Newcastle

A suborbital rocket carrying a payload of NASA's TechRise Student Challenge exploded earlier this month at a launch facility in New Mexico. It carried a box of microprocessors programmed with computer code to determine if cosmic radiation would corrupt this data by changing it from one number to another.

Sixteen of the state's 27 hospitals are classified as critical access ones, meaning they receive more funding from the federal government for their operations caring residents in rural areas. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a strain on the resources and finances of many. And while not all are struggling like some, those who lead these hospitals say it's become more difficult since the heights of the pandemic.

Algebra I and II classes are being taught online this year as a result of school administrators not being able to find an adequate in-person replacement. There have been mixed reactions from students but student performance hasn't suffered because of the change. Students will continue learning virtually until the end of this school year.

Students and staff at Newcastle High School have had to adapt to a virtual learning environment for some of their math classes. That’s because a teacher resigned in early September and the school was unable to find an in-person replacement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm to School program has been adopted by some school districts throughout the state as well. Both school districts in Weston County approved the program for local use this school year, though only Upton schools are serving local food currently.

Zach Beam, a science and STEM teacher, received the honor on Aug. 22 and will go on to attend several workshops beginning next year as part of his selection. Additionally, Beam will participate in a professional development and leadership program for top state educators. His name will also be entered for the National Teacher of the Year honor, which will be announced next spring.

A team of students from Newcastle High School is designing an experiment that will reach the edge of earth's atmosphere in a suborbital rocket supplied by NASA.

A high level of methane has been detected at a monitoring well in Newcastle. The well is near the city's old landfill that was closed in the 1980s.The…