Open Newswire

As concern over the nationwide spread of measles grows, advocates for legislation intended to boost childhood vaccinations in Massachusetts have their fingers crossed that the bill, after being filed four times, will finally make it to passage this year.

Meet some of the Ocean-Beach-based acts set to play the 46th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair.

(The Center Square) — New York ranks dead last among states for home building and affordability, according to a new nationwide report, which adds to pressure on the state's political leaders to bring down housing costs. The Realtor.com analysis found New York fared the worst among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, earning it an "F" grade in the company's 2026 Housing Report Card. it was one of six states — including Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut — to earn a failing grade, the website said. New York dropped to the bottom from 49th place in last year's report. The report's authors attributed the Empire State's paltry ranking of 8.5 points out of 100 was largely to its sluggish construction and high housing costs, with the average cost of a single-family home rising to $668,173 this year. "One of the biggest challenges facing New York is the amount of time it takes to move a housing project from land acquisition to construction and occupancy," Michael Fazio, executive director of the New York State Builders Association, told Realtor.com. In 2026, a household earning the state's $96,809 median income would have to spend more than 55% of it to afford a median-priced home of $668,173, according to the report's authors. Meanwhile, New York’s permit-to-population construction ratio stands at a meager 0.45, which the report's authors said means building permits are less than half of what the state's population share would suggest. He said delays add "significant" costs to each project that ultimately get passed on to homebuyers and renters, making it even harder to find housing. "The development approval, environmental review, permitting, and inspection processes can often take years before a project is completed and families can move into a home," Fazio told the website. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has taken steps to expand housing stock and reduce the cost of building new homes, including streamlining environmental reviews and reducing delays for housing and infrastructure projects. But Republicans say Albany needs to take more aggressive steps to ensure that people can afford to buy homes in the state. They've cited the impact of high housing costs on outmigration and the state's economy, and want the state to reduce unnecessary regulations that create hurdles for home builders. "New York State has become a laughing stock and a blueprint for other states on how NOT to approach affordability issues," Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt posted on X Monday. "And it's only going to get worse as long as Albany's one-party machine continues to make life harder on New Yorkers."

Rep. Sophie Warren of Scarborough is officially the Democratic nominee for Senate District 30 after a recount on Monday. Her opponent, Rep. Ellie Sato of Gorham, requested a recount after the initial results had Warren leading by just over 20 votes. The recount confirmed Warren won by a wider margin. She secured 3,838 votes, compared […]

As the country nears the one-year anniversary of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek said Monday he plans to show Iowans how his Republican opponent Ashley Hinson’s vote for the 2025 tax and spending law and other GOP-backed measures have hurt people in the state. Turek, a state representative […]

A group of court watchers in Louisiana claim that they have been denied access from immigration court hearings more than 50 times over the course of seven months — a trend occurring across the country.

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries expects its investigation into the deadly Longview tank implosion that killed 11 workers to take most of the six months allowed under state law, according to agency Director Joel Sacks. The disaster, believed to be the deadliest workplace accident in modern Washington history, remains under investigation by both […]

African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea Jakaya Kikwete The post South Sudan must ensure successful elections – Kikwete appeared first on Radio Tamazuj.

Падзеі 23 чэрвеня ў Беларусі, сьвеце, гісторыі.

Ji ber qeyran û bilind bûna buhayê mazot û pêdiviyên jiyanê niştecihên Qamişlo di meşeke protestoyî de nerazîbûnê nîşan didin. Rojnamevan Îvan Hesîb ji Qamişlo pêzanînên zêdetir dide.

(The Center Square) – Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has resigned from the Los Angeles Unified School District, and education watchdogs are not sad to see him go. Carvalho announced his resignation Sunday night via a letter to the Board of Education for the nation's second-largest school district. The resignation came four months after federal agents raided Carvalho's home in the coastal San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles and at the district's office in downtown Los Angeles. The FBI served a search warrant on Carvalho for both sites. The reason hasn't been revealed. Carvalho was placed on paid leave by LAUSD in late February. In his letter, Carvalho addressed the "students, families, teachers, staff, and community of LAUSD" and said that it had been an honor to serve. "Placing students first has always guided my work," wrote Carvalho. "Because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026." It was the only reference Carvalho made toward February's events. Carvalho has served as LAUSD's superintendent since February 2022 and has been the district's longest-serving superintendent in over 20 years. Before his job at LAUSD, Carvalho was superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 14 years. Karen Frost, chair of Moms for Liberty Los Angeles, said she was relieved upon hearing the resignation. “During Mr. Carvalho’s very short time here, things have not improved,” Frost told The Center Square. “In fact, they’ve gotten worse. I’m hopeful that maybe we can finally get someone here to make the changes that LAUSD really needs.” When asked to elaborate, Frost pointed to the LAUSD contract with AllHere for a $6 million chatbot that was never created. “We know that AI is here, and we know the genie is out of the bottle. But to spend that kind of money on a chatbot in the classrooms - I mean, even the teachers' union was against that,” said Frost. The Moms for Liberty leader would prefer to see LAUSD get back to the fundamentals of reading, math, and science. Currently, 25% of fourth-graders in LAUSD are reading at or above grade level, Frost said, referring to data from the Nation's Report Card. Pointing to the entire LAUSD, Frost said less than 40% of students can do math at grade level. “So the focus has been in the wrong place, and really, I think LAUSD needs to look east to like Mississippi and the Mississippi Miracle and find new and creative and inventive ways to get kids to actually learn,” said Frost. The Mississippi Miracle is a phrase used to show the dramatic rise in Mississippi’s K-12 public education outcomes. In 2012, Mississippi was ranked dead last in education. Today, the Magnolia State is ranked 16th in the nation. State officials credit an emphasis on phonics, literacy and better training for teachers. Another parent advocacy nonprofit, Oleada Inc., hopes Carvalho's resignation will help define a clearer path forward for students and families, Executive Director Maria Luisa Palma. But she added, “Major concerns and many unanswered questions remain” for LAUSD. “Carvalho’s formal departure does not cure the ailments festering at LAUSD,” Palma told The Center Square, answering questions by email. “LA Unified continues to lose top management amid the Carvalho scandal and the $22 million money laundering criminal charges against a former LAUSD employee by the Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman.” Palma also said Inspector General Susan Stengel departed in December 2025 as her contract was not renewed. “Soheil Katal, chief information officer, quietly had his farewell party at LAUSD just two days after the FBI raid in February,” said Palma. “Frances Baez, chief academic officer, announced her retirement in May, while Karla Estrada, deputy superintendent of instruction, also announced her departure after her new contract was approved by the board.” Palma went on to state that Jamie Torrens, a Carvalho appointee from Miami as senior adviser to the superintendent, was included in the Reduction in Force announced in March. “Why have so many highly paid administrators left LAUSD in such a short period of time?” wondered Palma. While Palma has questions, she did praise Carvalho on one point. She said his tenure will be remembered as “an era in which parents’ concerns were heard by the superintendent directly." When asked for comment by The Center Square, LAUSD sent a statement published on its website Monday acknowledging receipt of the letter of Carvalho’s resignation. "The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership," the school district said. "Our focus remains unchanged: providing every student with a high-quality education, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve." Andrés Chait has served as acting superintendent during Carvalho's absence. LAUSD said Chait will remain in the position until a permanent decision is made. United Teachers Los Angeles, one of several unions with members in the LAUSD, urged the district to select a superintendent who is deeply committed to public education. “Our students deserve a leader who listens to their needs and works in partnership with educators, educational staff, and families to strengthen the schools our communities rely on,” UTLA told The Center Square. “Most importantly, the next superintendent must ensure that district resources are invested where they matter most: in our schools and classrooms, not in billions of dollars’ worth of outside contracts. UTLA will continue to hold district leadership accountable to that commitment.”

(The Center Square) – Georgia election officials and others said Monday that hand recounts of ballots in the top two races would be lengthy and costly. The Senate attached an amendment requiring recounts to a bill originally drafted to extend the deadline to eliminate counting ballots using electronic QR codes. The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia comments on election bills only when they affect local taxpayer costs and election administration, said Todd Edwards, the organization's director of governmental affairs. The amendment affects both, he said. The General Assembly included an additional $15 million for local election offices in its supplemental budget, but, to his knowledge, the secretary of state has not yet sent the money to counties, Edwards said. "The other concern is that's a one-time funding appropriation," Edwards said. "Will that continue in the future?" Fulton County estimated the recount would cost $100,000 per day with two shifts of workers, said Atlanta Democrat Shea Roberts. The cost for recounting the top two elections would be $1 million, she said. Election officials told the House Governmental Affairs Committee that the process for obtaining results would affect election certification. "We can expect there to be more questions about the process and having never done that, I am not sure how long it's going to take," said Joseph Kirk, president of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials and Bartow County election supervisor. "I know that with those extra steps, doing our certification will be very, very difficult." Gov. Brian Kemp called the special session so that lawmakers could revisit Senate Bill 189, which passed in 2024. The bill banned counting votes with QR codes, effective July 1. But no alternative method or funding was implemented in the two years since the bill's passage. SB3EX extends the deadline to January 2028. The original bill also creates a nine-member committee to recommend a new voting system. The legislation also expands the number of races for post-election audits. Democrats are already opposing the bill, saying it doesn't give them a seat on the commission. It passed the Senate over their objections on Saturday. A compromise or House vote could come Tuesday when lawmakers return for the fifth day of the special session.

Some in the academic community are advocating for the federal government to either set up a voluntary program to buy and retire lands that use a lot of water or pay landowners who agree to permanent restrictions on water use.  The post Colorado River experts say agriculture must make permanent cuts to water use appeared first on Aspen Journalism.

Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar say the two sides agreed to a roadmap toward reaching a final deal within 60 days.

Of 358 human rights defenders killed in 2025, 84 were protecting land and the environment, according to a new report.

On Monday, Virginia’s legislature advanced a two-year budget proposal that allocates over $205 billion towards healthcare, public education, 4% teacher raises, a 3.5% pay bump for state employees, establishing a retail cannabis marketplace and contingency funding to make up for decreased federal investments.  The spending plan also includes a provision to tax data centers for […]

Recuo no financiamento dos países em desenvolvimento, pressão contra a ciência e na agenda para mudanças climáticas marcaram o encontro preparatório para a 31ª Conferência sobre Mudanças do Clima das Nações Unidas (COP 31), que se encerrou na semana passada em Bonn, na Alemanha. A 64ª sessão dos Órgãos Subsidiários (SB64) da Convenção do Clima […] Fonte

Grassroots canvassers are hitting the streets to urge voters to defend abortion rights in their states this November.

بۆ ڕووبەڕووبوونەوەی قەیرانەکان بە وتەی بەرپرسانی حکومەتەکەی، زەیدی دەستی کردووە بە چاکسازی و دوورخستنەوە و دەستگیرکردنی چەندین بەرپرس کە لە پرسی گەندەڵیدا تێوەگلاون.

Promovido pela Associação dos Oficiais de Justiça do Rio Grande do Sul (Abojeris evento acontecei na última sexta-feira Fonte