Iowa superintendent and former Olympian bested in footrace by 5th grader Ian Roberts has competed in some of the most high-profile races in the world. But his biggest competition to date was a determined 5th grader in jean shorts and Nike tennis shoes. Read more on NPR

Other countries have better sunscreens. Here’s why we can’t get them in the U.S. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. and we need all the protection we can get. So why is it so hard to get newer, more effective ingredients approved here? Read more on NPR

These teens were missing too much school. Here’s what it took to get them back Since the pandemic, chronic absenteeism in the nation’s K-12 schools has skyrocketed. These teens are working to get their attendance back on track. Read more on NPR

In a debate over a school name, it’s not just parents who are attached to the past At the height of the racial reckoning, a school district in Virginia voted to rename two schools that had been previously named for Confederate generals. This month, that decision was reversed. Read more on NPR

Arrested. Injured. Suspended. Six NYC university students say they’ll keep protesting Students arrested at Columbia University and the City College of New York spoke with NPR about their choice to risk legal and academic consequences. Read more on NPR

New York proposes a ban on guns that are easy to convert to illegal automatic weapons Meanwhile, Maryland’s governor signs a bill to address the surge of conversion devices, including Glock switches, that bypass a pistol’s trigger mechanism, allowing the weapon to fire fully automatic. Read more on NPR

Pete McCloskey’s life reminds us how politics long in the past live on in the present McCloskey’s story has both deep roots and burgeoning relevance. He died this month at 96 and had long been out of the limelight, but the issues he had been willing to champion are as salient as ever. Read more…