State Government
Lame duck Clay County commission may expand prevailing wage requirements in oddly swift action Wednesday eveningA majority of Clay County’s lame duck commission seems intent on expanding prevailing wage requirements on contractors Wednesday night, just weeks before other commissioners join them in January. Read More
Economy
Federal inflation data: Grocery prices continue to rise nationally(The Center Square) — While overall inflation has slowed from its rapid pace earlier this year, grocery prices continue to rise, putting Americans in a pinch, according to newly… Read More
Gender Identity
Children’s Mercy Kansas City hospital offers ‘gender-affirming’ care, apparently to children as young as 2Children’s Mercy Kansas City hospital has been offering transitioning treatments to “gender questioning” children and adolescents, perhaps even to those as young as 2. Simultaneously, its standards of… Read More
State Government
Illinois drivers can expect two gas tax increases in 2023(The Center Square) – Illinois drivers will see increased gasoline taxes next month, with another increase six months after that. Motor fuel prices in Illinois are down nearly… Read More
Education
Teachers are fleeing partisan unions that some say undermine public educationTeachers are fleeing unions in droves, citing the political partisanship of the organizations that charge $750 to $900 a year in membership fees. The National Education Association (NEA) and… Read More
Public Education
Minnesota $400K recruitment initiative for teachers only yields 6 hires out of possible 41Money can’t buy happiness, as the saying goes. This year, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) learned money also can't buy teachersMDE reported the outcome of Come… Read More
Culture
Florida launches optional child ID program for parents(The Center Square) – Florida has launched a new Child ID program and is distributing Child ID kits to all Florida school districts for parents of kindergarteners, Attorney General… Read More
Culture
Vast majority of colleges have at least one policy that violates free speech, watchdog finds(Daily Caller) – An overwhelming majority of colleges in the United States have at least one speech code that violates students’ free speech rights, according to watchdog group Foundation… Read More
Public Education
North Carolina House committee releases report on state’s education system(The Center Square) – The North Carolina House Select Committee on an Education System for North Carolina’s Future concluded its last meeting of 2022 by adopting a report for… Read More
Local News
Missouri deer hunting permits raise $13.3M as 197,724 harvested during firearms season(The Center Square) – Although the 2022 hunting season doesn’t technically end until mid-January, the Missouri Conservation Department reports $13.3 million in revenue from the purchase of more than… Read More
National
‘It’s going to be us’: Homeland security expert warns America is destroying itself from withinThe biggest threat to the homeland may actually be the homeland itself. That’s the startling assessment of Pat Proctor, a state representative from Leavenworth and one of Kansas’… Read More
Local News
Branson’s Mochas and Meows expanding, aims to be the purrr-fect place to loungeBRANSON, Mo. – Guests at Branson’s lone cat cafe can expect to have more room to lounge and more felines to lounge with in the future as an expansion… Read More
Economy
Wholesale vegetables price index spiked 38% last month as key inflation marker rose more than expected(The Center Square) – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new inflation data Friday for wholesale prices with a 0.3% rise in November, part of a 7.4% increase in… Read More
Biden administration
New GOP oversight chair demands ‘accountability’ for ‘catastrophic’ Afghanistan withdrawal(The Center Square) – House Oversight Republicans pledged to use their newfound majority to hold President Joe Biden “accountable” for the controversial withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan last… Read More
Biden administration
Rescinding vaccine mandate for military isn’t enough, Liberty Counsel argues(The Center Square) – If Congress were to rescind the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. military service members, that still won’t be enough to undo the damage the mandate… Read More
Local News
$400 million Bluhawk Sports Facility coming to Overland ParkOVERLAND PARK, Kan. – A new $400-million sports facility with one of the only regulation-size hockey rinks in the Kansas City area is coming to Overland Park. Kansas… Read More
Public Education
Most colleges of education stick to traditional teacher training despite pandemic-spurred innovation(reimaginEd) – When Amy Marotz wanted to start a private homeschool collaborative for children with sensory issues, she didn’t rely on a traditional college of education for training, even… Read More
Culture, Opinion
American ‘Girl’ sacrifices our daughters on the altar of gender ideologyFirst Disney, now American Girl dolls.Thanks, gender ideology, for ruining my childhood.American Girl’s new book “Body Image” is being rightly denounced for advocating puberty… Read More
Government
The school choice movement is picking up steam across the country(Daily Caller) – The school choice movement is gaining momentum as states focus on legislation that would give families greater freedom to select their child’s education, advocates told the… Read More
Public Education
Oregon teachers quit union, Kansas teachers need legislative relief(The Sentinel) – Oregon school districts added about 2,100 teachers in the last school year, but union membership in the Oregon Education Association (OEA) dropped by almost 500.Jason… Read More