Trouble in Flint
Nearly 100,000 residents of Flint, Michigan (66 miles north of Detroit) are without safe drinking water and at risk of lead poisoning. The city’s water supply has been contaminated, which means people cannot safely cook, drink or even brush their teeth with tap water. Local, state and the federal government are now involved, as well […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
U.S. Soldiers Held in Iran On the heels of the historic deal between the United States and Iran, the U.S. has found itself in the middle of a military mishap. On January 12, ten American members of the U.S. Navy illegally sailed into territorial waters. The boats were allegedly en route on a 300-mile journey, […]
YOU DECIDE: Should Soda Come With a Warning Label?
Last year, btw brought you a story about the state of New York’s failed attempt to ban sodas larger than 16 ounces in the state. . Now, one city (Baltimore, Maryland) and two states (New York and California) have introduced legislation that could require certain drinks to be sold with a warning label. It would […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Was 2015 a Good Year for Jobs? In the years since the Great Recession, our economy has reported many episodes of upturn. But 2015 was the first prolonged stretch of job creation since the late 1990s. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the government agency that collects economic data and distributes it to the American […]
Occupation in Oregon
As the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon by armed militia closes out another week, btw brings you news of what is happening and what both sides hope to accomplish in a standoff. Background Father and son ranchers, Dwight Hammond (73) and Steven (43), own about 12,000 acres of land located in […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Update on Iran Nuclear Deal Last April, btw brought you news of the hotly-debated Iran nuclear deal. Later, we asked you for your opinion on the matter. Formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the six-county agreement was signed on July 14, 2015. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to reduce its stockpile of […]
Obama’s Executive Action on Gun Control
In his first weekly address of the New Year, President Obama announced that he would pursue Executive Action as a way to implement gun control legislation. It is a controversial measure because it is a controversial subject and also because he is going forward without the consent of Congress. What is an Executive Order? As btw […]