National test scores show that if the Catholic school system were a state, it would rank number one in the nation. In contrast, the U.S. public school system, managed by the Department of Education, now ranks only 18th in the world. In March, President Trump issued an executive order to begin closing the U.S. Department of Education, aiming to return control over education to states, parents, and local communities. The order rightly frames the Department as costly, ineffective, and unaccountable, pointing to decades of poor student performance as evidence of the failure of federal oversight. Created in 1979 under pressure from teachers’ unions, the Department has overseen ballooning education budgets, over $200 billion during the COVID era alone, while national test scores have stagnated. According to the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, 70% of 8th graders are below proficiency in reading, and 72% in math. George Wendt, the actor who portrayed Norm Peterson, a key character on the classic sitcom Cheers, has passed away at the age of 76. Wendt apparently passed peacefully in his sleep. Cheers ran for 11 seasons and was one of the most popular TV shows in the country at its height. The show’s run began in 1982 and ended in 1993, shortly before the advent of the internet. Norm was known for his grand entrances and his regular spot at the end of the bar where he would sit and enjoy a beer. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/rip-actor-george-wendt-who-portrayed-norm-classic/ A fresh wave of protests has reportedly broken out in cities across China, as angry workers demand their unpaid wages, and residents rebel against a myriad of new taxes and fees imposed by cash-strapped municipal governments. Worker complaints about unpaid wages boiled over into street protests of unusual size and persistence in April, as President Donald Trump’s tariffs bit into the already shaky Chinese economy. Some demonstrators complained they had unpaid back wages and benefits stretching back into 2023, when it became clear that China’s post-pandemic recovery would be far less robust than Beijing had predicted. Demonstrators also complained that the Chinese government has been lying about the state of the economy for years, so Trump’s tariffs hit businesses much harder than anticipated. Many companies had already gone deep into debt borrowing money to make payroll, so the reduced income from tariffs was even more devastating for their debt-encrusted balance sheets. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was humiliated this week when a new destroyer failed to launch and capsized in front him. Kim Jong Un, who was at the launch, condemned Wednesday’s mishap in unusually strong language. He called it a “grave and unacceptable accident” caused by “carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism,” and described it as a “serious criminal act,” the state-run news agency reported. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/kim-jong-un-humiliated-as-new-north-korea/ Singer, songwriter Billy Joel abruptly canceled all upcoming concert tour dates after being diagnosed with a brain disorder. The 76-year-old made the announcement on social media on Friday. Billy Joel announced he has been diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) which has led to problems with hearing, vision, and balance. God please heal him, must be scary! I can't imagine what this woman is going through. God bless all the British doctors who left their safe country and are taking caring of innocent people in such a dangerous place. Russian Air Force Major-General Yuri Dashkin said Putin’s helicopter was “virtually at the epicenter of repelling a large-scale attack by the enemy’s drones,” and that 46 drones were shot down during the attack, according to a report from the Associated Press. The area borders Ukraine and has been occupied by their troops since August. Dashkin explained, “During the period when the President [Putin] was working in the Kursk region, the enemy launched an unprecedented attack with unmanned aerial vehicles. The air defence group in this area destroyed 46 aircraft-type [Ukrainian military drones].”
Department of Ed Not Needed – Catholic Schools Are Doing More with Less:
RIP – Actor George Wendt Who Portrayed Norm on Classic TV Show ‘Cheers’ Passes Away at 76:
Protests Erupt Across China as Factories, Schools, and Construction Sites Struggle to Pay Workers:
Kim Jong Un Humiliated as New North Korea Destroyer Fails to Launch, Capsizes in Front of Him:
Billy Joel Abruptly Cancels All Concerts After Being Diagnosed with Brain Disorder:
Ukraine Attempted to Assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin by Attacking His Helicopter with Drones:
