The effects of the fight over critical race theory in schools

To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts Today's Top Stories from NBC News THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021 Good morning, NBC News readers.     Today we look at the effect the ongoing debate over critical race theory is having on students, more extreme weather in central U.S. states and why Bitcoin is becoming a popular Christmas gift.   Here's the latest on that and everything else we're watching this Thursday morning.     As parents protest critical race theory, students fight racist behavior at school The uprising after George Floyd's murder last year spurred many educators to incorporate anti-racism lessons. Districts promised to reform their discipline practices, reduce achievement gaps and combat hateful incidents, which had been rising in recent years before the nationwide protests.   The resulting local debates over the policy are feeding into the bullying and harassment of students of color at school, making it harder to stop, parents and experts say.   "I shouldn't have to relocate my children because they refuse to fix this problem,"  said Kaiulani Moses, whose daughter moved schools after experiencing racism. "It's all about politics, and our children are having to pay for it."   This fall, teens in more than a dozen states have staged protests and spoken before school boards about racist bullying and harassment from their peers — sounding alarms over discrimination in some of the same districts and states targeted by conservative activists calling for a ban on anti-racism lessons.    Read the full story here.  Thursday's Top Stories Tornadoes reported as record-setting winds lash central U.S. Fierce winds swept across parts of the Midwest on Wednesday, damaging buildings, closing highways and overturning tractor-trailers, officials said. READ MORE Antarctic ice shelf could crack, raise seas by feet within decade, scientists warn An Antarctic ice shelf could crack and disintegrate within the next decade, allowing a Florida-sized glacier to slide into the ocean and raising sea levels by feet, scientists warned Wednesday. READ MORE Covid battering NBA, NFL, NHL, sidelining key players and postponing games The virus' wrath has benched household names like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Baker Mayfield. More than 140 NHL players have also been affected this season. READ MORE OPINION Arkansas waitress fired after $4,400 tip shows why tipping at restaurants has to stop The idea that this payment represents a reward or punishment for servers makes it a power trip for many diners, writes food reporter and the author Corey Mintz. READ MORE Also in the News Growing number of companies suspend vaccine mandates, including hospitals and Amtrak Executions in U.S. fell to three-decade low in 2021, report finds Powerful typhoon hits Philippines, nearly 100,000 evacuated White House unveils plan to replace every lead pipe in the U.S. U.S. military shoots down drone near U.S. base in Syria Editor's Pick Scam messages are targeting Latino immigrants. Here's how to avoid them. Especially since the pandemic, many have received messages on popular social media apps in their native Spanish, offering money in exchange for personal information. READ MORE Select As more people traveled this year, people invested in ways to make their journeys safer and more comfortable. One Fun Thing   Why stocks and crypto are the hottest holiday gift this year Struggling to think of a last-minute gift for a loved one this Christmas? More and more people are considering giving cryptocurrency or stocks.   Nearly a year after Wall Street was rocked by a social media-driven swell in GameStop and AMC shares, more nonprofessional investors are diving into trading stocks to secure savings for retirement or make extra income.   Nick Edwards, who works in health care sales in Indianapolis, told NBC News he plans to spread about $1,000 on cryptocurrency or stocks for his close family members this Christmas.   "What's the best gift I could get someone? And to me the only logical thing is Bitcoin, because it's the best value asset that we have today," he said.   Read the full story here. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.    If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send me an email at patrick.smith@nbcuni.com. If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign-up here.    Thanks, Patrick Smith     FOLLOW US     Want to receive NBC Breaking News and Special Alerts in your inbox? SIGN UP HERE Check out all of NBC Newsletters here.     Get the NBC News Mobile App   30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 View in browser | Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Contact | Privacy