Leading Off: Mattingly on ejection streak, K-Rod loses job

A look at key moments in tenure of FBI Director James Comey and the decision by President Donald Trump to abruptly fire him. State-funded adoption agencies backing Texas legislation that would sanction the rejection of prospective parents on religious grounds already routinely deny non-Christian, gay, and unmarried applicants.

Senator Collins Honored at 2017 Common Sense Awards

U.S. Senator Susan Collins was honored for her work on issues that help children and families by Common Sense Media, the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit children's media anda Z advocacy organization. U.S. Senator Susan Collins was honored for her work on issues that help children and families by Common Sense Media, the nation's leading non-partisan, non-profit children's media anda Z advocacy organization.

School Choice ‘Is What Winning for Young Children’ Looks Like in DC

President Donald Trump signaled his support for education choice at a Wednesday event celebrating the achievements of charter school students and school voucher recipients in the nation's capital. It was an honor to be at this White House event to watch Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, applaud the students who participate in the District of Columbia's school choice programs.

Ted Rall: Sheryl Sandberg Is The World’s Most Annoying Person

Invariably promoted as launching a "movement" - as opposed to shilling books - the Facebook executive's publicity blitzes are impossible to avoid. There's the inevitably self-involved New York Times op-ed; she's in Time, Fortune, USA Today, The Washington Post and Huffington Post , which tells us "Why Sheryl Sandberg Decided To Speak Openly About Losing Her Husband .

Celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio: ‘We Can End Hunger In This Country’

House of Representatives minority leader Nancy Pelosi and celebrity chef Tom Colicchio discuss the farm bill as part of the Plate of the Union campaign, April 27, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Hunger in America can often seem invisible, but recent studies have shown that it is a problem that affect millions of people, many of them children. An estimated 13.1 million kids live in homes with insufficient food, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

NYC mayor wants free preschool for 3-year-olds, too

In this Sept. 4, 2014, file photo, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio visits the Inner Force Early Tots Childhood Learning Center, a community-based organization that's part of the pre-K program, in the Brooklyn borough of New York on the first day of the mayor's expansion of early childhood education.

Prosecutor: Doctor tied to senator stole Medicare millions

Prosecutors argued that a prominent Florida eye doctor ran a practice which was actually a well-organized scam that stole millions from Medicare. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Chase told a federal jury Tuesday during closing arguments in West Palm Beach that Dr. Salomon Melgen performed unnecessary tests and treatments on his mostly elderly patients to "line his pockets with millions."

Alexander honors Maryville Scholars, praises school, nation

Maryville High School senior Taylor Drake speaks after receiving the $25,000 Lamar Alexander Scholarship from Sen. Lamar Alexander Wednesday during the 2017 Maryville Scholars Banquet. Maryville High School senior Preston Robinette receives the $15,000 Lamar Alexander Scholarship from U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander as the executive director of the Maryville City Schools Foundation, Barbara Jenkins, looks on.

Bear Grylls: Schools should equip children for life, not exams

Bear Grylls has criticised schools for not being fully equipped to prepare children for adult life, adding that they need to "empower" young people more. The TV star and adventurer, a father-of-three, said many people who go on to be successful do so purely because of their sheer determination and not for getting top scores in their exams.

‘Infowars’ host Jones disputes persona in custody dispute

The right-wing radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is a performance artist whose true personality is nothing like his on-air persona, according to a lawyer defending the "Infowars" broadcaster in a child custody battle. Attorney Randall Wilhite said at a pretrial hearing in Austin last week that evaluating Jones based on his on-air comments is like judging Jack Nicholson based on his role as the Joker in "Batman."

‘It’s performance art’: Lawyer for Alex Jones says InfoWars…

The real Alex Jones is not his bombastic, conspiratorial InfoWars persona, his lawyer is hoping to convince a Texas jury in the radio host's child custody battle. That's more or less what attorney Randall Wilhite told Texas District Judge Orlinda Naranjo, the Austin American-Statesman reported on Sunday .

The UK’s Largest Teachers Union Responds To Theresa May’s Education Plan

The UK's largest teachers union voted in support of a one-day strike option as a growing rift between educators and the government threatens to interrupt the education school children across the country. Delegates at the annual conference for the National Union of Teachers , which represents almost 400,000 teachers and teachers-in-training, voted to support a strike, which would have to take place before an August 31 deadline.

NEA taxpayer dollars helps artists feel good about themselves

The Washington Post tried to create what it thought was a clever agit/prop video in favor of the National Endowment for the Arts. Rather than showing NEA funding in big cities, the video explored funding largely in rural, conservative Indiana, represented by Republican congressmen.