In the Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff, Rick Jackson's campaign spent over $100 million, largely from his personal wealth, to defeat Burt Jones, the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump. This outcome represents another instance where Trump's preferred candidate did not win a primary battle, though his influence was more successful in other races, including a U.S. Senate runoff in Alabama where his pick, Moore, secured victory.
President Trump recently asserted that his administration's immigration policies led to a decrease in car insurance premiums, while falsely attributing prior increases to illegal immigration during his predecessor's term. However, experts counter that the rise in insurance costs was primarily driven by pandemic-related factors, such as riskier driving and increased repair expenses due to supply chain issues. Insurers are now reportedly lowering rates to remain competitive, with no evidence supporting a link between illegal immigration and fluctuations in insurance premiums.
An exclusive analysis by The Associated Press reveals that private school voucher programs, increasingly adopted by states and potentially soon by the federal government, tend to benefit students already enrolled in private or home schools rather than those currently in public education. This trend means that nearly half of American schoolchildren may soon have access to state-funded scholarships for private education, with some states extending these benefits even to high-income families. Challenges for public school families include a lack of awareness about these programs, transportation issues, and concerns about adapting to stricter disciplinary environments in private schools. In some cases, like Texas, the legislation is structured to favor families with greater navigational capacity within complex education systems.
In other news, AP gardening columnist Jessica Damiano shared her recommendations for five top-performing tomato varieties for home growers, noting current high market prices for the produce.