President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday, March 2, that the U.S. is on track to have a vaccine supply sufficient for all adults by the end of May. In the same speech, he also stated that educators—including teachers, childcare workers, and school staff—will be given priority to receive the vaccine in the effort to reopen schools for in-person learning. Biden set the goal to have all such adult workers receive at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of March.
- By Matt Jones
- March 03, 2021
On Tuesday, March 2, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that all Texas businesses will be allowed to reopen to 100% capacity and that he is rescinding the statewide mask mandate. School district superintendents around the state, who say they received no advance warning of the policy change, were left to craft their own regulations as parents and teachers waited expectantly for guidance.
- By Matt Jones
- March 03, 2021
President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill was passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday in a highly partisan vote. The bill now heads to the Senate where—if it passes—it is expected to do so by a similarly razor-thin margin. However, despite significant opposition to the aid package within the halls of Congress, local officials around the country from both parties have expressed support for the federal aid that would come nearly a year into the global pandemic.
- By Matt Jones
- March 01, 2021
North Carolina law enforcement officers are urging caution after the recovery of a kidnapped 14-year-old girl who communicated with her abductor through a school-issued computer.
- By Matt Jones
- March 01, 2021
Last week, an ex-Pomona city councilman was sentenced after pleading no contest to one felony charge of possession of child sexual abuse material and one misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child. Rubio Gonzalez, 45, faces three years of probation (two years of felony probation and one year of summary probation) and a minimum of one year of counseling. Gonzalez is also required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
- By Matt Jones
- March 01, 2021
At its Feb. 23 meeting, the UNC System Board of Governors approved raising the student fee for campus security. It’s set to change from $30 to $57 per student.
- By Matt Jones
- February 26, 2021
On Thursday, Feb. 18, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill into law expanding the rights of law-abiding gun owners in the state. House Bill 102 allows the concealed carry of firearms for self-protection without requiring written authorization from the government (that is, a concealed-carry license). Most relevantly, the new law dictates that the Montana University System adopt the looser restrictions by June 1.
- By Matt Jones
- February 22, 2021
Policy
As the effort to build enough of a vaccine supply to inoculate the entire U.S. population becomes a reality, public discussion is slowly shifting from the question “Can I get the vaccine?” to “Will I be required to get it?”
- By Matt Jones
- February 12, 2021
Resident assistants (RAs) are the first line of defense and peacekeeping in college dorms around the country.
- By Matt Jones
- February 12, 2021
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department (UTPD) has recently established a University Crisis Intervention Team (UCIT) tasked with responding to students’ mental health crises.
- By Matt Jones
- February 11, 2021