Senator McConnell To Introduce Way to Raise Age to Purchase Tobacco

Luciano GonzalezStaff Writer Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is planning to introduce a bill into Congress in the coming weeks that would raise the national minimum age required to legally sell tobacco from age 18 to 21. This is being done to combat the rise of vaping, which is the act of inhaling or exhaling aerosol produced by e-cigarettes, vape-pens, advanced personal vaporizers and other … Continue reading Senator McConnell To Introduce Way to Raise Age to Purchase Tobacco

N.C. Bill to Change Teacher Spending

Tyra HilliardStaff Writer Superintendent Mark Johnson attended a statewide press conference earlier this month at the North Carolina Legislative Building alongside State Sen. Andy Wells (R-Catawba) as they announced their idea for a new program that would give the licensed teachers of North Carolina, which currently stands at $94,000, a $400 allowance to buy supplies for the classroom. What would have been a celebratory moment … Continue reading N.C. Bill to Change Teacher Spending

Millennials Navigate Politics

Megan PociaskStaff Writer As the largest generation in the United States, there is no question that millennials inevitably have a strong impact on the overall political stance of the nation. They are the generation that grew up witnessing 9/11, the intense, rapid growth of social media and a major economic recession, and therefore, the millennial’s political identity is more definitive than given credit. A 2014 … Continue reading Millennials Navigate Politics

Pete Buttigieg Announces Run for President

Hannah AstinStaff Writer Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has officially announced his presidential bid. If elected, Buttigieg would be the youngest and first openly gay, president. Buttigieg announced his presidential run to a standing room-only crowd, promising to bring the same change and innovation to the country that he instilled in South Bend. “My name is Pete Buttigieg. They call me … Continue reading Pete Buttigieg Announces Run for President

Chicago Sues “Empire” Actor, Jussie Smollett

Luciano GonzalezStaff Writer The city of Chicago is preparing to sue Jussie Smollett in the wake of his allegedly false statements from earlier in 2019. Earlier this year, the “Empire” actor alleged that he was the victim of a vicious physical attack, and the city is suing to recover expenses incurred during overtime taken by law enforcement officials investigating the claims of the actor. Theoretically, … Continue reading Chicago Sues “Empire” Actor, Jussie Smollett

Justice Department Declining to Defend Anti- female Circumcision Law

Peyton UpchurchStaff Writer Two weeks after its decision to begin fighting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in court, the Justice Department stated to a lawmakers that it would stop defending a federal law prohibiting female genital mutilation due to a flaw in the wording of the litigation. Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco wrote in a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, who is the … Continue reading Justice Department Declining to Defend Anti- female Circumcision Law

First Ever Photo of Black Hole Captured

Marisa SloanStaff Writer From “Star Trek” to “Interstellar,” black holes have captivated humans for generations. Now, researchers at the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project have made history by producing the first real image of a black hole. The black hole in question, although a whopping 55 million light-years from Earth in a galaxy called Messier 87, was able to be photographed because of its massive … Continue reading First Ever Photo of Black Hole Captured

House Votes to Keep Government Agencies From Inquiring about Criminal History on Job Applications

Tyra HilliardStaff Writer As of early February, the House voted to ‘Ban the Box.’ The box refers to questions that inquire about an applicant’s criminal history on applications, which would become illegal for employers of federal agencies and contractors to ask about. The newly confidential information would be discussed once applicants are offered a conditional employment offer.   The change would allow the “Fair Chance … Continue reading House Votes to Keep Government Agencies From Inquiring about Criminal History on Job Applications

Ilhan Omar Recieves Death Threats

Hannah AstinStaff Writer A New York man has been arrested and charged in connection to a threat to assault and murder Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat and Muslim lawmaker from Minnesota. Omar was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 as one of the two first Muslim women elected to Congress. The United States Department of Justice said in a statement that the … Continue reading Ilhan Omar Recieves Death Threats

Black Churches Burned in Connected Louisiana Arsons

Luciano GonzalezStaff Writer Louisiana law enforcement is investigating the conditions under which three historically Black Louisiana churches were burned down in late March and early April. In the days since the churches have burned down, the state’s law enforcement has determined that each of the fires was intentionally set and that the fires are related, likely having been set by a single person or group. … Continue reading Black Churches Burned in Connected Louisiana Arsons