All posts tagged: tackled

Illinois school shooting plot foiled by relative who tackled the armed child, officials say

Illinois school shooting plot foiled by relative who tackled the armed child, officials say

Published by Sam Flores

An Illinois school shooting plot was foiled Friday after a relative spotted a boy with a firearm and called 911, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Deputies responded to the 2400 block of Helmar Lane in Plainfield Township, part of the greater Chicago area, at 12:50 p.m. following a report of “a male suicidal subject.” A boy and a relative were found at the scene. Officials did not release identifying information about either individual. “Further investigation shows the relative had discovered the juvenile was armed with a firearm and the relative dialed 911 while pinning the juvenile down,” the sheriff’s office said. The boy was en route to nearby Grand Prairie Elementary School to carry out a school shooting, authorities said. He was detained, and deputies recovered “a Glock handgun, a backpack which contained multiple loaded magazines, knives, an accelerant, gloves, and other items,” the sheriff’s office said. The child is being held at a hospital for evaluation after …

How the EPA has tackled PFAS contamination in the last 12 months

How the EPA has tackled PFAS contamination in the last 12 months

Published by skeptic

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a series of major initiatives to tackle PFAS contamination, marking significant progress in ensuring safer water and healthier communities nationwide. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted the agency’s accomplishments during the first year of the Trump Administration, emphasising a comprehensive strategy combining science, enforcement, and community outreach. Speaking on the nation’s progress in fighting PFAS countrywide, Zeldin commented: “Keeping Americans safe from the risks of PFAS chemicals has been a top priority of mine dating back to my time in Congress. “At the Trump EPA, we are focused on real results to protect families, farmers, and small businesses. That means locating PFAS, preventing it from getting into drinking water, cleaning it up where it’s already a problem, and holding polluters accountable. “These efforts are just the start of the work we will do on PFAS contamination to ensure ALL Americans have the cleanest air, land, and water.” PFAS: The hidden risk in everyday life PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are artificial chemicals widely used for more than 70 years in products like …

Ten English fire services tackled record number of grass, forest and crop fires in 2025 | Wildfires

Ten English fire services tackled record number of grass, forest and crop fires in 2025 | Wildfires

Published by Jenni Sidey

Ten English fire services tackled a record number of grassland, woodland and crop fires during what was the UK’s hottest spring and summer on record, figures show. In total nearly 27,000 wildfires were dealt with by fire services in England during the prolonged dry weather of 2025, according to analysis by PA Media. One fire chief said the summer was one of the most challenging that crews had ever faced and the frequency and intensity of the wildfires was putting a strain on resources. The figures, obtained through freedom of information requests, show that at least 12,454 grassland, woodland or crop fires were recorded by fire services in England in the three months from March to May 2025. This is more than four times the 2,621 incidents logged by these services in the same period in 2024 and is the highest spring total for more than a decade. Dorset and Wiltshire fire service recorded 298 incidents between March and May, its highest number for spring since comparable data began in 2011, followed by 459 in …

How we tackled misinformation in our curriculum

How we tackled misinformation in our curriculum

Published by skeptic

By the time they leave primary school, many have already come across online narratives that blur the line between fact and fiction. The curriculum and assessment review called for primary pupils to be taught media literacy and to understand the techniques used to distort information. In a similar vein, the latest keeping children safe in education guidance explicitly highlights conspiracy theories, misinformation and disinformation as safeguarding concerns. This shift in the policy climate creates an important responsibility for schools. We need to equip pupils for the online world they already inhabit, while introducing these ideas in a way that is age-appropriate rather than alarming. There is a strong imperative for teaching this in primary schools. The Pears’ Commission Into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools found that 91 per cent of 11-year-olds have a smart phone and 77 per cent of 11- to 12-year-olds use social media, despite the minimum age for many platforms being set to 13. If we wait until secondary school, it is already too late.  During our recent inset days, we looked …