Insight ::: 10.07.2024

WALZ: TRUMP S TILL STILL DENIES HE LOS T LOST 2020 ELECTION 2020

By Stacy M. Brown

Newswire

NNPA

Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, faced off in the only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election on Tuesday night, which began with a measured tone but eventually escalated into a combative exchange. The debate, which CBS News hosted at their Broadcast Center in New York and Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan moderated, covered a range of important national issues, with Vance’s connections to former President Donald Trump and the January 6 uprising emerging as key flashpoints.

The debate’s early moments were largely civil, as both candidates laid out their platforms and shared their visions on topics such as foreign policy and the economy. However, tensions flared when Vance was asked about Trump’s recent comment that childcare was “not very expensive” compared to the money the

By Stacy M. Brown

Newswire Senior

Special Counsel Jack Smith has delivered a powerful legal blow to former President Donald Trump, unveiling new evidence that the twice-impeached Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results were part of a private scheme rather than actions taken in his official capacity as president. In a 165-page legal brief unsealed Wednesday, Smith provided new details about Trump’s behind-thescenes maneuvers to subvert the election, including pressure campaigns targeting key officials, attempts to create false electors, and private discussions with his

country would gain from his policies. Vance explained that Trump was referring to the nation’s ability to raise funds by “penalizing companies shipping jobs overseas” and those using “slave laborers.” But Vance sidestepped when pressed on whether Trump was committed to the child tax credit, redirecting the discussion to economic penalties for outsourcing, prompting frustration from Walz.

The debate took a sharper turn when Vance was questioned about the 2020 election and Trump’s role in the January 6 insurrection. Rather than directly answering whether Trump lost the 2020 election, Vance defended the former president’s actions that day, stating, “Remember, [Trump] said that on January the 6th, the protesters ought to protest peacefully, and on January the 20th, what happened? Joe Biden became the president. Donald Trump left the White House.” Walz responded forcefully, calling Vance’s failure to answer directly “a damning non-answer.” He continued, “To deny what happened on January 6, the first

vice president, Mike Pence.

The filing reveals the extent of Trump’s interactions with figures such as attorney Rudy Giuliani and other senior officials, some of whose names were withheld. Trump persisted with a plan to undercut Joe Biden’s victory despite numerous warnings from people in his circle that his claims of a stolen election were untrue.

Smith’s brief is part of a broader strategy to prove that Trump can face trial for his actions, even after a Supreme Court ruling granted him immunity for official acts as president. The special counsel argues that Trump’s efforts to enlist Pence in blocking Congress’s certification of the election results were part of a private, illegal campaign to retain power, not part of his official duties.

time an American president or anyone tried to overturn an election, is unacceptable. This has got to stop. It’s tearing our country apart.” Walz also drew attention to the broader implications of Vance’s remarks, reminding voters of the violence on January 6, including a march on the governor’s mansion in Minnesota. “What I’m concerned about is, where is the firewall with Donald Trump? Where is the firewall if he knows he could do anything,

“At its core, the defendant’s scheme was a private criminal effort,” Smith wrote in the filing. “In his capacity as a candidate, he used deceit to target every stage of the electoral process.”

The document provides new evidence of Trump’s attempts to sway election officials in critical swing states to alter the results in his favor. The brief quotes a lawyer advising Trump, who gave an “honest assessment” that his claims of widespread fraud would not withstand scrutiny in court. Yet, Trump dismissed the warning. “The details don’t matter,” Trump said, according to the filing.

Further, the brief recounts private conversations between Trump and Pence, in which Pence urged Trump to accept defeat and consider

including taking an election, and his vice president’s not going to stand up to it? That’s what we’re asking you, America,” Walz said, clarifying that accountability for democracy was at stake in the 2024 election.

Vance avoided direct answers on election integrity and instead pivoted to discussions of censorship, blaming tech companies for “censoring their fellow citizens” and touting Trump’s endorsements by former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy

another run in 2024. Trump, however, expressed reluctance, saying, “2024 is so far off.” Smith’s filing depicts Trump’s actions as part of a desperate and illegal campaign to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. The brief also points to Trump’s reliance on Giuliani and other private allies in his election subversion attempts, asserting that none of these efforts fell under the scope of presidential duties.

“The defendant asserts that he is immune from prosecution for his criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election because, he claims, it entailed official conduct,” the filing reads. “Not so. Although the defendant was the incumbent president during the charged conspiracies, his scheme was fundamentally a private one.”

Jr. He continued to defend Trump’s policies, including tax cuts and immigration, while steering clear of addressing the core issue of Trump’s role in questioning the election results. The debate further escalated as the two candidates clashed over climate change, healthcare, and gun violence. On climate change, Walz highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s investments in clean energy and infrastructure, citing the Inflation Reduction Act as a crucial step in addressing the crisis. “We’ve made massive investments in electric vehicles, solar technology, and job creation because we know climate change is real,” Walz said. Vance countered by downplaying the urgency, arguing that Democrats were not serious about the issue. “If they really believed climate change was serious, they’d be doing more manufacturing and energy production here in America. That’s not what they’re doing,” he said, accusing Democrats of using climate change as a political slogan rather than implementing real solutions. Gun violence also

sparked a heated back-andforth. Vance proposed increased school security measures, suggesting, “We need to make sure the doors lock better, strengthen windows, and add school resource officers.” Walz quickly criticized the proposal, asking, “Do you want your schools hardened to look like a fort?” He pressed for more comprehensive gun control measures, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of violence. Ultimately, Walz positioned himself as a champion of middle-class families, touting healthcare and affordable housing policies. At the same time, Vance remained firmly aligned with Trump, repeatedly defending the former president’s record and platform. Walz appealed to voters to choose leaders who will protect democratic institutions, saying, “When Mike Pence made that decision to certify the election, that’s why Mike Pence isn’t on this stage.” Vance, meanwhile, reflected on his loyalty to Trump, asserting that “Donald Trump delivered for the American people.”

Commons

Smith during a statement regarding the indictment of Donald J. Trump.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, with Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, on stage after the vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.

By Ana Radelat MinnPost

Minnesota was on the debate stage alongside Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance on Tuesday night, which was notable both for its civility and its political punching.

Walz repeatedly schooled the nation on how things work in Minnesota, pushing back on Vance’s attacks on Harris’ policies on everything from the nation’s housing shortage to health care by explaining how the state responded to those challenges.

When Vance attacked Minnesota, saying a state law allows doctors to ignore the health needs of an infant born in a late term abortion, Walz said “that is not true.”

“In Minnesota, what we did was restore Roe v. Wade. We put women back in charge,” Walz said. “In Minnesota we are ranked first

in healthcare for a reason. We trust doctors, we trust women.”

He also said “Minnesota has the lowest teen pregnancy rates.”

Walz was criticized by several analysts for not pushing back against Vance hard enough at critical moments.

“I like and respect Tim Walz. I’m voting for him and Harris. But he has the killer instinct of a manatee,” GOP strategist and never-Trumper Mike Murphy posted on X.

Vance’s smooth, television-honed style contrasted with Walz’s blunt and less-practiced approach. Walz was more comfortable attacking Donald Trump than Vance, who on several issues said he could find common ground with his counterpart.

Walz was on stronger footing when he attacked the Trump-Vance plan to provide the nation with affordable housing –which involved selling federal land to developers. He promoted

Harris’ plan to give first-time homebuyers a $25,000 tax credit and other help and compared it to efforts in Minneapolis to increase affordable housing, saying the city “does not have a lot of federal land.”

Walz turned on Vance for Trump’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, saying “I come from a major health care state,” and lauded Rochester’s Mayo Clinic twice.

“If you need heart surgery, listen to the people at the Mayo Clinic and not Donald Trump,” Walz said.

Promoting Harris’ proposed $6,000 child tax credit, Walz said “we have one in Minnesota, too.” Ditto for Harris’ paid family leave plan. “We implemented it in Minnesota and it became a pro-business state,” he said.

When Vance declined to answer whether he believed Trump lost the 2020 election, saying he was “focused on the future,” Walz

pushed back, saying “that is a damning non-answer.”

Vance responded that it was a “damning nonanswer” for Walz not to condemn what he said were Democratic attempts to censor speech on social media — a reference to attempts to ban hate speech and dangerous posts.

Polls indicate that a significant share of Americans have not formed opinions about either Vance or Walz, and both debaters shared their life stories.

Vance recounted his rough childhood as a son of an opioid-addicted mother who lived with a grandmother dependent on Social Security and attended college on the GI bill. And Walz said he was a child of a small town where “you rode your bike with your buddies until it got dark.”

“My community knows who I am,” Walz said.

In the post-debate spin room, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said, “You heard a

lot about Minnesota today.”

She said she would have handled the debate differently — and perhaps not as politely. “Tim Walz is Tim Walz and I am me,” Klobuchar said.

“I think the American people got to see two different visions. Tim is a North Star.

He’s blunt,” she said. “JD Vance may not have seemed heartless, but his policies are heartless.”

Walz used his first question, regarding Iran and Israel, to hit at Trump’s age.

“A nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes is not what we need in this moment,” he said.

But the most memorable line of the debate may have been Walz’s admission that he was “not perfect.”

“I am a knucklehead sometimes,” he said.

Rep. Tom Emmer, R-6th District, attacked the governor by repeating that quote on X and adding, “I think Minnesotans would agree.”

KAMALA HARRIS

REUTERS/Mike Segar

Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz shown during Tuesday night’s debate hosted by CBS in New York.

Walz

and Vance keep it civil in a policyheavy

discussion: VP debate takeaways

Vice presidential hopefuls Tim Walz and JD Vance focused their criticism on the top of the ticket on Tuesday as they engaged in a policy-heavy discussion that may be the last debate of the 2024 presidential campaign.

It was the first encounter between Minnesota’s Democratic governor and Ohio’s Republican senator, following last month’s debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. It comes just five weeks before Election Day and as millions of voters are now able to cast early ballots.

Tuesday’s confrontation played out as the stakes of the contest rose again after Iran fired missiles into Israel, while a devastating hurricane and

potentially debilitating port strike roiled the country at home. Over and again, Walz and Vance outlined the policy and character differences between their running mates, while trying to introduce themselves to the country. Here are some takeaways from Tuesday’s debate.

With Mideast in turmoil, Walz promises ‘steady leadership’ and Vance offers ‘peace through strength’ Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on Tuesday elicited a contrast between the Democratic and Republican tickets on foreign policy: Walz promised “steady leadership” under Harris while Vance pledged a return to “peace through strength” if Trump is returned to the White House. The differing visions of what American leadership should look like overshadowed the sharp policy differences between the two tickets.

The Iranian threat to

the region and U.S. interests around the world opened the debate, with Walz pivoting the topic to criticism of Trump.

“What’s fundamental here is that steady leadership is going to matter,” Walz said, then referenced the “nearly 80-year-old Donald Trump talking about crowd sizes” and responding to global crises by tweet.

Vance, for his part, promised a return to “effective deterrence” under Trump against Iran, brushing back on Walz’s criticism of Trump by attacking Harris and her role in the Biden administration.

“Who has been the vice president for the last three and a half years and the answer is your running mate, not mine,” he said. He pointedly noted that the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, happened “during the administration of Kamala Harris.”

Vance and Walz punch up rather than at each other

Vance and Walz trained the bulk of their attacks not on their onstage rivals, but on the running mates who weren’t in the room.

Both vice presidential nominees sought to convey a genial mien as they lobbed criticism at Harris and Trump, respectively.

It was a reflection of the fact that most voters don’t cast a ballot based on the vice president, and on a vice presidential nominee’s historic role in serving as the attack dog for their running mates.

Walz pointedly attacked Trump for failing to meet his pledge of building a physical barrier across the entire U.S.-Mexico border at the country’s southern neighbor’s expense.

“Less than 2% of that wall got built and Mexico didn’t pay a dime,” Walz said. Underscoring the focus on the top of the ticket,

Health risks are rising in mountain areas flooded by Hurricane Helene and cut off from clean water, power and hospitals

By Jennifer Horney Professor of Epidemiology and Core Faculty of Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware

Hurricane Helene’s flooding has subsided, but health risks are growing in hard-hit regions of the North Carolina mountains, where many people lost access to power and clean water.

More than 150 deaths across the Southeast had been attributed to Hurricane Helene within days of the late September 2024 storm, according to The Associated Press, and hundreds of people remained unaccounted for. In many areas hit by flooding, homes were left isolated by damaged roads and bridges. Phone service was down. And electricity was likely to be out for weeks. As a disaster epidemiologist and a native North Carolinian, I have been hearing stories from the region that are devastating. Contaminated water is one of the leading health risks, but residents also face harm to mental health, stress that exacerbates chronic diseases and several other threats.

Water risks: What you can’t see can hurt you Access to clean water is one of the most urgent health concerns after a flood. People need water for drinking, preparing food, cleaning, bathing, even flushing toilets. Contact with contaminated water can cause serious illnesses.

Floodwater with sewage or other harmful contaminants in it can lead to

infectious diseases, particularly among people who are already ill, immunocompromised or have open wounds. Even after the water recedes, residents may underestimate the potential for contamination by unseen bacteria such as fecal coliform, heavy metals such as lead, and organic and inorganic contaminants such as pesticides.

In Asheville, the flooding caused so much

damage to water treatment facilities and pipes that officials warned the city could be without running water for potentially weeks. Most private wells also require electricity to pump and filter the water, and many people in surrounding areas could be without power for weeks. State and federal agencies began delivering

By Brett Buckner Guest Commentary

I have seen firsthand how public health crises disproportionately impact communities of color. We’ve battled systemic issues like inadequate healthcare, lack of mental health resources, and the overwhelming stress of economic inequality for years. But today, I want to talk about another growing crisis that is quietly destroying the health and futures of our young people: illegal youth vaping. Illegal vaping devices, often unregulated and easily accessible, are flooding our schools, parks, and neighborhoods. These devices are not just harmful to health; they are actively marketed to Black youth through slick social media ads, fruity flavors, and the promise of “cool.” As much as this is an issue of public health, it is also one of racial and social justice. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the power to crack down on this illicit industry, but too often, it seems that enforcement is lax, sporadic, or entirely absent. While vaping rates among teenagers have exploded, enforcement of laws designed to protect them has not kept pace. We need more from the FDA, and we need it now.

Youth vaping has become an epidemic in America. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 high school students used e-cigarettes in 2021. Among Black youth, that number continues to rise at alarming rates. What’s worse, our communities already suffer from higher rates of respiratory issues like asthma, often tied to poor housing conditions and environmental racism. Adding illegal vaping into the mix is a recipe for disaster. Vaping companies claim their products are meant for adult smokers trying to quit, but the reality is that flavors like “Cotton Candy” and “Gummy Bear” aren’t marketed to adults. They are bait for children. And when the FDA fails to enforce bans on flavored vapes, we see who pays the price—our kids.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended an WNBA game, cheering on the Minnesota Lynx from the stands of Target Center. The atmosphere was electric—fans of all ages came together to watch some of the best athletes in the world do what they do best. But this game felt like more than just sports entertainment. It was a celebration of excellence, a showcase of talent, and a powerful reminder of the ability of women to shape their futures and demonstrate their greatness. As I looked around, I noticed young girls with signs cheering on their favorite players, their eyes wide with admiration. It struck me that these girls were growing up in a world where women’s professional sports were not just present but thriving. For many in Gen Z, this is what we have always known: watching the USA women’s soccer team redefine what it means to be a

champion, seeing Simone Biles soar to unimaginable heights in gymnastics, and witnessing the WNBA’s rise in popularity and influence. This is the norm for us—a world where women are front and center in sports. But as we celebrate these achievements, we cannot ignore the darker undercurrent that has grown alongside this progress. The rise in visibility and success has also been met with a surge in hate, racism, and bullying—particularly targeting Black women athletes. During my time at the Lynx game, I felt pride in watching these athletes play, but ongoing reports of racist attacks against players like Angel Reese and Alyssa Thomas remind us that being a Black woman in sports often means being a target for hate. This season alone, we’ve seen incidents of racist and homophobic remarks, particularly from so-called ‘fans’ hiding behind anonymous social media accounts. Whether it’s vitriol aimed at Brittney Griner during her agonizing detention in Russia or backlash against the WNBA’s activism, the message is clear: for some, these women are celebrated only when they conform to a narrow, unthreatening image of who a

HURRICANE HELENE 5

Brett Buckner

Flooding across North Carolina’s mountains left many residents with muddy, debris-strewn yards and flooded homes.

WALZ VS VANCE 5

United States Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan

Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota.

By Bill Barrow, Zeke Miller and Nicholas Riccardi Associated Press

Columnist

By Haley Taylor Schlitz, Esq.

Walmart employees to get expanded cancer treatment options with the Mayo Clinic

By Anne D’Innocenzio and Tom Murphy Associated Press

Walmart’s employees and their dependents are being offered expanded cancer treatment with doctors at the Mayo Clinic through the retailer’s insurance coverage.

The nation’s largest private employer said Wednesday that those covered by the insurance and diagnosed with most types of cancer will be able to get a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic and then travel to the clinic for treatment if needed.

The retail giant’s action comes as more employers seek better care options and are paying particular attention to cancer treatments, benefits experts say.

Walmart’s cancer program had been offering employees and their dependents help from the Mayo Clinic on breast, lung, colon, prostate, pancreatic and blood cancers. It is now expanding the coverage

By Emily N. Garbinsky

Mindfulness, the meditation practice that brings one’s attention to present experiences, is gaining traction in the business world.

Researchers have long known that being mindful causes physical and mental benefits such as better brain health, decisionmaking and stress resilience. Major companies such as Google, Aetna and Intel offer mindfulness training programs as a way to boost employee well-being and productivity.

Building on this trend, financial products and services are starting to use the term “financial mindfulness” as a way to appeal to consumers. For instance, Fidelity talks about the importance of mindfulness in saving and investing, while PNC and Vanguard focus on regulating your emotions during financial planning.

to include most other cancers. The only exceptions are three skin cancers — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and localized melanoma — which can be

Retailers offer financial mindfulness journals that claim to help people distinguish needs from wants and set financial goals. Books such as “Mindful Money” and “The Mindful Millionaire” explore how to achieve peace and prosperity through money management. Fintech has hopped on the financial mindfulness bandwagon, with apps such as Financial Mindfulness, Allo: Mindful Money Tracker and Aura, a mindful money management platform designed to “help you put your money to work and anxiety to rest.”

But not everyone agrees on what “financial mindfulness” means –and does it even matter?

The short answer is yes.

What financial mindfulness is

Together, our team has 32 years of experience investigating the psychology of consumer finance. Georgetown professor Simon Blanchard and I, along with Cornell Ph.D.

treated at a local doctor’s office, the company said. Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minnesota, and with locations in Arizona and Jacksonville, Florida, has

student Lena Kim, conducted the first large-scale academic study on financial mindfulness. We began by conducting a dozen hourlong interviews to ask: “What does financial mindfulness mean to you?”

The people we interviewed were from various life stages, from their late teens to early 60s, and they could speak to different kinds of financial stressors: everything from how to best manage college debt, to how to navigate the financial and emotional stress of a divorce, to how to stay on track with retirement saving. Our interviews revealed two main abilities that consumers associate with being financially mindful: high levels of financial awareness, or knowing what you have and what you owe; and high levels of financial acceptance.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean being complacent. Instead, it’s about being able to face unpleasant financial decisions without letting your emotions take over.

We used these two components to create an eightitem scale to measure how financially mindful someone is.

been expanding its work with companies beyond Walmart, partnering with employers including Whirlpool and 3M. It has a complex care program that covers 10 million people,

said Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Lyell Jones

Employers have become more focused on connecting people with good care as they watch their health

care costs climb.

Companies have long sent patients to care providers that they rate as so-called “centers of excellence,” benefits experts say. The push started with bariatric surgery. It then expanded to spine surgeries and hip or knee replacements.

Cancer care is probably the newest wave of this approach, said Maura Cawley, a senior partner at consulting firm Mercer.

These centers also give them a chance to offer more options for

Planning for cancer care also has become a

focus for employers in general. Aside from connecting people with good care, companies are doing more to encourage early detection and being flexible with patient work and treatment schedules, Cawley said. “It’s a

Why financial mindfulness matters We then wanted to examine whether financial mindfulness actually results in better financial decisions. Past research has shown that practicing general mindfulness makes people less likely to fall prey to the sunk cost bias: the tendency to continue working on something just because you’ve already invested large amounts of money, effort or time.

As an example, people are told that an investment strategy they developed over several months is not working, and there is no way to recover their lost time or money. Those who show the bias decide to continue with their current investment strategy even though they know it’s not working.

Importantly, when we measured how generally mindful someone is, as well as how mindful they are about finances in particular, we found that their level of financial mindfulness is a better predictor of the decision to change their investment strategy. Put differently, people with a good awareness of their finances, and who are willing to accept their financial situation, are better able to resist the sunk cost bias, since they are better able to manage emotions surrounding their money.

In addition to collecting our own data, we also partnered with two fintech apps that allowed us to administer our financial mindfulness scale to their customers.

those who are more financially mindful have higher credit scores. Every 1-point increase in financial mindfulness was associated with a 14.8-point increase in credit score.

Increasing financial

mindfulness

In the current economic climate, financial stress is a major concern for many Americans, leading to anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Here are some practical steps to bring mindfulness to your finances: Build financial awareness: Track and monitor your spending habits using available software, tools and apps, such as those offered through your bank. This will help you understand your relationship with money and build financial awareness. You can’t have financial mindfulness without knowing what’s going on with your own money. Develop financial acceptance: You also need to accept your financial situation, even if your finances are not where you want them to be. Take advantage of services such as money coaches or online communities for money matters. Talking about money helps. Learn about your money personality – your core beliefs about whether money can solve problems and what financial goals are

With Aura Finance, a wealth-management app that targets young, high-earning women, we examined each user’s percentage allocation of stocks versus bonds, a common measure of investment risk tolerance. There is no optimal split level between stocks and bonds, but younger people are typically advised to take on more financial risk. Although we did not include the Aura data in our published paper, when we matched users’ scale scores to their portfolios, we found that financially mindful users were willing to take on more risk in their portfolios.

With Debbie, an app that helps customers track progress toward repaying debt and provides rewards when they achieve goals, we found that

AP Photo/Charles Krupa,

Walz

during a back-and-forth about immigration, Vance said to his opponent, “I think that you want to solve this problem, but I don’t think that Kamala Harris does.”

It was a wonky policy debate, with talk of risk pools, housing regulations and energy policy

In an age of worldclass disses optimized for social media, Tuesday’s debate was a detour into substance. Both candidates took a lowkey approach and both enthusiastically delved into the minutiae.

Walz dug into the drafting of the Affordable Care Act when he was in the House in 2009, and pushed Vance on the senator’s claim that Trump, who tried to eliminate the law, actually helped preserve it.

Vance, defending his claim that illegal immigration pushes up housing prices, cited a Federal Reserve study to back himself up. Walz talked about how Minneapolis tinkered with local regulations to boost the housing supply. Both men talked about the overlap between energy policy, trade and climate change.

It was a very different style than often seen in presidential debates over the past several election cycles.

Buckner

From 3

This is not just a public health crisis; it’s a predatory practice targeting Black youth. The longterm health consequences of vaping—lung damage, nicotine addiction, and the gateway effect leading to other substances—

From 3

extra bottled water to the region shortly after the storm, but supplies were limited, and it’s likely that a number of people won’t be able to reach the distribution sites soon. Access to fresh food is another concern for many areas with roads and bridges washed out. Inside homes, floodwater can create more health risks, particularly if mold grows on wet fabrics and wallboard. Standing water outside also increases the risk of exposure to mosquitoes carrying diseases such as West Nile virus. Mosquitoes are still active in much of the region in the fall.

Inundation, isolation and access to health care

Many of the images in the news after the hurricane hit showed roads, hospitals and entire towns inundated by floodwaters. In North Carolina, more than 400 roads were closed, blocking access to the major regional health care hub of Asheville, as well as many smaller communities.

While supplies can be airlifted to clinics, residents needing urgent access to treatments such as dialysis or daily medications for substance use disorders may have been cut off. Health care workers may be unable

Vance stays on the defensive on abortion

Walz pounced on Vance repeatedly over abortion access and reproductive rights as the Ohio senator tried to argue that a state-by-state matrix of abortion laws is the ideal approach for the United States. Walz countered that a “basic right” for a woman should not be determined “by geography.”

“This is a very simple proposition: These are women’s decisions,” Walz said. “We trust women. We trust doctors.”

Walz sought to personalize the issue by referencing the death of Amber Thurman, who waited more than 20 hours at the hospital for a routine medical procedure known as a D&C to clear out remaining tissue after taking abortion pills. She developed sepsis and died.

Rather than sidestep the reference, Vance at one point agreed with Walz that “Amber Thurman should still be alive.”

Vance steered the conversation to the GOP ticket’s proposals he said would help women and children economically, thus avoiding the need for terminating pregnancies. But Walz retorted that such policies — tax credits, expanded childcare aid, a more even economy — can be pursued while still allowing women to make their own decisions about abortion.

Both candidates put a domestic spin on climate change

are too severe for us to turn a blind eye. We cannot allow this generation of Black youth to be sacrificed for corporate profits. The FDA has the authority to regulate and enforce bans on the sale of flavored and unregulated vaping products, but enforcement has been inconsistent. We see pop-up vape shops on every corner, many operating outside of any legal boundaries.

to access their clinics as well.

Cuts and other injuries are common in the aftermath of storms, as people clean up debris, and even small wounds can become infected. The stress, exertion and exposure to heat can also exacerbate chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Mental health and long-term effects

Beyond the risks to physical health, the fear, stress and losses can affect mental health.

Research has consistently shown that emergency responders’ mental health can suffer in widespread disasters, particularly when they know disaster victims, deal with severe injuries or feel helpless. All of those conditions were present as Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters swept away dozens of people, with many more still listed as missing.

Stigma, cost and a lack of mental health care providers all add to the ongoing challenges to mental health after disasters. Research shows that a large percentage of people face mental health challenges after disasters.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, two federal grant programs provide mental health services support to individuals and communities after disasters. However, one of those sources of funding ends after 60 days,

with praise but with derision?

In the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Vance took a question about climate change and gave an answer about jobs and manufacturing, taking a detour around Trump’s past claims that global warming is a “hoax.”

Vance contended that the best way to fight climate change was to move more manufacturing to the United States, because the country has the world’s cleanest energy economy. It was a distinctly domestic spin on a global crisis, especially after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the international Paris climate accords during his administration.

Walz also kept the climate change focus domestic, touting the Biden administration’s renewable energy investments as well as record levels of oil and natural gas production. “You can see us becoming an energy superpower in the future,” Walz said.

It was a decidedly optimistic take on a pervasive and grim global problem.

Walz, Vance each blame opposing presidential candidate for immigration stalemate

The two running mates agreed that the number of migrants in the U.S. illegally is a problem. But each laid the blame on the opposing presidential nominee.

Vance echoed Trump by repeatedly calling Harris the “border czar” and suggested that she, as vice president,

Convenience stores and gas stations sell these products to minors without consequence. The FDA’s response?

single-handedly rolled back the immigration restrictions Trump had imposed as president. The result, in Vance’s telling, is an unchecked flow of fentanyl, strain on state and local resources and increased housing prices around the country.

Harris was never asked to be the “border czar” and she was never specifically given the responsibility for security on the border. She was tasked by Biden in March 2021 with tackling the “root causes” of migration from the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and pushing leaders there and in Mexico to enforce immigration laws. Harris was not empowered to set U.S. immigration policy — only the president can sign executive orders and Harris was not empowered as Biden’s proxy in negotiations with Congress on immigration law.

Walz advanced Democrats’ arguments that Trump single-handedly killed a bipartisan Senate deal to tighten border security and boost the processing system for immigrants and asylum seekers. Republicans backed off the deal, Walz noted, only after Trump said it wasn’t good enough.

Both candidates leaned on tried-and-true debate tactics — including not answering tough questions

Asked directly whether Trump’s promise to deport millions of illegal immigrants would remove

parents of U.S.-born children, Vance never answered the question. Instead, the senator tried to put his best spin on Trump’s plan to use the military to help with deportations and pivot to attacking Harris for a porous border. Asked to respond to Trump’s having called climate change a “hoax,” Vance also avoided a response.

The debate kicked off with Walz being asked if he’d support a preemptive strike by Israel against Iran. Walz praised Harris’ foreign policy leadership but never answered that question, either.

And at the end of the debate, Vance would not answer Walz’s direct question of whether Trump indeed lost the 2020 election.

Walz has stumbles and lands punches in uneven night

Walz had several verbal stumbles on a night in which he admitted to “misspeaking” often. In the debate’s opening moments, he confused Iran and Israel when discussing the Middle East.

At one point he said he had “become friends with school shooters,” and he stumbled through an explanation of inaccurate remarks about whether he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. ( He was not.)

But the governor noticeably put Vance on the defensive over abortion and, near the end of the debate,

Often too little, too late. The lack of enforcement around illegal youth vaping is symptomatic of a broader issue: the neglect of Black communities when it comes to public health. Our kids deserve the same level of protection and investment that affluent, majority-white communities receive. The FDA has to understand that this isn’t just about vaping; it’s about whether they value the lives and futures of Black children. Our children are being preyed upon, and the FDA is not doing enough to stop it. Every day that passes without stronger enforcement is another day that more of our youth get hooked on nicotine, suffer respiratory illnesses, or worse. This crisis calls for urgency. The FDA must start prioritizing the health of Black youth by cracking down on illegal vape sales and ensuring that all our communities are protected. For the sake of our children’s futures, we cannot wait any longer.

the other after one year. Given the decades of recovery facing western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, I believe these programs are woefully inadequate to meet the mental health needs of the populations affected by the storm.

Flooded regions will need long-term help Western North Carolina is often described as a “climate refuge” because of its cooler summers. And Asheville in particular has become a popular place for retirees and new residents. Recent data shows the city has the second highest migration rate in the nation.

But Helene and other extreme storms that have flooded the region make its vulnerabilities clear. In the aftermath of the flooding, newcomers unfamiliar with the risks and longtime residents alike will be dealing with ongoing health concerns as they try to clean up and rebuild from the storm. Even as attention shifts to other disasters, the people in this region will still need help to recover for months and years to come.

Jennifer Horney receives funding from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Science Foundation (NSF), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Health Resources and Service Administration

with a pointed question about whether Trump won the 2020 election.

Vance stays on a limb on Jan. 6 insurrection

The candidates went out of their way to be polite to each other until the very end, when Vance refused to back down from his statements that he wouldn’t have certified Trump’s 2020 election loss. Vance tried to turn the issue to claims that the “much bigger threat to democracy” was Democrats trying to censor people on social media. But Walz wouldn’t let go.

“This one is troubling to me,” said Walz, noting that he’d just been praising some of Vance’s answers. He rattled off the ways Trump tried to overturn his 2020 loss and noted that the candidate still insists he won that contest. Then Walz asked Vance if Trump actually lost the election.

Vance responded by asking if Harris censored people.

“That is a damning non-answer,” said Walz, noting that Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, wasn’t on the debate stage because he stood up to Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, and presided over Congress’ certification of the former president’s loss.

“America,” Walz concluded, “I think you’ve got a really clear choice on this election of who’s going to honor that democracy and who’s going to honor Donald Trump.”

As a Black community activist, I know our power lies in our ability to organize, speak out, and demand change. This is a fight for the health and wellbeing of our youth. We need the FDA to step up and enforce the laws designed to protect them. But we also need our communities to rally together, demand accountability, and push for the resources that will safeguard our children’s futures. The FDA’s inaction is no longer an option. Our kids’ lives depend on it.

female athlete should be. The moment they step outside those lines—whether by speaking out on social justice or simply by being unapologetically themselves—the hate emerges.

We saw this in the online backlash when Angel Reese, a young Black woman, was celebrated for her unapologetic confidence, only to be attacked with demeaning labels for behavior that is praised in male athletes. The WNBA’s recent comments in support of its players has been strong, but it’s telling that such support is even necessary in the first place. Why is it that when Black women athletes excel, they are often met not

Even the media narrative is telling. For years, Black women athletes have been framed in a negative light or treated as foils instead of champions in their own right. The same happened with Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and countless others who dared to rise to the pinnacle of their sports. This is a reality Gen Z women like myself have grown up watching. We’ve seen how society celebrates athletes who fit a certain mold and punishes those who don’t. But the lesson we’ve learned is that success is not defined by the applause of others; it’s defined by the courage to keep pushing forward, to keep playing, and to keep fighting for what’s right, even in the face of hate.

The WNBA is more than just a league. It’s a movement. It’s a testament to what happens when women

refuse to back down, when they use their platforms to call for change—whether on racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, or gender equality. Watching the Lynx game a few weeks ago, I felt the power of what these athletes represent: the audacity to be great and the resilience to stand tall in a world that often tries to tear you down. Gen Z, we see what’s happening. We see how racism and misogyny try to chip away at greatness. But we are also watching as these women fight back. And just as they refuse to let hate dictate their paths, so too will we refuse to let it shape our futures. So, to the Black women athletes of the WNBA, thank you for being a beacon of strength and excellence. Your greatness is a light that no amount of hate can extinguish.

Delaware SeaGrant, Delaware Department of Transportation and Delaware

(HRSA),

Division of Public Health. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Hurricane Helene

Por Jesús Chucho García Translation By Macdonald Anyanwu

Anyanwu

Los haitianos no comen perros. Los haitianos contribuyeron a la lucha contra la esclavitud a principios del siglo XIX en Estados Unidos. En los Archivos de Nueva Orleans hay documentos de varias rebeliones antiesclavistas, como la liderada por los africanos Samba Bambara apoyados por

By

XVIII. Con la revolución haitiana de 1791, muchos terratenientes y dueños de plantaciones de azúcar huyeron a Nueva Orleans. Los dueños de las plantaciones trajeron consigo encadenados a los africanos que habían esclavizado en Haití. Entre los esclavizados se encontraba un africano llamado Charles Deslondes. El africano esclavizado de 31 años estaba siendo explotado en la plantación Woodland. El 8 de julio, Deslondes convocó a varios hombres y mujeres esclavizados de

otras plantaciones cercanas, formando un ejército de doscientas personas para marchar hacia Nueva Orleans y declarar su libertad. El 11 de julio estalló la rebelión y los colonialistas blancos con mayor poder de fuego reprimieron a los rebeldes, capturando así al líder Charles Deslondes. Le cortaron las manos. Luego le dispararon sin piedad en las dos piernas y luego le prendieron fuego al cuerpo al estilo de la Santa Inquisición que se practicaba en la vieja Europa. Las declaraciones de

Trump son un conjunto de odio racial y xenofobia contra los migrantes. La declaración hecha por el candidato republicano Donald Trump contra los migrantes haitianos en Estados Unidos demuestra en gran medida su ignorancia sobre uno de los pueblos con mayor trascendencia histórica en América y el Caribe: el pueblo haitiano. Este discurso despectivo contra los haitianos y los migrantes que llegan a Estados Unidos por diversas razones es evidencia de un discurso de

odio, xenofobia y odio racial. Trump ataca a los migrantes a sabiendas de que su madre, Mary Anne MacLeod, fue una migrante de la Isla de Lewis (Escocia), que trabajó como empleada doméstica durante un tiempo en Estados Unidos. El abuelo paterno de Trump, Friedrich Trump, provenía de la región de Kallstad-Baviera, Alemania, y emigró a Estados siendo padre de Friederich Trump, quien se casó con Mary A. Macleod, con quien tuvo a Donald Trump. Las raíces de Trump son

esencialmente migrantes. Los migrantes en Estados Unidos han contribuido no sólo con su cultura, sino con su profesionalismo a hacer de este país del norte una gran potencia. Entre las migraciones, las asiáticas, africanas, caribeñas y latinoamericanas han roto sin duda con el verticalismo eurocéntrico, verticalismo que un sector blanco de Estados Unidos pretende imponer y mantener con una visión xenófoba y racialmente discriminatoria.

New Orleans Archives there are documents of several antislavery rebellions, such as the one led by the African Samba Bambara supported by the Natches at the end of the 18th century. With the Haitian revolution in 1791, many landowners and sugar Orleans. The plantation owners brought with them in chains. the Africans they had enslaved in Haiti. Among those enslaved was an African named Charles Deslondes. The 31-year-old enslaved African was being

exploited on the Woodland plantation.

On July 8, Deslondes called together several enslaved men and women from other nearby plantations, forming an army of two hundred people to march toward New Orleans and declare their freedom.

On July 11, the rebellion broke out and the white colonialists with greater thus capturing the leader his hands. Then they mercilessly shot his two legs and then set

the Holy Inquisition that was practiced in old Europe.

Trump’s statements are a set of racial hate and xenophobia against migrants.

The statement made by Republican candidate Donald Trump against Haitian migrants in the United States largely demonstrates his ignorance about one of the peoples with the greatest historical and the Caribbean: the Haitian people. This derogatory speech against Haitians and migrants who come to the United States

for various reasons is evidence of a discourse of hate, xenophobia and racial hatred. Trump attacks migrants knowing that his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was a migrant from the Isle of Lewis (Scotland), who worked as a domestic worker for a time in the United States. Trump’s paternal grandfather, Friedrich Trump, came from the region of Kallstad-Bavaria, Germany and migrated to the United States at the end of the 19th century, fathering Friederich Trump, who married Mary A. Macleod, fathering Donald Trump. Trump’s roots are

Haitianos não comem cachorros. Os haitianos realmente contribuíram para a luta contra a escravidão no início do século XIX nos Estados Unidos. Nos Arquivos de Nova Orleans, há documentos de várias rebeliões antiescravistas, como a liderada pelo Samba Bambara Africano

do século XVIII. Com a revolução haitiana em 1791, muitos proprietários de terras e donos de plantações de açúcar fugiram para Nova Orleans. Os donos de plantações trouxeram com eles acorrentados os africanos que eles escravizaram no Haiti. Entre os escravizados estava um africano chamado Charles Deslondes. O africano escravizado de 31 anos estava sendo explorado na plantação Woodland. Em 8 de julho, Deslondes convocou vários homens e

mulheres escravizados de outras plantações próximas, formando um exército de duzentas pessoas para marchar em direção a Nova Orleans e declarar sua liberdade. Em 11 de julho, a rebelião estourou e os colonialistas brancos com maior poder de fogo derrotaram os rebeldes, capturando assim o líder Charles Deslondes. Eles cortaram suas mãos. Então atiraram impiedosamente em suas duas pernas e depois atearam fogo em seu corpo no estilo da Santa Inquisição que era praticada na velha Europa.

As declarações de Trump são um conjunto de ódio racial e xenofobia contra migrantes.

A declaração feita pelo candidato republicano Donald Trump contra migrantes haitianos nos Estados Unidos demonstra em grande parte sua ignorância sobre um dos povos nas Américas e no Caribe: o povo haitiano.

Este discurso depreciativo contra haitianos e migrantes que vêm para os Estados Unidos por vários motivos é evidência de um discurso de ódio, xenofobia

e ódio racial. Trump ataca migrantes sabendo que sua mãe, Mary Anne MacLeod, era uma migrante da Ilha de Lewis (Escócia), que trabalhou como empregada doméstica por um tempo nos Estados Unidos. O avô paterno de Trump, Friedrich Trump, veio da região de Kallstad-Baviera, Alemanha, e migrou para os Estados Unidos

Friederich Trump, que se casou com Mary A. Macleod, gerando Donald Trump.

As raízes de Trump são essencialmente migrantes. Os migrantes nos Estados Unidos contribuíram não apenas com suas culturas, mas com deste país do norte uma grande potência. Entre as migrações, as migrações asiáticas, africanas, caribenhas e latino-americanas sem dúvida romperam com o verticalismo eurocêntrico, um verticalismo que um setor branco dos Estados Unidos está tentando impor e manter com uma visão xenófoba e racialmente discriminatória.

Haitians don’t eat dogs. Haitians actually slavery in the early 19th century in the United States. In the

Jesús Chucho García

Translated by Macdonald Anyanwu

Por Jesús Chucho García

Haiti’s cultural festivals

Haitian migrant communities in the U.S

Charles Desolondes

Par Jesús Chucho García

La déclaration faite

par le candidat républicain Donald Trump contre les migrants haïtiens aux ÉtatsUnis démontre largement son ignorance à l’égard de l’un des peuples ayant la plus grande importance historique dans les Amériques et les Caraïbes : le

Haiti,

Dadka Haiti ma cunaan eeyaha. Haiti waxay dhab ahaantii gacan ka geysteen dagaalka ka dhanka ah addoonsiga horaantii qarnigii 19-aad ee Maraykanka. Kaydka New Orleans waxaa ku yaal dukumeenti dhowr jabhadood oo addoonsiga ka soo horjeeda, sida middii ay hoggaaminaysay Samba Bambara Afrikaan ah oo ay taageertay Natches dhamaadkii qarnigii 18aad.

peuple haïtien. Ce discours désobligeant contre les Haïtiens et les migrants qui viennent aux États-Unis pour diverses raisons est la preuve d’un discours de haine, de xénophobie et de haine raciale. Trump attaque les migrants sachant que sa mère,

Kacaankii Haitian ee 1791, mulkiilayaal badan iyo milkiilayaasha beerashada sonkorta waxay u carareen New Orleans. Dadkii beerta lahaa waxay la yimaadeen silsilado. Afrikaankii ay ku addoonsan jireen Haiti. Dadka la addoonsaday waxa ka mid ahaa Afrikaan la odhan jiray Charles Deslondes. 31-jirkii Afrikaanka ahaa ee la addoonsanayay ayaa laga faa’iidaysanayay beerta Woodland. Bishii Luulyo 8, Deslondes wuxuu isugu yeedhay rag iyo dumar dhowr ah oo la addoonsaday oo ka yimid beero kale oo u dhow,

Wahaiti,

Wahaiti hawali mbwa. Wahaiti kweli walichangia katika mapambano dhidi ya utumwa mapema katika karne ya 19 katika Marekani. Katika Hifadhi ya Nyaraka za New Orleans kuna hati za maasi kadhaa ya kupinga utumwa, kama vile ule ulioongozwa na Wasambara wa Kiafrika wa Samba ulioungwa mkono na Wanajeshi mwishoni mwa

karne ya 18. Pamoja na mapinduzi ya Haiti mnamo 1791, wamiliki wengi wa ardhi na wamiliki wa mashamba ya sukari walikimbilia New Orleans. Wamiliki wa mashamba walikuja nao kwa minyororo. Waafrika waliokuwa wamewafanya watumwa huko Haiti. Miongoni mwa wale waliokuwa watumwa alikuwa Mwafrika aliyeitwa Charles Deslondes. Mwafrika huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 31 aliyekuwa mtumwa alikuwa akinyonywa kwenye shamba la Woodland. Mnamo Julai 8,

Haitians,

Mary Anne MacLeod, était une migrante de l’île de Lewis (Écosse), qui a travaillé comme domestique pendant un temps aux États-Unis. Le grand-père paternel de Trump, Friedrich Trump, est originaire de la région de Kallstad-Bavière, en Allemagne, et a émigré aux

iyaga oo sameeyay ciidan ka kooban laba boqol oo qof si ay ugu socdaan New Orleans oo ay ku dhawaaqaan xorriyaddooda. Bishii Luulyo 11-keedii, kacdoonkii ayaa qarxay, gumaystayaashii caddaanka ahaa ee awoodda badnaa ayaa hoos u dhigay jabhadda, sidaas darteedna waxay qabteen hoggaamiyihii Charles Deslondes. Gacmihiisii bay ka gooyeen. Dabadeed waxay si naxariis darro ah u toogteen labadiisii lugood ka dibna meydkiisii ayay dab qabadsiiyeen qaabkii Baarista Qudduuska ah ee lagu dhaqmi jiray Yurub hore.

Deslondes aliwaita pamoja wanaume na wanawake kadhaa waliokuwa watumwa kutoka mashamba mengine ya karibu, na kuunda jeshi la watu mia mbili kuandamana kuelekea New Orleans na kutangaza uhuru wao. Mnamo Julai 11, uasi ulianza na wakoloni weupe kwa nguvu kubwa zaidi waliwaweka chini waasi, na hivyo kumkamata kiongozi Charles Deslondes. Wakamkata mikono. Kisha wakampiga risasi miguu yake miwili bila huruma na kisha kuuchoma moto mwili wake kwa mtindo wa Baraza Takatifu la Kuhukumu Wazushi

siècle, engendrant Friederich Trump, qui a épousé Mary A. Macleod, engendrant Donald Trump. Les racines de Trump sont essentiellement migrantes. Les migrants aux États-Unis ont contribué

Hadalada Trump waa koox nacayb isir nacayb ah iyo nacaybka ka dhanka ah muhaajiriinta. Hadalka uu jeediyay musharaxa xisbiga Jamhuuriga Donald Trump ee ka dhanka ah muhaajiriinta Haiti ee ku sugan Mareykanka ayaa si weyn u muujinaya jaahilnimadiisa mid ka mid ah dadyowga taariikhda ugu weyn ku leh Ameerika iyo Kariibiyaanka: dadka Haitian. Hadalkan meel ka dhaca ah ee ka dhanka ah Haiti iyo muhaajiriinta Maraykanka u imaanaya sababo kala duwan ayaa caddayn u ah hadallada nacaybka, nacaybka iyo isir

uliokuwa ukifanywa huko Ulaya ya kale. Kauli za Trump ni seti ya chuki ya rangi na chuki dhidi ya wahamiaji. Kauli iliyotolewa na mgombea wa chama cha Republican Donald Trump dhidi ya wahamiaji wa Haiti nchini Marekani kwa kiasi kikubwa inaonyesha kutojua kwake kuhusu mojawapo ya watu wenye umuhimu mkubwa wa kihistoria katika bara la Amerika na Karibiani: watu wa Haiti. Hotuba hii ya dharau dhidi ya Wahaiti na wahamiaji wanaokuja Marekani kwa

non seulement par leurs cultures, mais aussi par leur professionnalisme à faire de ce pays du Nord une grande puissance. Parmi les migrations, les migrations asiatiques, africaines, caribéennes et latinoaméricaines ont sans doute rompu avec le verticalisme

nacaybka. Trump wuxuu weeraraa muhaajiriinta isagoo og in hooyadii, Mary Anne MacLeod, ay ahayd muhaajiriin ka timid Isle of Lewis (Scotland), taasoo shaqaale guri ka shaqeysay gudaha Mareykanka muddo. Trump awoowgiis, Friedrich Trump, wuxuu ka yimid gobolka Kallstad-Bavaria, Jarmalka, wuxuuna u haajiray Mareykanka dhammaadkii qarnigii 19aad, isagoo dhalay Friederich Trump, oo guursaday Mary A. Macleod, oo dhalay Donald Trump. Xididdada Trump asal ahaan waa muhaajiriin.

sababu mbalimbali ni ushahidi wa mazungumzo ya chuki, chuki ya wageni na chuki ya rangi. Trump anashambulia wahamiaji akijua kwamba mama yake, Mary Anne MacLeod, alikuwa mhamiaji kutoka Isle of Lewis (Scotland), ambaye alifanya kazi kama mfanyakazi wa ndani kwa muda nchini Marekani. Baba mzazi wa Trump, Friedrich Trump, alitoka eneo la Kallstad-Bavaria, Ujerumani na kuhamia Marekani mwishoni mwa karne ya 19, akimzaa Friederich Trump, aliyeolewa na Mary A. Macleod, aliyemzaa Donald Trump. Mizizi ya Trump kimsingi

eurocentriste, un verticalisme qu’un secteur blanc des ÉtatsUnis tente d’imposer et de maintenir avec une vision xénophobe et racialement discriminatoire.

Muhaajiriinta Mareykanka wax ku darsan ma ahan oo kaliya dhaqamadooda, laakiin xirfadooda shaqo si ay dalkan waqooyi uga dhigaan awood weyn. hijrada waxaa ka mid ah, socdaalka Aasiya, Afrikaanka, Kariibiyaanka iyo Laatiin Ameerika waxay shaki la’aan ku jabeen Eurocentric verticalism, toosan oo qayb caddaan ah oo Maraykan

ni wahamiaji. Wahamiaji nchini Marekani wamechangia sio tu kwa tamaduni zao, lakini kwa taaluma yao kuifanya nchi hii ya kaskazini kuwa na nguvu kubwa. Miongoni mwa wahamiaji hao, uhamiaji wa Waasia, Waafrika, Karibea na Amerika ya

wa rangi.

Kusini bila shaka wamevunja imani ya wima ya Eurocentric, wima ambayo sekta ya wazungu ya Marekani inajaribu kulazimisha na kudumisha kwa mtazamo wa chuki na ubaguzi

Haitian. baba ti Trump, Friedrich Trump, wa lati agbegbe KallstadMary A. Macleod, baba Donald

Par Jesús Chucho García

Par Jesús Chucho García Translation By Macdonald Anyanwu,

Par Jesús Chucho García

African Samba Bambara ni

Sports

How a pretty good Twins team fell apart: Payroll cuts, bad decisions

By Pat Borzi MinnPost

Twins principal owner Jim Pohlad may have passed control of the club’s day-today operations to his nephew Joe Pohlad in 2022, but he’s still involved with the team and often at Target Field. Pohlad was on hand Friday night to watch the nose-diving Twins officially excuse themselves from postseason contention, losing 7-2 to Baltimore to complete an epic collapse that will be Topic One around here all winter.

It’s hard to fathom how a team that played so well for 4 1/2 months could fall apart so completely the last six weeks, going 12-27 from Aug. 18 on to blow a sure wild-card berth. Even the recent returns of Carlos Correa (right foot plantar fasciitis) and Byron Buxton (right hip inflammation) from lengthy absences couldn’t save the season. Pohlad was heading out of the stadium Friday when I ran into him in a downstairs hallway, and he gave me a pained look and a shrug.

“I guess we’re not as good as we thought we were,” he said. “I don’t have any answers.”

Angry Twins fans, on the other hand, offered plenty, starting with the ownership’s decision last winter to cut roughly $25 million from the club record $156 million 2023 payroll. That offset the loss in revenue when Diamond Sports Group, which owns Bally Sports North and other regional networks, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Sure, it made business

sense. And the Twins weren’t the only MLB club to cut costs. But the timing, shortly after the Twins ended a record 18game postseason losing streak and won their first playoff series since 2002, angered fans who wanted aggressiveness, not caution. They saw Correa, Buxton, Royce Lewis and a bunch of promising kids from the farm system and, for once, thought big. They wanted the Twins to go for it. But then the club let Sonny Gray, one of three reliable starting pitchers, depart in free agency without even making an offer. Almost every personnel and strategic decision

after that went horribly wrong.

Extending the TV deal with Diamond Sports for this season backfired when a squabble between Diamond and Comcast kept Twins games off Xfinity cable for three months. The club’s one trade deadline acquisition, Toronto reliever Trevor Richards, couldn’t throw strikes and didn’t last a month before he was designated for assignment. The Twins hit .219 in September while the bullpen fell apart, spoiling any shot at a glorious fall of baseball.

“This will bother me forever,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. Oh, and the winning

pitcher Friday night for Baltimore? Cade Povich, a former Twins farmhand traded for forgettable reliever Jorge Lopez.

“If you have anybody to blame, blame me for going down for two months and not being part of the team,” Correa said. “I think that’s one of the main reasons.

“There’s nothing to be happy about the last month. Everything went south, and we couldn’t recover. Now we’re in this spot where we have to spend the whole offseason thinking about this and looking for ways to make sure we’re moving forward.”

Thursday night’s excruciating 8-6 loss in 13 innings to the 100-loss Miami Marlins exposed every flaw that cost the Twins so dearly. Poor baserunning. Lousy fundamentals. Ghastly clutch hitting (2-for-19 with runners in scoring position). And on and on. Even Cory Provus, the Twins’ TV announcer and one of the most positive voices in the organization, offered a “C’mon, guys. Can’t happen” on the air after catcher Ryan Jeffers, one of the Twins’ best bunters, tried to sacrifice with two on and lined into a double play to stub out an extra-inning rally.

Friday afternoon

before batting practice, Jeffers sat at a table in the clubhouse with a plate of food while the MLB Network, visible on two clubhouse TVs, aired a segment on the Twins. It wasn’t good. Correa walked through, looked up at the chyron — “Twins on brink of elimination after extra-inning loss to the Marlins” — and never broke stride. Veteran move –he knew what was coming. But Jeffers watched all the awful highlights from the night before, several involving him. The botched bunt. His dropped throw at the plate on a force play. And finally the last out, by the still-hobbled Correa, who jogged to first base after bouncing to the mound. One problem: Pitcher Darren McCaughan’s off-target throw pulled first baseman Jonah Bride off the bag. Correa sped up, but Bride still beat him to the base. Jeffers tried to take it all in stride, though the bunt still irked him. “I always get those down,” said Jeffers, who had two of the club’s four successful safety squeeze bunts in 2023. “They’re automatic for me.” So what happens now? President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey disappointed the “Fire Rocco” crowd Sunday by confirming Baldelli will be back — no surprise, since Falvey called Baldelli “my partner in this all the way through” two years ago after the last September collapse. Joe Pohlad added that Falvey will return as well. No one else received similar guarantees. It’s not clear what level of firing — coaches, the managers, even an executive — would placate fans primarily upset with the Pohlads. Thing is, they should be mad at the baseball operations staff

They’re the ones who consider any player who doesn’t sign a team-friendly contract disposable. That’s how they ended up replacing former Gold Glove winner Michael A. Taylor with Manny Margot, a shaky defender who somehow went 0-for-30 as a pinch-hitter.

They’re responsible for drafting and developing one reliable starting pitcher in eight years (Bailey Ober), and turning Louis Varland from a promising starter and even more promising reliever into a guy with a 7.61 ERA who yells into his glove.

They’re also responsible for a hitting approach that favors slugging over situational hitting, leaving the club vulnerable to prolonged slumps like we just saw. The “Bomba Squad” is long gone, and Jeffers and Lewis shouldn’t be the only hitters shortening their swings with two strikes. It’s not all about money, people. The search for answers starts elsewhere. Pat Borzi Pat Borzi is a contributing writer to MinnPost.

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Minnesota Twins players looked on during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field on Sunday.

Your Passport to South Africa

By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor

YOUR PASSPORT TO SOUTH AFRICA

By Dr. Artika Tyner

In promoting literacy,

I applaud Dr. Tyner for all the work she has done for the children and the community.

Included in her body of work is broadening perspectives; after all, the U.S. is not the only game in town. She has published several “passport” books for children, her latest being Your Passport to South Africa.

Your Passport to South Africa is multifaceted. In Chapter One, the young reader is given a welcome, with a map of the country, facts about it, and references to its diversity.

Chapter Two gives us a history, dating back to the indigenous people of 20,000 years ago, fossils 2,000,000 years old, go colonization, the apartheid policy, the country’s fight for freedom and such notables as Nelson Mandela.

Chapter Three provides us with places to see and explore, including historical landmarks, around South Africa.

Chapter Four gives us a look into the culture and customs of day-to-day life, including the arts and music.

Chapter Five covers national holidays and celebrations such as Freedom Day (December 16) and Nelson Mandela Day (July 18).

Sports and recreation comprise Chapter Six, which includes favorites like soccer and kgati. She doesn’t stop there. Fun facts are included throughout the book. Photographs of the events, places, and people add to it, as does a glossary of terms at the end. This book also includes words used in the official languages of South Africa, such as Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans. There is even a recipe for brown pudding, a favorite dessert of the country. Indeed, I enjoy

Tyner’s way of teaching while giving us insight into another country’s culture and history, thus broadening our horizons. Your Passport to South Africa is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Capstone Press, and the Planting People Growing Justice website (www.ppgjli. com), Thank you, Artika, for providing us with an education many of us never received when we were growing up and giving our children exposure to other cultures. You are appreciated.

Insight 2 Health

Gut microbe imbalances could predict a child’s risk for autism, ADHD and speech disorders years before symptoms appear

By Angelica P. Ahrens

Assistant

Research Scientist

in Data Science and Microbiology, University of Florida, Eric W. Triplett

Professor and Chair of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida and Johnny Ludvigsson

Professor Emeritus of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University

Early screening for neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism is important to ensure children have the support they need to gain the essential skills for daily life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for developmental delays, with additional screening for those who are preterm or have a low birth weight.

However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has called for more research into the effectiveness of current autism screening practices.

Primarily based on milestone checklists and symptoms, autism diagnoses also currently rely on observations of behavior that often manifests after crucial developmental stages have passed.

Researchers and clinicians are working to develop simple, reliable tools that could identify early signs or risk factors of a condition before symptoms are obvious. While early screening can lead to the risk of overdiagnosis, understanding a child’s developmental needs can help

guide families toward resources that address those needs sooner.

We are researchers who study the role the microbiome plays in a variety of conditions, such as mental illness, autoimmunity, obesity, preterm birth and others. In our recently published research on Swedish children, we found that microbes and the metabolites they produce in the guts of infants – both found in poop and cord blood – could help screen for a child’s risk of neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. And these differences can be detected as early as birth or within the first year of life. These markers were evident, on average, over a decade before the children were diagnosed.

Microbes as biomarkers

Biomarkers are biological indicators – such as genes, proteins or metabolites in blood, stool or other types of samples – that signal the presence of a condition at a certain point in time. There are no known biomarkers for autism. Efforts to find biomarkers have been largely hindered by the fact that autism has many potential pathways that lead to it, and researchers tend to ignore how these causes may work together as a whole.

One potential biomarker for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism are gut microbes. The connection between the gut and brain, or the gut-brain axis, is an area of considerable interest among scientists. Gut microbes play significant roles in health, including in immunity, neurotransmitter balance, digestive health and much more.

A lot of work has been done around mapping what a “typical” microbiome looks like

based on age and organ system. Researchers have shown that the microbiome is personalized enough that it can distinguish two people or two households even better than genetics, with differences in colonization starting very early in life. The microbiome undergoes immense changes during childhood. It shapes and is shaped by the immune system and influenced by life changes and events. It is also influenced by factors like genetics, environment, lifestyle, infection and medications.

Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, pain and constipation are common in children with autism and ADHD, with as many as 30% to 70% of autism patients also diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorders. Untreated GI issues

stool collected at approximately 1 year of age from participants of an ongoing study called All Babies in Southeast Sweden, which follows the health of approximately 17,000 children born between 1997 and 1999 and their parents. We have followed these children since birth, nearly 1,200 of whom were later diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder by age 23.

We found significant differences in bacterial composition and metabolite levels that developed before symptoms of neurodevelopmental conditions – such as gastrointestinal upset, crankiness and sleep problems – as well as formal medical diagnoses. These differences spanned many conditions, including autism, ADHD and speech disorders.

can also lead to additional sleep and behavioral disorders among these children. A small pilot study found that children with autism showed improvements in gastrointestinal and autismrelated symptoms after having healthy microbes transferred into their guts, with some benefits lasting up to two years. Most studies on the microbiome and neurodevelopmental conditions, however, are restricted to people who are already diagnosed with ADHD, autism or other conditions, and these studies often show mixed results. These limitations raise an important question: Does the microbiome play a direct role in the development of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, or are changes in microbiome composition a consequence of the conditions themselves? Some investigations have proposed that the microbiome has little or no association with future autism. However, these studies have a notable limitation: They don’t examine microbial imbalances prior to diagnosis or symptom onset. Instead, these studies focus on children already diagnosed with autism, comparing them to their siblings and unrelated neurotypical children. In most cases, dietary data and samples are collected several years after diagnosis, meaning the study cannot test for whether microbial imbalances cause autism.

Microbes matter We wondered whether studying the bacteria residing in small children before they are diagnosed or show symptoms of autism or other conditions could give us a clue into their neurodevelopment. So, we examined the cord blood and

Next, we linked bacteria to neurotransmitters – chemical signals that help brain cells communicate – and vitamins such as riboflavin and vitamin B in the child’s stool. Given previous research on children and adults already diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, we expected to find differences in the microbiome composition and health between those with and without neurodevelopmental conditions.

But we were surprised to discover just how early these differences emerge. We saw variability in the microbes and metabolites that affect immune and brain health, among others, in the stool collected from the diapers of children around 1 year of age and in umbilical cord blood collected at birth.

The imbalance in microbial composition – what microbiologists call dysbiosis – we observed suggests that incomplete recovery from repeated antibiotic use may greatly affect children during this vulnerable period. Similarly, we saw that repeated ear infections were linked to a twofold increased likelihood of developing autism.

Children who both repeatedly used antibiotics and had microbial imbalances were significantly more likely to develop autism. More specifically, children with an absence of Coprococcus comes, a bacterium linked to mental health and quality of life, and increased prevalence of Citrobacter, a bacterium known for antimicrobial resistance, along with repeated antibiotic use were two to four times more likely to develop a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Antibiotics are necessary for treating certain bacterial infections in children, and we emphasize that our findings do not suggest avoiding

their use altogether. Parents should use antibiotics if they are prescribed and deemed necessary by their pediatrician. Rather, our study suggests that repeated antibiotic use during early childhood may signal underlying immune dysfunction or disrupted brain development, which can be influenced by the gut microbiome. In any case, it is important to consider whether children could benefit from treatments to restore their gut microbes after taking antibiotics, an area we are actively studying. Another microbial imbalance in children who later were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders was a decrease in Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium that reinforces the lining of the gut and is linked to neurotransmitters important to neurological health. Even after we accounted for factors that could influence gut microbe composition, such as how the baby was delivered and breastfeeding, the relationship between imbalanced bacteria and future diagnosis persisted. And these imbalances preceded diagnosis of autism, ADHD or intellectual disability by 13 to 14 years on average, refuting the assumption that gut microbe imbalances arise from diet. We found that lipids and bile acids were depleted in the cord blood of newborns with future autism. These compounds provide nutrients for beneficial bacteria, help maintain immune balance and influence neurotransmitter systems and signaling pathways in the brain.

Microbiome screening at wellchild visits

Microbiome screening is not a common practice in well-child visits. But our findings suggest that detecting imbalances in beneficial and harmful bacteria, especially during critical periods of early childhood development, can provide essential insights for clinicians and families. There is a long way to go before such screening becomes a standard part of pediatric care. Researchers still need validated methods to analyze and interpret microbiome data in the clinic. It’s also unclear how bacterial differences change across time in children around the world – not just which bacteria are present or absent, but also how they may be shaping immune responses and metabolism. But our findings reaffirm the growing body of evidence that the early gut microbiome plays a key role in shaping neurodevelopment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

iStockphotos

Microbes can influence the connection between the gut and the brain.

Kentral Galloway

Education

Ideas for parents and their pre-k kids to learn and move together

Moving and playing with young ones is an important part of learning at home. It’s fun to engage in activities that teach families the importance of physical activity for young children.

SHAPE America (the Society of Health and Physical Educators) serves as the voice for 200,000+ health and physical education professionals across the United States and recognizes the importance of early childhood education.

The organization’s extensive community includes a diverse membership of health and physical educators, as well as advocates, supporters, and 50+ state affiliate organizations.

SHAPE America envisions a nation where all children are prepared to lead healthy, physically active lives.

SHAPE America understands the benefits of regular physical activity include:

Reduces the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

Assists in improved academic performance.

Helps children feel better about themselves.

Reduces the

risk of depression and the effects of stress.

Helps children prepare to be productive, healthy members of society; and

Improves overall quality of life.

Their suggestions feature a variety of ideas, strategies, information, and resources for parents to use the space within their homes, the materials they have, and their limited time to model and encourage physical activity.

The following is for pre-K kids and is called “Do Three with Me.”

Get Ready

Space: Indoor or Outdoor Space; Small or Big Space

Stuff: Just your imagination!

Time: While preparing a meal, while getting ready in the morning, transitioning to bedtime, waiting for the bus… whenever you are waiting in line.

Get Set

Tell your child that you are going to say and do three movements/actions.

Children will listen, remember, and repeat the same three actions.

Go Start with the following three actions — reach up high, stretch out far, touch the floor — give all three directions, then repeat them with the actions, all as your child watches and listens carefully. Now it is your child’s turn to do the actions. You can say them and even do them together if needed.

Other three action ideas: Run and touch something blue, jump high into the air, spin on your tummy Hop 5 times on your right, hop 5 times on your left, be as still as you can be Wiggle your knees, bend your elbows, shake your tummy Walk backward, touch something yellow, act like a monkey

As your child does each movement encourage him/her to say the action words out loud. This enhances language arts skills such as vocabulary and sequencing.

Tell

Get your child involved. Ask him/her to add a movement. Another activity for pre-k kids is called “Throwing Sponges.”

Get Ready Space: Outdoors, side of a building such as the garage, house, or storage shed Stuff: A Variety of different-sized sponges, a bucket of water Time: Playtime, weekend fun Get Set

Fill a bucket full of water

Put the sponges in the water Find a spot or line from which your child could throw — make the distance far enough for a challenge but close enough for success.

Move the line closer or further away to vary the task

Go Ask your child to take the sponge full of water out of the bucket and throw it as hard as he/she can at the wall.

A Q&A with Minneapolis Public Schools superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams

By Winter Keefer MinnPost

Lisa Sayles-Adams started her new position as superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools in February as the district entered a deeply challenging budget year.

Despite this and other challenges, she says she’s optimistic and excited about the future of MPS.

“I’m coming in with the heart of an educator,” SaylesAdams told MinnPost, noting she has spent almost 30 years with the district. “I’m a product of public schools. I graduated from St Paul Public Schools, my children went to public schools, my grandchildren go to public schools, and many of the children that I care about. So I believe in public schools, and I want to ensure that Minneapolis Public Schools becomes a destination school district for every family in Minnesota.”

Here’s what Sayles-Adams had to say about the year to come:

(This Q&A was edited for clarity)

MP: It is the beginning of the school year. How was the first day?

Sayles-Adams: The first day was outstanding. Our school year has gotten off to a great start, and we’ve maintained that momentum. There is a buzz of excitement and optimism across the district that continues to be maintained. So it feels good.

MP: What do you hope to achieve in your first full school year as superintendent?

Sayles-Adams: I really want to ensure that our students are thriving and that we are able to help all of our children experience success in the classroom, outside of the classroom, and give them opportunities so they can have lifelong success as a learner. And in whatever they want to do beyond high school, we’re getting them ready for that. That next step can be nerve wracking, but when you feel you’re ready and you have choices, that’s the best.

MP: It’s a unique school year with most pandemic aid dollars expiring this year. The district already had to face shortfalls in its last budget process. Can you outline some of the unique challenges facing MPS in the years to come?

Sayles-Adams:

Unfortunately, I would say that our budget constraints are not unique to Minneapolis Public Schools. This is a budget crunch that schools are really facing across the country, and with the sunsetting of COVID-19 dollars, that has really put a crunch on a lot of school districts where they felt that they had the funding that they needed, at that moment, and since that (funding) is not

really being maintained, that’s what schools are really trying to account for at the moment. The other thing we need to think about with the budget, it’s really about prioritizing what student’s need and then making those investments in those children.

MP: Can you tell me about the MPS technology levy on district voter’s ballots and why you’re advocating for voters to approve it?

Sayles-Adams: So the tech levy ballot question that will be on the ballot on Nov. 5, that’s one of our strategies to help balance our budget. Voters will have a question on the ballot asking them to consider a $20 million annual increase in the amount of dedicated funding for technology. This will minimize cuts to our programs and operational costs. So we’re really hoping that people take a consideration for that opportunity. Voters can also go to our website and we have a web page that I think really lays it out. There’s also a tax impact calculator on that website.

MP: What is the MPS “transformational process?”

Sayles-Adams: So first, I’d like to say that the transformation process actually started in December of 2023, when the school board passed a resolution and that resolution asked the administration to look into four things: a physical space study, community engagement, budgeting for financial efficiencies and implementing a Spanish duallanguage immersion task force. So, with that, I’d love to just talk a little bit about all four areas.

For the physical space study, since December, we created a dashboard for each of our schools that have highlighted important information about the physical building, demographic information and more. That’s actually all online, so anyone can go to the district website and search the dashboard. You can put your school in and it’ll pop up. There’s a lot of unique information. Now we have that information, the next step is walkthroughs (of schools).

With the community engagement piece, our team is currently working on and reviewing feedback that we’ve received over the years. The information that we’re going to be looking at, it’ll be data that’s been collected through the comprehensive district design. There’s also a wealth of information in the district’s Equity and Diversity Impact Assessment. Then we also have parent participatory surveys, with the data and information that was collected through my most recent listening tour. So we’ll have all of that information that we’re going to take a look at. We will then start sharing that out with our community and keep them apprised for our next steps. For our budget, a lot of work started last year. That’s

one of the reasons why I came on early in February so we have a lot of work underway but we’ll be looking to identify more efficiencies in our budget. Again, ultimately the budget is really about prioritizing the needs and focusing on our students and really trying to deliver on our mission. We want to make sure students have what they need. I cannot talk enough about the tech levy ballot question. That will be a (budget) strategy as well.

MP: Could this process potentially lead to the closure of buildings?

Sayles-Adams: There could be a chance of school closures, consolidations. We’re just not sure yet. We want to make sure that we’re able to get all of this information to the board so they can take an opportunity to look at it, to ask us questions, to analyze, so they can get into discussion and then start to make decisions. Then they can let us know what our next step will be. We (administration) want to make sure that we’re walking through the resolution – that’s something that they asked us to do – and we’re going to be making decisions along the way. It’s a multi-step approach. So it’s not just the transformation process. It’s also looking at hopefully growing our enrollment and being more efficient with our programs. Also, something that we’re always doing, is making sure that we advocate to the state and federal government for additional funding.

MP: When will the district have to start making budget decisions?

Sayles-Adams: We have a budget finance calendar that was submitted to our finance committee. That just walks us through the whole budget process. But a lot of that won’t be determined before November. It’s a full year

process.

MP: Teacher shortages have been a major challenge for many districts across the country. How is staffing currently at MPS?

Sayles-Adams: We actually have really good news for that. The narrative might be a little different than what you think. What I love to share is that, this year, our teacher vacancy rate is only 3.6%. It’s the best that it’s been in years. So that’s really good news. And when I’m out in the district and around our buildings, you can feel the impact that it’s having on how positive our staff are and how our students are getting what they need.

As of a couple of months ago, Minneapolis Public Schools is a part of an initiative

in the state of Minnesota for a teacher apprenticeship program, and that’s an opportunity to help with the teacher shortage crisis. We’re working with staff that are already working with students. They may not be fully licensed, but this program is an apprenticeship program where they actually get to learn side by side with licensed educators. We work to help them learn on the job. This program also helps remove barriers for people looking to get teaching licenses. So we’re really excited about it. Because it just started, this program isn’t contributing to the low (teacher) vacancy rate, but we hope it will keep the momentum going.

MP: What about MPS makes you excited going into this year?

Sayles-Adams:

I’d love to share that we are a destination district for families that are new to the country, and our district was recently recognized by the City of Minneapolis for the work that we’ve done with our newcomers during welcoming week. So we’re really excited about that. We have some more really good staffing news that we would like to share. We’re excited to have Tracy Bird, named Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year. We also have Roosevelt High School’s Christian Ledesma, who was selected as principal of the year for the Hennepin County division. In other good news, there was a ribbon cutting on the renovated space at North High School and the new New Career and Technical Education Center. This is an $88 million investment in our students, and we know how valuable the trades are to our students, our families and our community. You know, when I’m talking to people in different industries, whether it’s locally or around the state, I’m really feeling a lot of hope and a lot of positivity. People are really keeping sight on the positive things that Minnepolis is doing. I know that we have work that needs to happen, but there are many great things that are happening inside our classrooms, outside of our classrooms, on our fields, on our stages, and we do offer the best, and we want to make sure that we’re ensuring that our children have what they need. We’re not there yet, but we are on our way. Winter Keefer Winter Keefer is MinnPost’s Metro reporter. Follow her on Twitter or email her at wkeefer@minnpost.com.

MinnPost photo by Bill Kelley

Superintendent Lisa Sayles-Adams: “I know that we have work that needs to happen, but there are many great things that are happening inside our classrooms, outside of our classrooms, on our fields, on our stages…”