of progress in the South. By grading schools on the number of students who are proficient and rapidly advancing toward that mark rather than on lenient measures like attendance, southern states, including Tennessee, are identifying the low performers and fixing them. “Literacy reform doesn’t work without strong accountability,” said Lizzette Reynolds, the education commissioner in Tennessee, which strengthened its accountability system in 2023. “Without understanding the data and knowing how school districts are doing with their students, we wouldn't see the improvements that we have made.”The southern states were able to work around political resistance to the literacy overhaul, but it will be a bigger obstacle as the movement inches into Democratic territory. In Michigan, for instance, Democrats ended the state’s accountability program in 2023 that identified poor-performing schools with A-F grades, opting for a more forgiving approach. The following year, the state’s early reading proficiency score continued declining to near the bottom of the national rankings.Still, some blue states, including Colorado, are adopting parts of the playbook, with Maryland the most noteworthy example. Carey Wright, who led Mississippi’s dramatic turnaround, now aims for a repeat performance as the superintendent in Maryland. Wright told RealClearInvestigations that she expects to see more blue and red states join the reform movement that she helped inspire. States are mirroring a lot of the things that we did in Mississippi because it’s been successful,” Wright said. “We used approaches based on research showing they work and that’s why I feel strongly about what we did.”The Trump administration’s dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education cuts both ways when it comes to reading reform. Southern officials are concerned about the gutting of federal research since it has played an important role in discovering effective educational approaches, including the science of reading. In Mississippi, Wright says, the department supported research into how classroom practices were changing as part of its reforms, confirming that the state was on the right track. If, on the other hand, the federal government gives states more authority over spending Title 1 funding for disadvantaged students by converting it to block grants, that could help advance the reforms. “We have proven our ability to drive results forward and I think we can accelerate those outcomes with less influence from Washington, D.C.,” Cade Brumley, the state superintendent in Louisiana, told RCI. “We could better address the exact needs in our state without any federal strings attached.”Origins of AccountabilityThe 2024 NAEP scores released in January confirmed once again that public education is broken. In the key benchmark of fourth-grade reading, the average score has been steadily dropping for more than a decade, and last year matched the all-time low of 1992, with only 31% of students reaching proficiency and the gap between the top and bottom performers expanding.Roots of a revival (in some places): President Bush signs the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act in 2002.The differences in state performance also matter, suggesting that the southern playbook is part of the explanation. Massachusetts, which has long held the title as the top-performing state, suffered a 10-percentage-point drop in fourth-grade reading proficiency to 40% of students from 2011 to 2024. New Jersey, the former No. 2 state, also fell sharply. Both states have a weak set of literacy interventions and less robust accountability compared with Louisiana and Mississippi, according to an analysis by ExcelinEd, an advocacy group. With 38 states declining in early literacy in that time span, the dramatic rise of the two southern states is extraordinary. They were dead last in the 2011 rankings. In Mississippi, proficiency jumped by 10 percentage points to 32% by 2024, the most growth of any state. It’s now 10th in the nation, far ahead of states like New York that spend more per student. What’s more, Mississippi climbs to first place in reading proficiency when adjusted for differences in state poverty levels in an Urban Institute ranking. Louisiana’s growth was a close second to Mississippi and lands in second place, according to the adjusted list.The southern revival has its roots in the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act signed by President George W. Bush in 2002. Initially backed by governors, the act required states to get serious about holding schools accountable for lifting proficiency, with consequences such as closure for repeatedly failing to improve. Fourth-grade literacy scores shot up significantly during the next decade, particularly for black and Latino students. But over time, states objected to the ambition and rigidity of the act and were allowed by the Obama administration to redesign accountability systems to meet their particular needs. Rather than emphasizing proficiency, states in 2011 began using easier measures to evaluate schools. Fewer schools were identified as needing improvement, and states had more leeway in how to fix them, while consequences for failure were eliminated. It hasn’t worked in most states. The weakening of accountability, which was later wrapped into Obama’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), coincided with the drop in NAEP scores from 2011 through 2024 – a falloff that likely has several causes, including the proliferation of smartphones and social media. A Government Accounting Office investigation last year found that most states weren’t even complying with ESSA’s relaxed accountability rules.“The school improvement efforts are now tepid at best,” said Charles Barone, who has played a central role in shaping federal education reforms including No Child Left Behind. “States are not doing much to help students attain proficiency.”Louisiana Finds Its Stride Louisiana and Mississippi, on the other hand, remained committed to sweeping changes. They wanted to shed their reputation for running the worst schools in the country and hired dynamic reformers – John White in Louisiana and Carey Wright in Mississippi – who broke the mold of bureaucratic-minded superintendents typical in education departments. “Our educational system can’t change at scale without the leader, the state, asserting a view on how it should change, and using its many tools including accountability to make it happen,” White, now CEO of curriculum developer Great Minds, told RCI. “The history of many states not having a view at all, and not doing their job, is the problem.”White’s early focus on research-backed curricula was, in the words of author and expert Robert Pondiscio, “the last, best, and almost entirely un-pulled education-reform lever.” White, a savvy coalition builder and former teacher, turned to veteran instructors to identify the best curricula and successfully incentivized districts to deploy them. White’s progress came despite constant attacks from Louisiana’s biggest teachers’ unions and a politically ambitious governor who turned against him over the superintendent’s embrace of higher Common Core standards that informed the teaching materials. White left his post after eight sometimes bruising years. In 2020, Superintendent Brumley took over and has backed several reforms that built on White’s accomplishments. The next year, Louisiana required that all K-3 teachers undergo about 50 hours of training since new curricula wouldn’t help much if they didn’t have the confidence to use them. By 2022, Louisiana’s fourth-grade literacy scores began their ascent. Like White, Brumley hasn’t steered clear of controversy. Starting in the current school year, third graders who score well below proficiency in reading won’t be promoted to fourth grade and will receive intensive tutoring. The end of social promotion stirred much debate among state lawmakers because it disproportionately affects black students. But the retention policy that Tennessee and Alabama also adopted has a track record, significantly improving the reading performance of students in Mississippi.Brumley is only getting started. A stronger accountability system that raises the academic bar begins this fall in Louisiana, joining Mississippi and Tennessee in assigning clear and more credible A-F grades to schools to improve their performance. Brumley says that the old system obscured results and was too soft, with almost 90% of schools getting an A or B for academic growth, even though students weren’t advancing very much toward proficiency. The new K-8 system, which associations of teachers and superintendents opposed because of its reliance on testing, makes it more challenging for schools to get a high mark. Half of the grade will be based on student academic growth, but they will have to advance more rapidly for a school to be awarded points. The other half is derived from the number of students who reach proficiency. Schools no longer get points for students who approach it. “In Louisiana and across the country, establishment groups are trying to restrict reform, so it's important that leaders continue to push against the status quo,” Brumley said. “Sometimes that comes with taking shots and daggers, but it's worth it if it prompts the academic growth of students.”Blue States Motivated to ReformThe obstacles reformers have faced in the South may seem like child’s play in blue states, where teachers’ unions have considerable clout in shaping legislation. The California Teachers Association, so far, has prevented lawmakers from passing a law to mandate the science of reading. But a continuing decline in NAEP rankings, potentially hurting states’ ability to keep residents from leaving and grow businesses that need skilled workers, may be a catalyst for change. “There are a lot of traditionally higher performing states that have seen declines in performance as others catch up, so they are going to see the need to do something different,” said Christy Hovanetz, a senior policy fellow at ExcelinEd who advises states on improving accountability. “This is exactly what started the reforms across the South.”Democrat-led Maryland is a case in point. It was a high flyer, the 3rd best state in early literacy in 2011, before plunging to 42nd by 2022. It was time for a change in the person of Carey Wright, who had recently left Mississippi on a high note. The superintendent has even more ambitious plans for Maryland. Drawing from the playbook Wright helped author, Maryland approved several early literacy reforms that are now being rolled out in classrooms and raised academic standards across all subjects. Last year, the state’s fourth-grade literacy score rose for the first time in seven years, spurring the board to declare its goal for Maryland to rank in the top 10 by 2027. Wright is now pushing into the next frontier of reform – lifting math achievement after a precipitous fall since 2019. In January, the Maryland state board approved an overhaul of math education with more accelerated instruction for advanced students, customized interventions for low performers, and a required number of minutes devoted to the subject. Wright has a talent for making partners out of potential opponents. Although Maryland has a strong teachers’ union, Wright says they have a good relationship partly because it was given a seat at the table to design a more rigorous accountability system to start in 2026. “They have a lot of questions, no doubt,” Wright said. “In Maryland you have to bring along your stakeholders because the politics are very different here than in Mississippi.”Several other blue states are also pushing literacy reform. It’s taken Colorado more than a decade to get phonics-based curricula into classrooms, and now the state is making progress on a better accountability system. Its national ranking has risen 12 notches to 6th place last year. In Virginia, the plunge from 9th place to 32nd in the rankings turned Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin into a crusader for reform. In the old system, Youngkin told the media, 89% of schools received full accreditation, even though 66% of K-8 grade students failed or nearly failed math and reading assessments. Virginia’s new system, while not as strong in stressing proficiency as Louisiana’s, is set to begin this fall. Democrats support it but are pushing for more funding to help schools improve that are graded “Off Track” or worse. “Virginia’s new system is far better,” said Hovanetz of ExcelinEd, who talked with state leaders about the reform. “They were one of the states with the lowest expectations of proficiency.”While reformers see more progress ahead in blue states like Rhode Island and Connecticut, there is also backpedaling. Florida, once a leader in the movement, seems to have lost its mojo. Its big drop in early literacy last year stirred much soul searching. Florida Commissioner Manny Diaz accused NAEP of using a flawed methodology, saying the sample of test takers didn’t include high-performing students in school choice programs who were getting a private education. Some reformers see a different problem, arguing that Florida has been distracted by fighting high-profile battles over woke textbooks and the gender of bathrooms to the detriment of a keen focus on proficiency. “I can’t speak for Florida,” said Wright of Maryland. “But in this work, you can never lift your foot off the pedal. This is relentless. Day in, day out, you have to look at data and never assume that things are going to get better.” Tyler DurdenTue, 05/06/2025 - 22:35

Bill Gates meets Indonesian leader to discuss health and sustainable development initiatives
2025-05-07

Bill Gates meets Indonesian leader to discuss health and sustainable development initiatives

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Bill Gates arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday to discuss health and sustainable development initiatives with the leader of the world’s fourth most populous country.

Merz elected German chancellor after surprise setback
2025-05-07

Merz elected German chancellor after surprise setback

Germany's conservative leader Friedrich Merz was due to travel to Paris and Warsaw on Wednesday after winning a nail-biting second parliamentary vote to become chancellor following a first-round setback.

2025-05-07

Watch These AMD Stock Price Levels as Chipmaker's Data Center Sales Drive Earnings Beat - Investopedia

Watch These AMD Stock Price Levels as Chipmaker's Data Center Sales Drive Earnings Beat InvestopediaAMD posts better-than-anticipated Q1 earnings, stock jumps on strong Q2 outlook Yahoo FinanceAMD forecasts $1.5 billion revenue hit from US curbs on China chip exports ReutersAMD Gives Strong Forecast in Sign It’s Gaining Market Share Bloomberg.comHere's How Much Traders Expect AMD Stock To Move After Earnings Investopedia

CPChem agrees to sell interest in Singapore polyethylene manufacturing joint venture
2025-05-07

CPChem agrees to sell interest in Singapore polyethylene manufacturing joint venture

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 2025--

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Jesús Sánchez's RBI single in 10th inning lifts Marlins to 5-4 win over Dodgers

Jesús Sánchez singled with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, lifting the Miami Marlins to a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman homered for the Dodgers, who lost for only the second time...

2025-05-07

Brewers get all the offense they need in first inning of a 4-3 victory over Astros

Jake Bauers hit a two-run homer as the Milwaukee Brewers got all their runs in the first inning of a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday. Rhys Hoskins opened the scoring with a two-out, two-run double off the...

GeForce RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPU launch confirmed for May 19
2025-05-07

GeForce RTX 5060 desktop and laptop GPU launch confirmed for May 19

NVIDIA confirms the launch date for the GeForce RTX 5060 dekstop and laptop GPU - May 19, 2025. Both cards are targeting 100+ FPS 1080p gaming. Continue reading at TweakTown >

2025-05-07

Witt has RBI single in 9th to rally Royals to 4-3 win over White Sox

Bobby Witt singled with the bases loaded to cap a crazy rally in the bottom of the ninth as the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3. It was the second walk-off hit of Witt’s career, following a...

2025-05-07

Boardwalk Empire star Michael Pitt arrested on sexual assault charges stemming from four violent incidents - Daily Mail

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California sent investigators to ICE facilities. They found more detainees, and health care gaps
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California sent investigators to ICE facilities. They found more detainees, and health care gaps

A California law empowers state investigators to check on conditions at ICE detention centers. A new report raises concerns about health care inside them.

Driver sentenced to five years in DOC custody for striking Butte High student
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Driver sentenced to five years in DOC custody for striking Butte High student

The student rolled up onto the hood and went flying but his injuries were not life-threatening.

Mizzou baseball suffers 12th-straight loss in Border War thriller against Kansas
2025-05-07

Mizzou baseball suffers 12th-straight loss in Border War thriller against Kansas

MU senior first baseman Cayden Nicoletto reached base with a single to begin the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Tigers (13-35) failed to rally behind the hit.

FDA's New Vaccine Chief: Doc Accused of Vaccine Misinfo
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FDA's New Vaccine Chief: Doc Accused of Vaccine Misinfo

The new vaccine chief of the Food and Drug Administration is, perhaps not surprisingly, a doctor well-known for his skepticism about at least one vaccine. Dr. Vinay Prasad is a hematologist-oncologist who spoke out against the response to the COVID pandemic by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control...

Karol G & Boyfriend Feid Make Red Carpet Debut at Her Netflix Documentary Premiere!
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Karol G & Boyfriend Feid Make Red Carpet Debut at Her Netflix Documentary Premiere!

Karol G and her boyfriend Feid are now red carpet official! The hot couple stepped out together for the premiere of her new Netflix documentary movie Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful on Tuesday night (May 6) at the Whitby Hotel in New York City. Karol was on the Today Show in the morning to talk [...]

Apple’s Infamous App Store Tax Is Collapsing
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Apple’s Infamous App Store Tax Is Collapsing

This ruling confirms what developers have argued for years—that Apple’s restrictive policies suppress innovation rather than protect consumers.

Authorities investigating first deadly bear attack in Florida
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Authorities investigating first deadly bear attack in Florida

Authorities are investigating what could be the first deadly black bear attack in Florida's history after an 89-year-old man and his dog were found dead in a rural community outside of Naples. NBC News' George Solis has the latest as wildlife authorities search for answers.

Georgia man accused of kidnapping free on bond
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Georgia man accused of kidnapping free on bond

A Georgia man accused of trying to kidnap a child inside a Walmart is now free on bond after being held for more than six weeks. NBC News' Priya Sridhar has an update from the hearing and his lawyer Ashleigh Merchant spoke with NBC News' Ellison Barber.

UN issues grave warning over India-Pakistan conflict as nuclear fears grow
2025-05-07

UN issues grave warning over India-Pakistan conflict as nuclear fears grow

The United Nations has issued a statement in response to the attack by India in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and the Pakistani province of Punjab.

Venezuelan opposition figures ‘rescued’, now in US: Rubio
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Venezuelan opposition figures ‘rescued’, now in US: Rubio

Five Venezuelan opposition figures who have been holed up in Argentina’s embassy in Caracas for more than a year are now in the United States after a “rescue” operation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday. He gave no details other than to say that the opponents of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s regime were freed [...]The post Venezuelan opposition figures ‘rescued’, now in US: Rubio appeared first on Digital Journal.

Road rage suspect caught after viral hit-and-run caught on camera
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Road rage suspect caught after viral hit-and-run caught on camera

A camera in Oregon captured the moment a minivan swerved across three lanes on the highway, hitting a motorcyclist in what police are calling an intentional attack. NBC News' Yasmin Vossoughian explains how the suspect is now in custody after a critical tip to the police.

Jay-Z Claims Jane Doe Rape Accuser Is Still Making ‘Malicious’ Statements
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Jay-Z Claims Jane Doe Rape Accuser Is Still Making ‘Malicious’ Statements

The Roc Nation mogul filed an amended complaint and also accused the woman's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of having his team edit Wikipedia pages

2025-05-07

Barry Diller, husband of fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg, addresses his sexuality - USA Today

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Indonesia's silvermen beg to make ends meet
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Indonesia's silvermen beg to make ends meet

On a rainy day in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, three men coated in metallic paint known as the "manusia silver", or silvermen, brave the elements at an intersection near a mall to ask drivers for change.

Wells' grand slam gives him 5 RBIs in 10-run 7th inning as Yankees beat Padres 12-3
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Wells' grand slam gives him 5 RBIs in 10-run 7th inning as Yankees beat Padres 12-3

NEW YORK (AP) — Austin Wells had five RBIs in a 10-run seventh inning, hitting a tying single and then his first career grand slam, as the New York Yankees rolled to a 12-3 victory over the San Diego Padres...

China Lowers Rates and Makes Bank Lending Easier in Response to Tariffs
2025-05-07

China Lowers Rates and Makes Bank Lending Easier in Response to Tariffs

Beijing rolls out its first major policy moves since Trump’s actions in April.

2025-05-07

Samsung reserved the best part of One UI 7 for One UI 8? - Sammy Fans

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Rangers' bats come alive with new coach Boone in dugout, beating the Red Sox 6-1
2025-05-07

Rangers' bats come alive with new coach Boone in dugout, beating the Red Sox 6-1

BOSTON (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi struck out seven over six strong innings, Texas had 16 hits in their first game since adding Bret Boone as a hitting coach and the Rangers beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Tuesday night.

Why the race to be the next pope is ‘wide open’
2025-05-07

Why the race to be the next pope is ‘wide open’

As 133 Catholic cardinals gather in Vatican City to select the next pope, speculation is swirling about who it might be. The National’s Adrienne Arsenault breaks down some of the rumoured contenders, and why this conclave is proving difficult to predict.

North Korean leader urges increased artillery shell production amid Russian alignment
2025-05-07

North Korean leader urges increased artillery shell production amid Russian alignment

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for his munitions industry to boost the production of artillery shells, as the country continues to supply arms and troops to support Russia’s war on Ukraine

PHOTO COLLECTION: Pakistan India
2025-05-07

PHOTO COLLECTION: Pakistan India

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Castellanos has HR and 4 RBIs, Schwarber and Bohm also go deep as Phillies beat Rays 8-4
2025-05-07

Castellanos has HR and 4 RBIs, Schwarber and Bohm also go deep as Phillies beat Rays 8-4

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos all homered, and Zack Wheeler pitched seven solid innings as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 on Tuesday night.

Trump says only 21 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now believed to be alive
2025-05-07

Trump says only 21 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now believed to be alive

President Donald Trump says three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have died, leaving only 21 believed to be still living. Trump on Tuesday noted that until recently it had been 24 people believed to be living. He did not...

Carlos Santana's 3-run homer helps Guardians beat Nationals 9-1 and split a doubleheader
2025-05-07

Carlos Santana's 3-run homer helps Guardians beat Nationals 9-1 and split a doubleheader

WASHINGTON (AP) — Carlos Santana broke a scoreless tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning and started a late onslaught by the Cleveland Guardians, who beat the Washington Nationals 9-1 on Tuesday night to split a doubleheader.

Jaccob Slavin scores in OT as the Hurricanes beat the Capitals in Game 1 of their 2nd-round series
2025-05-07

Jaccob Slavin scores in OT as the Hurricanes beat the Capitals in Game 1 of their 2nd-round series

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jaccob Slavin scored in overtime, Frederik Andersen made 13 saves in his return from injury and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 2-1 in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series on Tuesday night.

Burleson's double lifts Cardinals past Pirates 2-1; Skenes' troubles against St. Louis continue
2025-05-07

Burleson's double lifts Cardinals past Pirates 2-1; Skenes' troubles against St. Louis continue

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Alec Burleson hit a two-run double, Matthew Liberatore struck out eight in a season-high seven innings and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Tuesday night.

PHOTO COLLECTION: Russia Ukraine POW Exchange
2025-05-07

PHOTO COLLECTION: Russia Ukraine POW Exchange

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

2025-05-07

Cory Bowman, Vice President JD Vance’s half brother, advances to fall election for Cincinnati mayor

Cory Bowman, Vice President JD Vance’s half brother, advances to fall election for Cincinnati mayor.

Haliburton's 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left gives Pacers 120-119 win over Cavs and 2-0 series lead
2025-05-07

Haliburton's 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left gives Pacers 120-119 win over Cavs and 2-0 series lead

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton made a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining and the Indiana Pacers scored the final eight points in 47.9 seconds to stun the short-handed and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 120-119 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0...

Intel's high-end Battlemage GPU, the Arc B770, could be unveiled at Computex 2025
2025-05-07

Intel's high-end Battlemage GPU, the Arc B770, could be unveiled at Computex 2025

According to new reports it looks like Intel is actively producing Intel Arc B770 Limited Edition GPUs for a potential Computex 2025 reveal and launch. Continue reading at TweakTown >

DIY Penicillin
2025-05-07

DIY Penicillin

We don’t often consider using do-it-yourself projects as a hedge against the apocalypse. But [The Thought Emporium] thinks we should know how to make penicillin just in case. We aren’t ...read more

WeightWatchers Files for Bankruptcy
2025-05-07

WeightWatchers Files for Bankruptcy

WeightWatchers is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, aiming to wipe out $1.15 billion in debt as it pivots further into telehealth. The company, officially known as WW International, said nearly 75% of its debt holders are backing the restructuring and it expects to emerge from bankruptcy in about 45...

Detecting Depression Using Digital Traces on Social Media
2025-05-07

Detecting Depression Using Digital Traces on Social Media

Researchers have developed a deep learning model to detect mental health symptoms and risk factors on social media. They say it could assist individuals and provide population-level data to help public health professionals and policymakers make informed decisions.

2025-05-07

Research Update: Okra, Fenugreek Extracts Remove Most Microplastics From Water

The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water.

Argonne Team Honored for Powering the Communication Backbone of Supercomputing
2025-05-07

Argonne Team Honored for Powering the Communication Backbone of Supercomputing

Argonne's MPICH team receives the 2024 ACM Software System Award for their influential work on a high-performance MPI implementation. Their contributions have impacted high performance computing, enabling advances in scientific simulation, big data analysis and deep learning.