North Jefferson Chamber of Commerce to host National Civics Bee Regional Competition
The National Civics Bee gives sixth- eighth grade students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate their knowledge of civics.
Alabama state leaders talk Department of Government Efficiency
The competition will feature 20 finalists from across central Alabama competing against each other in a trivia-style format. The top three participants will be awarded trophies and cash prizes, while the first-place winner will advance to the State Level competition in Montgomery.
Commissioner Joe Knight will serve as the event's emcee. Judges for the competition include Sherry Buell, owner of Crazy D's Food Truck, Jennifer Boully of Little School by the Creek and Billy Hughes of Fultondale City Council.
More information on the National Civics Bee can be found here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Ex-DOGE lawyer launches AI policy council to push US to front of tech race with China
WASHINGTON — A former top lawyer at the Department of Government Efficiency launched a new artificial intelligence policy council on Wednesday, coinciding with executive actions by President Trump to deregulating the industry, The Post can reveal. James Burnham, who also held a senior position in the Department of Justice during Trump's first term, is founding the AI Innovation Council to push an 'America First' approach to AI and prevent China from winning the race for global tech dominance — both economically and militarily. 'Artificial intelligence is a revolutionary technology with the potential to make the United States wealthier and greater than it has ever been,' he said. Advertisement 3 The Department of Government Efficiency's former top lawyer James Burnham is launching a new artificial intelligence policy council on Wednesday to coincide with executive actions by the Trump administration. LinkedIn / James Burnham 'That's why President Trump made clear in his first week back in office that 'the policy of the United States is to sustain and enhance America's global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security.' 'I have been as outspoken as anyone about the problems of Big Tech and monopoly power, but it's a major mistake to let legitimate concerns about past abuses block new innovators from propelling our nation into a new golden age.' Advertisement The new council will sketch out regulatory frameworks for AI and help boost US-based companies. 3 The 'AI Action Plan' will be touted by the president's czar on the issue, Silicon Valley billionaire David Sacks, and will further promote the 'export' of American AI tech abroad and build out data centers in the US. AP Trump, 79, is set to sign several AI-related executive orders Wednesday afternoon — including an expected action to curb 'woke' models. The 'AI Action Plan' will be touted by the president's AI czar, Silicon Valley billionaire David Sacks, and will further promote the 'export' of American tech abroad and build out data centers in the US. Advertisement Last week, Sacks joined Trump in announcing more than $100 billion in AI- and energy-related private sector investments at a forum in Pittsburgh. 3 Last week, Sacks joined Trump in announcing more than $100 billion in AI- and energy-related private sector investments at a forum in Pittsburgh. Getty Images The administration may also prevent states from taking too heavy a hand in regulating the industry, according to a summary seen by Reuters. Advertisement A proposed moratorium on state and local AI regulation was removed from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by congressional Republicans before Trump signed it July 4. 'The goal isn't just to win the innovation race,' Burnham said. 'It's to help launch America's golden age.'
The Hill
19 hours ago
- The Hill
National Science Foundation staffers sign dissent letter
Their concerns range from mass firings by the administration's Department of Government Efficiency to interference with the grant process. In particular, the employees allege that for grants, 'a covert and ideologically driven secondary review process by unqualified political appointees is now interfering with the scientific merit-based review system.' The accusation and others are detailed in a letter addressed to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Lofgren said at a press conference that the letter was being submitted to her office as 'a protected whistleblower disclosure.' It was signed by 149 staffers, virtually all of whom signed either anonymously or whose names were redacted in the version of the letter that was made public on Tuesday. The NSF is an independent science agency that supports scientific research across various fields including biology, engineering, computer science and geoscience. The agency declined to comment on the letter. The staffers also said that the administration canceled 1,600 NSF grants in April and May using 'undisclosed criteria' and that the White House Office of Management was withholding $2.2 billion of the agency's $9 billion budget that was appropriated by Congress. 'Members of the administration have a say on what programs get funded and what proposals get awarded,' said Jesus Soriano, president of the AFGE Local 3403, which represents NSF employees.
The Hill
a day ago
- The Hill
National Science Foundation staffers express concerns about ‘politically motivated and legally questionable' Trump actions
Employees of the National Science Foundation (NSF) are going public with what they described as 'politically motivated and legally questionable' actions by the Trump administration related to their agency. Their concerns range from mass firings by the administration's Department of Government Efficiency to interference with the grant process. In particular, the employees allege that for grants 'a covert and ideologically driven secondary review process by unqualified political appointees is now interfering with the scientific merit-based review system.' The accusation and others are detailed in a letter addressed to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Lofgren said at a press conference that the letter was being submitted to her office as 'a protected whistleblower disclosure.' It was signed by 149 staffers, virtually all of whom signed either anonymously or whose names were redacted in the version of the letter that was made public on Tuesday. The NSF is an independent science agency that supports scientific research across various fields including biology, engineering, computer science and geoscience. The agency declined to comment on the letter. The staffers also said that the administration canceled 1,600 NSF grants in April and May using 'undisclosed criteria' and that the White House Office of Management was withholding $2.2 billion of the agency's $9 billion budget that was appropriated by Congress. 'Members of the administration have a say on what programs get funded and what proposals get awarded,' said Jesus Soriano, president of the AFGE Local 3403, which represents NSF employees. Their full list of concerns was: 'A Proposed Budget Cut That Would Cripple American Science,' 'Termination of Active Research Awards Without Transparency or Lawful Justification,' 'Political Review of Scientific Grants,' 'Withholding of Appropriated Funds,' 'Unlawful Terminations and Threatened Mass Reductions in Force,' 'Coerced Resignations and Loss of Expertise,' 'Unannounced and Unplanned Eviction from Headquarters' and 'NSF's Betrayal of Scientific Integrity Through Politicized Probation Policies.' The letter comes after staff members at other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institutes of Health published letters of 'dissent' to raise concerns about Trump administration policies. The administration put the signers of the EPA letter on leave
