Round-up of what happened this month from December & January
Published: January 26, 2026
These updates from TimReckner.com cover a variety of local, national, and international news events spanning from late 2023 into early 2026. A significant portion of the text focuses on the Souderton Area School District, detailing a traditional snow day cancellation due to Winter Storm Fern and outlining standard delayed start schedules. Technology news is also featured, specifically regarding a Verizon service outage and the manual process required for customers to claim a $20 account credit. On the global stage, the sources report on political developments such as US military actions in Venezuela, the swearing-in of a new New York City mayor, and legal testimonies involving Donald Trump. Finally, the text touches on media controversies and political shifts in France, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Published: January 25, 2026
The school is closed on Monday, January 26th.
Souderton Area School District Announces Traditional Snow Day for Monday, Jan. 26 SOUDERTON, PA – In response to persistent inclement weather conditions and safety concerns, the Souderton Area School District (SASD) has announced that all schools and district offices will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026. District officials confirmed that Monday will be observed as a “Traditional Snow Day.” Unlike flexible instructional days used in recent years, this designation means that all in-person and virtual classes are canceled. Students will not be expected to log on for remote learning or complete assignments during the closure. Key Closure Details: * Status: Traditional Snow Day (No School) * Date: Monday, January 26, 2026 * Scope: All SASD schools and administrative offices are closed.
* Instruction: No in-person or virtual classes will be held. The district cited the expectation of continuing
hazardous road conditions as the primary reason for the full closure, prioritizing the safety of students and staff
who travel across the Montgomery and Bucks County regions.
The closure follows a busy weekend for the district, as Sunday, January 25th,
marked the deadline for high school students to submit their course requests for the 2026-2027
academic year. Other upcoming district events,
including the SAHS Winter Ball and the Second Semester Back to School Night, remain on the schedule for later this week, pending further weather updates. Parents and students are encouraged to monitor the Official School Closings & Delays Web Page for updates regarding Tuesday’s schedule.
Additional information regarding extracurricular
Activities and athletic events will likely be communicated through individual school social media channels and mass notification systems.
Published: January 22, 2026
**🚨 BREAKING: MAJOR WINTER STORM ALERT FOR THE EAST COAST 🚨
** Prepare for impact. Winter Storm Fern is poised to hit the East Coast this weekend. ❄️ 📍
**LOCATION:** From the Mid-Atlantic (DC, Baltimore, Philly) to New England (NYC, Boston). ⏰
**TIMELINE:**
Snow begins late Saturday night,
intensifying through Sunday into Monday morning. ❄️ **EXPECTED IMPACT:**
Some regions may receive over 12 inches of snow,
with significant ice and dangerous wind chills.
Expect severe travel disruptions and potential power outages. Stay alert and check local weather updates! 🧤🌨️
By Timothy Reckner
Published: January 16, 2026
Verizon Issues $20 Account Credit Following Major Service Disruption: How to Claim Your Compensation
Verizon has officially announced a $20 account credit for customers impacted by the massive nationwide service disruption on Wednesday, January 14. The outage, which left millions of users in "SOS mode" for nearly 10 hours, was attributed to a significant software issue within the carrier's core network.
In a formal apology, Verizon acknowledged it "did not meet the standard of excellence" expected by its subscribers. While the company stated that the $20 amount typically covers "multiple days of service" on average, they emphasized that the credit is meant to acknowledge customers' time rather than serve as full compensation for the loss of connectivity.
How to Redeem the $20 Credit
Unlike standard billing adjustments, this credit must be manually claimed by the account holder. Here is the step-by-step process for affected users:
Check for a Notification: Verizon is currently sending text messages to eligible users. You may also see a red notification badge within the myVerizon app.
Open the myVerizon App: Navigate to the "Account Overview" or "Me" tab.
Click "Take Action": Look for a button or banner labeled "Mobile Actions" or "Take Action" near the top of the screen.
Redeem the Offer: Follow the prompts to "Accept" or "Redeem" the $20 credit.
Billing Cycle: Once accepted, the credit should appear as an adjustment on your statement within one to two billing cycles.
Note for Business Accounts: Small and large business customers will be contacted directly by Verizon regarding their specific compensation packages and do not need to use the consumer app.
Ongoing Connectivity Issues
While the network is fully restored, some devices may still struggle to reconnect. Verizon engineers recommend a full device restart—powering the phone completely off for 30 seconds before turning it back on—to force a fresh handshake with the local network towers.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has confirmed it is investigating the incident to determine the root cause and ensure future network reliability.
Posted on Dec 14 at 7:42 PM EST
US President Trump to Speak at Press Conference
President Donald Trump will hold a news conference today to address the US military operation in Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This has been a major development in foreign policy and is drawing global attention.
• New Mayor Sworn In for New York City
Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as New York City’s mayor, becoming the first Muslim and the youngest person in generations to hold the city’s top office.
• France Faces Political Scrutiny Over Public Broadcasting
A parliamentary inquiry has launched into France’s public broadcaster over claims of bias ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Critics say this reflects rising political tensions around media neutrality.
• Former Special Counsel Testifies on Trump Cases
Jack Smith testified privately before Congress, defending his decision to bring charges against former President Trump related to the 2020 election and classified documents.
• Australian MP Charged, Urged to Resign
Independent South Australian MP Nick McBride was charged with assault, leading to calls from other politicians for him to step down from parliament.
• UK Media and Politics Debate
Broadcaster Gary Lineker criticized the BBC for what he says is excessive political interference, while the network faces leadership turnover.
Posted on Dec 14 at 7:42 PM EST
Two-Hour Delay Schedule
Souderton Area High School will follow the standard two-hour delay schedule for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. A separate Block 2.5 schedule is used if a delay occurs on a Monday.
Class Blocks
1st Block: 9:40 AM – 10:38 AM
2nd Block: 10:44 AM – 11:42 AM
3rd Block: 11:48 AM – 1:30 PM
A Lunch: 11:48 AM – 12:18 PM
B Lunch: 12:24 PM – 12:54 PM
C Lunch: 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
4th Block: 1:36 PM – 2:45 PM
Additional Notes
10th Grade NMTCC students should report to the cafeteria or another designated area.
11th and 12th Grade NMTCC students are dismissed to lunch at 11:15 AM.
If school is closed due to weather or another emergency, the A/B Day rotation will resume exactly where it left off once students return.
Example: If school is closed on Monday (A Day), classes will resume Tuesday as A Day.
