TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 29 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following financial and federal single audit (No. 2024-171) on March 25, 2024, involving DeSoto County District School Board. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY OF REPORT ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Our audit disclosed that the basic financial statements of the DeSoto County District School Board (District) were presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with prescribed financial reporting standards. SUMMARY  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 29 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following financial and federal single audit (No. 2024-173) on March 25, 2024, involving Hendry County District School Board. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY OF REPORT ON FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Our audit disclosed that the basic financial statements of the Hendry County District School Board (District) were presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with prescribed financial reporting standards. SUMMARY  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 29 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following operational audit (No. 2024-170) on March 25, 2024, involving Pinellas County District School Board. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This operational audit of the Pinellas County School District (District) focused on selected District processes and administrative activities and included a follow-up on findings noted in our report No. 2021-062. Our operational audit disclosed the following: Finding 1: Distr  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 29 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following news on March 28, 2024: On Wednesday, the Second Gentleman of the United States, Douglas Emhoff joined Florida Democrats in Miami for the opening of the Miami-Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus and official launch on behalf of Latinos con Biden-Harris 2024 in Florida. The Second Gentleman was joined by Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade Democrati  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Georgetown University Law Center issued the following news: On March 4, Georgetown Law's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP), Law Forward and Stafford Rosenbaum LLP announced a historic settlement in first-of-its-kind litigation against participants in a fraudulent electors scheme intended to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The March agreement marks ICAP's second milestone settlement in the case of Penebaker et al v. Hitt   more

NEW YORK, March 22 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary to the New York Post: * * * DEI Math-Ed Prof Who Helped Get Algebra Banned in 'Frisco Is Accused of Faulty Research By Wai Wah Chin Stanford math-ed prof Jo Boaler's DEI racket may finally be coming to an end: On Wednesday, a 100-page complaint was filed against her, citing 52 instances of misrepresentation in her research citations. Boaler, who hauls in a stunning $5,000 an hour for Zoom consultatio  more

NEW YORK, March 23 -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following excerpts of a commentary to the New York Post: * * * The Supreme Court Has Banned Affirmative Action - Congress Must Follow By Dan Morenoff Critics have feared that the Supreme Court's refusal to take up Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board -- in which clear evidence showed the county to have intentionally reduced Asian enrollment at Thomas Jefferson HS -- will allow schools and colleges to continue to pursue unco  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 28 -- The Oregon School Boards Association issued the following news: Salem-Keizer Public Schools reached a tentative contract deal with its teachers Tuesday, but the underlying state school funding issues are far from settled. On Tuesday, the Salem-Keizer School Board sent an open letter (https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/details/~board/district-news/post/school-board-statements-regarding-public-school-funding ) "To all who care about public education in Oregon." The letter call  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 29 -- The Virginia Department of Education issued the following news release: The Virginia Board of Education is holding a series of eight Listening Sessions across the Commonwealth in April to provide parents, educators, and community members an opportunity to comment on the development of Virginia's school performance and support framework designed to provide greater transparency and awareness of school performance and student outcomes. The Listening Sessions are in  more

OGDEN, Utah, March 28 -- Weber State University issued the following news: Continuing a 19-year tradition, Weber State University announced the newest Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors, with this year's recipients representing the fields of communication, nursing, and physics and astronomy. Named after the late Rodney Brady who served as WSU president from 1978 to 1985, the honor recognizes WSU professors who demonstrate the highest quality teaching, scholarship, research and commun  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 29 -- The American Library Association issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: The American Library Association (ALA) announced today that ALA President Emily Drabinski will host the ALA President's Program, featuring an esteemed panel of library practitioners, at the ALA 2024 Annual Conference & Exhibition. The conference will be held at the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding hotels in San Diego, California, June 27-July 2, 2024. Join ALA Preside  more

MONTGOMERY, Alabama, March 29 -- Auburn University Montgomery campus issued the following news: For the seventh consecutive year, Auburn University at Montgomery has earned national recognition as a "Military Friendly School." AUM earned a No. 3 ranking in the "Small Public School" category and was recognized as a Military Spouse Friendly School, according to a newly released survey by Viqtory Media. Published in "G.I. Jobs" magazine, the Military Friendly Schools survey is the longest-running  more

DENVER, Colorado, March 29 (TNSres) -- The Colorado House Democrats issued the following news release: The House today advanced the FY 2024-2025 Long Appropriations Bill to invest in families, prepare our students for success, and build healthier communities across the state. "Our balanced budget provides historic K-12 public school funding of more than $525 million, importantly buys down the budget stabilization factor and addresses the most pressing needs of our communities," said JBC Chair   more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12376) on March 21, 2024, by energy policy specialists Corrie E. Clark and Martin C. Offutt. Here are excerpts: * * * DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy FY2024 Appropriations The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is responsible for enabling renewable energy and end-use energy efficiency technology development a  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: Today, the DCCC announced the second slate of candidates added to its highly competitive 'Red to Blue' program for the 2024 cycle. These four candidates will receive strategic guidance, staff resources, training, and fundraising support to ensure they are in the best possible position to win in November. "I am excited to work with this diverse group of public servants, v  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, March 29 -- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) joined partners in celebrating the inaugural cohort of school nurses who comprised the state's first School Nursing Leadership Program during a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, March 27. Launched in September 2023, the School Nursing Leadership Program is South Carol  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, March 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: An Oklahoma school system took down a massive biblical display after the Freedom From Religion Foundation objected that it was unconstitutional. A concerned Putnam City Schools employee informed the state/church watchdog that Western Oaks Middle School was prominently displaying a bible verse in one of its hallways. The verse is Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now all glory to God, who is able through H  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, March 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: The Freedom From Religion Foundation has made certain that students in Fredericktown, Ohio, will not be pressured to participate in an evangelical release time bible study program. A concerned district community member informed the state/church watchdog that schools within the district had been promoting and encouraging students to attend LifeWise Academy's release time bible study classes.   more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, March 29 -- The Florida Auditor General released the following operational audit (No. 2024-170) on March 25, 2024, involving Pinellas County District School Board. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This operational audit of the Pinellas County School District (District) focused on selected District processes and administrative activities and included a follow-up on findings noted in our report No. 2021-062. Our operational audit disclosed the following: Finding 1: Distr  more

JACKSON, Mississippi, March 29 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following agency statement on March 28, 2024: * * * The scholars of Jackson Middle College proudly represented Jackson Public School's Career Development Center at the 2024 MS Educators Rising Competition held from February 22-23, 2024, at Mississippi College. In their inaugural year of participation, twelve out of the 16 JMC scholars took part, with all but one securing placements. We are thrilled to highlight the exceptiona  more

KEENE, New Hampshire, March 29 -- Keene State College issued the following news: Keene State College will bestow two individuals with special awards and another with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree at its annual Commencement on Saturday, May 4. Commencement is held outdoors at the Fiske Quad in the center of campus. Marcus Soutra '06, a leader in the learning differences field and recipient of the Keene State College Alumni Inspiration Award in 2016, will receive the honorary d  more

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, March 28 -- The Missouri House issued the following news on March 27, 2024: The House has voted to bar discrimination based on how people style their hair, specifically natural hair textures and cultural styles. For several years now, legislators have been asked to pass the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair," or "Missouri CROWN Act." House Bills 1900, 1591, & 2515 would specify that no person may be discriminated against based on hair tex  more

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee issued the following news on March 28, 2024: Yesterday, Hillary Scholten put out a weak statement five days after an illegal immigrant murdered Ruby Garcia in Grand Rapids. She claimed her "heart breaks" for Garcia, but her voting record and past statements on the border say otherwise... Read about Scholten's dangerous open border policies in The Midwesterner here (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%  more

SALEM, Oregon, March 28 -- The Oregon School Boards Association issued the following news: Salem-Keizer Public Schools reached a tentative contract deal with its teachers Tuesday, but the underlying state school funding issues are far from settled. On Tuesday, the Salem-Keizer School Board sent an open letter (https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/details/~board/district-news/post/school-board-statements-regarding-public-school-funding ) "To all who care about public education in Oregon." The letter call  more

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, issued the following news release: Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for high-resolution individual photos Jay, ME - Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Spruce Mountain Middle School in Jay and spoke to students at a full-school assembly. During her visit, Senator Collins talked about Women's History Month and described her experience of being one of the longest serving women in the history of the United States Senate. She also answered q  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, March 29 -- Gov. Roy Cooper, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release on March 27, 2024: Following his declaration of 2024 as the Year of Public Schools, Governor Roy Cooper is illustrating the risks the extreme Republican voucher plan poses to children and public schools, where more than 8 in 10 North Carolina children attend school. Today, the Governor released a new video walking through the problems with this voucher plan on steroids, along with a new fac  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, March 29 -- Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on March 28, 2024: The Virginia Board of Education today approved the establishment of Virginia's fifth and sixth lab schools from the University of Virginia and Mountain Gateway Community College creating innovative STEM-focused programs for middle school and high school students in their area. "These lab schools provide exciting options for children to explore STEM, computer science, and IT sk  more