Discounts spur surprising Aug. retail sales gains (AP)

AP – American shoppers, taking advantage of deep discounts and tax-free holidays, opened up their wallets a little more for back-to-school spending compared with last year, giving some retailers better-than expected gains for August.

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Discounts spur surprising Aug. retail sales gains
(AP)

HS students make B’way debut; 5 win scholarships (AP)

AP – Five students won college scholarships Monday night for trading in their performances in high school musical productions for Broadway.

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HS students make B’way debut; 5 win scholarships
(AP)

HS students compete for top music theater awards (AP)

AP – Katie Finan always dreamed of stepping out onto a Broadway stage. She’s now getting her chance, thanks to a scholarship competition.

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HS students compete for top music theater awards
(AP)

One-time flagship Philly Catholic school closing (AP)

AP – Even as financially strapped Catholic schools continue to close across the country, no one in Philadelphia ever thought the church would shutter Cardinal Dougherty High School.

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One-time flagship Philly Catholic school closing
(AP)

Graduation rate for US high-schoolers falls for second straight year (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor – The national high school graduation rate has slipped in recent years, despite an array of public and private efforts to boost the percentage of students going on to college. But some districts are beating the odds, succeeding with many students who otherwise may have fallen through the cracks.

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Graduation rate for US high-schoolers falls for second straight year
(The Christian Science Monitor)

Angle emerges as Democrats’ top target (AP)

AP – Democrats wasted no time in making Republican Sharron Angle their top target after the tea party favorite who wants to wipe out Social Security and shutter the Education Department won the nomination to challenge Sen. Harry Reid.

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Angle emerges as Democrats’ top target
(AP)