Warminster Red-Light Cameras Coming to Street Road: What Drivers Need to Know
New Pa. License Plates Still Causing Wrong E-ZPass Charges
Friday, October 23, 2026
Mississippi AG says use of force was 'justified' in fatal shooting of toddler
Mississippi AG says police shooting that killed 1-year-old was ‘justified’ (Thanks to Aliya for this one)
Kohen Wiley was killed in June when officers fired at a car at a Walmart parking lot. A friend of Wiley’s mother, who was driving, was injured.
Mississippi attorney general says officer's force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley
Mississippi AG says use of force was 'justified' in fatal shooting of toddler
Students at an A.I. School Were Supposed to Learn Faster. Many Aren’t.
Students at an A.I. School Were Supposed to Learn Faster. Many Aren’t. (Thanks to Jackie for this one)
Alpha School, a private network, is spreading into public education. While its students’ test scores are high, some parents and educators say it doesn’t live up to the hype.
First-of-Its-Kind Vaccine Ushers in New Hope for Cancer Patients
First-of-Its-Kind Vaccine Ushers in New Hope for Cancer Patients (Thanks to Natalie for this one)
Beyond melanoma, scientists are studying cancer vaccines for glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer and more.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
New vape shop law takes effect in Pennsylvania
New vape shop law takes effect in Pennsylvania (Thanks to Sam for this one)
The law requires vape shops to only sell from an approved list of items, like vape pens and e-liquid.
Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion for Deceiving Users on Privacy; Meta will pay Zuck's tax bill
Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion for Deceiving Users on Privacy
The penalty, one of the largest levied against a tech giant, stemmed from a lawsuit by New Mexico claiming the social media company had misled users about their data privacy.
Meta Raises Its A.I. Spending, as Cash Pressures Grow
The spending has hurt the Silicon Valley giant’s cash flow, which turned negative. Meta said it would issue a new class of stock to help it raise more money.
How Mark Zuckerberg Pushed Meta to Shield Him From California’s Proposed Wealth Tax
The billionaire told Meta’s board that he planned to list his Silicon Valley home for sale. The company remade its stock structure to help him pay the tax if voters pass it.
Life Feeling Too Expensive? It’s Not Just You...And It’s Not Just Inflation
Life Feeling Too Expensive? It’s Not Just You....And It’s Not Just Inflation.
Affordability is expected to be a major issue for younger voters in the midterms. Here’s a snapshot of some reasons people are feeling pinched.
Employers Shift Rising Health Care Costs Onto Millions of Workers
New surveys show that increases in premiums and deductibles are forcing people to forgo treatments or doctor’s visits while budgets are strained by higher food and gas prices.
In San Francisco, a Family Earning $325,000 Qualifies for Government Aid
With the A.I. boom driving up prices, the city is subsidizing child care for households with high incomes. Even with the help, families say they are struggling.
She Braved Sharks and Storms to Swim the Length of California
She Braved Sharks and Storms to Swim the Length of California
“It feels surreal being done, this has been my entire life for nearly four months,” said Catherine Breed, who finished her historic journey near the Mexico border on Monday.
Good news: Pope Needs No Further Treatment for Lung Cancer, Doctors Say
Pope Needs No Further Treatment for Lung Cancer, Doctors Say
Test results after the operation showed that the cancer was localized.
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| Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday. |
Student Protests Mushroom Across Europe, Exposing Bleak Views of the Future
Student Protests Mushroom Across Europe, Exposing Bleak Views of the Future
Since high school students began protesting in France in September, they’ve been joined by young demonstrators in at least seven other European countries: Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Albania and Belgium. Others are likely to follow as the youth of France has given a language to their counterparts in other countries to protest their rejection and fatigue.
Looted Goods From French Stores Flood Resale Sites After Riots
Officials in France are pressing online platforms like eBay and Vinted to remove items that were stolen during public disturbances over the weekend.
Strike on Saudi Airport Kills 2 as U.S. Tells Some Diplomats to Leave
Strike on Saudi Airport Kills 2 as U.S. Tells Some Diplomats to Leave
For weeks, the Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking the kingdom’s aviation and energy sectors.
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| King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Note: this airport was built by the Saudi Binladin Group, the bin Laden family construction firm founded by the father of Osama bin Laden. |
Putin releases American Stephen Hubbard, 74-year-old American English teacher from Russian prison
Putin Nears a Prize: Restoring Ties With the U.S. While Giving Up Nothing
Russia has sought to separate the war in Ukraine from potential business deals and diplomacy with the United States. Its efforts now appear to be working.
Putin releases American Stephen Hubbard, 74-year-old American English teacher from Russian prison
Former U.S. ambassador on Trump's recent moves to embrace Russia
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| Stephen Hubbard in court in Moscow in 2024 after being taken out of his home in Ukraine. |
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| Russian fuel lines in August of 2026 |
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| The U.S. has taken a new friendly position towards Russia while pressuring Ukraine to cease its military operations. |
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
How YouTube junk is infiltrating classrooms
How YouTube junk is infiltrating classrooms (Thanks to Lucy for this one)
How much YouTube are kids watching at school?
What’s Next for the Beach Boys?
What’s Next for the Beach Boys? - The New York Times (Thanks to Willa for this one)
Mike Love has been a constant, and sometimes contentious, steward of the band’s performances. Health problems and a recent concert appearance have prompted fans to ask what the future holds.
Trump’s Push for Deals With Russia Powers His Frustration With Ukraine
Trump’s Push for Deals With Russia Powers His Frustration With Ukraine
The series of recent steps by the president that seem to favor Vladimir Putin reflect his intensifying desire to normalize the relationship with Moscow even if it means further undercutting Ukraine.
Russia kills Ukrainian baby in stroller during strike on park — as civilian deaths surge 85%
Christiane Amanpour Says She Is Leaving CNN After 43 Years
Christiane Amanpour Says She Is Leaving CNN After 43 Years - The New York Times
The chief international anchor, one of the most famous names in broadcast news, started as an assistant at the network in 1983.
Rain or Shine, Japan’s ‘Dancing Salaryman’ Can’t Stop Grooving
Rain or Shine, Japan’s ‘Dancing Salaryman’ Can’t Stop Grooving
Toru Utsumi, 60, works as a management consultant, but on his days off, he has become a global internet star — despite some local disapproval.
France Protests Show Europe’s Shift Away From Centrist Politics
France Protests Show Europe’s Shift Away From Centrist Politics - The New York Times
Europe’s centrist parties are losing ground among young people and workers, who are increasingly tempted by populist promises of radical change.
The rioting across France is a symptom of a much larger public and political crisis
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| City Hall in Limoges was burned on Saturday.Pascal Lachenaud/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images |
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| French President Emmanuel Macron meets with the Emir of Kuwait (unseen) at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City on October 19, 2026. The French president arrived in Kuwait on October 19, beginning a tour of four Gulf countries, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar. (Photo by Benoit Tessier / POOL / AFP via Getty Images) - Benoit Tessier/Pool/AFP/Getty Images |
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.
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