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.

GA educators: Put the brakes on more guns for teachers

play audio
Play

Tuesday, October 31, 2023   

Georgia lawmakers are proposing a bill that would facilitate teachers carrying guns in schools.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and Republican Sens. Clint Dixon and Max Burns, introduced the Georgia School Safety Initiative that would provide state-funded firearms training and include a $10,000 stipend to teachers who choose to carry. It is an extra layer of protection they say would improve the safety and well-being of students, but some teachers don't agree.

Lisa Morgan, a kindergarten teacher and president of the Georgia Association of Educators, said the proposal could make schools more dangerous.

"We do not enhance the safety of our children by introducing more weapons into the school setting. I think about what happens if the teacher is attacked and their weapon is taken away from them, and then other educators, other students are then harmed, " Morgan said.

She added this is a community-wide problem and doesn't believe gun violence can be solved in the school alone. Morgan suggests lawmakers should consider investing in resources like mental health services and social workers that can address issues comprehensively.

Backers of the initiative say it was modeled after Texas's recent proposal to offer teachers $25,000 to complete mental health and firearms training to carry weapons on campus.

Morgan noted another side to this issue is that there are problems hiring and keeping teachers in their profession. She added that, based on feedback from educators, many feel burned out or express that their plate is overflowing.

"More responsibilities are added all the time, and nothing is ever taken away. And now we want to add the responsibility of being security and being armed," she continued. "That is not how we retain our current educators and that's certainly not how we recruit new educators to our profession."

The proposed bill - which would allow teachers to opt out - is set to be introduced in the 2024 legislative session. House Bill 60, also known as the Guns Everywhere Bill, already allows school boards to decide who can carry concealed weapons on school property, but only three out of 180 districts have allowed it.


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