Wisconsin School Bans Miley Cyrus Song:

   Heyer Elementary School in Wisconsin has banned students from singing the duetted “Rainbowland”. Created by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton, the song intends to inspire positivity and inclusion for individuals of all sexual orientations. For parents, though, the song was considered to be “controversial” and conflicting with school board policies (NPR). Since the record promotes LGBTQ acceptance and rainbow symbols, administrators saw no other alternative than to remove the song from the first-grade classroom. Melissa Tempel, a teacher at Heyer Elementary, expressed her frustration with the song’s ban, claiming that it’s just another step towards LGBTQ erasure. “These confusing messages about rainbows are ultimately creating a culture that seems unsafe towards queer people,” Tempel argued. She continued to express her resentment towards the Superintendent’s decision to ban the song, tweeting, “The Rainbowland story is about much more than a banned song. The result of the political pushback on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and rights in schools is unfolding and it’s tragic” (NBC). Being one of the latest debates regarding cultural expression in the classroom, the display of gender identity, race, and sexual orientation in schools will be affected by small incidents like this one.

TikTok House Hearing:

   TikTok CEO, Shou Chew, came before Congress to answer tough questions about the app’s safety in the hands of young Americans and its vulnerability to Chinese influence. The chief executive was also grilled on TikTok’s relation with its Chinese owner, ByteDance, and its handling of users’ sensitive information (NYT). This comes in the midst of discussion regarding the social media sensation’s potential ban. Chew emphasized the app’s independence from Chinese influence and reinforced its mission to protect the young creators and viewers on the platform. And despite support from creators and users, Congress ultimately decided that the app is a threat to American security (CNBC).

President Trump’s Indictment: 

   Former President Donald Trump has been indicted for covering up sensitive records that were potentially damaging to his 2016 presidential campaign. With the help of attorney Michael Cohn, Trump allegedly concealed hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels (NPR). Claims of falsification have been long-running. Accusations first arose prior to Trump’s 2016 election, but the protracted investigation is just now being heard by a New York court. This also comes as Trump announces a 2024 presidential run. The former president was arraigned in court on Tuesday, March 4th, where he pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charge is classified as a class E felony in the state of New York (where the crime reportedly occurred). It can be deemed a misdemeanor but is boosted to a felony if the act was meant to cover up another crime, which is what Trump allegedly did (NBC). Trump stands as the first president in United States history to be formally charged for a crime.

Florida’s Prohibition of the Ruby Bridges Historical Film: 

   Florida’s Pinellas County School District has temporarily prevented students from viewing a historical documentary focusing on the life of Ruby Bridges and her painful experiences as a civil rights pioneer. After receiving complaints from parents, North Shore Elementary mandated permission slips for students to view the film. The parents, however, intend to remove the Ruby Bridges film from the school’s list of approved films. From their perspective, the movie teaches students about racial slurs and “how white people hate black people” (NBC). Especially following the removal of AP African American Studies from the nation’s potential school curriculums, the already-brewing debate about the teachings of race and culture deepens as families continue to speak out.

The Taliban Arrests Women’s Education Activist: 

   Matiullah Wesa, a prominent girls’ education activist in Afghanistan, was arrested by the Taliban this past Monday, March 27th. This arrest, being one of the many attempts to suppress the rights of Afghan women since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, has the potential to eradicate all the work Wesa has promoted for decades. As the founder of the non-governmental organization, PenPath1, Wesa has spent years dedicating herself to improving women’s access to educational resources and facilities. In his efforts, he’s built mobile classrooms throughout the distant areas of Afghanistan. On social platforms, Wesa has advocated for equal educational rights, stating, “We are the people of the Pen. We have been working on this for 15 years and still, we do not back down from this even if they kill us,” (BBC). While the country awaits his release, Wesa’s supporters, including Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai have taken action to continue his campaign for women’s rights.

Philadelphia Drinking Water Scare: 

   Over 8,000 gallons of liquid from a chemical plant leaked into the Delaware River, one of the biggest sources of the city of Philadelphia’s drinking water. The pipe carrying the remains of an acrylic polymer solution ruptured into Otter Creek (slightly north of Philadelphia). The substances were found to cause difficulty breathing and irritate eyes & skin. With over 14 million people across four states affected by the spill, officials have recommended residents transition to bottled water instead of tap. Though it was not confirmed the chemicals had blended into the city’s water system, Michael Carroll, Philadelphia’s Deputy Managing Director, assured residents, “In a matter of days, the water in Delaware should be okay,” (The New York Times). And as expected, Pennsylvania’s officials are confident the water quality will restore itself due to tidal conditions and rainfall in the coming days.