Kaiden Clark News Today

Leetonia High School held its 2024 Commencement Friday in the gymnasium. Graduates toss their caps with joy at the end of their high school careers. (Photo by

In North Carolina, within the past year, people in some local districts are pushing to remove books from schools that focus on gender identity and racially sensitive subjects. This summer, WUNC Youth Reporter William Townsend talked to teens in the Triangle who were directly impacted and spoke out against book bans in their communities.

Low-income students stand to lose two to three months of academic progress over the summer when wealthier students are often making slight gains, according to the National Summer Learning Association. One Raleigh family works to find creative activities to bridge the summer months.