POLICY

Jan 09 2026POLITICS

U. S. Court Says It Can't Order Gaza Evacuations

In a recent ruling, a U. S. judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought emergency evacuations for Palestinian Americans stuck in Gaza. The judge, Virginia Kendall, said she couldn't interfere with the government's foreign policy decisions, even though she understood the tough situation these people are in

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Jan 09 2026EDUCATION

How States Stack Up in School Funding

School funding is not a one-size-fits-all issue. Each state has its own set of challenges and resources. A recent study by the Education Law Center (ELC) looked at how states fund education using three different measures. The study, "Making The Grade 2025, " used data from 2023 to give a more detail

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Jan 09 2026POLITICS

Healthcare Subsidies: A Political Battle in the U. S. House

The U. S. House of Representatives, led by Republicans, is set to approve a bill backed by Democrats. This bill aims to reinstate healthcare subsidies that expired, helping many Americans avoid higher costs for health coverage. The Senate, also controlled by Republicans, had earlier turned down a s

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Jan 08 2026POLITICS

Healthcare and Venezuela: Congress' Busy Start to 2026

Congress is kicking off 2026 with a packed agenda. Lawmakers are tackling healthcare subsidies, U. S. involvement in Venezuela, and government funding—all under tight deadlines. Healthcare subsidies are a big issue. A group of lawmakers wants to extend enhanced health insurance subsidies that expir

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Jan 08 2026EDUCATION

Iowa Takes Charge: Big Changes in How Education Money is Used

Iowa just got a big green light from the U. S. Department of Education. They can now use over $9 million in federal education funds in ways that make the most sense for their schools. This is a first-of-its-kind move, giving Iowa more freedom to decide how to spend this money. The Secretary of Educ

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Jan 08 2026HEALTH

Vaccine Changes: What's In and What's Out for Kids?

Recent updates from the CDC have made big changes to the list of recommended childhood vaccines. Before this change, kids in the U. S. were advised to get vaccines for 17 different diseases. Now, that list has been cut down to just 11. The vaccines that are no longer routinely recommended include RS

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Jan 08 2026HEALTH

A Fresh Look at HPV Vaccine Changes

The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently updated its recommendation for the HPV vaccine, suggesting just one dose instead of the usual two or three. This change comes after a review of global vaccine schedules, bypassing the usual lengthy process involving the Advisory

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Jan 08 2026HEALTH

Why Did the U. S. Government Drop Plans to Cut Alcohol Limits?

Last year, a group of health officials in the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked on a draft proposal. They wanted to cut the recommended alcohol limit for men in half. This meant men should have only one drink per day instead of two. Women's limits would stay the same. The go

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Jan 08 2026POLITICS

New York's Mayor Stands Firm Behind Housing Chief Amid Controversial Past Posts

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing his newly chosen housing leader, Cea Weaver, despite some people being upset about her old social media posts. Weaver, known for her work helping renters, was picked to lead the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants. Her job is to take strong action agai

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Jan 08 2026POLITICS

Oregon's Governor Changes Course on Transportation Bill

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has had a sudden change of heart about the transportation bill she recently pushed through. After a lot of effort to get it passed, she now wants to scrap the whole thing. This comes after Republicans successfully blocked the tax hikes that were supposed to fund the Oregon

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