Unemployment on the Rise
Have you or someone you know lost a job as a result of COVID-19? It should come as no surprise to anyone that the global pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the U.S. economy. But it’s starting to become clear exactly how big a deal this really is. New reports from the Department of […]
COVID-19 and the Economy
By now, you are hopefully adjusting to the “new normal” of self-isolation and social distancing. But what effect are all of these closed-down restaurants, bars, fitness centers, schools, and more having on the economy? Experts agree that we will probably face a significant recession (or even a depression) as a result of these widespread closures. […]
Environmental Injustice
Earlier this week, our nation celebrated the memory of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For many, Monday was a day to consider race relations in our country today, and how they have changed (or not) since Dr. King’s time. One issue that is still linked to racial inequality today is housing. Where […]
California Takes a Stand on Fracking
You’ve heard of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing–the process by which oil and natural gas are removed from the earth by shooting a high-pressure water, sand, and chemical mixture into the rock deep inside the earth, pushing the oil and natural gas to the surface. It’s a highly controversial drilling technique with potentially serious environmental consequences. […]
College Athletes: To Pay or Not to Pay?
They bring in billions of dollars in revenue and tons of recognition for colleges, yet they themselves are not allowed to profit from their skills in any way. This has always been the role of college athletes, even at Division I schools that can make thousands or even millions by using the athlete’s image for […]
Are Drive-Thru Lanes Hitting the Road?
It’s been a long day of school and practice. You’re starving, but you don’t have a lot of money or time. What will you do? If you’re like most Americans, you’ll go through the drive-thru line of your favorite fast food restaurant. But that might be getting harder to do, as some cities are now […]
Amazon’s HQ2 Announced
The coming holiday season means, among other things, Amazon boxes on doorsteps and Amazon trucks on the highway. For many of us, it can be hard to remember a time before the online shopping giant. Ever since Amazon announced that they would be building a second U.S. headquarters–known as HQ2–cities large and small have been […]
Stock Market Plummets: Crisis or Capitalism?
On Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 1,500 points (more than 6%). This was the worst fall in six years, and at one point, the biggest one-day drop in history. So should we panic? What Caused the Plunge? The drop wasn’t caused by any one fundamental thing. Instead, there were a number […]
Obama Rejects Keystone Pipeline (Again)
Last year, btw wanted to know your thoughts about the Keystone XL Pipeline. Earlier this month, President Obama formally rejected the permit that would allow its completion. Let’s take a closer look about what has happened and what it means. Pipeline Timeline It begins with TransCanada, the company that wants to build a 1,179-mile pipeline […]
Recalling Recalls
Pretty much any product you can purchase–food, a car seat, or medicine, for example–can be subject to a recall. This means that a significant and hazardous defect in the product has been identified and and action is taken by the company to alert the public that a particular product might cause injury or damage. Last […]