Georgia official seeks more school safety money after Apalachee High shooting

Georgia official seeks more school safety money after Apalachee High shooting

ATLANTA — Georgia’s state school superintendent says he wants the state to spend more money to guarantee security officers and wearable panic alert buttons after a school shooting killed four at Apalachee High School northeast of Atlanta. Richard Woods, a Republican elected statewide, also said Monday that he wants to expand a state-sponsored program to … Read more

Clock is ticking for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid

Clock is ticking for local governments to use billions of dollars of federal pandemic aid

From the looks of it, the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert hasn’t done too much with the $24 million it received in federal pandemic aid. The site where it plans to spend most of the money for a crime victims center remains an empty plot of dirt. And just one-quarter of its funds are obligated for … Read more

Sudden fame for Tim Walz’s son focuses attention on challenges of people with learning disabilities

Sudden fame for Tim Walz’s son focuses attention on challenges of people with learning disabilities

MINNEAPOLIS — An unexpected highlight of the Democratic National Convention on Night Three was an outburst of pride from the son of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. “That’s my dad!” 17-year-old Gus Walz could be seen exclaiming Wednesday night. He stood, tears streaming down his face, and pointed to his father, the governor of Minnesota, … Read more

Google and Selena Gomez partner to fund teen mental health in the classroom

Google and Selena Gomez partner to fund teen mental health in the classroom

The unprecedented mental health crisis for children in the United States often surfaces where they spend much of their days: school. With that in mind, Google’s philanthropic arm is directly financing high school wellbeing projects on a classroom crowdfunding platform. Google.org on Monday flash funded all mental health-related listings on DonorsChoose, an online charity where … Read more

California bill crafted to require school payments to college athletes pulled by sponsor

California bill crafted to require school payments to college athletes pulled by sponsor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A proposal that would require California universities to pay their athletes through a “degree completion fund” has been withdrawn from consideration at the state legislature. Assemblyman Chris Holden pulled his proposed bill, the College Athlete Protection Act, from a hearing before the state’s Senate Education Committee on Wednesday. His office confirmed the … Read more

With 1 out of 3 Californians on Medicaid, doctors push ballot measure to force state to pay more

With 1 out of 3 Californians on Medicaid, doctors push ballot measure to force state to pay more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year agreed to a tax increase that aimed to do two things: Help balance a budget with a multibillion-dollar shortfall, and pay doctors more money to treat patients covered by Medicaid — the taxpayer-funded health insurance program for people with low incomes that now covers one out … Read more

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy takes a 7.7% stake in Buzzfeed

Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy takes a 7.7% stake in Buzzfeed

Former Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has purchased a minority stake in Buzzfeed, the digital publishing company that shut down its media outlet last year. Shares of the company skyrocketed more than 50% before the market open on Wednesday. Ramaswamy acquired a 7.7% stake in Buzzfeed, according to a filing with the … Read more

California Gov. Newsom proposes some housing and climate cuts to balance $38 billion budget deficit

California Gov. Newsom proposes some housing and climate cuts to balance  billion budget deficit

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom released details Wednesday of a new $291 billion state spending plan for the 2024-25 budget year that accounts for an estimated $37.9 billion deficit. Newsom, a Democrat, proposed covering the shortfall by tapping $13 billion from reserves, trimming $8.5 billion from programs, deferring some spending to the future … Read more

New Mexico legislators back slower, sustained growth in government programs with budget plan

New Mexico legislators back slower, sustained growth in government programs with budget plan

SANTA FE, N.M. — Leading New Mexico lawmakers on Friday recommended a 5.9% increase in general fund spending for the coming fiscal year amid a windfall in oil-related income, while also sounding a cautionary note on the future of the state’s petroleum bonanza and setting aside more money in savings and investment accounts. The proposal … Read more

Nebraska governor stands firm on rejection of federal money to feed food-insecure children

Nebraska governor stands firm on rejection of federal money to feed food-insecure children

OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska’s Republican governor on Friday reiterated his rejection of $18 million in federal funding to help feed children who might otherwise go hungry while school is out. Nebraska will not participate in the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children — or Summer EBT — program, Gov. Jim Pillen said in a … Read more