deployed soldier surprise by: Ruby Aguilar

   National guard soldier watched the birth of his daughter through an iPad and afterwards was able to travel about half the world to surprise is wife at the hospital in Iowa. The guy, Sargent John Vorrath was in the Middle East with his unit. At first he did not get the request granted to be able to go see the birth of his daughter, Charlotte, though face time. As he was watching, his commander handed him a note which said that his request had been granted. Which is when he went to surprise his wife. He also got a chance to see his two year old which he had not seen in several months.


http://eyeopenertv.com/2014/10/31/deployed-solider-surprises-wife-after-daughters-birth/

 This story is one in a million, it really shows people's patriotism. Willing to be away, but still being able to watch his daughter's birth. Also a story of how a person does so many things to stand up, protect, and represent his country.

Why The Ebola Evacuees Survived And What We Learned From Them- Russell Daniels 5th

This article was published on 10/29/14 by Nsikan Akpan and Linda Poon
This article is about what doctors have learned about Ebola from Ebola survivors from West Africa. These are that in order for people to have a chance to survive they must be hospitalized early in order for doctors to replenish their fluids daily and for people to remain hydrated as time goes by so that they have more fluid in their system to help fight this disease. This Ebola crises compares to the far worse infection of the Spanish Flu during World War I    

Insulin- Quentin Noble 2

In todays medical advancement, we are used to hearing about new weight loss supplements, or surgeries, to cure our obesity problem in America. What we are over looking is that now there is other options for diabetes. They have created non-insulin injectors, and even have a surgery to cure diabetes. This is an amazing breakthrough. In the article, by Paige Greenfield, she talks about the different options.
I believe this is a huge break through. These advancements will only lead to further progress. Knowing people with diabetes, these options could literally be life changing. This is great for people with diabetes.
http://inhealth.cnn.com/stepping-up-your-diabetes-management/beyond-insulin-new-treatments-to-keep-blood-glucose-under-control?did=t1_rss5?ustest&hpt=us_t2&hpt=us_t2

Cured Nurse Returns Home - Froy Gutierrez 4th

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/28/health/us-ebola/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Amber Vinson returns to Dallas after being cured of Ebola. She gives a remarkable speech after her recovery, stating that although this is a great victory, that the people of the USA and around the globe turn their heads to the thousands of families in Africa suffering due to this epidemic. This reminds me of the many times that the USA has been at the forefront as a world power, and although we had issues at home, we still attempted to regulate affairs around the globe. This call to action is similar to events of the past like the Vietnam War. Hopefully we can find a cure and we can revitalize the parts of the globe affected by this epidemic.

NASA: Rocket explodes; damage is 'significant'

"An unmanned NASA-contracted rocket exploded early Tuesday evening along the eastern Virginia coast, causing a huge fireball but no apparent deaths. According to NASA, the Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft were set to launch at 6:22 p.m. ET from the Wallops Flight Facility along the Atlantic Ocean. It was set to carry some 5,000 pounds of supplies and experiments to the International Space Station." According to NASA spokesperson Jay Bolden, "There was failure on launch" along with no apparent deaths. There was very significant damage to the vehicle itself, specifically the engine. "Video shows the rocket rising into the air for a few seconds before an explosion. It then plummets back to Earth, causing more flames as it hits the ground. NASA tweeted that the failure occurred six seconds after launch." The amount of time it took for a very severe mishap to occur shocked me the most, six seconds is nothing in comparison to the mission's expectations. I genuinely feel we should feel grateful for the end result, clearly a successful mission is the best outcome; however, it seems better to have made a mistake this early as opposed to much later in the operation. Link to the video: Link to the article: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/28/us/nasa-rocket-explodes/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Baby Wipes Recalled Due to Bacterial Infection - Hannah Kalan 6th Period

Nutek Disposables in Pennsylvania has issued something called a voluntary recall. The company creates diapers and recently found that there was a bad batch sent out into the market. This batch was reported to contain discolored diapers and produce a smell, as well as causing rashes in some children. What caused these was a bacteria called B. cepacia. The bacterium does not pose a risk to healthy persons, however those with compromised immune systems or other diseases may be effected. This bacteria is actually resistant to common antibiotics which is what makes it more problematic, however the company does not yet know how it got into the supply and has shut down the facility for the time being. 
I think it's really interesting that they found this bacterium in diapers, as it's actually a decomposer and is found in things such as rotting onions. The most common way of transmitting it in people is by physical contact, and they don't usually live long outside a moist environment. So as to how they got into a batch of diapers and lived long enough to cause rashes is a little surprising to me. However, it's still a health risk and should be taken as such as the bacterium can cause lung infections that vary in severity. 


Click HERE to read the original article!

Wifi hotspot named after terror group delays LAX flight Heather McKay

When a passenger on an American Airlines flight 136 from LAX to London noticed a wifi hotspot named "Al-Queda Free Terror Network" the flight initially delayed the flight for 3 hours due to investigation. While UC Customs and Border Control cleared the flight, the flight crew decided to wait and fly the next day. They wanted to be safe, because "you just never know".

     This relates to APUSH going back to 2001 when the terrorist attacks occurred. Because of this incident, airplane/airport security has cracked down and everyone is a bit more paranoid than before. I believe that whoever's wifi network that was is extremely immature and should have been punished or at least removed from the flight the next day.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/travel/lax-al-qaeda-wi-fi-hot-spot/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Washington school shooter- Noe Perales

last week a 14 year old freshman texted 5 other kids to go to the cafeteria. once they arrived, the freshman shot and killed 5 people before taking his old life.

Fryberg sent a selfie to his ex-girlfriend showing himself holding a gun not long before the attack, a law enforcement official told CNN. It is unclear if it is the same .40 caliber pistol used in the deadly shootings


.http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/washington-school-shooting/index.html

African lions are the last big cats to be named on the Endangered Species Act -Trevor Haueisen

The big cats are becoming less and less common to see around Africa. Their numbers have fallen 30 percent in the past two decades due to humans hunting them at unsustainable levels. Because of this, Obama has proposed that they are put in the Endangered Species Act to help protect them.

source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/african-lions-are-set-to-become-the-last-big-cat-listed-under-the-endangered-species-act/2014/10/27/d13904a0-5de9-11e4-91f7-5d89b5e8c251_story.html

analysis: This story can be related to how people hunted beavers for fur trade when the French were first colonizing America. They hunted many beavers to sell their fur in trade. Also, the Native Americans (nomadic ones) would follow a herd of buffalo and kill them for their meat, pelt, horns, etc. and when they hunted all of the buffalo in the area, they would move on to another site where the buffalo stayed. Hopefully now that they are being put in the Endangered Species Act, they will be able to repopulate and become as frequent as they used to be.

Hawaii residents forced to leave homes - Pearson Chambers 4th

Hawaii officials will make arrangements for those living in the path of a lava flow to watch the destruction of their homes.That accommodation is being made to "provide for a means of closure," Hawaii County Civil Defense Director Darryl Oliveira said Monday. "You can only imagine the frustration as well as ... despair they're going through."Dozens of residents have been told they might have to evacuate as lava from Kilauea heads toward their homes.The lava was about 100 yards from a home Monday morning, officials said.

This destruction provides positive  and a negative outcome for the residence of Hawaii.Of course many of the homes will get destroyed but in the aftermath this will provide rich fertile soil for crops. Also many job opportunities will arise from the new construction projects that will need to take place.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/10/27/hawaii-kilauea-volcano-pahoa/17993031/

Kalena Rodriguez p5 Washington school shooter

Five victims that were involved in last weeks school shooting in Washington were invited to the same lunch table by the shooter. It is believed they were invited "via text." Jaylen Fryberg, a popular fourteen-year-old freshman opened fire in a crowded lunchroom at Marysville-pilchuck high school. 

The boy sent his ex-girlfriend a selfie of himself with a gun not too long before the shooting. The boy killed Zoe Galasso, and four others were shot before he took his own life as well. Gia Soriano also died later at the hospital after her major injuries and traumas. 

There are laws made by the state stating no arms in these areas, officials hired to help prevent these situations, but also a right to bear arms and this amendment could play a part in how this boy received a gun. 

Http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/Washington-school shootings/index.html=http

UNC Student Fraud- Lauren Kuehmeier, Period 2

     3,100 students at the University of North Carolina have received diplomas and degrees by taking fake classes. Now, once these diplomas and degrees have been distributed they are nearly impossible to take away. After further investigation, administrators found that these "fake classes" were actually being suggested to these students by consolers. Consolers were doing this out of pity to keep students grades up and for over half of the students needed these paper classes to keep them edible for athletics.

    It's certainly not a secret that athletes and their grades get special treatment at schools, while that's unfair it's especially shameful for a college to let such corruption occur. I just don't understand how so many students could get away with academic fraud without the administration noticing. While it seems suspicious, the worst is that these students get to keep the degrees as well. Students qualified or unqualified are earning the same degrees and are going on in the same fields, yet nothing can be done.

LINK:http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/25/us/unc-report-academic-fraud/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Three Americans Still Missing After Two Weeks - Sophia Davison

     As the questions increase and the inquiries intensify after two weeks of silence, with no knowledge of the three missing Americans that were seized in El Control, Mexico, Raquel Alvarado's hopes and worries are fluctuating more and more with every day of ever seeing her children again. Alvarado's daughter and two sons were visiting their father in Mexico on October 13th, and were said to have been stopped and taken by a Hercules police group. These police forces focus on protecting the mayor of the nearby city Matamoros, and are a standard security group in the area, yet the mysterious disappearance of these three Americans leaves one to question the safety of our Texas-Mexico border. Alvarado is rightfully worried and frightened, as there has been no word or news of any of her children since that day, as well as no official record of any seizure by the governing group. '“The worst thing going through my mind is that I possibly won’t get to see my sons again and my daughter,” she told Action 4 News recently.' 
     We can only hope that some news of these American's safety will come soon, bringing relief to Americans all around, our government, and especially Raquel Alvarado. 

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/10/27/three-americans-missing-in-mexico-for-two-weeks-no-word-on-their-whereabouts/

Hawaii Residents Evacuate evacuate as Iava approaches By: Milan Hamilton

Threatened by lava of the Volcano, many residents of the Hawaiian village of Pahoa have fled leaving behind their homes and businesses. Crime has picked up sense people have abandoned their homes and it's said that thieves are driving during the day breaking into homes sometimes more than once. Lava from Kilauea Volcano was about 70 yards from the closest home today and is moving at about 5 yards per hour. Many of the business are taking extra precautions just in case  the lava engulfs the entirety of the small town.

I would hate to see this natural disaster destroy this entire town. It would take people's jobs, houses, shops and they'd possibly have to start over. This shows the effect that nature has on our daily lives and how it requires us to adapt to it. It reminds me of how the colonists were forced to adapt to the new land and do what they could with it, considering all they had. I hope that the people in this Hawaiian village don't lose everything they've worked to achieve for this town.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/hawaii-volcano/index.html?c=&page=2

As Downtown La Grows, So Does Urgency To Fix Skid Row/Madeline Boreham

In Los Angeles, just a mile away from city hall over a thousand people are sleeping out on the streets.
To a woman who lives and sells cigarettes on Skid Row its never going to change.  But to a man with money Skid Row will inevitably change and improve.  The street is run down, acting as a market for drug deals and physical assault. Rev. Bales, who runs the shelter for Skid Row states that the street is in its worst condition yet. Stating that hospitals from the region, and even other states, have been dumping homeless patients on Skid Row illegally, and jails have been releasing inmates with little preparation for the real world.  The shelters resources have been reduced in favor for other approaches.

Everywhere in this nation major cities are building up and improving. With that the run down areas will be made over and cleared. So what is going to happen to all of the people who are living there? It is important that we take care of them for they are people as well. These people experienced something tragic to end up on the streets and it is up to us to not leave them lone. We need to put more effort into the Permanent supportive homes, they have always produced results and helped those who can get back on their feet. People should want to help, not guilted into helping. As a country we are united and we need to help our fellow Americans.



This article was written for NPR click the link below to read the full article:

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/26/359112842/as-downtown-l-a-grows-so-does-urgency-to-fix-skid-row

Why Hillary? - Rachel Webb 3rd

Mrs. Hillary Clinton is contemplating running for president, which, judging by the stats, may not be a good investment. There has never been a female president and there are reasons for that. For a very long time women have been inferior to men. Even in the Bible women are stated to be inferior. The woman was developed of the man's rib, according to Genesis. If you look at the spectrum of American social affairs, women have just recently gained suffrage. And the fight for women's rights has been going on for centuries. Even before America became America, women in most of the native cultures had less of a role in leadership than men. Why then, does Hillary Clinton see herself as a powerful enough leader to run a country that basically runs the whole world. I can't help but suspect that her purpose for running is to make history and bring the superiority of women up in this culture. I know I am not an expert on politics but if I live in this country, and will soon be obligated to vote, then I need to be able to express my perspective. She may know all about what is going on in the world because she served as a senator, but how would other countries view her as president? What if America has important foreign relations to acquire but the foreign culture doesn't allow women to speak directly to men? Also other countries may just see the United States as a joke because we have a female president. I think she should save herself millions and not run for president. After all, there was already a president in her household. It isn't a competition Hilly.

African Boys Attacked at Bronx School, Called "Ebola": Advocacy Group - Jack VanGorden 4th per.

In the Bronx this week, two African 11- and 13-year-old boys were attacked at their school, 1.2. 318. Recently immigrated from Senegal, the brothers had been taunted and called "Ebola". They were reportedly, "pummeled by other students in the schoolyard during lunch after enduring weeks of taunts." Their father, Ousame Drame, said that his sons, "have been cruelly harassed for two weeks over Ebola". Their peers were told by other students to stay away from the boys. Surprisingly, Drame doesn't blame the attackers but the school system. He feels like they didn't do enough to protect his children. Even though the boys are recovering from the attack, their father plans on sending them back to school as long as the administrators will ensure their safety.

This article was written by Roseanne Colletti of NBC News on Monday, October 27, 2014 at 8:53 PM. This story reminds me how cruel other human beings can be. It makes me sick to imagine how these boys must feel about themselves. They were physically assaulted because of the current negative connotation of their heritage. This isn't the first story I've heard of the African community being discriminated against because of Ebola, it's happening in Dallas too, but I do hope it is the last.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Senegal-Boys-Attacked-Bullying-IS-318-Tremont-NYC-280519232.html

Gun Control: The Amendment thats harming more than helping. Daizha Lankford

As recent reports have come about, the recent shooting that took place at a Washington High school has brought up the controversial question that has plagued our nation time and time again. After the young teenager fired six shots at his family and close friends he then took his own life. This is has opened up the debate of gun control and how incidents like this wouldn't happen if we did not have such easy access to guns. This also opens up the issue of students and how parents need to be more involved in children's lives. I think it is so sad and awful that parents have to bury their children. I hope that events like this really open up politicians eyes to see that the constitution was written before our time. It is meant to change over time. We have entered a new era. We need to evolve our politics and our laws just like we have evolved our lives.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/washington-school-shooting/index.html?hpt=us_c1

Death penalty is sought in Korean ferry disaster - Madison Escano

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/death-penalty-sought-in-south-korea-ferry-disaster/ar-BBbsST8

On Monday, South Korean prosecutors announced that they would be seeking the death penalty for the ferry captain facing murder charges following the April 16 disaster earlier this year. The captain abandoned ship and left hundreds of students behind as it sank. Capital punishment is rarely inflicted in South Korea, as shown by the lack of executions in nearly two decades in the country. The capsizing of the ship, Sewol, is the  result of the ship being superfluously loaded. The wreck killed 304 people, from which ten bodies have not been recovered. Most of the deceased were students that came from one high school. Lee Joon-seok, the 68-year-old captain, has been charged with "homicide through willful negligence" for abandoning the ship off the southern coast of South Korea. In addition to the death penalty for the captain, the prosecutors also asked the judge to consider life sentences to the three crew members who are being charged with the same crime. The court is expected to reach a verdict and its sentences for the crew members on November 11. 

I don't particularly agree with the death penalty but I found it startling when, in the article, the author mentioned that the captain has stated the he feels like he "deserves to die." If that statement was sincere, then you can tell the man feels incredibly guilty for what happened a few months back. This disaster kind of reminds me of the Titanic, even if the ferry wreck wasn't to the same degree. We had hundreds of people traveling for the same reason and they never made it. It's tragic. I hope these families have found peace for their losses, and that the victims receive the justice that they deserve.

Chickens Against Braley - Elisa Weich 5th

After allegedly threatening to file a law suit against neighbors for their chickens escaping the coop and trespassing on his vacation property, Bruce Braley's political career is haunted by the feathery creatures. The Americans for Prosperity launched an ad against Braley's campaign for Iowa senator. That 30 second ad became the basis for the groups' entire campaign, which now features trackers in chicken costumes, stress-ball rubber chickens, more ads, and even a website: braleyschicken.com. The chickens not only speak against Braley, saying he is "not neighborly" and simply "not Iowa," but also for tort reform, a standing of the other candidate. Braley and his party, of course, deny ever threatening such legal action, but the attacks have already left the ground in an amusing and affective campaign.

This article is not particularly important to politics, but it is certainly an amusing twist in politics that helps to break the monotony of regular negative campaigns. It seems that only in America would this really be the basis of such a serious campaign. For that reason, I'm glad to live in this country, where even our politics are entertaining just to keep our attention. I feel that this is somewhat of an evolution for campaigns, changing to fit the best shape for catching the public eye, even if it doesn't seem like the most professional approach.

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/10/27/?entry=3711&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Houston man shot in the face by a 3-year-old: by Jonell Williams, 2nd Period

   

     Patrick Sanders, 20 was sleeping on his couch on a Saturday morning when accidentally his gun falls out of his pants and is grabbed by a three year old boy in his apartment. Sanders tried to take the gun away from the pre-school child but incidentally sets it off and gets shot in the face. Sanders was transferred to Ben Taub General Hospital and remains in critical condition. The child was not injured. The Houston Police continue the investigation and released the two statements previously mentioned.

      Another case of mishandling a gun ends up in an accidental shooting. Many Americans believe in the right to bear arms, but how can one have the privilege of a gun when one does not store and use the weapon appropriately? Cases such as this could have been avoided if the gun handler in question was responsible with their powerful machinery, and never let an inexperienced individual use it. Also a conscience thought on part of gun-totting individual and where they are physically should give them a clue on where to store the gun, such as in a gun holster or away from the environment especially if there are minors present. Guns in the hands of careless handlers can only lead in a bad direction and the transfer of that power to another, who most of the time is not capable or even trained in the operation of the machine. Situations similar to this lessen the credibility of keeping the right to bear arms, chiefly in the case of the tragic high school shooting in Washington state by Jaylen Fryberg, a popular high school freshmen. The purpose of the article is to inform and indirectly provide proof on why guns should have a tighter regulation and distribution.   

1. http://6abc.com/news/man-shot-in-face-trying-to-keep-gun-away-from-tot/368221/

2. Image found on:  http://www.durning3d.com/Editorial.htm           

             

School Shooter Texted Victims- Iris Hughey

In Marysville, Washington on Friday, 15-year-old Jaylen Fryberg shot five of his fellow students and then commited suicide. Fryberg shot the victims with a handgun that had been legally purchased by a relative of his and it remains unclear as to how he got a hold of it. He sent a text to the five students (two of which were his cousins, who remain in critical condition) inviting them to lunch in the cafeteria, and then he pulled the handgun out, killing two of the five. Detectives are searching through texts he exchanged with those students and any other students he may have contacted. Fryberg was a popular student, and his friends say there wasn't anything very suspicious going on other than some troubles he was having with a girl, but it is being further investigated as to what his motive was.

It's so scary to me how a seemingly normal kid could suddenly turn into a killer. Another piece of information that I heard (regarding this article) on NPR news is that authorities aren't so much aknowledging the killer in this situation as much as they are the heroes of the incident: teachers that thought quickly and potentially saved lives. They are doing this so that there isn't much of a chance of "copy-cats", or people who imitate the crime of a past criminal almost as a way of praising them. I think that is a great stradegy and think it could really work. I also hope that the hospitalized victims make full recoveries, and that detectives are able to find out more information about the incident.

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/girl-wounded-washington-school-shooting-dies-080307106.html

Hillary Clinton backpedals on job creation remark- Joseph Katinas 2nd Period

Three days after Hillary Clinton said businesses don't create jobs, she cleaned up the remark, part of a critique of trickle-down economics, explaining she had "shorthanded this point the other day."

Friday at a campaign rally for Massachusetts Democratic gubernatorial candidate Martha Coakley, the former secretary of state told the crowd, "Don't let anybody tell you that it's corporations and businesses that create jobs," going on to say trickle-down economics "has failed rather spectacularly."

Republicans seized on the sentence, seemingly made for an anti-Hillary Clinton campaign ad. America Rising, the main anti-Clinton super-PAC, is featuring it on the header of its website.

Today at a campaign event for New York Rep. Sean Maloney, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, Clinton went for a do-over, saying, "Let me be absolutely clear about what I've been saying for a couple of decades: Our economy grows when businesses and entrepreneurs create good-paying jobs here in an America where workers and families are empowered to build from the bottom up and the middle out -- not when we hand out tax breaks for corporations that outsource jobs or stash their profits overseas."

It's the second time Clinton has struggled to speak fluently in the economic vernacular of her party.

This article makes me really angry. It just shows how politicians pay attention to every little detail another one says and try to show that there's something wrong with it. Hillary is a human. Obama is a human too. They make mistakes like everyone does. People need to stop judging them so quickly. I can relate this article to the presidential campaigns between Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay, who insulted each other a ton during their running for president.

Here is the source for the article: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/politics/hillary-clinton-job-creation/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Becky Hammon: First Female NBA Coach by Lindsey Galvan 4th period

This week, Becky Hammon will make history by being the first full-time female NBA coach this basketball season for the San Antonio Spurs. Hammon accepted the job this summer. She has loved basketball since she was a toddler. "To other women in the sport, she is an inspiration. To young girls, a role model. To some fans, a curiosity. To historians, a footnote."

It's great to see women taking the role that a man would usually play in America. This comes to show that although women may have the same rights as men, we still haven't yet actually caught up with them. Events like this could spark new movements in feminism. It's also cool to see how even though women got rights a long time ago, we are still adjusting to this new way of life.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2241483-the-can-do-kid-becky-hammons-incredible-journey-from-rapid-city-to-the-nba?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=us_t3

Eric Lozano Struck by Tennage Driver By: Nina Bharadwaj, 2nd period

     A recent auto-pedestrian mishap has recently occurred regarding a 16 year old girl of Lewisville and 12 year old Eric Lozano. This fatal accident happened at 6:37 p.m on October 24th bringing about city fire and police departments to investigate the scene.
     At firsthand investigation, it has been discovered that the 16 year old did not have her license yet, but her father had been directly teaching her how to drive. The car being driven was a four-door Nissan Sentra. The father of this teenager had told her to start the car prior to leaving their house. The girl, who had just been practicing the fundamentals of operating a car, had put the car in reverse and hit 12 year old Eric Lozano. He was pinned to a house near the scene. He was soon after pronounced dead. A 10 year old was also struck, but his minor injuries have enabled him to survive. The case is currently being investigated.

This article was published by the WFAA staff on October 26th, and events like this are so common in society nowadays. The father knew his daughter was a new driver, and he should have been more cautious in this situation. As a new driver myself, I can understand that when driving, one is mainly focused on the actual operating of the car as opposed to their surroundings. This, however, is the reason why parents are needed to remain in the car while one still has their permit. This rule is not just a suggestion. It is mandatory and was created to make sure society remains safe. However, the entire purpose of this rule is pointless, if a parent is not going to be alert while their child is adjusting to the technicalities of driving. Also, it is very strange how the daughter would have not been more aware especially in a neighborhood. I mean I understand that younger kids should not be running around the streets, but that is why one needs to be more careful. Younger kids don't always no right from wrong, but teenagers and adults do, and that is why they should have been able to prevent this situation. I hope this girl doesn't remain afraid to drive but rather uses this as a learning tool to be more careful.

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2014/10/25/lewisville-car-accident-eric-lozano-killed/17931953/
    

Two US Ebola nurses free of virus Harrison Epstein

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29749283

The two nurses that were recently admitted into different hospitals have finally improved, and exponentially! One of the two nurses, Nina, has been released but is under watch. She actually had a conference with the president of the United States and was very hopeful for the future of the Ebola cure. However there has been yet another patient received into a hospital, a Dr. Spencer. He recently returned from Guinea and is currently in quarantine in New York. This issue has sparked a lot of fear in many New Yorkers although most believe that they have nothing to fear.

Its really nice to know that there is some hope for finding a cure or at least an effective treatment for the Ebola virus. I am actually thrilled to hear that the nurses are both doing very well and will hopefully go back to leading normal lives again soon. This actually reminds me of Swine-09 (swine flu) and the terror it caused, except we got that taken under control so i am hoping we can do the same with Ebola. YAY NURSES!!!!!  

Community raises more than $22K for man mistaken for fugitive - Corsica Steding

James Tully, father of two children, has been stopped on the way to work by law enforcement numerous times.  It all started when police began to search for Eric Frein, a fugitive who is accused of shooting and killing a Pennsylvania state trooper and injuring another trooper in September.  It got to the point where Tully lost count of how many times he was stopped.  He even started to wear his work ID around his neck so that he would be identified more easily.  Tully did not own a car, and had to walk 5 miles to and back from work everyday.  Dawn DeBiase heard of this and started an online fundraiser to help Tully purchase a car and raised more than $22,000 in just five days.  Due to this amazing response, Tully requested that DeBiase close the fundraiser this week seeing as they've already raised so much money.

Emanuella Grinberg wrote this article on October 27th for CNN.  Before reading this article, I hadn't heard of a community rallying to this extent for one person.  This article was written to inform the general public of the details of this touching story. I think it's amazing that the community came together and fixed this issue.  It's truly remarkable that they were able to accomplish this in five short days.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/james-tully-eric-frein-car-fundraiser/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Hawaiians Watch Home Be Destroyed by Lava- Kennedi Mayes

The officials of Hawaii have arranged for people to watch the destruction of their homes by the running lava from a volcano they live on. As an act of closure, people have been relocated and the state is making it possible for the owners to say goodbye to the belongings they couldn't bring with them. The lava is creeping towards the town and it is unknown when it will stop flowing and whether or not it will change directions. 

This is sad. I can only imagine how these people are feeling. Most people were leaving their family homes and memories behind and there was absolutely nothing they could do to save them. It must be pretty stressful having to completely relocate. I honestly have no idea what we would do if we lost out city to lava. I hope everyone who was affected is successfully transitioned to another place.

http://news.yahoo.com/lava-hawaii-volcano-makes-steady-advance-094118752.html

Novice Driver Kills 12 Year Old (Jazmin Garcia-2nd Period)

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Girl-Learning-to-Drive-Hits-and-Kills-12-Year-Old-280450552.html


Recently, a 16 year old novice driver hit and killed a 12 year old boy Friday evening in Lewisville, Texas.  According to the police, the girl's father told her to start the car and he was to teach her basic car operations. Apparently, the girl placed the Nissan Sentra in reverse and accelerated out of her driveway hitting Eric Lozano and his 10 year old cousin. Lozano was pinned against a home after being hit. He was transported to the Medical Center of Lewisville where he was pronounced deceased while his cousin wasn't severely injured and was then released from the hospital Friday night.

I understand that she was beginning to drive because most of us begin to drive at this age and we get our permits/license. We all know that when we learn to drive and one of our parents/guardians are teaching us, they tend to freak out and tell us to brake. If the novice driver was accelerating too fast, why didn't her dad tell her to brake? Why didn't he point out that there are children behind her and she should be careful? Was her dad even in the car? This relates to APUSH because there are always going to be tragic events and as sad as they are, we learn from them. This should serve as a lesson that anyone behind the wheel must always drive with caution so in the future, things like this could be prevented and others will hopefully drive more safely.

Egyptian Courts Sentences Editor of Oscar-Nominated Doc 'The Square' to Prison- Avery Alexamder 6th

https://www.yahoo.com/movies/egyptian-court-sentences-editor-of-oscar-nominated-doc-101079264002.html

An editor of 'The Square" documentary, Sanaa Seif, was arrested in June and has now been sentenced to three years in prison for protesting the new law. The new law had been made in November 2013 that stated that political gatherings had to be approved by security forces. Cairo authorities, where she was arrested, has been urged by Amnesty International to release Seif and the other activists that were arrested for protesting. The Square documents Egypt's revolutions in 2011 and 2013 by the views of young activists. It caused controversy in Egypt and the first screening wasn't advertised.

I think that it is absurd that people and getting sentenced that many years in prison just for protesting. It's understandable, because yes they did break a law, but three to fifteen years? They could have been fined but the government is different all over the world. I think that a lot of it had to do with the documentary.

Same-Sex Marriage: We're A Bit Behind (by Ashton Garcia, 2nd)

As the US continues to step further in legalizing same-sex marriage, we are far behind the rest of the world. Countries such as the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and recently New Zealand, have already made same-sex marriage countries in Europe (New Zealand being the first of Asia Pacific area to make it legal) legal and accepted. The US doesn't stand alone; Britain is still deciding whether or not same sex marriage should be legal or not.

I understand that religion is a huge factor in the decision, and did set Spain especially back, however, at least for our country, we even state that every man is equal. If so, why is it that people aren't allowed to marry the one they love because they're the same sex? Why is it that heterosexual people, who are just as human as a homosexual (or any and every other sexual oriented person) is, get more rights and can marry the ones they love? It makes me wonder what our country really meant when we stated that all men are equal. If they are, then why were there limitations on rights for any human? Ranging anywhere from African-Americans to Women. And what does that say about a majority Christian country? If we were practically "built on Christianity," then why is our nation more comfortable seeing two men carrying guns rather than hands? (That's a loose quote by someone). And countries mainly use their religion to support their position on keeping same-sex marriage illegal, which is ironic because I thought that the Bible says to love everyone and to not judge and accept everyone for who they are.

My apologies if this offended anyone but it's starting to be ignorance rather than religion (and I myself am Catholic) to keep same-sex marriage illegal. Just my opinion.

http://news.yahoo.com/us-gay-marriage-accepted-parts-world-080522131.html

German U-Boat found in North Carolina by Mackenzie McGregor

Recently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that is discovered a German submarine, U-576, off the coast of Cape Hatteras. It's location was exactly 240 yards from the American merchant ship used during World War II, Bluefields. By discovering this submarine, researchers and scientists can further delve into our history and discover how impactful the Battle of the Atlantic truly was, as well as what effect it has on Americans today.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/21/us/north-carolina-u-boat-wreck/index.html?c=us

Free car for fugitive lookalike

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/james-tully-eric-frein-car-fundraiser/index.html?c=us&page=1

James Tully, a father of two, walks to work every day. On his walks, he's been stopped at least twenty times because he resembles the fugitive, Eric Frein. He's gotten so used to it that he started wearing his ID to work. Dawn DeBiase was touched by Tully's constant police interruptions, so she began an online fundraiser to buy him a car. In only five days, she raised over $22,000 and this weekend, she's closing the fundraiser at Tully's request. He's decided that he'll handle the rest and continue on.

This was written by Emanuella Grinberg for CNN. She is relaying a positive story of how one person reached out to another. I think this should be inspiration to a lot of people. It shows that it doesn't take much to help a person out. All Dawn did was start a fundraiser over the Internet. It's great that she stepped up to help.

Life Taking Texter in Washington -Myles Bennett

A student in Washington texted his friends, telling them to meet him at a certain lunch table that day. Little did they know, Jaylen Fryberg brought a gun to school to shoot his friends because they had sided (he thought) with his ex girlfriend in a recent breakup. The freshman opened fire on the lunch table before turning the gun on himself.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/27/us-usa-washington-shooting-idUSKBN0IG1ZB20141027

Analysis: This could go along with the second amendment- the right to bare arms. If you have children or young adults in the house, you may want to take precautionary measures and lock up the gun in a place where they can't get to it. Kids can be very emotional, especially at this age with the hormones and new relationships beginning and the stress, some kids may try to take drastic measures and it would be the best idea to play it on the safe side and keep guns out of children's reach.

U.S. Soldiers Isolated After Mission for Ebola Screening (Diego Garcia)

U.S. soldiers have been isolated in a base in Vicenza , Italy. This is a precaution for the virus of Ebola spreading. This was not required by the pentagon but since this epidemic has got out of control. There has been many cases of this virus and the Pentagon wants to be safe for it not spread any more. The soldiers ere in Liberia and have returned. Many were included in the isolation for 21 days. It has been taken care by best medical group and they are around the end of the period.


This is something that is happening a lot because of Ebola. It is something that we have very little control of. The little thing that they do like this is very good. In the past there were many diseases but there were very few ways to take care of it. With the advance in Technology it is very easy to maintain but can get out of control.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/10/27/us-soldiers-isolated-italy-ebola/18010271/

Washington school shooter texted lunch table invites to victims -Glenna Loughlin

    This article talks about how a guy invited his friends to sit at a certain lunch table and then shot them. The reason behind his shooting was that he was having relationship problems with his ex-girlfriend and was mad at some of his friends and her. This just shows how dramatic and out of hand people can get when dealing with dating or relationship issues. The shooter ,Jaylen Fryberg, was so overly upset that he couldn't take out his anger and sadness calmly. Further messages show his guilt and apologies toward the situation.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/washington-school-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Releasing Quarantined Nurse -Hadassah Lai

Kaci Hickox was quarantined in New Jersey after returning from South Africa. She was released when she told CNN that they were violating her rights after they kept her in there after testing negative for Ebola. Hickox was put in isolation after returning back from Seirra Leone. Her quarantine in New Jersey that had instituted for all health care workers who have come in contact with Ebola has been heavily criticized by the health department. There is a legal basis to challenge the quarantine policies in New Jersey, but Hickox is unsure of what to do next.

I think it's wrong to keep people quarantined when they test negative for Ebola. It is against their rights, since the state does not have a reason to keep them quarantined. Yes, we must take extreme precaution but this is forcing people to do what they don't want to do. I think that people are blowing Ebola out of proportions and that they should think twice before enforcing a rule. I do agree that we must be on the lookout and must be extremely careful, but we should not take the prevention of Ebola to the extreme.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/health/us-ebola/index.html?hpt=us_c2

California Drought Crisis -Katelyn Cook Pd.3

California has been suffering from a long drought that is  affecting farmer's rice crops, which exports to over 100 countries. However, because of water restrictions, farmers planted 25% less acres than last year, affecting the cost of rice and grains in countries across the world. The drought also affected the amount of migrating birds who rely on flooded rice fields as their home.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/10/29/california-drought-takes-bite-out-rice-harvest-reducing-wildlife-habitat-and/

School Shooting By: Zaria Chambers

Last week in a Washington high school a popular freshman named Jaylen Fryberg opened fire and killed his classmate fourteen year old Zoe Galasso and himself. It is believed that Jaleyn lured his friends over to the lunch table he was sitting at through text messages and then began to open fire.One of his friends Gia Soriano  died at the hospital with injuries to the head. Many other students are also in critical condition. Many people really don't know the motive behind this shooting and many people are wanting answers. Many students tell authorities about what happened and have given them gruesome details about what happened that day at lunch. Hopefully there can be answers so that their can be a closure and families can try to move forward from this tragic accident.

This is absolutely terrible. It seems as if there is always a school shooting every couple of months. There has got to be something done to stop this violence. It's even more sad that this shooting was caused by a student. How did this student even manage to get this gun into the school if they had security. This just goes back to gun laws and who can carry a gun. I know the parents of Jaylen Fryberg probably didn't know that their son was going to do this. Something needs to be done to stop this violence.


Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/washington-school-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Washington school shooter texted lunch table invites to victims: Vivie Behrens (Period 6, Week 4)

     Last week, Jaylen Fryberg, a popular freshman high school student of a Washington high school, shot 5 of his peers consisting of some of his close friends including his ex-girlfriend and two of his own cousins. One girl, Zoe Galasso, died on the scene and Gia Soriano died in the hospital late Sunday night. The others, Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, Andrew Fryberg, and Nate Hatch remain hospitalized and are all in critical condition. Andrew Fryberg and Nate Hatch were both cousins of the shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, and the three were nearly inseparable. After Jaylen shot his victims, he took his own life with his final bullet. All of the families involved as well as the community as a whole are devastated by this tragic incident.
     This is an example similar to the Sandy Hook school shooting, which occurred just two years ago. Incidents like these pose questions about the right to bear arms outlined in our Constitution. If situations like these keep occurring, aren't we putting the general public in danger by allowing guns to be purchased by the general public? Wasn't it the intention of the Founders to keep the common community protected by these arms, rather than harmed by these weapons? Jaylen's rampage will without a doubt cause this controversial debate to be discussed more widely in America. I believe that this Constitutional Amendment must be evaluated for its relevance in society today because certain aspects of this debate did not exist when the Bill of Rights was ratified.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/27/us/washington-school-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

School Shooting Written By Megan Darlington

    In a high school in Washington, a 15 year old student shot a group of classmates at lunch with a .40 caliber handgun. This was a very likable kid so no one saw this coming. Earlier that month he had been named homecoming king. Of the people he had shot, 3 have been killed including himself. The forensic have confirmed it was suicide. The town is now morning and hoping to recover from this incident.
    This situation of any person with a gun in a school happens too often. When is it going to be enough? I thought that after Sandy Hook that people would have learned their lesson. I wonder how this kid got into the school with a gun? They needed to have metal detectors or something to better control the prevention of this. Should we all be allowed to bear arms? I have a conflict with the second amendment when stuff like this happens. I understand how the right to bear arms comes with a purpose, but far too frequently  this amendment get abused. We need to step back and really understand what guns are doing to our society.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/10/27/marysville-high-school-shooting-jaylen-fryberg-lured-victims-via-text-message/

"Lava Flow Threatens Small Town in Hawaii" Julian Smith

         Lava Flowing from the  Kilauea volcano in Hawaii is threading the small town of Pahoa.  The Lava is moving at about 10 to 15 yards per hour and was last reported 100 yards from the closest home. Videos shot have shown Lava consuming fields, a fence, and a cemetery. The Lava is a problem its self but also the smoke is very hazardous. People are advised to stay inside because the smoke is already so heavy. Most people have already evacuated the town, hawaii  county civil defense says there are only a few people left in town. As of now the volcano is still erupting.
          Well this just sounds like a problem with no real solution. obviously we can't plug up a volcano and its not like we can cool down the lava or stop it. The people seem to be doing the only thing they can which is evacuate and hope their homes are destroyed. I hope for the best for the village of Pahoa.

Parking base helps U.S. Navy & Marines by Sarah Oviedo

This article is about a base that the U.S. Marines use as a highway interchange and parking lot on sea. It is a test to see how well this can help react to a natural disaster. It can help save lives and prevent human suffering. Sea basing is helpful with loading and unloading ships etc. to travel to a place the U.S. Navy & Marines are needed. This base is located in California. This article was posted on October 24, 2014. The beauty of this ship base is the ability to lower to unload quickly and efficiently. This is a test to see how well this can actually help when it comes to something serious. There is a lot of monitoring and observing with this sea base but so far it is very reliable and hopefully beneficial for the future.


This is good for future problems and preventions as for the U.S. Navy and Marines to be present during situations they are needed. This can impact the U.S. politically, economically and socially.




Site: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2014/10/25/pkg-see-new-military-ship-submerge-in-ocean.kgtv.html

By Sarah Oviedo

Chocolate improves memory-Madhee Moseman, P6

Chocolate improves memory

There has been a recent discovery and theory that the natural compound found in cocoa, tea, and some veggies serve to reverse age-related memory loss. The findings suggest that the compound increases connectivity and, subsequently, blood flow in a region of the brain critical to memory, the researchers said. The study — published online Sunday in Nature Neuroscience and partly financed by a chocolate company — found that flavanols reverse mild memory loss in older adults. Using brain scans and memory tests, the latest study built on previous work showing that flavanols extracted from cocoa beans had improved neuronal connections in mice’s dentate gyrus, a part of the brain involved in memory formation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/compound-in-chocolate-found-to-reverse-age-related-memory-loss-study-finds/2014/10/26/cee91aac-5bcb-11e4-bd61-346aee66ba29_story.html

 

This is a neat way to look at eating chocolate as good, but this can backfire big time. Researchers have warned that the compound found in cocoa only exist in minuscule amounts in the average chocolate bar compared with the amount used in the study, so gorging on chocolate in the name of health and improving one’s memory could backfire. This would be able to make a lot of people happy, but sadly very unhealthy…

Ebola Quarantine An Encroachment on Rights? Margaret Canady 2nd Period

   Kaci Hickox, an American nurse who traveled to West Africa to treat Ebola patients, is planning to take legal action over the severe quarantine she has been put under after her return to the states. Her lawyer says the confinement raises "serious constitutional and civil liberties issues" and they plan to challenge the confinement in a federal court.
  The new quarantine rules, issued in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, require all health workers who have been in contact with Ebola patients to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine period after returning to the US. Hickox said that immediately after stepping off of the plane, she was put into an airport quarantine, and her treatment was chaotic and uncoordinated.
  New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said the treatment of Hickox was inappropriate, and has revised regulations by allowing patients with no symptoms to finish their 21 day quarantine in their own homes. The White House has warned that imposing such strict restrictions might stop future health workers from going to West Africa to help others in need.

  I can understand where Hickox is coming from: she believes that under Amendment IV of the Constitution, she is protected from unreasonable seizures, and considers her quarantine an encroachment on civil liberties because she has no Ebola symptoms, and no reason to be confined. However, I think having a regulation and quarantine for ALL people returning from West Africa is crucial in fighting the spread of Ebola and keeping the rest of society safe. Mayor de Blasio's revisions are more humane, and I am glad they were enacted. But I think the quarantine was and is necessary, and is not breaking any constitutional laws in the process.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29782389

Supreme Court Allows Texas to Use Strict Voter ID Law in Coming Election Madana Kloss 4th period


Voter ID law is a law enacted in 2011 which requires voters who wish to cast their ballots to present some sort of photo identification. Texas finally ruled on Saturday that their strict voter ID law was to be implemented for the upcoming November elections, even though it will restrict around 600,000 registered voters from voting, many of which are African American or Hispanic. Is it not ironic, as we are studying the settlement and annexation of Texas, that Texas belonged to Mexico (the Hispanics) before the US? Not only that, but the Americans who expanded into the West brought many of their African American slaves with them. That being said, how far has America come? The African Americans and Hispanics in Texas undoubtedly faced discrimination in many areas during the settlement and annexation of Texas; has this discrimination changed, or merely evolved? Should the voter ID laws be kept in place, even though it prevents 600,000 registered voters from voting? Why or why not?

How much of a difference does voter fraud make? The photo ID laws sounds like it’s supposed to stop this but at the expense of making it really hard for some people to vote and that’s not fair. To be quite honest, it doesn’t seem like America has changed much when the government allows laws like this to happen that seem discriminatory. I wouldn’t be surprised if the real reason behind the law was to prevent certain people from voting to give a certain political party more of an edge.




http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/us/supreme-court-upholds-texas-voter-id-law.html?referrer=&_r=0

Iran Hangs a Woman for Killing her Rapist by Yasmine B (5th pd)

     At around three o'clock in the afternoon of October 26, 2014, a woman, Reyhaneh Jabbari, was publicly hung in Tehran, Iran because she murdered her alleged rapist, Morteza Abdolali Sarbandi, a former employee of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. Jabbarri murdered Sarbandi back in 2007 by stabbing him in the back with a knife, which she bought two days prior to the event. The United Nations, several European countries, and the United States have came out to condemn this unjust execution.
     It breaks my heart that this poor woman was executed, especially when she was only trying to get the justice that she deserved. No one bothered to investigate in the alleged rape because he was a male former government worker, but as soon as a woman murdered a man, the "eye for an eye" concept comes into play. This just shows how corrupt the Iranian government is and how people with power (males in particular) seem to get away with certain things that others cannot.

http://time.com/3540193/iran-hangs-woman-reyhaneh-jabbari-attempted-rape/ 

Academic fraud, UNC students likely will keep degrees- Ausia Jones

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina at UNC is where the biggest academic fraud has been recorded in history. Which is a huge blow in there reputation. This has been going on for 18 years now. The act of fraud was done to make sure that the athletes were able to play on the field. 3,100 students who enrolled in fake classes all now have a degree stamped with the seal of the University of North Carolina. One student was enrolled in 19 different paper classes. "UNC has to verify every degree they give all the time. We ask them to make sure all courses really are legitimate," the president of the association said. There is not a way they can take these degrees back even if they weren't earned properly. A lot of people new about this but it wasn't ever shared with the public. This is a huge deal and is crazy. So many people received degrees that they didn't deserve. The fact that the school allow this to happen for 18 years is insane and that very hard for the school to cover up. 

Site: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/25/us/unc-report-academic-fraud/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Women Fighting ISIS - Sophie Potrykus 2nd

     ISIS has turned into a black hole sucking up the Middle East's worst. Just when we thought they couldn't do anything for us to hate them more, they have begun enslaving women, exploiting them sexually and killing them. In response to these heinous crimes, women in Iraq and Syria have moved up to the front lines in order to fight against these vicious thugs. The UN estimates there are at least 2,500 victims of ISIS as of now, and the number keeps on climbing. These women are being lured in and being raped and treated like dirt, as Vian Dakhil says, "We are being slaughtered, we are being exterminated." Countless women are now lacing up their boots and heading to battlefield, and others are organizing a multitude of resistance rally's against ISIS. We can only hope these women make a huge impact in order to save those in the clutches of the terrorist group ISIS.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/14/opinion/ghitis-isis-women-slavery/index.html?hpt=imi_mid

"Richardson park expansion to protect historical site, hardwood forest" - Addison Norman

Recent plans have been finalized that will double the acreage of Spring Creek Nature Area. 
The City of Richardson is buying a little over 56 acres of land for $11 million. Which is a fair price based on the high demand for land in the area to develop. The project is mostly protect the valuable hardwood forests in the area. Also, the land carried a rich history that dates back to 1859. 

It is so great to see the City of Richardson preserving the natural ecosystem that exists in the area, especially as Dallas continues to grow and develop. This reminds me a lot of the work of  President Theodore Roosevelt who created a large number of national parks to preserve the beauty of wildlife in the U.S.. The national park system has really benefited the nation by encouraging ecotourism and recreation. 

Source : http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/richardson-lake-highlands/headlines/20141025-richardson-park-expansion-to-protect-historical-site-hardwood-forest.ece

Iranian Woman Executed For Killing Alledged Rapist - Sophie Potrykus 2nd

     Iranian woman, Rayhaneh Jabbari, was hanged last Saturday for being convicted of murder of a man who allegedly raped her. This, of course, angered many people including myself as this should have been known as self defense. The UN and United States State Department both have been having major concerns about the trial, considering it 'extremely unfair.' When the incident originally happened, Jabbari was 19 years old and stabbed the man she was working for after he sexually assaulted her. A huge number or people had joined together in order to bring this execution to a halt. Unfortunately, this did not work, and we have to sit back and watch another social injustice happen, and watch yet another woman considered less than the man. Hopefully, we can advance enough as a society to never see anything like this happen again in the future.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/25/world/meast/iranian-woman-execution/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

"Isis just 8 miles from Baghdad airport" by Sam Schaffer

Isis has continued to advance unimpeded through Iraq and Syria; their fighters are now only just miles outside the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. After intense fighting in the region, they have gained control of 80 percent of Anbar Province and are now moving small groups of men towards the capital. American military officials are unsure of whether the Iraqis can hold the city and are bluntly stating that they 'did not pay enough attention to ISIS' and underestimated its capabilities as a military force. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interview with CBS that the US had to send in a small force of Apache helicopters to fend off ISIS fighters, who had punched through the Iraqi defenses and were moving to assault the airport, which is the only route of evacuation for hundreds of American diplomatic and military personnel in the area. However, military officials do not expect a frontal assault on the Shia-dominated city, (ISIS is Sunni), rather they expect them to surround, siege, and choke off the city from outside support. Military officials have also suggested sending in a small force of American ground troops to assist in an Iraqi operation to retake the city of Mosul, for target spotting.

I think that we underestimated ISIS from the beginning. They have sufficient military personnel to take over the entire Iraqi state, and we didn't see that. It sucks

Car Smashes Ten Commandments - Olivia Lambert

Last Friday, a man invaded the premises of the state Capitol of Oklahoma and damaged a copy of the Ten Commandments by first urinating on it and then running over it with his car. He claimed that Satan told him to do so, yet Satanists disagreed with his claim. Plenty of pictures are available to view as his car was left over the commandments because the damage wasn't discovered until 12 hours after it occurred. When he was accused of the incident and brought into the building, he made threats toward Barack Obama and the whole country. Apparently, he was mentally ill and stopped taking medication. He was taken to a mental health hospital for further discoveries.

It's so terrible to hear that this man would do such a thing to such a wonderful country he lives in. Some people would feel sorry for him because he was mentally ill and he couldn't control what he was doing. Other people would say it was his choice to stop taking his medication and if a person's mind goes to horrible thoughts and actions like this one, then maybe he really has been against the country his whole life. The thought of anyone terrorizing what this country has done to make citizens happier makes me so sad. If someone has a problem with something they should start of a petition or write a letter to someone. Handling situations peacefully and maturely from the beginning makes the argument much less violent. In APUSH, we are learning about the Bill of Rights and how all of these little laws are what sets the basis for our country today. And if anyone violates those laws, they are sent to jail. There is always a punishment available to those who don't take America seriously.

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/26/us/oklahoma-ten-commandments-smashed/index.html?c=us

Olivia Lambert 3rd Period

"Tangled Portrait of a Student Emerges in Washington Shooting" - Addison Norman pd 2.

Last Friday, a gunman came into Marysville-Pilchuck High School and shot six times. Killing tone and himself and putting four others into critical to serious conditions. As information is being discovered more people are able to get a better view of who the gunman was. 

The gunman is identified as Jaylen Fryberg, a fourteen-year-old freshman who attended the school. Just a week ago Fryberg was nominated as homecoming freshman prince by his classmates. He was only the football team, and a respected member in the community. Many students were shocked that he did this because it was completely out of character. 
Based on what witnesses saw Jaylen wasn't just randomly shooting, but actually had targets. Five of his close friends and family members. Two boys who were shot were cousins of Jaylen. The two girls he shot and the one he killed were all described as friends of Jaylen. 
Now the community is trying to figure out why. Some sources say that Jaylen recently broke up with his girl friend from another school. Others don't believed the two were connected. The true motive may never be known.

I hope the community and the people effected by events can recover from such a tram tic occurrence. When I hear of shooting like these I think back to what happened at Columbine  High School and Sandy Hook. Then I think of the limits of our second amendment. Back in the late 1700's, new Americans feared being overrun by a government army so the second amendment was adopted so people could protect themselves from the military or intruders. One friend of Fryberg's family said that the family only owned hunting guns, but no hand guns and he is not even sure where he got the gun he used in the shooting. I know in recent elections gun control laws are a factor into choosing officials. Based on our nations history, it leaves voters with the question of should we allow guns in order to protect ourselves or limit guns? 

Source :http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/us/contrasting-portraits-emerge-of-jaylen-ray-fryberg-shooter-at-washington-school.html?_r=0