The Johnstown Flood of 1889
On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam in southwest Pennsylvania collapsed. The waters of Lake Conemaugh burst from behind the earthen dam with the force of Niagara Falls. When the 40-foot wall of water reached Johnstown, located in a valley 14 miles below the dam, it had already carried debris, people, and animals from […]
A Pause in Seismic Blasting off Australia’s Western Coast
Australia’s federal court recently ruled that Woodside Energy, Australia’s largest oil and gas company, could not start looking for natural gas deposits under the ocean floor. The court ruled that Woodside Energy failed to discuss the plans with all the affected indigenous groups. Indigenous groups are descendants of the earliest known inhabitants of a region. […]
You Know Uncle Sam. But Who is Brother Jonathan?
Uncle Sam is a familiar character used to represent the United States as a person. Dressed in red, white, and blue, his image brings to mind thoughts of American patriotism. He is used as a stand-in for the United States in political cartoons and advertisements. Uncle Sam’s origins can be traced back to the War […]
Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Narges Mohammadi
Iranian human rights activist and journalist Narges Mohammadi (NAR-guhs moh-HAM-mah-dee) has won the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize. Narges Mohammadi is the nineteenth woman to have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Over the last 30 years, Mohammadi has focused her work on promoting human rights and fighting laws and customs oppressive to the women of Iran. […]
Senator Dianne Feinstein Leaves a Legacy
California senator Dianne Feinstein died September 29, 2023, at age 90. She was the oldest and longest-serving female U.S. senator. Feinstein’s career in the Senate spanned three decades. Throughout that time, she supported gun control, environmental issues, and review of federal interrogation methods. She will also be remembered for breaking many barriers for women in […]
United Nations Approves Resolution to Control Haitian Gang Violence
The United Nations Security Council approved sending an armed multinational force to Haiti to address the violence and political instability that plagues the country. The resolution also calls for an end to arms sales to Haiti with exceptions for security purposes. Kenya is planning to lead the multinational force, not the United Nations (UN). One […]
New Study Reveals Global Increase in Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
What types of beverages do you reach for most often? Water? Soft drinks? Energy drinks? A new study shows that adults around the world drank about 16 percent more sugary beverages in 2018 than they did in 1990. However, that number varied widely depending on the region. Tufts University researchers set out to see how […]
Second Debate for 2024 Republican Presidential Candidates
The second primary debate for the Republican presidential nomination was held in Simi Valley, California, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023. Seven of the candidates took to the stage. Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner, chose not to participate. Also, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson failed to qualify for this debate. […]
Salsa Music Legend Featured on Quarter Series
Celia Cruz, a Cuban American singer who popularized Salsa music until her death in 2003, will be featured on a quarter in 2024 as part of the American Women Quarters™ Program. She will be the first Afro-Latina featured on U.S. currency. Cruz grew up in Havana, Cuba. As a singer she got her first big […]
Soaring Food Prices in India
In India, high inflation has combined with weather-related and other events to cause a steep increase in food prices. Inflation is a general rise in price levels. As inflation has raised prices, many basic food items, such as tomatoes and onions, are too expensive for many Indian families to afford. Inflated Food Costs Food costs […]