YOU DECIDE: Is It Necessary to Raise the Retirement Age?
Nikki Haley is campaigning to win the Republican Party presidential nomination. She recently proposed raising the age when Americans can collect Social Security retirement benefits. The idea of making people wait longer to receive money after their working career ends is controversial. Haley believes this change is necessary in order to save Social Security. Social […]
“Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” Makes History at the Oscars
The Academy Awards, or Oscars, are yearly awards for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. This year, the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once had a historic night at the 2023 Oscars. The film is about a middle-aged Chinese American woman and her family travelling the multiverse—a series of different fictional universes where […]
Women’s History Month: A Women’s Suffrage Memorial on the National Mall
In 1920, Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which granted white women the right to vote in the United States. The journey to get there was long and difficult–and often unrecognized. But that’s about to change, as Congress begins the process of creating a monument honoring women’s suffrage, or the right to vote, on […]
Questions Raised After Tinubu’s Presidential Election Victory in Nigeria
On February 25, 2023, Bola Tinubu was named winner of Nigeria’s presidential election. But Tinubu’s presidential opponents and several election observers have questioned the fairness of the results. Nigerian government officials have defended the election process. Tinubu is set to be sworn in on May 29, 2023. He will be the West African country’s fifth […]
Women’s History Month: Remembering Judy Heumann
Women’s History Month is celebrated every March in the United States. This is a time to honor and celebrate women’s contributions to American history. This week btw takes a closer look at the life and contributions of Judy Heumann, a leading disability rights activist. Heumann died on March 4, 2023, at the age of 75. […]
Senate Acts After Train Derailment
A train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed last month in eastern Ohio. U.S. senators have introduced a new rail safety bill to prevent future railroad disasters and held a hearing to learn more about the incident. Details continue to emerge about the environmental and health impacts on the community. Here, btw takes a closer look at the accident, […]
Recognizing Women with Place Names: Five Canadian Mountains
Have you ever noticed that most geographical locations are named after men? While the number of men and women are relatively equal, there are fewer geographical locations named after women. When you eliminate the categories of Christian saints, Greek goddesses, and queens, even fewer landmarks are named to honor women. A lack of women-inspired place […]
President Biden Visits Ukraine on Anniversary of Russian Invasion
On February 20, 2023, United States President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. The historic visit was a demonstration of the United States’ support for Ukraine ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022. President Biden spent roughly five hours in Kyiv meeting with […]
Women’s History Month: The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum
In December 2020, Congress approved funding for the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. This museum will honor American women’s accomplishments, their histories, and the communities they represent. While the museum organization has hosted many online and in-person events and programs, the physical museum hasn’t been constructed yet. The website for the museum says that it […]
New Discoveries Help Explain Egyptian Mummification
When you hear the words “ancient Egypt,” you probably think about mummies. You may have learned about them in school or seen them in movies. But have you ever wondered exactly how ancient people were able to preserve mummies for thousands of years, without the benefit of modern technology? Scientists have wondered about this too. […]