
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 […]

50th Anniversary of a Civil Rights Milestone
The modern civil rights movement in the United States is typically said to have occurred between 1955 and 1968. The start of mass public protests in the South began in December 1955 with the Montgomery bus boycott and culminated with the passage of the federal Civil Rights Act in 1968. During these years, many people […]

Photo Essay: The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
One of the organizers of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was Bayard Rustin. Rustin was an activist for many social causes in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. He worked with A. Philip Randolph and the other main leaders of the March to ensure the event was completed safely and […]

Who’s Ready for an All-Digital Classroom?
As students all over the country head back to school this month, educators are busy finding new ways to engage them in relevant and meaningful ways. For many, this means integrating technology that students already use every day outside of school–such as social media, video conferencing, and e-readers–into the classroom’s curriculum. But transitioning these devices […]
National Holidays Around the World
How do you celebrate July 4th? You might display the Stars and Stripes on your front porch, or dress in red, white, and blue. You might march in a parade, attend a family picnic, or watch a spectacular fireworks display. People in other countries also celebrate important national holidays. Visit the Fourth of July topic […]
National Security Vs. Privacy
In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act, federal legislation that strengthened the federal government’s ability to gather national intelligence on the actions of enemies or potential enemies. Since then, there has been many debates in this country about the balance between national security and a citizen’s individual […]
Spelling Bee Still a Big Deal
Arvind Mahankali, a 13-year-old from Bayside Hills, New York, successfully spelled the word knaidel to win the 86th Scripps National Spelling Bee last month. Arvind won a $30,000 cash prize and a $2500 savings bond. This was Mahankali’s fourth time competing in the Bee; he finished in third place in both 2011 and 2012. The […]
Boy Scouts Lift Membership Restriction
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) issued a statement last month announcing they would no longer deny membership to any youth based solely on sexual orientation. The 103-year-old youth organization has more than 2.7 million members (and more than 110 million former members) across the United States. At their annual meeting in Grapevine, Texas, the […]
New Testimony for the Benghazi Attacks
It has been eight months since the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked and four people were killed, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. In that time controversy has surrounded the White House’s handling of the situation. In events such as this, it is typical for government agencies to operate official investigations about the […]
A Changing Climate
The debate about global warming has been ongoing for many years. It seems to be when the U.S. experiences unseasonably warm or cold temperatures or a series of natural disasters like hurricanes or forest fires, then the talk of climate change becomes big news. California was recently in the national news because it has reported […]