Recent Stories

Learn how to prevent false arrests and harm By Henry Dyer April 10, 2026 Youthcast Media Group In the rare but possible case that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attempts to detain you or approaches you with the intent of making an arrest, there are specific Constitutional rights meant to ensure that you cannot be arrested without following due process. Understanding these rights can make a major difference during a scary and intimidating encounter. Knowledge of you

FCPS pilots ChatGPT for Teachers, but does AI belong in classrooms? By Jasmin Dinh April 9, 2026 Youthcast Media Group ® Your homework shortcut is about to become your teacher’s new assistant: a new county-wide partnership with OpenAI will soon change the learning environment across all of Fairfax County Public Schools.  FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced in a county-wide email Nov. 19 that the division will be one of the first to test “ChatGPT for Teachers,” hel

New Raptor system launches, expands school safety By Zoe Ligairi April 9, 2026 Youthcast Media Group ® Imagine a fight breaks out in the cafeteria—students surround the brawl and chaos emerges before security can get to the scene. Now, that can all be prevented by a new technology that will allow staff to click a button on their badge, summoning security faster than before. The implementation of a new Emergency Management System with the help of Raptor Technologies, a third-p

By Julissa Sanders April 9, 2026 Youthcast Media Group ® In 2010, Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move!” a public health campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity and improving nutrition in school lunches. The program aimed to make school lunches healthier by including more fruits and vegetables and reducing fat and sugar in students’ diets. Many public schools, including Annandale High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, made significant changes to their cafeteria offering

By Zoha Tahir April 8, 2026 Youthcast Media Group ® Recent actions by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), such as raids and detentions, have created fear and uncertainty for students and families in many communities - including Annandale High School in Annandale, Virginia.  For years, Americans have been protesting ICE actions across the country, advocating for change and mobilizing support through social media and live demonstrations. Despite many An

By Natalie Spina, Piper Mangold, Felix Otero, Ambrielle Parker and Kortnie McKnight  March 16, 2026 Youthcast Media Group® Every day this fall and winter, Angelina Perez has sat in her bedroom, opened her Common Application, and stared at the list of colleges under her name. As a high school senior, each spare hour has been dedicated to supplemental essays and financial aid forms.  As a low-income first-generation immigrant from Argentina, she knew it wouldn’t be easy. But sh

I am constantly overwhelmed with balancing my job, school, and personal life, but when it's finally time for my sneakers to hit the track, all of my worries disappear. 

When Abdallah Sulaiman, a Muslim immigrant, set out to buy his first home in America, he was determined to avoid riba – the Islamic term for interest, which is strictly prohibited in Islamic law, or Sharia. After exploring Islamic financing options, he felt skeptical.

American students face a critical decision after high school: Should they attend college right away, or take a gap year to explore other opportunities? For about 60,000 to 70,000 students per year, the answer is a gap year. But as tuition costs continue to rise, the choice has become increasingly complex. Here are five important factors to consider before making your decision.

By Andrinika Aimable, Isabella Chavez, Bethel Kifle, Alani Schwertfeger and Samuel Wang Youthcast Media Group® Monica-Grace Mukendi was the salutatorian at Fordham High School for the Arts in the Bronx, and participated in extracurriculars. But when she learned that her college career could be threatened because she didn’t qualify for financial aid, she felt betrayed.  Monica-Grace Mukendi “I didn’t think college was in the cards for me,” Mukendi, now 26, said. “We didn’t hav

College graduation rates show far more needs to be done By Kadence Johnson, Divine Savoy, Skyy Branch, Rosana Wahdat, and Hayden Hernly  Youthcast Media Group® When Azzarie Brown, 17, thinks about college, the first feeling that comes to mind isn’t excitement. It’s anxiety.  Azzarie Brown (courtesy of Azzarie) Azzarie, who lives in Southeast Washington and is a senior at Archbishop Carroll High School, dreams of studying computer engineering and film studies at Niagara Univer

Years of climate misinformation points to society in need of systemic reforms A localized version of this story was published March 13, 2026 in Fairfax Now. By Tram On  January 9, 2026 Youthcast Media Group® In Mala Persaud’s little store in the historic part of Vienna, Virginia, neatly labeled dispenser bins line the walls. Wooden shelves are laden with bulk containers of everything from hand soap to vinegar, reusable bags to pasta. Mala Persaud in Trace, her zero-waste sto

My family is one with many old traditions —some good, some bad, and some that have surely been forgotten. But one stands out to me the most: If you were sick, sad, or just having a rough day, somebody would make you a cup of tea and some hot chicken soup.

I discovered three books that helped me understand that mental illness comes in different varieties, and with different struggles for different people. 

For a future doctor, skipping college is impossible. An up-and-coming surgeon can't avoid the years of classes, licensing exams, and internship and residency hours.  But what about an up-and-coming cinematographer? A fine artist? A graphic designer?