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FBI raids LAUSD superintendent Carvalho's home and office in ongoing probe
12 hours ago•Source: deadline.com
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9.09 min•20 hours ago
FBI Searches LAUSD Chief’s Home in AI-Company Probe
FBI agents searched Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home in San Pedro and the district’s headquarters as part of an investigation linked to the now-defunct AI company AllHere that LAUSD once used for its Ed chatbot; officials have released no targets or charges. Carvalho, who previously led Miami-Dade schools and is known for both reform efforts and AI-related controversies, faces scrutiny tied to the Ed project (which was unplugged after cash and performance concerns) and broader district challenges, including civil-rights litigation over desegregation policies.
2.405 min•23 hours ago
Harvard's Larry Summers to resign amid Epstein document disclosures
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FBI raids LAUSD HQ and superintendent's residence amid sealed probe
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UK doctor warns student loan interest could keep him paying for decades
A UK doctor says his student loan debt has grown from £55,000 to about £80,000 due to roughly £25,000 in interest, with around £3,000 added this tax year and only half of that paid off. Interest accrues immediately and can reach up to 6.2%, delaying plans like buying a home. Loans are written off after 25–40 years depending on the region, and while the government defends the system as fair, graduates and policymakers are pushing for reform.
UT System Tightens Classroom Topics, Sparking Academic-Freedom Fears
The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a policy to curb 'controversial topics' in courses, requiring faculty to avoid coercion, not include unrelated controversial matters in syllabi, and to follow the syllabus while promoting balanced discussion and academic integrity. While officials say the goal is to foster trust and expose students to multiple viewpoints, critics warn it could curb responses to current events, hamper inquiry, and lead to censorship, with enforcement details still unclear across 14 UT institutions. The move follows broader Texas higher-ed restrictions on curricula related to race and gender, and comes as UT Austin consolidates several ethnic- and gender-studies departments.
Epstein Ties Put Bard College’s Enduring Leader Under Scrutiny
Leon Botstein, Bard College’s long‑time president who rebuilt the school from debt to a sprawling, multi‑billion‑dollar enterprise, comes under renewed scrutiny after Justice Department documents reveal years of contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including fundraising discussions and efforts tied to young musicians. Botstein says the relationship was for fundraising, while critics warn the ties could harm Bard’s reputation; protests have been limited and the board has largely stood by him, with Botstein apologizing for his involvement as he marks decades at Bard.
LAUSD sets in motion layoffs to close budget gap
LAUSD's board approved issuing preliminary layoff notices to 657 staff (primarily in central office) as part of a $1.4 billion fiscal stabilization plan to close a multi-year deficit, while signaling additional reductions to positions including hundreds of teachers next year due to enrollment declines; teacher layoffs for 2026-27 are not planned. Notices must go out by March 15, with a hiring freeze and final decisions expected in May or June. The district also plans to move up to 800 certificated positions to other roles and has redirected $50–60 million to restore some classified position cuts, all aimed at protecting schools and frontline staff while balancing the budget.
Wexner’s Epstein Ties Put OSU’s Donor Legacy in the Spotlight
A long-form piece ties Les Wexner to Jeffrey Epstein, detailing Epstein’s control over parts of Wexner’s wealth, Wexner’s substantial donations to Ohio State University (including naming rights on OSU facilities and a new hospital), and renewed pressure as lawmakers seek his deposition and as survivors and critics push to remove his name; Wexner denies knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and says he cut ties in 2007, while OSU faces lawsuits and scrutiny over past donors.
New America Report Claims Marquette Redirects Low-Income Families Toward Risky PLUS Loans
A New America report names Marquette University among 41 colleges allegedly steering low-income families toward high-interest Parent PLUS loans while granting aid to wealthier students; the study notes 34% of Pell Grant recipients who left or graduated in 2020–21 also borrowed PLUS loans, with an average debt of $30,089, while the university awarded about $22,000 in non-need-based grants. Marquette says the PLUS loan option is shown separately to help families understand options and cites affordability efforts; experts warn that financial‑aid leveraging can drive up costs and reward wealthier families.
Columbia Sanctions Two in Epstein-Linked Dental School Admission Case
Columbia University sanctioned two dental college officials after DOJ documents showed they helped Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend secure admission through an irregular process; the university cut ties with Dr. Thomas Magnani and stripped Dr. Letty Moss-Salentijn of administrative duties, and will donate $210,000 in Epstein-related gifts to nonprofits assisting abuse survivors, underscoring the broader fallout from Epstein’s activities tied to the school.
Tainted Funds, Reputational Risk: How Epstein Shaped College Fundraising
Elite universities welcomed Jeffrey Epstein’s money to fund labs and budgets, even as questions about his motives and ethics lingered; after Epstein’s 2008 conviction and 2019 death, schools faced reputational fallout, with some donors and campuses distancing themselves and debates intensifying about how private gifts shape academia. The piece underscores how reliance on philanthropy—often accepted at lower administrative levels—can expose institutions to tainted-money risks and prompts calls for stronger donor screening and governance.
SFUSD strike exposes planning gaps and a healthcare win for teachers
The San Francisco Unified School District’s four‑day teachers strike ended with a negotiated win for educators—fully funded family healthcare and a roughly 5% pay increase—after months of deadlock. The district’s late bargaining, unresolved non‑monetary issues (sanctuary campuses, AI policy) and thin contingency plans left administrators on the back foot when sympathy strikes by principals and other staff shut schools. Public support from families helped sustain the strike, but the district faces ongoing fiscal pressures and tougher bargaining ahead as money and staffing concerns linger.
SF teachers end strike with funded family healthcare and modest raises
San Francisco teachers ended a four‑day strike after a two‑year tentative contract that fully funds family healthcare and provides wage bumps of 5% over two years for certificated staff (8.5% for paraeducators), plus special‑education case‑load reductions, a path for security guards to become full‑time staff, and a one‑year pause on sabbaticals, while warning that layoffs and budget cuts could still occur in the future.