Hispanic Community March 2018

Congress' Immigration Push Sputters As Guns Grab Attention [Beyond Education]

It's taken just two weeks for Washington's immigration battle to fade from blistering to back-burner. Lawmakers now seem likely to do little or nothing this election year on an effort that's been eclipsed by Congress' new focus on guns, bloodied by Senate defeats and relegated to B-level urgency by a Supreme Court ruling. Talks have gone dormant that sought a bipartisan package: A chance for citizenship for young immigrants brought to the country illegally and $25 billion for President Donald Trump to erect his treasured wall with Mexico. Even a proposal dangling modest wins for both sides seems a longshot.

Hispanic Community March 2018

US Makes Cuba Staffing Cuts Permanent After 'Health Attacks' [Beyond Education]

The United States said Friday it was making permanent its decision last year to withdraw 60 percent of its diplomats from Cuba, citing a need to protect American personnel from what the State Department calls "health attacks" that remain unexplained. In October, the department ordered non-essential personnel and all family members to leave Havana, arguing the U.S. could not protect diplomats from unexplained illnesses that have harmed at least 24 Americans.

Global March 2018

CASA And Give Back Partner To Send Foster Youth To College [On A Positive Note In Education]

Nonprofit organizations Court Appointed Special Advocates of Will County(CASA) and Give Something Back (Give Back) announced an official partnership at CASA's annual gala, where more than $100,000 was raised. The partnership combines CASA's advocacy with Give Back's college readiness and scholarship program to provide children impacted by abuse and neglect the opportunity to achieve a college degree. The union advances both organizations' commitment to foster youth in Illinois.

Global March 2018 Premium

Not Real News: A Look At What Didn't Happen This Week Beyond Education

A roundup of some of the most popular, but completely untrue, headlines of the week. None of these stories are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked each of these out, including the original sources, and debunk them.

Arts and Media March 2018

'Shape of Water' Triumphs At An Oscars Awash In Change [Beyond Education]

Guillermo del Toro's "The Shape of Water" swam away with best picture at an Oscar ceremony flooded by a sense of a change for a movie business confronting the post-Harvey Weinstein era. "The Shape of Water," which came in with 13 nods, took a leading four awards, including best production design, best score and best director for del Toro.

Arts and Media March 2018

Cultural Powerhouse 'Coco' Wins Oscar For Best Animation [Beyond Education]

"Coco," the tear-jerking adventure tale of a Mexican boy who learns the importance of honoring his ancestors after getting stuck in an eye-popping netherworld of the dead, won the Oscar for best animated feature on Sunday. The Pixar film is one of the largest U.S. productions ever to feature an almost entirely Latino cast.

Global March 2018

Where Help May Finally Reach the Desperate and Bombarded

"The Shape of Water" won for best picture at the Oscars. An aid convoy has entered the suburbs of eastern Ghouta. President Donald Trump announced that he intends to place tariffs on imported aluminum and steel. Despite Euroskeptic parties forcing a surge in Italy's parliamentary election, neither party gained enough support to govern alone.

Hispanic Community March 2018

AP News Guide: DACA Deadline Arrives With Diminished Urgency [Beyond Education]

A program that temporarily shields hundreds of thousands of young people from deportation was scheduled to end Monday but court orders have forced the Trump administration to keep issuing renewals. In September, Trump said he was ending the DACA program but gave Congress six months to develop a legislative fix. Those whose permits expired by March 5 had one month to apply for renewal.

Hispanic Community March 2018

Arkansas Community College Earns Hispanic-serving Institution Designation [Education News]

A southwest Arkansas community college has earned the U.S. designation of being a "Hispanic-serving institution," becoming what officials say is the first school in the state with such a title. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the U.S. Department of Education recently awarded the designation to Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas.

Arts and Media March 2018

50 High Schools Rise Above 1,000 Applicants To Claim NBC's R.I.S.E. America Grants [On A Positive Note In Education]

Fifty high schools have risen above 1,000 applicants to claim NBC's R.I.S.E. America grants. The program – inspired by the network's upcoming drama "Rise" about a high school theatre department and its effects on a small town – is awarding a half-million dollars to high school theatre programs across the country.

Financing March 2018

Foundation Seeks To Retract $100M Pledge To U Of Chicago [Education News]

A family that in 2015 pledged $100 million to the University of Chicago is suing to void its commitment, saying the school failed to live up to its promises. The lawsuit by The Thomas L. Pearson and The Pearson Family Foundation was filed last month in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma. The foundation wants a judge to void the deal and recoup for it nearly $23 million already given the university to establish The Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts.

Financing March 2018

Florida Legislators Agree To Boost College Financial Aid [Education News]

Florida's top performing high school students may get a boost in help for college under a bill passed by the Florida Legislature. Both the House and Senate on Monday passed a sweeping higher education bill that would permanently increase the amount of money provided under the state's popular Bright Futures scholarship. It heads to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott, who vetoed a similar bill last year.

Global March 2018

Trump Backs Off Push for Raising Assault Rifle Purchase Age

President Donald Trump backs off pushing to raise the assault rifle purchase age, and his administration has pledged to help states pay for training teachers on how to use firearms. The same helicopter that plunged into the East River was involved in a fatal crash in 2009. A plane crash in Nepal kills dozens. Despite the president's rhetoric, little has changed on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Hispanic Community March 2018

Ahead Of Trump Wall Tour, Little Change On US-Mexico Border [Beyond Education]

Trump will inspect eight prototypes for a future 30-foot border wall when he visits the border on Tuesday. Border barriers extend the same 654 miles they did under President Barack Obama, and so far, Trump hasn't gotten Mexico or Congress to pay for a new wall. Hundreds of Mexicans still cross the border and line the sidewalks of Calexico's tiny downtown by 4 a.m. daily.

Global March 2018

Trump Doesn't Set Age For Guns, Defers On Arming Teachers [Educations News]

President Donald Trump's plan to prevent school shootings doesn't increase the minimum age for purchasing assault weapons to 21 and leaves the question of arming teachers to states and local communities. Instead, a new federal commission on school safety will examine the age issue as part of a package in response to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last month that left 17 dead.