Free Republic

One in four fourth-graders in Germany cannot read properly post-lockdown, international research has shown. Data published as part of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) has found that one in four fourth graders in Germany cannot read properly as of 2021. The data has contributed to fears that the country’s prolonged COVID lockdown has badly damaged a generation of children, with the country’s government warning that nearly three-quarters of children in the country have been left with mental health difficulties as a result of COVID restrictions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Tuesday that it had fined a passenger $10,500 for refusing to wear a face mask during a February flight. In a press release, the agency said that a passenger had taken an Allegiant Air flight on Feb. 27 going from Provo, Utah, to Mesa, Ariz., and allegedly refused to wear the mask properly over both his nose and mouth. "Flight attendants instructed him seven separate times to wear his facemask properly, and each time he moved it off of his nose after the flight attendant walked away," the release said. "When told that he...

When you were a child, Mommy probably rewarded you for being good and punished you for acting naughty. Now that you're all grown up, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants you to feel just like a child again. The governor's proposed solution for Californians' health care woes includes a plan to reward people who eat good food, get plenty of exercise, don't smoke tobacco or drink booze. Following in the fine tradition of Mommy, we now have Nanny Schwarzenegger. He's from the government, and he's here to make you do what's good for you. And you thought you were all grown up?...

CLEVELAND (AP) - High school officials acted properly in taking three days to determine whether an alleged rape occurred between students before contacting authorities, police said. Three teenage boys have been charged with raping a fellow special-education student who said he was attacked five straight days the week of April 18-22 at East Technical High School. School officials became aware of the alleged rapes after a custodian saw sexual activity between students at the school's track on April 22. Custodian Michael Savoy and principal Dale Laux reviewed surveillance videotape, but couldn't identify who was involved until later that night and...