The government has no idea how many school shootings there are

The Department of Education published a figure for one school year that looks massively inflated — in part because the survey on which it was based confused many schools, and in part because the information they submitted appears to have gotten little vetting.

Mike Windle/Getty Images for Vanity Fair This author says wealthy philanthropists focus on symptoms — instead of on the broken systems that made them rich Rich donors and their foundations often see a problem and "offer a light facsimile of change ... change that doesn't change anything fundamental," says writer Anand Giridharadas. That can look like, for example, improving "workplace culture" for women instead of ensuring equal pay or providing good maternity benefits. Giridharadas also sees a strong parallel between these philanthropists' approach and President Trump's "only I can fix it" rhetoric. Kristina Krug for NPR 'My son died because of their arrogance and negligence.' Can the VA turn these struggling centers around? When Sgt. John Toombs was kicked out of his VA rehab program and, hours later, hanged himself nearby, he became the most glaring example of failings at a trio of veterans facilities in Tennessee. New leaders appear to be producing gradual improvements, and Toombs' father says he supports the VA. He's pursuing a memorial for his son — and, with a $2 million lawsuit, justice. LA Johnson/NPR The Department of Education said there were shootings at 235 schools 2 years ago. We could only verify 11 Dozens of the cases included in the agency's report led back to just two cities — the result of obvious errors schools made when filling out the survey that produced the data. The faulty figures come at a time when legislatures and schools are hustling to fortify security, at a cost of millions of dollars. Without solid information on the dimensions of the problem, finding the right solutions may be tough. Sean Gardner/Getty Images John McCain believed in cooperation and compromise with the opposition. There are few lawmakers like him left The late Arizona senator — who received loving eulogies this week from Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, among others — declared himself a "maverick" because he was willing to buck Republican Party leadership. These days, even his willingness to be friendly with Democrats looks unorthodox — and that's increasingly true among both parties. McCain embraced walking the slow, often frustrating path to progress together, but his former chief of staff says politics today "is dominated by a desire to win." Elissa Nadworny/NPR Keeping one eye on college, and the other on the crops Angel Ramirez, like about 300,000 other students nationwide, is the child of farmworkers. For longer than he has been alive, his parents have followed the harvest every year, from Texas to North Dakota and back. The movement and unpredictability make staying enrolled in the proper classes a challenge for the high schooler. But special school summer programs for migrants give him an assist, and Angel is confident he'll follow his older brother into college. You received this message because you're subscribed to our Best of NPR emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002