Local Initiative Puts Focus on Teens’ Reproductive Health

Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, Breaking Bronx features a health-related story, event or tidbit as part of an online expansion of our Be Healthy! column. As federal lawmakers in Congress continue to debate over whether health insurers should be required to cover the costs of birth control, a recent city initiative is looking to curb teen pregnancy rates in the Bronx, where it is higher than in any other borough. The program, called Bronx Teens Connection, will offer affordable reproductive health services to the borough’s teenagers, as many here lack health insurance coverage and live below the poverty line. In New

Churches Can Stay in Schools for 10 More Days, Judge Says

A city policy banning worship in public school buildings during non-school hours was put on hold today, after a federal judge issued a temporary injunction this morning that will allow churches and other religious groups to continue holding services in schools, at least for the next 10 days. The ban was supposed to go into effect Sunday, Feb. 12, following a federal court’s decision last spring that the Department of Education could legally evict the religious groups on the grounds of separation of church and state. Bronx Household of Faith, a small University Heights-based church that has held services in

Bronx Nabe Note: CSI for Teens at BCC

Bronx Community College‘s Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), offers aspiring middle and high school students classes in the fundamentals of crime scene investigating.

Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative–FINAL DEADLINE!

Today, Wednesday, Feb. 15, is the last day to apply to the spring semester of the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative, the free high school journalism after-school program run by the Norwood News. Founded in 2008, the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative is open to any high school student who lives or goes to school in the Bronx. Spring classes will start at the end of February and are held every Wednesday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hostos Community College, on the Grand Concourse. The course runs for 12 weeks, and teaches the ins and outs of reporting, writing, and

The city has denied a federal judge’s request to delay the evictions of dozens of faith-based groups that hold worship services in public schools, saying the enforcement of the policy has already been pushed back twice, according to a letter sent by the city’s Law Department. Yesterday, Judge Loretta Preska asked the city to allow churches and other groups that rent public school space on weekends to continue to use the facilities while she deliberates on the issue. The Department of Education policy banning religious groups from worshiping in school buildings, citing the separation of church and state, was supposed

Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative — Apply Now Before Tomorrow’s Deadline!

Just two more days to apply to the spring semester of the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative, the free high school journalism after-school program run by the Norwood News. We’ll be accepting applications until this Wednesday, Feb. 15. Founded in 2008, the Bronx Youth Journalism Initiative is open to any high school student who lives or goes to school in the Bronx. Spring classes will start at the end of February and are held every Wednesday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hostos Community College, on the Grand Concourse. The course runs for 12 weeks, and teaches the ins and

Bronx Nabe Note: Human Rights Activist Speaks at Lehman College

Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra, a Catholic priest from Oaxaca, Mexico, a leading advocate for the rights of migrants travelling through Mexico to the U.S., will speak in Lehman College Music Building’s East Dining Room on Thursday, Feb. 16

Court to Hear Appeal on Worship in Schools Ban

On Sunday, dozens of religious groups across the city that rent auditorium and cafeteria space in public schools held their (possibly) last services there, as a city policy banning worship in schools went into effect Feb. 12. Breaking Bronx reached out to a few local pastors to see what the plan was for their congregations after getting evicted, and we’re hearing from several sources that the groups could possibly be getting a reprieve.