The Brave News

Pope Benedict XVI’s Impact On The Salesian Community

by Connor Sheehan, Editor-in-Chief

The reluctant pontificate has passed away, and as the Catholic world grieves the loss of the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, his colorful papacy leaves a strong impact on the Salesian order and community.

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, the birthname of Pope Benedict XVI, was one of the more controversial and complex popes of the 21st century. A fierce defender of Catholic tradition, he fought for cornerstones of the faith such as the doctrine and the liturgy. 

Pope Benedict’s resignation in February 2013, is notable for being the first modern pope in six centuries to resign since Pope Gregory XII, who was, unlike Benedict, forced to resign from the papacy. 

He began his faith journey in the midst of World War II. Seeing his family forced into Nazism, he developed a disdain for fascism and grew strong in his Catholic faith. He served as a teacher, like St. John Bosco, of young minds as a professor of Theology at the University of Bonn, the University of Tubingen and the University of Regensburg for the first decades of his time as a priest.

Pope Benedict believed that education was vital, as he saw places of Catholic education as “a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.”

Indeed, Pope Benedict believed that Salesians play a critical and active role in the education of Catholic youth throughout the world. Addressing the Salesian Order, he praised the tradition that Don Bosco pioneered when he stated, “The special tenderness and commitment to young people… are characteristic of Don Bosco’s charism.” FULL STORY

Gas Prices Continue To Spike In The United States

By Ethan Gibbs

In California and across the United States, the cost of gas continues to increase amid global crises and uncertainty, such as inflation and the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia is one of the world’s most important and largest oil exporters. Despite the fact that just a little amount of Russian oil reaches U.S. consumers, oil is priced on global markets. As a result of the consequences of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the disruption in Russian oil supply has made prices start to rise. In the last two months, the average retail gallon of gasoline has increased by nearly 25 %, and President Joe Biden’s decision to ban Russian oil imports from the United States is pushing prices higher.

In California, gas prices are rising above the national average, continuing a trend of the last couple weeks. The average cost of a gallon is $5.44 in the Golden State, with prices being higher in large cities such as Los Angeles. California is the only state that has an average cost of more than five dollars per gallon. 

“Defending freedom is going to cost,” said President Biden 

With the war between Ukraine and Russia going on, President Biden wants to make an impact on Russia’s economy. On Tuesday, March 8th, Joe Biden ordered a ban on Russian oil imports. Although this decision harms the economy of Russia, it also contributes to the increasing gas prices here in the U.S.

In addition, President Biden signed an executive order prohibiting the import of essential Russian items, such as vodka, as well as the export of high-end brands such as luxury cars and designer clothes to Russia. The U.S. and its allies will be able to add higher taxes on select Russian imports, further isolating the Russian economy. FULL STORY

Russia Begins Invasion Of Ukraine

by Nicholas Neoman

Russian troops have started to invade Ukraine’s borders, and for days on end, Ukraine has been under severe attack from the Russian invasion, forcing millions to flee major cities like Kyiv. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes he is sending these troops as peacekeepers, backing separatist states in eastern Ukraine that want to break away from the democratic country. Hundreds of military caravans have started to fill out eastern Ukraine as the world now starts to speculate the dangers that this could impose. 

Putin has yet to state what the extent of this invasion is. While some believe that it is a tactic to weaken Ukraine and free some lands, others speculate that Russia wants to overthrow Ukraine’s government. Putin’s reasoning behind these attacks is to create the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine. However, these claims have been proven to be utterly false as Ukraine’s president is Jewish and there is no report of mass genocide occurring in Ukraine.

Early Thursday morning, air raid sirens could be heard wailing in major cities of Ukraine. Russia deployed missiles to attack these cities. These attacks are believed to be the most life-threatening air attacks since World War II with the Nazi Blitzkrieg. It also could point to a possibility of war on the horizon for not just Ukraine but all of Europe.

Today Russian forces are growing closer to conquering Kyiv as the death toll rises. Millions were fleeing the city of Kyiv today as fears of more invasion, both aerial and ground, began to grow. FULL STORY

World Diplomats Give The 2022 Bejing Olympics The Cold Shoulder

By Dominic Ramirez and Eric Torres, Editor-in-Chief

With the 2022 Winter Olympics set to begin next week in Beijing, the United States, along with many other nations around the world, plan a diplomatic boycott of the games due to human rights issues in the host country.

Other countries participating in this boycott include the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. The issue of boycotting arose due to reports of the genocide of the Uyghur Muslims, an ethnic group of Western China, as well as general human rights violations performed by the Chinese government.

The last time the United States fully boycotted the Olympic games was in the summer in 1980 when it was held in Moscow, where athletes were actually held out of competition. At the time, the U.S. took this action in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

On December 6th, the Biden administration announced that it would diplomatically boycott the Winter Olympics by not sending an official U.S. delegation. However, this decision will not affect U.S. athletes who are still scheduled to compete.

“U.S. diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang and we simply can’t do that,” said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in a press conference. FULL STORY

Chaos Ensues as Ten Die in Astroworld Catastrophe

by Matthew Parsons

On November 5th, tragedy struck at Astroworld Festival 2021 as ten people lost their lives and many more sustained injuries.

A crowd of 50,000 was live in Houston, Texas to watch rapper Travis Scott at his music festival, Astroworld. Throughout Travis’ set, a phenomenon known as “crowd surge” occurred, the tens of thousands who were there to witness the concert were jam packed together much too densely, leading many to lose their ability to breath. The inability to breathe is what ultimately caused these deaths.

Live Nation, the venue operator, stopped the show over a half hour after the mass casualty event began, around 30 minutes before it was planned to be over.

Scott continued to play his music and performing for the attendees, at times pausing mid-performance to acknowledge that there was something amiss in the crowd, but the show continued on. FULL STORY

Huntington Beach Oil Spill Leaves Many Questioning the Safety of Our Beaches

by Andrew Fierro, Managing Editor

Early Saturday morning on October 2nd, it was announced that an oil spill mishap occurred in Huntington Beach California, which has since affected many coastal areas across California and left legal battles in its wake.

Late Friday night, there were reports from offshore boaters in Orange County that they had smelt a petroleum like smell in the air and alerted the hazardous spill hotline soon after. The company at fault is Amplify Energy, and the amount of oil leaked is still in question.

Though there is not a confirmed set amount of oil leaked, the Coast Guard released that they estimate there was a leakage of between 25,000 and 132,000 gallons of oil.

Although initially thought to be extremely harmful to the environment, environmentalists have voiced their hope with new research pointing to the opposite, with the amount of animals being affected staying at a small amount.

Not only could there be an effect on the sea life, but as well as on human life, though the city officials for Huntington Beach have stated that the water quality will continue to be tested twice a week for at least two more weeks. FULL STORY

New California Mandate Requires All Schoolchildren to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccination

by Ian Cook

After the LAUSD mandated COVID-19 vaccination for schoolchildren, Governor Gavin Newsom and the state of California have now become the first state to require the vaccination for all schoolchildren and staff. 

With California continuing to post low COVID-19 transmission numbers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Public Health approved the idea of a vaccine mandate for all schoolchildren and staff. This vaccine mandate includes schoolchildren from Kindergarten to 12th Grade in public, charter and private Institutions. 

California has already required vaccination from many viruses in order to attend school such as, Polio, Hepatitis B, Measles, Varicella and more. However, due to a significant decline in COVID-19 cases and an increase in vaccine distributions, California will mandate the vaccine in order to prevent further outbreaks in schools. 

This mandate affects millions of students across California and will place the state at the forefront of strict pandemic safety measures. FULL STORY

A Step Too Far? LAUSD Leading The Charge To Mandate Covid-19 Vaccination

By Andrew Fierro, Managing Editor

On September 9th, the Los Angles Unified School District (LAUSD) elected to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine, which has led to an outcry of both support and opposition.

The LAUSD is now the first major school system in the United States to mandate vaccination. This action has pushed the conversation forward and now puts pressure on other states and school districts to either do the same or come out against the decision.

The mandate gives students who are 12 and older, as well as enrolled in a school inside the district, up until January 10th to receive the vaccination fully. Though if the student wants to participate in extracurricular activities that are school-associated, the deadline for the mandate is October 31st.

The vaccination mandate has not only put pressure on the different school districts across the country, but also the education policymakers whose attention has just been grabbed. With this significant move, policymakers in support of the vaccine will look to further this decision and enforce it across the nation.

Many other school districts will most likely wait and watch carefully to understand the repercussions of such a mandate. However, the vaccination mandate has received support from major statewide teacher unions, as well as the entirety of school board members. FULL STORY

New Covid-19 “Mu” Varient Appears In The U.S. Causing Concern

by Oscar Aranda

People may not be totally safe with the COVID-19 vaccine. Coming from Columbia, the “Mu” variant has been found in 31 countries and is now present inside the United States. 

Nearing almost 3,000 cases nationwide, the variant is raising concern for another possible widespread outbreak. So far the Mu variant is prevalent in South America and Europe, which is co-circulating with other COVID-19 variants such as the Delta variant.

The state that has the highest report of the Mu variant is California, with a reported 432 cases. Coming in second for Mu variant cases is Florida, which has reported 308 cases, and in third, New York with 209 cases. 

The Mu variant has been found to be resistant to COVID-19 antibodies as well as vaccines, which can lead to many complications if an outbreak occurs in the U.S. Though if another outbreak occurs not only will the people of America be affected, but the health workers will once again have to go through another wave of hospitalizations. FULL STORY

All You Need To Know For California’s Recall Election Govorner Gavin Newson

by Eric Torres, Editor-in-Chief

Californians will decide today whether or not first-time Governor Gavin Newsom should remain in office to finish out his first term.

Newsom, a member of the Democratic Party, has been met with strong backlash due to his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, many supporters of the recall effort cite the homeless crisis, sanctuary city policies and water rationing as other factors that led to their disillusionment with Governor Newsom.

This is only the second governor recall effort in the state of California to reach an election. Should the recall succeed, it will be only the third time in U.S. history that a governor has been removed via recall election, with the last time being in 2003 when Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced California Governor Gray Davis. According to the California Finance Department, the recall election is estimated to cost $276 million.

As in the 2020 General Election, Californians may vote either in person or by mail. On top of the millions of ballots mailed out, Californians had until September 7th to mail in a request for one. If one is voting by mail, then they must have their ballot postmarked by September 14, 2021. Otherwise, one can vote by dropping off their ballot at a secure drop box or by going to the polls in-person. Voters must be in line at polls or drop boxes by 8:00 p.m. tonight in order for their vote to count. FULL STORY

20 Years Ago Today, The World Changed In Ways We Will Never Forget

by Eric Torres, Editor-in-Chief

As the world commemorates the 20th anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attack in U.S. history, we remember those who were lost on that tragic day and also thank those who ensure that it never happens again.

Twenty years ago, on September 11, 2001, planes hijacked by members of Al-Qaeda, an Islamic terrorist group, crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., with a fourth plane that was suspected to have been heading to the White House, or the Capitol Building, crashing in rural Pennsylvania. 

Nearly three thousand people lost their lives that morning. This figure includes citizens of 77 different countries, countless American citizens and 441 heroic New York first responders. Even today, 9/11 remains a touchy subject for Americans, and combined with the strife in Afghanistan, many look back on these events with anger and political resentment. 

It is important, however, to look back at these horrific events, separated by 20 years, through a different lens, one of gratitude.  FULL STORY

Record-Breaking Hurricane Ida Rips Through the Eastern United States

by Andrew Fierro, Managing Editor

Hurricane Ida has proven to be one of the most dangerous storms in history, having drastic effects on many states on the east coast with approximately $50-60 billion in property damage and a death toll over 50.

Hurricane Ida first made landfall on the August 29th in Louisiana, marked as a category four storm with maximum sustained winds reaching up to 150 miles per hour. Since that day, Ida has been on a treacherous path of pain and destruction.

The lives lost has been mainly due to the flooding that has taken place and unfortunately is expected to continue to rise. The storm that started out in Louisiana has made its way through many states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut and many more.

The storm, which was initially predicted to cause an estimated $15 billion in property damage, has likely caused somewhere between $50-60 billion in damage. In a country where the economy is still recovering and in many ways still being impacted by COVID-19, the intense damage caused by the hurricane could not have come at a worse time. FULL STORY

Students Return to Campuses Nationwide, but COVID-19 Remains a Challenge for Schools to Overcome

by Dominic Ramirez

As schools of all levels return to campus, COVID-19 remains a looming threat to the reopening effort across the country.

After a year and a half of online learning, schools are finally starting to reopen, but in doing so, they are putting kids at risk, especially those who are too young to be vaccinated. Various spikes in COVID-19 cases around the country have posed challenges to school leaders.

American children everywhere seem to be affected by the recent increase in COVID-19 cases among children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ website, since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been a grand total of 4.8 million coronavirus cases among children in the United States, with somewhere around 204,000 cases being added since the last week of August. As a result, many schools across America are now considering going back to online learning.

Even as the schools in California are following the guidelines provided by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), COVID-19 cases are up. Since August 25, 2021 there have been 467,048 cases in children from age five to 17, an 11.2% increase from the previous couple weeks, according to the CDPH. FULL STORY

News/Op-Ed: Pfizer First Again, Vaccine Approved by the Food and Drug Administration Ahead of Bosco’s Vaccination Drive

by Andrew Fierro, Managing Editor

As the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to surge, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine became FDA approved, which in turn has led to a rise in vaccinations as there is less hesitancy amongst the citizens.

On December 11th 2020, the Pfizer vaccine was authorized under “Emergency Use Authorization” (EUA) for individuals of the age 16 or older. Since this time, many people in the United States have chosen to get vaccinated, though a large number of people have waited as they are hesitant due to the absence of an FDA approval. However, this all changed on August 23rd, as the FDA have now fully approved the use of the vaccine.

The vaccine will now be advertised as Comirnaty, which is now the new full name of the vaccine. This comes from an agglomeration of the words “COVID-19 immunity.”

With the Delta variant becoming more and more prominent in the country, the FDA approval could not have come at a better time, as people who were hesitant are now feeling a lot more confident in the vaccine. Since the approval, the vaccination numbers have increased with more and more people continuing to become vaccinated everyday. FULL STORY

News/Op-Ed: All For Nothing? A Closer Look at America’s “Forever War” in Afghanistan

by Nicholas Neoman

In the wake of American military withdrawal from Afghanistan and just hours after the American evacuation of Kabul, the Taliban, an Islamic extremist military organization, completely overtook the capital city and any fragment of democracy left in Afghanistan.

After 20 years of fighting, four presidential administrations and over $2.26 trillion spent, Kabul has been restored back to being a terrorist stronghold. This crisis started with President Joe Biden ordering removal of American forces on July 8, 2021 as an extension of the Trump Administration’s plan for leaving Afghanistan. On Sunday, August 15, 2021, the Taliban officially took over Kabul, less than 24 hours after the United States troops officially left the city. The aftermath from these events have caused mass chaos and panic in both Afghanistan and the United States.

As the United States pulled out of Afghanistan, Afghans are attempting to flee the country by any and all means. The Hamid Karzai International Airport airport in Kabul has been the scene of mass chaos for the past week as citizens attempt to crowd onto leaving planes.  According to one report, over 600 civilians squeezed into a United States Air Force plane, while many others jumped on the outside of the vehicle trying to escape. Every citizen is desperate as they fear for their lives and freedom.

Women especially are suppressed under the new Taliban regime. Previously, women were making long overdue strides toward equality, and life for women was substantially freer under the previous rule. However, the Taliban has strictly enforced Islamic Sharia law, forcing women to wear a hijab and a burqa outside, as well as taking away many other rights. FULL STORY

WHILE COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUTS HAVE BROUGHT OPTIMISM, NEW SPREADS OF VARIANTS CAUSE FURTHER UNCERTAINTY

by Andrew Fierro

The first case of P.1., a new Coronavirus variant, which is also known as the “Brazilian” variant, has been confirmed in San Bernardino, California by the California Department of Health. The new variants of COVID-19 are creating growing uncertainty amongst people everywhere, specifically in regards to whether the new vaccinations are protective against new variants.

On March 13th, the California Department of Health alerted the county that there was a positive testing for the P.1. variant that was found on March 2nd. The man who had contracted the new variant is in his mid 40’s and has since been isolating at home.

This is not the only appearance of the P.1 variant inside the United States, however, as it has also been seen in the states of Arizona and Massachusetts. The variant was first detected inside four travelers coming from Brazil, who were tested at the Haneda Airport in Japan. However, it was first reported in the United States at the end of January.

Although the variant currently seems as if it is not any worse than the original coronavirus variant, it is more contagious and dangerous in the sense that if it’s being spread, it can spread faster than the original COVID-19, potentially boosting up numbers in California just as they begin to go down. According to the CDC, the emergence of this P.1. variant may raise concerns for potential of an increase in transmissibility or propensity for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection of individuals due to the 2 mutations that the variant possesses. FULL STORY

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DRASTIC EFFECT ON CRIME RATES AROUND THE WORLD

by Jackson Smith

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has struck communities around the world, the various effects of the shutdown and restrictions on crime have been overlooked. The results paint a complex picture dependent on region and crime severity. 

s a whole, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, crime has decreased due to peer groups seldom meeting in order to stay safe from the virus. However, it appears that minor offenders have been put in situations where crime against intimate partners such as battery, violence and homicide is likely.

In European countries, intentional homicide is down almost 25%. However, this is only true when a country is in lockdown, and almost immediately when these restrictions are relaxed, the rates of homicide move right back up to the normal amounts, which is, of course, very interesting.

Out of the countries that were studied, countries in Latin America saw a much smaller change in the rate of violent crimes.

The difference between the European and Latin American countries’ violent crime rates could be due to the different amount of restrictions that respective governments imposed, pre-existing socioeconomic conditions and a different pattern in the type of these crimes in the two, as Latin American homicide was mainly due to organized crime where European homicide was more closely related to more personal reasons. FULL STORY

CALIFORNIA BEGINS TO RE-OPEN AS CASES SIGNIFICANTLY DROP

by Andrew Fierro

As California enters the red tier, reopening is staring to occur, beginning with major league baseball teams opening at limited capacity and theme parks also opening at 15% capacity. 

Beginning on April 1st, state officials will start to allow civilians to attend major league baseball games and theme parks, such as Disneyland, at a limited capacity. Due to the fact that California has entered the red tier, in the coronavirus threat level tier list, theme parks are able to allow 15% capacity to people inside the state. Only people inside the state are going to be allowed to buy tickets to these theme parks.

Though it isn’t only theme parks and baseball games that are going to allow more people to attend, there are other places in California that are reopening as well including different restaurants, retail stores and malls.

Now once the red tier has been reached and holds steady for two weeks, gyms will be able to reach 10% capacity and museums will be able to be at 25% capacity. Indoor dining will become an option as well though as seen in San Francisco, they may wait out on the opening of indoor dining  until the orange tier is reached. FULL STORY

CONGRESS PASSES PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FIRST SIGNATURE PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

The first major piece of legislation for the Biden administration comes with a hefty price tag of $1.9 Trillion and has garnered bipartisan public support and minimal praise from Republicans in Congress. Despite opposition to the American Rescue Plan, the bill features heavy COVID-19 relief that would provide stability for American workers and families.

On Saturday, March 6th, the Senate passed the American Rescue Plan in a razor thin party line vote of 50-49. While the Biden administration’s first landmark piece of legislation has received bipartisan public support according to various polls, Senate Republicans were vocal about their opposition to the legislation, hence the close vote.

Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) was the lone Senator to not vote, as he was attending to family matters back home. However, even if Senator Sullivan would have presumably voted against the American Rescue Plan, it would’ve passed anyway since Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris would’ve held the tie breaking vote.

Despite looming threats from Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Krysten Sinema (D-AZ), who planned to vote against the bill had changes not been made to the original bill passed by the House of Representatives, Democrats were able to work with the two Senators to make changes to the bill and secure the votes of the “blue dog” moderates in Manchin and Sinema. FULL STORY

AUTOCRACY ABROAD REVEALS THE PRINCIPLES UNITING AMERICANS

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-in-Chief

Historically, the United States has been a beacon of hope and a standard pillar of Democracy around the world, upholding values of freedom and liberty while maintaining peaceful transitions of power between Presidents. While American Democracy has been polarized as of late, it pales in comparison to the autocracies that plague Russia and China, where corruption and genocide are the norm. 

After the arrest of Alexei Navalny upon his return to Russia on January 17th, supporters of the opposition leader and anti-corruption activist find themselves in the middle of a battle against their own President Vladimir Putin and his corrupt counterparts, whose autocratic leadership and power has created an endless realm of Russian toxicity.  The Russian people’s desire for anti-corrupt leadership is warranted, even palpable. The autocratic leadership of Vladimir Putin has ignited a spark in Russian citizens who are disgruntled with the corruption and injustices that occur within their country daily.

Of course, over the past few years, President Putin has fundamentally changed Russia’s election system to heavily favor himself staying in power – and while Russia was once a country with elections, even dating back to their days as the Soviet Union, they are a full fledged autocracy today where elections are merely for show.

A direct opposition to the United States, President Putin and Russian government officials heavily discourage any sort of vocal opposition to their corrupt leadership, meaning many Russians don’t have a voice. A false, preconceived notion that President Putin has tried to project to the rest of the world is that he is popular within his country.

While that may be true in a certain sense, Alexei Navalny has emerged as a staunch anti-Putin advocate, and as the only man with the courage to vocally oppose the Kremlin. He has become somewhat of a novelty, amassing a huge pool of supporters who are tired of the domestic oppression they combat daily under Putin’s reign of terror. FULL STORY

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR. INAUGURATED AS 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

At 78 years old, President Joe Biden becomes the oldest man to ever rise to the presidency. After decades of public service as a Senator from Delaware and two terms as Vice President, President Biden finally ascends to the office he has long sought. In a historic election cycle, Vice President Kamala Harris was inaugurated as the first African American and female to hold the Vice Presidency. 

The journey to the White House has not been an easy one for President Biden. Despite earning the trust and admiration of many nationally for his public service, President Biden has battled through adversity, personal hardships and loss throughout his political career. The story of President Joe Biden is one that can simply be described as tragic, yet also an emboldening symbol of the power of perseverance, hope and optimism.

In 1972, shortly before he would take his oath of office to become a United States Senator from Delaware, tragedy struck Biden: his wife, Neilia Hunter, and daughter, Naomi, only a year old, were killed in a tragic car accident that also injured his sons Beau and Hunter Biden.

Out of the depths of despair, he was not swayed away from public service. On January 5, 1973, Biden was sworn in as a Senator from Delaware inside Delaware Division of the Wilmington Medical Center, where his two sons were still recovering. After the accident, then Senator Biden took the Amtrak from Delaware to Washington, D.C. daily just to be able to see his sons on a daily basis. The travel took a total of 3 hours and 90 minutes to and from work.

In 1987, Senator Biden kicked off a longshot Presidential Campaign. While a respected and trusted Senator, his campaign failed to gain enough traction after being plagued by accusations of plagiarizing speeches. After just a few months of campaigning, Senator Biden withdrew from the race for the 1988 Democratic Nomination. FULL STORY

HOW A NATION DIVIDED CAN GLEAN INSPIRATION FROM KING’S DREAM

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief, and Joaquin Medrano, Managing Editor

The nonviolent civic legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. runs deep, and one of the greatest ways America could honor his memory is by listening to his rhetoric and transforming current politics into an environment that is welcoming for everyone.

With a domestic state of affairs that can simply be described as chaotic, unjust and perilous, the toxicity level between Americans with different social and political opinions has reached an unforeseen height. In turn, it deprives the masses of the ability to unite during times of strife, agony, despair and confusion.

During the battle for Civil Rights between the 1950s and 1960s within the United States, Dr. King emerged as a central voice for African Americans nationally who simply wanted justice and to have a shot at living a life where they weren’t hated or discriminated against solely because of the color of their skin.

In opposition to the segregationist Jim Crow laws in the South as well as oppression in other areas of the country, Dr. King emphasized the need for his people to choose peace and use nonviolent means to reach their just end. FULL STORY

PRESIDENT TRUMP IMPEACHED A SECOND TIME FOR HIS ROLE IN INCITING INSURRECTION AT CAPITOL HILL

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

On Wednesday, President Trump was impeached on the Capitol Hill insurrection’s one week anniversary, becoming the first President in U.S. history to be impeached twice. After already being embroiled in controversy for spreading baseless claims of a “rigged” election after his loss to President-Elect Joe Biden last November, President Trump’s last two weeks in office have been sent into a downward spiral after he incited his supporters to violently storm the U.S. Capitol.

The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for a historical second time in a 232-197 vote. The impeachment comes merely one week after he incited his supporters to commit seditious acts and storm Capitol Hill in a last-ditch attempt to overturn his election loss to President-Elect Joe Biden.

As the votes on impeachment were finalized, it was revealed that 10 Republican Representatives sided with Democrats and voted in favor of impeachment, making President Trump’s second impeachment the most bipartisan impeachment effort in American history. Most notably, Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) were three of the ten GOP House members to vote in favor of impeachment.

Since the House of Representatives has sped through the impeachment process in record time, President Trump’s fate lies in the hands of the Senate, although a formal Senate vote isn’t expected until after President Trump leaves office on January 20th, according to Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell.

Already, there is speculation that many Republican Senators can join Senate Democrats in formally convicting President Trump. If President Trump is convicted, there is growing belief that the Senate may also vote to ban President Trump from ever running for President again, as he has publicly considered runs in 2024.

The impeachment effort came on the heels of last week’s attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The Orwellian chaos will forever be remembered by not just Americans, but folks around the globe, as a protest-turned-riot dented our nation’s Capital and within an instant became one of the most appalling moments in American history. FULL STORY

The Start Of A New Year Could Bring Many Students Back To School In LA County

by Joaquin Medrano, Managing Editor

During the last few weeks, several talks on the matter of a future reopening for schools across Los Angeles County has left many in shock due to the high number of cases in the area. So, what would the reopening of schools be like with such a high number of cases?

According to weekly reports, the cases in LA County have been on the rise, with ICU availability close to zero in many areas, worrying citizens day and night.

Stay at home orders have been in place for weeks, but with such a high number of cases, many wonder whether those restrictions are being respected and treated seriously by the people.

Schools were still allowed to be open over the last few weeks, as long as small cohorts were created. The cohorts resulted to be effective as people were getting a closer experience to a normal school year. FULL STORY

THE RACE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE IS OVER

by Pedro Ochoa

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE received U.S. regulatory authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, making it the first vaccine company to get the green light in the United States.

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech are the coronavirus vaccine front runners.

The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, as the outbreak has killed nearly 300,000 Americans

Trucks rolled out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states. Initially, about 3 million shots are expected to be shipped nationwide.

It was unclear exactly who would receive the first doses of the vaccine, though health workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide. FULL STORY

UNDERSTANDING THE DATA, CRASHING NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES AFTER A BUSY HOLIDAY AND AN EMERGENCY LOCKDOWN IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

by Joaquin Medrano, Managing Editor

After California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in a press conference the plans for a safer California, many of such actions are beginning to take effect on LA County after a week of the announcement.

It is no surprise that after such a long-waited holiday, people would have incredible motivation to go outside during Thanksgiving/Black Friday specials.

Hundreds of millions alone flooded the busy outlet mall of Citadel in LA county. Even as people were required to wear masks, many did not social distance and took off their masks at points of conglomerations.

As the incubation period for the virus varies from 2-14 days, it is no surprise that many cases would be expected in the following weeks of the holiday season.

To understand the severity of the situation calculated in numbers here is a rundown of what this week looks like for new cases and a possibility of going back to normal:

Cases have increased to 34 new cases per 100 thousand, positivity rate is at a whopping 8.4%, and ICU availability is currently at 13.3%, forcing the county to enforce stay-at-home order due to the high amount of cases and rate of infection. FULL STORY

AS INAUGURATION DAY NEARS FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN, THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IS AS TENSE AS EVER

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

Over the past few weeks, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris have dedicated their focus on their presidential transition. Despite President Trump continuing to press forward with his failure to concede the election, Americans are getting a glimpse at the upcoming Biden Administration through his Cabinet picks.

According to election polls, incumbent President Donald J. Trump has lost the election.

While this may seem like old news, the Trump Administration and Campaign team have continued their self-described “legal battle” against the election results, echoing their baseless claims of voter fraud and uncertified ballots even as key battleground states where lawsuits were filed – such as Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada – have doubled down, or even tripled down, with their confirmation of President-Elect Biden’s election victories in their state.

Whereas President Trump and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, the former Mayor of New York City, have decided to wage war against Republican Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia and other state officials over their refusal to believe the President’s accusations of voter fraud, President-Elect Biden has swiftly begun his duties as the soon to be Commander-In-Chief, assembling his cabinet members and taking briefings on both COVID-19 and matters of Intelligence and National Security.

A glimpse into a potential Biden Administration and Biden Cabinet has gotten clearer by the day for Americans, as the President-Elect has prioritized political and administrative experience in choosing his supporting staff, a stark contrast to President Trump’s Cabinet, which has featured many political outsiders and relatively inexperienced figures. FULL STORY

DUE TO YET ANOTHER RISE IN COVID-19 CASES, CALIFORNIA ISSUES ANOTHER “STAY AT HOME” ORDER

by Aydn Morris

After 9 months of quarantining, there is still an increasing number of COVID-19 cases, leaving California officials reeling as they try to slow the spread and flatten the curve.

For the past 9 months Covid 19 has affected many peoples lives. Most people believed that this virus would end in about a month or two, but they never expected it to go for this long. A majority of people around the world are tired of seeing family members die or get infected by the virus and just want it to stop so they can get back to the way things were before.

California is one of the states with the highest number of cases and increasing percentages of cases and deaths due to Coronavirus. For the past couple of weeks, California has been giving residents light stay at home orders to try and decrease the cases and deaths.

The stay at home order is where residents are expected to stay at home unless of an emergency, in need of essential services or are essential workers. The stay at home order is is just a lighter version of the lockdown where a few places are still open but only a small amount of people are allowed.

The stay at home order will close down many public places such as restaurants, personal grooming services, bars, movie theaters, museums and casinos. FULL STORY

IN DECEMBER, YET ANOTHER FIRE HAS ERUPTED NEAR CORONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

by Andrew Fierro

The fire erupted Corona Municipal Airport and has since grow to over 500 acres, shutting down Highway 71 and causing air-filled smoke all over Orange County. 

The fire began on Tuesday night, though it really rocketed in size on Thursday due to strong winds. As of 8 A.M. Thursday, the fire is 0% contained.

The fire, due to its size and the smokey air causing vision issues for drivers, has caused a shutdown of State Route 71 on Thursday morning.

The winds overnight made residents near the flames, in towns like Sonora Ranch which is about 2 miles away from the fire, frightful of whether or not it was going to be able to be contained.

An evacuation order was issued for many areas including, but not limited to, Springs Court, Rock Ridge Court, and Cheyenne Road. However, those orders were lifted as of 10 P.M. FULL STORY

DAVID PROWSE, BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPION AND MOST NOTABLY THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK OF DARTH VADER, PASSED AWAY SATURDAY AT THE AGE OF 85.

by Andrew Fierro

The man behind Darth Vader, Prowse had a profound impact on the Star Wars Franchise and fans worldwide, even if he didn’t voice the famed villain. Unfortunately, Prowse passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday due to COVID-19.

Prowse was born in Bristol, United Kingdom on July 1, 1935. He went on to do many amazing things in his life, including becoming a weightlifting champion in Britain and also being the first Green Cross Code man.

However, what most people know him as is portraying one of the most iconic movie villains in history, Darth Vader.

David Prowse was 41 years old when George Lucas asked him to audition for the role after seeing him in the 1971 Stanley Kubrick film, A Clockwork Orange.

He had the choice between playing Chewbacca or Darth Vader, choosing to play Darth Vader because he believed that everyone always remembers the villain. He would be absolutely correct in that prophecy.

After receiving the role of Darth Vader and playing him for some time on set, George Lucas made the decision that his voice would be scrapped in post-production due to his heavy British accent that didn’t fit the character.

This would lead to the voice being portrayed by James Earl Jones, while Prowse handled actual Darth Vader character duties. FULL STORY

HOW RETAIL STORES ACCOMODATE TO OFFER THE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING IN A PANDEMIC

by Diego Santizo, Sports Editor

If you’re a Black Friday shopper who usually joins the early deal hunters on Thursday, you can take this year off because most stores won’t even open until Friday.

The usual pushing and shoving to snag that Black Friday item won’t happen this year as retailers grapple with the busiest shopping day amid the pandemic.

As retailers and customers brace themselves for the possibility of tighter pandemic-related restrictions and mandatory closures, this year’s Black Friday shopping season is shaping up to be unlike any before it.

Face masks, straight lines, contactless payments and other safety measures will now define the 2020 shopping experience. Also, in an effort to make sure no shopper is left out, several companies will extend their doorbuster sales before and after Nov. 27.

A number of stores have bucked the usual holiday tradition and will be closed on Thanksgiving this year. Of course, they’ll be “open” online, and most have already with their promotions throughout November to avoid the typical post-turkey crowding.

If you choose to head out for that in-store spree, you’ll want to check the latest closure updates related to the coronavirus pandemic. (Los Angeles County is currently in the purple tier, which means stores are open but must maintain a maximum of 25% capacity.) FULL STORY

INSIDE THE FALTERING LEGAL BATTLE SPEARHEADED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTEST THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

After Former Vice President Joe Biden’s election victory was officially called on November 7, 2020, President Trump and his legal team filed a multitude of lawsuits in key battleground states as they levied accusations of voter fraud in an attempt to contest the election results. Almost two weeks later, here is where President Trump and his melting legal pursuits stand as the Presidency has officially escaped his grasp.

Despite former Vice President, and now President-Elect, Joe Biden winning the election in a relatively convincing fashion, at a presumed electoral college vote of 306 to 232 – the exact same numbers seen in the 2016 Presidential Election – President Trump and GOP Members of Congress immediately began to doubt the legitimacy of Vice President Biden’s victory and in turn, the democratic process of voting that has been featured in the United States since George Washington was unanimously elected President in 1788.

In an election that was as chaotic, exhausting and unpredictable as expected, both President Trump and President-Elect Biden set milestones never before seen in US election history. As of now, President-Elect Biden has 79,661,770 million popular votes compared to President Trump’s 73,685,981 million popular votes – an overwhelming 6 million vote lead. The tallies received by both candidates are the first and second most popular votes obtained by presidential candidates in US Election history, respectively.

Besides his historic popular vote numbers, the President-Elect became the first Democrat since Bill Clinton in 1996 to win Arizona, flipping the state and its 11 electoral votes blue. Concurrent with Arizona’s results, President-Elect Biden became the first Democrat since Bill Clinton in 1992 to win Georgia, flipping the state and its crucial 16 electoral votes blue.

Speaking of Georgia – which went into a recount due to tremendously slim margins, but was not the result of a President Trump lawsuit – President-Elect Biden has sealed his victory there after the recount confirmed that President-Elect Biden had, in fact, flipped the former Republican stronghold. FULL STORY

A BREAKDOWN OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE RACE, WHAT COMPANIES ARE LEADING THE RACE AND WHAT PROBLEMS CAN THE VACCINE CREATE IN A CHANGING SOCIETY?

by Pedro Ochoa

The race for a COVID-19 vaccine is on its final laps. The main goal for the world is to find a vaccine as soon as possible. 

As for the drug making companies, their future relies on if they can be the first ones to produce the vaccine. Many big known companies are making a lot of progress to make the best vaccine possible, while some are falling behind.

With the race coming to an end, there are still a few questions to be answered. Will the race slim down even more? Will a big name company fall behind? Will a small name company come into the running? And, which company will prevail to get a massive paycheck?

From the beginning of the pandemic, many have looked to the promise of a vaccine to prevent infection by COVID-19. Vaccines typically take years to develop before they ultimately reach the market, but given the pandemic’s urgency, progress is being made much more rapidly.

When candidate vaccines make it to human clinical trials, they must go through three phases. The first two stages have already been tested by two major companies. The final stage, Phase 3, involves tens of thousands of people, to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccine and test whether there are any rare side effects that only show up in large groups.

Moderna and Pfizer, two of the biggest drug companies in this race, exceeded expectations. When looking at the vaccines and what is to come from them including the effectiveness, side effects, and many more, there are still a few big questions to be answered. Here is a slightly more in-depth look at the two big named candidate vaccines in the final phases of trials and close they are to the finish line. FULL STORY

OREGON BECOMES THE FIRST STATE TO DECRIMINALIZE HARD DRUG USE IN THE UNITED STATES

by Zachary Gardiner

Last Wednesday, possession of small amounts of drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine will no longer be punishable by jail time in Oregon, instead people will receive something similar to a traffic ticket.

The passage of the measure makes Oregon, which in 1973 became the first state to decriminalize marijuana possession, a pioneer in America in trying the same with extremely harmful drugs. The measure takes effect 30 days after Tuesday’s election, but the punishment changes don’t take effect until Feb. 1.

By favoring rehabilitation over incarceration, the measure prevents recovering drug users from being stigmatized by employers, lenders and landlords for years, and gives them the ability to pull themselves out of a cycle of drug-related criminality.

Under the measure, people who possess larger quantities of illicit drugs could still face misdemeanor  chargers and felony charges would apply to people who are alleged to possess enough drugs to sell. FULL STORY

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ELECTED AS 46TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

In 2020, anything is possible. As Americans have endured a tumultuous year and have witnessed the desecration of partisanship, civility, and decency throughout the country, it is evident that a remedy to mend the wounds of the nation and restore its status as a beacon of hope to an often vitriolic, asinine, and hopeless world may be coming soon. 

The rapid proliferation of a polarized political realm has indubitably changed the way in which Americans have chosen to engage in political discourse and vocalize their support for specific candidates, which often comes with preconceived notions on the character of individuals solely based on political ideologies and stances on national issues.

Throughout the history of the United States, the American people have always seemed to find a way to set aside political differences and unite as one during times of strife.

When the national state of affairs and overall well being of the country is at a compromise due to foreign or domestic challenges, Americans in every state, no matter what political party they belonged to, what religion they were faithful to, what the color of their skin was, or what state they lived in, everyone found a way to truly embody the fundamental idea of America being composed of the “United States”.

When the back of the country was to the wall after events such as the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the misery of the Great Depression, the seemingly everlasting battle for Civil Rights, the Vietnam War, 9/11, and the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings, Americans found a way to persevere, come together, and unite. Not once did the American people waver on their strength in numbers, and in times like those, uniting wasn’t a choice, it was a given.

Yet, somehow and someway, amidst a global pandemic that has ravaged communities, desecrated homes, and essentially put an end to any sense of normalcy that was left in the world, Americans began to grow contempt for one another based off of the same very thing that makes this country so strong and powerful – differences and diversity in thought. FULL STORY

FORMER V.P. BIDEN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP PLAY A WAITING GAME IN ONE OF THE CLOSEST ELECTIONS IN U.S. HISTORY

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

Despite the fact that Americans nationwide were under the general consensus that this presidential election would be very close, it is unlikely that anyone knew it would be this close. In an election that has spanned two days and going into three without a clear winner, here’s where both candidates stand as a presidency hangs in the balance. 

While the election is certainly closer than many Americans thought it would be, everything that has played out thus far has most definitely gone as expected.

After midnight on November 3rd, with states such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina hanging in the balance – with a presidency attached to it – both candidates were caught in the middle of an election hot potato.

At the end of the night, Biden had leads in Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin, with President Trump holding slim – and now even slimmer – leads that were within a margin of error.

With polls long closed and the grueling election process playing itself out in a very prolonged manner, both Vice President Biden and President Trump decided to make formal statements to the America people as the presidency hung in the balance with no clear winner established to claim it.

In order to quell the concerns of his base of support, the former Vice President said in a short statement from the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware that while he was confident he was headed toward a victory and the 270 threshold needed to formally win the presidency, there was no way he could possibly claim victory without results finalized, instead commending his supporters for their patience in getting the results and telling them to “keep the faith” while promoting the idea of civility and unity. FULL STORY

BIDEN MAINTAINS STEADY LEAD IN NATIONAL POLLS, PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKES STRIDES IN BATTLEGROUND STATES AS ELECTION DAY NEARS

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

As the Biden and Trump campaigns close out their final days of trying to garner the support of the American people nationwide, the two candidates’ standing in a number of national polls has seen marginal movement, even after a hard-fought, action packed summer and fall. 

The 2020 Presidential Election is finally here. After months of campaigning, voter deliberation, purported corruption scandals, insult-laden debates, asinine mudslinging, and a White House ravaged by COVID-19, former Vice President Joe Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump will see all their work culminate as the American people get their chance to speak at the polls.

In the latest national poll from Real Clear Politics, former Vice President Biden leads President Trump 51.1% to 43.9%, with an advantage of 7.2 points.

The polls indicate that President Trump has slightly tightened Vice President Biden’s lead, but the Biden Campaign is in a good position as their lead holds steady – yet within a margin of error where President Trump is still within striking distance.

Despite the fact that many voters nationwide have shown contempt for polling numbers since President Trump’s upset victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016, it is imperative to dispel the notion that polling numbers are wrong, per se. FULL STORY

THE MARKET RACE FOR AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

by Pedro Ochoa

The race for a COVID-19 vaccine intensifies as cases rise worldwide, and people are starting to lose their patience.

For drug-making companies, their future relies on if they can be the first ones to produce the vaccine first. Many big known companies are making a lot of progress to make the best vaccine possible, there are still many questions to be answered.

With elections around the corner, there are many scenarios that can happen. Will the race slim down? Will there be bigger gaps between companies and their stages? Will there be a winner soon after the elections?

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many have looked to the promise of a vaccine to prevent infection of COVID-19. Vaccines typically take years to develop before they ultimately reach the market, but given the global urgency, progress is being made much more rapidly.

When candidate vaccines reach human clinical trials, they need to go through Phase 1 trials to start with. Primarily to test the vaccine’s safety, determine dosages and identify any potential side effects in a small number of people. FULL STORY

THE WILDFIRES THAT ARE DECIMATING COLORADO AND IMPACTING THE WELLNESS OF ITS ENVIRONMENT

by Andrew Fierro

Colorado has been going through three of the worst wildfires in the state’s history, damaging structures, more than 300 homes, and approximately $195 million dollars worth of damages.

The Colorado Fires started on August 13th and have continued to get worse due to the hot and dry weather. Although the cause of the actual fires is still unknown, it is currently being investigated by Colorado officials.

Last week state officials mentioned that the East Troublesome Fire was burning through a build-up of “beetle-killed” pine trees that were boosted due to the weather conditions.

These three wildfires are the three largest to date in the state’s history. The fires have taken place in areas where beetles have already been through. There is speculation and evidence that these beetles have been playing a role in accelerating the wildfires by leaving dead trees, which help contribute to the rapid spread of flames.

However, the real enemy of forests is the changing climate, which is likely the reason behind these devastating wildfires in the state of Colorado and elsewhere. FULL STORY

CATASTROPHE IN SOUTH AMERICA, THE AMAZON FIRE INCREASES AS GLOBAL WARMING WORSENS BY THE MINUTE

By Aydn Morris

As the Amazon continues to burn down to ashes, much of the world’s focus is on the future of the planet, while politicians keep beating around the bush when discussing the topic.

The Amazon is one of the world’s most important oxygen producers as well as the largest rainforest that spans through most of South America. The Amazon covers territory shared by nine countries.

Majority of the Amazon is under Brazilian jurisdiction, accounting for 60%; followed by Peru at 13%, Colombia at 10%, and small amounts under the control of Bolivia Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

The Amazon accounts for the most biodiverse tract in the world, with over 390 billion trees and divided into 1600 species. The Amazon is a very important part of the world’s ecosystem and has existed for at least 50 million years, although it does not guarantee a protection status.

The Amazon rainforest has always been prone to fires, but this year the fires have surpassed those of last year. According to The Conversation, “In July 2020 the Amazon fires have increased by 28% and the fires in the first week of September were double those numbers.” The fires may even increase drastically due to international agreements to prioritize funding COVID-19 relief incentives before the well-being of the rainforest. FULL STORY

AMY CONEY BARRETT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED, SWORN IN AS U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

After the death of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 18th, President Trump announced the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett on September 26th to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court a mere thirty-five days before election day. On October 26th, Barrett was officially confirmed in a 52-48 vote by the Senate. 

In the immediate aftermath of Justice Ginsburg’s death, Democrats called for the Supreme Court seat to stay vacant until after the election was decided. The Democrats, as well as Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden, were sparked by Justice Ginsburg’s final statement on her deathbed, “My most fervent wish is that I not be replaced until a New President is installed.”

After President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett, a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Democrats nationwide were outraged due to the proximity of the election, as well as the hypocrisy in which Senate Republicans acted once she was officially nominated to fill the vacancy.

The outrage felt by Democrats was largely due to the fact that Republicans seemingly violated the precedent they established in 2016, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked hearings for then-President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia more than nine months before the end of President Obama’s term and the 2016 General Election. FULL STORY

GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM’S PLAN FOR A GREENER CALIFORNIA

by Zach Gardiner

As California strikes to make powerful statements on climate change, Governor Newsom released a plan that could affect the future of the state.

When it comes to banning all gas powered cars by 2035, Governor Newsom has become a celebrity when talking on the subject. Regardless of his silence when discussing California’s serious problems of homelessness, environmental protection laws have covered a big focus of Newsom’s agenda.

Newsom framed the plan as California’s answer to climate change and as an opportunity to benefit the state economically.

“This is the next big global industry,” Governor Newsom said referring to clean-energy technology, “And California wants to dominate it”. FULL STORY

DISNEYLAND’S REOPENING HOPES SWIFTLY SHUT DOWN AS CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM TIGHTENS RESTRICTIONS

by Aeden Alexander

Disneyland Park in Anaheim is struggling to reopen their doors due to the most recent Covid-19 requirements, or restrictions, released by the State of California. This marks only the third time in Disneyland history that the theme park has been closed.

In March of this year, Disneyland closed their doors “Out of Abundant Precaution” due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic.  Disneyland Parks in Anaheim, Disney World in Florida and Disney Paris were among the first Disney parks to close its doors. Following suit due to rising infection rates, the remaining parks and resorts throughout the entire world also closed their doors.

Fast forward to 7 months later, all other Disney Theme parks and resorts in the entire world have managed to reach their state, county, or country’s mandated requirements to safely open and get back to business. The one outlier, though, is Disneyland in Anaheim due to California’s struggles to contain the virus. FULL STORY

THE PROBLEM WITH LEGAL FAIRNESS, AND HOW TO DEPOLITICIZE THE FEDERAL COURTS

by Joaquin Medrano, Managing Editor

As tensions keep rising inside the government due to the nomination for the vacancy in the Supreme Court, the question of loyalty versus honest service alarms the American people.

“He [the president] shall have Power… [to] appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States.” US Constitution Article II, Section 2, Clause 2.

Included as one of the presidential powers, the appointment of a nominee for the Supreme Court is heavily discussed, as Presidents will most likely favor members of their political party.

It is no surprise really that President Trump would do the same, as a Supreme Court position is vacant after the death of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 

In historic events, the second President of the United States, John Adams, appointed 42 judges to both circuit courts and the Supreme Court on his last day as president in what is referred to as the “midnight judges”, in order to keep his political party’s interests dominant for a while.

The job of a Supreme Court Justice is essential for the American government, as they hold great authority over the law and order in the country, having the power of judicial review, where they can literally change or add a change to the Constitution, creating a whole new system. FULL STORY

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FORMER V.P. BIDEN SPAR IN NEWLY FORMATTED, BUT MORE CONVENTIONAL, DEBATE

By Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

On Thursday night, President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden clashed in the first debate since September 29th and the President’s COVID-19 diagnosis, with new regulations set by the Debate Commission in order to prevent the difficult conundrum and vitriol faced in the first debate. 

Since the first presidential debate on September 29th in Cleveland, Ohio, the campaigns of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have embarked on two completely different paths as the country nears Election Day. Just two days after the first presidential debate, on October 1st, President Trump, his wife Melania, and youngest son Barron all tested positive for COVID-19. After roughly two weeks of recovery and a controversial stay at Walter Reed National Medical Center, the President has gone back to holding campaign events and downplaying the virus in order to maintain a stranglehold on his base of support.

On the flip side, former Vice President Joe Biden has continuously tested negative for COVID-19, while exhibiting extreme caution and hosting either socially distanced or virtual campaign events as he holds on to a national lead in the polls and in various battleground states.

While the campaigns of both candidates have continued to operate in their usual different ways, both President Trump and former Vice President Biden have taken outside hits with alleged corruption scandals. On the Democratic side, Vice President Biden has faced a myriad of criticism from the President and the GOP after reports that his son, Hunter Biden, received $3.5 Million dollars from Russian and Ukranian shady business deals, which Vice President Biden allegedly knew about, though reports are conflicting, with former intelligence officials believing the scandal – first reported by the New York Post – to be Russian disinformation. FULL STORY

President Trump And First Lady Test Positive For COVID-19, Former V.P. Biden Tests Negative 

By Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

Just two days after the first presidential debate in Cleveland, and only one day after a campaign rally in Duluth, Minnesota, President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, announced on Twitter late Thursday night that they both tested positive for COVID-19, were quarantined and beginning their process of recovery.

The bombshell announcement comes merely hours after the announcement that one of the President’s top aides – Hope Hicks – tested positive for COVID-19 and had been exposed to the President numerous times, as she accompanied he and his team on Air Force One numerous times throughout the week.

 

Per usual for President Trump and his administration, the fundraising event in Minnesota – while outdoors – featured no social distancing, with the President failing to inform the crowd that he had been exposed to the COVID-19 positive Hicks.

After criticizing Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden at the debate on Tuesday for his consistent mask wearing as well as his socially distanced and virtual campaign events, the President has now contracted the same virus he’s been “downplaying,” according to interview recordings by journalist Bob Woodward, since its initial onset. FULL STORY

Pardon The Interruption… President Trump, Former V.P. Biden Collide In Chaotic First Debate

By Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

On Tuesday night, President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden clashed in one of the most chaotic, insult-laden presidential debates in history, leaving political pundits stunned, American families appalled and the country in an untenable struggle for decency and civility. 

Throughout the past few months, Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden has been subject to a litany of insults from President Donald Trump and his administration, who have directly attacked the former Vice President’s mental acuity as well as his record as a senator and the eight years he served under President Barack Obama. Despite the personal attacks and insults that Former Vice President Biden and his family have faced at the hands of the President, the former Vice President has maintained a stranglehold on his leads in the polls, while his opponent has continued to ignite his base despite low approval ratings.

On Tuesday at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, the seasoned, veteran debater in the form of Joe Biden and the unpredictable, unorthodox debater in the form of President Trump had the opportunity to put the months of insults to rest and appeal to the American people by discussing policy, visions, and providing a semblance of unity through their rhetoric in a time where the country is experiencing tremendous political polarization.

Instead of getting a civil, decent, and controlled debate, the American people witnessed a nightmare unfold right before their very eyes. The moderator, widely respected Fox News Sunday Anchor Chris Wallace, seemingly struggled to control the personality of President Trump, who continuously interrupted the former Vice President more times than Biden was even able to speak. Rather than employ a message of unity, optimism, and leadership, the President continued to evoke rhetoric that was divisive, despicable and abrasive – yet another trampling over norms of presidential etiquette by an administration that has continually embraced the unconventional, regardless of cultural backlash. FULL STORY

COVID-19 Responses Around The Globe Highlight U.S. Challenges 

by John Udabe

As the United States persists months into the pandemic, people have continually adapted to an ever-changing “new normal.” Places in the U.S. then began to open up, and then some inevitably began to close again. Some cities around the country are in a perpetual state of cautious phased reopening, while other places remain open as if a pandemic weren’t occurring at all. Around the world, other countries have responded differently to the virus. 

Some countries now appear to be over the hump, while others are resisting a second wave of cases. Some places have returned to nearly normal, others are on their way, and some expect a return in a distant future. Quick and enforced policy appears to have been the key element to striking the problem early, as can be seen throughout the world.

Let’s take a closer look at Taiwan. An extensive list published by the American Medical Association shows that Taiwan was one of the first countries to initiate protocols regarding the virus, with health screenings on flights from Wuhan beginning as early as December 31, 2019. In the months following, Taiwan began more extensive travel restrictions and public safety measures in response to the virus. Tours and transiting to China were soon suspended.

Places like Taiwan would likely be cautious regardless of public policy. Taiwanese citizens are no strangers to being in the worldy neighborhood of deadly viruses. The effect of the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, for example, which also originated in mainland China, likely remains in their memories.

By February 1st, roughly 4 million masks were being locally manufactured and sent out, with a set price of about $0.20 per mask, making them widely accessible. A few days later, the mobilization of resources, provided by government and private organizations, allowed for ten million masks to be made per day. FULL STORY

Biden Holds Steady Lead Over Trump Nationally In Election Defined By COVID-19 

by Joshua Hernandez, Editor-In-Chief

Throughout the Summer, Democratic presidential nominee and former-Vice President Joe Biden united his party and continued his measured rhetoric amidst widespread racial tension, the rising COVID-19 death toll and a downed economy. Meanwhile, incumbent President Donald Trump maintained a stranglehold on his base of support, weathering low net approval ratings and criticism regarding his administration’s COVID-19 response.

Throughout the past year and a half, the President has been under intense scrutiny from Democrats after a failed impeachment attempt, as he now attempts to change the narrative surrounding his administration’s pandemic response. Despite the chaos that has occurred over President Trump’s term, the President himself continues to avert attention from his perceived “downplaying” of the pandemic and its dangers, attacking the left for creating “fake news” in the media and attempting to block his agenda from coming into fruition.

As a result of the continuous division of the United States, as well as the disappearance of bipartisanship, the upcoming election will be one of the most consequential in recent history. The most recent Real Clear Politics average of up-to-date polling data shows former-Vice President Biden leading the President by about 6 points nationally.

At the Democratic National Convention last month, the party called for unity, strength and perseverance in a time where, they claimed, the country is in dire need of moral leadership. In his nomination acceptance speech, the former-Vice President displayed the reason why Democrats across the country entrusted him with the tremendous responsibility of representing their party when many in their ranks feel the man currently sitting in the Oval Office poses an existential threat. FULL STORY

Not So Fast… California To Begin Phases Of Reopening In Wake of COVID-19

With states across America aiming to slowly reopen, California Governor Gavin Newsom aims to begin this week with phased reopening starting with public beaches and small businesses.

With California nearly approaching two months since social distancing guidelines have been put into effect, the virus has strongly affected small businesses, and the Governor’s announcement would put them back into business, although they still have to maintain the distancing guidelines. Curbside pickup and delivery, according to Governor Newsom in a press conference on Tuesday, would be the way that these businesses would operate starting as soon as last Friday. Businesses must need the proper protective gear and constant deep cleaning is necessary for these small businesses. Governor Newsom is set to offer the full guidelines to the small businesses in coming days. FULL STORY 

Pope Francis Leads Faithful Through Pandemic Crisis

by Ryan Tavera

In this time of angst and uncertainty, Pope Francis hopes to shine a light through this cloud of darkness by delivering a prayer in a desolate St Peter’s Square.

It was a rainy Friday in Vatican City as Pope Francis delivered his Urbi et Orbi blessing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has left more than 18,000 people dead in Italy. The Pope delivered the blessing in front of an empty St Peter’s Square in the heart of the Vatican City.

Speaking through the rain, Francis read from the Gospel where he urged the world to create a sense of unity and to comfort each other as times get tougher. Millions of people from around the world were able to tune into the Pope’s message via television and social media while remaining quarantined.

“We have realized that we are in the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other,” said Pope Francis. FULL STORY

Disneyland Closes For The First Time Since 9/11

by Christian Bode

California is on “lockdown,” from schools to sporting events, concerts, and other large public gatherings, which inevitably hit one of the biggest tourist attractions on the planet: Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, which will remain closed indefinitely.

These lockdowns have affected us in many different ways. L.A County is on lockdown, with schools being shut down, and non-essential outings and groups of 10 or more being banned. This, of course, would inevitably hit one of the biggest corporations and hangout places on the planet. Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure have been closed till March 31’st. This is not a shocker to anyone, but for people who know Disneyland. There is no other place that has the resilience to stay open through other hardships but it seems as though this is too hard for them. The reason this is big news is that through thick and thin, Disneyland has stayed open. Through the Ebola outbreak from Africa, Sars, and many other viruses. Through rainy days and earthquakes, Disneyland Theme Parks have stayed open.

The last time Disneyland closed, to the public without any prior notice, was on September 11, 2001. This date was due to the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York which shook the nation to its core. For many people, Disneyland closure is scary, as it may make some people realize just how bad and dangerous this virus is. On the Disneyland website, you can find a notice about the epidemic and the reason for their closure. FULL STORY 

Biden Continues To Dominate Primary Race With Huge Delegate Lead, Amid Coronavirus Postponements 

by Timothy Levine, Executive Editor

Following the conclusion of Super Tuesday, nine more states have held their Democratic Primaries. All but one of these states went to Joe Biden, who now takes a nearly insurmountable lead in delegates that seems to secure his spot as the inevitable nominee.

It seemed that Biden had all the momentum following a surprisingly dominant performance on Super Tuesday, one that saw him win ten of the 14 states available off the endorsements of Klobuchar and Buttigieg. This momentum did not slow down in any way, as he won big the following week with victories in key states such as Michigan, Missouri, and Washington. These states were key for Bernie Sanders to make a comeback and build momentum for upcoming races, however, he performed worse than poll-predictions in these states and suffered from low youth-voter turnout.

Biden did not stop there, as he continued to widen his lead to his almost assured victory, sweeping the three primary races held on March 17. These states were Arizona, Florida, and Illinois, three big delegate states with 440 delegates combined of which Biden won 295 off, nearly 70 percent. This huge delegate victory comes from the margin that Biden is winning by, as he dominated in Florida with 62 percent of the vote, well above poll projections. Biden now has 1217 delegates, a 303 delegate lead over Sanders, virtually guaranteeing his victory. He will almost certainly win the delegate lead, it is now just a matter of if he wins the nomination outright or at the convention. FULL STORY 

California Reacts To Gavin Newsom’s Shut Down Of Schools Across State

by Joshua Lucero

Due to the unexpected rise of COVID-19 (the CoronaVirus), the majority of schools all over California have made the preemptive decision to physically shut down for an indefinite amount of time. Students were given an alternate version of school from home, online education.

The main reason behind this difficult decision is the number of cases that have steadily risen in California. “The number has surpassed 31,000 and is continually on the rise”, said the LA Times. To attempt to ‘reach the curve’ and decrease the spread of this pandemic, entire local areas are being shut down, including schools, restaurants, malls, and many other commonplace areas. The governmental response to COVID-19 has received a widespread amount of different reactions all over the state of California.

Many families all around the state and the nation are beginning to see the true nature of the effects of the virus, as most people have been overbuying products and supplies for their homes. An active request has been in effect for social distancing, but it seems to be easier said than done and it shows through the people’s response toward this request by the government.

There has been a shut down of malls, bars, roller coaster parks, gyms, and anything else that the public actively uses that is considered “non-essential”. This is all because of the request by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration that advises people to stay indoors and out of public spaces. FULL STORY 

Doing Our Parts To Prevent The Spread Of Covid-19 

by Emilio Ceja and Ma’A Gaoteote

The recent pandemic outbreak of the coronavirus, COVID-19, has spread across nations. Over 400,000 people worldwide have tested positive for the virus, which started in Wuhan, China and spread quickly since reaching Europe, namely Italy. The virus has reached the United States, which now has the 3rd most cases of any country with over 600 fatalities. 

The Coronavirus although an easily spread virus can be slowed down through simple steps that can be done by everyone. If more people take these simple measures seriously during this time of California state as well as national “lockdown,” Californians and Americans at large can do their little part to help avoid a further spike in new cases, which has led to a death toll that just yesterday increased by more than 100, according to reporting from CNN.

Of course, the most important thing that one can do is avoid contact with those who have been infected with the virus or been around others who have. Beyond that though, it’s important at this stage that we follow the Governor’s and the Presidential Task Force’s recommendations to “stay at home” and practice at least six feet of social distancing. FULL STORY 

 

From NBA Players To Our Everyday Lives, “Coronavirus” Has Been Felt Throughout The World 

by R.J. Johnson

How serious is the “Coronavirus” or “COVID-19”? With COVID-19 being a new disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are still in the works of finding out how severe the illness might be and what causes it.

So far, one of the most important things that we know about COVID-19 is how easily it spreads from person-to-person. The main way that the virus has spread is through close proximity with other people through respiratory issues like coughing or sneezing. Droplets admitted from the mouth or nose can make its way onto people nearby, possibly being inhaled into the lungs.

According to the CDC, people are most contagious when they are most symptomatic. Although people mainly spread the virus through being visibly sick, the CDC believes that some spread might be possible before visible symptoms are shown. A recent example of this would be an NBA player from the Utah Jazz in Rudy Gobert.

“I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis…mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment,” Gobert wrote. FULL STORY 

Biden Sweeps On Super Tuesday, Sanders Takes Home Biggest Prize Of The Night 

by Timothy Levine, Executive Editor

With the majority of Super Tuesday results being accounted for, Joe Biden had the biggest night with a dominant performance that saw him win ten of the 14 states, Bernie Sanders won the delegate prize of California and Bloomberg disappointed winning zero states and suspending his campaign.

Following the suspension of both Buttigieg and Klobuchar’s campaigns and their endorsements of Joe Biden, it appeared that Biden would get a strong boost from moderate supporters who would rally behind him. This prediction turned out to be true, as Biden exceeded polling expectations and dominated in the states he won, winning big in the south and stealing Minnesota and Maine that went to Bernie in 2016.

Biden’s victories were not only significant in vote percentage but delegates as well. Many of the states he won, he swept in delegates and now has the delegate lead with 564 delegates. This comes from a huge surge of votes in the south and a big surprise victory in Texas, a state that polls had leaning towards Sanders before Super Tuesday. Following his rocky start, it appears that the party has found a new frontrunner in Biden and one that will have a lot of momentum heading into the final parts of this nomination race. FULL STORY

People The World Over Pay Tribute To Kobe and Gianna Bryant

by R.J. Johnson

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant’s death has slowly begun to set in for several people across the world that felt a special connection to Kobe whether they knew him personally or not. 

Kobe set a standard for those who looked up to him, a drive that required consistency and work ethic. The “Mamba Mentality” is what Kobe gave to the world before he passed. His mentality was fierce, and many have decided to show recognition and give thanks for what he did for them.

Los Angeles is leading the charge in showing remembrance for Kobe. Not only with the memorial service they hosted for him, but with the constant love being shown around the city. There have been several sightings of vehicles sporting Los Angeles Laker colors, with designs relating to Kobe. Notable vehicles have been Joe Carbonara’s Lamborghini Huracan and an i8 BMW which both have designs of Kobe and Gianna Bryant along with their jersey numbers as well. Even the Los Angeles Metro busses have also given tribute, with “RIP KOBE” being placed at the head of all of them.

Plenty of Kobe Bryant murals have also gone up all over LA County, giving fans from everywhere a place to go and honor the legend. Kobe’s influence didn’t just stop in LA, it made its way across the world as well. FULL STORY

Biden and Sanders In Two-Horse Race Ahead Of Super Tuesday

by Timothy Levine, Executive Editor

With the results of both Nevada and South Carolina, the field has narrowed down and it appears to be all Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden heading into Super Tuesday.

The Nevada Democratic caucus took place on February 22 and saw Senator Bernie Sanders surge to victory, amassing nearly 50 percent of the votes. This caucus was followed by South Carolina’s primary election that took place this past Saturday where Joe Biden had a similar performance that saw him gain 48 percent of the vote in a dominant showing. These are both vital in building momentum for the upcoming Super Tuesday.

The Nevada Caucus awarded 36 delegates, of which frontrunner Sanders was able to get 24 with his 46.8 percent of the votes. This was a huge win for Sanders and one he was hoping would build momentum for South Carolina, but more importantly Super Tuesday. Sanders was followed by Biden in Nevada who received nine delegates of the strength of his 20.2 percent of the votes. The only other candidate to receive delegates was Mayor Pete Buttigieg who got three delegates and 14.3 percent of the votes.

This was a very disappointing night for Senator Elizabeth Warren who failed to receive any delegates and only nine percent of the votes. She will need to strongly exceed expectations on Super Tuesday to have a viable path forward. FULL STORY

Sanders Emerges as Frontrunner, Buttigieg Leads Moderate Lane

by Timothy Levine, Executive Editor

With the results of both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary being released, Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders stand apart from the field in a tier of their own with Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren having disappointing showings.  

The Iowa Caucuses took place in Iowa on February 3, 2020. Normally, the night of the Caucus would be full of speeches going over each candidate’s results, however, the results were delayed and America had to wait six days until 100 percent of the results were reported.

The Iowa Caucus result delay stems from the integration of a new app The Iowa Democratic Party commissioned Shadow Inc., a for-profit technology company, to build according to The New York Times. This app was supposedly plagued with “coding” errors and many volunteers helping to run the caucus were unfamiliar with how to log in and use the app. The party stated that these issues caused “inconsistencies with the reports” and the investigation required time, which led to the delay according to Vox. FULL STORY

CoronaVirus

by Ryan Tavera and Joshua Whitfield

The spread of a new disease, 2019-nCoV, widely referred to as the coronavirus has undoubtedly taken the world by storm. The coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China and is currently challenging scientists who are struggling to officially find the source of the virus, although they believe it to be the selling and eating of bats in Wuhan, China. 

“When you look at the genetic sequence of the virus, and you match it up with every known coronavirus, the closest relatives are from bats,” said Dr. Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, an environmental health non-profit organization.

The virus has proven to be contagious affecting up to 17,000 people and already killing 362 people as of Monday according to Johns Hopkins CSSE live map. 

See the map here.

What does this all mean though for people living in the United States? Well if you are worried about the virus spreading it already has been confirmed in the U.S with 6 cases as of Thursday.  To prevent the further spreading of the virus the infected are being quarantined and treated. FULL STORY

Legends Never Die

by Robert Johnson

An athlete, pianist, writer, rapper, businessman, husband, and most importantly a father. Kobe “Bean” Bryant was a beyond talented human being, accomplishing more in his lifetime than being an NBA Megastar.

Born August 23rd, 1978 in Philadelphia, PA to Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. Kobe was born into a family of stardom with his father, Joe Bryant was a former NBA and overseas player. 

When Kobe Bryant was 6, his father Joe retired from the NBA to go play professional basketball in Italy where he played five seasons in a few different cities. 

In order for Kobe to adapt to his environment, he had to pick up the local language which was Italian in order to communicate with his teammates on the basketball court or soccer field. 

Later in life, Kobe learned Spanish, making him completely fluent in three languages. 

Kobe Bryant is extremely intelligent, graduating with a high school degree from Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. In Kobe’s adult life, he was mostly self-taught, learning the most from his life experiences. FULL STORY

School Shootings Reveal Striking Cold War Parallels

by Joaquin Medrano, Contributing Writer

Societies often repeat history to the alarm of the general population, and it is vital that we look back and evaluate past lessons.

In the 1950s at the height of the Cold War, people were scared of bombings by the USSR, starting a new fear and a new trend among American families: Fallout shelters. These shelters served as a way for Americans to feel safe in the case of nuclear warfare, a method that wasn’t necessarily effective.

This history can be instructional to modern societies in showing how fast we are changing for the worst. In the last 10 years, school shootings have been on the rise, thus increasing the fear among Americans. These shootings have required many schools to prepare students and teachers for a possible tragedy. Many schools have trained teachers to deal with the situations, while other schools have drills, not dissimilar to “drop drills” held in school during the Cold War.

Going to school with the fear of a possible attack is not right, and we as Americans should attack the problem before it takes more precious life. FULL STORY

Candidate Andrew Yang’s Campaign Stunt Might Run Into Legal Trouble

by Tim Levine, Executive Editor

One of the biggest moments of the last Democratic debate came from Andrew Yang’s opening statement, in which he announced an unprecedented move to give ten people $1,000 a month for a year. 

The stunt is an attempt to garner popularity and promote the candidates flagship policy proposal, The Freedom Dividend, which would give every adult American $1000 a month for personal use. Yang plans to raffle off these ten entrants from his list of over 450,000 entrants who have signed up for the promotion. While it is an exciting idea and one that is unique to the political world, there are still many questioning the legality of it.

The $120,000 necessary for the contest “will be financed by campaign donations from supporters,” according to CNN. This has garnered the attention of some campaign experts who have brought up that this campaign stunt is in possible violation of federal law that inhibits converting campaign funds to personal use. FULL STORY

The Venezuelan Crisis

by Joaquin Medrano

“Ni Jesucristo resucitado podrá conmigo,” (Not even Jesus Christ resurrected can beat me) said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Since 1999, Venezuela has been in a humanitarian crisis as a socialist regime took over government under ex-president Hugo Chavez. Hugo Chavez set up the grounds for an economic inflation in Venezuela, making prices for necessary things, like toilet paper or even water, unobtainable for citizens.

Hugo Chavez died in 2013, from cancer complications, but before dying, he set up one of the worst governments ever seen in world history, leaving a new dictatorship under Nicolas Maduro’s rule. FULL STORY

Midterm Elections Results And Analysis

by Kyle Moats

America… Home Of The Free… Because of the Brave. Free to do many things, but especially To Vote…

It says great things about us and, of course, our founders insistence of checks and balances when we face the current outcome of our midterm elections.

This year’s midterm elections were labeled by the modern media as one of the most important midterm elections ever. Maybe so, but what are we really looking at?

Depending on the political party, “important” was either maintaining, losing, or increasing control. FULL STORY

Remembering The Life Of George H.W. Bush

by Samuel Rodriguez

George H.W. Bush, the 41^st president of the United States and decorated World War 2 veteran, died Friday, November 30^th, at the age of 94.

According to CNN, his casket sits in the US capital until a state funeral will take place on December 5^th at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. From there, Bush will be flown to Texas to be buried at his Presidential library.

On Monday,  current President Donald Trump honored the lost hero at the US capitol and ended his visit with a firm salute to Bush’s casket. FULL STORY

Controversy Around A Newly Canonized Saint

by Joaquin Medrano

The Catholic Church is the faith of 1.2 billion people around the

world. The Church is human, like any other person, just like it’s leader, and by no means is it free of errors.

In the late 1970’s to early 1980’s, El Salvador was a country in the middle of a civil war. The military was fighting against the left guerrilla group, to control the power.

This war brought the Catholic Church to surrender and decide to obey the oligarchs, and support the war. In return they would receive protection from the war.

From day one there were mixed emotions, as many priests supported the idea of the extremist groups. Others, like Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero opposed the idea. FULL STORY