Fighting Wildfires Using Indigenous Practices
Wildfires are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity. Since 2015, wildfires in the United States have burned about 8 million acres each year on average. For the past 100 years, the prevailing government policy has been to suppress, or prevent, fires in national parks and other public lands. However, some federal and state agencies […]
Thanksgiving Turkey and Traditions
Americans love turkey on Thanksgiving, and it’s only fitting that the president pay homage to one of the countries dearest traditions. Just look at some of these turkey facts through American history. One of the country’s founding fathers Benjamin Franklin had proposed the turkey as the United States’ national bird, instead of the bald eagle. […]
United Auto Workers Tentatively End Strike
Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union went back to work on October 30, 2023. Since September 15, they had been on a historic strike against the “Big Three” U.S. automakers: Ford Motor Company, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler). It was the first time the UAW had gone on strike at […]
Indiana Limestone: An Important Building Material
Architects have chosen limestone from Indiana to construct many buildings in the United States. Some of the buildings constructed with Indiana limestone include the Empire State Building, the Pentagon, and the Tribune Tower in Chicago. City halls, stadiums, and a variety of monuments throughout the country are also built of Indiana limestone. Why Is Indiana […]
The Pima Canals: A Solution for Modern Water Problems in the Southwest
As early as the 1600s, Spanish missionaries considered the Pima people in southern Arizona as the gardeners of the dry American Southwest. The Pima used canals dug by their ancestors to water their fields of wheat, corn, beans, and fruit trees. That is, until American settlers upstream diverted the water of the Gila River, which […]
Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Named Ohio’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the addition of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks to the list of World Heritage sites. The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks are made up of eight locations throughout southern Ohio. The earthworks are Ohio’s first World Heritage Site and one of only 25 sites in the United States. […]
The Johnstown Flood of 1889
On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam in southwest Pennsylvania collapsed. The waters of Lake Conemaugh burst from behind the earthen dam with the force of Niagara Falls. When the 40-foot wall of water reached Johnstown, located in a valley 14 miles below the dam, it had already carried debris, people, and animals from […]
You Know Uncle Sam. But Who is Brother Jonathan?
Uncle Sam is a familiar character used to represent the United States as a person. Dressed in red, white, and blue, his image brings to mind thoughts of American patriotism. He is used as a stand-in for the United States in political cartoons and advertisements. Uncle Sam’s origins can be traced back to the War […]
Senator Dianne Feinstein Leaves a Legacy
California senator Dianne Feinstein died September 29, 2023, at age 90. She was the oldest and longest-serving female U.S. senator. Feinstein’s career in the Senate spanned three decades. Throughout that time, she supported gun control, environmental issues, and review of federal interrogation methods. She will also be remembered for breaking many barriers for women in […]
Second Debate for 2024 Republican Presidential Candidates
The second primary debate for the Republican presidential nomination was held in Simi Valley, California, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on September 27, 2023. Seven of the candidates took to the stage. Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner, chose not to participate. Also, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson failed to qualify for this debate. […]