| Monday, December 22, 2025 |
| Turning Point showcases the discord that Republicans will need to navigate | |
 | Vice President JD Vance said Sunday the conservative movement should be open to everyone as long as they "love America," declining to condemn a streak of antisemitism that has divided the Republican Party and roiled the opening days of Turning Point USA's annual convention. After a long weekend of debates about whether the movement should exclude figures such as bigoted podcaster Nick Fuentes, Vance came down firmly against "purity tests." "I didn't bring a list of conservatives to denounce or to de-platform," Vance said during the convention's closing speech. Turning Point leader Erika Kirk, who took the helm after the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, has endorsed Vance as a potential successor to President Donald Trump, a helpful nod from an influential group with an army of volunteers. But the tension on display at the four-day gathering foreshadowed the treacherous political waters that Vance, or anyone else who seeks the next Republican presidential nomination, will need to navigate in the coming years. Top voices in the "Make America Great Again" movement are jockeying for influence as Republicans begin considering a future without Trump, and there is no clear path to holding his coalition together. |
| Want to read more in 2026? Here's how to revive your love of books | |
| People stop reading in adulthood for lots of reasons. But it's never too late to turn the page on old habits and start again. Curling up with a good book can reduce stress, increase creativity and boost empathy. A recent analysis of U.S. government data found that the percentage of Americans who read for pleasure during an average day has fallen to 16% in 2023 from 28% in 2004. That includes not just books but audiobooks, e-books and periodicals like magazines. Some people say they're fatigued from years of assigned reading in school. Others don't have the time or would rather zone out by doom-scrolling on social media. And many just got out of the habit. "It's difficult for people who are really tired and busy to think about getting into reading if it's not something they're used to," said Jacqueline Rammer, director of Menomonee Falls Public Library in Wisconsin. To create a habit that sticks, "start by scheduling reading into your day," said Gloria Mark, an attention span expert with the University of California, Irvine. Read five pages during a lunch break or right before bed. |
| The rise of deepfake cyberbullying poses a growing problem for schools | |
| Schools are facing a growing problem of students using artificial intelligence to transform innocent images of classmates into sexually explicit deepfakes. The fallout from the spread of the manipulated photos and videos can create a nightmare for the victims. The challenge for schools was highlighted this fall when AI-generated nude images swept through a Louisiana middle school. Two boys ultimately were charged, but not before one of the victims was expelled for starting a fight with a boy she accused of creating the images of her and her friends. "While the ability to alter images has been available for decades, the rise of A.I. has made it easier for anyone to alter or create such images with little to no training or experience," Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release. "This incident highlights a serious concern that all parents should address with their children." The prosecution stemming from the Louisiana middle school deepfakes is believed to be the first under the state's new law, said Republican state Sen. Patrick Connick, who authored the legislation. The law is one of many across the country taking aim at deepfakes. |
| Students with disabilities find path to independence with U. of Alabama program | |
 | Anna Kathryn Bonner picked up a framed photo near her desk of herself and sister Bethany Compton. Her sister is dressed up as Lydia from the Beetlejuice movies. Compton participated in CrossingPoints, a University of Alabama program for students with intellectual disabilities. Bonner works for the program and keeps the photo to remind herself how her sister "found her voice." "I will forever be known as Bethany's sister," said Bonner, an independent living and social inclusion coordinator. "And I think that is so cool." The program is a collaborative effort between Tuscaloosa city and county schools and the university. Students who are 18 to 21 years old can attend classes on independent living, get job training and take college classes. Jeremy Reid, CrossingPoints' external relations coordinator, said Bethany represents the ultimate goal for their students. After finishing the program, Bethany did clerical work for 18 years. She is now retired. Reid said the program helps 75% of its students get jobs. |
SPORTS
| Men's Basketball: The Final Horn: State 71, Memphis 66 | |
 | Mississippi State rolled into the Christmas break riding a three-game winning streak following a 71-66 victory over Memphis at Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. It marked the second-straight year that the Bulldogs topped Penny Hardaway's Tigers, who fell to 4-7 on the year. The contest went down to the wire, but MSU made its final four shots from the field to improve to 7-5. Chris Jans' squad finished the game shooting 44 percent and forced Memphis to turn the ball over 18 times leading to 20 points for the Bulldogs. Veterans Josh Hubbard and Shawn Jones Jr. scored all 14 of Mississippi State's points in the final four minutes. The Bulldogs regained the lead on a Hubbard jumper with 3:41 remaining, the first of his nine points during that stretch which also included a 3-pointer and four free throws. Jones added a dunk and a layup along with a free throw to help State in the waning moments. Jayden Epps led all scorers with 19 points aided by a 4-of-9 effort behind the arc. Hubbard was the only other Bulldog to reach double figures, finishing with 17 points and has now scored 10-plus points in 11 of 12 contests this season. |
| Women's Basketball: Mississippi State Grabs Eighth Straight Win On Saturday | |
| The Mississippi State Bulldogs moved to 12-1 on their final road trip of 2025, as they defeated the La Salle Explorers 85-37 on Sunday. Jaylah Lampley led the Bulldogs in scoring for the first time in her career, as she scored a career-high 18 points. Lampley shot 8-12 from the floor, marking the ninth time she has shot above 50 percent in a game. Five games of those nine saw Lampley make at least five shots from the floor. Destiney McPhaul stuffed the stat sheet in her return to Philadelphia with her first career double double. McPhaul finished with 16 points, six rebounds and career-highs of 10 rebounds and six steals. She shot 50 percent from the floor and from beyond the arch with a pair of makes from distance. Favour Nwaedozi earned her seventh double double of the season with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Chandler Prater grabbed her fourth consecutive double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Trayanna Crisp finished in double figures for the fifth time this season with 10 points. |
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