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Articles by Karsten Harrison
c.s. lewis Archives - Heartlander News
Florida Senate passes bill that would strip Disney of its self-rule status
Don’t Just Settle for Youth Ministry. Embrace It.
“What’s next after youth ministry for you?” “How long do you plan to serve in this role?” “Do you think you’ll still like it in 10 years?” I’ve been asked those questions many times over the past year, ever since I began my first full-time pastoral role overseeing youth ministry. These questions are harmless, but they sometimes provoke me. Why do people view youth ministry as a footnote in a shepherd’s ministry tenure? Is it less glorious than other ministries?
New school choice program bringing hope to children, parents, pastors say
(The Center Square) – Texas’ new school choice program is bringing hope to children and parents, pastors said at a Republican Party of Texas Convention held in Houston. Texas’ new school choice program “has brought hope to our parents who felt so hopeless,” Tyler, Texas-based pastor Joel Enge said to a crowd of several thousand. Enge founded Kingdom Life Academy, a private Christian school in northeast Texas. A longtime school choice advocate and former public-school teacher, Enge has known Gov.
Patriots’ TreVeyon Henderson offers Christ-centered response to Pride Month
One of the NFL’s rising stars is standing firm in his Christian faith while weighing in on Pride Month – from the heart of one of America’s most progressive regions. New England running back TreVeyon Henderson emerged as one of the NFL’s brightest young stars last season, helping fuel the Patriots’ surprising run to the Super Bowl while recording more than 1,000 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns.
School district draws Title IX probe, accusations of boy in girls locker room
(The Center Square) – Cabarrus County Schools in North Carolina is under federal investigation, accused of Title IX violations involving a boy watching girls change clothes in locker rooms. Kim Richey, assistant secretary for Civil Rights, said, “Today’s investigation demonstrates that the Trump administration will not stop pursuing districts that reportedly subject our women and girls to egregious violations of their privacy and safety.
Florida sues Big Tech giant claiming it willingly hawked harmful product
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Republican Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sued OpenAI Monday alleging that the ChatGPT parent company put out a product that harmed users. The lawsuit seeks to hold the tech giant’s CEO Sam Altman liable for allegedly harming Floridians by releasing an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that put profit over safety. The lawsuit claims that ChatGPT has aided mass shooters, harmed critical thinking skills, and drove people to suicide, according to CNBC.
Connecticut district wrestles with covering multimillion-dollar shortfall even with state, local support
Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut is scrambling to address a projected $89 million budget deficit over the next two fiscal years, according to the local Fox affiliate. “We’re not looking to be saved. We’re looking to be invested in,” Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrae Townsel told journalists. The district, which enrolls 16,500 preK-12 students across 39 schools, has an estimated $29 million shortfall for this fiscal year and a $60 million one for the 2027 fiscal year.
Former Jack Smith prosecutor charged with mishandling government documents
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – A former U.S. attorney faces charges in Florida for allegedly stealing records related to the Biden administration’s probe of President Donald Trump over his own handling of sensitive documents. Carmen Lineberger illegally kept Department of Justice (DOJ) materials related to former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Florida case against Trump for herself, a grand jury alleged Tuesday.
Portland Public Schools’ own committee blasts projected pay increase, warning of ‘fragile’ public trust
The Portland Public Schools (PPS) district is facing internal criticism for an “extremely optimistic” 2026-27 budget plan, which analysts believe will not accurately reflect costs, according to the local ABC affiliate.
Louisiana votes down all 5 amendments
(The Center Square) – Louisiana voters rejected all five proposed constitutional amendments in Saturday’s election, turning down measures that would have addressed teacher pay raises, property tax policy, judicial retirement rules and government authority over civil service jobs. The sweeping outcome halts a range of policy changes backed by lawmakers and sends several high-profile proposals back to the drawing board.
Dual enrollment is skyrocketing. Here’s how homeschoolers blazed this path for their public-school peers.
Although dual enrollment is being touted as one of the latest high school trends, homeschoolers have long enjoyed the benefits of this method in preparing for higher education. “We’ve been leveraging this for years and years — and we have the receipts,” Kym Kent told Stand Together’s news team. Kent is the executive director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial, which provides homeschool classes and curriculum through its program in Maryland.
Florida prosecutor subpoenas NFL on Rooney Rule
(The Center Square) – NFL representatives have been subpoenaed to Florida on June 12 to answer questions on the Rooney Rule, a hiring protocol state Attorney General James Uthmeier says should be suspended. Florida is home to the NFL’s Jaguars in Jacksonville, Buccaneers in Tampa and Dolphins in Miami.
Pritzker campaign paints Darren Bailey as prioritizing firearms over families
Illinois’ liberal governor is accusing his conservative challenger of prioritizing guns over families. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s campaign launched a political attack claiming Darren Bailey harbors an “extreme, out-of-step agenda” on gun rights. Bailey recently spoke at the Church on Fire 7 Mountains Conference in Decatur, where he spent the afternoon laying out a vision focused on unity and practical solutions to get Illinois back on track.
WATCH: ‘I can do all things through Christ’: Jockey posts Bible verse before Kentucky Derby win
Jocky Jose Ortiz’s come-from-behind win at Sunday’s Kentucky Derby was preceded by a Bible verse: Philippians 4:13. Ortiz, a devout Christian, posted the verse before the race: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Soon after, he piloted Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot, to a stunning victory. Entering the final turn at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, the horse and jockey were in last place. But Golden Tempo surged down the stretch, and “all things” soon became possible.
Expert: Gun control measures wouldn’t have stopped Trump assassination attempt; other solutions needed
It is common after a mass shooting or assassination attempt to hear calls for more gun control, especially from the left. The attempt on President Donald Trump’s life last week was no exception. But stricter gun laws would not have prevented Saturday’s incident, one expert says.
School officer stops armed teenager before he enters building
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – A 16-year-old former student armed with a handgun was stopped before he entered a Daytona Beach, Florida, high school, local media reported. A school resource officer (SRO) and an “armed guardian” at Mainland High School confronted the former student, who had fled from a SRO when trying to re-register at the school earlier in April, local TV station WESH reported.
Democrats, teachers’ unions, socialists join forces to shut down schools for communist holiday
Teachers’ unions forced school closures in U.S. cities Friday as part of the national “May Day Strong” protest, leaving families scrambling for childcare while students lost instructional time. The protests complement staged events of roughly 600 groups representing billions of dollars organizing some 3,000 protests nationwide for the communist labor holiday, according to Fox News.
WATCH: NH teachers’ union head confirms World Economic Forum is helping develop curriculum
The head of the New Hampshire chapter of the American Federation of Teachers told lawmakers the union is working with globalists to develop curriculum for students. Deborah Howe told a legislative committee Tuesday the AFT is “working with industry leaders from around the world to develop career and technical education curriculum to share with any school in the United States.” The training is designed “to help its students learn and thrive and gain employment after school,” Howe said.
Active shooter reported on campus of Florida State University
An active shooter in the area of the Florida State University student union was reported around 12:30 p.m. local time. Victims are being brought into the university hospital, a source with knowledge of the situation tells The Lion. Live news video of the scene shows law enforcement officers running with guns drawn onto campus. This story is breaking.
Another shooting at Dallas high school riddled with violence
A 17-year-old student is in custody after shooting four people at a Dallas high school Tuesday, the second shooting at the school in one year. No one died in the incident at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, which took place shortly after 1 p.m., officials said. An unidentified student reportedly let suspect Tracy Haynes Jr. into the building, where he indiscriminately shot five people, including one at point-blank range. Victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment, local media reported.
Student sues school district that called cops when he asked why American flags weren’t in classrooms
Parker Jensen wanted answers about why American flags weren’t being displayed in his school classrooms, but instead he got a police escort and a one-week suspension. Baltimore County School District officials reportedly called police on March 28 and summarily suspended Jensen after he inquired at the district’s office why the flags weren’t displayed in all classrooms, as required by district and state policy.
Kansas Republicans override Gov. Kelly’s vetoes of pro-life measures
Republican lawmakers in Kansas overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes of three pro-life measures, taking steps to protect and support life from the moment of conception. During a veto session last week, Republicans used their supermajorities in both chambers to enact a law that ensures public school students view ultrasound or animated footage of prenatal humans in classes that teach about human growth, development or sexuality. Live Action’s Baby Olivia video is one such resource that could be used.
Christian schools lead charge in higher ed reform supported by Trump admin
A “long overdue” higher education “course correction” is underway during the first 100 days of the Trump administration, and Christian schools are the center of it.
Chip Roy demands answers from blue city police chief after firebombs found in Tesla showroom
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy is demanding answers after yet another Tesla property was targeted for vandalism, this time near his own congressional district. The Austin Police Department confirmed Monday several incendiary devices were discovered at a Tesla dealership in north Austin, making it one of a growing number of Tesla locations allegedly victimized by opponents of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has become a prominent member of the Trump administration. Texas GOP Rep.
South Carolina charter school makes compelling argument for single-sex classrooms
Might boys and girls learn better when they’re taught separately? That’s the method used at Langston Charter Middle School in Greenville, South Carolina, which has the science – and results – to back it up. David Wooten, longtime principal of Langston, explained how his school reimagined classroom teaching based on modern neurological findings.
ICE Houston agents arrest more than 600 criminal noncitizens
(The Center Square) – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents based in Houston continue to arrest and remove violent criminals illegally in the U.S. In several targeted operations, agents arrested more than 600 criminal foreign nationals, including scores who were previously deported multiple times, confirmed gang members, sex offenders and fugitives. ICE agents recently removed Orbelin Benitez-Carbajal, a criminal Mexican national previously deported and convicted of manslaughter.
Texas Senate passes Parental Bill of Rights
Texas lawmakers want parents, not the government, to have more control over their children’s education. The Texas Senate passed a Parental Bill of Rights last week along party lines, with Republicans in support. The legislation would bar diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices in public K-12 schools and prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and so-called gender identity. Sen.
KC-area mom banned from school property for taking viral photo of sex-related poster wins her freedom back in court
A Kansas City-area mom banned from all school property and events for taking and sharing a photo of a school poster had her ban overturned Thursday in federal court. Carrie Schmidt had been banned by Gardner Edgerton Unified School District 231 – not just from its property and events, but also from events at other area school districts that involved Gardner Edgerton students and personnel.
Teacher Freedom Alliance launches union for pro-America educators
A new alternative to mainstream teachers’ unions launched on Friday for teachers with “American values.” The Teacher Freedom Alliance (TFA) is an initiative of the Freedom Foundation, which has fought what it calls radical teachers’ unions that pull government strings to advance their own agenda. “We’re launching the Teacher Freedom Alliance to be the alternative to the teachers’ unions when it comes to the ‘benefits’ they provide,” Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation, told The Lion.
CPS per student spending soars while private school excels on thin budget
(The Center Square) – Taxpayers are spending tens of thousands of dollars per student at public high schools in Chicago, and at two schools, the number is more than $100,000 per student. Leo Catholic High School on the city’s South Side, meanwhile, has achieved 100% graduation rates for over a decade at a fraction of the cost.
Survey: Majority polled, including black Texans, support ESA becoming reality
(The Center Square) – A majority of registered voters polled, 63%, support a proposal to create Texas’ first Education Savings Account program, according to a Texas Southern University’s Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research & Survey Center poll. The remainder, 37%, oppose the legislation. Support exists across multiple demographics. The majority of Black respondents, 69%, white respondents, 62%, and Latino respondents, 59%, support an ESA program open to all students.
Federal court allows school to keep parents in the dark about student gender identity; Supreme Court appeal on the table
A federal appeals court has ruled that a Massachusetts school district can conceal a student’s gender identity from the child’s parents – setting up a potential legal clash before the Supreme Court. In a Feb. 18 ruling, Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Ludlow Public Schools policy that required student consent for school administrators to notify parents if their child requested to use a different name or pronoun at school.
Soros-backed DA in the hot seat after man on bond goes on cop shooting spree
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – A Texas district attorney is under the congressional spotlight after an individual with a lengthy rap sheet went on a shooting spree against San Antonio law enforcement while out on bail.
Trump watching Texas ‘closely' as it considers passing school choice bill - The Lion
As the nation’s second-largest state considers passing a much-anticipated universal school choice bill, President Donald Trump is letting members of the Texas House know he’s watching. The $1 billion measure, which would provide education savings accounts for about 100,000 Texas students, passed the state Senate last week, but it is poised for a battle in the House, where it has previously faced defeat. Trump praised Lt. Gov.
Bill allowing public school chaplains moves forward in South Dakota
South Dakota is considering legislation to allow chaplains in public schools as volunteers or paid employees, joining a national trend started by Texas almost two years ago. Proponents of House Bill 1054 argued chaplains can help students build support systems and avoid behavioral incidents while attending schools, according to the Argus Leader. The bill passed the House Education Committee with a 10-5 vote Monday and will move to the House for further consideration.
Miami elementary school to close, convert into early learning center after dwindling enrollment
Declining public-school enrollment in Miami, Florida, has spurred the decision to close one elementary school and convert it into an early learning center. The school board voted for the closure of Broward Estates Elementary School after more than a year of research originally designed to shut down five schools, according to the Miami Herald.
(The Daily Signal) – Homeschool families in Virginia celebrated a victory Thursday after the Virginia state Senate backed away from a bill that threatened religious exemptions for homeschoolers. SB 1031 sought to get rid of an exemption that permits families in the state to homeschool their children because of their religious convictions.
Texas Gov. declares school choice a ‘must pass’ measure for Legislature in the next 30 days - The Lion
Gov. Greg Abbott declared school choice an emergency item that “MUST be passed this session,” giving the Texas Legislature 30 days to consider a measure that would create the nation’s largest universal school choice program. Abbott, a Republican who has campaigned heavily on school choice, gave his State of the State address Sunday in Austin, naming his priorities for the Legislature to address in the next month. Lawmakers are prohibited from voting on other measures until the 30 days is done.
Texas ad promotes school choice as bill advances toward Senate floor
An education freedom advocate has released an ad promoting school choice in Texas as the state Legislature moves closer to accomplishing Gov. Greg Abbot’s priority of establishing universal choice in the state. The ad, from yes. every kid., will air on local television in Austin during Abbott’s State of the State address Sunday, the organization said in an email. “Gov.
GOP lawmakers introduce bill to expand school choice
(The Daily Signal) – Republican Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Tim Scott of South Carolina are celebrating National School Choice Week by introducing a bill to empower businesses and individuals to fund education choice for students. Introduced Wednesday, the Educational Choice for Children Act provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarships for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education.
About 1,000 attend school choice rally at Kansas Capitol as related bill comes before committee
A sea of yellow scarves descended on the Kansas Capitol Tuesday as an estimated 1,000 people attended the state’s largest ever school choice rally. Students and parents came from near and far, including Wichita, Hutchinson and Kansas City, to voice their support for Senate Bill 75, which would establish tax credit scholarships that can be used for private schools. Small groups of supporters met individually with 50 lawmakers in advance of a hearing Tuesday on the bill.
Battleground Wisconsin set for referendum on enshrining voter ID in state constitution
(The Daily Signal) – Wisconsin, one of the seven presidential battlegrounds states, could become one of just a handful of states to have voter ID requirements enshrined in its state constitution. A total of 36 states have some form of ID requirement to vote, although only 22 require photo IDs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, only a few states have it in their constitution.
Texas House files similar budget to Senate, includes $1 billion for school choice
(The Center Square) – On the same day the Texas Senate filed its 2026-2027 biennium budget proposal, the Texas House filed a similar budget. The proposals are nearly identical, allocating more than $330 billion in spending, including $1 billion for school choice.
Amicus brief: Loudoun County schools 'silenced' parents - The Lion
(The Center Square) – Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has filed an amicus brief in support of Loudoun County parents “silenced” by the school board. The brief was filed in hopes of urging the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to defend the parents’ free speech.
Georgia reveals lowest-performing schools as school choice program rolls out
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) has published a list of schools eligible for the state’s education savings accounts program. For students to be eligible for Georgia Promise Scholarships, they must be zoned for a public school in the bottom 25% for academic achievement, according to the state’s website. In addition, students must have attended one of these public schools for at least two consecutive semesters or be entering kindergarten.
Op-ed: Even public-school advocates admit competition can help raise U.S. educational quality
Some media outlets love to sound the alarm over any competition to public schools from alternative education options, but occasionally you find journalists speaking the quiet part aloud. For example, WVNews.com recently published an article on declining public-school enrollment in West Virginia and nationwide. The article bemoans the trend, but it also admits it’s forcing schools to improve.
Abbott warns Texas Children's: comply with immigration order or lose funding - The Lion
(The Center Square) – A Texas Children’s Hospital cardiologist was chastised by Gov. Greg Abbott after he posted a TikTok video advising potential patients that they don’t have to comply with an executive order he issued. After Abbottweighed in saying entities that don’t comply risk losing funding, the hospital issued a statement supporting the order.
Montana AG says Royal Canadian Mounted Police were trying to spy on U.S. gun shows
(Daily Caller News Foundation) – Republican Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said Monday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sought to conduct surveillance at several gun shows in the state, a request he vehemently rejected. He said the Canadian agency contacted the Montana Department of Justice and Division of Criminal Investigations about observing gun shows in Bozeman and Kalispell. “My hair is absolutely on fire,” Knudsen said in an interview with Montana Talks radio.
Texas schools may start using a Bible-infused curriculum as soon as this school year after the state Education Board narrowly approved it Friday. The state-authored Bluebonnet Learning curriculum includes various Bible lessons such as “the Good Samaritan and the Golden Rule and Moses that all students should be exposed to,” said Board member Will Hickman, the Texas Tribune reported.
Texas parents reunited with infant daughter 9 months after CPS wrongfully removed her - The Lion
A pair of Texas parents have won a wrongful removal case that saw their six-week-old daughter taken by Child Protective Services (CPS) after she experienced medical complications from a traumatic birth. Jackie and Juan Boatright took their newborn daughter, Evelyn, to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, after noticing her twitching and vomiting.
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