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A suicidal young girl was refused NHS mental-health counselling because she attends private school, her mother claims. Because the youngster was being bullied at a state school, her despairing parents had only just moved her to a private school. But when she was finally assessed by mental-health services at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust after months on the waiting list, her mother claims she was told: 'If you can afford private school fees, you can afford private counselling.' The woman, from Somerset, who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid further prejudice towards her daughter, said: 'I was shocked and incensed. 'I was even told that if I had kept my daughter at a state school, they would have helped her. It's blatant discrimination.' The girl, now 12, had been diagnosed as autistic a year earlier, but her symptoms had become more severe and her mental health had deteriorated. She was referred to the Child and Adult Mental Health Se...

LEGOLAND California Resort is celebrating new additions this weekend with the launch of the Nike and LEGO Play Arena across from the theme park’s reimagined Driving School. Beginning June 7, visitors can experience the Nike and LEGO Play Aren a, which provides a basketball-themed experience for children and families. The limited-time experience, which is open through June 11, allows guests to participate in range of fun activities, including LEGO Minifigure athlete trading cards, LEGO Mini basketball jerseys and more. The special exhibit is across from LEGOLAND’s new Driving Schools where 2,500 LEGO bricks were made to create a giant LEGO gear built. The new Driving School tracks feature realistic road scenarios, intersections, roundabouts, and even a car wash equipped with interactive bubbles that activate as kids drive through. Families can also meet and greet the new LEGO® Race Car Driver and enjoy delicious roadside bites and treats. “We are absolutely ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) - The Missouri Highway Patrol released its annual school bus inspection report on Thursday. Missouri’s 2025 school bus inspection results are as follows: School buses rated as “approved” upon initial inspection: 10,144 School buses rated as “defective” upon initial inspection: 799 School buses rated as “out-of-service” upon initial inspection: 312 Buses with identified defective components must be repaired within 10 days A total of 297 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence award for 2025. During the 2024-2025 school year, 6,782 buses in these award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger entry side of the bus. ”Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel, with the cooperation of pupil transportation professionals, completed the successful inspection of 11,255 school buses in accordance with Missouri r...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KFVS) - The Missouri Music Educators Association recently named Three Rivers College Professor of Music Cindy White as Outstanding College Music Educator of the southeast Missouri region. White is the inaugural recipient of this new award. Almost 70 educators in southeast Mo. were nominated for 11 different awards. “I am honored to be recognized by my peers for all the hard work we do at Three Rivers,” White said. “We strive to create a supportive learning environment while providing performance opportunities, and workshops to inspire creativity.” The Three Rivers Music Department hosts student concerts and recitals, as well as the college’s choir and band groups. It held six performances during the 2024-25 school year, including student showcases, concerts and the annual Jazz Festival.

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - What was supposed to be a time of celebration turned into a season of heartbreak for South Plains College graduate Noemi Garcia. Just days before her May 2025 graduation, Garcia learned her mother had been hospitalized in Mexico. She died on April 30, less than two weeks before the ceremony. “It’s such a heartbreak to have to go through that as such a young age. She knew I was about to graduate. I told her to get up, please get out of here, she never woke up,” Garcia said. Garcia missed her official graduation, but South Plains College worked together to organize a private ceremony on May 23. The college president attended and personally handed her the diploma. Now, Garcia is facing her next challenge, trying to continue her education. She had planned to transfer to Texas Tech University but missed the scholarship deadline due to her mother’s death. Without financial aid, she’s unsure if attending Tech this semester or at all, will be possible...

OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - The Opelika City Schools Board of Education has announced Dr. Kevin Davis as the next Superintendent of Opelika City Schools. Dr. Davis is currently the Principal of Muscle Shoals High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and brings more than two decades of experience in public education. He has served as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, athletic director, and principal, with a reputation of being a collaborative leader and student-centered education. In 2024, he was named principal of the year and currently serves as President of CLAS District 7A, showing his ongoing leadership within Alabama’s education community. Dr. Davis has an outstanding record of success as a leader in education, and we are excited to welcome him as the next superintendent of Opelika City Schools Dr. Kevin Royal, Chairman of the Opelika City Schools Board of Education Dr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in sociology and education, a Master of Arts in educati...

OPELIKA, Ala. (WTVM) - The Opelika City Schools Board of Education has announced Dr. Kevin Davis as the next Superintendent of Opelika City Schools. Dr. Davis is currently the Principal of Muscle Shoals High School in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and brings more than two decades of experience in public education. He has served as a coach, teacher, assistant principal, athletic director, and principal, with a reputation of being a collaborative leader and student-centered education. In 2024, he was named principal of the year and currently serves as President of CLAS District 7A, showing his ongoing leadership within Alabama’s education community. Dr. Davis has an outstanding record of success as a leader in education, and we are excited to welcome him as the next superintendent of Opelika City Schools Dr. Kevin Royal, Chairman of the Opelika City Schools Board of Education Dr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science in sociology and education, a Master of Arts in educati...