Sandy Spring Friends School, a long-standing independent Quaker institution in Montgomery County, Maryland, announced on Monday that it will permanently close at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. The school’s leadership, including Board of Trustees members and top administrators, shared the difficult news in a letter addressed to families, faculty, students, and the local community. In the letter, school officials cited an unsustainable financial situation as the drivi

A growing clash between academic independence and federal oversight has erupted into a full-scale standoff after the Trump administration announced a freeze on over $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University. The decision comes after the Ivy League institution firmly rejected a list of sweeping federal demands, including audits of student viewpoints and the dismantling of diversity and inclusion programs. On Monday night, the administration's Joint Task Force to Combat

The City of Dallas has officially named Justin Ball as the next Chief of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR), making him the 18th person to hold the position in the department’s long-standing history. Ball, who has been serving as interim chief since June 2024, was selected from a competitive pool of 32 candidates and is set to formally take over as chief on April 23, 2025. A native of northeast England, Chief Ball brings with him nearly three decades of experience within the Dallas Fire-Rescue De

Austin Independent School District (AISD) is facing mounting pressure from both performance and leadership crises as parents, students, and community members raise concerns about the future of local campuses. Thursday night’s board meeting revealed deep-seated challenges within the district, including the uncertain status of Dobie Middle School and the sudden resignation of a principal at a renowned all-girls school. One of the most pressing concerns is Dobie Middle School, wh

A wave of student visa revocations at universities across the U.S. has left hundreds of international students in limbo, with Texas institutions such as the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), University of North Texas (UNT), Texas A&M, and UT Austin among those affected. School officials are scrambling to support affected students while seeking clarity from federal authorities regarding the reasoning behind these abrupt visa terminations. Although the exact cause of the revoca

The City of Dallas has revealed that a miscalculation in commercial remodel permit fees has resulted in a significant financial shortfall, costing the city approximately $8.6 million. The error was disclosed during a recent Economic Development Committee meeting and has prompted urgent calls for reform to prevent further losses. The issue stems from an internal mistake following the adoption of a new permit fee structure introduced in spring 2024. According to the Planning and Development Dep

A grand jury in Harris County has indicted 38-year-old Lee Mongerson Gilley for capital murder in the death of his wife, Christa Gilley, also 38, whose body was discovered in their home in The Heights neighborhood of Houston on October 7, 2024. Christa was approximately eight weeks pregnant at the time of her death, and the indictment includes charges related to the deaths of both her and the unborn child. According to initial police reports, officers were dispatched to the Gilley residence o

The University of Texas at Austin has announced the immediate termination of its Flags program, a cornerstone of its graduation requirements for the past two decades. The university will replace it with a skills-based educational model designed to better align with workforce demands, student flexibility, and public scrutiny around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Flags program required undergraduates to complete coursework in cultural diversity, global cultures, ethics,

Efforts to halt the long-discussed Houston-to-Dallas high-speed rail project have returned to the Texas state legislature, reigniting a decade-long battle over one of the most ambitious transportation proposals in the state’s history. The Texas Central Railway project, which aims to connect Houston and Dallas in under 90 minutes using Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train technology, is once again under scrutiny in Austin, where lawmakers are advancing bills aimed at limiting or complet

  Amtrak has officially resumed its full Hiawatha train service between Chicago and Milwaukee, putting an end to nearly two weeks of disruptions that forced the company to rely on bus substitutions due to railcar shortages. The return of uninterrupted rail operations on the Hiawatha line marks a significant relief for daily commuters and regional travelers who rely on the route as a consistent and efficient means of transportation. The disruption began on March 27, wh

For ambitious students who aspire to work at the world’s top companies, the University of Bath School of Management offers an ideal launchpad. Known for its rigorous academics, global outlook, and real-world learning experience, this prestigious UK business school is helping students transition from the classroom to boardrooms across the globe. Graduates from the School of Management are now working with globally admired companies such as Apple, Deloitte, PwC, Samsung, Amazon, and Goldman

Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity—but without smart financial planning, it can become overwhelming. Here’s a detailed guide with practical tips to help you manage your money wisely, so you can focus on your education and enjoy your global experience stress-free.   1. Build a Realistic Budget and Track It Religiously Start by listing your monthly income (scholarships, family support, part-time work) and break down your expense

Dallas County’s health department is currently grappling with significant financial challenges after losing two federal grants that totaled $70 million. These federal grants, which were frozen as part of the broader effort under the Trump administration to cut government spending, played a crucial role in funding key public health initiatives, including immunizations and research. The decision to rescind these grants has left Dallas County’s Health and Human Services scrambling to

This month, a University of Minnesota graduate student was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking significant concern and protests among students and faculty. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting the student's involvement in campus protests, federal officials confirmed that the detention was related to a prior criminal history, specifically a DUI arrest, and the subsequent revocation of the student's visa by the U.S. Department of State. The Department of Ho

United States – The U.S. government announced Monday it will initiate a sweeping review of $9 billion in federal funding to Harvard University over allegations of anti-Semitism and campus unrest linked to pro-Palestinian protests. This move marks the latest escalation by President Donald Trump’s administration in its campaign against elite academic institutions that have seen intense student demonstrations related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The General Services Administration co

The University of Houston has responded to controversy surrounding a course titled Lived Hindu Religion, which was criticized by a student as being “Hinduphobic” and politically biased. In an official statement released via ANI on March 28, the university firmly reiterated its support for academic freedom and the role of scholarly inquiry in addressing complex and sometimes controversial issues. The backlash originated when Vasant Bhatt, a political science major and Hind

In a significant move aimed at reshaping the American education system, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the closure of the Department of Education. This bold move aligns with long-standing Republican ambitions to transfer educational authority to individual states and reduce federal involvement in schools. The signing ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House, where Trump, surrounded by schoolchildren, proudly displayed the signed order.

India has strongly rejected Pakistan's recent accusations of "sponsoring terrorism," following Islamabad's attempt to blame New Delhi for backing terror activities. The statement came in response to Pakistan's allegations linked to the recent Balochistan train attack, which claimed the lives of 21 passengers. However, Pakistan stopped short of directly linking India to the attack, instead shifting blame toward Afghanistan. In a firm response, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperso

Over 150 hostages have been successfully rescued after a train hijacking incident in Pakistan's Balochistan region, where armed rebels intercepted the Jaffar Express. The train, carrying over 400 passengers, was ambushed by militants linked to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in a remote mountainous area. The incident, which occurred inside a tunnel on the Quetta-Peshawar route, resulted in intense clashes between the militants and Pakistani security forces. The standoff ended with t

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, resulting in the deaths of six Pakistani military personnel and sparking a tense hostage situation. The train, carrying approximately 400 passengers in nine bogies, was traveling from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was attacked. According to railway officials quoted by Reuters, BLA fighters targeted the