skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

One million acres of forest protected under The Conservation Fund, including in OR; Trump seeks to set aside his New York hush money guilty verdict after Supreme Court immunity ruling; 'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost; Utah feels the impact of California's ban on gestation crates.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

SCOTUS gives former President Trump a huge win in terms of immunity, which might apply to charges of election interference. A new poll finds future court appointments are crucial for voters, and President Biden continues to face post-debate calls to leave the race.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Ugly, imperfect produce destined for the landfill is being upcycled by a California candy company, a Texas volunteer uses his Navy training to map the gaps in broadband, and Pennsylvania has a new commission tasked with reversing its shrinking rural population.

Chromebook Expiration Leaves Schools to Cope with E-Waste

play audio
Play

Friday, July 7, 2023   

Education advocates say pending expiration dates for Google Chromebooks teach kids the wrong lesson about technology.

Software on thirteen models of Chromebooks will expire within the next three months and will no longer update, essentially rendering the devices useless for schools and students.

Lucas Gutterman, director of the Designed to Last Campaign at the Public Interest Research Group, said advocates are asking Google to extend those expiration dates to ensure schools can maintain access to important websites and students can keep learning.

"For folks that are trying to use their laptops over the summer," said Gutterman, "that expiration date could pass and it is possible that then those expired machines might not be able to access the resources that students need."

Gutterman said the company has extended software expiration dates for several models in the past.

A report found U.S. public schools could save nearly $2 billion if Google were to simply double the life of the devices, assuming no additional maintenance costs.

Chromebooks are not built to last and contribute to the nearly seven million tons of e-waste Americans generate each year.

By extending the life of Chromebooks, Gutterman said Google has the power to lead the industry by example while helping educators teach an important environmental lesson.

"They want students to have a sustainable relationship with the tech that's used in the classroom," said Gutterman, "and learn digital literacy while understanding that we should really be taking care of our devices and using them for as long as possible."

Only one third of e-waste in the U.S. is properly recycled. Gutterman said students see expired Chromebooks in schools headed for the trash and understand that's not the right way to treat expensive technology.





get more stories like this via email

more stories
There are no income or registration requirements for kids to participate in the state's Summer Meals program, which serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner to all youths up to age 18. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

With school cafeterias closed for the summer, community groups and nonprofits are working to ensure that Colorado's one in five children who go …


Social Issues

play sound

Former President Donald Trump has taken credit for placing three conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. On Monday, the court awarded him a …

Health and Wellness

play sound

As summer kicks into full gear, North Carolina dentists stressed the importance of maintaining children's dental health. Dr. Miranda Kalaskey…


Memphis Light, Gas and Water is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 440,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County. (Vika art/AdobeStock)

Social Issues

play sound

By Ashli Blow for Tennessee Lookout.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

Social Issues

play sound

Connecticut advocates are distressed about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Gloria Johnson. The ruling said public camping bans …

Environment

play sound

The Conservation Fund, which works to protect land and nature across the U.S. has announced it has protected more than 1 million acres of working …

Health and Wellness

play sound

A Virginia community health center is part of a program addressing food scarcity. The National Association of Community Health Centers' 2024 …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021