Exclusive: An unprecedented FBI war crimes investigation
OCTOBER 12, 2021 THE BIG STORY
How a virtual classroom company made millions on software that left many students feeling abandoned  Erik Carter for BuzzFeed News COVID-19 turned the American education system upside down, isolating students and sending school officials scrambling for solutions. But for many education tech companies like Edgenuity, it was an unexpected rush of profit.
A software company that offers virtual coursework and on-demand tutoring for students, Edgenuity added over 500 US public school districts to its client list and inked contracts totaling at least $145 million in the first year of the pandemic. "School districts looked to us to help them, and we answered," the company said in a statement.
But now, students, parents, teachers, and former Edgenuity employees across the country are shedding light on the critical gaps between what Edgenuity claims to offer and the realities of its virtual education system. One teacher called Edgenuity "an easy cop out plan to get teachers to shut up about being overworked." Former employees have raised concerns about the company's domineering sales culture. And more than anyone else, students pay the price for Edgenuity's shortcomings.
A BuzzFeed News investigation found that many students enrolled in Edgenuity have been left without access to tutors or teachers. Others argue that school districts are using the program to boost graduation rates, while leaving education quality to flounder.
"They set these kids up to fail," said one parent. STAYING ON TOP OF THIS
The Department of Justice is investigating Americans for war crimes allegedly committed while fighting with far-right extremists in Ukraine  Craig Lang in Kyiv on Feb. 18, 2021 Oksana Parafeniuk for BuzzFeed News It's extremely rare for the US government to investigate its own citizens for alleged war crimes committed on foreign soil. No one has ever been prosecuted, let alone convicted, under the US War Crimes Act, experts report. But now, BuzzFeed News has confirmed that something new and extraordinary is happening within the US government:
The Department of Justice and the FBI have taken the unprecedented step of investigating a group of seven American fighters under the federal war crimes statute.
The probe is centered on former Army soldier Craig Lang, who is separately wanted in connection with a double killing in Florida and is fighting extradition from Kyiv.
SNAPSHOTS
What it actually means to cut $1 trillion from the Democrats' big social spending bill. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are pushing their party to drastically shrink the size of their Build Back Better Act. It's not clear what the final number will be but guesses range from $1.5 trillion — Manchin's proposal — to President Joe Biden's counteroffer of somewhere over $2 trillion.
Southwest Airlines and the pilots union say vaccine mandates had nothing to do with the massive flight cancellations. Conservative figures and politicians opposing vaccine and mask mandates have blamed more than 2,000 recent flight cancellations on vaccine mandates, but both the airline and pilots union have said flight disruptions had nothing to do with it.
SB 8 EXPLAINED IN 8 SENTENCES
Texas's six-week abortion ban is back on after an appeals court paused a judge's injunction A timeline of everything that's been going on in the legal battle over SB 8, Texas's law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy:
Oct. 6: Federal judge Robert Pitman temporarily blocked SB 8. "From the moment S.B. 8 went into effect, women have been unlawfully prevented from exercising control over their lives in ways that are protected by the Constitution," he wrote in a 113-page ruling.
Oct. 8: A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit paused Pitman's ruling, barring any abortions after six weeks in Texas. This isn't a permanent pause; the 5th Circuit will now decide whether to grant Texas's request to uphold the ban while the state appeals its loss in the district court.
Oct. 12: The circuit ordered the Justice Department, which brought the constitutional challenge against Texas, to respond by Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT. The Justice Department could ask the full appeals court to reconsider the three-judge panel's decision, and could eventually petition the US Supreme Court to step in.
BEAST MODE
The unusual lives of people running animal rescues The US has thousands of animal shelters, and most work with companion animals such as cats and dogs. But there are also lesser-known organizations that aid different kinds of animals, like skunks and hawks, and these smaller rescues are often run independently by individuals or families.
In her new book Peaceable Kingdom, photographer Sage Sohier chronicles the lives of these rescuers — and the humor and compassion that animals can bring into their lives. Keep scrolling for a glimpse of some endearingly goofy critters, and follow our photo newsletter, JPG, for more unusual insights into photographers' work. 
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