Opinion

Almanac for Sept. 26, 2026

Today is Saturday, Sept. 26, the 269th day of 2026. There are 96 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1960, the first nationally televised debate between presidential candidates took place as Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon faced off in Chicago. Also on this date: In 1777, British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution. In 1954, the Japanese commercial ferry Toya Maru sank during a typhoon in the Tsugaru Strait, claiming more than 1,150 lives. In 1986, William H. Rehnquist was sworn in as the 16th chief justice of the United ...

Editorial cartoon for Sept. 26, 2026

‘Don’t blink, it will all be gone in a second’

When I walked into Mrs. Lynch’s Media Class at Niagara High School, I had a list of questions prepared. I wanted to know how the school year was going, what students were enjoying and what had surprised them so far. I got those answers — and quite a bit more. When I asked if anything ...

Almanac for Sept. 25, 2026

Today is Friday, Sept. 25, the 268th day of 2026. There are 97 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1957, nine Black students who had been forced to withdraw from Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, because of unruly white crowds were escorted to class by members of the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division and the National Guard. Also on this date: In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and sighted the Pacific Ocean. In 1789, the first United States Congress adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution and sent them to the states ...

Editorial cartoon for Sept. 25, 2026

Un-gifted and talented

Schools are ending gifted and talented programs. They will no longer separate kids by ability. Why? To address “inequity.” “This is so misguided,” says education researcher Michael Petrilli in my new video. “These equity people say, ‘Oh, we’re against gifted education.’ At ...