Ricardo Mendez is a dynamic storyteller who illuminates the human stories behind academic achievements and cultural landmarks. His reporting often focuses on the passionate individuals who drive these initiatives.
9 published articles
Jefferson County Public Schools has identified 23 schools for potential closure or consolidation to address a massive $188 million budget deficit.
A seven-year photography project in Chicago public schools captures the joy, identity, and tragic loss experienced by a generation of teenagers.
A video of Vice President JD Vance and Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk hugging at an Ole Miss event has gone viral, sparking widespread online discussion.
Facing a severe financial crisis, historically Black Talladega College has sold four of its famous Hale Woodruff murals for an estimated $20 million.
Killeen ISD board voted to close Peebles Elementary, Palo Alto Middle, and Eastern Hills Middle Schools by end of 2025-26 to address declining enrollment and a projected $31M funding loss, while Hay B
Emerson Elementary School in South Seattle will resume classes at an alternate site on October 27, 2025, after significant flooding from a broken water fountain damaged classrooms and supplies.
The Oak Ridge Boys, a legendary country group, have been honored by their hometown of Hendersonville, TN, with a bridge renamed in their honor during their farewell tour.
The end of a 24-year-old Texas law granting in-state tuition to undocumented students has created a crisis, with massive tuition hikes and deportation fears.
A small college library in Maryland has become an unlikely global destination for Jane Austen fans ahead of the author's 250th birthday, drawing hundreds to its rare collection.
