Minnesota’s New State Flag
Minnesotans will see a new flag flying over schools, government offices, and public buildings this spring. The State Emblems Redesign Commission approved the new state flag design in January 2024. What Motivated the Redesign? Government officials and numerous citizen groups believe the new design reflects Minnesota better than the previous design. The old design included […]
Grand Roman Wall Mosaic Unearthed
In mid-December of 2023, an archaeological dig in Rome, Italy unearthed a mosaic wall mural estimated to be about 2,000 years old. A mosaic is an image made up of tiny bits of colored glass or stone covering a surface. The discovery of the mosaic is part of a five-year dig at Palatine Hill, one […]
The Life of Sandra Day O’Connor
Sandra Day O’Connor, who made history as the first woman to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice, died on December 1, 2023. She was 93 years old. O’Connor’s Professional Beginnings Before she became a Supreme Court justice, Sandra Day grew up on a 250-square-mile cattle ranch on the border of Arizona and New Mexico. […]
Remembering Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger, a prominent figure in American foreign policy for over 50 years, died at the age of 100 on November 29, 2023. He was known for his influential roles as secretary of state and National Security Advisor to Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Kissinger was born in Fürth, Germany, in 1923. The […]
Venezuela’s Controversial Vote to Annex Guyana’s Territory
Venezuela’s President Nicolaus Maduro wants a large region of neighboring Guyana to come under his country’s control. He claims that the territory, known as Essequibo (EHS uh KIB oh), was stolen from Venezuela in 1899. His government held a referendum, or vote, on December 3, 2023. Maduro declared that Venezuelans voted overwhelmingly to annex, or […]
Workers in India Rescued After 17 Days
On November 12, 2023, a landslide and tunnel collapse trapped forty-one construction workers in a tunnel in the Himalayas in northern India. On November 28, after 17 days underground, all of the workers were freed! They emerged through a 3-foot-wide escape tunnel that rescuers had carefully drilled. Although wheeled stretchers were available, the men crawled […]
Remembering Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter, died on November 19, 2023. She was 96 years old. She and the president had been married 77 years. Rosalynn (pronounced ROSE-a-lynn) Carter greatly expanded the role of First Lady of the United States during her husband’s presidency. She fought fiercely for mental health reform, women’s rights, […]
Using Technology to Help People with Disabilities Enjoy Nature in New Ways
Technology helps people with disabilities at home and in the workplace. Technologies are also making it easier for people with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors. Meeting a Need During the springtime at Snowshoe Mountain Resort in West Virginia, ski slopes become dirt tracks for mountain bikers. The resort has partnered with Challenged Athletes of West […]
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Hat Auctioned for Record-Setting Price
On November 19, 2023, a hat once owned by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was auctioned in France for almost 2 million euros ($2.1 million). The selling price was more than double the expected auction price. The amount set a record for one of Napolean’s hats. Napoleon is known for the distinctive style of two-cornered military […]
Fighting Wildfires Using Indigenous Practices
Wildfires are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity. Since 2015, wildfires in the United States have burned about 8 million acres each year on average. For the past 100 years, the prevailing government policy has been to suppress, or prevent, fires in national parks and other public lands. However, some federal and state agencies […]