Across
- 2. this city's superintendent did not seek a new contract and is leaving in August
- 4. this Mexican drug cartel leader's wife was sentenced to 3 years in prison
- 6. last name of the first Black Secretary of State who recently passed due to COVID complications
- 8. state that ranked last for their highways
- 9. hurricanes spin this direction in the Southern Hemisphere
- 10. light is a central theme of this most celebrated Indian holiday
- 12. COVID variant (less deadly than Delta)
- 13. this is the common name for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (no space)
- 16. how countries that commit human rights violations attempt to gain credibility/positive news about their nation
- 20. the college ranked #1 by US News
- 23. name of Michigan high school where there was a school shooting in early December
- 24. last name of travel influencer who went missing at end of August
- 25. Secretary of State that testified about Afghanistan withdrawal
- 26. Gov Gavin Newsom was recalled in this state
Down
- 1. holiday originating from ancient Celtic Samhain festival
- 3. a rare first printing of this official document sold for $43 million at auction
- 5. defendants in the Arbery trial sought these and were denied
- 7. long dividing line about abortion rights, faced SCOTUS test at beginning of December
- 11. questioning process given to prospective jurors
- 14. this city elected their first woman and AAPI mayor (Michelle Wu)
- 15. there are this many branches of the military
- 17. a loosely organized and sustained campaign in support of a social goal
- 18. basic physical & organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of society/enterprise
- 19. this disease is responsible for 62% of all police deaths last year
- 21. Matthew McConaughy is not running for governor of this state
- 22. country of origin of world's oldest twins