Columbus news of the week: SAT scores, vaping death, abortion law challenge
Missed the big stories last week? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
Columbus’ SAT scores rise
Muscogee County Schools raised their SAT score average by 3 points this year to reach an average composite score of 1056.
The data, released by the district last week, shows the district’s score has surpassed the state average for public schools and continues to grow over the national average.
Georgia’s composite score decreased by 6 points to 1048 and the U.S. average decreased by 10 points to 1039. A perfect score is 1600, 800-points each for reading/writing and math.
More students are also taking the test. Of the district’s senior class, 46% took the test in 2017, and 47.6% in 2018. That number grew slightly to 47.7% in 2019.
“Trends in the scores over time also help us track the performance and progress of Georgia’s students and schools. . . . Together with other measurements like ACT scores, state test scores , and the graduation rate, we start to develop a fuller picture of what’s taking place in our state’s public schools,” Georgia Department of Education communications director Meghan Frick told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email.
Want to know more? Read here.
Federal judge hears arguments over Georgia’s abortion law
Last week, a federal judge heard arguments regarding Georgia’s new abortion law that is set to take effect next year, the Associated Press reports.
Gov. Brian Kemp signed the bill in May. It bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Most women realize they’re expecting around weeks four through seven, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
The new law allows certain exceptions for rape and incest — provided that a police report is filed. It also allows for abortions in cases where the mother’s life is at risk or the child is deemed not viable due to a severe medical condition.
Lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights in June filed a lawsuit in an effort to block the law from taking effect and have it declared unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Steve Jones said he plans to rule as soon as possible on a request to keep the law from taking effect while the constitutional challenge is pending.
“Heartbeat” bills have been challenged in courts across the nation. A federal judge in Kentucky prevented that state’s law from taking effect earlier this year. Judges struck down Iowa and North Dakota’s fetal heartbeat laws in recent years. Several other states passed similar abortion laws this year.
Want to know more? Read here.
Georgia Tech basketball banned from postseason
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team received sanctions from the NCAA last week that includes a ban on postseason play for the upcoming season.
The Associated Press reports the sanctions handed down by the NCAA also included four years probation, a reduction in scholarships, limits on recruiting and a fine of $5,000, plus 2% of the program’s budget.
The sanctions come following major recruiting violations committed by a former assistant coach and an ex-friend of current head coach Josh Pastner.
Want to know more? Read here.
Man dies from vaping-related illness in Georgia
Georgia reported its first vaping-related death last week.
A news release from the Georgia Department of Public Health reported the patient was a man who had a history of heavy nicotine vaping but none of vaping THC, the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. He did not live in the metro Atlanta area, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Associated Press reports there are nine confirmed vaping-related illness cases in Georgia. The patients were 18 to 68 years old with an average age of 26 years, and they include seven males.
As of Sept. 27, 805 cases of lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping products have been reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 46 states and 1 U.S. territory. Twelve people have died nationwide.
Want to know more? Read here.
This story was originally published September 30, 2019 at 10:32 AM.