When Seth Walker first walked into Lincoln High School’s new cybersecurity class, he felt out of place. “I didn’t have any IT experience, and everyone else seemed so far ahead of me,” he remembered. “So, I let that motivate me to learn the craft and keep up.”
His curiosity led him from a rural high school in Talladega, Alabama, to Troy University, where he’s studying cybersecurity and working on his CompTIA Security+ certification as a freshman. He credits high school internships and mentorship from his teacher, Brian Kelly, as the foundation that shaped his path forward. “I saw firsthand how cybersecurity looks in different environments,” Walker said. “It made me realize this is something I can really build a future in.”
A Regional Model for Rural Readiness
In 2023, Talladega County Schools joined Digital Promise’s inaugural Cybersecurity Pathways Cohort, part of a national effort to build regional workforce pipelines in high-demand tech fields. Soon after, the district joined neighboring Talladega City, Anniston City, Etowah County, Oxford City, St. Clair County and Sylacauga City school districts to form the East Alabama Regional Cybersecurity Alliance (EARCA), a collaboration with post-secondary institutions and industry partners in East Alabama working to grow local cybersecurity talent.
Together, the group created a student-centered Cybersecurity pathway reaching more than 33,000 students. EARCA is becoming a replicable model for regional pathways, offering shared curriculum, teacher professional development and employer partnerships that can be adapted anywhere.
The alliance strengthens the local economy by connecting education directly to employment, and preparing students for an evolving tech landscape where cybersecurity and artificial intelligence intersect. With 8,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in Alabama and 750,000 vacancies nationwide, schools like Lincoln High are preparing students for roles that pay an average of $90,000 annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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“The cybersecurity pathway gives students a clear direction and a chance to stay and work here in Alabama,” said Darian Simmons, career tech director at Talladega City Schools.
Building a Program From the Ground Up
For Kelly, the instructor who launched Lincoln High’s program, cyber had long been an interest. “I worked in IT doing help desk and network support, and always wanted to integrate cybersecurity,” he said. “When the opportunity came up to run the program, I jumped on it.”
Kelly saw this as a chance to hone his own skills as well. “My advice to other teachers is to just jump in. The more you’re exposed to AI and cybersecurity, the more comfortable you get. Learn with your students. Do the competitions. Figure it out together.”
This is the philosophy that shapes his classroom environment. Students work in small groups to solve problems together before turning to him for help. “That’s what cybersecurity is: creative problem-solving,” he said. Competitions like CyberPatriot and SkillsUSA keep students motivated and build confidence in their skill set.
Hands-On Learning and Flexible Tools
One memorable project for Walker involved a rubber ducky, a small, programmable USB drive that can access a device remotely. “It showed us how something simple can be powerful,” he said. “The same process can be used for harm or protection, so it all comes down to intent.”
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Students also use IBM SkillsBuild, a free platform offering self-paced courses and micro-credentials in cybersecurity, AI and digital literacy for teachers and students. For Walker, it was a turning point. “It was my best friend in that first semester,” he said. “There is no better foundation for hardware, networking and software basics.”
Kelly values the self-paced design for giving students flexibility and teachers built-in professional development.
How Talladega County Schools is transforming students’ futures with cybersecurity pathways
From PD to Practice
Through EARCA, Kelly meets monthly with other cybersecurity teachers for professional learning and resource sharing. The sessions create a community of practice where educators share lesson ideas, test labs and align their teaching with workforce needs.
At Lincoln High, Kelly turns those shared strategies into hands-on learning. His students analyze phishing emails, design defense strategies and complete local internships that connect classroom skills to careers.
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The lessons from Alabama echo in other regions. In Kansas City, full-stack instructor Shineta Horton applies similar principles through her own professional learning. “If we want students to use technology ethically and creatively, teachers have to feel confident exploring it first,” she said. “They see me learning as we navigate SkillsBuild together, and that changes everything.”
Both Kelly and Horton agree: career readiness extends beyond technical know-how. “The tools will continue to change,” Kelly said, “but adaptability, communication and persistence are what carry students forward.”
“Everyone should have access to this kind of learning,” added Walker. “It opens so many doors.”
Lessons for Educators
The EARCA model offers insights for schools expanding career readiness opportunities:
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Start small and learn together. Teachers don’t need to be experts; learning alongside students builds trust and confidence.
Connect with the community. Partnering with local businesses gives students exposure to how AI and cybersecurity operate in different settings.
Leverage free resources. Platforms like SkillsBuild provide accessible pathways for both professional development and student engagement.
Looking Ahead
For Kelly, the growth of the cybersecurity program represents a shift in mindset as much as curriculum. “We’re showing students that technology careers aren’t somewhere else,” he said. “They can build them right here in Alabama.”
For Walker, what once felt intimidating now feels essential. “Cybersecurity gives me a way to make a difference,” he said. “It’s not just about technology, it’s about protecting people.”
The story of East Alabama offers a blueprint for others: a regional alliance of schools and employers creating student-centered career pathways and a resilient local economy through education and collaboration.
As Super Bowl Sunday comes to a close, America’s National Football League “is challenging innovators to improve the facemask on football helmets to reduce concussions in the game,” reports the Associated Press:
The league announced on Friday at an innovation summit for the Super Bowl the next round in the HealthTECH Challenge series, a crowdsourced competition designed to accelerate the development of cutting-edge football helmets and new standards for player safety. The challenge invites inventors, engineers, startups, academic teams and established companies to improve the impact protection and design of football helmets through improvements to how facemasks absorb and reduce the effects of contact on the field…
Most progress on helmet safety has come from improvements to the shell and padding, helping to reduce the overall rate of concussions. Working with the helmet industry, the league has brought in position-specific helmets, with those for quarterbacks, for example, having more padding in the back after data showed most concussions for QBs came when the back of the head slammed to the turf. But the facemask has mostly remained the same. This past season, 44% of in-game concussions resulted from impact to the player’s facemask, up from 29% in 2015, according to data gathered by the NFL. “What we haven’t seen over that period of time are any changes of any note to the facemask,” [said Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing player health and safety]… “Now we see, given the changes in our concussion numbers and injuries to players, that as changes are made to the helmet, fewer and fewer concussions are caused by hits to the shell, and more and more concussions as a percentage are by hits to the facemask…”
Selected winners will receive up to $100,000 in aggregate funding, as well as expert development support to help move their concepts from the lab to the playing field. Winners will be announced in August, according to the article, “and Miller said he expected helmet manufacturers to start implementing any improvements into helmets soon after that.”
If you’ve ever wanted “real” surround sound but hated the idea of speaker stands, visible wires, or a living room that looks like a gear showroom, an in-wall system is the clean solution. The Sonance MAG5.1 PREMIUM in-wall surround package is $1,499.00, saving $3,000 off the $4,499.00 compared value as a Presidents’ Day deal. That’s a massive discount for a setup that can deliver the kind of immersive movie and sports sound people usually associate with much more complicated systems.
What you’re getting
This is a 5.1-channel in-wall speaker system built around 6.5-inch in-wall speakers plus a wireless subwoofer. The practical win is simple: you get a full surround layout while keeping the speakers integrated into the room. The speakers are also paintable, which helps them blend in once installed.
A wireless subwoofer is a nice touch here because it gives you more flexibility in placement. You can position it where bass performs best, instead of being forced into the one spot a wire can reach.
Why it’s worth it
This deal stands out because it’s a full-package approach. Instead of piecing together speakers one by one, you’re jumping straight to a complete surround setup designed to work together. That matters for home theater, where matching performance across channels helps dialogue, effects, and music feel consistent.
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If you host movie nights, watch a lot of sports, or game in a main living space, surround sound is one of the most noticeable upgrades you can make. Crowd noise and stadium ambience feel bigger. Dialogue becomes easier to follow at lower volumes. Explosions and bass-heavy moments get the weight they’re supposed to have, without just turning everything up.
The bottom line
At $1,499, this Sonance MAG5.1 PREMIUM system is a strong value for anyone who wants a clean-looking surround setup with real immersion and a wireless sub to bring the low end. If you rent, move frequently, or do not want to cut into walls, it’s probably not the right fit. But if you’re ready to commit to a home theater experience without cluttering the room, this Presidents’ Day pricing is a rare opportunity.
The move would represent a notable change of course for Apple. Until now, Siri has been the only voice assistant allowed to operate within CarPlay’s interface. Opening the system to external AI models would let drivers access chatbots for everything from restaurant suggestions to quick research, all through a spoken… Read Entire Article Source link
It might be near impossible to be a kid these days without a smartphone, but AT&T wants to offer parents a decent compromise. The wireless carrier launched its AmiGO Jr. Phone, which combines Samsung hardware and AT&T’s app, to offer kids a smartphone that has parental controls baked right in.
The AmiGO Jr. Phone is just a Samsung Galaxy A16, which still remains a solid budget smartphone pick with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 6.7-inch display and reliable battery life. However, AT&T tweaked the Samsung hardware into its kid-friendly smartphone by including features like live location tracking, safe zones and screentime restrictions that can be controlled via the AmiGO app. It’s not the first time we’ve seen a smartphone with parental controls, since competitors like Bark and Pinwheel have been on the market for a couple of years now, but it’s the first time a major mobile carrier is offering its own standalone product.
As for the AmiGO Jr. Phone, it’s now available on AT&T’s website for $3 a month, but you’ll have to commit to a 36-month contract that provides bill credits. You still have to pay for your monthly service charges as an AT&T customer, but it’ll be cheaper than buying a Galaxy A16 outright for $200. For even more security, AT&T also launched its AmiGO Jr. Watch 2 to expand its ecosystem that already includes a tablet designed for kids.
Super Bowl Sunday has arrived. Today, the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off for Super Bowl 60. The Big Game is being played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, and kicks off at 6:30PM ET. Pre-game coverage for the 2026 NFL Championship Game starts at 12PM ET. Like all Sunday Night Football games during the regular season, Super Bowl 60 will be broadcast on NBC, and will stream live on Peacock. Here’s everything you need to know to tune in to Super Bowl LX today, including the game channel, where to stream, and all about the Halftime Show.
How to watch Super Bowl LX
Date: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026
Time: 6:30PM ET
TV channel: NBC, Telemundo
Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, NFL+ and more
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2026 Super Bowl game time
The 2026 Super Bowl is set to begin at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT on Feb. 8, 2026.
2026 Super Bowl game channel
The 2026 Super Bowl will air on NBC, with a Spanish-language broadcast available on Telemundo.
2026 Super Bowl teams:
The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will play in the 2026 Super Bowl.
Where is the 2026 Super Bowl being played?
The 2026 Super Bowl will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, home of the San Francisco 49ers.
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What teams are playing in the 2026 Super Bowl?
The teams for the 2026 Super Bowl will be determined after the AFC and NFC Championship games are played on Sunday, Jan. 25. You can keep tabs on the post-season playoff bracket here.
How to watch the 2026 Super Bowl without cable
You can stream NBC and Telemundo on platforms like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV, both of which are among Engadget’s choices for best streaming services for live TV. (Note that Fubo and NBC are currently in the midst of a contract dispute and NBC channels are not available on the platform.) The game will also be streaming on Peacock and on NFL+, though with an NFL+ subscription, you’re limited to watching the game on mobile devices.
In addition to hosting NBC’s Super Bowl broadcast, DirecTV’s Entertainment tier gets you access to loads of channels where you can tune in to college and pro sports throughout the year, including ESPN, TNT, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and, depending on where you live, local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.
Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN Unlimited.
DirecTV’s Entertainment tier package is $49.99 for your first month. But you can currently try all this out for free for 5 days. If you’re interested in trying out a live-TV streaming service for football, but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.
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For $11/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including the 2026 Super Bowl, Winter Olympics coverage, and more. Plus, you’ll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreationand The Office, every Bravo show and much more.
For $17 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
Who is performing at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show?
Bad Bunny, who holds the title as the most-streamed artist in the world, will be headlining the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance. You can expect that show to begin after the second quarter, likely between 8-8:30PM ET. Singer Charlie Puth will also be at the game to perform the National Anthem, Brandi Carlile is scheduled to sing “America The Beautiful,” and Coco Jones will perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
On Sunday evening, during Bad Bunny’s electrifying halftime performance at Super Bowl LX, a crowd of what appeared to be fewer than 200 people in an undisclosed location were treated to an alternative concert, “The All-American Halftime Show,” presented by the right-wing student organization Turning Point USA.
Conceived as culture-war counterprogramming for a show by a Puerto Rican mega-star who raps and sings in Spanish, and has been a vocal critic of ICE, the event featured four MAGA-aligned country stars and was headlined by Kid Rock, who made his entrance in jorts and trademark fedora. But for all the ideological outrage behind this challenge to globally popular Latin music, TPUSA’s star-spangled jamboree wasn’t particularly message-driven nor even provocative.
It streamed on platforms including Rumble, DailyWire+, and multiple YouTube channels. Blake Neff, producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, claimed there were over 5 million live viewers on the Turning Point USA YouTube stream; as of publication time, it has been viewed over 16 million times. Shortly before going live, TPUSA announced that it would not be able to air the special on X due to “licensing issues.”
Super Bowl LX, meanwhile, was expected to draw as many as 130 million viewers.
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Though largely framed as a memorial to Charlie Kirk, the TPUSA founder killed in September during a campus talk, “The All-American Halftime Show” included no appearance by his widow, Erika Kirk, who has been on an extended media tour since her husband’s death. President Trump did not comment directly on the concert, choosing instead to rant about Bad Bunny’s performance.
“The Super Bowl Halftime Show is absolutely terrible, one of the worst, EVER!” Trump wrote on his digital platform, Truth Social. “It makes no sense, is an affront to the Greatness of America, and doesn’t represent our standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence. Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World.” These comments came amid renewed scrutiny of Trump’s relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Democratic party’s official X account screenshotted Trump’s post about Bad Bunny, observing: “Guess he wasn’t watching Kid Rock then.”
The livestream of the TPUSA event was preceded by a message from defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who said that the so-called Department of War was “proud to support” it. Viewers were also directed to a phone number they could call to “start or join a Turning Point USA chapter.” Comments on the stream were filled with remarks such as “Protect kids,” “No NFL on screen,” “GOD BLESS AMERICA,” and “JESUS.”
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Country singer Brantley Gilbert kicked off the concert, heavy on pyrotechnic visual effects throughout, rapping into a microphone with brass knuckles on it and performing the hit “Dirt Road Anthem,” which he cowrote but was originally made famous by Jason Aldean in 2010. It features the line “Better watch out for the boys in blue,” a reference to trouble with police. The crowd, some wearing MAGA hats, then swayed to a couple of tunes by Gabby Barrett, who won the 2021 Female Artist of the Year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Next came Lee Brice, who shouted out Kirk directly. “Charlie, he gave people microphones so they could say what was on their minds,” he declared before launching into a premiere performance of a new song called “Country Nowadays.” The lyrics included an allusion to gender politics. “I turn the TV on and sit and watch the evening news / Be told if I tell my own daughter that little boys ain’t little girls / I’d be up the creek in hot water,” he sang. The chorus noted: “It ain’t easy being country in this country nowadays.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place in Italy this year, with all the action taking place in Milan and the Alpine city of Cortina. This year marks the fourth time Italy has hosted the Winter Games; most recently, Turin hosted in 2006. Of the 16 sports that will be featured at the Winter Olympics, there will be 15 returning favorites, including figure skating, Alpine skiing, curling, ice hockey, speedskating, snowboarding, freestyle skiing and ski jumping, and one entirely new sport, snow mountaineering. (Will it be as big a hit as the 2024 Summer Games’ new addition, breaking? It remains to be seen.)
Live coverage of every event at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will be available to stream on Peacock — though thanks to the time difference between Italy and the U.S., to watch many of the events live, you’ll have to wake up (or stay up) until 2AM or 3AM ET. Primetime replays and select live coverage will air on NBC. The games officially kick off with the opening ceremony on Feb. 6, 2026.
Here’s what else you need to know about watching the 2026 Winter Olympics.
How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics
Dates: Feb. 6 – Feb. 22
TV channel: NBC
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Streaming: Peacock
When are the 2026 Winter Olympics?
The Winter Olympics officially begin with the opening ceremony on Feb. 6, although some events will start as early as Feb. 4). The Milano Cortina 2026 games will run through Feb. 22. The closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in the Arena di Verona on Feb. 22.
Where are the Winter Olympics this year?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Northern Italy, primarily in Milan and also the Alpine mountain resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, where events like bobsled, skeleton, alpine skiing, curling, para snowboard, and more will take place.
What channel are the Olympics on?
The 2026 Winter Olympics will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock.
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How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics without cable
For $11/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including the 2026 Winter Olympics, Super Bowl LX and more. Plus, you’ll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreationand The Office, every Bravo show and much more.
For $17 monthly you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
When is the Winter Olympics opening ceremony?
The Milano Cortina 2026 opening ceremony will be held on Feb. 6, 2026. Due to the time difference, the ceremony will kick off around 2PM ET/11AM PT.
Winter Olympics time difference
This year’s Olympic Games are in Italy, which is 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time. Meaning that some events will start bright and early for U.S. viewers, and live coverage will likely wrap up around 4PM ET each day. NBC will have primetime replays of the biggest moments each night.
Hockey (bronze medal games) – 1PM (Peacock – Live)
Friday, Feb. 20
Biathlon mass start – 6AM (Peacock – Live)
Speedskating final medals – 8AM (Peacock – Live)
Figure skating gala – 1PM (Peacock – Live)
Saturday, Feb. 21
Men’s hockey gold medal game – 12PM (Peacock – Live)
Women’s hockey gold medal game – 3PM (Peacock – Live)
Men’s hockey gold medal game – 8PM (NBC – Primetime)
Sunday, Feb. 22 – closing ceremony
Cross-country skiing final event – 6AM (Peacock – Live)
closing ceremony – 2PM (Peacock – Live)
closing ceremony – 8PM (NBC – Primetime)
More ways to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on NBC
While Peacock is the best way to watch the Winter Olympics, there are other options if you restrict yourself to the NBC broadcasts. As our guide to the best live TV streaming services to cut cable notes, both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are excellent options, but you’ll want to skip Fubo until and unless the service resolves its contract dispute with Comcast, as NBC channels remain unavailable for now.
Looking to watch Bad Bunny free live streams – aka the Super Bowl 2026Apple Music Halftime Show? The Patriots may be 0-9 down, but you won’t want to miss a replay of Bad Bunny’s halftime concert with special guests!
Good news: We found out you can watch Bad Bunny FREE live streams and replays online, and from anywhere with a VPN – including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Spain, Mexico and Brazil.
If the Bad Bunny live stream isn’t free where you are, you can unblock your local free stream with a VPN… but not any VPN. You’ll need a fast, stable VPN that unblocks like a pro.
How to watch Bad Bunny free in US (official stream)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Want to catch Bad Bunny Super Bowl live stream with Peacock Premium ($10.99/month) — you’ll get live Apple Music halftime show, plus full Bad Bunny replays and highlights after the game.
💡 Want to watch Bad Bunny FREE in the US? You can get Walmart+ 30-day trial = FREE Peacock. Perfect for catching every Bad Bunny song – plus the trophy lifting.
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🌎 Outside the US or in Canada? Use NordVPN to access the free trial and stream like you’re stateside.
When time does Bad Bunny 2026 start?
The 2026 Bad Bunny show is expected to start at around 8pm ET / 5pm PT / 1am GMT on Sunday, February 8. That’s 12 noon AEDT on Monday, February 9 if you’re a Bad Bunny fan in Australia.
Can I watch Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime 2026 free on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming apps that you can access through mobile phones or via your tablet browser. For example, Channel 5 in the UK.
You can also stay up-to-date with the latest Super Bowl Halftime Show news via the NFL’s official X/Twitter (@NFL), Bad Bunny’s official Instagram (@BadBunnyPR) and Apple Music 2026 Halftime Show.
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Who are Bad Bunny’s special guests?
Rumored special guests joining Mr. Bunny include Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Cardi B, Marc Anthony. We’re also told that Bad Bunny could invite reggaeton OGs Tego Calderon or Hector el Father on stage at Super Bowl 2026. And there are even whispers about Ricky Martin.
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Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
The often-rumored budget MacBook is still expected to arrive at some point in the first half of 2026, as Apple prepares to compete directly with Chromebooks.
The MacBook should be cheaper than the MacBook Air at launch
Rumors have repeatedly insisted that Apple will bring out a MacBook with an iPhone chip running the show instead of an M-series chip. As more forecasts come in, it seems the rumor mill is more insistent than ever that it will launch this year. The latest volley, coming from Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter for Bloomberg on Sunday, the MacBook will be the centerpiece Mac launch for early 2026. Gurman doesn’t offer much new about the model, recapping previous claims about it, but he also doesn’t narrow down the timing to beyond the first six months of the year. Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
