Silvester Thompson

Any parent concerned that the hottest new video games are the only activities that can hold a kid's attention can take heart.

With prejudice and violence continuing to cause problems in schools and communities nationwide, studies show many young people have hate-related words used against them at school and are often exposed to hate-related graffiti.

Parents. School officials. Emergency responders. With thousands of people to notify in the event of an emergency, how would your children's school district handle the situation?

Are schools safe? Considering the number of tragic events that have occurred at schools across the country in recent years, this is one question every parent, teacher, administrator and community member is having a hard time answering.

In school, children learn about history, science and the three R's. What they might not learn, however, are practical skills to get them through life's ups and downs.

California is famous for its luxurious coastlines and the mild weather that graces the state almost year-round. And while the rest of the country looks forward to the few short months each year when they can entertain outdoors Californians are lucky enough to be able to celebrate outside all year long.

Today, time-crunched families know the importance of convenience in meal preparation is no longer just a matter of preference, it's a means of survival. But Americans aren't willing to abandon the comfort of their favorite slow-cooked flavors in the interest of time.

What would happen if loyalists of Saddam Hussein bombed 12 major U.S. cities one week before the presidential election, thrusting the nation and the election into chaos?

Whether recent allegations of racism along the Gulf Coast, regarding the response to Hurricane Katrina, reflect reality or perception, it is clear that the U.S. still has significant divisions that fall along ethnic and racial lines.

Health screenings are a traditional part of the back-to- school season throughout the country. Eye screenings in particular are important for children entering school for the first time, since vision and learning are inextricably linked.