Hurricane Katrina Photo Essay
Hurricane Katrina made a huge impact on the people of the Gulf Coast south. But its effects on the city of New Orleans has stayed in the minds of American citizens for the past ten years. As the tenth anniversary passes, let’s look back at how this storm changed so many people’s lives.
Does Anyone Care About the Olympics Anymore?
Once upon a time, the Olympics were a source of great pride for many countries all over the world. The founder of the modern games (1894), Pierre de Coubertin, created a vision of an international movement that, “stood for respect, fair balance, pursuit of excellence, joy in effort, and balance between mind, body and will.” […]
YOU DECIDE: Is the Iran Deal Good for the United States?
As btw reported back in April, many countries have viewed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a considerable threat. In 2006, a diplomatic group made up of six world powers calling themselves P5+1 (named for the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus one non-member), gathered together to strategize on the best way to […]
Landmark Ruling on Marriage Equality
At the end of June, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ended its 2014–2015 term with a number of hot-topic decisions. One of its biggest was a landmark ruling on same-sex marriage. This means that the decision will have significant and lasting impact on future legislation. You’ve probably witnessed the flurry of reactions […]
Charleston Deaths Cause National Debate
On Wednesday, June 18, in Charleston, South Carolina, nine African American members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church were shot and killed while attending a Bible study meeting. The victims were members of the Emanuel AME church and citizens of the Charleston area. The three men and six women ranged in age from the […]
Happy 800th Birthday, Magna Carta!
If there were a Hall of Fame for historical documents, the Magna Carta would be its most valuable player. It is considered one of the most influential pieces of writings in all of history. This past weekend marked the 800th anniversary of the signing of this historic document of governing principles. To mark this milestone […]
Water and Blues: Texas Flood
Last summer, the state of Texas was in the middle of a severe drought. Heavy rains and tornadoes over the recent Memorial Day weekend, however, have saturated the ground and caused flooding across much of the north and eastern part of the state. Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and parts of Kansas have all experienced record […]
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 […]
Helping Nepal to Recover
Earlier this month, btw reported on the massive earthquake that shook Nepal, killing more than 4,000 people and affecting 8 million more. Homes and businesses have been destroyed, along with infrastructure like roads and bridges, and essential services have been disrupted. Last year, btw provided an overview on what happens After the Disaster. It highlighted […]
School Around the World
So it’s that time of year again: time to wrap up the school year, attend an end-of-the-year graduation tradition, have a little party, and maybe take some time to reflect on what you have learned and experienced these last many months. But not all students everywhere will be out of school for the summer. In fact, the […]