“Emma’s Paralympic experience is one of resilience in the face of possible defeat, reflecting the very nature of the Paralympic Games.”
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“A debate rages over a program that has distributed over $750,000 in state funds to help low-income families afford private school tuition — North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships. In the 2020-2021 school year, 456 private schools received money from Opportunity Scholarships, with 12,284 families receiving scholarships. Opponents of Opportunity Scholarships argue it is wrong to take public funding and invest it into private schools largely unaccountable to the state.”
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“This pandemic has already altered our way of life on a day to day basis and will more than likely have long-term consequences in the political sphere, as well as interactions between the government and its constituents. Nineteen months in, and misinformation still persists, emphasizing the ignorance, privilege, and entitlement that exists in the United States.”
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“On Wednesday September 8th, a massive bronze statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from its pedestal on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. The actions in Virginia’s capital city were met with cheers and song from the crowd that gathered to watch the state’s largest statue of Lee finally come down. Governor Ralph Northam originally ordered the statue’s removal in June of 2020, though a series of lawsuits and court battles prolonged its removal, ultimately leading to a ruling from the Supreme Court of Virginia.”
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“The Texas voter law has indeed created restrictions, however, some argue the restrictions are not completely unreasonable. Voters still have plenty of opportunities to vote and there are exceptions for those with disabilities. The 2020 election was an extraordinary time with many things having to be changed in order to meet pandemic challenges — things will be different for the next election.”
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“Many that have come out against the vaccine mandate have cited privacy concerns, believing that the Constitution does not allow the government to force people to get a vaccine. In reality, constitutional precedence does not look favorably upon this argument.”
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“Such outspoken criticism of the government is dangerous in Communist Cuba – a national security state – where individuals who protest the government are accused of treason, and large-scale activism is brutally repressed.”
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“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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“The fractious national debate about COVID-19 has perhaps been most divisive on issues related to schools and education. In North Carolina, however, this debate was surprisingly tame.”
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“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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“Doumboya stated that the coup d’etat is an attempt to restore political power to the Guinean populace and take it from corrupt politicians. He expressed a desire to construct a new Constitution.”
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“There is only one public high school mandating a vaccine for students — and only for its athletes — but many are requiring their employees to do so. As students begin to return to campus and classrooms, will vaccines prove to be the only true safeguard against a deadly virus? Are schoolwide vaccinations inevitable?”
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“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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“Following a withdrawal that many viewed as too hasty and which saw the death of thirteen US servicemen, Biden’s approval rating has dropped to its lowest number since he entered the White House.”
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“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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“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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“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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“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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“In the wake of violent clashes between rebel groups and the Chadian military, General Deby announces a transition government that attempts to appease opposition leaders while maintaining order.”
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“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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