Month: October 2020

Demanding End to 'Toxic Testing,' Teachers Call for Duncan's Resignation

The National Education Association (NEA) has approved a national campaign to roll back the “test blame and punish” policies that have dominated education policy in recent decades and have called for the resignation of Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, who the union says has spearheaded the Obama administration’s “toxic testing” push. “The testing fixation…

By HearthstoneYarns October 14, 2020 0

California Charged with 'Rubber-Stamping' Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths

Environmental groups on Tuesday called out the state of California for illegally pushing new agricultural uses for certain pesticides despite mounting evidence that they are devastating honeybee populations. A suit (pdf) filed by Earthjustice charges that the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is “rubber-stamping” the approval of new pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids or neonics, “without…

By HearthstoneYarns October 14, 2020 0

Militants Seize Iraq's Largest Dam

Islamic State militants overtook Iraq’s largest dam, another oilfield, and three additional towns on Sunday, increasing their control of crucial natural resources and infrastructure while forcing many thousands of civilians to flee their homes.  “Capture of the Mosul Dam after an offensive of barely 24 hours could give the Sunni militants the ability to flood…

By HearthstoneYarns October 14, 2020 0

Pulitzer Winners Rally for Risen

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters and press freedom organizations gathered at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. at 1 p.m. Thursday to voice their support for New York Times journalist James Risen’s right to protect his sources. Preceding the event, a petition signed by over 125,000 supporters was delivered to the Justice Department asking it to…

By HearthstoneYarns October 14, 2020 0