23 April 2021
Remembering Prince Philip
By Katy Coakley
The Monarchy and the Royal Family is honoring the Duke of Edinburgh. On April 9th, 2021, Prince Philip died peacefully at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom at the age of 99, who was shy two months of his 100 birthday. He was hospitalized back in February 2021. Many people in the United Kingdom and around the world, including the Commonwealth countries, have paid their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the other members of the Royal Family. In honor of the Duke of Edinburgh, we will be looking back on the history of his legacy and biography.
He was born in Mon Repos, Corfu, Kingdom of Greece, as the son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. His family left Greece when he was eighteen months old and was educated in France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. He then joined the Royal Navy. In 1946, Philip asked King George VI for then Princess Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. The King granted permission and the two married in November 1947. Philip was also known for being by Elizabeth’s side during the passing of her father and becoming the Queen of England with over 20 million people watching.
In 1956, Philip announced and launched his new work involving the Duke of Edinburgh award. This is an award that focuses on helping young people go into adult life with essential skills, confidence, and resilience. In 1969, he released his and the Royal Family's documentary to show the lives of the Queen and other lives of the Royal Family. Philip had worked with numerous charities including Book Aid International, a book donation organization to help education, and Plan International UK, a organization that helps poor communities and provides access to education, health care, and clean water.
In April 2009, Philip became the longest-serving British royal consort and received the title Lord High Admiral in honor of his 90th birthday. On August 2nd, 2017, Philip retired from his royal commitments and received praise from the British Prime Minister and the Queen. Philip’s funeral was held on April 17th, 2021 at St. George’s Chapel and was limited to guests of 30 people. Elizabeth and Philip were married for 73 years and the British Union flag was half flown in his honor. He will be missed.
31 March 2021
On This Day In History: March 31st
By Katy Coakley
On March 31st, 1889, history was made in Paris, France. That’s right, the famous Eiffel Tower was finally built during the 1889 Exposition Universelle and digging started on January 26th, 1887. The ceremony was honored over Gustave Eiffel, who is the tower’s designer. The attendance of the ceremony was literally packed with the French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard and about 200 construction workers. According to numerous websites, the wager was to "study the possibility of erecting an iron tower on the Champ-de-Mars with a square base, 125 metres across and 300 metres tall".
The Eiffel Tower was being designed because it was to honor the French Revolution, and the government of France wanted to have an international exposition. However, they turned to Gustave Eiffel for the idea, who was also known for helping with the framework of the Statue of Liberty. However, Eiffel did not design the tower and asked two men from his company named Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier. They both agreed to the idea and got French architect, Stephen Sauvestre, to help them and the men were all entered in a contest for the popular attraction of the World’s Fair.
Some other interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower would be the historical tower is covered with different names of scientists. Over the 19th century, French scientists and engineers were honored so that the history of France will never be forgotten. 72 scientists are engraved and some of the names include Michel Foucault, Jean-Baptiste Dumas, and Pierre Perrier. Another fact is that there is a military bunker underneath the tower that is connected to a nearby Ecole Militaire “via a long tunnel.”
23 March 2021
6 Women Who Made History
By Katy Coakley
Over many years, women have not been represented enough, especially when it comes to history. Women are constantly being discriminated against because of their gender, but that doesn’t stop them from trying their best. Because March is Women's History Month, we will be looking at amazing women who were able to stand up for themselves and fight for what they believed is right. Here are the women that every girl should look up to.
Amelia Earhart: Known for achieving many flying records, Amelia Earhart became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Born in Kansas in 1897, Earhart managed to break traditional stereotypes at a very young age. She managed to play basketball and took an auto repair course. In 1929, she managed to form The Ninety-Nines, an organization that provides opportunities for female pilots. Earhart was also the first woman to be awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross, a military award for heroism.
Junko Tabei: Breaking stereotypes during the 1970s was extremely difficult for women, but Junko Tabei managed to achieve huge accomplishments in her life. In 1975, she became the first woman to climb Mount Everest successfully. She was able to make it back and was honored with a parade in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Another achievement was when she became the first woman ever to reach the Seven Peaks, which is one of the highest points on Earth, in 1992.
Kathryn Bigelow: While there are not many female director representatives in the film industry, Kathryn Bigelow was able to make history at the Oscars in 2010. Bigelow became the first woman to win Best Director for her movie The Hurt Locker. Additionally, she became the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America. Bigelow managed to direct many other films as a female director on difficult subjects in movies such as Zero Dark Thirty and Detroit.
Marie Curie: Maria Salomea Skłodowska, mostly known as Marie Curie, was mostly famous for being a female physicist and chemist conducting experiments for the discovery of radium and polonium. However, in 1903, she became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. During World War I, she managed to bring “scientific advancement” to the front lines and developed mobile radiography units for cars with X-Ray equipment and generators.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: RBG was first appointed as the second female justice in the U.S Supreme Court, but she had a strong role in gender equality. While attending college, she found it difficult to balance life as a mother and law student while facing sexism and hostility. She was one of the 8 female students out of 500 males in her class. After graduating from Columbia University and Harvard University, she served as the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. While she was there, Ginsberg argued six landmark cases on gender equality and continued her position on the Supreme Court until her death in 2020.
Margaret Thatcher: Known for being called “The Iron Lady”, a nickname for her political and leadership style, Margaret Thatcher made history in 1979. This is when she became the first female Prime Minister in England. Before she entered politics, she worked as a food scientist trying to develop soft-serve ice cream and then graduated from Oxford University in 1947. She earned a degree in chemistry. Thatcher also lost her first two parliamentary elections, but won a seat in the House of Commons for the election of 1950.
11 March 2021
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Bombshell Interview
By Katy Coakley
The long anticipated interview from Harry and Meghan has arrived. On March 7th, 2021, CBS released their interview with Oprah Winfrey to discuss many different topics as well as secrets and truths about themselves and the royal family. The interview lasted for about two hours and gave us an inside look at Harry and Meghan’s new life in Los Angeles, California, after they stepped back as senior royals in 2020.
The interview first began with Oprah talking to Meghan about her royal wedding in 2018, which was watched by nearly 2 billion people. Meghan was first starting to claim that she knew nothing about Prince Harry or his family, but she did state that she was friends with Harry’s cousin, Princess Eugenie, before she met him. Then, Oprah brought up the infamous tabloid story about Meghan making his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, cry before her wedding. Meghan claimed that this was false and told Oprah that Kate was the one who made her cry. However, Kate apologized to her and sent flowers as a gift.
Next, Meghan discussed her first time meeting Queen Elizabeth II. One moment she stated was that she and Harry went to lunch at the Royal Lodge and the Queen was going to be finishing up a church service. Meghan didn’t know how to greet her and stated that it “was really the first moment the penny dropped.” She did state that she appreciated Harry and Fergie for helping her. She then talked about her relationship with the Queen and described it as “wonderful” and that the Queen once gifted her pearl earrings and a matching necklace.
When Harry came into the interview, there was a lot to be said. One of the first questions that Oprah asked him was what would Princess Diana think about their plans to step back from royal life. Harry told Oprah that she would be pretty angry about this, but she would want them to be happy. Both Harry and Meghan stated that they didn't have much protection from Buckingham Palace because Meghan said that the reps would go and “find the most ridiculous story for anyone.” Oprah also asked about regrets. Harry said that he didn’t have any and Meghan said that she had one by saying: "Believing them when I said I would be protected. I regret believing that, because had I really seen that wasn't happening, I would have been able to do more.”
There were many other key moments of the interview. Harry stated that he is having a difficult relationship with his father, Prince Charles, and brother, Prince William. He stated that there is a lot of work that needs to get done and that they are on different paths at the moment. There were other moments that were not broadcast on CBS, but Oprah did state many of the unseen moments in her interview from March 8th, 2021. Harry and Meghan also revealed that Meghan is going to be having a girl in the summertime and showed Oprah their backyard and farm. So far, members of the royal family refuse to comment on this interview.
24 February 2021
Lesser Known African-American Heroes
By Katy Coakley
When people think of African-American history, they immediately think of individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. However, there are Black History heroes whom many may not have heard of. Since February is Black History Month, we will be looking at some lesser-known heroes who were able to make a great difference in history.
Claudette Colvin: Before Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white passenger, Claudette Colvin did the exact same. It all happened on March 2nd, 1955, when she was arrested at the age of 15 in Montgomery, Alabama, when she refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus. She stated that it was her “constitutional right”, but was sent to prison by two police officers. She later became the witness of the lawsuit, Browder v. Gayle, which helped end segregation for transportation in Alabama.
Daisy Bates: As a civil rights activist, who was best known for her work with the Little Rock Nine, Bates founded the Arkansas State Press, an African-American daily newspaper that would help fight for equal rights. She wasecoming well known in Arkansas as she became the president of the NAACP in 1957. Daisy also advocated for the students of Little Rock Nine by helping them be enrolled in the school despite racial segregation.
Jesse Owens: Best known for being a track-and-field athlete, Jesse Owens was able to set a world record for the long jump at the 1936 Olympics Games in Berlin, Germany. Owens won four gold medals in the one hundred and two hundred meter dashes, including the one hundred meter relay. As an African-American man, he was able to stand up to Hitler’s views of white supremacy at the games, but he refused to meet Owens due to his race. Additionally, Owens was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976.
Katherine Johnson: While many people watched astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth three times, there was a woman who worked hard to get him into space. That woman would be Katherine Johnson. Johnson was able to make a huge accomplishment at NASA by helping African-American women get jobs as “human computers.” She also managed to calculate the trajectories for Neil Armstrong’s mission for Apollo 11.
Ruby Bridges: Bridges is mostly known for being the first African-American child, at the age of six, to desegregate the William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white school in Louisiana. She was born in the middle of the civil rights movement, Brown v Board of Education having ended the process of separating schools for black and white children. She still managed to attend the school despite people’s racist views. In 1999, she established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to help make changes through education and tolerance.
Mae Jemison: After being influenced by Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek, Mae Jemison had the dream of going into space. Well, her dream came true on September 12th, 1992, when she became the first African-American woman to travel into space. At NASA, she served as a mission specialist for the Space Shuttle Endeavour. She orbited around the earth for nearly eight days before landing on September 20th, 1992. Today, Jemison continues to work in areas that help Black women achieve their goals in technology, math, and engineering careers.
18 January 2021
6 Facts About Martin Luther King Jr.
By Katy Coakley
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we will be looking at some facts about the American Baptist and civil rights activist. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday that is celebrated in January every year. Usually, it takes place on the third Monday of January each year. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about this historical figure.
He was born Michael King Jr. on January 15th, 1929. He was the second of three children of Reverend Michael King Sr. and his wife, Alberta King. Due to his father’s role as a pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, he was additionally influenced by the Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther.
He attended college at the age of 15. Since Martin Luther King Jr. was considered to be a “gifted student” by his teachers, he was able to skip grades nine through twelve before he would be enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. This is where his father and grandfather attended. He graduated from college with a degree in Sociology.
He was the youngest person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He was honored for his strong work in racial equality and acts against violence. He received the award at the age of 35. Additionally, the prize gave him $54, 123, which he donated to charities and organizations such the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Congress for Racial Equality (CORE), and others.
His activism began in 1955. During the 1950s, King decided to lead protests against segregation and the discrimination of African-Americans. He also became a part of the Montgomery Boycott Movement, when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, when he strongly encouraged others to fight for equality. However, he was arrested for helping with the boycott and was fined $500.
“I Have A Dream” was not his first speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Before the historical moment happened, King happened to speak in the “shadow of the Great Emancipator during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom.” This happened on May 17, 1957. The topic of his speech was voting rights and wanting to give every American citizen a ballot to vote for. It helped give him strong roles in his position as a civil rights leader.
There are 900 streets named after him. According to Derek Alderman, head of the geography department at the University of Tennessee, there are about 900 streets in the United States that are named after Martin Luther King Jr. After he was assassinated in 1968, cities across the country have decided to honor him by renaming streets. Countries such as Italy and Israel have done this as well.
14 December 2020
Reflections on the 2020 Presidential Election
By Rose Haughey
The year 2016 held an election few could forget. After a long year of campaigning, Donald Trump was elected from the Republican Party. Trump ran for a second term in 2020 against Joe Biden, the former Vice President under Barack Obama. Trump was running again with Mike Pence as Vice President, while Biden ran with Kamala Harris, the first POC woman to ever obtain that position.
Donald Trump was a popular name far before he became the President of the United states. He is a billionaire who has held influence his entire life. He became most well known for the reality television show he hosted called The Apprentice. Through the ideas of closing the border, abolishing Obamacare, and nationalism he has gained a large, and devoted, following. No other president has made such an impact on the people who support them. People wear his merchandise everyday, fly his flags from their homes, and make it known that they will support him over all else. Part of how he developed this kind of devotion are the promises he made to people in lower classes than himself, which is almost all of America. Trump has run since 2016 with the slogan "Make America Great Again," with no clarification on when it was great before. This drew people who held great pride in this country and the ideals it was built on.
During his presidency, much controversy has ensued. He has faced assault allegations, tax fraud allegations, impeachment, and being criticized for discriminatory views. He has also had to deal with the sudden predicament of COVID-19. No one could have been completely prepared for the level of magnitude with which this virus hit the globe. But even as it became more and more clear how serious the illness really was, Trump was a large advocate for no masks and continued to hold packed rallies when we were not sure how big of a deal the virus would be. Overall in the last four years, he has caused more controversy than anything else.
Biden served as a Senator representing Delaware for thirty six years before working as the Vice President for eight years. He runs as a part of the Democratic party. He runs on ideas of unity of every group that makes up the country. Of boosting each and every citizen, instead of only boosting the top percent. And combating the division that has been put in place between minorities and majorities. He is calling for the safety of the people through asking for social distancing, masks, and believing and acting against climate change. He believes in preservation of lives over the economy. And he believes in science. He also stands strongly for universal and affordable healthcare provided for all. Biden doesn't shy away from the darker history of the United States. He wants to not only focus on the good parts, but obliterate the bad parts. Such as finally combating the racism that has run rampant since 1776. And the bigotry people face from gender, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. These beliefs have awarded Biden a strong following within the younger generations. And it was shown during this election.
Voting was made hectic this year due to the virus and many citizens not being able to go to in-person voting centers. Millions of Americans sent their votes through the mail instead. For a while this seemed like it would be a problem, with votes getting lost in the mail, or taking longer to be processed. But on November 7th, 2020, barely a week after election night, it was made official that Joe Biden would be the next President of the United States. Biden won with 306 electoral votes. That's 74 more votes than Trump received, making Trump the first since George H. W. Bush to not serve two consecutive terms. Though no one knows just yet how the next four years will play out, we can hope for a more concise attack on the coronavirus and the return to life as it once was, as well as the positive progression of America.
23 November 2020
Political Updates 2020
By Katy Coakley
While the 2020 election might be over, there are still some major updates on politicians, the president, and the vice president. Since it was announced that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris would be serving as the President and Vice President of the United States, major events have occurred. Let’s take a look at some updates.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders showed his support for Biden and Harris. During a recent interview with CNN, Sanders talked about how Biden’s challenges will unite America by talking about certain issues such as climate change and health care. He also stated: “If you look at this country issue by issue, and what the American people want, they want an agenda that stands up for them, for working families.” There have been rumors that Bernie Sanders might become a part of the Biden administration. It was reported that two people familiar with the Sanders and Biden campaign stated that Sanders is willing to become the Labor secretary.
On Friday, November 20th, it was announced that Biden and Harris would meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The four met in Wilmington, Delaware: “Their meeting came as Congress finishes up its lame-duck session and Democrats and the White House have been unable to find a compromise on another COVID-19 relief package.” They met with Democratic leaders with Congress and focused on the Biden administration’s legislative proposals. Harris also took part in a briefing for the Senate Intelligence Committee. Biden and his team are becoming infuriated “that they are being blocked from accessing the most sensitive information generated by the US intelligence community as Trump refuses to concede he lost the election.”
President Donald Trump and his campaign were planning on suing three states, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia, for incorrectly counting the ballots for the Electoral College. However, the three states ended up going to Biden. On November 20th, 2020, Vice President Mike Pence made a comeback to the campaigning trail in Georgia. Before arriving in Georgia, reporters shouted at Pence for not taking any questions regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. tested positive for the virus. The news was reported by CNN, but a spokesperson revealed that he tested positive at the beginning of the week.
25 October 2020
The Final Presidential Debate
By Katy Coakley
It’s time to take the final bows before the 2020 election. The final presidential debate was held on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2020, at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. This debate was held back for a while after it was announced that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on October 1st, 2020. However, Trump recovered from the virus and was able to debate former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden for the last time. The debate was originally scheduled for October 15th, but Trump refused to participate and it was eventually canceled. Although the candidates’ microphones were muted, there were still numerous interruptions and disagreements from Trump and Biden. The moderator for the night was television journalist and White House correspondent Kristen Welker.
The main topic that needed to be addressed was the continuing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Trump began when he compared the pandemic to H1N1. He stated: "Frankly, [Biden] ran the H1N1, swine flu, and it was a total disaster, far less lethal, but it was a total disaster. Had that had this kind of numbers, 700,000 people would be dead right now." However, many websites and voters were able to note that Trump was correct about the H1N1 being less “lethal” than COVID-19, but many disagreed when he described the Obama Administration a “failure.” Trump also mentioned his own recovery from the virus and added: “This has been a worldwide problem, but I’ve been congratulated by many countries on what we’ve been able to do.” Biden was able to slam the President by claiming that he has no plan and that he knew about the virus for a while. Biden said: “He always says people are learning to live with it. People are learning to die with it.” He also mentioned that Trump would ignore scientists and that his approach created difficulties for the nation’s response.
Foreign interference in the United States elections was addressed. Trump accused Biden of getting about 3 million dollars from Russia and claimed that he never got money from the country. There were also references to Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and his deals with Ukraine and their energy company in order to get more money. However, there were discussions of Trump’s secret Chinese bank account and his failure to release his different tax returns. The president mentioned that it was China that allegedly paid 28 billion dollars to American farmers, but Biden felt that it was a lie. Biden stated that he would get China to help rein in North Korea.
Another topic was children being separated from their parents at the border. Trump felt that the children are being brought over by a lot of bad people and cartels. He stated: "We now have a strong border as we've ever had. We're over 400 miles of brand-new wall. You see the numbers. We let people in but they have to come in legally.” He mentioned that he and the Republican party are working really hard together to help these families and reunite them with their children. Biden disagreed with this and said: "Five hundred plus kids came with parents. They separated them at the border to make it a disincentive to come to begin with. We're tough. We're really strong. And guess what. They cannot — coyotes didn't bring them over. Their parents were with them. They got separated from their parents. And it makes us a laughing stock and violates every notion of who we are as a nation.”
Other topics that were debated were the US economy and whether or not it should reopen or stay closed. Biden said that we need to shut down the virus and prevent the country from being shut down. However, Trump felt that we can’t keep our country closed and “we can’t lock ourselves up in a basement like Joe does.” Healthcare was discussed as Trump said that he would always try to get rid of Obamacare and would help protect those from preexisting conditions. Biden stated that people deserve to have affordable healthcare and that Bidencare will provide that for people in America. Trump also discussed his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and stated that he has had a good relationship with him, but Biden called him a “thug.”
The night ended with the closing question said by Welker: “What would you say to Americans who didn't vote for you?” The candidates’ speeches were both very different. President Trump stated that we need to help our country, especially for Hispanics, Asians, African Americans, women, and others. Biden stated: “I'm the American president, I represent all of you whether you voted for me or against me. And I’m going to make sure that you’re represented. I’m going to give you hope. We're going to move. We're going to choose science over fiction. We're going to choose hope over fear.”
11 October 2020
The 2020 Vice-Presidential Debate
By Katy Coakley
Vice President Mike Pence and California Senator Kamala Harris were challenging each other for the first and only time during these debates. The Vice Presidential Debate was held on Wednesday, October 7th, at the Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The night’s moderator was American journalist and USA Today’s Susan Page. The two candidates were able to sit at desks and address heavy and problematic topics such as healthcare, the Supreme Court, racism, the coronavirus pandemic, and others. The night was very similar to the Presidential Debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden because of the topics. However, there weren’t numerous interruptions and name calling.
The debate began with Kamala Harris talking about the ways that President Trump and Mike Pence have handled the pandemic and created “a catastrophic failure in public-health policy.” She claimed that they knew about the pandemic since February and thinks that the Republican party doesn’t have a plan for stopping this virus. She stated: "The American people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of our country.” However, Pence stepped in to defend Trump and talked about the travel ban into the United States. Biden opposed this decision by calling it “xenophobic” and “hysterical.” While continuing to talk about the travel ban, Pence said: “I can tell you having led the White House coronavirus task force if that decision alone bought us invaluable time to stand up the greatest national mobilization since World War II.”
Like the Presidential Debate, the Supreme Court was frequently talked about. The debate focused on whether a Biden administration would be adding liberal justices to the court if Biden and Harris won the election. Pence came in to show his praise for nominee Amy Coney Barrett and told the voters to be cautious about Biden and the Democratic Party getting their way by expanding the court and “blocking” Barrett. Harris “missed an opportunity to remind Pence and the audience that the court’s Republican lean comes because the GOP-led Senate in 2016 refused to consider President Barack Obama’s nominee in the spring of 2016, carrying over a vacancy that Trump filled in 2017.” Harris also defended Biden’s choice to nominate a judge until after the presidential election.
Racism was another question that was debated between the two candidates. Pence stated that he didn’t believe systemic racism exists in the United States. He pointed out the protesters who were rioting and looting in the streets and how businesses were getting ruined during the violence. Harris went on to discuss how to condemn white supremacists and other hate groups. There were also discussions of how to end violence and discrimination in different states. China was also talked about. Harris slammed Trump, Pence, and the Republican party for their trade wars with China, but Pence accused Biden of being a “cheerleader” for communist China. However, “China’s censors blocked live coverage of the vice presidential debate Wednesday night when Mike Pence was asked a question about the communist nation, according to Canada’s Globe and Mail.” Pence went on to state that the Trump administration wants to fix relations with Beijing.
The economy was one the last topics that was talked about. Harris claimed that during Trump’s first term, Americans “will have lost more jobs than almost any other presidential administration.” She slammed Trump for what he has done with tax cuts in 2017 and wants to repeal tax cuts and investigate the money with the environment and immigration. Pence accused Biden and Harris of defending the Green New Deal. He discussed Biden’s plans for making new jobs in America, but he disagreed with what he has been doing with taxes. Mike Pence also ignored the questions about the economy’s climate change.
3 October 2020
The 2020 Presidential Debate: Day 1
By Katy Coakley
Note: This article was written before revelations that President Trump and Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19.
The first night of the 2020 presidential debate was held on September 29th, 2020, at the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio. The debate was between the candidates President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. This time the two of them were able to challenge each other face to face for the first time and argue about certain topics such as climate change, the economy, healthcare, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). FOX News Sunday's Chris Wallace was the moderator for the night and the debate was held for about ninety minutes. Each candidate was given about two minutes to answer each question, but there were countless interruptions from both Trump and Biden.
The first question of the debate was about the Supreme Court. It was revealed this month that President Trump would nominate conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill in the seat after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on September 18th, 2020. Trump stated that “we won the election”, but Biden fired back by adding: “The American people have a right to have a say.” The former Vice President feels that we should wait until after the presidential election to choose another justice. However, Trump interrupted Biden and the two started to argue over Barrett’s “record”, but Wallace was able to step in by saying to Trump: “Please let the vice president talk.” When he was getting ready to ask the next question, Trump said to Wallace: “I guess I’m debating you.”
The next question was about healthcare. It was clear that the Democratic party is prepared to discuss the “future” of Obamacare with the Supreme Court. It was also noted that Trump is supporting a GOP lawsuit that is willing to end the Affordable Care Act. He replied to this by saying: “I got rid of the individual mandate.” He then accused Biden of backing “Medicare for All”, but he does defend “giving people the option to enroll in a government-run public option plan if they choose to.” It’s been reported that about 54 million people to 130 million people with “preexisting conditions” are “depending on the criteria for how severe a condition must be to be counted.”
The other topic that was discussed was the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Biden decided to take aim at Trump for the ways that he has handled the pandemic, stating that the administration started to “inform the public of the disease’s severity only when it hit the stock market.” When it came time for Biden to give his discussion about the coronavirus, he stated: “He still hasn’t even acknowledged that he knew this was happening — knew how dangerous it would be back in February — and he didn’t even tell you.” Biden was accusing Trump of knowing about the pandemic and not warning Americans about what would be happening.
The economy was a topic that was brought up during the debate. Trump and Biden talked about both their ways to navigate the United States’ economy through the pandemic. Trump decided to speak about his “business-friendly tax cuts and stock market gains” while Biden discussed his job creations for people in America when he was the vice president in the Obama administration. Trump decided to disagree with Biden and his taxes for the economy by stating: “If you got in ... if you ever became president with your ideas — you want to terminate my taxes [tax cuts], I’ll tell you what. You’ll lose half of the companies that have poured in here. ... They’ll leave.” The former vice president then went on to say that we are able to have an economic recovery that can help create jobs, but he thought that President Trump “blew it.”
The children of the Trump and Biden family were debated as well. Trump decided to slam Biden and his son, Hunter, for their “consulting business.” Trump stated: “No wonder, your son goes in and he takes out billions of dollars. takes out billions of dollars to manage. He makes millions of dollars.” Biden denied this and claims that what he was saying was not true. It was leaked that Hunter Biden had been engaged in “wrongdoing” while serving on the BHR and worked as a board member of Ukrainian energy from Burisma Holdings. Joe Biden fired back at Trump by saying: “Here’s the deal. You want to talk about families and ethics? I don’t want to do that. His family, we can talk about all night.” This is a reference to Trump’s adult children.
White supremacy was also addressed. Analysts have noted that “Trump would not explicitly condemn white supremacists and tell them not to 'add to violence' surrounding unrest in the U.S. Wallace asked Trump if he would publicly condemn white supremacists and militia groups and say they need to stand down and not add to the violence.” There were also discussions about how to end violence in different states. Finally, Wallace ended the night by asking about election integrity. Biden encouraged his viewers at home to vote for him by voting in person or mail, but Trump argued that the amounts of mail-in votes will lead to fraud in the election.
21 September 2020
The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine
By Rose Haughey
Since around May, a vaccine has been on everyone's mind. Whether you want to get back to work, sports, or just hang out with friends again, the entire country is apprehensively awaiting the day things begin to return to normal. It can be hard to navigate through all the information we are given, from doctors, researchers, and eventhe president.
When COVID-19 first struck, it was downplayed in America, when safety measures should have been put in place. “I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down…” said President Donald Trump. The country waited until many had been affected and even died before they started to send people home from work and school. Luckily, all around the world people have been working non-stop to deliver a vaccine. Multiple organizations and companies are working on getting experimental treatments. There have been reported cases of halted or slowed trial runs. This happens when a treatment has undesired effects or there are not enough people in an area to participate. There are currently no vaccines ready to distribute to the public, but there are nine that have made it to large scale efficiency trials. And around one hundred more are making their way to that stage.
The World Health Organization is helping with the testing as well. They are testing in Brazil, which was hit especially hard and is one of the most concentrated places in the world for the virus. Currently, China and Russia have arguably come the farthest in finding a vaccine; however, they are not ready for public distribution yet. We have many large trial groups within America, testing potential vaccines on thousands of people. The journey does not end with the testing alone; the vaccine will also need to be cleared by the FDA.
As people become restless in their homes, the world is getting less and less patient for a vaccine. Some states have completely opened back up and that has led to even more cases. It seems like, in America, a vaccine is the only way COVID-19 will ever calm down, as we still have many people who refuse to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. Looking at all of the estimated timelines given by different research organizations, we can estimate that there will be a vaccine created and in testing anywhere from late October to the end of the year. Some are very optimistic, saying that a vaccine will be available for everyone, high risk citizens getting it first, by February of next year. Others predict it will be a year or multiple years before a vaccine is available.
Though that seems like a long time away, there are some things people can do at home to try and make it safer to begin reopening things again. Staying inside, quarantining if you come in contact with someone who has the virus, washing your hands, and wearing a mask when you leave the house are all easy ways to stop the spread. And once the numbers go down it will be safer for the country to start to go back to normal. All we can do now is try to keep ourselves and loved ones safe, and hope a breakthrough will appear soon.
12 September 2020
Frontliners at Work Explain Their Life Experience in the Frontlines
By Reyna Galvez
Whether it’s a paramedic on an ambulance or new hospital worker, frontliners are detailing in heart wrenching stories their fears and despair in the COVID-19 epicenter.
Juan Galvez, a paramedic for the Chicago Fire Department, says working in the ambulance now is “scary and nerve wracking.” His new procedures on the job are to wear N-95 masks, gloves, goggles, and isolation gowns.
Being in the ambulance now is “like being in a tiny box,” he said, because a seal is affixed to the door between the front cab and the patient compartment. Galvez said after he goes on a possible COVID call, he must “decon” by leaving the ambulance’s doors open and cleaning it with a special solution.
Faustina Galvez said her transition from quarantining at home to being a patient care concierge at the hospital “makes the virus more real.” “Not only are you hearing about it but you are working with frontline healthcare workers and patients upfront” Galvez says.
Another change is having to wear a mask all day at work, versus previously only outside, she said. Now that Galvez is working in a hospital, she continues to take precautions during the time of this virus, just more frequently.
The frontliners say their home lives have changed, too. Juan Galvez is not able to have family over because he doesn’t want to possibly make them sick. Faustina Galvez is more cautious at home now with her daughter.
She is educating her family on the updates of coronavirus and making sure precautions needed to stay protected from the virus are done more frequently in the home.
To get a sense of understanding of the frontliners' jobs, Galvez says, “You are working with frontline workers and patients upfront and wear masks all day as opposed to going outside.”
3 September 2020
Republican National Convention Highlights
By Katy Coakley
The 2020 Presidential Election is just getting started. The Republican National Convention kicked off on Monday, August 24th, 2020, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The viewers, watching from home, heard from an extended list of different Trump supporters including the “former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations” Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. Haley opened the convention with a speech discussing America and how it’s “standing has fallen across the globe” during Trump’s presidency. She then decided to talk about Trump’s re-election campaign and how he has “projected strength around the world.” Donald Trump Jr. then took the stage to encourage American voters to support his father and then took aim at former Vice President Joe Biden. He argued that Biden’s policies would “stop our economic recovery cold.” He also added: “If you’re looking for hope, look to the man who did what the failed Obama-Biden administration never could do, and built the greatest economy our country has ever seen. And President Trump will do it again. We will be stronger than ever because when we put our mind to it, there is no obstacle that America can’t surmount.” Senator Tim Scott closed the first night by giving an address that talked about racism, the struggles of his family, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. He said, “History has taught us that path only leads to pain and misery, especially for hard-working people hoping to rise.”
The second night of the convention was held on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020. The first speech was addressed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Pompeo delivered his speech from Jerusalem, Israel, and talked about the Coronavirus, the NATO alliance, and other topics. While talking about Donald Trump, Pompeo stated: “President Trump has put his ‘America First’ vision into action. It may not have made him popular in every foreign capital, but it has worked.” Then, the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump gave her speech from the White House Rose Garden. In her address, Melania talked about how she immigrated from Slovenia to the United States, and how she wanted to achieve the American Dream. She also took the time to express her sympathy to the families, who have lost someone due to COVID-19. She then told the viewers to support her husband by saying: “He has built an administration with an unprecedented number of women in leadership roles and has fostered an environment where the American people are always the priority. He welcomes different points of view and encourages thinking outside of the box. I know I speak for my husband and the family when I say we are so grateful that you have trusted him to be your president. We will be honored to serve this incredible country for four more years.”
On Wednesday, August 26th, 2020, the third night began with Lara Trump, the wife of the President’s son, Eric, as she talked about her father-in-law and how he will fight for our country. She discussed her childhood, where she grew up, and her education by saying: “I was raised a Carolina girl. I went to public schools and worked my way through a state university.” Trump also mentioned her seventh-grade teacher adding: “My seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Bee, used to tell us, believe none of what you hear, half of what you read, and only what you’re there to witness firsthand. The meaning of those words never fully weighed on me until I met my husband and the Trump family.” Furthermore, Vice President Mike Pence delivered his speech from the historic Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. This time, Pence used his address to attack Joe Biden and defend Donald Trump. The Vice President talked about how Trump has been fighting for our country and how we can help end the Coronavirus pandemic. He stated: “We built hospitals, we surged military medical personnel and enacted an economic rescue package that saved 50 million American jobs. No one who required a ventilator was ever denied a ventilator in the United States.”
The final night of the convention was on Thursday, August 27th, 2020. The President’s daughter and senior advisor, Ivanka Trump, opened for her father with a 15-minute speech. She talked about what he has achieved during his first term in office and her respect for her father. She said: “Dad, people attack you for being unconventional, but I love you for being real, and I respect you for being effective.” Ivanka also praised Trump as “a consensus builder” despite not meeting with the Democratic leaders. After Ivanka ended her speech, President Trump accepted the presidential nomination for the Republican party. He gave a lengthy speech that concentrated on many subjects including the issues of the Coronavirus. He stated that the United States will try to provide a vaccine by the end of the year. Trump later slammed Joe Biden numerous times and believes that Americans will not be safe if Biden is elected. The next topic was trade deals and Trump talked about how Biden voted for the “NAFTA disaster” and “China’s entry into the World Trade Organization.” The Republican National Convention concluded with an opera performance and fireworks over the Washington Monument.
23 August 2020
Democratic National Convention Highlights
By Katy Coakley
The Democratic National Convention began on August 17th, 2020. The first night was made into a virtual event due to the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama gave a speech and took aim at President Donald Trump. She stated that he is the “wrong president” for the United States and that the White House is failing to provide “steadiness.” Obama encouraged American voters to support former Vice President Joe Biden. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders “offered his most forceful argument yet on behalf of former primary rival Joe Biden, beseeching his supporters to back the Democratic nominee in November.” The night also included a moment of silence for George Floyd.
The second night of the convention emerged with the former Second Lady of the United States Jill Biden, who delivered a speech on August 18th, 2020. This time, Biden decided to tell her story about her husband, family, and career to the viewers watching at home. She delivered her address from a classroom at Brandywine High School, a school where she once “taught English in the 1990s.” She then “described how the pandemic has disrupted education in the country, tearing at the fabric of families, communities and the economy nationwide.” She included: “This quiet is heavy. You can hear the anxiety that echoes down empty hallways. There’s no scent of new notebooks or freshly waxed floors. The rooms are dark as the bright young faces that should fill them are now confined to boxes on a computer screen.” Biden then moved on to talk about her husband and what he will do for our country. She stated: “We just need leadership worthy of our nation. Worthy of you. Honest leadership to bring us back to together, to recover from this pandemic and prepare for whatever else is next. Leadership to reimagine what our nation will be.”
On August 19th, 2020, the third night was held and included a few speeches. The first speech came from former President Barack Obama, who spoke live from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. He also “slammed” Donald Trump during his speech and encouraged Americans to vote for Joe Biden. Obama stated: “This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that’s what it takes to win.” Another speech came from California Senator Kamala Harris. Additionally, she accepted a “historic VP nomination” as the first woman of color to be on a “presidential ticket.” Harris gave her speech from the Chase Center. She began to discuss her “parents and her upbringing.” She said that her mom came to the United States from India when she was 19 years old and wanted to pursue her dream of “curing cancer.” Harris also talked about how her parents met by saying: “At the University of California, Berkeley, she met my father, Donald Harris — who had come from Jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most American way — while marching together for justice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.”
The final night of the national convention was held on August 20th, 2020. This time Joe Biden accepted the presidential nomination for the Democratic party and delivered his address from Wilmington, Delaware. The former Vice President discussed the issues of racism, the Coronavirus, and Donald Trump. Biden slammed Trump for the pandemic and talked about what he would do differently. He insisted that he would “deploy rapid tests for the virus” and “make personal protective equipment in the United States.” However, Biden struggled to “win over younger voters during the Democratic primary” and decided to dedicate his speech to addressing and applauding their activism. Biden then went on to talk about his plans for “a green economy as a tool for creating new and better jobs.” Biden concluded his speech with “a call to action to Americans” to “get united in our love for each other.” The 2020 Republican National Convention is planning to begin on August 24th, 2020 and end on August 27th, 2020.
16 August 2020
An Update On The 2020 Presidential Election
By Katy Coakley
While the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been making the United States different, there is a major and extensive event that is important to our country: the 2020 United States presidential election. The voters will be able to select presidential electors and vote on November 3rd, 2020. They will also decide if they wish to elect a new president and vice president or reelect President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump has launched a “re-election campaign for the Republican party.” It was announced, back in September 9th, 2019, that the Republican parties in South Carolina and Nevada will “not be holding their presidential nominating contests in 2020, and all Republican delegates will be committed to President Trump.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden became the Democratic nominee after Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign on April 8th, 2020. According to Time Magazine, Sanders stated, during a live stream, “If I believed we had a feasible path to the nomination, I would certainly continue the campaign, but it’s just not there.” The Democratic National Convention is still planning to begin on August 17th, 2020, and end on August 20th, 2020. This will happen at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This was originally scheduled for July 13th, 2020 to July 16th, 2020, but was postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, Biden has selected his “vice presidential running mate.” The former Vice President said that he would be choosing a female Democrat and will declare his choice in August. On August 11th, 2020, it was reported that he chose California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Some of the other considerations that Biden could have chosen included Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin. However, Harris has slammed Biden for working with “segregationist senators” to “oppose school busing policies” during the 1970s. Joe Biden also was under fire after he was accused of sexual misconduct and behaving inappropriately towards women and girls. This became controversial during his running campaigns.
Additionally, the latest polls for the Democratic and Republican parties include 308 for Joe Biden and 119 for Donald Trump. So far, the charts include that by August, Biden currently has 50% for the national polls and Donald Trump has 42%. However, the “Coronavirus has realigned voters' concerns and behaviour.” In Florida, cases have been increasing and it shows that Biden leads Trump by 6% of the points. If either of the candidates is inaugurated, then one of them will become the “oldest serving” president of the United States. The winner of the election will be inaugurated into office on January 20, 2021.
19 April 2020
Bob Iger's Return and Walt Disney World Update
By Katy Coakley
Bob Iger is making a comeback to save Disney’s life. On February 25th, 2020, it was announced that Iger will be stepping down as the CEO of Disney, but he will remain in the role of executive chairman. The CEO position was then given to Bob Chapek, who frequently serves as “chairman of Disney parks.” He was originally focused on “acquisitions” to Disney’s stored brands such as Pixar, Marvel, and Stars Wars, but now the famous company has become “predictable” for the future.
However, the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has been increasing in the United States and around the world. This has caused Disney to continue to postpone upcoming movies. However, certain films such as Onward and Artemis Fowl have been (and will be) added to the popular streaming device, Disney+. Disney has still managed to have more than 50 million subscribers to the app. Theme parks including the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom have been temporarily closed as well. Disney resorts such as Disney’s Boardwalk, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Yacht and Beach Club, and Grand Floridian have been shut down until further notice.
In an email from Bob Iger to The New York Times, Iger discussed his return to Disney and how he wants to help others during this difficult time. He stated: “A crisis of this magnitude and its impact on Disney would necessarily result in my actively helping Bob [Chapek] and the company contend with it, particularly since I ran the company for 15 years!” In another interview, he talked about the opening of Disney and stated: “We also know that we need to be really smart in how we reopen our business so that everyone can feel safe — both our employees and our customers.”
On April 17th, 2020, it was revealed that Iger will be serving on the California Economic Task Force. This is used to “guide the state’s economic recovery from the coronavirus outbreak as unemployment climbed and millions of Californians sought financial support.” Right now, California’s unemployment rate has increased to about 5.3%, and many people are ordered to stay at home.
Nevertheless, it is not clear when Walt Disney World will reopen and how many cast members will come back to the parks. However, reservations are currently available for travel dates and vacations for June 1st and further and guests are allowed “to modify these bookings if Walt Disney World Resort opens before or after that time.” Disney Cruise Lines have also stopped running for now, but any guests who are scheduled to depart on Disney Dream or Disney Fantasy between May 18th and May 31st, 2020, are allowed to change their reservations.
For more information about Walt Disney World’s updates and possible openings, please visit this website: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/important-disney-parks-travel-update/
12 March 2020
Harvey Weinstein and the Time's Up Movement
By Katy Coakley
Harvey Weinstein is getting the punishment he deserves. Time’s Up is a movement that fights against sexual harassment and assault. The movement was founded by many Hollywood celebrities, who have experienced harassment and assault. It also helps support women, men, people of color and the LGBTQ community. It all began in October 2017, when Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein, was being accused of sexual assault, harassment, and rape. Actress Asia Argento told The New Yorker that she was abused by Weinstein in 1997. She also added a list of 82 other women, who have been “sexually assaulted/raped/molested” by him. The reports discussed that Weinstein demanded actresses, producers, and models to come to his office, house or hotel room to harass or abuse them. These famous women include Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Uma Thurman, and many others. In 2018, Ashley Judd told The New York Times that she was suing Weinstein for making incorrect statements about her after she rejected him for sex. She also stated that he “harmed” her career. Actress Salma Hayek also told her story about Harvey Weinstein and described him as a “monster.” She also talked about her experiences with bullying and harassment.
To make a response for all of the reports that were said about him, Harvey Weinstein stated: "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it." He also stated that he will take a break from work and try to get help from his therapists. In 2018, both men and women decided to wear black to the 75th Golden Globes Awards to protest against Weinstein and others, who were accused of sexual harassment and assault, including actors, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., and Jeffrey Tambor. Many of the actresses brought feminists and activists with them to the ceremony. Weinstein was fired from his own production company, The Weinstein Company, which he founded with his brother, Bob Weinstein. He described his brother as "wicked and depraved." Harvey was also suspended from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and expelled from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. His now ex-wife, Georgina Chapman, divorced him in 2018 due to his sexual assault allegations. She also gained custody of their children.
Many celebrities have additionally spoken out about their experiences with Weinstein. Actors George Clooney and Matt Damon discussed their views on the misconduct. Clooney had stated that he knew Harvey for “20 years” and gave him his “big break” as an actor and director. Actor and animator Seth MacFarlane has discussed the jokes he said about Weinstein at the 85th Academy Awards. He wanted to speak out about the jokes and Weinstein’s allegations due to Harvey sexually harassing one of MacFarlane’s costars. Some directors, including James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino, have discussed their experiences as well. Quentin stated that he knew the allegations for years and James threatened to hit Weinstein with his Oscar at the 70th Academy Awards. Actress Lupita Nyong’o has stated that she was harassed by Harvey when she was a drama student.
The Time’s Up Movement has become more successful since Weinstein and many others were accused. It is also administered by the National Women’s Law Center. The movement has raised more than $22 million and has gained about 800 volunteer lawyers. The movement has been described as “revolutionary.” #MeToo helps women tell their stories as well. It stated: “We want all survivors of sexual harassment, everywhere, to be heard, to be believed, and to know that accountability is possible.” Actresses, who have mainly helped with the movement include Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman, and many others.
Weinstein was charged many times in 2018 by many police officers including the New York police. His lawyers agreed that he would pay $1 million and wear an electronic ankle device. He also stated that he will not travel beyond New York and Connecticut. However, his lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, stated that the charges are “not factually supported.” He stated that Weinstein will “plead not guilty.” On June 5th, 2018, he returned to court in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty to the new charges on sexual assault. This was his first court appearance since he was arrested on May 25th, 2018, in New York. However, Weinstein returned back to court again in 2020. He was found guilty and would spend to 23 years in prison. He did undergo heart surgery at a New York hospital and was then transferred to jail.
To learn more about the Time’s Up Movement, please visit www.timesupnow.com.
28 February 2020
Bernie Sanders Leads the Primaries
By Juliana Gisler
For a long time it seemed that the presidential race was up in the air. Previous predictions placed Joe Biden as the frontrunner, then it seemed Pete Buttigieg. Next, billionaire Mike Bloomberg shook the race with the announcement of his candidacy. Now that the primaries have come, the numbers are telling a different story. In the top spot appears Bernie Sanders.
Currently, Sanders has won 45 of the 100 delegates already declared, over three primaries. This is almost double the number of delegates as the candidate in second, Pete Buttigieg. This is a surprise for many, who thought he would be a closer competitor, considering the Iowa and New Hampshire polls placed them neck and neck.
Although it seems likely that Bernie Sanders is chosen as the Democratic Party candidate for president, there are concerns that he won’t be able to sway enough voters for the presidency. It is agreed among the candidates that their main goal in this election is beating Donald Trump. But Sanders, known for his grand ideas about closing income inequality and for his democratic socialism, may be too left leaning to defeat Trump. Democratic socialists believe in helping inequality by giving workers more control over the economy. Sanders is looking towards Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden as examples of economic policies that could work in the United States. In a strongly capitalist country this may prove to be an unsuccessful angle for a wider American base.
We will find out even more about where the Democratic vote is going on March 3, referred to as “Super Tuesday,'' when 14 states will vote for their delegates. To win, a candidate needs to get at least a majority from the primaries or 1,991 votes of 3,979. There is still much time for things to change!
27 February 2020
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Exit
By Katy Coakley
The British Royal Family is experiencing more drama. On January 8th, 2020, it was announced that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, will be stepping back as “senior members” of the Royal Family. They stated on their social media pages: “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.” The couple has also decided to spend their time in both the U.K. and North America.
While the real reason why Harry and Meghan want to step back is a mystery unto itself, USA Today has stated that they have dealt with frustration and anger towards the media and press, lawsuits, misconduct, phone hacking and a lack of privacy. In the documentary, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, Harry had discussed his feud with the paparazzi and how they treated his mother, Princess Diana, before she died in 1997. Meghan had also stated that she felt like she was being surrounded by the British press all the time and “regrets discounting her British friends' warnings.”
While Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has stated that there will be tough decisions to make about the couple’s departure, she has told the press that she is supportive of their decision. She has stated: “Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.” She also added: “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.” Queen Elizabeth is very proud of Meghan and all of the help that she has provided for the family and for different charities. However, she did call for an emergency meeting to discuss these issues with Prince William and Prince Charles, while Meghan called in from Canada to stay at home with their son.
On January 13th, 2020, it was revealed that Prince Harry asked the, now former, CEO of Disney, Bob Iger, to help Meghan Markle do voice-overs. The Times reported that she signed a deal with Disney to do voice-overs with proceeds going to the organization, Elephants Without Borders. This is a charity that protects animals from poachers. Harry discussed this with Iger at the London premiere of The Lion King in 2019. The video was shown by TMZ and the deal was signed the week before the couple decided to step back from the royal family. There have also been rumors that Meghan might return to her acting career in Hollywood. She had smaller parts in different films and had formerly starred as Rachel Zane in the USA drama series, Suits.
On February 19th, 2020, it was revealed that Harry and Meghan will no longer be senior members of the Royal Family on March 31st, 2020. They will also have no office at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II was also “disappointed” in the couple’s reaction to losing their Sussex royal trademarks. Harry will also be teaming up with musician, Jon Bon Jovi. The two have paired up to write a single for the Invictus Games and they also “share a strong passion for helping injured veterans.”
10 November 2019
An Update on the College Admissions Scandals
By Katy Coakley
The college admissions scandals revolve around undergraduate students cheating on exams to get into colleges. On March 12th, 2019, Hollywood actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, along with 50 other individuals, were charged with a $25 million college bribery scandal. According to the FBI, wealthy parents were starting to give money to a man in California to cheat on entrance exams for their children.
It all began when Lori Loughlin’s daughter, Olivia Jade Giannulli, posted a photo of herself on a rowing machine and used that image for her application for the University of Southern California. She wanted people to think that both she and her sister, Isabella, were athletically good at rowing. However, the girls did not have any interest in the sport. Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, concealed themselves by donating $500,000 to the Key Worldwide Foundation so that the university would think that their daughters would be a part of the college’s women’s rowing team and be professional athletes. The couple also gave extra money to raise their daughters’ ACT and SAT scores. This caused Netflix to fire her from her show, Fuller House, and Hallmark to cut all of her scenes from the sixth season of her other show, When Calls the Heart. Sephora and TRESemmé both ended their partnerships with Olivia, who is also a Youtuber. Sephora has now removed her powder palette, Olivia Jade x Sephora Collection Bronze & Illuminate Palette, from their stores. Olivia also told Entertainment Tonight that she was “really angry with her parents” because she felt like she and Isabella had no plans to go to college and thought that their parents were “pushing” them to go.
Felicity Huffman was also arrested when it was discovered that she donated $15,000 to the Key Worldwide Foundation and wanted to have her daughter’s wrong answers on her SAT corrected. However, it was reported that she disguised another girl to make it look like it was her daughter, Sophia Grace Macy, who scored 1420 on the exam. The FBI arrested and handcuffed Huffman outside of her Los Angeles home. On September 13th, 2019, it was announced that she would be sentenced to 14 days in jail, complete 250 hours of community service, and pay a $30,000 fine. However, she did state an apology and will try to fix her life by saying, “I can promise you that in the months and years to come that I will try and live a more honest life.” She also made another apology to her daughters and her husband, actor William H. Macy. Huffman did serve her time in a low-security prison and was the first parent to be in jail for the nation’s college admissions scandals.
There are some updates for Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. On November 5th, 2019, Huffman started to work on her community service. She began to work at an organization called The Teen Project, which helps homeless teenagers and sex trafficked young women. Many of them come from foster care. Lori Loughlin pleaded not guilty on November 1st, 2019 to the charges of new federal briberies.
24 September 2019
Democratic Debate, September 13
By Juliana Gisler
On September 13th, ten of the top runners for the Democratic Primary took the stage to debate and discuss topics such as healthcare, race, and gun control.
Senator Bernie Sanders spoke about his plan for a universal healthcare program that would eliminate a privatized option. The rest of the candidates believed in allowing for a privatized option as well, attacking Sanders and saying that the American people should have the right to choose what's best for them. Sanders also defended and explained his view of democratic socialism.
Overall, not many jabs were made at individual candidates. Biden continued to question Warren and Sanders on healthcare, at one point calling Sanders a “socialist.” Biden’s age was once again brought to attention. One stand out moment was when Julian Castro essentially called him a forgetful old man, implying Biden didn’t know what he had said moments ago. This will probably reflect worse on Castro, who’s comment came off as below the belt. Though a subject of contention, Biden’s age and comparatively centrist position will probably lead him to become the main Democratic candidate for blue collar workers and those not on the hard left.
The candidates also told stories of their own struggles. One stand out moment was when Mayor Pete Buttigieg shared his experience coming out during Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He told the audience, “what I learned was trust can be reciprocated and that part of how you can win and deserve to win is to know what's worth more to you than winning.”
Throughout the debate there was the wider understanding that they were all united against a common enemy: Donald Trump. Several candidates made comments reorienting the debate towards a shared fight against the president. In the end, all of the candidates left almost as steadily as they had arrived. Biden, Warren, and Sanders continued to share the spotlight and poll with the most percentages. With five months before the primaries, the race has plenty of time to shift.
For an overview of all the candidates running in the Democratic Primary, check out:
1 May 2019
Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral
By Natalie Shamon
Notre-Dame de Paris, otherwise known as Notre Dame, is seen as one of the finest pieces of French Gothic architecture. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was a novel written by Victor Hugo to commemorate the Gothic building and many structures like it. For the longest time, it has survived wars and has acted as the heart of Paris, almost more so than the Eiffel Tower.
However, on April 15, 2019, a large fire consumed the cathedral, lasting until April 16, when the last of the fire was put out. Parisians began to sing "Ave Maria" as the cathedral burned down, and a bishop sent word around for all the churches in France to ring their bells to send people's prayers up for the safety of Notre Dame. The fire took out the spire of the cathedral, along with all of the roof. A French source stated that most of the roof was newly built anyway, in the 19th century, and the stone arch under the roof is safe. Most of the stained glass windows of the cathedral are also safe, though one of the rose-tinted main windows has fallen out. The main structure of the building - including the two bell towers - and the artifacts of the cathedral remain secure, alongside the 16 statues inside. The golden cross and organ remained untouched by the flames.
Many people believe it to be an accident because of the fact that builders were refurbishing the cathedral. Disney has pledged $5 million, Assassin's Creed's maker, Ubisoft, pledged over half a million, and French billionaires pledged over $600 million to the reconstruction of the cathedral. French President Emmanuel Macron promises "we will rebuild it," promising to have it done within 5 years, and to make it more beautiful than before.
4 March 2019
Opinion: Jussie Smollett Update
By Giovanna Dante
On January 25, 2019, a “hate crime” happened in Chicago. Jussie Smollett, actor from the show Empire, was attacked physically and mentally with racial and homophobic slurs. It all started when Jussie tweeted a picture of an anonymous hate letter he received. This letter expressed racial, homophobic, and death treats.
On the morning of January 25, text documents were found between Jussie and his friend Osundario. The text read: “Might need your help on the down low, you down to talk later face to face?” Jussie and Osundario met as planned and discussed that they did not appreciate the way the hate letter was handled. Because of this, Smollett allegedly orchestrated and hired friends of his own to attack him and yell homophobic and racial slurs. Smollett gave his “attackers” The money to buy everything they used in the attack at a gas station.
He was then interviewed after he was discharged from the hospital. He said things like, “It’s not that you don’t want to believe it’s the truth it’s that you don’t want to see that it’s the truth.” Chicago police have tracked down evidence which indicates that Jussie planned his own attack. On Thursday morning, police superintendent Eddie Johnson said that Jussie wrote the initial letter to himself, and he also had issues with his pay on Empire.
In an interview, Jussie talked about how he is disappointed in our country and how it has come to this, but the real disappointment is how greed could get into someone’s head and cause such an uproar of racial actions. Jussie has not been convicted, yet some are worried that he may not even get jail time. I am extremely proud of my city and this case makes it look like I have nothing to be proud of. This case is also such a horrible example for those whose hearts are filled with greed.
3 February 2019
What's Up with the Blood Moon?
By Meagan Riordan
Have you seen or heard of the "blood moon" that happened? Have you seen the Instagram posts by celebrities? The hashtag blood moon was all around. If you haven't heard of the blood moon before, it’s when the earth's moon is in a total lunar eclipse, which is when the moon appears darker in the earth's shadow. This moon comes around twice every three years.
The blood moon took place from January 20th to the 21st. This moon you could especially see in North and South America. People in the United Kingdom, Norway, and a few more countries could see this moon early in the morning. The people in Western Africa could see the entire eclipse on January 21st.
If you are wondering where the red color comes from, it is due to the scattering sunlight from the earth's atmosphere. This is the same effect that happens when you see a red sunset. The blood moon occurs when the earth is directly between the sun and the moon.
From start to finish, the blood moon lasts around five hours. For this particular moon, you do not need special eye wear (as you did for the solar eclipse), since the moon is red and nowhere near as bright. Overall, this event was not one to miss. It comes more often than the solar eclipse, but every time you look at it you want to see it again.
8 December 2018
Updates on the California Wildfires
By Rose Haughey
Due to a multitude of causes, hundreds of thousands of acres of land in California
have been damaged by wildfires. Thousands of families are suffering from the inferno. Several fires started ringing up and down the state of California. Although the reason for each has not been identified, people are fighting back. Authorities are trying to keep the number of casualties low, but nearly 100 people have perished.
The first fire of 2018 started in February. Since then, there have been many more. While many have been extinguished, large parts of the area remain on fire. “[The] predictions that I see, the more serious predictions of warming and fires to occur later in the century, 2040 or 2050, they’re occurring now in real time,” says California Governor Jerry Brown. Fires that were not supposed to happen for many years have been arriving faster than expected.
Climate change is playing a large role in these premature events. Fires that were expected, and could have been prepared for, are showing up sooner without notice. Millions of dollars have already been spent in trying to calm the flames.
The weather around the area is playing a large part in how fast the fire is spreading. Due to the air being heated by the fire, there is more wind surrounding the fire. The wind then spreads the fire further out, and the fire is able to cover more ground. A drought is also taking place in California, which means that landscape is more flammable than usual.
Reasons for the fires cannot be determined in every case, although people are being educated on possible causes to avoid further man-made fire. Some natural causes include lightning, which, when striking a tree, is hot enough to start a fire of its own. There is also the natural phenomenon of a fire living inside of a tree. These fires can burn for a considerable amount of time before making their way out and spreading to their surroundings. This fire can be hard to identify, and therefore hard to prevent.
Some man-made causes are careless campfires, or any sort of fire that is not well looked after. If these are not created in a reasonable place by a responsible party, they can quickly become dangerous.
Careless campfires aren’t the only way humans are contributing to the wildfires. Multiple people have been suspected of and arrested for deliberately starting a fire in the California area. Knowing all of these possible reasons makes the preventable ones easy to stop, so it is important for people to be educated on the dangers when spending time outdoors, especially in areas such as these.
As of now, there are multiple online charities donating money to California. Volunteers with Red Cross, along with other organizations, are doing all they can to keep the residents comfortable. Bringing food and water to the people affected has helped hundreds of people. Trained volunteers are also helping to fight the fires themselves. Those who can are joining the California firefighters in their battle against the flames.
As time goes on, more and more fires seem to be appearing in California. All of the help from people around the country, along with making sure people are more responsible when camping or spending time in the forest, can help decrease the amount of fires. While there is still a lot of work to do (both containing the fires and restoring the land), further education and understanding of this issue will aid in future fire prevention.
10 November 2018
Midterm Elections: 2018
By Natalie Shamon
Tuesday, November 6 was the day of the midterm elections. The main contenders were J.B. Pritzker and Bruce Rauner for Governor of Illinois. With the winner being Pritzker, there are a few things to keep in mind for the future of our state. For one, Pritzker wishes to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. He also wishes to give every Illinois resident the chance to buy into the state's Medicaid Program, so those with disabilities and elderly people could properly be served. Pritzker also hopes to allow labor, business, and government to work together on mutual priorities and organized labor.
Meanwhile, due to the turnout of the elections, Republicans are expressing their concerns regarding their effectiveness in Illinois. Republicans overall saw in the election that there was a lessening of their numbers in Illinois, particularly in areas where they had often been influential.
"I think they wanted change. And I'm not sure that we are changing for the better at this point in time. In fact, I'm very skeptical because I think we're looking at more taxes," said Earl Deckard of the Chicago suburban election results. "Most of us Downstate, we feel like we're redheaded stepchildren of Illinois. And they don't care about us. But we don't have the numbers down here to overcome it. And the numbers are getting smaller every day."
Since Rauner is soon going to leave office, Republicans have to face finding another anchor for new leadership at an important time. And it's really doubled down once you see the officers that were all elected, other than Pritzker himself.
Kwame Raoul (Attorney General), Jesse White (Secretary of State), Susana Mendoza (Comptroller), Mike Frerichs (Treasurer), and J.B. Pritzker (Governor) are all Democratic. Therefore, it makes sense that Republicans and Libertarians feel like they have little to no representation in office. To learn more about the elections and our expectations for the future, you can look here (https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/elections/). You can look here (https://votesmart.org/election/2018/S/IL/2018-statewide#.W-dzyGhKi01) to see who won and lost in the elections.