Chalkbeat now has a new look — and a public health sister site

Three logos, one blue, red and pink on a white background.
Chalkbeat, Votebeat and Healthbeat logos (Civic News Company)

Welcome to the new Chalkbeat!

If you’re a regular reader, you might notice that things look a little different here today. Nothing about our stories or the functionality of our site is changing, but we have a new look that we hope you enjoy: simple, modern, and with the work you know and love front and center.

Why? It’s always nice to feel fresh at the start of a school year. But more importantly, the change comes as we launch a new sibling site. Meet Healthbeat, which is officially launching today to cover public health.

Healthbeat reporters will be digging into issues that shape our collective well-being, from infectious diseases to air and water quality and food safety. And they will be bringing the Chalkbeat (and Votebeat) model of national and local reporting to bear on public health at a time when it’s badly needed. Healthbeat will start with bureaus in New York City and Atlanta as well as national reporting in partnership with the great folks over at KFF Health News.

I hope you will check them out, starting with editor in chief Charlene Pacenti’s introduction to Healthbeat’s work. You can also sign up for Healthbeat’s newsletters here.

— Sarah Darville, Chalkbeat editor in chief

The Latest

The Detroit school board is now seeking applicants interested in serving out the remainder of Angelique Peterson-Mayberry’s term.

Education leaders learned of the freeze Monday, hours before the money was due to be available.

The legislation includes big Medicaid cuts, a new voucher-like school choice program, stricter limits on food aid that has implications for free school meals, and more money for immigration enforcement.

The state feels another pinch from the administration’s crackdown on DEI initiatives.

The wellness check requirement, passed into state law last year, was inspired in part by the death of a 12-year-old Commonwealth Charter Academy student.

Nearly a third of city students start kindergarten at age 4. Not all of them are ready.