In The News: Top ten headlines this week
Editor’s Note: The following is a summary of the ten stories from last week that a college student needs to know.
1. Dozens killed in Brussels ISIS attack
In the Brussels airport in Belgium this morning, 34 people were killed in two explosions, and more than 230 were wounded. ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack.
According to the New York Times, eight hours after the explosion, a news agency affiliated with the Islamic State issued a bulletin calling Belgium a “country participating in the coalition against the Islamic State.” The city, since the explosion, has been essentially shut down.
-The New York Times, March 22
2. Western Tuesday results
Republican front runner Donald trump keeps expanding his lead in the delegate count.
After taking Arizona, a winner take all state, Trump racked up 50 more delegates. However, Cruz came back to take Utah, winning all 40 delegates awarded from the state.The American Samoa’s delegates will go to the convention uncommitted, and they possess a total of nine delegates.
On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders enjoyed a winning evening by taking Utah and Idaho. However, Clinton won Arizona by a rather hefty margin.
-New York Times,
March 23
3. SeaWorld will end orca breeding and shows
SeaWorld has officially announced the decision long sought after by animal activists. Orca breeding and shows will be slowly weaned out of SeaWorld parks.
The negative press associated with SeaWorld stems from a bad reputation caused by incidents throughout the years and from the documentary “Blackfish.”
-USA Today,
March 20
4. Iran to erect statue of captured US Navy sailors
Iran is planning to make its recent capture and release of U.S. Navy sailors into a “tourist attraction.”
According to FOX News, the sailors were held at gunpoint for a day and paraded in front of cameras – drawing outrage from the Obama administration – before being released.
The statue is expected to be built on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, near where the sailors were captured.
-FOX News,
March 21
5. New products shown at Apple keynote
On Monday, Apple announced a few new products at their keynote.
The products include a new iPad Pro, new watch bands and some software updates, along with the new iPhone SE.
The new iPhone is smaller and cheaper than the current iPhone 6/6s on the market today. Apple CEO Tim Cook also mentioned Apple’s court hearing that would be held on Tuesday concerning the San Bernardino case.
-CNN,
March 21
6. Contract talks continue in Central Greene
Teachers in the Central Greene School District will continue to work under the expired contract as negotiating parties continue to formulate a new collective bargaining agreement.
Last Tuesday, according to the Greene County Messenger, the school board rejected a “package” recommendation to accept a new five-year collective bargaining agreement between the Central Greene Education Association and the school district.
-Greene County Messenger,
March 20
7. New bill wants employers to pay student debt
As of now, money that is being used as loan payoff is considered taxable income, which means both the employer and the employee have to pay taxes on the amount given.
According to Bloomberg, such a bill would allow companies to help employees pay off their student loans. However, backers of the bill – which has bipartisan support – said they were “cautiously optimistic” about the bill, but didn’t expect it to pass during an election year.
-Bloomberg,
March 21
8. British research ship may receive weird name
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has recently announced an online voting contest to come up with a name for the nearly $300 million boat to be launched in 2019.
According to CBS News, the 128-yard-long, 15,000-ton ship is described by the NERC as a “new polar research vessel that will deliver world-leading capability for UK research in both Antarctica and the Arctic.”
By turning to the internet to come up with the name, the current leader by over 30,000 votes, is “R.R.S Boaty McBoatface,” which was proposed by current public relations professional and former BBC employee James Hand.
-CBS News,
March 21
9. Former Toronto mayor dies of cancer
Rob Ford, former mayor of Toronto whose tenure was marred by alcohol and illegal drug use, lost his battle to cancer at age 46 on March 22.
According to FOX News, Ford was diagnosed with cancer in September 2014. His illness forced him to withdraw his bid for re-election as mayor and he ran instead for a city council seat, winning in a landslide despite his notoriety for being controversial.
-FOX News,
March 22
10. Decriminalization bill heads to Pittsburgh
A new law to decriminalize marijuana is being proposed to the Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday, March 22. This law, according to WTAE, will allow police to seize drugs and issue a fine instead of making an arrest and filing criminal charges. The stipulation is that the person caught must only have a small amount of marijuana or hash.
Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle says the bill would make it difficult for employers to uncover a drug violation through a simple court records, and supporters want a bill similar to those in Philadelphia.
-WTAE,
March 22