(The Lion) — From education to politics, 2024 was a year for the record books.
More students than ever before are receiving a Christian education in the United States, whether from traditional Christian schools, homeschools or hybrids. Alternatives to public education are only expected to grow more in 2025, thanks in part to a record number of states with school choice programs.
In politics, the run-up to the presidential election had plenty of remarkable moments, from Joe Biden’s abysmal debate performance leading him to drop out of the race, to the near assassination of Donald Trump on a campaign stage, to the overwhelming victory of Trump on election night, marking what many pundits declared the greatest political comeback in history.
The Lion published over 3,000 articles during the year, continuing its focus on education, faith, family and culture, while expanding coverage in politics, government and world affairs.
Here is a roundup of some of The Lion’s top stories of the year:
Christian education continues to explode
Christian schools continued to report growing enrollments, even as new schools and homeschools sprouted up everywhere. Meanwhile, public education reported continued enrollment declines in most states, and grew in only four states.
Christian school boom continues as parents seek faith-based alternatives
Homeschooling sees growth among Catholic families nationwide
Shocking: Half of students might be educated outside public schools by 2030, report says
Public schools report widespread, persistent enrollment declines, DOE says
Herzog Foundation celebrates 100 trainings in 2024, attendance to grow in 2025
School choice advances
Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Wyoming passed bills establishing ESA programs, while other states expanded theirs, including Missouri. School choice may even be on the federal agenda after Trump’s election.
Universal school choice bill signed into law by Louisiana governor
NC Legislature empties school choice waitlist as it overrides Democrat governor’s veto
Missouri school choice expansion approved by Legislature, awaits governor’s signature
Gov. Kristi Noem vows $4M investment in ESAs, hopes the program will become universal
North Dakota governor calls for universal school choice in budget address
Trump wins election after legal, physical assaults
Three weeks or so after President Joe Biden’s debate flop against Trump on June 27, the president dropped out of the race, eventually to be replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Then, on July 13, Trump came within an inch of his life when an assassin’s bullet pierced the edge of his right ear. “Fight, fight, fight,” the former president said as he stood to his feet with blood dripping from his face, flanked by secret service agents.
The show of strength was followed by official and implicit endorsements from across the spectrum, especially among prominent businessmen such as Elon Musk and media personalities such as Joe Rogan.
But the security failure raised many questions about how such an amateur assassin might pull off multiple shots at a former president. A second assassination attempt was thwarted in September, but even then, a gunman was able to set up along a golf course Trump was playing.
Despite the close calls – and facing numerous legal challenges critics say were politically motivated – Trump won the November election in decisive fashion.
Elon Musk, Joe Rogan blast Democrat hoaxes and alleged censorship; Rogan endorses Trump
Trump declared president-elect
Trump heralds ‘unprecedented and powerful mandate’ in victory speech
Hawley torches exiting FBI director Wray for multiple scandals, abuses, in bureau ‘dark chapter’
Free speech, censorship come to the fore
Tensions over free speech and censorship, which brewed during and just after the COVID-19 pandemic, boiled over this year. But the First Amendment seemed to keep winning in courts and on the ballot.
Christian cake artist in Colorado celebrates win for religious freedoms nationwide
The Facebook ‘how-to’ manual on COVID censorship exposed after lawsuit
More Lion article on First Amendment issues
Free speech was a major theme of many Lion columns, including from Executive Editor Michael Ryan.
Honorable mentions
Immigration, crime, inflation and a host of other issues frequently made the news in 2024.
Immigration:
Judge strikes down Biden-Harris amnesty plan for illegal immigrants
Schools are failing to cope with migrant students, risk accreditation
U.S. foreign-born population reaches highest rate in over 100 years
Teachers at Chicago Public Schools told to give passing grades to illegal immigrant students
Crime:
Venezuelan prison gang crime, arrests confirmed in 22 U.S. states
Las Vegas high school football coach arrested for child porn, sex abuse and kidnapping
Economy:
Inflation ticks up despite slowdown in jobs market
30 years of inflation crammed into less than 18 months
In speech on economy, Trump calls for ‘new American industrialism’
Fed rate cut ‘expected,’ economy still ‘teetering on the edge,’ economist says
Poll: Inflation, immigration, economy are top concerns of voters
