Modesto tops today’s chatter as California’s Stanislaus County seat; big city, small‑town vibe, ~201k (2010). Local news in focus, not a scandal.
A series of severe weather events has impacted the US, with tornadoes damaging homes in Oklahoma and rare tornadoes occurring in California. Midwest states face ongoing thunderstorms, flooding, and lightning, with authorities warning that these conditions will persist into the weekend and more storms will develop.
Stanford's Educational Opportunity Project has found that, in most U.S. districts, reading scores have declined over the past decade, with 83% reporting lower reading results last year. Math has declined in about 70% of districts. The data underscore a long-term trend predating the pandemic and point toward a shift toward phonics-based instruction in some states.