Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 38m

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, the Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles for his seat in Congress next year, announced an eye-popping fundraising haul this week. www.tennessean.com/story/news/p...

This week in politics: Challenger announces $785k fundraising haul, dwarfing Ogles' war chest

Plus, Dems nearly split turnout numbers in 7th District and Republicans cheer new Turning Point USA chapter at UTC.

www.tennessean.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 47m

For second year, Hamilton County public school students again academically outperformed those using vouchers for private schools. [Under new statewide voucher program, comparisons won’t be possible because vouchered students are not required to take same test.] www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/oc...

In Hamilton County, public school students outperform tuition grant recipients | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Hamilton County public school students academically outperformed those using state grants for private school tuition for the second year in a row, according to newly released state data.

www.timesfreepress.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 1h

Cartoon by Michael de Adder

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 1h

Dozens of employees [thousand by some reports] were fired from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late on Friday, as the Trump Administration made good on its promise to begin mass firings in response to a prolonged government shutdown. time.com/7325192/cdc-...

CDC ‘Not Functional’ After Trump Administration Orders Mass Firings

The layoffs targeted leaders in departments related to respiratory diseases, chronic diseases and global health.

time.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 2h

Florida’s first public school chaplain (under a new chaplain law) is a MAGA Republican who identifies with a coalition of pastors committed to tearing down the wall of separation between church and state. floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/11/m...

Meet the state's first public school chaplain, a politically active pastor • Florida Phoenix

The state’s first public school chaplain twice ran for Congress, wrote an ode to Charlie Kirk, and preached the need to “battle alongside Trump.” He identifies with the Black Robe Regiment, a coalitio...

floridaphoenix.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 2h

In Indiana, any family that wants nonpublic school vouchers for their children is eligible. chicagocrusader.com/all-indiana-...

All Indiana families now eligible for K-12 private education vouchers

The outlook for faith-based K-12 education in Hammond improved as families now have access to education vouchers for City Baptist Schools.

chicagocrusader.com

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 3h

A bubbling measles outbreak in the upstate of South Carolina has forced 153 unvaccinated children out of the classroom and into quarantine for a minimum of 21 days. www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Hundreds of U.S. students quarantined amid measles outbreaks

At least 270 unvaccinated kids are staying home from school as measles continues to spread nationwide. "Expect more," one expert said.

www.nbcnews.com

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 3h

Under new FL law, public schools must share facilities with charter schools and surrender unused space. A charter school company aims to take over several “unused” buildings. www.bradenton.com/news/local/e...

‘Over my dead body.’ Manatee schools prepare to battle charter takeover plans

A Miami-based charter charter is looking to take advantage of Manatee County’s public school campuses for “co-location.”

www.bradenton.com

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 3h

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Three separate shootings across Mississippi that were related to Friday night football events left multiple people injured and dead. www.wlbt.com/2025/10/11/3...

3 shootings in Mississippi related to football events leave multiple dead and injured

Three high schools across Mississippi were the scenes of shootings on Friday night.

www.wlbt.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 5h

Cartoon by Michael de Adder

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 5h

A West TN man posted — on a FB group page organizing a (Sept. 23) vigil for Charlie Kirk in Perry Co. — several comments including a quote by President Trump following a school shooting: “We have to get over it.” His posts were treated as threats of mass violence. www.tennessean.com/story/news/c...

Man charged with making threats after Charlie Kirk death to have December bond hearing

A new hearing is set for the ex-police officer charged in Perry County with threats after Charlie Kirk's death.

www.tennessean.com

Reposted by Gene Bryant

Peter Greene @palan57.bsky.social · 7h

buckscountybeacon.com/2025/10/moms...

Moms for Liberty CEO and Co-Founder Tina Descovich Verbally Attacks the Bucks County Beacon at Harrisburg-Area Event - Bucks County Beacon

Our crime? Journalism.

buckscountybeacon.com

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 6h

Cartoon by John Deering

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 6h

President Trump announced he will posthumously award slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom next Tuesday (Oct. 14). "We're going to have a great celebration at the White House.” www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Trump will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom at White House ceremony

Trump said he'll be rushing back to the U.S. for an Oct.14 ceremony honoring Charlie Kirk at the White House.

www.usatoday.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 6h

Donald Trump/MAGA allies have capitalized on the killing of rightwing influencer Charlie Kirk to expand attacks on his critics by tarring them as the “enemy within” and in a move that legal scholars and historians call authoritarian and anti-democratic. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

‘Page one of the authoritarian playbook’: how Trump and allies are exploiting Kirk’s killing

The president and his Maga allies have used the rightwing influencer’s killing to justify attacks on critics, experts say

www.theguardian.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 6h

Alexandria thought Charlie Kirk’s assassination was horrible. But she objected — on X — how everybody was making him out to be a martyr because he was a right-wing Christian nationalist. There were calls to her employer. She was fired, and now fears for her safety. www.npr.org/2025/10/11/n...

She posted about Charlie Kirk's death. Within eight hours, she was fired

Alexandra is among the people who lost their jobs for posting about the conservative influencer's death. She described the online mob that got her fired as "state-sponsored censorship."

www.npr.org

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 7h

Rutgers University is defending a professor who signed an online petition that seeks to disband the school's Turning Point USA chapter from campus. www.foxnews.com/us/rutgers-p...

Rutgers professor signs petition to disband Turning Point USA from campus

A Rutgers professor signed a Change.org petition accusing the conservative Turning Point USA chapter of promoting hate speech and inciting violence against the community.

www.foxnews.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 7h

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest firing of a top Navy official injected a fresh wave of fear into the Pentagon over the cost of speaking up and who might be next. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Hegseth’s firing of Navy official compounds ‘culture of fear’ inside Pentagon

“It’s better just to keep your head down,” said one senior defense official.

www.politico.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 8h

Florida’s attorney general has issued a warning that the state will bring legal action against any school that tries to prevent a Turning Point USA chapter from forming on campus. www.newsweek.com/florida-warn...

Florida Issues Warning to Any School Preventing Turning Point USA Clubs

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he will bring legal action against schools "where necessary" to protect students' rights.

www.newsweek.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 10h

President Trump has made a number of disparaging comments about former President Joe Biden.

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 10h

U.S. President Donald Trump has made a number of unsympathetic statements about former president Joe Biden since Biden's cancer diagnosis was revealed in May. www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-ca...

Donald Trump shows no compassion for Joe Biden since cancer diagnosis

Trump has also claimed Biden has "stage 9" cancer, despite there only being four stages to the disease.

www.newsweek.com

Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 11h

Former President Joe Biden is undergoing a new phase of treatment for an aggressive form of cancer that was diagnosed in May, a spokesperson said Saturday. www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe...

Former President Joe Biden undergoing radiation therapy as cancer care enters new phase

The radiation treatment is expected to span five weeks and marks a new point in his care.

www.nbcnews.com

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 11h

National Guard troops in Memphis are operating under the command of Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee.

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 11h

Cartoon by Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Gene Bryant @genebryant.bsky.social · 12h

Steven Cheung, White House director of communications, accused the Nobel committee, in passing over Trump, of putting “politics over peace.” The chair of the Nobel Peace Prize committee responded that the selection committee also considers integrity. thehill.com/policy/inter...

thehill.com