Category Archives: News

Science/Nature, World

Climate change is real?

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How many times have you walked outside this winter with only a sweatshirt and jeans on? No winter jacket or coat. Or still have those new pair of Sorel boots in your closet that you were so sure you we’re going to have to wear this winter? If this sounds like you, you are not alone. Temperatures this Minnesota winter have been so mild it almost seems unreal. The snowfalls have been mild, the temperatures have been mild, and the snow seems to barely stay on the ground. Believe it or not, Minnesota is facing the disastrous climate change going on in our world, and the direct effects are becoming prevalent.

Since the 1980’s, scientists have warned us about the disasters our earth was up against if we didn’t start taking better care of it. Big companies like Chevron, Exxon Mobil, BP, and Gazprom, as well as chemical manufactures, industrial dumpsites, tanneries, and product manufactures are all environmental hazards that are destroying our earth. These companies continue to produce pollutants into our environment, creating oil spills, and putting Co2 emissions into our air. Due to these pollutants, more cases of illnesses, like cancer, are rising and they are causing our earth to heat up.

Antarctica is a continent covered by a of majority of ice, and it is starting to be affected by the heating of our earth. Major ice glaciers are starting to break and melt.

Animals like penguins and polar bears are having a habitat crisis because it’s harder to catch fish. Polar bears are falling into the water and drowning due to thin ice, and fish are starting to migrate.

On top of the effects of animals, the effects on our lakes and oceans are also a risk. As ice glaciers melt, water levels continue to rise. The mixture of saltwater and freshwater is creating a higher buoyancy which is causing floods, hurricanes, and water levels to rise at extreme rates.

Minnesota has been affected by climate change, our lakes are starting to rise and there have been a lot of rainy days this winter season. Just this past month, we have had one of the warmest Minnesota winter days ever, with a record breaking 42 degrees in the beginning of January.

Science/Nature, World

Where do people originate from

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Humans, or by their scientific name homo sapiens, belong to a group called hominids. Creatures in part of the hominids group, are the earliest known human like creatures. A trait that is commonly shared among hominids is the ability to walk on two legs or bipedalism. According to Khanacademy.org, it’s believed that hominids started to separate from other primates between 2.5 and 4 million years ago, around eastern and southern Africa.

There are many theories to why the early hominids begun to evolve. One theory was that with the expansion of the savannah, it slowly forced their homes in the forest to shrink. Because of this, it may be one of the reasons we started to rely on walking upright, on the ground, rather than continuing to climb trees.

As hominids continued to evolve, they gained more unique traits and characteristics. One of these characteristics was that their brain capacity was increasing, and then a species of hominid, homo habilis, began using tools around 2.3 million years ago.

Then, around 1 million years ago, some species of hominids, such as homo erectus, began leaving Africa and moving towards Europe and Asia. And when they arrived, they began making important advances like being able to use fire.

The first modern humans happened around 200,000 and 300,000 years ago. And the ability to use language happened around 50,000 year ago.

Later, between 70,000 and 100,000 years ago, modern humans began leaving Africa to ocupate Europe and Asia. The first humans reached Australia by around 35,000 and 65,000 years ago.

According to scientists, during the Pleistocene Ice Age, a land bridge was created, connecting Asia and North America around 13,000 years ago. It is believed that people came to America from Asia by this land bridge.

National

Crash at Interstate 75 in Alachua County, Gainesville, Florida

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On January 3rd, there was a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 near Gainesville, Florida. There were at least eight people injured from this crash and 7 people died. The crash was reported around 3:33pm and it involved two tractor-trailers and a passenger van.

According to FHP Lt. Patrick Riordan, 5 of the victims that died were from the passenger van, and around 59 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled. The injured victims were taken to UF Health Shands Hospital under a trauma alert.

The crash backed up traffic for hours on Interstate 75. A student at Western University, named Nicole Towarek, recalled what she saw by saying, “Black smoke billowed. People were laid out near vehicles, there was long skid marks across the roadway, and emergency workers were just getting to the scene. We kept seeing these little explosions and fire. The heat, it was insane.” A law enforcement helicopter was sent aloft to see if there were any injured victims in the woods, along the crash scene.

The 5 victims from the passenger van were children who were on their way to Disney World according to Riordan. The names were released on January 4th, around 5pm. The children’s names were: Joel Cloud, Jeremiah Warren, Cara Descent, Brieana Descant, and Cierra Bordelan. The van’s driver, Amy Joffrion, was critically injured but survived the crash.

Disney’s spokesperson, Jacquee Wahler, said, “There are no words to convey the sorrow we feel for those involved in yesterday’s tragedy. We extend heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragic accident.” There were around 7 other children in the car that were injured and taken to the hospital.

The investigation determined that the collisions started around 3:40pm. The northbound tractor-trailer truck, driven by 59 year old Steve Holland, struck the northbound car, driven by Robyn Rattray. Both of the vehicles flew into the guardrail, across the median, and into the southbound lanes where they had struck the passenger van.

Douglas Bolkema was a passenger in the northbound tractor-trailer truck. A spokesperson for a Florida Department of Transportation stated that it was too soon to say whether the guardrail failed or the impact was too great for the barrier when he was asked about the guardrail.

About a week after the crash, the mother of Jeremiah Warren filed a lawsuit at the Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Attorney Joseph Fred found, as he was investigating Holland and Bolkema, that Steve Holland has been receiving traffic citations since 2003, including speeding and careless driving in: Palm Beach County, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia.

In the lawsuit, Fred blames Holland’s employer, Eagle Express Lines and New Prime Inc., and he is also suing Robyn Rattray. Officials at Eagle Express Lines were not immediately available for comment but had stated on their Facebook page that the company was devastated by the crash and will cooperating fully with investigation. They also stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with families affected by this incident.”

National

Government shutdown: 2018-2019

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Going into winter break, the government had been shut down. This was the 3rd shutdown of 2018, and it is now continuing into 2019. The main reason for this shutdown is the funding for President Trump’s border wall.

Trump wants $5.7 million dollars to fund the border wall, but it is not being approved. His only solution for this was to shut down the government.

Government shutdowns affect the people of the United States in many ways. Many agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Disease, Department of Defense, and Congress are all affected by this shutdown. Also, people on government aid and welfare will have scaled back benefits.

Luckily, over 150 Veteran Affairs hospitals will stay open along with most national parks (but with no working employees and buildings, such as information and research centers, will be closed).

As of early morning, on January 4th, 2019, House Democrats voted to reopen the government without the funding of the border wall. The bill would reopen funding for 8 closed United States departments. Congress would still keep 9 other departments closed, along with no funding for the wall.

Events

Things to do in Minneapolis over winter break

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Winter break is here, and you’re probably wondering what to do over this long winter break. Here are a few events that will be taking place in Minneapolis.

1. A Christmas Carol

This event will be taken place on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 7:30 PM at the Guthrie Theatre, located at 818 South Second Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415. This event has been happening for the past 44 years, making Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol a Twin Cities holiday tradition.

2. Holidays at Flyover America

This event will take place on November 23, 2018 – January 01, 2019 at
Mall of America. This event will be fun. Guests will help Santa find missing elves, while flying over America and the North Pole. It’s a ten minute flight, and it will have holiday decorations and activities.

3. Holidazzle

Holidazzle is a Minneapolis tradition. It celebrates the Minnesota winter season, and  event include: shopping, food and drinks, along with ice skating, and visits with Santa Claus. The event this year will be on Thursdays-Sundays, November 23 – December 23 at Loring Park.

4. Festival of Light

This Festival of Light is a fabulous light show with music and other things to enjoy, this event will be held on Fridays-Sundays, November 23-December 23 at Sovereign Estate Winery, 9950 North Shore Road, Waconia, MN 55387.

5. Gingerbread Wonderland

This event will be held on November 21-January 7 at 10 a.m. at the Norway House, 913 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55404. This event is a fun activity to do with your family. You will be decorating gingerbread houses and they will be selling gingerbread cookies, and ornaments. The fee is $5 for adults and children older than 12. Children under 12 will be free.

For more info, please visit:

World

Royals releases 2018 Christmas cards

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During this time of the year, many of the royal families have released their 2018 Christmas card to the public. For the Cambridges, the clothing style was very casual compared to last year’s Christmas card. Prince William and Duchess Kate had the photo taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous, who also took pictures during Prince Louis’ christening ceremony and Prince George’s fifth birthday photos. The photo was taken at Anmer Hall and the Cambridges are posed on a tree. Princess Charlotte is spotted wearing a dark blue cardigan that she had worn before, during the first portrait of when Prince Louis was born. Prince George also had worn the dark blue cardigan in the portrait, when celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday.    

For the Sussexs, Prince Harry and Meghan share a photo of them after their royal wedding reception. The photo was taken by Chris Allerton with a black and white shot of the newlywed couple watching the fireworks. The photo was taken on the night of May 19, from Frogmore House, Windsor. Duchess Meghan was shown to be wearing a halter-neck evening gown.

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla’s Christmas photo was taken by Hugo Burnand earlier this summer. The couple was sharing a tender look at each other while they are sitting on a bench at their home, Clarence House.

The Jordanian Royals have also released their 2018 Christmas card with a picture of the family. King Abdullah II and Queen Rania are seen in the photo with Crown Prince Al Hussein, Prince Hashem, Princess Iman, and Princess Salma. Queen Rania posted the photo on her Instagram account stating, “May we greet the New Year with gratitude for all our blessings and hope for a better tomorrow.”

The Norwegian Royals released their 2018 Christmas card with a shot of them in front of a Christmas tree! King Harald and Queen Sonja are shown sitting down on two chairs while Crown Prince Haakon with his son, Prince Sverre Magnus posed behind Queen Sonja. Behind King Harald is Crown Princess Mette-Marit with her daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

From the Spanish Royals, the photo was obviously taken in the summer when the family had stopped during their hike through the Picos de Europa National Park in Asturias. The family posed in front of Lakes of Covadonga. King Felipe is hugging Princess Leonor, 13 years old, while Princess Infanta Sofia, 11 years old, is seen standing by her mother, Queen Letizia’s side.

National

George H.W. Bush

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After George H.W. Bush served as the 41st President, he and his wife both suffered from Graves‘ disease. In the early 2000s, he started to have an irregular heartbeat, and started to faint in public, and he would immediately go to the hospital but was released the next day each time.

Bush was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson’s called vascular Parkinsonism. Over the years, he has been accused of groping women. His office released a statement saying his Parkinson’s may be the reason of his touching.

Since 2012, Bush was forced to ride a scooter because of his Parkinson’s disease. In 2015, Bush suffered from a neck injury and couldn’t attend Trump’s inauguration. In January of that year, he was in the intensive care unit with a respiratory problem from pneumonia.

On Novermber 30, 2018, Bush died due to his health conditions, at his home in Houston. Bush’s funeral was held on December 5th and all of the former presidents attended, including Donald Trump. Bush was buried next to his wife, Barbara, who died in April of 2018.

When Bush turned 94, he was the only president to live up to that age, but in March 2019, Jimmy Carter will be the oldest living president.

Events

Holidays in December you might not know about

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Christmas. Hanukkah. New Year’s Eve. Are these the only three holidays in December? Many might forget that there is more to the month than menorahs and mistletoe. To shed some light on forgotten festivities, we curated a list of lesser known holidays this December.

Kwanzaa began being celebrated in the late 1960s. After the Watts riots, Kwanzaa was formed as a celebration of harvest: similar to Thanksgiving. In fact, the title “Kwanzaa” comes from the term “first fruit.” The holiday includes: meals, dancing, singing and storytelling. It spans seven nights.

Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26. It originated in the UK, and is the day where church collection boxes are opened. The money is given to the poor, and workers are given the day off to spend with their family.

World AIDS day takes place on December 1. It is used to spread awareness on aids and mourn the loss of those who have died from it.

Saint Nicholas Day is on December 6. It could be considered a Christmas holiday, and it is considered a day to focus on giving rather than receiving. The holiday tells the story of a Catholic saint and his morals.

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is a yearly event on December 2, organized by the United Nations General Assembly. The day was first celebrated in 1986. The Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 1949. Also, by resolution 57/195 on December 18, 2002, the Assembly proclaimed 2004 the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been observed with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. It was originally called “International Day of Disabled Persons” until 2007. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.

Each year, on December 8, brownie lovers across the nation enjoy one of their favorite baked goods on National Brownie Day. Brownies were created in the United States at the end of the 19th century. A cross between a cookie and cake, they soon became very popular across the country. Though it is unclear of who created this holliday, would you miss an opportunity to eat you’re favorite treat?

International Migrants Day is observed on December 18, in accordance with Resolution 55/93 of the United Nations General Assembly which was adopted on December 4, 2000. On December 18, 1990, the General Assembly had adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (resolution 45/158). This day is observed in many countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations through the dissemination of information on human rights and fundamental political freedoms of migrants, and through sharing of experiences and the design of actions to ensure the protection of migrants.

Bacon Day is observed annually on December 30th. Everything’s better with bacon. Someone said that once. Within our research, we have found very little to dispute this assertion. In the United States and Canada, bacon is made from the pork belly. Elsewhere in the world, the side and back cuts of pork are used. The meat is cured in either a salt brine or in a salt pack. It is then either dried, boiled or smoked. Bacon is a very popular food in the USA. You can find many items also flavored or scented with bacon including popcorn, soap, candles, air fresheners, and much more. Tthe proper way to celebrate it is by surrounding yourself with bacon!

Did you know some of these? What was your sore out of 9? Share with your friends and find out if you got the best score!

Local

Ice rink is coming to the Mall of America this holiday season

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On December 8, 2018, an ice rink will open at the Mall of America, and it will be free to the public. It is a custom built ice rink, and it is a 12,000-square-foot oval rink. This ice skate rink will be called “Skate the Stars” and it will be located near the Bloomington shopping mecca’s north entrance. The rink is being presented by UCare, and will be around for those planning on making holiday returns.

In a press release, Jill Renslow, SVP of business Development at Mall of America said, “An ice rink has been an experience we have always wanted to bring to life for our guests who visit Mall of America during this cherished time of year, we want our guests to experience the unexpected when they visit each year, that is why adding this ice rink is such an exciting addition to our holiday line-up,’’ she added, ‘‘We look forward to seeing visitors from all over the world enjoy Skate the Star at Mall of America.”

If you plan on going you can bring your own skates, or you can rent skates for $5, with proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Before skating, all skaters must complete waivers. Minors under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

The skate rink will be there until January 27, 2019, and from December 8-23, it will be open from 3 p.m to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday. It will open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday it will open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Starting Christmas eve, the hours will change onwards.

Images are posted on the Mall of America Facebook page, and it shows the rink as a circular track with a station in the middle.

For more information visit these sites:

Events, World

2018 G20 Summit

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By: Daniela Fernandez

This year, the G20 Summit was held on November 30 – December 1 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The G20 summit has been going on since 1999. The summit is where the world’s countries, that lead in the economy, meet every year. Heads of state, or governments, attend the summits to discuss ways to help the world’s economy stabilize. They also talk about financial markets, trade, and development. There are 19 countries, and the EU, that participate in the G20 summit according to G20 Argentina 2018. These countries are Argentina, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Germany, China, India, Indonesia, France, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Australia.

This year, they discussed technology, and how they could guarantee that everyone has access to technology. Also, how technology helps to resolve problems in the world, and to make sure that technology won’t create a backlash in the world.

They also talked about finances, and ways that they can guarantee that money is shared with everyone. This included ways to ensure that the IMF and the WB have enough resources to help countries, and prevent economic loss.

They also discussed agriculture, and the loss of sustainable land because of global warming, and unfair access to land.

Another topic they discussed was international trade, access to markets, globalization, and fair trade.

The final topic they discussed was anti corruption, and helping developing countries fight governmental and industrial corruption, according to G20 Argentina 2018.

This year, at the G20 summit, the US, Canada, and Mexico signed the updated NAFTA agreement. This agreement is about including more products in the free trade market, and guaranteeing that the US won’t force tariffs. This agreement has Canada open its milk market to the United States.

The new agreement says that starting in 2020, to have no tariffs, cars and trucks have to be made with 75% of its parts from the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is currently at 62.5% parts made from the US, Mexico, and Canada. The new agreement won’t take action until 2020 according to the Washington Post.