Monthly Archives: November 2018

News: Recent Events May Greatly Affect Midterm Elections

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voteby Lucas Agatep

As midterm elections arrive November 6th, last months incidences may have an impact on choices made. From the migrant caravan, the synagogue shooting and the mail bombs sent to Democratic politicians, CNN and other news networks may influence the choices people make for the people that they elect for congress.

With the midterm election only a day away, past incidents can impact the end result due to them being used as examples and support for the two parties respective agendas and beliefs. These could be used for either side: trying to interpret what happened and what’s going to happen for political support from voters.

The 7,000-person, large migrant caravan that is trying to reach the US-Mexico border to seek asylum could have people vote for Republican politicians for Congress, on terms that the US needs a more enhanced border control and needs to change immigration policies to restrict illegal immigrants from entering. This is the biggest caravan that has happened in recent times and the timing of this one is viewed suspiciously from the Republican Party, who claim that Democrats are going to try to use this as an opportunity to support to their agenda, accusing them of funding and encouraging this current caravan.

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that happened on October 27th claimed 11 lives. This shooting plays into and favors the agenda of Democrats, who are trying to enforce and gun laws to prevent another more mass shootings. When Robert Bowers (the synagogue shooter) was arrested, the police confiscated one rifle and three pistols from him. With this recent shooting, Democrats could only use this as support and evidence to their view that there should be stricter gun laws and reforms or else things like this will happen again.

For the pipe bombs that were mailed to Democratic politicians recently, the potential tragedy could be advantageous to Democrats. Many have expressed concern of the aggression that Trump uses against his opponents. From this, they could use it as evidence that Trump’s words, actions and his intentions are only causing problems and these bombs may have been sent as a result of his acts. Trump, a Republican Party representative, has expressed and shown differences in viewpoints with the Democratic Party in the past.

From last month, these incidents are still on people’s minds and base what politicians are talking about for the upcoming election. Each side has there own way of explaining and focusing on what they want and what to use for support from their voters and independent voters nationwide. Now, it’s up to you and the rest of America to decide the results of these upcoming elections.

News: The Birthright Citizenship Controversy

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by Victor Curiel

In a recent interview with the news website Axios, President Donald Trump boldly proposed his desire to sign an executive order to effectively end the automatic right to citizenship for anyone born in the United States.

This proclamation has been met with mixed reactions, with many Americans feeling either supportive of the President’s hard stance on illegal immigration or shocked at what seems to be a slight against the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.

However, the most common response from each political aisle seems to be one of skepticism as many citizens question whether such an endeavor is even legal. President Trump believes it to be so as he told interviewers on Sunday. 

“It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” he told Axios. “It’s in the process. It’ll happen, with an executive order.” 

Such an executive order would likely face legal challenges immediately. According to the 14th Amendment, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” This specific wording has led many many legal analysts to doubt that the President’s theoretical executive order would pass through the Supreme Court.

“Here we have a situation where the text of the Constitution is quite clear and the Supreme Court has interpreted it that way,” said Mr. Garrett Epps, a constitutional law professor at the University of Baltimore, in an interview with news outlet USA Today. “So, for the president to assert that he can somehow overturn the text of the amendment and Supreme Court precedent by executive order is what we would call an extravagant claim.”

However some analysts, like Yale law professor Peter Schuck, believe that, “contrary to traditional assumptions on this issue, Congress has the power under the Constitution” to end birthright citizenship. Although Mr. Schuck concedes that “is a question of interpretation.”

Nevertheless, Schuck ultimately believes that Trump “clearly cannot” end birthright citizenship with just an executive order.

 “I feel confident that no competent lawyer would advise him otherwise. This is just pre-election politics and misrepresentation and should be sharply criticized as such,” said Schuck. 

Like Mr. Schuck, many voters believe this to be an attempted maneuver by President Trump to stimulate his base by vowing to clamp down on immigration issues, due to the November midterm congressional elections being only a day away. Whether or not this will be effective or detrimental remains to be seen. Whatever the case, the President has made it clear that he plans to go through with his words as he fears that people can too easily play the current system to their advantage. 

“We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years, with all of those benefits,” President Trump told Axios. “It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.”

President Trump’s plan was met with swift resistance, from some even in his own party. On Tuesday, October 30th, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, said in an interview that the president “obviously” cannot dissolve birthright citizenship via an executive order.

“You obviously cannot do that,” Ryan told WVLK, a radio station in Lexington, Kentucky. “I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution, and I think in this case, the 14th Amendment is pretty clear, and that would involve a very, very lengthy constitutional process.”

The following day, President Trump fired back against Mr. Ryan, saying that he was wrong about the matter and should focus his efforts elsewhere. 

“Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!” tweeted President Trump on Wednesday, October 31st. 

Trump repeated his claim that he can eliminate birthright citizenship via executive order later Wednesday, although he said his preference would be for Congress to pass legislation ending that constitutional right.

“I’d rather do it through Congress because that’s permanent, but we can certainly do it through…I really believe we can do it through executive order,” he added, noting he had discussed the issue with legal scholars.

President Trump then referenced an immigration executive order signed by his predecessor, Barack Obama, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy he had sought to revoke. Trump suggested that if former President Obama could execute such an order, then he could end birthright citizenship through executive action as well. 

“If President Obama can get DACA approved … we can do this by executive order,” President Trump said.

Whether this is purely bluster or an actual intended action will not be known for a while. Most likely news will be released after the November elections have taken place and the political layout of Congress has been settled. All any American can do at the moment is wait and listen for news on what could potentially be one of the largest alterations of the country and it’s laws to date. 

Sports: NFL Midseason Review, Projections

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by Lucas Garrison

It’s been a crazy eight weeks in the 2018 NFL season, with a new rise of dominant teams as well as several disappointments. Here’s my favorites and sleepers for the rest of the year in each division.

 

AFC NORTH

Favorite: Pittsburgh Steelers1034444968.jpg.0.jpg

  • As predicted by many, the Steelers were able to bounce back from their slow start. The absence of star running back Le’Veon Bell has not affected them in any shape or form on the field. Second year back James Conner has been a pleasant surprise for the franchise. Throughout the first 8 weeks of the season, Conner has 743 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. Le’Veon Bell last year through the first 8 weeks had just 5 rushing touchdowns and 607 rushing yards. The Steelers are just going to get better as the season goes on with the recent additions of Morgan Burnett, Ramon Foster, and a healthy Marcus Gilbert. The Steelers however, have one big question hanging over their heads, which is what are they going to do when Le’Veon Bell returns? It seems wrong to limit Conner’s workload after such a great start to the season. As long as they are able to keep their attitudes in check, the Steelers have a legitimate chance at returning to the promised land.

Sleeper: Baltimore Ravensravens-joe-flacco-pepsi-ad.jpg

  • The Ravens have been good, not great this year, but are looking like they are able to contend in almost every game they play. The draft selection of rookie QB Lamar Jackson continues to light a fire under veteran signal caller Joe Flacco, who continues to impress with 2,259 passing yds and 12 touchdowns. Not only has Flacco been good, but they continue to run several plays where they line up Flacco and Lamar Jackson in the back field simultaneously to confuse defenses on who will receive the ball, and it’s worked. Plus, the Ravens got a steal at the trade deadline in all-purpose running back Ty Montgomery, who will add solid depth to both their rushing attack and their receiving core.

AFC South

Favorite: Houston Texans

  • The Houston Texans are coming off their fifth straight win and sit at 5-3 now after a lackluster 0-3 start. Deshaun Watson is beginning to look like his rookie self again, and the Houston defensive line still proves to be a headache for offensive lines with 21 sacks on the year. The Texans however, have suffered another season-ending 4461273d152a4300a1a47003d5931624-4461273d152a4300a1a47003d5931624-0injury, this team to productive receiver Will Fuller. Fuller was on route to have a 1000+ yard receiving season, already posting 503 yards through the first eight weeks and averaging 15.72 yards per catch while catching four touchdowns. However, with the trade deadline just passing, the Texans added veteran WR Demaryius Thomas from the Broncos. In exchange, the Broncos received a 2019 fourth round pick and a 2019 seventh round pick from the Texans. The Texans hope to have struck gold and would like to see Demaryius Thomas return to his old self for their stretch run.

Sleeper: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee TitansNFL: Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

  • The Titans sit at 3-4, while the Jags and Colts sit at 3-5. As predicted, this division is so competitive for its mediocrity. The Jags are coming off a year in which they had made it to the AFC Championship and are now looking to somehow save their season. However, they have been without star running back Leonard Fournette for most of the season now. Plus, the Jags are without any receivers, so MAYBE letting go of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns wasn’t the smartest decision. Not only are they lacking in the receiving game, but they just traded away defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2019 3rd round pick and a 2020 fifth round pick. The Titans are all kinds of a mess after some early big wins, but this team still has potential to turn their season around. The Colts are best described by Colin Cowherd in that “If you give Andrew Luck a decent O-line and a strong running game he’ll succeed.” That is exactly what the Colts have done, especially with the emergence of Marlon Mack. Andrew Luck has greatly benefitted from this. As long as this team stays healthy, they can potentially make a strong playoff run and contend in the AFC South.

AFC East

Favorite: New England Patriots

Bill Belichick, Tom Brady

  • Same as before, it’s Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, so nothing more needs to be said. Sony Michel is the real deal. Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon are reliable targets for Tom Brady. The Patriots are taking this putrid division with ease.

Sleeper: No one… okay maybe the Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have put on a pretty good show this year, sitting at 4-4. However, with merlin_138827106_688ea2fe-a12c-4e45-a103-57bd8cc4e3c4-articleLarge.jpgstarting QB Ryan Tannehill out and the loss of big-play receiver Albert Wilson, this team won’t be going far. It’s nice to think maybe the Pats will be knocked off, but it won’t happen.

AFC West

Favorite: Kansas City Chiefs

NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

  • My oh my, Patrick Mahomes is just an absolute beast. This man can sling the ball down the field with ease. So far this season, he has 2,526 passing yds and 26 touchdowns. Now, Mahomes in my opinion can break the single season passing touchdown record, which is 55 (Peyton Manning). Mahomes also has the help of the fearsome foursome, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Kareem Hunt, and Travis Kelce. Hill has 705 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Sammy Watkins 453 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Kareem Hunt has 592 rushing yards with 5 TDs. Finally, Travis Kelce is arguably the best tight end in the NFL has 642 receiving yards and 4 TDs. This team continues to impress and Andy Reid looks to have struck gold with this line up. Their defense is absolute TRASH, but it’s okay when the offense puts up 40 points a game. The question does remain: are these the new Kansas City Chiefs, or will the pattern of choking resume in the playoffs this year?

Sleeper: Los Angeles Chargers

  • The Chargers sit at 5-2 and continue to amaze. Many people counted them out right away, especially with the absences of CB Jason Verrett, TE Hunter Henry and DE melvin-gordon-week-9-fantasy-training-room.jpgJoey Bosa. Bosa is expected to make his season debut this week against the Seahawks. Bosa will just add another weapon to this already stacked defensive pass rush. The Chargers are the real deal no matter what people say, and they have another shot to get revenge against the Chiefs later this year. The Chargers are my sleeper pick to make it to the Super Bowl out of the AFC.

NFC North

Favorite: Green Bay Packers1535640746983

  • The Packers have been up-and-down all year, currently sitting at 3-3-1. However, this team has showed that they can compete with anyone. They impressed in week 8 against a tough Los Angeles Rams squad, hanging in the game for four quarters. The Packers did lose in the end, 29-27. However the Packers two rookie cornerbacks, Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson showed incredible upside against a top-ranked Rams passing offense. Plus, Aaron Rodgers still looked absolutely amazing. If Ty Montgomery doesn’t fumble on the kick return, people are looking at the Packers as legitimate Super Bowl contenders on the back of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers traded away RB Ty Montgomery and S Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix at the deadline, raising a lot of questions on what the Packers are trying to accomplish with these trades. However, it should be very interesting to see how the Packers finish the season.

Sleeper: Chicago Bears

  • The Bears are continuing to impress and will look to continue their successful Mitch-Trubisky-1-640x384.jpgseason to the playoffs. The Bears just seem to be the comeback story of the NFL this year. With the additions of Khalil Mack, Allen Robinson, and Taylor Gabriel, both sides of the ball have been much improved. Gabriel and Robinson have proved to be favorite targets of Mitch Trubisky. Not only that, but he has two strong running backs in Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen to rely on. The defense continues to shut down offenses as they are led by Khalil Mack. The Bears are very strong and can finish very high this season.

NFC South

Favorite: New Orleans Saintsusa_today_11547524.0.jpg

  • The Saints are the real deal. Let’s start off with the offense. They are so strong they have arguably two top 15 RBs in the league as well as a top five wide receiver in Michael Thomas. Oh, they also still have Drew Brees. Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram are absolute beasts. Defenses should be absolutely afraid of them plus star receiver and Brees’ favorite target, Michael Thomas. Thomas once again this year is proving again that he is a top five WR in the NFL

Sleeper: Carolina Panthersusa_today_11551792.0.jpg

  • The Panthers are having an amazing year. They are led by star QB Cam Newton, who is arguably having his most efficient and consistent season. However, it will be interesting to see how they will play and matchup against stronger teams. This team is lacking star power at the receiver position as well. Their best WR is Devin Funchess, who has been good but isn’t a premier option. The Panthers will finish second in the division and will be a strong wild card team in January nonetheless.

NFC East

Favorite: Philadelphia Eagles

  • usatsi-11541410-carson-wentz-eagles-london-2018-1400Yes, the Eagles are not living up to the expectation of a defending Super Bowl Champion team. They currently sit at 4-4, but have the talent and quarterback play to finish 12-4. This team started the season without number one receiver Alshon Jeffery, and now have lost RB Jay Ajayi for the year. However, they have added WR Golden Tate at the trade deadline, which is huge for this team. The Eagles now can line up Tate, Nelson Agholor, Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz together, which is huge. The Eagles will need to get on a run, but have the ability to win the NFC Least with ease.

Sleeper: Dallas CowboysynD7ye-U_400x400.jpg

  • The Cowboys have to be in the talks as a sleeper just because of how dynamic they can be on offense. Ezekiel Elliot is proving yet again that he is one of the best running backs in the league. If Dak Prescott can return to his rookie self, this team can make the playoffs, especially since they have added WR Amari Cooper via trade. If the Cooper trade pans out in favor of the Cowboys, then they can make a very strong finish to the year and can contend for the NFC East Crown.

NFC West

Favorite: Los Angeles Ramsa64ae49e-ee50-4521-a4d6-c4bbcb7715b4-USATSI_11546569.jpg

  • Obviously, the Rams are the favorite for this division and should be the favorite to win the Super Bowl as well. They are the Golden State Warriors of football, recently adding DE Dante Fowler Jr. to their already stacked defensive line. I mean come on, their D-line is made up of all past first round picks. Plus, their offense is insane. Todd Gurley is looking like the best RB in the league this year by a large margin. Jared Goff is tossing around the ball with ease and he has the weapons that allow him to do this in Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, and Robert Woods. The Rams can win this division with ease and can go all the way to the Super Bowl this year.

Sleeper: No One – This division is horriblehqdefault.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round-Up

It’s been another crazy start to the season in the National Football League. Football fans alike are in store for an amazing finish come January and February time.

Game Review: Red Dead Redemption 2

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by Kyle Moats

Red Dead Redemption 2 was released this past Friday to the masses as one of the most highly-anticipated games of the past year. I had the pleasure to sit down and really dive deep into this massive game this weekend.

Throughout my play-through, I was taken aback by how much this game had to offer and how many activities there are to explore. I could not take my eyes away from the screen, as every little detail kept adding another dimension to an already expansive game.

As you enter into the game, on of the first things you notice is how beautiful and eye-appealing this game is. Whether it’s the vast desert plains of New Hanover, the swampy marsh lands of Saint Denis, or even the snow filled mountains of the Grizzlies, the attention to detail is stunning.

Another selling point for me was how historically accurate the protagonists fill out their roles as gang members in a dying business. Whether it’s having to change into different styles of clothes depending on what the weather will be or just the trees blowing in the rough wind, Rockstar Games wanted to not just make you feel as you were just playing the game, but were in the game.

Another amazing thing about this game is the customization features. You can customize everything from your hats, shoes, shirts, pants, jackets, facial hair, hair, and even your holsters. The combinations are endless, and you keep unlocking more as you progress through the game. I found myself toying with this mechanic for hours, just seeing what my character looks like in different outfits.

In addition to all this, eating, bathing, and self-grooming comes into play. If you do not eat enough, you will become underweight, which negatively affects your health. If you eat too much you, will become fat and overweight, which greatly affects your stamina.

Horse grooming is also a huge deal. If you do not regularly brush and feed your horse, it’s health will slowly decline and your bond and relationship with the animal will greatly decrease.

Moving on from these features, the plot is utterly fantastic. The characters are portrayed beautifully, and all have very unique attitudes and characteristics that set them apart from anyone else in the game. Even characters with little roles still impact what goes on throughout the story and in side missions. They also look world-weary, as they are fully accustomed to life in the 1890s.

Their grammar and slang is spot on with the time, as well as their problems. Many of the problems in the game can be directly correlated to what it is like to live a life of crime at this time and the pitfalls and benefits of it.  

So far, I have had no concerns or issues with this game. Every time I sit down and play I know I am going to be in for a good time. For those of you who are still on the fence about buying this game, I would say it is completely worth it and definitely a brand new experience even to the most veteran of gamers. 

 

RECAP: St. John Bosco 49, Serra 0

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by Ethan Piechota

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Credit – EC Sabin

The St. John Bosco Braves opened up their promising postseason on Friday with a dominant win over the Serra Cavaliers, winning 49-0 in easy fashion at Panish Family Stadium.

The national and state championship quest is on for the number one nationally ranked Braves, who asserted their dominance with a controlling victory in their first round affair against Serra.

The same formula for success was used in this one for the Braves: start quick and let the defense control the tempo and pace of the game.

Five-star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei went 14-19 for 255 yards and five total touchdowns, so basically just another day at the office for him.

Uiagalelei hit senior receiver Colby Bowman wide open on a 20-yard strike for the first score of the game, and then hit senior running back George Holani for a 22-yard touchdown a few drives later, pushing the Braves early lead to 14-0.

Holani had another excellent all-purpose game, rushing 11 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, as well as catching two passes for 42 yards and a score.

Uiagalelei would later in the first half hit standout junior receiver Kris Hutson for a 5-yard touchdown, and the Braves went into halftime with a comfortable 21-0 advantage.

In the third quarter, the Braves would just absolutely put this game and Serra’s season to rest.

Uiagalelei hit receiver Jake Bailey for a 55-yard touchdown, continuing to spread the ball around efficiently.

Then, the Braves already fired up and dominant defense would score some points of their own, with senior defensive end and 2017 Trinity League sack leader Cole Aubrey falling on a loose ball in the end zone after a hit on Serra quarterback Doug Brumfield.

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Na’im Rodman and Ralen Goforth celebrate a dominant defensive performance. Credit- EC Sabin

Holani would run for a 31-yard score through a wide open hole and Uiagalelei took a read-option nine yards to the house, giving the Braves a 49-0 lead before the end of the third quarter.

49-0 would be the final score, with the Braves easily coasting to a first round victory as many anticipated.

The Braves will take on San Clemente High School in the next round, who is coming off a first round victory over Murrieta Valley High School and looks like an extremely fired up football team right now.

No game will be easy in the southern section division one playoffs, and we’ll have the preview of this one later on in the week on The Brave News.

 

PREVIEW: St. John Bosco vs Serra (Gardena)

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by Caleb Wiley

The nation’s top-ranked high school football team, St. John Bosco, takes on Serra High School in the first round of what the Braves hope to be a deep run to the CIF State Title and National Title.

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The Braves currently sit comfortably at the number one spot of almost every single poll in America behind a 10-0 record. No doubt the Braves have high expectations from their fans and from themselves as well.  

The team dominated almost every game in the regular season with ease. Even with top ranked teams Mater Dei and Orange Lutheran in the way, Bosco easily navigated and beat both talented teams by more than 20 points.  

The formula to Bosco’s constant dominance is simple: have a great offense that scores quickly and get after the quarterback and play extremely aggressive defensively in the first half, then coast in to victory in the second. This formula has resulted in constant blowouts all season long for the Braves.

With allowing no more than 28 points in a single game all year long, Bosco’s defensive intensity has been key to their success. Their offense, led by junior star quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, has put up huge numbers, scoring more than 45 points in eight of their ten games.

With an 0-4 record on the road this year for Serra, Bosco should take care of the cavaliers this Friday at home with no problem. Serra lacks the size and talent that the Bosco obtains, and on paper Bosco is just clearly the better team. The game looks like it can turn into a lopsided one real fast, as Serra is clearly outmatched.  

However, with this game being the first round of CIF, the Bosco’s focus has to be their focal point. They can not look ahead to the semi-finals or state championship game yet. They have to be in the now and take every week one week at a time and not overlook anyone.

The team and “The Tribe” will need to be energized Friday, as the Braves take their next step towards hopefully what is successful November postseason run.

 

Bosco: Dia De Los Muertos Celebration Recap

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by George Holani and Matthew Ruiz

The “Day of the Dead” or “Dia de los Muertos” is a Mexican holiday and tradition that runs every year from October 31st to November 2nd in Mexican and Spanish cultures.

This event is celebrated throughout Mexico and with Mexican families and heritages everywhere. The holiday focuses on family gatherings and coming together to pray for past friends and family members who have died.shirt-1510256257-bc164d1a6e5b9c2edac485f775679688.jpeg

The “Day of the Dead” is important because it relates to and challenges societal views on honoring the dead. The event is celebrated through festivals, parades, and family gatherings at cemeteries to pray for their deceased family members and friends. People celebrate this tradition by putting flowers, candles, ceramic skulls, and pictures of loved ones on their altars.

Food is also placed on altars, as families cook their loved ones favorite dishes and treats to honor them. Sugar skulls and tamales are common dishes to place, which is important because food and drinks placed on the altars are an offering for loved ones to come back and visit.

According to Ms. Norma Aguilera, a Spanish teacher at St. John Bosco High School, the “Day of the Dead” annual celebration started at Bosco about six years ago. The administration at Bosco began to coordinate and set up an event every year for the “Day of the Dead.”

“I sat down with the administration and talked about making world languages open up more and bringing the community together in order to build a closer relationship with them and teach of other cultures in our world language departments,” said Ms. Aguilera.

The coordinators hosting and in charge of setting up this celebration try to represent a real event for Dia de los Muertos in Mexico and translate it to American culture. The event starts on November 1st and ends on the 4th at Bosco, because it’s a three day event.

“The event is celebrated by bringing the entire school community together and making altars in memory of deceased loved ones. We also have music playing because it’s a celebration and not something we should be sad about,” said Ms. Aguilera.

Coordinators provide many traditional dishes from Central America and Mexico. Types of food include burritos, tacos, rice, beans, corn on the cob, churros, tamales, and many more. The “Day of the Dead” is not only celebrated in Mexico, but also in Central America.

“It’s like celebrating the history of the natives on this land before the Spanish and the Spanish festivities going on at that time,” said Ms. Aguilera.

Dia de los Muertos affects many people and their family heritage here at Bosco every year, such as Bosco math teacher Mr. Salvador Perez.

“[Dia de los Muertos] honors people who pass away, such as my grandfather,” said Mr. Perez.

Mr. Perez’s grandfather’s birthday is the same day as the first “Day of the Dead” celebration. He mentions how the “Day of the Dead” used to be very traditional until his family grew older and the tradition shifted towards American culture. Perez’s family celebrates this event by gathering around the dinner table with food and talking about memories they had in the past with their loved ones.

Ms. Rayas, a Spanish teacher at Bosco, describes how not every city in Mexico celebrates Dia De Los Muertos. For example, her family didn’t quite celebrate this tradition during her childhood because it wasn’t passed down in their tradition yet. However, her family in Mexico celebrates it now by gathering around at a cemetery and decorating altars.

The celebration of Dia de los Muertos is one that is looked forward to every year and highly celebrated by people of Mexican culture. It’s great that St. John Bosco High School can take advantage of this annual celebration and participate in it on campus.

 

PREVIEW: St. John Bosco Poised For A National Championship And State Run

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by Ethan Piechota

The 10-0 St. John Bosco Braves are the clear number one team in the nation for high school football and are in prime position to win a state and national championship this year.

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Credit – EC Sabin

The Braves dominated nearly every regular season opponent they faced this year, with their closest win being their opening Trinity League matchup against a good JSerra team. Mater Dei, the often regarded number two team in the nation behind Bosco, was easy work for the Braves as well, as they blew out the Monarchs 41-18 on the road.

Quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, number one in his 2020 class out of all quarterbacks, was unreal all regular season, posting a 73 percent completion percentage and throwing 34 touchdowns to just two interceptions.

Senior receiver Colby Bowman was huge as a deep threat all year, catching 38 passes for 725 yards on the season and six touchdowns. Senior receiver Jake Bailey added eight touchdowns of his own, and tight end Jude Wolfe reeled in six.

Junior receiver Kris Hutson has been a “do-everything” guy for the Braves this year, catching eight touchdowns and posting an insane average of 15.3 yards per catch.

The Braves offensive line, though somewhat inexperienced, has been dominant game-in and game-out, keeping Uiagalelei on his feet and opening up huge roles in the running game.

The O-Line’s work has allowed senior running back George Holani to absolutely dismantle defenses this year, scoring 19 total touchdowns and averaging an insane 9.3 yards per carry. Holani will be a major key to the Braves’ success in the postseason.

Defensively, Bosco has taken pride in shutting down their opposition and forcing turnovers, which they’ve seemed to do consistently each game.

A deep Braves defensive line and talented linebacking core and secondary has allowed them to get after the quarterback and stop running games with ease.

Playoff Preview

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CIF D1 2018 Football Bracket

The Braves open up their postseason this Friday at home against Serra (Gardena). Serra is representing the Mission League, sporting a 5-5 record and getting into the top division in So-Cal due to an at-large bid.

Other talented teams on the Braves side of the bracket include the South Coast League number one seed and red-hot San Clemente, scrappy Long Beach Poly, JSerra and an undefeated and somewhat underrated team in Oaks Christian.

The Braves, if they win Friday, would take on the winner of San Clemente and Murrieta Valley in the next round and could end up facing one of Long Beach Poly, JSerra, or Oaks Christian in a semi-final matchup.

Every game will be tough from this point out, up until the championship game which will be held at Cerritos College on November 24th.

A 10-0 Bosco record means nothing now, with every team playing for their lives and trying to keep their season alive each game. If you lose, you’re out.

On the other side of the bracket, Mater Dei, Bishop Amat, Mission Viejo, Centennial and Trinity League member Orange Lutheran headline some of the contenders.

We will have the coverage of every game and every week this postseason here on The Brave News, as our Braves try to assert their dominance in the high school football world and take home both a state and national championship this year.

 

 

News: Pittsburgh Synagogue Mass Shooting

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by Enrique Gutierrez

On October 27th, 2018 an Anti-Semitic gunman shoots up a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, murdering eleven people and leaving six critically injured during the event.  

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Women mourns the loss of the 11 Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting victims

Waking up early Saturday morning, one expects their morning to be peaceful and quiet, continuing the normal routine. This was not the case for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, as many awoke with tragic news.

In Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill, the population of Jewish citizens are one of the largest amounts in America. A large mass of Jewish people were attending a synagogue Saturday morning, but their reception was interrupted by a crazed gunman. The gunman opened fire and killed eleven people and left six others wounded. The event being held at the synagogue was a child’s birth ceremony, but was ultimately turned into the scene of a hate crime homicide.

The Pittsburgh gunman was identified by officials as Robert D. Bowers. Robert Bowers held a history for hating against people’s beliefs and actions before committing the homicide. Bowers expressed his anger against the Jewish community and immigrants on social media before this horrible act.

Bowers decided that a perfect way to show his domination in society was to shoot up a synagogue and disturb the peace. Bowers identifies himself as a White Supremacist and a Anti-Semitic through social media platforms, posting racist images and making offensive comments towards other cultures and belief groups.

According to the New York Times, some comments made by Robert Bowers included:

“Jews are the children of Satan.”

“Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a Jew.”

While the shooting took place, he yelled, “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in,” said Bowers as he took the lives of innocent Jewish citizens.

Robert D. Bowers blamed the Jewish community for worldwide issues with criticism and prejudice.

Bowers was not killed at the scene. Authorities captured Bowers, who was already injured, and took him to a nearby hospital to get treatment for the wound. Bowers was charged with 29 criminal counts for his homicide and aggravated assault against the Jewish people. Bowers had possession of 21 guns under his name. During the violent crime, Robert used an AR-15, three handguns, and was dressed in tactical gear knowing he would draw gunfire due to him carrying weapons.

This starts a whole new discussion and again brings up the issue of gun control in America. Gun violence has been evident throughout history and has been the cause of the death of millions, and recently thousands here in the US.

Many protests have taken place with people against gun usage, and also protests have been held for people wishing to allow citizens to keep possession of guns. People who possess guns feel that they need guns to have self-protection for themselves and their family.

The United States Constitution’s Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” US citizens can possess arms under the owner’s name with legal rights and a background check.

Hate crimes and discrimination continues to exist in the US and across the world, which seems to be the bigger issue. Most hate crimes exist because of different viewpoints and opinions people have towards others religious beliefs and skin color.

In the Pittsburgh shooting, the cause of the terrible incident occurred because of a man’s political views and his religious beliefs. The possession of guns remains to be an issue with many assaults and crimes being committed with arms. The Squirrel Hill community will forever mourn and remember the lives lost in the synagogue shooting, and hope for soon reform.

 

News: Pipe Bombs Intercepted In The US

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by Nikolas Molina and Elliston Ospina

According to CNN and The Washington Post, 14 pipe bombs were intercepted over the past week intended for extremely popular figures: George Soros, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Former Attorney General Eric Holder, Democratic US Rep. Maxine Waters, John Brennan, Actor Robert De Niro, Former Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic US Sen. Cory Booker, Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, Democratic US Sen. Kamala Harris, and Democratic Donor Tom Steyer.

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FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney has not confirmed where the packages came from, but believes they were delivered and sent from Florida, according to CNN.

They sent the packages through a US Postal Service facility in Opa-locka, Florida, two law enforcement officials with the investigation said.

“Some were obviously in the postal system,” said Sweeney.

The US government and higher ups in America released a statement recently, clarifying the nature of the event and the latest news.

“We cannot provide additional information at this time due to the active nature of this federal investigation,” read the statement.

An examination showed shortly after that all the pipe bombs had the same construction, with some even having shards of glass in them.

The bombs were shipped in manila envelopes, wrapped in bubble wrap, with six “American Flag Forever” stamps on it. The packages were extremely suspicious before deep examination, with timers on the packages.

“Each of the [improvised explosive devices] was largely similar in design and construction; they each consisted of approximately six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, wiring, and energetic material. Certain parts of the mailings included photographs of the target-recipients marked with a red X,” according to CNN.

There has been an arrest made in relation to this incident already. Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Florida, was arrested Friday in Plantation.

The FBI used flahsbangs to arrest him near an Autozone in the city of Plantation. Initially, Sayoc was cooperative and said that the pipe bombs wouldn’t have hurt anyone and that he didn’t want to harm anyone.

A white van with stickers of President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and a “CNN Sucks” sticker was towed on Friday to Miramar, Florida, where the local FBI office is located. It has been reported that Sayoc was living in the car following being kicked out of his parents home.

They suspected Sayoc of making the bombs in the van, finding soldering equipment, stamps, envelopes, paper, a printer and powder.

Investigators identified Sayoc because they found his own DNA on ten of the packages and investigators were also able to track him using his cell phone signal.

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Cesar Sayoc currently faces five criminal counts: interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and other persons, threatening interstate communications and assaulting current and former federal officers.

Say will reportedly face up to 48 years in prison, according to a report from ABC News.

According to CNN, Soyac was not on the Secret Service list but he had a string of arrests since the 90’s. Soyac was arrested in 2002 when he threatened to bomb the Florida Power and Light Company and plant and, stating that the potential incident “would be worse than September 11th.”

The records show a total of eight arrests, grand theft, battery, fraud and drug possession, as well as probation violations. He was arrested in 2014 and later pleaded guilty to stealing copper pipes at a Home Depot.

Sayoc has been arrested and the problem has seemingly been adverted, but more connections to the investigation could be made in the future. It was extremely fortunate that this incident and potential catastrophe was avoided.

 

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