Vatican Says Pope Francis Is in Critical Condition

ROME — Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.

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“The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved,” the statement said.

Earlier, doctors said that Francis was battling a pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that doctors say remains touch-and-go and will keep him hospitalized for at least another week.

The Vatican carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope on Saturday.

In a brief earlier update on Saturday, Francis slept well overnight.

But doctors have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition.

“He is not out of danger,” said his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone. “So like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.”

Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened.

Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infection and then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it.

Carbone, who along with Francis’ personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti organized care for him at the Vatican, acknowledged he had insisted on staying at the Vatican to work, even after he was sick, “because of institutional and private commitments.” He was cared for by a cardiologist and infectious specialist in addition to his personal medical team before being hospitalized.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.

“Sepsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,” Alfieri told a news conference Friday at Gemelli. “The English say ‘knock on wood,’ we say ‘touch iron.’ Everyone touch what they want,” he said as he tapped the microphone. “But this is the real risk in these cases: that these germs pass to the bloodstream.”

“He knows he’s in danger,” Alfieri added. “And he told us to relay that.”

Deacons, meanwhile, were gathering at the Vatican for their special Jubilee weekend. Francis got sick at the start of the Vatican’s Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism. This weekend, Francis was supposed to have celebrated deacons, a ministry in the church that precedes ordination to the priesthood.

In his place, the Holy Year organizer will celebrate Sunday’s Mass, the Vatican said. And for the second weekend in a row, Francis was expected to skip his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he were up to it.

“Look, even though he’s not (physically) here, we know he’s here,” said Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico who was at the Vatican on Saturday for the Jubilee celebration. “He’s recovering, but he’s in our hearts and is accompanying us because our prayers and his go together.”

Beyond that, doctors have said Francis’ recovery will take time and that regardless he will still have to live with his chronic respiratory problems back at the Vatican.

“He has to get over this infection and we all hope he gets over it,” said Alfieri. “But the fact is, all doors are open.”

source https://time.com/7260677/pope-francis-health-critical-condition-vatican-updates/

Judge Cancels NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Trial, Leaves Corruption Charges Intact Until March

NEW YORK — A federal judge on Friday canceled the corruption trial for New York City Mayor Eric Adams and appointed counsel to advise the court about the Justice Department’s controversial request to drop charges against the Democrat.

Judge Dale E. Ho’s written order means he won’t decide before mid-March whether to grant the dismissal of the case against the embattled mayor of the nation’s largest city.

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On Friday, Ho said he appointed Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, to present arguments on the government’s case-drop request.

The judge noted that courts are normally “aided in their decision-making through our system of adversarial testing, which can be particularly helpful in cases presenting unusual fact patterns or in cases of great public importance.”

He said a Wednesday hearing had “no adversarial testing of the Government’s position,” and the absence made it important to appoint Clement to assist the judge in reaching a conclusion.

At the hearing, Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove defended his request to drop charges, saying they came too close to Adams’ reelection campaign and would distract from the mayor’s assistance to the Trump administration’s law-and-order priorities.

Adams confirmed at the hearing that he knew charges could later be reinstated — a feature of the request that has led some legal experts to speculate that the mayor can only escape trial if he helps Trump’s plans to round up New Yorkers who are in the country illegally.

Adams was indicted in September on charges alleging he accepted over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from a Turkish official and others seeking to buy influence while he was Brooklyn borough president. He faces multiple challengers in June’s Democratic primary. He has pleaded not guilty and insisted he is innocent.

Ho said he wanted all parties and Clement to address the legal standard for dismissing charges, whether a court may consider materials beyond the motion itself and under what circumstances additional procedural steps and further inquiry was necessary.

He also said he wants to know when dismissal without the ability to reinstate charges is appropriate. He set a briefs deadline for March 7. Oral arguments, if necessary, would be March 14.

In his order Friday, Ho said Clement could review a 1977 case in which a judge rejected the government’s demand to dismiss a case.

University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias said Clement was a conservative lawyer, a sensible choice to be a neutral adviser for a recently appointed judge whose previous experience was primarily civil matters.

Late Thursday, three former U.S. attorneys — from New York, Connecticut and New Jersey — submitted a letter urging Ho to “hear from parties other than the government and the defendant in deciding about the appropriate next steps.”

In a letter to Ho Friday, Adams’ lawyer Alex Spiro cited Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Thursday remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference that the indictment against Adams was “incredibly weak” and needed to be dismissed to end the “weaponization of the government.” He urged Ho to dismiss the charges based on “the evidence and on the law.”

The Justice Department did not respond to a comment request.

Adams will not be required to attend future hearings, the judge said.

That could help mitigate some political damage for Adams without the spectacle of court appearances while he is trying to convince the public that the case isn’t distracting him from running the city.

Adams has sought to project calm as questions over his independence have sparked a political crisis for him.

This week, four of his top deputies resigned. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she had for now decided against removing Adams from office but would propose legislation to enhance state oversight of City Hall as a way to reestablish trust with New Yorkers.

Bove’s initial request last week to then-interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon to drop charges against Adams was rejected, and she resigned, accusing Bove of dangling a quid pro quo that would ensure help from Adams in the immigration fight in return for dismissal of his criminal case.

Another prosecutor, Hagan Scotten, told Bove in a resignation letter that it would take a “fool” or a “coward” to meet Bove’s demand, “but it was never going to be me.”

In all, seven prosecutors, including five high-ranking prosecutors at the Justice Department in Washington, had resigned before Bove made the dismissal request himself, along with two other Washington prosecutors.

—Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz, Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.

source https://time.com/7260662/judge-cancels-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-trial-corruption-charges-intact/

Judge Largely Blocks Trump’s Executive Orders Ending Federal Support for DEI Programs

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday largely blocked sweeping executive orders from President Donald Trump that seek to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore granted a preliminary injunction blocking the administration from terminating or changing federal contracts they consider equity-related.

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Abelson found that the orders likely carry constitutional violations, including against free-speech rights.

Trump signed an order his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all “equity-related” grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don’t promote DEI.

The White House didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Friday evening.

The plaintiffs — including the city of Baltimore and higher education groups — sued the Trump administration earlier this month, arguing the executive orders are unconstitutional and a blatant overreach of presidential authority. They also allege the directives have a chilling effect on free speech.

“What’s happening is an overcorrection and pulling back on DEI statements,” attorney Aleshadye Getachew said during a nearly three-hour hearing Wednesday.

The Trump administration has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. Attorneys for the government said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the president’s priorities.

“The government doesn’t have the obligation to subsidize plaintiffs’ exercise of speech,” said Justice Department attorney Pardis Gheibi.

Abelson, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organizations and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The harm arises from the issuance of it as a public, vague, threatening executive order,” he said during the hearing.

Abelson’s ruling does allow for the attorney general to investigate and prepare a report on DEI practices in accordance with one of the orders, but it blocks enforcement.

In his written opinion, Abelson found reason to believe the orders are unconstitutionally vague, leaving federal contractors and grant recipients with “no reasonable way to know what, if anything, they can do to bring their grants into compliance.”

He described a hypothetical scenario where an elementary school received Department of Education funding for technology access and a teacher used a computer to teach about Jim Crow laws. Or if a road construction grant covered the cost of filling potholes in a low-income neighborhood instead of a wealthy neighborhood, “does that render it ‘equity-related’?” the judge asked.

Efforts to increase diversity have been under attack for years by Republicans who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. However, supporters say the programs help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism.

Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. Although researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s, more were launched and expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued in their complaint that Trump’s efforts to abruptly end such programs will cause widespread harm, not least because of the vague language in his executive orders.

“Ordinary citizens bear the brunt,” they wrote. “Plaintiffs and their members receive federal funds to support educators, academics, students, workers, and communities across the country. As federal agencies make arbitrary decisions about whether grants are ‘equity-related,’ Plaintiffs are left in limbo.”

The plaintiffs include the city of Baltimore, which receives federal funds for public safety, housing, the environment, infrastructure and more, according to the complaint.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who won reelection last year, has championed efforts to increase opportunities for the city’s most vulnerable residents, including people of color. Scott became the subject of racist attacks online last year as some commenters labeled him a “DEI mayor,” and he recently coined the phrase “Definitely Earned It” to highlight the accomplishments of Black figures throughout history.

In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore City Council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which represents restaurant workers across the country.

Their attorneys claim the groups are already suffering the effects of the executive orders as Trump encroaches on the powers of Congress and seeks to suppress views he doesn’t agree with.

“But the President simply does not wield that power,” they wrote in the complaint. “And contrary to his suggestions otherwise, his power is not limitless.”

source https://time.com/7260655/judge-largely-blocks-trump-executive-orders-ending-federal-support-dei/

How Schools Are Navigating Trump’s Immigration Policies

When Alex Marrero, superintendent of Denver Public Schools, went to visit some of the classrooms in his district on Feb. 5, the same day that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raided apartment buildings in the city, he noticed significant changes to the environment. 

Upon walking into one classroom that had over 30 students enrolled, Marrero saw only seven children present. He says that one young student did not recognize him and asked the teacher if Marrero was “one of them” in Spanish—referring to an ICE agent—since he was wearing a suit and tie. 

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In that moment, Marrero recognized that the district needed to act on what he says is their most important core value: “Students first.” So on Feb. 12, Marrero led Denver Public Schools to become the first U.S. school district to sue the Trump Administration over its policy allowing ICE immigration agents in schools.

The action followed significant movements made on President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, which saw the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescind the latest version of the protected areas policy which was issued in 2021 by the Biden Administration. A new directive, titled “Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas,” ended the practice of ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents avoiding “sensitive” areas—including elementary and secondary schools, colleges, hospitals, and churches— for enforcement actions.

Read More: Trump Launches New Immigration Measures, Prompting Abrupt Shift in U.S. Border Policy

“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement on Jan. 21. “The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”

This policy overture is just one in a slew of immigration crackdown policies and Executive Orders that the Trump Administration has put forth. 

Denver Public Schools v. Noem, the lawsuit filed by Denver Public Schools—Colorado’s largest public school district—against the DHS and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, argues that the new directive gives ICE “unchecked authority” to enforce immigration in schools, and that the district has since been “hindered in fulfilling its mission of providing education and life services to the students who are refraining from attending DPS schools for fear of immigration enforcement actions occurring on DPS school grounds.”

In the meantime, the school system is asking for a temporary restraining order to prohibit ICE and CBP’s enforcement of the policy. Marrero says that he and the district are not “anti law enforcement” nor are they planning on “obstructing ICE agents.”

“Our vision is to educate kids, and it becomes unnecessarily difficult with the potential of non-emergency law enforcement action,” he says. “Also, we have to protect the sanctity of the schoolhouse, because I do not believe that they are going to find warlords and gang leaders sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the colorful rug learning how to read.”

The Migration Policy Institute estimated in 2019 that 733,000 school-aged children lived in the United States without legal status. Beyond this, the American Immigration Council estimated in 2021 that more than six million children shared a home with at least one family member, often a parent, who is undocumented.

Anna Fusco, the president of the Broward Teachers Union in South Florida, says that in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s new policy in schools, there was “panic” and “uncertainty” from parents, teachers, and students. They initially saw attendance dip, and the “stress levels skyrocketed.”

But Fusco says that the union has worked with other South Florida teachers’ unions to quell concerns and fears of the over 10,000 Broward union members she represents. She is keen to express to community members that schools can still remain safe for students—her view is not one that endorses obstructing law enforcement, but she’s also set on not allowing federal agents to enter the school without a warrant reviewed by attorneys.

“Teachers are teachers first and foremost,” Fusco says. “We’re never going to violate the law, but we have rights.” 

Fusco was a Broward teacher until she was elected as president of the union full time in 2016. She says that the concern of deportation is similar to what it was during Trump’s first term, but this time it’s heightened.

“Educators are angry. Teachers just want to teach, and not every day have to be overloaded with another thing to protect a child from,” Fusco says. “We signed up to teach because we want kids to blossom and flourish. We grow to love our students, and it’s become very cumbersome on a lot of our teachers and schools.”

Read More: The 1994 Campaign that Anticipated Trump’s Immigration Stance

Marrero agrees, stating that “no student can learn under anxiety stress, no teacher can teach under those conditions,” and this stress weighed heavily on his decision to sue the Trump Administration.

Adelaide, a teacher in the Cincinnati Public Schools, spends her days working with students from immigrant communities, and says first and foremost, what she’s seeing in the classroom is “fear.”

“I had an eighth grader come up and hug me goodbye, and I nearly lost it—the whole family just said ‘Sorry, we can’t come to school anymore. It’s not safe,’ and that’s been heartbreaking” she says. “And a lot of them are documented or have pending cases. But there’s just no trust in the government right now to respect the cases already happening.”

Adelaide says the school is navigating Trump’s immigration crackdowns by providing resources to those in need. Her school has hosted multiple “Know Your Rights” events for immigrant families, which teach people what to do in various scenarios, including when approached or questioned by ICE, if a loved one is detained, and how to avoid immigration fraud. These events have had a pro bono immigration lawyer present to listen to questions from parents.

Other school districts, such as New York Public Schools and Chicago Public Schools, have posted resources to best aid students, parents, educators, and community members, and statements to reify their support of immigrant communities.  PTAlink, which connects the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) across New York City, for example, has posted lists of toolkits, “know your rights” cards, and other digital resources that show how to navigate different situations with law enforcement. Said resources have been translated into multiple languages. 

In 2017, the San Lorenzo Unified School District Board of Education passed a Safe Haven resolution that affirmed the district’s commitment to supporting the educational journeys of students, regardless of their documentation status. Superintendent of San Lorenzo District, Daryl Camp, says that they’ve reified this resolution in the wake of Trump’s second term.

The district, which is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, shared a “resources and support for our immigrant families” page, reassuring that the district will not release student or family information without a warrant, and stating that they “will continue to stand” with their students and community.

Read More: What Donald Trump’s Win Means For Immigration

Camp, who is also incoming president of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), says a lot of work is going into educating immigrant families as to how they can best protect the children.

With over 50% of the students attending TK-12 schools in San Lorenzo being Hispanic or Latino, Camp recognizes that families are fearful. In his conversations with other administrators in ACSA, he says he has heard discussions about administrators being concerned of what they will need to do if a child of immigrants does not have parents to go home to after the school day has ended.

Camp says he and the school district have learned from Trump’s first term and the pandemic and now host their own “Know Your Rights” presentations virtually, since some families “don’t feel comfortable going to a common area.”

The San Lorenzo district has also provided training for school administrators, and gave the school’s social workers, office managers, and counselors access to an attorney to know what they should do if federal agents show up, because they “never know” who the first contact might be for immigration officials.

“This is not a bluff. This is us putting our hands up saying ‘Let’s get back to doing what we’ve been trained to do, which is educate kids,’” Marrero says, adding that since the lawsuit has been filed, other school districts have inquired with him about the process. “We’re not alone in this.” 

source https://time.com/7260413/how-schools-are-navigating-trump-immigration-policies/

Why Tom Steyer Is Betting That Climate Action Is Still Good Business

News about how investors are responding to climate change can look pretty grim these days.

Opportunities in AI have taken up a lot of the oxygen—and capital—in the financial sector, and  the Trump Administration’s move to rip up anything climate related has pushed some investors to turn their backs on climate deals. 

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If these developments have you down, consider looking to Tom Steyer for a pick-me-up. 

Steyer, known by many as a 2020 presidential candidate, has since returned to his finance roots—this time as an investor focused on climate change. When we caught up earlier this month at his office in San Francisco, he brushed aside questions about how the new Trump Administration, and the broader climate pullback it has inspired, might challenge his business. He’s focused on economics, and in his telling the financial side of the equation remains solid.

“I would say the numbers about the ability to make this transition are much better than expected,” he tells me, citing the continued record deployment of clean energy technologies. “The rhetoric moves back and forth, but ultimately the facts drive home reality.”

His firm, Galvanize Climate Solutions, has focused in three categories: equities, real estate, and venture and growth. In those areas, the Galvanize team looks for investments that advance the climate cause while generating above market returns—all without relying on policy support from Washington. “This is going to happen if, in fact, we win in the marketplace,” he says. “We’re not getting subsidies, we’re not getting free money from the government, and we’re not counting on anybody being nice.”

Read More: Here Are All of Trump’s Major Moves to Dismantle Climate Action

Take real estate. Galvanize pairs general expertise on the real estate sector with knowledge of the financial opportunities that can come from decarbonizing real estate assets—think of lower costs as a result of energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy. That in turn drives up the price of the asset. “It’s just understanding technology, understanding costs, understanding buildings and real estate markets,” he says. 

Steyer is not the only investor sticking with climate, though few are likely to be as full throated in still making their case or as steadfast in their determination. Some big financial institutions have insisted they will continue to pursue deals that advance the climate agenda when the economics pencil out.

But there’s no question that the general enthusiasm that made anything climate-related hot a few years ago has dissipated—and troublingly for climate advocates, the enthusiasm was already waning before the Trump Administration took office in January. A report from PitchBook, which tracks private-market investment data, found that total venture funding for climate-tech fell for the third year in a row last year with funding down more than 17% from the year prior. In the public markets, U.S. ESG funds experienced outflows every quarter last year, according to a report from investment research firm Morningstar.  

And yet Steyer argues that the zeitgeist shift around sustainable investing makes this a great time to be a climate investor. At the core of Steyer’s argument is an assessment of the supply and demand for capital. Right now, he says, there are more investment-grade opportunities in climate and decarbonization than capital available to make those investments. This, he argues, translates into a wide range of opportunities to pick from and better deal terms for investors willing to take the leap. “From the standpoint of an investor, that’s a good thing,” he says. “From the standpoint of the country or the world, that’s probably not a good thing.”

Over the years, I’ve had a chance to chat with Steyer on several occasions, especially during his political phase. And yet this feels like his most important environmental work. When it comes to convincing the private sector to stick with climate, he tells me, “success is the best argument.”

source https://time.com/7260407/tom-steyer-climate-action-good-business/

2025 Kid Reporter Contest Rules

Updated on February 18, 2025

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN

1. HOW TO ENTER: The TIME for Kids – Kids Reporter Contest (the “Contest”) begins on February 24, 2025 and is sponsored by TIME for Kids, a division of TIME USA, LLC, its designees, and assignees (collectively, the “Sponsor”).

You may enter the Contest in one of two ways:

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Online Submission: Your parent or legal guardian can simply go to https://www.timeforkids.com/kid-reporter/ (the “Website”) and follow the instructions on the Website to complete the program entry form (the “Entry Form”) and also provide (a) an original essay written by you, explaining why you would be a good reporter for TIME for Kids (the essay must be 50 words or less and written in English); and (b) an original news article written by you that demonstrates your reporting skills of 450 words or less. It is not acceptable for the article to have been previously published, you may look at TIME for Kids articles as models but you may not plagiarize or copy portions of the models and you may not send an article that is written in a question-and-answer (Q&A) format. The story should include a headline and quotes from people you’ve interviewed. If any permissions or releases are necessary from subjects in your article, you must obtain them prior to submission. A recent school photo can be included with the application (optional). Online submissions must be received by June 16, 2025.

Mail-in Submission: With a parent’s permission, download the entry form, fill in all details as instructed, go to https://www.timeforkids.com/kid-reporter/ and follow the instructions to print a copy of the Entry Form. A recent school photo can be included with the application (optional). Complete the required fields on the entry form, including: (a) an original essay, explaining why you would be a good reporter for TIME for Kids; the essay must be 50 words or less and written in English; (b) an original news article written by you that demonstrates your reporting skills of 450 words or less (it is not acceptable for the article to have been previously published (you may look at TIME for Kids articles as models but you may not plagiarize or copy portions of the models and you may not send an article that is written in a question-and-answer (Q&A) format; the story should include a headline and quotes from people you’ve interviewed; it may include journalistic elements such as originally created or sufficiently licensed photos, editorial cartoons, charts, maps, and graphs, if appropriate; if any permissions or releases are necessary from subjects in your article, you must obtain them prior to submission); and (c) make sure the signature of your parent or legal guardian is included on the entry and have your parent or legal guardian mail the completed entry form, essay and news article to:

TIME for Kids

Kid Reporter Contest

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Mail-in submissions must be postmarked by June 16, 2025 and received by June 20, 2025 to be considered.

You do not have to be a TIME for Kids subscriber to enter. Limit one (1) entry per person. Sponsor is not responsible for late, illegible, incomplete entries or entries not received for any reason. Entries are subject to the official rules outlined herein (the “Official Rules”). Entries become sole property of Sponsor, and none will be acknowledged or returned. By entering, you warrant that the entry is original to you and does not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party.

2. JUDGING: All entries will be judged by Time for Kids editors in two (2) rounds of evaluation unless further evaluation is required due to a tie (see below). Judging for the first round will be based on the following criteria: originality, grammar, clarity, and “that special something,” each of which can be accorded a total of ten (10) possible points for a possible total of forty (40) points; news-worthiness and reporting can each be accorded a total of five (5) possible points for a possible total of ten (10) points; the maximum possible overall score is 50 points. Up to twenty (20) entries with the highest scores will be deemed potential finalists. In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest “that special something” score will be deemed the winner. If a tie still remains, the highest “originality” score will be deemed the winner. If a tie still remains, the tied entries will be rejudged by the Time for Kids editors based on the same criteria outlined above.

The selection of finalists will be made by Sponsor in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to choose fewer than twenty (20) finalists if, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, an insufficient number of qualified entries are received. A minimum of 10 points are needed to be qualified.

Parents/legal guardians of the selected finalists will be notified on or around July 14, 2025, and after obtaining parental/legal guardian permission, each of the finalists may be interviewed by phone and asked to submit one (1) video clip no longer than 3 minutes in length that displays The Top 5 Amazing Things that we should know about YOU (the finalist) and a final assignment no longer than 450 words in length about a person or a group of people that is your “hometown hero” or some other topic as TFK deems appropriate. Finalists will be required to send their video clip and final assignment to Sponsor to an email address or video upload site specified by Sponsor no later than Monday, August 4, 2025. The video clip and the final assignment become the property of Sponsor. The finalists will then be judged on (i) poise, (ii) articulation, (iii) on-camera presence demonstrated in their video clip, and (iv) on the quality of their reporting and written work. Poise and articulation can be afforded up to (10) points each, and on-camera presence and quality of reporting can be afforded up to twenty (20) points each; the maximum overall score is sixty (60) points. In the event of a tie in the finalist round, the entry with the highest “on-camera presence” score will be deemed the winner. If a tie still remains, the highest “quality of reporting” score will be deemed the winner. If a tie still remains, the tied entries will be rejudged by the Time for Kids editors based on the same criteria outlined above. Up to ten (10) finalists with the highest scores will be deemed potential Grand Prize winners and announced in August 2025.

Sponsor reserves the right to choose fewer than ten (10) Grand Prize winners. Finalists are not, by their participation, guaranteed Grand Prize winner status. Incomplete and/or inaccurate entries and entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. Decisions of judges are made in their sole discretion and are final and binding. The parents/legal guardians of the Grand Prize winners will be notified by telephone and e-mail. Sponsor shall have no liability for any Grand Prize winner notification that is lost, intercepted or not received by the potential winner’s parent or legal guardian for any reason. If, despite reasonable efforts, a Grand Prize winner does not respond within five (5) days of the first notification attempt, or if a prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to such potential prize winner, such potential Grand Prize winner may forfeit the applicable prize and an alternate winner may be selected. If any potential prize winner is found to be ineligible, or if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules or declines the applicable prize for any reason prior to award, such potential Grand Prize winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected. Sponsor may successively attempt to contact up to two (2) potential Grand Prize winners in accordance with such procedure, and if there is still no confirmed Grand Prize winner after such attempts have been made, if any, the applicable prize may go unawarded.

3. ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, who are 13 years of age or younger as of September 1, 2025. Eligible minors may only participate in the Contest with the express written permission (i.e., the signed entry form) of their parents or legal guardian. For the purposes of these Official Rules, an eligible minor and his/her parent or legal guardian will be referred to herein collectively as an “Entrant”. Void where prohibited by law. Employees of Sponsor, its promotional partners and their respective parents, affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies (and members of their immediate family and/or those living in the same household of each such employee) are not eligible to enter or win a prize. Immediate family members include siblings, grandparents, offspring, aunts, uncles and first cousins.
4. GRAND PRIZES (10): Up to ten (10) TIME FOR KIDS Kid Reporters will be selected. Each winner will be deemed a “TIME for Kids – Kid Reporter” and may be given assignments and asked to represent TIME Magazine and TIME for Kids in national and/or local media (including social media channels). They will report for TIME for Kids and/or TIME Magazine and their respective online and social media channels from August 2025 to August 2026. Though TIME for Kids will try to give at least one (1) assignment to each Kid Reporter, there is no guarantee that a reporter will be given any assignments. Article assignments will be distributed at the discretion of Sponsor and TIME for Kids magazine editors. Articles will be edited and may be published in TIME for Kids magazine and/or TIME Magazine, and/or their respective online, digital and social media platforms. Each reporter will be given a byline if his/her story is published. Each Kid Reporter will receive a TIME For Kids Kid Reporter T-shirt, press credential, reporter’s notebook, and letter of congratulations. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each Grand Prize: $30.

There will be no compensation for any articles, stories reported, filed for and/or published hereunder, including, but not limited to those that may appear in Articles will be edited and may be published in TIME for Kids magazine and/or TIME Magazine, and/or their respective online, digital, and social media platforms. Any expenses are the responsibility of the Winner. ALL TAXES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. The prizes are awarded without warranty, express or implied, of any kind. Each Kid Reporter agrees to have his/her name and likeness used in all media in conjunction with the TIME for Kids Kid Reporter Team. All materials, manuscripts, materials, video clips, and articles are deemed to be the property of TIME.

FINALIST PRIZES: The finalists who are not selected as Grand Prize Winners will receive a certificate of recognition.

5. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: No transfer, assignment, or substitution of a prize is permitted, except Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize (or prize component) for an item of equal or greater value at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Nothing in these Official Rules shall obligate Sponsor to publish or otherwise use any entry submitted in connection with this Contest. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest. By entering, Entrant represents that all entry materials submitted as part of Entrant’s Contest entry are original to Entrant and will not constitute defamation or an invasion of privacy or otherwise infringe upon the rights of any third party, and that the Entrant owns or has the rights to convey any and all right and title in such materials to Sponsor and/or Sponsor’s designees as contemplated hereunder. In addition, by entering, Entrant grants to Sponsor a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to edit, publish, promote, republish at any time in the future and otherwise use Entrant’s submitted entry, along with Entrant’s name, likeness, biographical information and any other information provided by Entrant, including but not limited to video clips, in any and all media for possible editorial, promotional or advertising purposes, without further permission, notice, or compensation (except where prohibited by law).

The parents or legal guardians of potential finalists and winners, as a condition of being a finalist and/or a Grand Prize winner or receiving any prize will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, and where legally permissible, a Publicity Release, confirmation of a license containing the terms set forth herein and above and any other affidavits, declarations, and/or releases or additional documents that may be required by Sponsor (collectively, the “Additional Documents”) within 7 days following the date of Sponsor’s first attempted notification. The Additional Documents will include, among other things, certification that: (a) entry does not defame or invade the privacy of any party; (b) entry does not infringe upon the rights of any third party; and (c) the entry materials submitted are original. Failure to comply with this 7 day deadline may result in Entrant’s forfeiture of a prize and Sponsor’s selection of an alternate finalist or winner. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, may also result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its agencies to use a winner’s name and/or likeness, biographical information, and entry materials for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. By entering Contest and/or accepting a prize, Entrants and winners agree to hold Sponsor and its promotional partners, its directors, officers, employees and assigns harmless for liability, damages, or claims for injury or loss to any person or property including death relating to, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, participation in this Contest, the acceptance and/or subsequent use or misuse, or condition of any of the prizes awarded, including providing their time or content to TIME USA, LLC, or claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy. As between Entrant and Sponsor, Entrant shall be responsible for, and indemnify and hold Sponsor harmless from and against any claim by or on behalf of a third party in connection with, or resulting from, any act or omission related to any of the information or materials submitted as part of an entry.

False or deceptive entries or acts that Sponsor becomes aware of may render the Entrant ineligible and may result in liability to Sponsor and/or third parties. Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the immediate and unrestricted right to disqualify any entrant or prizewinner, if either commits or has committed any act, or has been involved or becomes involved in any situation or occurrence that the Sponsor deems likely to subject the Sponsor, Entrant, or Winner to ridicule, scandal, or contempt, or which reflects unfavorably upon the Sponsor in any way, including any alleged claim of a violation of third party rights. If such information is discovered by Sponsor after a Winner has received notice of the prize and before the prize is awarded, Sponsor may rescind the prize in its entirety. If a portion of the prize has already been awarded, Sponsor may withdraw the remainder of the prize that has been fulfilled. Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding in all matters related to this paragraph. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of the prizes.

6. DISPUTES, GOVERNING LAW: The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the Contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Official Rules and/or the Contest shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Arbitration Act. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the State of New York, City of New York.

THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES EXCEPT THAT THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official Rules and/or in connection with the entering of any judgment on an arbitration award in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Contest, the parties irrevocably submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in or closest to New York County in the State of New York. The parties agree not to raise the defense of forum non conveniens.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES: IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED ENTITIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ACCESS TO AND/OR USE OF ANY SITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST AND/OR DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY SITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS CONTEST AND ALL PRIZES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.
8. SEVERABILITY: If any provision of these rules is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction or appointed arbitrator, such determination shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision herein.
9. USE OF DATA: Sponsor use of data will be in accordance with its privacy policy. By participating in the Contest, entrants and their parents or legal guardians hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.
10. WINNER’S LIST: For the names of winners, log on to timeforkids.com/kid-reporter after September 30, 2025.
11. SPONSOR: The Sponsor of this Contest is TIME USA, LLC and its division named TIME for Kids, 205 East 42nd St., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

source https://time.com/7260363/2025-kid-reporter-contest-rules/

The Healthiest Way to Clean Your House

The pandemic inspired new vigilance about germs, including more frequent and thorough house cleaning—changes that stuck with many of us years later. But while cleanliness is a virtue, germ fixation is not. Cleaning your house too thoroughly, or with the wrong kinds of products, can be harmful to health.

Of particular concern is the overzealous use of potent disinfectants that kill 99% of common bacteria. “The pandemic has had a long-term impact, and people use stronger disinfectants now,” says Orianne Dumas, a respiratory epidemiologist at the French Institute of Health and Medical Research. 

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“We’re cleaning more than we ever have, for both good and bad, depending on how people do it,” says Jill Heins Nesvold, senior director of indoor air quality at the American Lung Association.

Here’s what researchers know about the risks and how to clean house effectively while protecting yourself and those around you.   

Concerning ingredients

Studies reveal that the air inside our homes is more polluted than the air outdoors, and a portion of these toxins come from household cleaners. They contain scores of chemicals linked to health problems, including those that affect breathing. However, these risks depend on the dose.

In 2023, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group researched 30 common cleaning products and found that all together, they contained 193 chemicals hazardous to health. Many are volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, such as acetone, methanol, and glycols like 2-butoxyethanol. These evaporate easily into the air, where they can be inhaled, trigger allergic reactions, and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. Too much irritation can inflame and damage the airway, potentially resulting in breathing issues. Higher asthma rates have been observed in people who clean professionally and even in ordinary people exposed to these irritants as infrequently as once per week.

There’s also an association with lung weakness. One study found professional cleaners have a 43% higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than the general population. Dumas says that more research is needed to establish this COPD link in people who just clean their own houses, who have less exposure.

Read More: Are ‘Broken Skin Barriers’ a Real Thing?

The potential impacts go beyond the respiratory system. Once inhaled, VOCs can mimic the activity of hormones, disrupting the endocrine system. Such disruptions may increase cancer risk. As with COPD, some studies suggest higher cancer rates among cleaning professionals, but research hasn’t shown the same link among casual household users, Dumas notes.

Overexposure can mean different things. Big doses of harsh disinfectants can disrupt health rapidly, while lower amounts used too frequently over the years can also be harmful. “You could use a cleaning product once per week for 10 years, or two times per day for one year, and get the same exposure,” Heins Nesvold says. “With a lot of use, you’ll have the effects more quickly.”

Use just a few high-quality products

To protect yourself while cleaning your house, start by using fewer products to limit contact with lots of chemicals. You could select a multi-purpose cleaner instead of the specialist approach: one for glass, another for the bathtub, a specific floor product, and so on. “Reevaluate your product arsenal to find places to cut back,” advises Samara Geller, senior director of cleaning science at EWG.

Another easy swap: Instead of a kitchen-specific cleaner, use dish soap and water on your counters. “You don’t necessarily need a unique kitchen product,” Geller says.

Disinfect only when necessary

Don’t overdo it with bleach and other strong disinfectants. “Cleaning should not be synonymous with disinfection,” says Doug Collins, a chemist at Bucknell University who studies cleaning products. 

You want the cleaning horsepower of a disinfectant when up against serious filth like bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi. That’s why hospitals use disinfectants daily. For your home, though, plain soap and water will often work just fine. “Soap is really good at grabbing greasy stuff,” Collins says. He suggests alcohol-based products—ones without added chemicals for killing germs—as another example of basic cleaners that do the job.

Improper use of bleach is especially harmful. Bleach is a great disinfectant because it’s a strong oxidant, but this quality also makes it potentially dangerous. The body has antioxidants that “tamp down on bleach’s oxidative potential and counteract it,” Collins explains, but if you’re exposed routinely, “there’s leakage through that defense mechanism that can cause damage.”

Read More: Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?

Collins’s two small children have a knack for turning his bathroom into a crud-filled wrecking zone. When they do, he reaches for bleach, but that’s the rare exception. 

“We do need to disinfect, but not every day, and maybe not even every week,” Dumas says. A few times per month only, recommends Asa Bradman, an environmental health scientist at the University of California, Merced.

If there’s an immunocompromised person in the household, “that’s a different circumstance,” Geller says, warranting more disinfectant. Another example from Heins Nesvold: if an ill house guest sneezes repeatedly, a thorough cleaning is probably wise. 

When you disinfect, do so in a targeted manner. Focus on high-touch surfaces like faucets and doorknobs, advises Akiko Iwasaki, professor of immunobiology at Yale University.

“While excessive use of cleaning products and disinfectants containing synthetic chemicals may harm the human body, when used properly, they can reduce transmission of infections,” Iwasaki says.

Consider bleach alternatives

You could opt for other bleach alternatives besides soap and alcohol, such as hydrogen peroxide. “We recommend hydrogen peroxide because it’s effective, and pure forms break down into water and oxygen,” Bradman says. It’s easy to remove from surfaces, he adds, whereas bleach often leaves an irritating residue lasting several days after cleaning. 

Vinegar breaks up dirt with less risk than bleach, too, though it’s not as powerful. Collins recommends distilled white vinegar and other acid-based cleaners like lactic or citric acid. You still have to be careful, though. Inhaling vinegar directly could cause “respiratory triggers,” says Bradman.

Read More: 6 Things to Eat to Reduce Your Cancer Risk

Avoid mixing products. Never combine bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or products that have hydrogen peroxide, such as toilet bowl cleaners. The resulting chemical reactions release gases that are toxic and damaging. One large exposure to chlorine gas—produced from mixing bleach and acidic cleaners—can cause reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS), an irritant-induced form of asthma, Geller says.

Follow directions on the bottle that spell out safety precautions, including dangerous mixtures. “It’s key to choose the right product for the right job and follow the label,” says Nicholas Georges, senior VP of scientific and international affairs for the Household and Commercial Products Association, which represents companies making these products. 

Go fragrance-free

Products labeled fragrance-free may be preferable. This is a tricky one, as we often take satisfaction in cleaners with fresh scents, like pine or lemon—a reward for battling the dirt.

However, some of the chemicals responsible for these smells, such as limonene, are the very VOCs that groups including EWG have identified as potentially problematic. Research shows that 35% of Americans using fragranced products report symptoms like breathing issues and migraines.

Fragrance-free cleaners release fewer VOCs. “They’re healthier,” says Bradman, who steers clear of strong scents.

Georges notes that companies perform risk assessments on cleaners to ensure safety and reduce liability. Products must meet fragrance-ingredient standards for protecting health developed by the International Fragrance Association. 

Try certified “green” cleaners

Several organizations certify specific cleaning products as better for health. The American Lung Association and EWG recommend looking for cleaners certified as Safer Choice, a label created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “We’re big supporters of Safer Choice,” Georges says. 

In 2019, EWG developed its own EWG Verified certification for cleaning products. Specific ingredients can also be checked for toxicity against lists compiled by EWG and the EPA.

Another consideration is whether a product is advertised as “green,” suggesting it uses natural ingredients. Separate studies by EWG and Bradman found that green products tend to have fewer hazardous VOCs. 

The quality of these products varies, though. “There’s a lot of diversity in these green products,” Dumas says. Some government regulations aim to control false product claims about being green, but there’s a lack of enforcement. Dumas has found that some green cleaners contribute to asthma risk, partly because natural ingredients aren’t necessarily good for you. For instance, some green cleaners include essential oils, which “may be natural, but could still be volatile” and therefore irritating, Bradman explains.

Read More: Green Tea Is Even Better For You Than You Think

Make sure to check the product’s chemical ingredients on its label and online. “Transparency is critical,” Georges says. When products have at least one chemical that’s an allergen—meaning it could affect people with sensitivities, such as asthma—the label has to disclose this, Georges explains. And the specific ingredients, both allergens and other ingredient types, must be listed on the company website or product-specific sites, in addition to on the label, he says.

In its 2023 study, EWG found some chemicals in the air that weren’t listed on product labels. “Oftentimes the label is only scratching the surface of what’s contained in the formula,” Geller says. This discrepancy doesn’t necessarily mean that companies are being deceitful. Rather, it’s hard to predict the byproducts of chemicals once they’re “in the bottle and co-mingling,” Geller says.

Another unknowable factor is what substances the chemicals will encounter after they’re released in people’s homes, such as particulate matter. These secondary reactions can form new substances like formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, Geller explains.

Air things out

People can further reduce their exposures by circulating the air during cleaning and immediately after. Open windows, run fans, and keep the HVAC system on. “Really get that air circulating to move the chemicals out of the space,” Geller says. Collins runs the bathroom fan for at least 15 minutes after he’s cleaned his kids’ mess.

You can also reduce your chemical exposure by protecting your skin and airways while you clean. For heavy-duty cleaning, consider wearing gloves and an N95 mask. Limit use of sprays that contain chemicals called quaternary ammonium compounds, Collins says. These “quats” differ from VOCs in that they don’t evaporate quickly into the air, but when sprayed they’re easily inhaled, risking irritation and endocrine disruption. Even sprays without quats could harm health if they’re breathed in too much, so try spraying into a cloth first and then wiping surfaces with the cloth. This should reduce how much spray a person inhales, especially if they wear a mask, Collins says.

Read More: 6 Health Myths About Oils

Those who are especially sensitive to chemicals, including kids and people with asthma, should go outside during cleaning if possible. In a 2025 study, Dumas found that the overuse of cleaning products in daycares is associated with wheezing symptoms in children under age three. Bradman helped to develop a toolkit on safe cleaning protocols for daycare providers. Pregnant women, too, should take precautions, since some research shows a link between exposure during pregnancy and childhood asthma.

If you’re craving that fresh-as-morning-dew smell after you tidy, you can create it without fragranced cleaners. Geller recommends simmering a pot of water with your favorite herbs and spices. 

Just don’t shy away from disinfectants when you’re looking to banish unhealthy mildews and other tough-to-clean causes of malodor. “The Lung Association isn’t anti-cleaning product,” Heins Nesvold says. “We just want people to be really knowledgeable about what they’re putting into the air they breathe.”

source https://time.com/7258264/non-toxic-cleaning-products-housework/