Alberta votes on whether to start process to separate from Canada | AP News
Monday, October 19, 2026
Criminal networks threaten the Amazon. Indigenous leaders want the UN to act
Criminal networks threaten the Amazon. Indigenous leaders want the UN to act (Thanks to Lexie for this one)
Indigenous leaders from across the Amazon are taking their fight against illegal mining, drug trafficking and deforestation to a United Nations conference in Vienna starting Monday.
More than a dozen Indigenous representatives from Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador are participating in the Oct. 19-23 U.N. conference on transnational organized crime, known as COP13.
The leaders want governments to tackle the financial networks behind environmental crimes while giving Indigenous peoples a greater role in protecting their ancestral territories and shaping a proposed international agreement.
Great opportunity: International Young Playwrights Festival
International Young Playwrights Festival
Young playwrights currently in grades 9-12 are invited to submit their original, one-act scripts to the contest. Plays must follow the content and formatting guidelines posted below to be eligible for consideration.
Submissions are open.
Deadline for script submissions is January 18, 2027.
Up to four plays will be selected for presentation in Doylestown.
Submission Guidelines
Playwrights must be in grades 9-12 (approx. ages 14-18)Plays must be the work of a single writer. Collaborations will not be considered at this time.
Plays must be original works. Adaptations, or works derived from other stories, or source material, will not be considered.
Plays can be about any subject, but writers should consider that some language and material may not be suitable for our audience.
Plays cannot include copyrighted material such as music, song lyrics, poetry, etc.
Plays should have a running time of 20 minutes or less (approximately 20 typed pages).
Script Formatting
Include a cover page that includes the following information:
title of the play
playwright’s name
playwright's email address
parent/guardian name
parent/guardian email address
school you attend
teacher’s name
Include a brief, one-paragraph synopsis of the play and character list on the page following the cover page:
include the name and a brief description of each character that speaks or appears onstage
characters that are spoken about but who do not appear onstage should not be included in the character list
Follow the formatting guidelines recommended by the Dramatists Guild, which can be found linked here. Scripts that do not follow this format may not be considered for production.
What happens if your play is selected?
All selected playwrights have the opportunity to revise their work prior to the presentation.
Each selected playwright must attend rehearsals and staged readings of the play at the festival.
The festival will be held in Doylestown, PA.
Trump says oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is set to begin. It’s not that simple
Trump says oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is set to begin. It’s not that simple (Thanks to Foff for this one)
Despite Trump’s optimism, the harsh climate of Greenland — a self-governing territory of Denmark, rather than a part of the United States — as well as a lack of infrastructure have foiled all previous attempts to extract so-called rare earth minerals, as well as oil and gas. No efforts have ever progressed beyond the exploratory stage, and a moratorium on new gas and oil permits has been in place for several years.
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick responds to death threats; Perkasie man charged
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick responds to death threats; Perkasie man charged
Aaron Michael McComsey, 44, was arrested on October 15, 2026, after allegedly sending threatening emails to Fitzpatrick's office in August. The indictment states that McComsey demanded $6,000 to cover his medication costs and threatened the representative after losing his health insurance.
Anthropic wants you to be nice to Claude, which it thinks is conscious...Joseph Gordon-Levitt has something to say about that
Anthropic Wants You to Be Nice to Claude (Thanks to Kabir for these)
Anthropic thinks its AI might be conscious. It has profound consequences for your life
You should be nice to AI agents if you want their best performance (Facebook link; Instagram Link)
Related:
Saturday, October 17, 2026
College football player dies days after suffering traumatic injury during game
College football player dies days after suffering traumatic injury during game (Thanks to Natalie for this one)
 | |||||
|
Friday, October 16, 2026
Firefighters Race to Control California Wildfires as Winds Threaten to Spark More
Firefighters Race to Control California Wildfires as Winds Threaten to Spark More - The New York Times (Thanks to Jackie for this one)
The Norte fire in Orange County grew quickly on Friday afternoon. Officials ordered thousands of residents to evacuate.
 |
| Firefighters sprayed the remains of a home in San Juan Capistrano on Friday. Credit...Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images |
3 children, 1 teacher killed in shooting at Bend, Oregon, elementary school; teen suspect dead
3 children, 1 teacher killed in shooting at Bend, Oregon, elementary school; teen suspect dead (thanks to Harper for this one)
 |
| People gather outside Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, after reports of a shooting on Oct. 15, 2026. |
Teen Arrested Over Plan to Attack Hindu Temple, Officials Say
Teen Arrested Over Plan to Attack Hindu Temple, Officials Say (Thanks to Aliya for this one)
The suspect in suburban Chicago was in the parking lot of the temple on Sunday and told a co-worker that his gun had jammed, the authorities said.
Thursday, October 15, 2026
The Next Draft Student Writing Contest
The Next Draft Student Writing Contest - National Council of Teachers of English
Prompt One:
Identify an existing literary work and describe how it has shaped your understanding of our country. How does this work enrich your understanding about our shared past, present, or future in the United States? What does this work inspire you to consider for the future of the United States?
Note: This competition defines literary works as published works of literature or literary arts, inclusive of fiction and nonfiction literature, poetry, song lyrics, and film scripts. Responses should be no longer than 10 pages (not including works-cited), double-spaced, and include only the student’s first and last name and submission title along with the writing.
Judging for this prompt will include weighted criteria toward the analysis of the selected literary work in conjunction with original interpretation to the understanding and/or inspiration it prompts.
Prompt Two:
Create an original multimodal work that celebrates what the United States means to you and/or inspires you to share about future possibilities for the United States.
Multimodal submissions must be accompanied by a reflective essay/artist’s statement of up to two pages, double-spaced, explaining the student’s creative choices using the tools of their chosen medium.
This competition considers multimodal works to encompass a wide range of texts across media types. The following are examples of potential multimodal submissions; submissions may include other kinds of works in different mediums:
- Photo essays or pseudo-magazine covers, newspaper front pages, or film posters.
- Digital games, like a piece of interactive fiction or a Twine story.
- Video essays (should be limited to 10 minutes).
Judging for this prompt will include criteria weighted toward the original, creative work and the reflective essay/artist’s statement.
AI:
Because this contest celebrates youth experience and voice tied to the humanities, all submissions must be generated exclusively by humans. Generative AI word, image, video, audio, and other similar technologies cannot be used in the research, development, production, review, or at any other stage in the creative process.
Arimasuton, a Singular Labor of Love in Tokyo, Nears Completion
Arimasuton, a Singular Labor of Love in Tokyo, Nears Completion
In Tokyo, a Handmade Temple of Concrete is Two Decades in the Making. Architect Keisuke Oka’s Arimasuton building is a rejection of Japan’s disposable architecture.
Man Found in Barrel in Lake Mead in 2022 Is Identified by Las Vegas Police
Man Found in Barrel in Lake Mead in 2022 Is Identified by Las Vegas Police
The victim was shot once in the head in the early 1980s, the authorities said, and was identified after family members from Arkansas could provide a DNA match.
Police would like to know what happened to Edward Jackson.
Five Who Lived Along Walking Trail Are Dead and the Police Hunt a Killer
Five Who Lived Along Walking Trail Are Dead and the Police Hunt a Killer
Lansing’s police chief says the string of attacks along a greenway raises the possibility that a serial killer of homeless men has been at work. A man is under arrest in one of the deaths.
 |
| Police investigators hunted for evidence near the scene of a fatal stabbing in August.Credit...Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal, Reuters |
An Influencer’s Punishment Is a Pinned Instagram Post
An Influencer’s Punishment Is a Pinned Instagram Post
A dispute over online misinformation about the F-Factor diet led to an unusual agreement: an apology video that must be pinned to the top of social feeds for three and a half years and payments of $500 a month for 40 years.
 |
| Emily Gellis, an influencer who usually posts lifestyle content, shared an apology video on her social platforms as part of a legal settlement.Credit...Emily Gellis |
 |
| Tanya Zuckerbrot at an event in 2026.Credit...Roy Rochlin/Getty Images |
Bend Elementary School Shooting Kills 3 Children and a Teacher
Another child and teacher were critically injured, according to the police in Bend, Ore. The suspect, a 16-year-old from Bend, was also dead.
Why Six Flags might not be liable for teacher's deadly plunge from 'Goliath' coaster
Why Six Flags might not be liable for teacher's deadly plunge from 'Goliath' coaster (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)
 |
| Hassan Kariem |
 |
| Goliath |
Sexual Assault Report at Chicago Frat Upends Another Elite Campus
Sexual Assault Report at Chicago Frat Upends Another Elite Campus
The University of Chicago said the suspect and victim were not students at the school. But the accusation drew scrutiny after revelations of a reported gang rape at Cornell University in New York.
Related: Cornell’s Powerful Board Meets as It Fights to Protect Its Reputation - The New York Times
Social media star Bryce Hall faces felony domestic violence charge in Las Vegas
Social media star Bryce Hall faces felony domestic violence charge in Las Vegas (Thanks to Lucy for this one)
The incident is alleged to have happened July 27.
New Yorkers’ Favorite Chinese Dumplings
New Yorkers’ Favorite Chinese Dumplings (Thanks to Addy for this story)
We asked creative types to share their local picks, from fish shumai to vegetarian varieties.
Defying Trump, Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes
Defying Trump, Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed overt frustration with the United States in an interview with The Financial Times. He had paused the strikes to comply with a demand from the United States.
Why Russia Sees a Window to Bomb Ukraine Into Submission
Moscow is not winning on the battlefield. Instead, it is seizing an opening to inflict immense human suffering in Ukrainian cities.
The Race to Defend Kyiv Against Terrifying New Jet-Powered Drones
Ukrainian engineers are rushing to perfect A.I.-guided, jet-driven interceptors. Their goal: to stop a fast Russian threat in the latest round of a deadly tech duel.
How U.S. Support to Ukraine Has Evolved Under Trump - The New York Times
Russia Was Losing. Enter President Trump.
Trump’s Democracy-for-Diesel Deal Shames Us All
 |
| President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in London on Wednesday.Credit...Pool photo by Henry Nicholls |
Trump Cancels Planned Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution
Trump Cancels Planned Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter’s Execution
The president said only immediate families of the victims of the mass shooting in 2009 would witness the execution of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.
 |
| A memorial for the soldiers killed in the mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, in April 2014. Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times |
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
There’s Worlds Out There More Habitable Than Earth
There’s Worlds Out There More Habitable Than Earth - The New York Times
Scientists believe there are planets outside our solar system where life is even more abundant and sustainable.
Leo XIV’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis Tests a Papacy Still Taking Shape
Leo XIV’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis Tests a Papacy Still Taking Shape - The New York Times
For a pope who appeared to have time on his side, cancer has raised questions about his longevity and brought a new urgency to his plans for the church.
 |
| Pope Leo arriving at a hospital in Rome ahead of his surgery on Tuesday. The cancer diagnosis changes the outlook for a pope whose relative youth suggested he might have decades to reign.Credit...Ciro De Luca/Reuters |
Kelly Clarkson’s Feud With Art of Play: What to Know - The New York Times
In an episode involving a famous singer and a purveyor of esoteric toys, everyone has an opinion about who made the big mistake. Big. Huge!
 |
| At Art of Play in Brooklyn, the shelves are lined with curiosities and a singing bird automaton is displayed on a wall.Credit...Graham Dickie/The New York Times |
Cornell Bans Fraternity Parties and Adds Sexual Assault Investigators
Cornell Bans Fraternity Parties and Adds Sexual Assault Investigators - The New York Times
The expansive changes to campus life, including working closely with the state police, come in the wake of the national uproar caused by allegations of a gang rape at a fraternity house.
Cyberattack Hits Hundreds of Supermarket Refrigeration Systems in France
Cyberattack Hits Hundreds of Supermarket Refrigeration Systems in France - The New York Times
The attack targeted a Danish software system in more than 400 supermarkets, forcing some shops to throw out frozen produce. The attackers have not been identified.
Tupac Shakur Murder Conviction Lands Man 40 Years to Life in Prison
Tupac Shakur Murder Conviction Lands Man 40 Years to Life in Prison - The New York Times
Duane Keith Davis was convicted by a jury of obtaining a gun and pursuing the rapper in a violent act of revenge in 1996.
‘Honey Please’: The Steep Rise and Sudden Fall of Kimberly Guilfoyle.
‘Honey Please’: The Steep Rise and Sudden Fall of Kimberly Guilfoyle. - The New York Times
President Trump cut her loose after damaging news reports about her tenure as ambassador to Greece. Once a prominent Trump insider, she suggested she will now fight to defend her reputation.
Zelensky to Visit U.K. as Ukraine Presses Allies on Intelligence Sharing; Sudden Starlink Restrictions Deepen Ukraine’s Vulnerability as Russia Escalates
Zelensky to Visit U.K. as Ukraine Presses Allies on Intelligence Sharing - The New York Times
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine received “no early warning from our partners” about a Russian attack. President Trump has said Washington is still “sharing intel.”
Sudden Starlink Restrictions Deepen Ukraine’s Vulnerability as Russia Escalates - The New York Times
A huge attack cut power to 600,000 people in Kyiv, and a Pentagon-funded satellite program appeared to be curbed without warning.
New Insights on Inflation, U.S. Economy and the Fed
New Insights on Inflation, U.S. Economy and the Fed - The New York Times
The Consumer Price Index rose 3.7 percent in September from a year earlier, faster than a month earlier, as gas prices surged 34 percent.
Guatemala teen wakes up in coffin at her own funeral, shocking mourners
Guatemala teen wakes up in coffin at her own funeral, shocking mourners (Thanks to Sam F for this one)
 |
| A 15-year-old girl in Guatemala shocked mourners by waking up in her coffin after her father mistakenly declared her dead (Jam Press) |
Monday, October 12, 2026
“Has No Friends”: Amazon Is Keeping Amazingly Detailed Records on Its Customers and They Are Downright Insulting
“Has No Friends”: Amazon Is Keeping Amazingly Detailed Records on Its Customers and They Are Downright Insulting (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)
Here's how to check yours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)