OPINION

Mar 29 2026OPINION

Tech Students Today: Why Smartphones Are Both a Gift and a Challenge in Classrooms

A growing trend shows students pulling out smartphones more than textbooks during lectures. While some argue these devices boost learning by providing instant information, others worry they’re turning classrooms into distraction zones. Research suggests that the average student checks their phone up

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Mar 29 2026OPINION

Rebuilding Honesty: Why Freedom Helps Us Face Past Wrongs

A German thinker named Juergen Habermas recently passed away, and his life sparked a debate about how societies deal with their dark histories. His work focused on Germany’s responsibility for the Holocaust and its struggle to confront that past. He warned about rising far‑right movements in Euro

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Mar 29 2026OPINION

Peace Over Power: A New Look at an Old Story

The old pattern of leaders quoting holy books to justify war still shows up today. Some politicians lift verses that praise a warrior’s training and use them as proof that fighting is holy. They claim the gods give them permission to kill and conquer. But if you read further into the same story,

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Iran Deal Revisited: What Went Wrong

The 2015 deal stopped Iran from building nuclear weapons. It let the U. S. , EU, and UN lift sanctions. Iran got its money back and agreed to cut its nuclear stockpile. The plan worked for a year. Secretary Kerry said the agreement had stopped Iran’s threat without war. The deal include

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Minnesota Farms: The Backbone of Our Food

The state’s farmers are the unseen heroes that keep our plates full. Minnesota is sixth in overall farm output across the U. S. and leads in more than 20 products, such as sugar beets, turkeys, green peas, hogs, sweet corn, soybeans, sunflower seeds, canola, dry beans and oats. Corn is the fou

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Why turning 16 won’t suddenly make social media safe for teens

Countries across Asia and the Pacific are racing to set 16 as the minimum age for social media apps like TikTok and Instagram. Indonesia will enforce its new rule this month, while Indian states such as Karnataka are considering similar steps. The move plays well with voters and makes tech bosses lo

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Oakland schools face another challenge: a lawsuit over heritage months

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) runs on tight funds, serving mostly low-income students who need stable classrooms more than legal battles. Yet the state education department just filed a lawsuit claiming the district didn't do enough to fight antisemitism—despite no clear evidence of widespr

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Politics at Dinner: Did We Lose Good Manners Over Posts?

Grandparents kept politics off the dinner table. Not because they didn’t care, but because they valued harmony. Today, silence often feels like suspicion. Social media changed the game: what used to be private chats now blast to strangers instantly. Algorithms push loudest voices, not deepest though

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Mar 26 2026OPINION

New Library? Time to Decide

El Cerrito’s old library, built 76 years ago, can’t keep up with modern needs. The city has tried before: a $30‑million bond in 2016 fell short of the two‑thirds vote required. Now Measure C sits on the ballot and only needs a simple majority to pass because of a petition‑driven process. The new bu

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Mar 26 2026OPINION

Utah Faces a New Controversy Over ICE Detention Plans

The idea of building a huge ICE detention center near Salt Lake City has sparked worry among many people in Utah. The plan would hold 7, 000 to 10, 000 detainees in a building that is larger than the state’s whole prison system. It would be located about 9. 6 miles from Temple Square, a central spot

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