“If you try that at a Florida university, you are going to be expelled.”

Newberry County, S.C., Sheriff Lee Foster, regarding the loud sound produced by male cicadas after receiving several messages to complain about the noise. The collective songs of the trillions of red-eyed periodical male cicadas that have emerged this month can be as loud as jet engines. (Associated Press — April 23, 2024)

American University’s Brian Hughes, regarding a Maryland State Police report last month that alleges that three 12-year-olds were repeatedly targeting another middle school student with antisemitic harassment. FBI records show that last year there were roughly 900 reported hate crime offenses at K-12 schools, most of which targeted Black people with anti-Jewish offenses coming in second. (NPR — April 23, 2024)

Brightline Holdings founder and Chair Wes Edens, regarding the construction of a $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. Work began on the project on Monday, April 22. Officials predict that the first passengers will board trains by 2028. (Associated Press — April 22, 2024)

Jalen Beard, a senior at North Community High School in Minneapolis, regarding the prevalence of gun violence at the school. Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death for children and teens over age 1 nationwide. The federal government is investing billions of dollars to combat the issue, but some students say there’s a disconnect between what the government is offering and what they actually need. (NPR — April 19, 2024)