Past Contributions

• Facing Budget Cuts, Chicago Schools Turn to Parents For Lobbying Help

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 25, 2016

  Schools across the Chicago area are hosting budget forums to help parents understand what proposed budget cuts will do to their community’s classrooms and what they can do to lobby state legislators for more funding. Full Story 

• The Bookshelf: May 26, 2016

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 25, 2016

  In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights The Bridge to Brilliance. Full Story 

• Mississippi Reverses Position on Transgender Bathroom Policy

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 25, 2016

  Although the state initially supported federal recommendations for schools to let transgender students use bathrooms of their choosing, the Mississippi Department of Education reversed its stance to align with state conservative leaders. Full Story 

• Profitable Online Schools Yield Sub-Par Results for Students

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 25, 2016

  Schools like the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, an online charter school based in Ohio, make huge profits on diverted federal and state funding, but experts say these online schools have not lived up to expectations. Full Story 

• The Brief: Low Turnout in Runoffs Nonetheless Yields Notable Results

  By Madlin Mekelburg and John Reynolds May 25, 2016

  A lack of a compelling statewide race at the top of either ticket kept participation in Tuesday’s party primary runoff elections squarely at the lackluster level. Full Story 

• Scott Walker — No, Not That One — Wins Court of Criminal Appeals Runoff

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 24, 2016

  A candidate who ran a low-key campaign and shares a name with the governor of Wisconsin won the GOP runoff race for a seat on Texas' highest criminal court. Full Story 

• Who Said It: Donald Trump or Mark Cuban?

  By Rodney Gibbs and Madlin Mekelburg May 24, 2016

  While he says he’s open to being a running mate for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban often sounds more like Trump. See if you can tell the bombastic billionaires apart in our quotation quiz. Full Story 

• The Brief: Primary Runoffs Are Low Turnout, High Stakes

  By Madlin Mekelburg and John Reynolds May 24, 2016

  Although today's primary runoff elections will likely see low turnout in contests for the Legislature, the Railroad Commission and the State Board of Education, there are at least five things to watch for on Election Night. Full Story 

• Health Care Nonprofits Woo Private Investors

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  Although they don’t answer to shareholders, nonprofit companies that run large health care operations are paying increasing attention to investors, with roadshows, investment calls and promises of greater transparency. Full Story 

• Geneticists Receive Top Honors for Biomedical Science

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  Two Texas researchers received one of the nation's top honors for biomedical science – the 2016 Passano Award. They received the award for their work laying a foundation for a new class of drugs to battle high cholesterol. Full Story