A state commission in New Jersey has recommended a significant change in how schools manage technology use during the academic day. The Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents has suggested that school districts across the state should adopt bell-to-bell cellphone bans, preventing students from using phones from the beginning of the school day until the final bell. The recommendation comes after growing concerns about the impact of smartphones and social media on the me

Harris County Commissioners Lesley Briones and Adrian Garcia are preparing to unveil their new budget priorities during a press conference this morning, with a focus on investments in public safety, health, and infrastructure. This announcement, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. outside Commissioners Court in downtown Houston, is expected to highlight crucial areas such as disaster preparedness, road projects, and law enforcement funding. Despite the expansive

Harris County commissioners voted 3-1 to formally censure Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo during a tense and contentious court meeting that unfolded on Thursday. The decision came after an intense exchange in which Hidalgo reportedly interrupted fellow commissioners multiple times, expressing frustration over the failure of her proposed tax increase aimed at supporting early childhood education. The measure, which she hoped to place on the November ballot, w

A small family-run bakery in California’s Bay Area faced an unexpected financial crisis that went undetected for nearly a decade. La Patisserie, a popular shop in Cupertino known for its elegant pastries and intricate wedding cakes, was unknowingly overcharged by its delivery partner for more than eight years. What was believed to be a fruitful partnership with a major food delivery platform turned into a long-term financial drain costing the business over $100,000 in commission fees.

Former Chief Minister YS Jagan is embroiled in a heated legal battle following a tragic incident involving his bulletproof car, which allegedly crushed an elderly man named Singayya while Jagan was inside the vehicle. The Guntur police have filed a case in connection with this incident and have named Jagan as the second accused (A2) in the case. In a significant development, the Guntur police have taken strong measur

New Jersey residents officially have just one week remaining to obtain a Real ID before the federally enforced deadline of May 7. After this date, travelers without a Real ID-compliant license or a valid passport may be denied boarding at airport security checkpoints. The identification upgrade, long delayed since its original rollout, is about to become a strict requirement. The Real ID Act, passed to enhance national security, will require travelers to present federally approved identification

A vehicle fire in the Caldecott Tunnel on Wednesday afternoon led to the temporary closure of eastbound lanes on Highway 24, causing significant traffic delays for commuters traveling between Oakland and Orinda. The incident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m., when a vehicle caught fire approximately 400 feet into Bore 1 of the tunnel. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Caltrans responded promptly to the scene, coordinating with the Oakland Fire Department to manage the situation.

President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on auto imports, which are set to take effect on April 3, are expected to have far-reaching effects on the automotive industry in the U.S. Even if you're not actively in the market for a new car, these new tariffs could impact the cost of owning and maintaining your vehicle. The tariffs, designed to boost domestic manufacturing and generate significant revenue, will raise the price of cars imported from foreign countries. But beyond the initial cos

The central government is expected to announce a 2% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) this week, according to several media reports. This anticipated hike is set to benefit over 12 million central government employees and retirees under the guidelines of the 7th Pay Commission. If implemented, this increase will raise the existing DA from 53% to 55% of the basic pay. The increase is designed to help employees and pensioners manage inflation by adjusting their income to

A terrifying incident in Houston has raised serious concerns about vehicle recalls and safety after a local woman’s Range Rover exploded following a possible malfunction. Selda Johnson-Nauls was driving on the highway when she noticed unusual dashboard activity in her 2019 Range Rover, signaling a serious issue with the vehicle. Moments later, she was forced to pull over, unaware that she was just seconds away from a life-threatening explosion.

Rajiv Kumar’s tenure as Chief Election Commissioner of India, beginning in May 2022, has seen multiple landmark elections, including the 2023 Karnataka and Telangana polls and the 2022 presidential elections. His leadership has faced ongoing scrutiny, with opposition parties alleging bias towards the ruling BJP and raising concerns about the integrity of the election process, particularly regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Despite the criticism, Kumar has defended the election

BJP’s Strong Criticism of Akhilesh Yadav: The BJP strongly condemned Akhilesh Yadav's remarks declaring the Election Commission "dead" and accusing the Opposition of repeatedly undermining constitutional institutions after electoral defeats. Sambit Patra, BJP MP, expressed outrage over Yadav's statement, calling it an unprecedented attack on the Election Commission, which is a co

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition filed by KA Paul, seeking to bring back ballot paper voting in elections instead of the current use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). During the hearing, the Court raised questions about the motivations behind Paul's petition, especially given his background as the president of an organization focused on humanitarian work, including rescuing orphans and widow

IAS officer Amrapali, who recently lost her legal fight against the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) regarding her allotment to the Telangana cadre, has now been transferred to Andhra Pradesh. Along with three other IAS officers, she reported to the Andhra Pradesh secretariat yesterday. The news of Amrapali's transfer has sparked discussions on social media regarding her potential role in Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's initiatives. Pawan Kalyan has expressed

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today announced a significant toll waiver for light motor vehicles at all five toll booths providing entry into Mumbai. This decision, effective from midnight on Monday, aims to alleviate the financial burden on commuters as the state prepares for upcoming assembly polls. During a state cabinet meeting in Mumbai, Shinde emphasized that the waiver addresses a long-standing public demand. "This waiver will

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has proposed a tiered vehicle insurance premium system that would link costs directly to the number of traffic violations recorded against a vehicle. In a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Saxena emphasized that this system could incentivize safer driving habits, reduce accidents, and alleviate the financial burden on insurers from frequent claims. Citing alarming accident statistics, including over 4.37 lakh road accidents in 2022, Saxen

JSW MG Motor Pvt. Ltd. has made a groundbreaking move in the electric vehicle market by reducing the upfront acquisition cost of its cheapest electric car to under Rs 5 lakh. This reduction is achieved through an innovative battery-as-a-service (BaaS) program that unbundles the battery cost from the vehicle's price. The joint venture between India’s JSW Group and China’s SAIC Motor Co. has rolled out this program for its MG Comet and MG ZS EV models, making electric vehicle ow

In a surprising political development, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition, comprising TDP, BJP, and Janasena, has decided not to contest the MLC by-election scheduled for August 30th in Andhra Pradesh. This decision follows the disqualification of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLC Vamshi Srinivas Yadav, who defected to Janasena, leaving the MLC seat under the local bodies quota in Visakhapatnam vacant. The Election Commission subsequently announced the by-election. YSRCP