Category Archives: News

Advice/How To, Events

Spring break

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By: Sema’Jae Tate

Photo by Cris Mu00e9nlu00e9s on Pexels.com

Hi Highland scholars!

Spring break is around the corner and I know it brings a lot of excitement and relief after working hard and it brings a sense of excitement and relief after weeks of hard work and routine. It’s a time to take a break from school, relax and recharge, whether that means traveling somewhere warm, spending time with friends and family or just enjoying some quiet days at home.

The longer days and warmer (hopefully) weather make everything feel more alive, giving people the chance to get outside and try new things. Some things you could do over spring break include going to city clubs and programs, working, and sports. Other people may travel. I myself plan on trying out for an AAU team and to visit family.

Spring break isn’t just about fun, it’s also a chance to reset, clear your mind and come back feeling refreshed and ready to finish the rest of the year strong. Personally, I’m looking forward to pushing myself to get all my work done on time, to finish the year strong.

No matter what you end up doing for spring break, hope you have an amazing time!

Local, Science/Nature

Spontaneous spring

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By: Simon Pluger

Minnehaha Falls at Minnehaha Park. Before 29, December 2016, by James Kerr via Wikimedia Commons

The random nice day felt so good, and I know a lot of people were excited because it means it’s finally nice out. However, the next day, it went back to 30 degrees after having the 70 degree, almost summer day. People think this is odd, but it’s actually called a “fool’s spring” or “false spring.”

They call it this because it tempts us with a nice day and then reverts to winter, making us even more ready for spring to start. It feels like the Earth is teasing us, but there is a scientific reason for it: it happens when the atmosphere changes and arctic air moves south. Aside from that, it’s a sign that spring is coming, but that it will take time and temperatures will rise slowly, not rapidly.

Going back to last Saturday, March 21st, it was beautiful out with a nice  77 degrees, almost pushing 80. People were out and about enjoying the weather, walking their dogs, biking, and even picnicking at the park. I went to Minnehaha Falls to walk some trails. The snow was gone and the ice on the falls was melting; you could actually hear the cracking of the ice moving, even though there were so many people there.

For more information on when it’s going be nice out, visit:

Getting To Know/History, News

War in Iran and gas prices

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By: Merob Geleto

The escalating conflict between Iran, the U.S., and Israel has now exploded into a full-on war, triggered by the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites, air defenses, and government infrastructure on February 28, 2026. The Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed during the opening wave of strikes. There are still on-going military actions, 10 other Middle East countries have gotten involved with the conflict because Iran was targeting US military bases that were stationed in those countries. 

Iran and US tension has been going on for a long time now. This conflict even dates back to the 1950s. In the early 1950s, Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh nationalized the Iranian oil industry. Fearing that Iran may now lean towards the Soviet Union or the loss of oil would destabilize the West, the CIA and British intelligence orchestrated a coup. The US gave power to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi who was a loyal ally to the US and the West. The Shah launched a series of aggressive reforms to modernize the country. This led to economic growth and increased women’s rights but it also involved the use of SAVAK (secret police) to eliminate dissent and rapid westernization. Many Iranians were against this new, pro-Western monarchy. 

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran was caused by economic inequality despite the vast oil wealth, the SAVAK, and the religious backlash. Large-scale protests and strikes broke out across Iranian cities. When the Shah realized he had lost control of the country and the military, he fled into exile. Iran went from a pro-Western monarchy to a theocratic republic. Khomeini, who was exiled during the Shah’s era for saying that the Shah was destroying Iran’s Islamic identity, had come back and became the “Supreme Leader”. Strict Islamic codes were implemented like mandatory veiling for women, banning Western music, and alcohol. Iran was a key US ally and then became a fierce adversary which peaked during the Iran Hostage Crisis. This war was not all of a sudden but was a growing conflict since the Cold War. 

The ongoing conflict in Iran has caused global oil prices to rise, driving gasoline prices to their highest since 2023. The fighting threatens a crucial waterway for global energy shipments, the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of global oil supplies. Since the start of this, Brent crude prices jumped from $60-$70 per barrel to over $100. In the United States, the price of gasoline has risen almost 25%. This war will only worsen and so will our gas prices.

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News, Science/Nature, Scottie News, World

People’s thoughts on Punch the monkey

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By: Sofia Patricio Mateo and Evelyn Solano Ruiz

We went and asked some people what they thought about Punch the monkey. He was the monkey that was being bullied by other monkeys in Japan. Because he was abandoned by his mom he had a stuffed animal he was attached to. There was a video that people saw online where they learned about him.

Image of Punch-kun kissing his plush in Ichikawa Zoo by Daiei Onoguchi via Wikimedia Commons

National, News

The great Jesse Jackson 

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By: Sema’Jae Tate

Image by: Brianmcmillen via Wikimedia Commons

Jesse Jackson was an African American male born in Greenville, South Carolina on October 8th, 1941. He went to a racially segregated school, Sterling High School and Jesse said growing up with the Jim Crow segregation law he was taught/told to go to the back of the bus and use a  separate water fountain. He had to accept it and it was rough.

Jesse Jackson was also bullied growing up because of his out- of-wedlock birth. He said “Being bullied growing up motivated me to succeed.” 

After he graduated high school in 1959, he rejected a contract from a minor professional baseball team so he could attend the University of Illinois on a football scholarship, but after his second  semester at the predominantly white college, Jesse Jackson transferred to North  Carolina A&T, a historically black university. He said the reason he transferred was  because “Racial prejudice prevented me from playing quarterback and limited my playing.”   

At A&T Jackson played quarterback and was elected student president. He became active in local civil rights protests against segregated libraries, theaters and restaurants. During that time, he graduated with a B.S. Degree in 1964.

He then attended the Chicago Theological Seminary on a scholarship. He left the seminary in 1966, three classes short of earning his master’s degree, to focus full-time on the civil rights movement.

He was ordained a minister in 1968 and was awarded a Master of Divinity degree by  Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000, based on his previously earned credits and  his subsequent work and life experience. 

In 1965, Jesse Jackson participated in the Selma to Montgomery march, where he met and worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He subsequently joined the SCLC and despite everything that was going on  Jesse still wanted to push harder to make a difference.

After King was assassinated, it was a tragedy, but things couldn’t just stop there so Jesse Jackson started his own organization People United to Save Humanity (PUSH),  focusing on economic empowerment and, later, political advocacy.

Jesse Jackson died on February 17, 2026.

Football, Local, National, News

The life and legacy of Rondale Moore

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By: Fred Gallatin

English: Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Rondale Moore. Date: 26 August 2019
Source: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFseeuoyBAs. Author: FOX Sports. Via Wikimedia Commons

In a society where negative mental health impacts the lives of millions, it is easy to assume that money, fame, and achievements will keep these issues at bay. However, this was not the case for former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Born five weeks premature in New Albany, Indiana, Moore was the youngest of four children born to a single mother. Financial struggles and family issues highlighted his childhood, but he found an outlet in sports. At just 5 foot 7, Moore faced both mental and physical adversity throughout his athletic careers in both football and basketball.

Eventually, Moore chose to dedicate himself to football, a decision that led his family to move to Louisville, Kentucky. While navigating the uprooting of his life, Moore led Trinity High School to an undefeated season en route to earning Kentucky’s Player-of-the-Year title.

Highly sought-after due to his passion and freak athleticism, Moore chose Purdue University, in his home state of Indiana. As a true freshman, he was thrust into the national spotlight and did not disappoint. He recorded 114 catches, 12 touchdowns, and 1,470 yards in the ultra-competitive Big Ten conference.

In addition to dominating on the field, Rondale excelled in the classroom, graduating from Purdue in just three years. Teammates, coaches, and professors gushed over Moore’s work ethic, passion, and dedication in all aspects of his life.

After earning his degree, Moore declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. He was chosen in the second round by the Arizona Cardinals and cruised into the starting lineup. His lifelong dream had been accomplished, but he was not yet satisfied. His dedication drove him to expect perfection from himself whenever possible.

After his rookie year, injuries began severely affecting Moore. Although most were minor, he suffered a severe knee injury after being traded to the Atlanta Falcons in early 2024. After fighting through a grueling and isolating rehabilitation process, Moore earned another chance with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025.

In his first preseason game with Minnesota, while returning a punt, Moore was awkwardly tackled and pinned, bending his knee at an excruciating angle. He had completely torn his ACL, ending his 2025 campaign before it even started. The heartbreak caused by consecutive season-ending injuries is uncharted for most people, and was yet another difficult obstacle for Rondale.

After trudging through adversity, working for everything, and dedicating his entire life to football, Moore felt further from fulfillment than ever. Although dreading the hard work and emotional challenge, he chose to endure another rehab cycle in hope of returning to the field at some point.

After supporting his teammates from the sidelines in crutches for the second year in a row, Moore entered the offseason alone, in pain, and hopeless. His lifelong, seemingly invincible flame was flickering.

Back home, nursing his ACL, Moore could no longer bear the emotional and physical burdens of his injuries. On February 21st, 2026, Rondale Moore was found dead in his hometown of New Albany, Indiana. His cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was only 25 years old.

Rondale’s death left a void in the lives of teammates, coaches, fans, and family members. A contagious smile, competitive atmosphere, and high character followed Moore wherever he went. Additionally, he was a star in his community, purchasing a house for his mother and leading youth football camps around Indiana.

Although a tragic story, Rondale Moore’s legacy will be one of determination, grit, and hope. He will be remembered for his character and will, without a doubt, be honored by Trinity High School, Purdue, and the 3 NFL teams who were lucky enough to work with him.

Mental health is not something that should be ignored. Moore’s story demonstrates that wealth, fame, and achievement do not correlate to true happiness. Resources are out there for everyone, and it is important to seek help before hopelessness becomes overwhelming. Moore will be a motivation for many, and his tragic passing will serve as a reminder that mental health matters.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

Anyone can call or text 988 if you need help or if you are worries about a friend or family member. 988 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are not alone, reach out for support.

Science/Nature

Minnesota snowfall

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By: Simon Pluger

Scientists in Minnesota and around the world use WMI or the Winter Misery Index to show how severe that year’s winter season was after finding out how much it snowed and what the temperature was. Scientists give those certain categories a number ranking that determine where that year’s winter falls on a scale of moderate to severe.

Last year, the 2024/2025 winter season was called mild in the index chart. It was actually shown that it was one of the easiest and calmest winters that we’ve had in decades. The snow was very inconsistent. It would snow 7 inches one day and it would all melt and then it would be a 40° day for the next week and a half. 

But this year, the 2025/2026 winter is already a lot different. We have had snow, cold weather, and the snow has stayed making this winter a lot more wintry than last year’s. Even if we end up with only 10 or 15 more inches of snow than last year, the big difference is that the snow will have actually stayed and not just until January like last year when we had the weird 50° days that melted everything in January. We’re now in March and there’s still snow on the ground this year.

The weather has been so steady that the temperatures have stayed and the snow is piling up and not melting, which for some people could be really annoying because they like spring or for some people that could be really enjoyable because they like looking at the snow.

I like winter, but this just shows that Minnesota winters can be very unpredictable and just because last year’s winter wasn’t that cold, and there wasn’t that much snowfall, doesn’t mean the winter after that is the same.

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News, World

Current events (international)

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By: Treshawn Ross


English: Demonstrator during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests silhouetted against a street fire proudly waving the Lion and Sun flag of Iran. Date 9 January, 2026. Unknown author via Wikimedia Commons

Iran- Major protests against the Iranian regime started in late December of 2025. These protests were largely unviolent and orderly. Many of the protesters were demonstrating because of the insanely high inflation, and the collapse of the Rial which is the currency Iranians use.

The goal of the protests was to remove the Islamic Republic controlling Iran. As a result the Dictator of Iran, Ali Khamenei ordered an internet blackout in the country. This was done to prevent any media being released from the country, as he planned on violently cracking down on the protesters. The response of the government was to massacre scores of protesters and to arrest some of them to hold them for execution at a later date. The estimates say that 30,000 or more people were killed. Previously, President Trump promised to step in if the Iranian regime killed any protesters and in response to the reported massacres he sent an aircraft carrier and military personnel near Iran.

Russia/Ukraine– The Russia/Ukraine war has turned into a slow grind for territory, contrary to the 3 day operation that Russian dictator Putin anticipated. Most recently Putin has ordered drone attacks on civilian infrastructure and innocent people in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. These attacks killed at least 5 people and injured several others. Putin is ordering attacks on Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure in an attempt to cripple the country in the harsh winter months. The battle on the frontlines has been more successful for Russia as they have the manpower to slowly advance despite the casualties.

Israel/Gaza- Israel recovered the remains of the last hostage taken on October 7th, 2023. This allows for more peace talks to occur; the United Nations (U.N.) and many other aid groups push for a phase 2 of peace plans. Netanyahu’s office agreed with Hamas on the new peace deal as all of the demands were met. Hamas is under pressure to disarm to complete the deal which U.S. officials say is close to happening.

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Science/Nature

The life cycle of stars

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By: Hannan Mohammed

Did you know that stars have a life cycle the same way that humans do? While stars can live for millions or even trillions of years—much longer than a human’s lifespan—they have their own stages of life too; they grow and die like us. So, what is the life cycle of a star?

To begin with, all stars start in large clouds of gas and dust called molecular clouds, or nebulae. These clouds can range from 1,000 to 10 million times the mass of the Sun and they can span up to hundreds of light-years. In these clouds, gas clumps together due to the low temperature, and these clumps collect more matter and gain more mass, which strengthens their gravitational force. However, some of these clumps will collapse from gravity while friction heats the matter up, leading to the formation of a new star, called a ‘protostar’. Several of these protostars can be formed in one molecular cloud.

Image by NASA via Wikimedia Commons

After the protostar’s creation, most of its energy comes from the heat released due to its earlier collapse. However, the mean temperature of the star isn’t high enough for nuclear fusion to occur yet. This is called the T-Tauri phase, lasting for around 100 million years before the star enters its longest life stage: the main sequence.

In the main sequence phase, the star’s core temperature is high enough for nuclear fusion to occur by the higher temperature and immense pressure squeezing the nuclei of hydrogen atoms together to form helium. The energy released from this process heats up the star and prevents it from collapsing due to gravity. The Sun is currently in this phase.

A star’s mass determines its lifespan; lower-mass stars will burn longer and thus, live up to trillions of years. Higher-mass stars, however, require more energy to keep itself from collapsing, and so they burn faster and can live up to only a few million years. A star’s mass can also determine how it will die later on.

For all stars, the beginning of the end of a star’s life begins when their cores no longer have any hydrogen to fuse into helium. The core will start to collapse due to the lack of energy balancing gravity’s tendency to pull matter together, while the star starts to puff up from the increased temperature and pressure. From this point, however, the mass of a star is the main determining factor in how a star will die.

With a lower-mass star, its core will fuse helium into carbon as its atmosphere expands, and it either becomes a subgiant or a giant star. Eventually, all of the star’s outer layers will blow away, create a cloud of dust and gas called a planetary nebula, and leave behind its core, now called a white dwarf. Its size is about the same as Earth’s, and it’ll cool down over billions of years.

Higher-mass stars, however, will have a more explosive end. A higher-mass star’s core will begin to convert carbon into heavier elements like oxygen and magnesium after running out of hydrogen to fuse into helium, which becomes its fuel. While converting more elements produces energy for the star, this isn’t a permanent solution. In a few million years, once a star starts fusing silicon into iron, it will run out of fuel in just a few days since it will lack the energy required to fuse iron into a heavier element.

The core collapses until forces between the nuclei push and rebound, causing a shockwave that moves outward from the star and creates an explosion called a supernova. The explosion moves the star material far away into space, leaving behind the core, which can either implode into a neutron star or become a black hole.

Image by NASA via Wikimedia Commons

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