Bottles Of ‘Gas Station Heroin’ Pose Serious Risk, FDA Warns
The FDA is sounding the alarm on Neptune's Fix or "gas station heroin."
The Food and Drug Administration is warning health officials about the grave dangers tied to those brightly colored energy shots known as “gas station heroin.”
Last month, the FDA alerted health professionals about the serious threat posed by “gas station heroin”—energy supplements marketed as a flavored elixir called Neptune’s Fix, AP News reports. The agency cites the products’ use of tianeptine, an unapproved drug linked to addiction and serious side effects.
The FDA’s warning is in response to a 2024 U.S. Poison Control Center report, which shows a steady increase in calls related to the drug over the past decade.
“It’s kind of this grey area of consumer products, or supplements, where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication,” said Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System.
Calello and her team published a 2024 study highlighting a wave of emergency calls in New Jersey tied to Neptune’s Fix. After drinking it, people experienced everything from seizures to dangerously low blood pressure, with over half of the 20 patients ending up in intensive care.
While tianeptine is approved as a low-dose antidepressant in several other countries, it has never been approved by the FDA for any medical use in the U.S. As a result, it cannot be legally added to foods, beverages, or sold as a dietary supplement, a point the FDA has repeatedly emphasized to U.S. companies.
Despite the FDA’s warnings and its non-approval of tianeptine, some companies still sell it under names such as Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus, and TD Red. It’s technically illegal, but slips through the cracks since the FDA doesn’t pre-approve ingredients in supplements and drinks.
“You never quite know what’s in that bottle,” Calello said. “It’s important for people to know that even if they have used a product before, they could get a bottle that contains something very different from what they’re looking for.”
Because tianeptine is not listed under the federal Controlled Substances Act, about a dozen states have taken action to ban or restrict it, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Tennessee. In some cases, those restrictions have triggered an increase in withdrawal cases, as tianeptine can be chemically addictive. Alabama once had the highest rate of tianeptine-related calls in the southern United States, with reports increasing by more than 1,400% from 2018 to 2021. However, after the state implemented a ban in 2021, calls began to decline slightly, while they continued to rise in neighboring states.
Meharry Medical College opened its office in Memphis providing hands-on training for its students and healthcare to an underserved community.
Meharry Medical College expanded its footprint in the city of Memphis.
On June 9, Meharry College opened its Office of Memphis Programs. The college partnered with a local faith-based organization to secure its location. Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church will house the office on its 23-acre lot. The school has also expanded with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare to further the education of Meharry College’s students.
At the opening ceremonies, multiple speakers offered prayers and shared words of encouragement. Monica Wharton, CEO of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, discussed the slow growth of Black physicians and the need to train a new generation of Black doctors.
“Only 5.7% of physicians are African American in the United States. That represents only a 4% increase in the number of Black physicians over 120 years, and when you consider that number, the majority of those physicians have been women. It is time for change,” Wharton said.
In a statement, James E.K. Hildreth Sr, CEO and president of Meharry, spoke about the college’s expansion and its benefit to the Memphis community.
“Meharry’s presence in Memphis is driven by our mission, which calls us to go to communities with both profound need and significant potential,” Hildreth said “Driven by our whole-person approach to care, our physicians, dentists and researchers are equipped to care for Memphians battling the many chronic diseases that disproportionately impact communities of color. We look forward to working with The BLVD, local government officials and community organizations to create a healthier Memphis for all.”
The opening of the Office of Memphis Programs serves multiple purposes in the community. Students of Meharry Medical College will further their education with clinical training. Underserved communities will gain access to affordable and expert healthcare options. K-12 students will be introduced to STEM, helping to prime the new generation of medical researchers and practitioners.
Shoppers Are Standing On Business As Target’s Revenue Tanks for 4th Consecutive Month
Target’s CEO Brian Cornell said the company isn't blind to what’s going on but is working on ways to re-engage with customers.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — or the lack thereof — has caused retail giant Target to lose foot traffic from customers for the fourth consecutive month, and analysts believe the decline will continue, according to Fortune.
A report from the reputation analytics firm Caliber found that Target’s reputation score declined between February and May 2025, describing the data as “concerning.” The data showed that the retailer’s Governance Score decreased by 15.4%, from 65 out of 100 in January to 55 in May, when the question “Target is ethical in the way it conducts its business” was asked. During the same time range, the top 30 Fortune 500 companies fell, on average, only 1.6%, from 64 to 63.
Target landed slightly above the average and fell well below it.
After the company pushed back on its popular DEI initiatives following President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at federal agencies, Target began to lose foot traffic, albeit only slightly. Between February and April 2025, the decline reached -9%, -6.5% and -3.3%. But in May, the consumer decline reached 1.6%. Caliber’s founder and CEO, Shahar Silbershatz, admitted that companies have suffered from similar decline but have bounced back; however, for Target, “the rebounds are not as fully bounced back; they just go partway.” “This is concerning,” he said.
“There is a negative trend here. This is going to continue to snowball, and it’s a problem.”
The CEO noticed parallels between corporate decline and political affiliation, similar to those found in the Tesla brand. Amongst Democrats, Target’s Integrity score fell eight points, to 63, while the score for Republicans remained the same at 60. When Elon Musk began his tenure in Washington, D.C. as the director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the brand experienced a significant decline and protests across the country. “It was mostly Democrats who bought Teslas, not Republicans,” Silbershatz said.
“Now Democrats are a lot more negative about Tesla [and] Republicans are a lot more positive, but Republicans are not buying Teslas because they’re not interested in electric cars.”
The pushback from Black customers added to Target’s decline as civil rights leaders like Revs. Jamal Bryant and Al Sharpton called for a 40-day boycott, which began on March 5, showcasing their disappointment with the brand that Black customers have supported for years. “Black people spend upwards of $12 million a day, and so we would expect some loyalty, some decency and some camaraderie,” Bryant said at the start of the boycott.
“We’re asking people to divest from Target because they have turned their back on our community.”
Target’s CEO Brian Cornell said the company isn’t blind to what’s going on, saying he’s “not satisfied” with its recent performance, according to The Street. He admitted that trying to be operational in this “exceptionally challenging environment” has been difficult, but the brand is working on ways to re-engage with customers.
20-Year-Old Father Allegedly Kills Toddler Son By Throwing Him In NYC River
The 20-year-old faces two charges of murder and manslaughter.
A 20-year-old father is facing murder charges for allegedly throwing his two-year-old into New YoCity’sy’s East River.
NYC prosecutors claim Arius Williams threw the toddler, Montrell Williams, into the river May 10, also citing that they have video proving he was alive at the time. After not returning the child the next day, the child’s mother called the police and took matters to the family court.
The video also showed footage leading up to and following the alleged act. According to 6ABC, Williams was holding his young son, who appeared to be alive. He then proceeded to throw the boy over the bridge and into the body of water, walking to a gas station shortly after.
Williams was jailed at the Bronx Family Court June 9. He arrived at the building for a warrant due to not returning the younger Williams to his mother, as per their custody agreement.
He failed to disclose where the child was, leading to his detainment. The young boy was presumably found in the river June 11, but authorities have yet to confirm the body’s identity.
A day prior to his arrest, the child’s mother encountered Williams and demanded to know where their son was. A complaint detailed that Williams then took her to a Bronx Park.
There, he allegedly threatened her with a knife while claiming to have thrown him in a river. The mother then followed Williams and called the authorities who later issued a warrant.
Since Williams’ arraignment, his family has struggled with the thought of the once-doting father ending his own son’s life. They say he dealt with some mental health issues, which they believe may have motivated the crime.
“Nobody expected this at all, because he loved his son. I don’t know what drove him to do this,” said the suspect’s step-grandfather, Leroy Burton.
Williams had limited contact with any family according to the complaint.
“The baby kept saying ‘Daddy, daddy, daddy.’ That’s what crushes me the most, is that he kept calling him ‘Daddy, daddy.’ He trusted him…he took his life,” shared a family member.
Williams faces two counts on each charge of second-degree murder and manslaughter. The child’s mother was granted an order of protection as well.
2024 Election Results Scrutinized As Lawsuit From Nonprofit Questions Accuracy
Judge Rachel Tanguay ruled the allegations were serious enough for the litigation to move forward.
Almost six months into President Donald Trump’s second term, a lawsuit questioning the accuracy of the 2024 election results in a New York county has been given the green light to move forward, Newsweek reported.
Judge Rachel Tanguay of the New York Supreme Court ruled that a lawsuit filed by Nonpartisan watchdog group, SMART Legislation — a section of SMART Elections — was allowed to proceed, accusing voting discrepancies in Rockland County. The nonprofit alleges that voting machines were secretly altered prior to ballots being casted.
They also claim there were more voters with sworn in legal affidavits, voting for independent U.S. Senate candidate Diane Sare, that does not match the number of affidavits that the Rockland County Board of Elections counted and certified. Mismatched numbers contradict the results of the election, including a number of districts that saw victory for Democratic Senate candidate Kirsten Gillibrand.
However, oddly enough, there were no votes for then-Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Judge Tanguay ruled the allegations were serious enough for the litigation to move forward.
The allegations also point the finger at Pro V&V, a federally accredited testing lab, that allegedly signed off on “significant” changes to the voting machines that are used in more than 40% of the country. SMART alleges the changes “vanished from public view” shortly after the election. Pro V&V director Jack Cobb says “there really is no change of any significance,” claiming the approved changes correlated to technical issues such as ballot boxes, ballot bins, changing printers to newer models, and more.
He also pushed that the lab’s website has been replaced with a new one since February and has been “running ever since.”
The accusations come just days after former Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk dropped a bombshell accusation that he may have helped Trump win the election. In a back and forth rift between him and the President, Musk’s accusation pushed the idea to voters and those against Trump that there may be an issue of election fraud.
WOW: Elon Musk just said Trump would have lost the election without him “Such ingratitude.” The feud continues! pic.twitter.com/cmJeexnspK
Founder and executive director of SMART Legislation, Lulu Friesdat, labeled the alleged incorrect results as “a violation of the constitutional rights of each person who voted in the 2024 Rockland County general election,” according to Economic Times. “There is clear evidence that the Senate results are incorrect, and there are statistical indications that the presidential results are highly unlikely,” Friesdat said.
We believe it’s vitally important, especially in the current environment, to be absolutely confident about the results of the election.”
While the allegations are eye-opening, there may not be much that can be done. As the lawsuit warrants a full, hand recount of ballots cast in the presidential and U.S. Senate races in Rockland County, it won’t change the results since Congress has already certified the results — marking Trump as the clear winner.
6 Things To Do In Galveston, Texas, The Home Of Juneteenth
Galveston, Texas, stands as the unique birthplace of Juneteenth, where on June 19, 1865, freedom reached the final enslaved individuals in the United States. The city commemorates that legacy through remembrance and dynamic community-driven events showcasing Black American resilience, culture, and advancement. Here are six Juneteenth events that showcase historical reenactments, educational exhibits, concerts, parades, and faith-based gatherings to embody freedom’s essence and provide residents and visitors with meaningful connections to the past while celebrating future possibilities.
Juneteenth Kickoff at Nia Cultural Center
The Nia Cultural Center hosts an evening event that officially begins Galveston’s Juneteenth week. Experience local culture and creativity by engaging with art displays and entertainment while enjoying food and photo booth activities. Community advocates will attend to deliver their personal insights and experiences.
Tom Bass Park Celebration
The City of Galveston and community organizers present the Tom Bass Park Celebration as a daytime event that honors the park’s cultural heritage and historical significance. The event presents storytelling sessions alongside musical performances and cultural tributes, creating an ideal setting for families and history enthusiasts to gather. The poignant theme of “A Reckoning: Reclaiming the Past…” establishes a reflective and uplifting atmosphere that encourages communal bonds and collective memory.
Cruise Festival At Port Of Galveston
The Cruise Festival at the Port of Galveston will deliver a family-oriented cruise-themed experience with island breezes and live music alongside local food offerings and maritime water settings. Sail date is June 14-21
Annual Parade & Picnic + Fireworks
Participate in a historic procession in Galveston, Texas, where abolition was first declared, as the Juneteenth Parade Committee and the City of Galveston organize an annual parade and picnic. The parade route extends from 26th to 41st Street before transitioning into a park picnic event and the city’s inaugural fireworks show at Menard Park. Complete the evening festivities beneath the celestial expanse.
“And Still We Rise…” Exhibit + Lectures
“And Still We Rise…” Exhibit and Lectures
The African American Heritage Committee of the Galveston Historical Foundation has arranged a series of lectures. An exhibit spanning one month presents weekly mini-lectures about the island’s history. What reasons compel a visit? To understand Juneteenth in Galveston and deeply engage with primary sources alongside personal narratives and live talks.
Annual Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast at Ashton Villa
Ashton Villa becomes the venue for the Annual Juneteenth Prayer Breakfast, which the Al Edwards Memorial Celebration organizers will host June 19. The early-morning prayer breakfast provides an exceptional chance to occupy the space where the state’s 1979 holiday bill received its first prayerful recognition. An atmosphere of emancipation while delivering a deep historical significance.
New York Theatre Educator Makes History At The Tony Awards
Gary Edwin Robinson has been teaching Boys and Girls Club students the art of theatre for over a decade.
Gary Edwin Robinson made history as the first New Yorker to win the 2025 Excellence in Theatre Education Tony Award.
On June 8, the 78th Tony Awards aired live on Paramount+. Robinson, a Bed-Stuy theatre teacher for the Boys and Girls Club, made history, earning the award. The category is relatively new, having only been presented for its ninth year. Robinson’s speech was brief yet revealed much about the educator. Theatre has been his passion since he was a young performer.
“The first time I performed at Radio City Music Hall, I was 15 years old. I was singing with the all-city high school chorus when I returned to this great stage. I was singing choral backup for Miss Diana Lewis on her Take Me Higher tour.”
A teary-eyed Robinson spoke about his passion for teaching. He also spoke of his joy when his students begin to understand and connect with the art form. Additionally, he gave a shoutout to his former educator at Howard, who guided him into the art of education.
He recalled his professor’s words, “‘You are being trained to train people for careers in the theater. You got that specific yes it-factor in theater education.'”
He continued, “I love working with my students to help them find their theaterin themselves when they shout, ‘I got it,’ ‘I found it.’ That is what brings me the joy of teaching theater they are ready to see the many different pathways to a career in theater they’re open to all the possibilities i am honored to return to this great stage as the recipient of the 2025 Excellence in Theater Education award.”
As an educator and creative, Robinson engages in all facets of the stage. He is a writer, producer, actor, and director. Speaking to The New York Post, Robinson discussed the application of theatre skills in real life. Although not all Boys and Girls Club attendees have dreams of gracing the stage, the skills they learn can be beneficial. He tells his potential athletes that the skill can be used to gain endorsements.
“I tell [athletes], ‘You’re going to be selected for a team and with sports figures, you have to do endorsements. That’s theater right there; you’ve got to sell the product, and that’s where the theater comes in, and that’s why you’re taking this class,” Robinson told the post.
Actively teaching for over a decade, Robinson’s students have gone on to act in productions and write for television.
Ice Cube Blasted TSA For Stealing iPad And Then It Was Swiftly ‘Recovered’
BIg3 founder never followed up on where the iPad was discovered
After accusing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of stealing his iPad, BIG3 Co-Founder O’Shea Jackson, better known as Ice Cube, immediately said the electronic unit had been “recovered.”
The situation occurred on June 13, when, according to the Amerikkka’s Most Wanted recording artist, they took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and made the accusation after departing a flight from United Airlines. In a post, he stated that his iPad was taken from United Flight 2615 at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) or O’Hare International Airport (Chicago).
TSA stole my iPad out my bag tonight. United Flight 2615. Either LAX or O’Hara. I need my shit back ASAP or it’s a problem.
The N.W.A. co-founder then stood 10 toes down on the claim and accused one of the workers of leaving a TSA check bag slip in place of the perceived stolen Apple product, even lambasting TSA as “another dirty government agency” in a follow-up post.
Bitch just had the nerve to leave a TSA check bag slip where they it stolen from. Another dirty government agency. SMGDH https://t.co/N4LIGT8kSP
With no clue as to how this happened or any news of attempted recovery from the airline or the airport, less than an hour later, the Boyz N the Hood thespian then updated his nearly six million followers on X that the stolen item was, in fact, “recovered.”
Ice Cube did not discuss the iPad after posting that message, so it was unclear what happened or how and where it was recovered. There was no apology or statement regarding whether the iPad was, indeed, stolen, misplaced, or lost. To the entrepreneur’s credit, he left the messages up instead of deleting the tirade. Still, no acknowledgement of what transpired left followers clueless about what had taken place at the airport.
All posts after the stolen iPad accusation were related to BIG3 league action as the current season opened June 14 in the league’s first year of location-based franchises. The BIG3 has entered its eighth season.
Awkward To Authentic: Conference Networking Tips for Introverts
Networking is all about creating relationships.
Dear Fairygodmentor,
I have a few conferences coming up this summer. I know networking is crucial, but as an introvert, it feels overwhelming. What are some strategies I can use to connect authentically? – Quietly Ambitious
Dear Quietly Ambitious,
Ooh! I love a good conference! It’s learning, networking, and travel rolled all into one event. All of this conference love comes from an extrovert’s point of view. For introverts, networking at a conference may make you feel like you’re about to crash out.
It doesn’t have to be as bad as it may feel. It’s all about setting the right intentions and mentally preparing for the conference to take some of the overwhelm away.
• Reflect on your goals and intentions. When I attended my first BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit in 2020, I set several intentions. A.) To glean as much as I could to feed my mind, soul, and business; B.) Connect with as many key leaders of the conference and corporations because speaking and training are services I provide and it’s a key arm of building my business; and C.) Interview the CEO of BE so I could get some awesome advice to share with my clients one day.
Day one of the conference, I literally ran into Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE. I shared what I do for a living and asked him for one piece of advice for conference attendees. He said, “Have an on-purpose intention to going to the conference. You can’t just go to the conference to ‘network’, there has to be a goal.” What are your goals and intentions for going to this conference beyond meeting new people? These intentions will be your North Star to keep you on track as you experience this event.
• Identify networking opportunities, speakers, and sessions to attend.
• Prioritize your time to attend. Make the time—set aside time on your calendar to really take in this experience. This is an opportunity to really expand your network and learn from others across states and even countries, depending on what type of conference it is.
• Create the right learning environment. Just like you need the right space to work, you’ll need to do the same when attending a conference. Whether the conference is virtual or in person, it’s easy to want to Task Switch (checking your emails, not having your phone on silent mode, etc.) Make the area where you’re attending/learning one where you are free of distraction so you can soak up all of the conference goodness that’s about to take place.
• Stay Connected: Use the tools provided. Most conferences these days have chat tools and other apps where you can connect with other attendees, get copies of presentations (so you don’t have to overwhelm yourself taking notes), ask questions of the speakers, and even share some best practices with other attendees. There is so much magic to staying connected. Some conference sponsors may add flash events/surprise panel events, etc. Stay tuned in. I’m a sucker for contests. One conference I attended had a ”Most Tweets” contest- I won a round-trip ticket to anywhere in the continental U.S.! Download any related apps before the event. This will help you stay engaged in all the activities. If you’re very active on social media, use those conference hashtags. I was retweeted by several speakers I admired and was able to connect with them afterward. The relationships that I’ve forged during conferences have proven to be very fruitful through the years.
• Strategize a SMART action plan to get the most out of the conference. Remember, the key is to get the most out of this experience. An example of creating a SMART action plan for networking at a conference could look like this:
Build 10 meaningful professional connections at [Conference Name] within two days to expand my visibility and foster potential collaborations.
• Specific: Identify and connect with at least 10 professionals aligned with my industry, values, or future goals (e.g., speakers, execs, potential collaborators)
• Measurable: Exchange business info and/or connect on LinkedIn with 10 people.
• Attainable: Attend at least two networking events or breakout sessions per day.
• Realistic: Set aside dedicated time between sessions for informal networking (e.g., lunch, hallway chats, waiting in line).
• Time-Bound: Schedule follow-up emails/calls within five business days post-event. (Pro Tip: I personally don’t like to leave that new connection until a virtual coffee or connection is made in the moment of meeting them, so I don’t lose momentum.)
• Execute on your action plan to drive your career. It can feel overwhelming that everything may be happening at the same time.
Also, be sure to—
• Make the schedule work for you. There will be replays and recordings of other panels and sessions. You don’t need to be in all places at the same time.
• If you’re lucky to have a co-worker that you trust attend with you, be accountability buddies for each other.
• Create Introduction and Contact Me templates. When I attend conferences, I love to take tons of notes. There’s also a lot of connecting on social media and texting. Create introduction templates and KIT (keep in touch) templates with your contact information and any social media handles so you can cut and paste and keep it moving. I’m all about efficiency when you’re making things happen—virtually and in-person. (Pro Tip: When you’re adding a new contact, make note of where you met, what session, etc., and any funny/memorable moment you shared. This will help when following up and when you get a text from this person in the future.)
Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders through coaching, training, and facilitation. She’s the best-selling author of Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.
Have a question for Your Fairygodmentor®?
Submit your career and leadership questions, whether it’s about navigating a micromanager, setting boundaries, negotiating for a raise, or handling burnout. Ask Your Fairygodmentor® today!
Black Educators Warn Students Will Suffer Most If Trump Dismantles Department of Education
Donald Trump's multiple threats to eliminate the Department of Education concerns teachers in states with a well-documented history of inequitable funding and racial disparity.
Donald Trump’s repeated threats to dismantle the Department of Education are sparking concern among educators—particularly in states like Mississippi, where longstanding issues of unequal funding and racial disparities persist. Some Black teachers in the state recently told the Pulitzer Center they’re feeling added pressure as a result.
Erica Jones, the executive director of the Mississippi Association of Teachers, described the myriad pressures and the weight of being a Black teacher in that state.
“I had the best classroom data and great relationships with my students,” said Jones, who is Black. “Yet a Black parent still asked for their child to be moved to a white teacher’s classroom. It made me question—was it just my skin color?”
Jones continued, “Black teachers understand their job doesn’t stop when the bell rings. We carry the weight of uplifting Black children in a system built to push them down.”
Several studies support Jones’ remarks. Research has examined how the school-to-prison pipeline disproportionately affects Black students, contributing to higher rates of disciplinary action and contact with the criminal justice system. Additionally, a study published in the Economics of Education Review found that Black teachers tend to have higher expectations for Black students compared to white teachers, highlighting potential disparities in how student potential is perceived across racial lines.
Other teachers, like a 35-year-old Mississippi Delta educator, who remained anonymous because of concerns over potential retaliation, described a school administrator she worked under who handicapped the abilities of their faculty because of intense micromanagement.
“She controlled everything—schedules, lesson plans, even how long kids could go to the restroom,” she said. “There was no room to teach. Just surveillance and stress.”
Eventually, after the environment began to take a toll on her health, she, along with other educators, decided to leave the school for their own benefit.
According to Grace Breazeale, the director of research and K-12 policy at Mississippi First, a nonprofit public policy organization, eliminating the Department of Education would mean that the education system in America would function without a critical set of guardrails which are required to make sure every child has access to a quality education.
“If the Department of Education were to be eliminated, it would significantly change the landscape of public education, especially in states like Mississippi. Federal oversight plays an important role in ensuring states meet baseline standards, particularly when it comes to distributing Title I funding fairly and enforcing civil rights laws. In a state with a long history of inequity, we need both resources and guardrails, which the USDOE helps provide.,” Breazeale told the Pulitzer Center.
In addition, as ProPublica reported in May, since the Department of Education has slashed its workforce and closed civil rights offices, investigating actual discrimination in schools has been rendered impossible, while the department’s main civil rights office is engaged in ridding schools of diversity efforts, citing anti-discrimination edicts in the process.
Within the context of the education system, an anti-diversity policy also means that disabled students, students with special needs, or students who need individualized support will be abandoned, just as they are currently being left behind by the State of Mississippi’s education system.
“I wouldn’t have made it through school without the Department of Education. People think this won’t affect them, but it will—especially kids with IEPs [Individualized Education Programs for students with special needs], free lunch programs, and Title I funding,” said Montrell Allen, a first-grade teacher in Natchez. “It’s crushing. We’re already struggling to stay afloat, and now they’re threatening to pull the lifeboat away.”
