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Interview: Belarus leader in exile on ‘defending our common values’Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus? The exiled leader of Belarus’ pro-democracy movement, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, points to a different view of her nation’s future.
Safety for refugees: President Carter’s legacy lives on in rural GeorgiaThanks to legislation signed by President Carter in 1980, a Christian group rooted in faith and compassion has hosted thousands of refugees in rural Georgia.
First LookChina’s global campaign strikes a chord in conservative UtahChina has made significant efforts to curry favor with Utah lawmakers, The Associated Press reports. As a result, state officials have delayed legislation and nixed resolutions that would have conveyed displeasure with the Chinese government.
Monitor BreakfastPlenty on Senate Intel Chair Mark Warner’s breakfast plateAt a Monitor Breakfast last week, Sen. Mark Warner served up nuggets on TikTok, China, Russia – and Adam Sandler.
First LookDaunting recovery underway in tornado-devastated MississippiHelp began pouring into one of the poorest regions of the U.S. after a deadly tornado tore a path of destruction in the Mississippi Delta. President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for the state.
First LookTrump invokes Jan. 6 at Waco rally ahead of possible chargesA defiant and incendiary Donald Trump, facing a potential indictment, held the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign Saturday in Waco, Texas, a city made famous by deadly resistance against law enforcement.
Can AI programs be trusted to report the news?Editors remain cautious about the use of artificial intelligence in reporting. But used responsibly, they say, it can free up local journalists while augmenting their coverage – for instance, with AI-produced summaries of city council meetings.
First LookBiden, Trudeau to announce agreement on border migrationPresident Joe Biden arrived in Canada on Thursday with a focus on big global issues. The two nations are also expected to announce an agreement on migration on Friday that will allow both countries to turn away migrants seeking asylum at their borders.
First LookTeens on TikTok? New Utah law says ask your parents first.Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pair of measures requiring parental consent before kids can sign up for sites like TikTok and Instagram. The new laws also limit time spent on social media and require age verification for anyone using social media.
First LookHouse hears Uyghur testimonies on human rights abuses in ChinaA special House committee hearing on Thursday included testimonies from two Uyghur women detained by the Chinese government in “reeducation” camps. The U.S. joins a global effort to raise awareness of the mistreatment of the Uyghur community in China.
32 states and counting: Why parents bills of rights are sweeping USIn 2023, at least 32 states are considering a Parents Bill of Rights, as parents look for greater say in the education of their children.
Congress grills TikTok CEO. Will a ban follow?The question over whether to ban TikTok sits at the nexus of two broader debates: how to regulate increasingly influential social media platforms, and how to foster U.S. interests as China’s economic and military power grows.
Israel’s democracy fight: Why Biden is getting off the sidelinesCan the United States afford to treat the Israeli battle over judicial reform as just an internal matter? Not, the latest White House thinking holds, if it undercuts a pillar of the two democracies’ ties.
First LookWhy is a California caste discrimination bill drawing mixed reviews?A bill proposed in California would add caste as a protected anti-discrimination category. People of South Asian descent have advocated for such legislation, though opponents say it might draw attention to groups already facing discrimination.
First LookBasketball, fashion, personality: Student athletes cash in with NILMarch Madness is fueling opportunities for student athletes to showcase their talents and the brands they support on social media. How NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals are helping potential future pros establish a financial foundation.
First LookArkansas moves to define gender use of public school bathroomsArkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed a new law prohibiting transgender people at public schools from using the restroom of their choice, making Arkansas the fourth state to enact such a restriction. The law takes effect later this summer.
First LookShould media literacy be as important as driver's ed? Some say yes.The importance of teaching students how to use the internet safely is often overlooked. Educators across the US are advocating for greater digital media literacy in schools, expanding digital education programs to cope with misinformation and polarization.
As Ukraine war drags on, NATO steps up war readinessAs war in Ukraine goes on, the more urgently NATO commanders view the issue of readiness for any potential widening of the conflict.
The ExplainerHow much say does a governor have over the classroom?As the culture wars drift further into the education realm, they’re spawning questions fundamentally tied to American democracy.
First LookL.A. strike: Custodians, counselors, school workers picket for payLos Angeles school workers are striking for three days over stalled contracts. In the second-largest school system in the country, working conditions have gone down every year, said Danielle Murray, a special education assistant on the picket line.
