UNC to offer free tuition for some after admissions policy struck down
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Roughly a week after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down its race-conscious admissions policy in a landmark ruling, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on Friday announced plans to “expand opportunity” to attend the university — including by offering free tuition to some students.
In a message to campus Friday, UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said the university will provide free tuition to undergraduate students from North Carolina whose families make less than $80,000 per year, “beginning with the incoming class in 2024.”
“We want to make sure students know financial constraints should not stand in the way of their dreams,” Guskiewicz said. “We will be sharing details about this exciting new opportunity within the next few weeks.”
The university lists tuition for in-state students enrolled full-time at the university in the 2023-2024 academic year as $7,020 per year. Fees amount to almost $2,000 per year.
In addition to covering tuition for some students, Guskiewicz also said the university has hired additional “outreach officers” as part of the university’s admissions team, who will serve “in under-resourced communities to spread awareness of our affordability and recruit students from across the state.”
—The News & Observer
Pope invites US priest known for LGBTQ advocacy to Vatican meeting
Pope Francis has selected a Jesuit priest known for his LGBTQ advocacy to take part in a weeks-long gathering of bishops and laypeople later this year.
The Rev. James Martin was one of several high-profile U.S. clerical leaders to be appointed by Francis to participate in the synod of bishops, a closely watched and likely consequential meeting that will focus on issues regarding the mission of the Catholic church.
This year’s meeting will run Oct. 4-29. A second session is scheduled for October 2024, after which Francis is expected to release a document considering all ideas proposed by delegates in a three-year-long process.
On Thursday, the Vatican published a list of all the bishops, priests, nuns and laypersons who were invited to participate in this year’s gathering.
The selection of Martin — the editor-at-large of the Jesuit magazine America, and a prominent advocate of LGBTQ inclusion — was seen as “hopeful” by New Ways Ministry, a U.S.-based organization that advocates for justice and equality for LGBTQ Catholics.
—New York Daily News
Have you seen a Humvee? The military would like it back, please
If you see a multi-ton vehicle on the road with canvas doors and a camo paint job, it's not a tricked-out Hummer — it's stolen property.
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, also known as a Humvee, was stolen from the Santa Rosa National Guard Armory over the holiday weekend, according to Sgt. Michael Ball of the CHP's Santa Rosa branch.
Not many details have been released about the theft, but it's suspected to have occurred after 10 p.m. Monday. No weapons were in the Humvee, but the CHP said it had no information as to whether anything else was taken during the break-in.
The vehicle is brown and green and can be identified by the ID No. FSC3067 spray-painted on its bumpers.
Since the theft, several tipsters have reported seeing the vehicle in parts of Northern California, from Santa Rosa to Sacramento, but it had yet to be recovered as of Thursday night.
—Los Angeles Times
Florida under a malaria alert as cases of mosquito-borne illness rise
Health officials have confirmed two new cases of malaria have been contracted in Southwest Florida as a statewide health advisory for the mosquito-borne illness remains in effect.
That brings the total to six cases since the first infection was reported in late May. All six cases were reported in Sarasota County, with the most recent two confirmed the week of June 25-July 1.
All of the locally contracted cases were Plasmodium vivax malaria. P. vivax is the most common type of malaria infection in humans. It is less fatal than other types but can still be life-threatening.
Health officials confirmed finding three mosquitoes carrying the parasite in Sarasota County in early June.
Malaria is transmitted only via mosquito bite. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, vomiting, sweating, fever and chills. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical help within 24 hours of symptoms, health officials say.
Residents are urged to use bug spray, avoid areas with mosquitoes, and wear protective clothing outside.
—Miami Herald
