1. Cuyahoga Falls, OH
An Ohio high school cheerleader set the Guinness world record of consecutive handsprings, according to the Ohio website. With a record of 42 back handsprings, junior Marie Klein of Walsh Jesuit High School performed the feat at a football game on Sept. 6.
“It was crazy,” Klein said. “I loved the way the crowd reacted. My mom was crying. It didn’t feel real at times as I did it. I almost passed out, but I kept going.
Standing at 4-foot-11, Klein has been cheerleading for six years and doesn’t plan on ending any time soon.
“I am real excited to have the record,” Klein said. “Now I want to break my own record.”
Read more at http://cuyahogafalls.ohio.com/walsh-jesuit-cheerleader-sets-guinness-book-world-record-for-back-handsprings-1.426785
2. U.S. States
Beef Products Inc.’s pink slime, ammonia-treated meat trimmings, are now allowed to reenter school lunch programs in four states.
Uncovered governmental data in a Politico report shows that seven states including Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania have ordered 2 million pounds of meat that “may contain the controversial product” for the school year.
Although some food studies have shown no negative impact of pink slime, other findings have concluded the product may be linked to the disease-inducing E. Coli bacteria.
Because of expensive beef prices, low school budgets and subsided controversy, schools may find pink slime to be a financially reasonable choice for their programs.
Still, parents of students are fighting against bringing in any potentially dangerous food to schools. Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has even introduced a bill to Congress requiring labels on ground beef.
“As a parent, I wouldn’t want pink slime in my kid’s school lunches, but ultimately that decision is up to parents and school systems,” Pingree said. “But for anyone to make an informed decision they need accurate information, so I’m glad the USDA has agreed to make sure school systems know when they are ordering meat that has this product in it.”
Read more at http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/pink-slime-school-lunches-96502.html
3. White Plains, N.Y.
Archbishop Stepinac High School students don’t need to worry about hauling 10-pound textbooks between home and school anymore. Starting this school year, all students are required to have a tablet or laptop on which they can access their school digital library. The digital library contains all the 40 textbooks taught in the school curriculum.
Many students are content with the new high-tech learning system.
“We don’t have to carry around textbooks anymore and we can just access them wherever we are,” junior Kyle Mastoloni said.
Digital textbooks help not only physically but also financially. In previous years, students would spend almost $700 on textbooks while the online library access only costs students $150 a year. Students at Archbishop Stepinac feel lucky to be following the footsteps of many universities that have already created an all-digital learning environment.
Read more at http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/09/18/white-plains-high-school-goes-super-high-tech-drops-traditional-books/
