LANSING, Mich. – Michigan News Source has learned that Michigan legislators have plans to introduce a sweeping bill this month that could radically change the state’s public school curriculum around sex education, gender identity, and reproductive health. Fast-tracked for the lame duck session, the bill aims to reshape traditional values in schools, sparking intense opposition from critics who see it as an overreach of Democratic government ideologies that would affect approximately 1.3 million students in nearly 3,000 public schools across the state
According to Salt & Light Global, a religious advocacy group, this is the current state of sex education in the state: “Currently, children typically begin studying Sex Education in upper elementary school (as early as grades 3 and 4) with continued studies throughout high school. A board of community members, including parents, teachers, and clergy work with the local school board to approve curriculum in each district, in accordance with legislative guidelines that teach abstinence first, alongside elements of healthy relationships, consent and refusal skills, and how to mitigate health risks. Students also learn about healthy family life and how think carefully about the long-term impact of their actions. Current standards actively involve parents and do not allow for school teaching on abortion or distribution of contraceptives.” Click here to read more.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF - Kamala Harris’ failed bid for the presidency had an estimated cost of more than $1 billion. According to one report, a portion of that money went to celebrities and social media influencers who touted the Democratic candidate on their sizable platforms.
For example, Oprah Winfrey‘s company, Harpo Productions, received $1 million from the Harris campaign on October 15 after Winfrey hosted a town hall event for the campaign in September, per The Washington Examiner.
Oprah was also featured at Harris’ final campaign rally in Philadelphia just days before the election, where she warned voters to get to the polls instead of being tempted to “sit this one out.”
“If we don’t show up tomorrow, it is entirely possible that we will not have the opportunity to ever cast a ballot again,” Oprah warned at the time. “And let me be very clear, if you do not make sure that the people in your life can get to the polls, that is a mistake.” Click here to read more.
NEW YORK, NY - Mattel has apologized after boxes for some of its new dolls from the movie "Wicked" included a link to a pornographic website.
The packages for the dolls were printed with a web address to an adult film site with the same name as the upcoming movie musical starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Customers who noticed the mistake shared images of the toy boxes on social media.
Sarah Genao, a popular YouTube creator who makes videos about Legos, told ABC News she first heard about the printing mishap on Reddit and went to Target to see it for herself.
"I thought it was really funny initially, but I was also concerned because this went under the radar," she said, noting the dolls had already been on shelves for weeks. Click here to read more.
WASHINGTON D.C. - Elon Musk has thrown down a $2 trillion gauntlet, claiming he can slash federal spending by that amount. While the billionaire's proclamations on X often generate more heat than light, one can only hope he will succeed.
The real question isn't whether we can cut $2 trillion from a bloated $6.8 trillion federal budget—we absolutely can. After all, the government managed to function at $4.4 trillion five years ago, and American civilization didn't collapse. The economy was humming, wages were rising, and poverty was falling.
The fact that it's feasible, however, does not mean Musk will actually succeed. Before Washington's army of spending defenders, many of them Republicans, starts wailing about draconian cuts, let's discuss the actual question: how to trim the fat without harming the muscle.
Theoretically, one of the most straightforward budget-cutting approaches is an across-the-board or uniform-reduction rule. There is plenty to cut everywhere in the budget, including the large slice that funds the Department of Defense. The Congressional Budget Office's biennial Options for Reducing the Deficit lists reductions to the Pentagon's budget that would save $995 billion over ten years. Click here to read more.
NASHVILLE, TN - ERWIN, Tenn. (Gray News) – A body that was buried in North Carolina was washed into Tennessee due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in September, according to Erwin Police Chief Regan Tilson.
Officials said the body was buried in Whitson Cemetery in Yancey County in 2006.
The flood waters washed the body to Unicoi County.
Details about the identification of the body were not released.
Helene brought widespread devastation to western North Carolina, causing 1,400 landslides and damaging over 160 water and sewer systems, according to the state budget office. Click here to read more.
