Remembering 9/11, Twenty Years Later
Twenty years ago, on September 11, 2001, millions of Americans were going about their business on a regular Tuesday. That morning fourteen members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The terrorists deliberately crashed two of the planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City causing the […]
Remembering the Tulsa Race Massacre
One hundred years ago, one of the U.S.’s worst incidents of race-based violence occurred: the Tulsa Race Massacre. There were no memorials to those lost. Evidence of the riot was removed from newspapers and police logs. Now, however, a new lawsuit in Oklahoma is seeking reparations for the massacre. Here, btw takes a closer look. […]
AAPI Heritage Month: Senator Mazie Hirono
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of the AAPI community. While Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing demographic group in the United States, they remain drastically underrepresented in all levels of government, including Congress. This week btw gets to know a […]
Profiles in Women’s History: Mary Allen Wilkes
March is Women’s History Month–a great time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women. This week btw takes a closer look at the life and achievements of one remarkable woman: Mary Allen Wilkes. Who Is She? Mary Allen Wilkes is best known for helping to develop and write the system software for LINC. LINC […]
Inauguration Day 2021
Perhaps no single event illustrates democracy as much as the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. On January 20, 2021, just before noon, Joseph R. Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. For many reasons, this was an unusual ceremony, unlike any other inauguration in history. Here, […]
Attack on the United States Capitol
On January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. a hostile group of Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building as Congress was in session. They delayed the final step of certifying the 2020 presidential electoral votes. The protestors surged past security barriers and broke windows to enter the Capitol. They forced Capitol Police to retreat […]
A Look at the 2020 Election
The entire 2020 presidential election season between Donald Trump and Joe Biden was unusual to say the least. The day after the election, more surprises remain because there is no clear winner. There are, however, several interesting things that can be learned from what we know right now. Here, btw takes a closer look at […]
Barrett Confirmation Hearings
Did you watch Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s televised Supreme Court confirmation hearings last week? Many Americans tuned in to watch or read about the nearly twenty hours of hearings. Unlike other federal government offices, Supreme Court justices have no term limits–meaning that they can serve for life. So, whoever is chosen to take Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg seat on the Court can affect legal policy for decades, maybe even generations. Here, btw takes a closer […]
When is the Right Time to Reopen?
To say that the global coronavirus pandemic has been devastating would be an understatement. Worldwide, nearly two million people are infected, with more than 120,000 dead. Right now, 82 countries are imposing some form of lockdown. Around the world, 1.4 billion children are out of school, and the global economy is expected to shrink by […]
A Water Partnership
Fast-growing communities can face many challenges. One such challenge is having the necessary infrastructure–such as roads, bridges, electrical lines, and pipes–to keep up with the growth and provide new residents with the services they need. Southwest Missouri is one region currently facing these issues. For them, the primary concern is water–in other words, having enough […]