Shutdown Showdown
For the first time in seventeen years, the U.S. government is in the midst of a shutdown. This means that a number of federally-funded programs and services have been suspended and its workers “furloughed.” Furloughted workers are not allowed to work or get paid until the shutdown has been resolved and the continuing resolution that […]
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Mass Shooting at Navy Yard On September 16, a civilian named Aaron Alexis killed 12 people and injured 8 others at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters in Washington D.C. Because the facility is located just a few miles from the White House, part of the city was placed in lock-down. Alexis was working […]
Shutdown!
Last night, time ran out for the federal government. The House of Representatives and the Senate could not agree on the wording of a temporary funding bill that would help pay the federal government’s financial obligations and was forced at midnight to declare a shutdown of some parts of the federal government. This shutdown will […]
YOU DECIDE: Should College Athletes Be Paid?
If you’ve ever watched a March Madness basketball game or a college football Bowl game, you know that college sports are big business. This is causing some to ask whether it’s time to start paying college athletes who are, after all, largely responsible for the wins and losses. Others believe this action will cause more problems […]
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It’s a Panda! On August 23, Mei Xiang, a giant panda at the National Zoo in Washington D.C., gave birth to a female cub. DNA testing showed that the father panda was Tian Tain, a male panda at the National Zoo. (The testing was needed because the zoo staff also attempted to mate Mei Xiang with […]
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International Response to Syria The conflict in Syria has been going on for more than two-and-a-half years. The United States has tried to avoid military intervention. However, the president made a statement last year that use of chemical weapons would change the nation’s position. Even though Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies having used sarin nerve […]
Is Another Government Shutdown Possible?
Congress is about to return from its month-long summer recess. They will be faced with the major task of passing a continuing resolution to fund the government for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1. Failure to reach an agreement could result in a government shutdown, which is what happens when a legislative body […]
Detroit Declares Bankruptcy
Back in the 1950s, Detroit, Michigan was a thriving city, the fourth largest in the United States. This success was due, in part, to the strength of the American automobile companies–Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. These multinational companies placed their headquarters and assembly plants there. But, the expansion of the auto industry into other cities, […]
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Education Reform Marks Anniversary On April 11, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) into law. This historic education bill was part of President Johnson’s War of Poverty initiative. Johnson believed that government could play an effective role in areas such as health care and education. ESEA provided equal access […]
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Taliban Victim Returns to School In October, btw reported that a young educational activist named Malala Yousafzai had been shot by members of the Taliban in Pakistan. After five months of intense recovery and rehabilitation, she has returned to school. Malala, 15, was targeted by the extremist Islamic group because of her public opposition to […]