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for Grades 5-8

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For Grades 5-8 , week of May 27, 2024

1. BIDEN ON THE BALLOT

Ohio's Governor, Mike DeWine, is calling for a special meeting of the state's lawmakers to make sure that President Joe Biden is on Ohio's ballot for the 2024 election. The issue of whether Biden will be on the ballot has become part of a bigger fight in the state about keeping money from foreign countries out of Ohio's election campaigns. Democrats want to make sure Biden is on the ballot, but Republicans want to include a rule that bans foreign money from being used in Ohio's elections. Governor DeWine wants to pass a bill that also stops foreign money from being used in Ohio's election campaigns. But some lawmakers are arguing about how to do it. Democrats say the real problem is "dark money," which is money given to candidates secretly. Republican leader don't want to risk losing votes for other Republican candidates if Biden isn't on the ballot. Governor DeWine is pushing to get this sorted out before it's too late, calling the special session next week. The last time Ohio lawmakers had a special meeting like this was in 2004. Write a summary of this story, explaining the issue that could keep Biden off the ballot in Ohio and how that would be problematic for the 2024 presidential election.

2. AFRICAN ARTIST MAKES HISTORY

Tems, a rising music star from Nigeria, experienced an earthquake while in New York for a music festival. Despite the scary moment, she sees it as a reminder to be thankful for each day. Her journey to fame has been incredible, from her debut album releasing soon to winning a Grammy and even getting an Oscar nomination for her songwriting. She’s now the first African artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tems started making music seriously in college, teaching herself production skills and eventually pursuing music full-time. Her hit song "Try Me" gained popularity in Nigeria, leading to collaborations with big artists like Wizkid and Beyoncé. Tems writes her songs by feeling the music and letting the words flow naturally. Despite facing challenges, like a serious illness that delayed her album release, Tems stays determined and focused on her craft. She looks up to artists like Lauryn Hill and Sade, who found success without compromising their integrity. For Tems, success means staying true to herself and her music, no matter what. If you were interviewing Tems for a podcast or TV segment, write a list of questions you would ask and what information you’d prepare in advance to have a successful interview.

3. CASE CALLED OUT

Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court Justice, criticized the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which ended racial segregation in schools. He said the court went too far in its decision and used too much power. Thomas believes that the court should have limited power in deciding such matters. His opinion came as the U.S. marked 70 years since the Brown decision, which helped start the Civil Rights Movement. Despite this landmark ruling, racial segregation in schools has increased in recent years, even as the country becomes more diverse. This trend is happening alongside the growth of charter schools and school choice options. Thomas’ statements were part of a concurrent opinion by the Supreme Court that reversed a lower court’s ruling that South Carolina’s redrawn congressional maps discriminated against Black voters in the state. Write a summary of this article, including an explanation of the Brown v. Board of Education case and how it shaped America as we know it today.

4. DONATION DECISIONS

The Orlando Museum of Art received a generous $1.8 million gift from artist Margaret Young's estate, but it’s trying to change how the money can be used. This donation comes at a critical time as the museum faces financial challenges due to a deficit resulting from an art exhibition scandal, where the museum held a show for artwork that later turned out to be fake copies of the original artist’s work. The donation is only to be used for acquiring artwork, not for operational costs, but the museum needs money to offset the financial crisis they’re facing. To address this, the museum is seeking court approval to modify the restrictions so that the funds can be used more broadly. Some donors and critics have raised concerns about this modification, questioning the museum's transparency and adherence to the donor's intent. The museum argues that the modification is necessary to support its permanent art collection and ensure financial stability. Research the art exhibit scandal that hurt the Orlando Museum of Art’s budget and reputation. Then, write an article that summarizes that incident and how the new donation could impact the museum, depending on how they’re able to use it.

5. UNIVERSITY CHANGES POLICIES

In South Dakota, new rules at public universities are causing trouble for some faculty members. The policy says they can't use gender pronouns or list their Native American tribes in their email signatures. These rules came after the governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, wrote a letter to the school board complaining about certain things on campus, like drag shows and preferred pronouns. Similar rules have popped up in other states, mainly for K-12 students. But this is one of the first times it's affecting college professors. Critics worry it's part of a bigger plan to limit diversity and inclusion efforts. The university says the new rules are just to keep things consistent and protect their brand. Some professors are finding ways around the rules by putting their pronouns and tribal affiliations in the body of their emails instead. The ACLU is looking into the issue, and some people are worried it's limiting free speech. Consider all the people that could be affected by this rule, including professors, students, and more. Write an outline of who you would interview and what questions you would ask each person if you were to write an article about this topic. Include information about what research you would do and what kind of information you would include in the final article.