1. N.Y. CITY COUNCIL VS. MAYOR ADAMS

New York City’s City Council voted to pass three new laws, even though Mayor Eric Adams had vetoed them. These laws include raising the minimum wage for grocery delivery workers to $21.44 per hour and stopping the police from giving criminal tickets to people selling items on the street without a license. The City Council said Mayor Adams cared more about big companies than about workers and immigrants. Many delivery workers and street vendors are immigrants, and the Council believes they should be treated fairly and paid better. Mayor Adams disagreed, saying the new rules might make groceries more expensive. Some business leaders said they worry about losing money, but supporters believe the changes will help workers live with more dignity and security. People on both sides have strong opinions, but the City Council says it’s standing up for working-class New Yorkers. Think about the workers mentioned in this story—grocery delivery drivers and street vendors. Why do you think some people believe they should be paid more or not punished for working without a license? Write a short paragraph explaining what you think. Should cities do more to help these workers? Why or why not? Use details from the article to support your answer.

2. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE L.A. OLYMPICS

The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, but some people are worried that the city isn’t planning enough cultural events to go along with the games. In the past, cities like Paris held huge “Cultural Olympiads” that celebrated local art, music, dance, and theater. These events help show the world what makes each Olympic host city special. But with only three years left before the LA Olympics, there is still no official arts plan, barely any staff working on it, and no money raised to support cultural programming. Some Los Angeles arts leaders feel left out and fear the city may miss a big opportunity to shine. They say the Olympics could help the local arts scene grow and bring global attention to museums, theaters, and artists in the area. The leader of the LA Olympics team says a cultural plan is coming soon, but he’s focused on making sure the games don’t lose money. Some local groups have already started making their own art plans, but others say it’s not too late to come together and create something amazing. Think about your town or city. If the Olympics were held there, what kinds of cultural events would you plan to show off what makes your community special? Make a list of three to five events you would include, such as music, dance, art, food, or theater. Then write a paragraph explaining why you think it’s important to include art and culture in a global event like the Olympics. How can it help people learn more about the host city and its people?

3. STUDENT PROTESTERS CREATE CHANGE IN NEPAL

In Nepal, a country in Asia, massive student protests led to big changes in the government. The protests began after students were upset about government corruption and a ban on social media. Things turned violent when security forces opened fire on the protesters, and more than 50 people died in the chaos. The protests caused the prime minister to resign, and many buildings, including government offices, were destroyed. As a result, Sushila Karki, a former chief justice known for fighting corruption, was chosen as Nepal’s new leader. She is the first woman to lead the country. Many young people admire her for standing up to dishonest officials in the past. Although some people are unsure if she’ll be a good prime minister, others hope she can help guide the country through this difficult time. Ms. Karki has promised to listen to the younger generation and help rebuild the country before calling for new elections. Imagine you are a young journalist reporting on Sushila Karki’s appointment as Nepal’s new leader—write a short news article (5–7 sentences) that explains who she is, why students supported her, and what challenges she might face. Be sure to include a headline, an opening sentence that grabs attention, and quotes or facts from the article to support your points.

4. RECOVERING AFTER WILDFIRES

After the devastating Camp Fire in 2018, the town of Paradise, California, is slowly rebuilding. New homes, businesses, and even schools are being constructed. But while the buildings are coming back, students and teachers are still struggling to recover emotionally and academically. Many students missed weeks or even months of school, and the trauma of losing homes and loved ones made it hard to focus in class. Some schools held classes in temporary locations like churches and hardware stores. Teachers, who were also affected by the fire, worked hard to support students’ mental health, but this meant academics often had to wait. Now, schools in Paradise are trying to balance emotional healing with helping students catch up in reading, math, and other subjects. Their story is a powerful reminder of how long it can take for communities to truly recover after a natural disaster. Think about how natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, or floods can affect students’ lives and learning. Imagine you are a school leader in a town that has just experienced a disaster. Write a short plan (1–2 paragraphs) explaining what your school would do to help students recover. What support would you give to students who lost their homes? How would you help them feel safe again? How would you make sure learning continues, even when things feel scary or uncertain? Use examples from the article to help you think through your ideas.

5. CHALLENGES FOR N.P.R. AND P.B.S.

Public radio and TV stations across the U.S. are facing big problems after President Trump and Congress took away $500 million in government funding that helped them stay on the air. This funding helped support shows on NPR and PBS, especially in rural and tribal areas where these stations are often the only source of local news, weather, and educational programming. Now, many stations may have to stop airing national shows like “All Things Considered” or kids’ shows like “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.” Some stations are asking for donations, selling old equipment, or even trying to make money by selling food or T-shirts. In places like the Warm Springs reservation in Oregon and the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota, people rely on these stations to hear news in their Native languages and learn about what’s happening in their community. Without this funding, those stations might not survive, and many people could be left without access to important information. Think about the role public radio and TV stations play in communities—especially in small towns or tribal areas. These stations share important local news, weather alerts, school announcements, sports coverage, cultural stories, and even shows in Native languages. They often provide information that people can’t get anywhere else, especially in places with poor internet or cell service. Imagine your community didn’t have a local station like this anymore. What kinds of things would people miss? How could that hurt the community? Write a paragraph explaining why local media is important and what public radio and TV stations do for the people they serve. Then, come up with two or three creative ideas for how a station could raise money to stay open or continue serving the community in new ways.