State and Local Minimum Wage Increases in 2023
In 2023, an estimated 8.4 million American workers will see a raise in their hourly pay. This is because 23 states and Washington, D.C., are increasing their minimum wage. The raises range from an additional 23 cents per hour in Michigan to $1.50 per hour in Nebraska. Twenty-seven cities and counties are also increasing their […]
Powerful NASA Telescope Discovers New Exoplanet
Is there life outside of Earth? That question has fascinated people for thousands of years. Books, movies, television shows, and radio programs have theorized and fantasized about the existence of life on other planets and in other galaxies. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists hope that the powerful James Webb Space Telescope gets them […]
Lunar New Year Begins
Happy New Year! Lunar New Year–also known as the Spring Festival–began on January 22, 2023. The Lunar New Year represents renewal, as well as the transition from winter to spring, and is important in many Asian cultures and communities. Here, btw takes a closer look at the origins, significance, and traditions surrounding this holiday, as […]
Unlocking Opportunities for Young Kenyans with Recycled Computers
Digital technology has become fundamental to economic success in today’s society. It allows people, countries, and companies to participate more fully in the global economy. Small businesses can use digital technology to reach more customers. Digital skills unlock many new, high-paying jobs. However, people in less developed countries often lack access to these technologies. The […]
Senator Mitch McConnell Makes History
The 118th Congress opened on January 3, 2023. Democrats and Republicans elect party leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives at the start of each new session. The beginning of this Congress marked an important history-making event: Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, became the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history. […]
President Biden Signs Respect for Marriage Act
On December 13, 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan bill that protects same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level. Thousands attended the signing celebration on the South Lawn of the White House. Here, btw takes a closer look at the Respect for Marriage Act, its impact, and its legal […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Cuba Approves Women’s Boxing On December 5, 2022, Cuban officials announced that women will be able to compete in boxing in Cuba for the first time in history. Cuban women have competed in other contact sports, such as taekwondo, judo, karate, weightlifting, and wrestling. But they were not allowed to box. . Now, however, Cuba’s […]
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Protests Against China’s COVID Policies Imagine that another surge in COVID-19 cases caused the U.S. government to declare another nationwide lockdown. Would you be upset? A government-ordered lockdown in China has resulted in widespread protests, which are rare in China due to extensive government surveillance. So far, several protestors have been arrested. China has one […]
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The Day of 8 Billion On November 15, 2022, the world reached a milestone: the global population officially surpassed eight billion people. In honor of this event, the United Nations celebrated November 15 as the “Day of Eight Billion.” But is this a good thing or a bad thing? According to the United Nations, population […]
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Archaeological Discoveries in Egypt King Tutankhamun was a pharaoh who ruled Egypt for ten years, until his death in 1324 B.C.E. at the age of nineteen. In 1922, British archaeologists opened his tomb and found a wealth of treasures and artifacts. The study of these artifacts taught the modern world a great deal about ancient […]