Hurricane Ida’s Destructive Path and the Role of FEMA
Hurricane Ida’s Destructive Path and the Role of FEMA

“Hurricane Ida has brought tolls on lives and infrastructure; yet, this disaster, where many Americans, especially Lousianans, have been affected, has illustrated the combination of efforts within the local, state, and federal levels of government. Particularly, FEMA has taken great measures to address natural disaster relief ever since 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, including financial relief and supply delivery. Ultimately, Hurricane Ida importantly underscores the role climate change scientifically plays in natural disaster formation and emphasizes forward-thinking solutions that combat climate change.”

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NationalAnthony HuiClimate Change, FEMA, Hurricanes, Natural DisasterComment
Abortion Rights Take Center Stage
Abortion Rights Take Center Stage

“The most restrictive abortion ban in the United States became effective on September 1 in Texas. Texas Senate Bill 8, also known as TX SB8 or “The Heartbeat Bill,” was passed in May by the Texas State Legislature. SB8 prohibits nearly all abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. Violators of the law, including anyone aiding or abetting a person receiving abortion care, can be sued by private citizens of the state.”

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NationalMira FeffermanHuman Rights, Supreme Court, Texas, Abortion Rights, AbortionComment
U.N. Climate Report Establishes New Understanding of Climate Change
U.N. Climate Report Establishes New Understanding of Climate Change

“There is still a window for humanity to mitigate climate risk. In all of the U.N.’s climate predictions, the world temperature will increase by 1.5° C. Yet if countries mobilize rapidly to decrease emissions and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, global warming may fall back below 1.5° C in the latter half of the century”

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GlobalEvan TarrClimate Change, un, World Health OrganizationComment
Ms. Nikole Hannah-Jones — Former MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, and UNC Alumna — Denied Tenure in Unprecedented Fashion
Ms. Nikole Hannah-Jones — Former MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, and UNC Alumna — Denied Tenure in Unprecedented Fashion

“The denial of tenure for Ms. Hannah-Jones prompted calls for transparency and stringent warnings of its effects on alienating UNC’s present and future faculty. In a statement following the initial events, UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media writes that by denying Ms. Hannah-Jones tenure -- a graduate of UNC (Masters, 2003) and whose honors include the Peabody Award and MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant and Fellowship -- it “unfairly moves the goalposts and violates long-standing norms.”

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Editor's Picks, LocalOmar FarragJournalism, boardofgovernors, UNC, Editor's PickComment
Multiple Bills in the N.C. State Legislature Would Raise Funding and Lower Eligibility Limits for State-Funded Private School Scholarship Programs
Multiple Bills in the N.C. State Legislature Would Raise Funding and Lower Eligibility Limits for State-Funded Private School Scholarship Programs

“Private school vouchers are a form of state-funded financial aid for K-12 students. In North Carolina, families of low-income students and students with disabilities can apply for private school vouchers. If granted, the vouchers use public funding to offset much of the tuition and fees charged by private schools.”

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LocalAurora CharlowPublic School, EducationComment
When Will We See “Joint” Support in North Carolina?
When Will We See “Joint” Support in North Carolina?

“It is likely that marijuana will be legalized in North Carolina, however, whether it will be for recreational use or medical use remains to be seen. Additionally, a legalization timeline is still unknown. There is no doubt many people believe marijuana could be beneficial, especially for those with medical issues; there could also be economical benefits that could cause a boom in North Carolina’s economy. Democrats are already in support of the issue, but they will need more Republican support if they want to secure “joint” support on the issue.”

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LocalSeth MooreWeed, Marijuana Reform, North Carolina, Drug War Comments
Election Reform and Its 2022 Impact
Election Reform and Its 2022 Impact

“The rationale of these laws from Republican legislators is to protect election integrity, and the pushback from Democrats is that election fraud impacts elections so little, that passing these laws does not combat fraud, but prevents key populations from voting. A large part of the narrative that elections are not secure come from former President Donald Trump as he continues to share that he should have won the 2020 presidential election.”

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NationalKatharine KurzElections, 2022, Election ReformComment
Citizens United to... Megadonors United?
Citizens United to... Megadonors United?

“Now, over 11 years after the Citizens United decision, it’s both the wealthy corporations and individuals putting their money —and by extension — influence into campaigns and their outcomes. Recent data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks federal election spending, shows that just 12 megadonors — at least eight of whom are billionaires — contributed a combined $3.4 billion to federal candidates and political groups between January 2009 and December 2020.”

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NationalManav ShahCitizens United, Elections, Megadonors, Campaign ReformComment
North Carolina Voter ID Law Back in Court
North Carolina Voter ID Law Back in Court

“North Carolina voters could be forgiven for forgetting about North Carolina’s Voter ID requirements, as they did not have to deal with them last fall due to injunctions issued by a federal judge and by the North Carolina Court of Appeals in separate cases. The State’s current Voter ID Law, Senate Bill 823, was passed in late 2018, over the veto of Governor Cooper, and is currently being challenged as unconstitutional for intentionally discriminating on the bases of race in the case of Holmes v. Moore, a tough thing to prove given the legislative history of the bill.”

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LocalDavid WoodliefEditor's Pick, North Carolina, Election, Voter ID, ElectionsComment
A Buildup of Troops and Tension Between Russia and Ukraine
A Buildup of Troops and Tension Between Russia and Ukraine

“Tensions between Moscow and the West have escalated even further this week, with Russia running military exercises in the Black Sea and massing a large number of troops in Crimea and at Ukraine's border. This comes at a time when internal protests and international pressure around the health of Alexi Navalny already have eyes on Russia and coordinated sanctions have been launched by the US and EU.”

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GlobalKay LangleyRussia, Conflict, Putin, warComment
Do All Republican Roads Lead to Donald Trump?
Do All Republican Roads Lead to Donald Trump?

“Much speculation about the future of the Republican Party and its prospects in the 2024 presidential election has already entered the realm of political discussion. However, former President Donald Trump’s continued displays of dominance in GOP internal politics further widens the divide between staunch Trump allies and other Republicans who seek to move past the era of Donald Trump. In light of the recent closed-door donor retreat held at Mar-a-Lago to gear up for the 2022 midterm elections last weekend and the party’s inability to move on from the former president, the question remains: do all Republican roads lead to Donald Trump?”

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NationalAdam TatumEditor's Pick, Trumpism, trump, GOP, ElectionComment
What the Johnson and Johnson Pause Means For America
What the Johnson and Johnson Pause Means For America

“Last Tuesday, Johnson and Johnson vaccine injections were halted across the country after six recipients reported blood-clotting. Health officials nationwide have exaggerated the very low risk for those who already received the vaccine, emphasizing that the vaccine was taken down out of an “abundance of caution” for the safety of Americans, as stated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”

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National, Editor's PicksKatharine KurzCOVID-19, Vacc, Fauci, BidenComment
Yet Another Officer-Involved Shooting Increases Tensions in Minnesota
Yet Another Officer-Involved Shooting Increases Tensions in Minnesota

“Following the shooting, Officer Potter announced she would resign from the force stating it would be “in the best interest of the community, my department, and my fellow officers.” Resignation is not sufficient for some in the community as tension is already high due to the murder trial of Derek Chauvin, prompting many to flood the streets outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department and protest. Protesters have reportedly thrown fireworks and bottles at police who responded with teargas; additionally around 20 businesses nearby have been broken into. In response, the Minnesota National Guard has been deployed.”

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NationalSeth MooreGeorge FLoyd, Police Brutality, Police Reform, ViolenceComment