Free Republic

Harvard Professor Raj Chetty and a group of other researchers have performed a much-discussed study (via Gene Expression) that looks at what factors really affect things like income, your likelihood to own a home, and odds of getting married. The most startling thing they found? Your score on a very basic kindergarten test is a HUGE predictor. Other educational factors like class size and the quality of your teachers aren't nearly as important. Given the renewed interest in educational policy in America right now, it's fascinating.

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. -- One of two teachers accused of having parties with underage teenagers that involved alcohol, marijuana and sex has been released, but the other remains in jail. On Monday, Sheriff Chuck Wright announced the arrests of Sarah Jane Lindsay, a teacher at Boiling Springs Elementary School, and Audrey Grabarkiewicz, who was employed at Lake Bowen Baptist Church Daycare. According to Boiling Springs Elementary School’s website, Sarah Lindsay taught 4-year-old child development. Grabarkiewicz was released on $25,000 bond on Wednesday. Lindsay was still being held on a $50,000 bond.

With the power and authority of government office, you might imagine that hotties would be falling over themselves to get their hands on the great and good. In fact, that’s rarely the case – politics can be a dry, dry subject and it takes decades to get to the top. However, to test the rule, here are 12 of the hottest women in the world to be married into politics! With the power and authority of government office, you might imagine that hotties would be falling over themselves to get their hands on the great and good. In fact, that’s...

A former Northwest Rankin High School teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student will not be going to jail, court officials said. Kelly Finn Blossom pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of sexual battery and was given a 20-year suspended sentence along with five years probation, court officials said. Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest said that he wanted jail time, but the family of the victim asked that the teenager not be called to testify. The boy told investigators that he had sex with Blossom after school and on the weekends at the high school. The...