Elizabeth Shockman

What wildfire smoke is doing to your health Tiny particles in wildfire dig into the lungs and sometimes reach the bloodstream. Preliminary state data shows an increase in ER visits during and immediately after smoke alerts.

Tiny particles in wildfire dig into the lungs and sometimes reach the bloodstream. Preliminary state data shows an increase in ER visits during and immediately after smoke alerts.

Federal data has been disappearing under Trump There’s been a “targeted, surgical removal of data sets, or elements of data sets, that are not aligned with the administration’s priorities,” said Denice Ross at the Federation of American Scientists...

"Since the Trump administration took office in January, threats to the availability and comprehensiveness of federal data have reached a new level, impacting everything from national health and crime statistics to key economic reports. " www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

Education Department says it's releasing more than $5 billion in frozen grants The grants fund a wide range of education programs, including migrant education, services for English language learners and adult education.

"Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle lobbied to release the funds, citing financial strain on states and local communities. Several states have also sued the administration in an effort to get the funds released." www.npr.org/2025/07/25/n...

They came for an education. Then the immigration crackdown began. Many urban school districts like Minneapolis Public Schools welcomed immigrant students with open arms during the Biden administration. But Trump’s promise of mass deportations has left those students...

I spent a year visiting with a middle school class of new immigrant students, as national politics took an anti-immigrant turn. Here's their story. sahanjournal.com/education/im...

Trump Releases $1.4 Billion He Withheld From After-School Programs More than $5 billion for education remains frozen.

Scoop: The Education Department today told states it will send out $1.4 billion previously frozen funds for before/afterschool programs on Monday.

BUT: states will have to accept a new condition related to federal civil rights laws.

More for @edweek.org: www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump School Funding Freeze Has Some Districts Scrambling to Save 'Science of Reading' PD Teachers need ongoing assistance to make difficult shifts in teaching reading. Some districts had counted on the withheld Title II funding.

The U.S. Department of Education’s decision to withhold federal funding for the K-12 sector means that some schools will have to find new ways to maintain their professional development programs for reading instruction.

Don’t believe those viral TikToks — you are not the last generation to see fireflies There’s a grain of truth in the social media frenzy: Fireflies are facing many environmental threats, and certain species of fireflies are threatened with extinction.

No, you are not the last generation to see fireflies. Don't believe everything you see on the internet (except for me, obvs, I won't lead you astray)

Federal funding loss is 'irreplaceable' for Granite Falls-based Pioneer PBS Shari Lamke, general manager of Pioneer PBS, joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to share how the lost revenue would affect the station and the public.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

The Back-to-School Traditions Teachers Swear By Inspirational films, day-one activities, time capsules, and oodles of coffee are among the ideas educators shared with us.

MN teachers and principals, what are your favorite back to school traditions? www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Republicans Urge Trump to Release $6.8 Billion in School Funding He's Held Back The funds that were supposed to go out July 1 pay for teacher training, English learner services, after-school programs, and more.

New: Ten Republican senators wrote to the Trump admin. today urging the restoration of $6.8 billion for education Trump impounded earlier this month.

Cutting federal education funding with no notice runs counter to "returning education to the states," senators say. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Parents, Head Start Providers Challenge New Rule Barring Undocumented Families ACLU argues Trump administration can’t unilaterally change Head Start’s definition from an early education to a federal public benefit program.

Parents and Head Start providers challenge new rule barring undocumented families. @amandageduld.bsky.social reports

A wide view of the U.S. Capitol building in the background along with the Education Department headquarters in the foreground on a sunny morning. A headline reads: “Supreme Court Clears Way for Dismantling of Education Department.” Photo credit: Eric Lee/The New York Times.

The Supreme Court agreed to allow the Trump administration to proceed with dismantling the Education Department by firing thousands of workers. trib.al/RDmgOEa

Twin Cities coach reported for sexual abuse continued working for years A 12-year-old boy reported Excell Academy basketball coach Aaron Hjermstad for sexual abuse in 2015, but he kept teaching and abusing kids.

This story! sahanjournal.com/public-safet...

Minnesota enacts first-in-nation law requiring mental health warnings on social media Supporters say the pop-up messages could encourage Minnesotans, especially kids, to think twice about how much time they spend on sites. But social media companies argue that Minnesota’s law, the firs...

"Beginning next summer, Minnesotans scrolling social media sites will get a pop up warning." by @bydanaferguson.bsky.social www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Since COVID, threats to local school officials have nearly tripled, research finds Researchers at Princeton University say some instances corresponded with national attacks on DEI initiatives as well as on LGBTQ+ policies and that the targets held a variety of political views.

Researchers at Princeton University say some instances corresponded with national attacks on DEI initiatives as well as on LGBTQ+ policies and that the targets held a variety of political views.

Trump administration backs away from abolishing FEMA As Trump heads to Texas to see the impact of last week’s deadly flash floods, the White House has backed away from plans to abolish FEMA, officials said.

As President Trump heads to Texas to see the impact of last week’s deadly flash floods, the White House has backed away from plans to abolish FEMA, officials said.

Gallup has new polling on immigration. Topline findings:
-Americans hate Trump's immigration policy (35% approve, 62% disapprove)
-Share who say immigration is a "good thing" for the country just hit an all-time high (79%)

news.gallup.com/poll/692522/...

This sort of result is why I tell my students they can absolutely not trust AI. My headshot is literally with my bio in the first Google result.

Trump administration withholds millions in funding from Minnesota schools The money had been mandated by Congress for spending on the most vulnerable students as well as teacher professional development.

Money allocated for these programs was approved by Congress and signed into law by Trump earlier this year. But last week districts learned the Trump administration would withhold that legally mandated money www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Gabbard’s team has sought spy agency data to enforce Trump’s agenda A team created by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has sought access to emails and chat logs of the largest U.S. spy agencies to root out “weaponization.”

Exclusive: A team created by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is interested in gaining access to emails and chat logs of U.S. spy agencies with the aim of using AI to hunt for efforts that undermine President Trump’s agenda.

‘Sticker shock’: Inflation, Ozempic drive health care costs higher for Minnesota schools School districts across Minnesota are struggling to contain double-digit health insurance cost increases. Some officials say inflation and accelerating prescription costs, especially for new weight lo...

Rising costs due to inflation and covering drugs like Ozempic have left Minnesota school staff facing huge health premiums — some districts say they may lose teachers and hourly workers.

“They’re going to be paying to work here," said the superintendent of Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa district.

‘Someone’s got to help’: Minnesota volunteers give injured, orphaned animals a chance Trained wildlife rehabbers work to save injured and orphaned wildlife. Most get no pay. They scrape by on grants and help from local volunteers, doing the work for the joy of giving animals a chance t...

A network of trained wildlife rehabbers work to save injured and orphaned animals at the Northwoods Wildlife Rescue near Menahga. Most get no pay. They scrape by on grants and help from local volunteers, doing the work for the joy of giving animals a chance to return to the wild.

Rescuers sit in a small boat on a river surrounded by destroyed trees.

When catastrophic floodwaters surged through Kerr County in Texas last week, there were no sirens or early flooding monitors. Officials had considered installing a flood warning system in 2017, but it was rejected as too expensive. https://trib.al/Wmybccf

Kids are making deepfakes of each other, and laws aren’t keeping up Schools and lawmakers are grappling with how to address a new form of peer-on-peer image-based sexual abuse that disproportionately targets girls.

Over the past few years, there has been case after case of school-age children using deepfakes to prank or bully their classmates. And it keeps getting easier to do.

See How Much School Funding Trump Is Holding Back From Your State The administration is holding back nearly $7 billion for English learners, after-school programs, professional development, and more.

This is $7 billion dollars the federal government is legally required to pay. Instead of following the law, the Trump administration is withholding this money. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...

Trump administration throws a $7 billion wrench into school budgets The Education Department is holding back funding previously approved by Congress for teacher training, English learners, migrant education, and after-school programming. Advocates worry the Trump admi...

“Local school districts can’t afford to wait out lengthy court proceedings to get the federal funding they’re owed — nor can they make up the shortfall, especially not at the drop of a pin.” www.chalkbeat.org/2025/07/01/t...

Two dead bodies, one remote island and a whisper network: What happened on Isle Royale? The Lake Superior island off Minnesota’s coast grapples with a mysterious north woods tragedy.

www.startribune.com/two-dead-bod...

Federal investigation finds Harvard violated civil rights law The Trump administration has issued a notice of violation accusing Harvard University of "deliberate indifference" toward Jewish and Israeli students.

The Trump administration has issued a notice of violation accusing Harvard University of "deliberate indifference" toward Jewish and Israeli students.

An open letter to the American public on respiratory virus vaccines Read an open letter to the general public from the AMA and medical societies reaffirming support for vaccination to protect against flu, COVID-19, and RSV.

www.ama-assn.org/delivering-c...