Contemporary Issues & Civic Engagement by Reagan Wesley

Bradley Cooper faces backlash after using large prosthetic nose in Leonard Bernstein biopic 'Maestro'

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-08-16 14:15:11 UTC

Actor Bradley Cooper receives backlash on social media after the trailer for his Netflix film 'Maestro' dropped on Tuesday. The film will be about Jewish composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. In the trailer Cooper is seen with a large prosthetic nose which has been called out as antisemitic.

Google reportedly building A.I. that offers life advice

sgilduran3232 — 2023-08-18 12:50:16 UTC

Through the advancement of A.I. nowadays, Google has now come up with an innovative A.I. responsible for providing the user with life advice, named Google DeepMind. Google has begun contracting with Scale A.I., a start-up company responsible for testing and training the various forms of A.I. for effectiveness and cooperability.

Listeria bacteria found in ice cream machines in Washington state linked to 3 deaths:

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-08-18 13:48:59 UTC

In Washington state, the Listeria bacteria, known for its variety of symptoms and caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Milkshakes made from the machines at the shop, “Frugals”, found to contain Listeria, have been connected to the causes of three deaths. Tap the article for more!

Medication for Postpartum Depression

mafowler2709 — 2023-08-18 14:09:31 UTC

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a common illness among new mothers. Not enough women know about the condition to ask for a diagnosis, symptoms can be seen in the article. To fight PPD the FDA approves a pill for postpartum depression called Zuranolone, which will be sold as Zurzuvae.

Involuntary Hospitalization and Mental Health

mafowler2709 — 2023-08-22 14:48:07 UTC

States across the USA are trying to tackle the mental health crisis. Due to the rise in homelessness laws and policies are being made that will make it easier to institutionalize those with mental illnesses against their will or through court-ordered treatment. This report shows controversial opinions on this subject.

Ötzi the Iceman's true appearance revealed by new DNA analysis

sgilduran3232 — 2023-08-22 15:20:37 UTC

Through recent breakthroughs in history, scientists have depicted the appearance of Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,000 year old mummified corpse found in ice in 1991, preserving his features with enough detail to tell his tale. The intact body will reveal more about the history of humans and their origin.

Germany's Cabinet approves a plan to liberalize rules on cannabis possession and sale:

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-08-22 15:20:48 UTC

In Berlin, Germany's Cabinet approved a plan to liberalize rule on cannabis (marijuana), "setting the scene" to decriminalize possession of limited amounts and allow members of "cannabis clubs" to buy the substance for recreational purposes only. The legislation still needs to be approved by parliament.

Wildfires in Greece kill 18 people as they rage across Europe

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-08-22 15:24:50 UTC

A new heat wave hits southern Europe this week. The heatwave has led to dry, hot, and windy conditions perfect for wildfires to form. More specifically, Greece has experienced dozens of wildfires and most recently the cities Alexandroupolis and Athens have been affected leading to the deaths of 18 people and hundreds more injured.

UNC graduate shot and killed adviser on campus.

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-08-30 13:49:49 UTC

Tailei Qi is charged with murder after shooting his advisor, Zijie Yan, inside the UNC campus' science building. Qi's motives have yet to be determined. The event terrified UNC students as some climbed through classroom windows to escape. Today, the UNC faculty and students continue to mourn Yan's passing.

Produce As The New Medicine?

mafowler2709 — 2023-08-30 14:06:00 UTC

When doctors prescribed eating more produce to help with medical conditions patients experienced weight loss and significant reduction in blood pressure. Doctors are using food as medicine to prevent or improve chronic health conditions. The only problem with this is food insecurity, which is discussed in the article.

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Chandrayaan-3: What has India's Moon rover Pragyaan been up to since landing?

sgilduran3232 — 2023-08-30 14:07:51 UTC

Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar exploration mission, has recently successfully landed on the Moon's South Pole. The rover, Pragyaan, has captured fascinating data about the Moon and its features. Details like temperatures, crater qualities, and pictures are being used to further study the Moon and seek to make the Moon habitable.

Lawyer for husband of YouTube mom charged with child abuse speaks out:

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-09-07 13:06:19 UTC

The husband of the mother who is currently facing six felony counts of child abuse, speaks out after the release of her arrest is announced. Click the link above to find out what the husband had to say.

Deadly Flooding in Derna, Libya

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-09-15 13:35:38 UTC

The flooding was caused by two dams bursting, sending a huge wave of water down towards the city. This immediately killed thousands and sent whole neighborhoods out to sea. There are still over 10,000 people unaccounted for as civilians are working desperately to find their loved ones.

New Covid-19 Variant.

mafowler2709 — 2023-09-15 13:40:25 UTC

Covid-19 hospitalization rates have increased due to the new variant BA.2.86. This variant arose in Denmark in July 2023. This variant has spread to 11 countries and is not fully understood due to not knowing the behavior the mutations in its genetic code have caused.

20 rattlesnakes found inside a homeowner's garage in Arizona

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-09-15 13:41:12 UTC

An Arizona man calls a snake removal company to remove three rattlesnakes from his home. Little did he know, there were more than just three; there were 20- 5 adults and 15 babies. One of the females was pregnant too. Click the article to find out what happened next.

TikTok fined €345m over children's data privacy

sgilduran3232 — 2023-09-15 13:49:37 UTC

Tiktok, an online media platform, was fined €345m for breaking European data laws on children's accounts. The fine was issued by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) over the problem that Tiktok had not been "transparent" with children's privacy data. Tiktok is working towards defaulting all accounts under 17 to private.

Chester County prison officials had 'concerns about the leadership' a year before Danelo Cavalcante's escape

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-09-21 13:33:47 UTC

The officials in Chester County, Pennsylvania, admitted to the failures of communication on Wednesday, following the convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante's escape. At the meeting, Josh Maxwell told residents, "[This is].. something we never expected to happen here in Chester County, a place where people move to be and feel safe."

Musk start-up Neuralink seeks people for brain-implant trial

sgilduran3232 — 2023-09-22 16:02:57 UTC

Elon Musk, founder of Neuralink, seems to be in search of individuals willing to try his latest new invention: Brain Computers. These chips are inserted into the brain and have the ability to aid those who have disabilities and cannot control parts of the body, revolutionizing treatment for multiple issues.

Covid-19 Test Update

mafowler2709 — 2023-09-25 12:58:24 UTC

Many pandemic programs that allowed free testing, treatment and vaccinations for COVID went away this year as the pandemic emergency designation expired. Starting September 25, the federal government will send up to four free COVID-19 rapid tests to households that request them.

Hollywood writers reach 'tentative' deal with studios, end months-long strike

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-09-25 13:21:50 UTC

Unions representing thousands of Hollywood movie and television writers have finally reached a "tentative" deal with major studios on Sunday. In this, they ended the writers strike that lasted almost 150 days, something that brought pickets to productions and company offices nationwide.

Flashback to 1982: Computers

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-09-25 13:28:43 UTC

In 1982 the new IBM computers were described in the Newsweek article as being small, easy to use and less costly. Its price started at just under 1600. In 2023, all modern computers are far slimmer and easier to use than the IBM computer. Further, the price of a 2023 computer ranges from 500 to 2000 dollars.

Wrist Temperature Gives Clues to Future Health?

mafowler2709 — 2023-09-25 13:53:57 UTC

Science shows that it’s possible to use skin temperature to monitor people for risk of disease. The continuous measurement of wrist temperature helps identify risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and disrupted temperature rhythms have been linked to many conditions, like metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank opens brand new facility, 'The Market'

sgilduran3232 — 2023-09-29 14:05:55 UTC

Members of the community helped open The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Banks newest space. This facility in Duquesne will help the food bank continue to aid those battling food insecurity in their 11-county service area, making Lisa Scales (President/CEO) very delighted and grateful for those who helped.

Health AI startup Cercle debuts

mafowler2709 — 2023-11-08 15:02:33 UTC

The health tech startup called Cercle, launched November 8, 2023. Cercle uses AI to try and advance women’s health. This platform organizes unstructured medical data into a standardized format for fertility doctors and researchers, hoping it will help develop more personalized treatment plans and accelerate new discoveries in pharmaceuticals.

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Ohio Votes to Legalize Abortion

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-11-08 15:07:45 UTC

Ohio voter's have added the right to access abortion to the states constitution. It specifies that abortion will remain prohibited if the doctor judges the fetus to be viable enough to survive birth with exceptions to protect the mothers life and health.

Gaming: Just Dance being made accessible for everyone

sgilduran3232 — 2023-11-11 04:39:44 UTC

Just Dance's latest version features a wheelchair dance routine, allowing players to follow arm movements while holding their phone or console. Ubisoft's accessibility design specialist, Stacey Jenkins, believes making games accessible to everyone is difficult. Despite progress, gaming companies still need to figure out what works for people with disabilities.

Tennessee college student's parents speak out after daughter hit and killed by stray bullet

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-11-13 03:26:21 UTC

The parents of a Belmont University freshman student speak out after the death of their daughter. Jillian Ludwig, 18, was shot and killed by a stray bullet whilst taking a walk in the park. Find out what her parents said and more by clicking the link above.

US support for Israel will lead to damaged global relations according to Arab leaders.

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-11-13 14:59:35 UTC

The US is actively involved in the Gaza-Israeli war as they participate in negotiations over hostages. Further, the US has shown outstanding support for Israel by providing weaponry and calling for “humanitarian pauses” instead of a total ceasefire. Arab leaders warn that US support for Israel will “shatter American influence for years to come”.

Doctors at Gaza’s biggest hospital say newborns are dying after facility goes ‘out of service’

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-11-15 14:10:37 UTC

Ever since the conflict in Gaza, hospitals have been filling up. This causes there to be no space for babies to come into the world. Newborns and other patients at Gaza’s largest hospital are dying as power fails and resources run out. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, it is said that at least 35 babies who are born prematurely are bound to die at any moment. The challenges for Gaza’s hospitals continue to mount: As fighting has intensified , ambulances have come under fire, power is going out, and dead bodies have piled up in an overwhelming surge of patients.

Use of Human Shields in Israel–Hamas War

mafowler2709 — 2023-11-15 14:30:22 UTC

The majority of the 11,100 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks are civilians (2/3 of them are women and children). The Israeli army has accused the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, of also using civilians as human shields. The Palestinian armed group has rejected these allegations and Israel hasn’t provided concrete proof for its allegations.

Palestinian children affected by the Israel-Hamas war

sgilduran3232 — 2023-11-16 14:22:03 UTC

Throughout the span of the conflict between Gaza and Israel, many Palestinian children have been critically affected by the constant artillery and violence that occurs within the communities, deteriorating the children’s mental health and safety in general. 950 Palestinians have died within the span of the war, including 260 children.

How the death of a young mom led to the unraveling of a national fentanyl trafficking network

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-11-28 14:19:38 UTC

Diamond Lynch, a 20 yr old mom, died in 2021 after taking a pill laced with fentanyl. Through searching her text messages and analyzing leftover pills police were able to discover a fentanyl distribution network that extended from D.C to California down to Mexico. This discovery has now prevented the deaths of thousands of Americans.

Pneumonia Outbreak in China

mafowler2709 — 2023-11-28 14:21:33 UTC

There has been an outbreak of infectious respiratory diseases that has caused clusters of pneumonia among children in Northern China. This has increased hospital admissions due to mycoplasma pneumoniae , a respiratory syncytial virus, which causes cold-like symptoms, and viruses responsible for seasonal flu.

Family of American 4-year-old released by Hamas hopes she can still live a good life

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2023-11-28 14:32:27 UTC

The family of a 4-year-old Israeli American girl who was released after seven weeks in Hamas' captivity have described her as a "miracle" and said they hope she can return to normality. Abigail’s parents were killed at the Kfar Aza kibbutz during the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the current Israel-Hamas war. Her older brother and sister survived by hiding in a closet. Click the link above to find out more.

The T-shirt chewing enzyme ready to tackle plastic waste

sgilduran3232 — 2023-11-28 14:51:56 UTC

The plastic is PET, which is a polymer - a long molecule in which smaller chemical units, called monomers, are closely linked together. The enzyme is now so powerful that it can completely break down the PET polymer into monomers, allowing plastic waste to be effectively disposed of.

GUN VIOLENCE: INFORM/NEWS

mafowler2709 — 2023-12-08 14:17:29 UTC

This would be considered news since it is informing US citizens about a national problem, gun violence. It provides statistics and figures on people affected by gun violence. It shows a thematic map indicating the geographic pattern of mass shootings in 2023. These statistics also show unintentional killings, showing the importance of gun safety.

GUN VIOLENCE: SELL/ADVERTISEMENT

mafowler2709 — 2023-12-08 14:18:55 UTC

This is classified as advertisement because the slogan on the T-Shirt “Stop Gun Violence” is designed to cater to people who are against gun violence, so that they will buy this product.

GUN VIOLENCE: DOCUMENT/RAW FOOTAGE

mafowler2709 — 2023-12-08 14:20:49 UTC

This represents raw footage because it’s unprocessed. It looks like it came off of someone's house security camera that was posted on the internet. This video looks like a drive-by shooting, targeting someone's house. This is a clear example of gun related violence.

GUN VIOLENCE: PROVOKE/PROPAGANDA

mafowler2709 — 2023-12-08 14:23:02 UTC

This is considered provoke/propaganda because it was created to critique the USA. This is supposed to point out the fact that Americans are known for their obesity and gun violence by classifying Americans as Ronald McDonald holding a Gun.

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GUN VIOLENCE: PERSUADE/OPINION

kgtaylor7191 — 2023-12-08 14:26:45 UTC

This article by Jagwire reporter, Madelyn Mulryan, is found under the “opinion” section as Mulryan is sharing her own personal views on the issue of gun control/gun violence. Her argument suggests that the best answer to lessening gun violence is to regulate the sale of certain types of advanced firearms.

GUN VIOLENCE: ENTERTAIN/ENTERTAINMENT

mafowler2709 — 2023-12-08 14:26:51 UTC

This would be considered as an entertaining way of gun violence. This game finds a way to make gun violence entertaining by making it a multiplayer, survival game. This trailer shows how people need to survive from one another in order to “win the game”. This trailer is an example of an entertaining game of gun violence.

Holding photos of their deceased children, parents lobby Congress to pass online safety legislation

kgtaylor7191 — 2024-02-02 14:38:01 UTC

On Thursday, parents of deceased child victims of Social Media harassment held posters of their children while protesting in front of Congress in order to get them to pass a new piece of legislation called, KOSA, which would force all social media companies to better protect children on their websites from exposure to self-harm, eating disorders, sexual exploitation, and substance abuse.

Apple’s Vision Pro headset hits US stores today. Here’s what you need to know

sgilduran3232 — 2024-02-02 14:46:02 UTC

Vision Pro, Apple's first new product in seven years, officially launched in the US on Friday. CEO Tim Cook must prove the AR device, a technology that overlays virtual images onto live video of the real world, is the future of computing.

Women Have Too Much Of A Good Thing: The X Chromosome.

mafowler2709 — 2024-02-02 15:16:06 UTC

X-chromosome inactivation is due to a molecule called Xist. The gene for Xist is found in all X chromosomes. Activating Xist in bio-engineered male mice has shown that Xist activation and genetic background is necessary for autoimmunity to develop. This discovery will lead toward a better autoimmunity-screening panel for women.

Saturn's 'Death Star' moon has a hidden ocean under its surface, scientists say:

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2024-02-08 13:59:16 UTC

Scientists have discovered a recently formed "force" under one of Saturn's most storied moons.French astronomer Valéry Lainey and a team of researchers from Observatoire de Paris announced the discovery of Mimas' newly formed ocean, a finding that could change the way scientists define ocean moons as well as the conditions for habitability.

Boots baby formula adverts broke rules, watchdog says

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2024-02-08 14:04:33 UTC

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on Wednesday upheld a complaint against the retailer over ads for four brands of instant formula products that appeared on the sidebar on search engines, such as Google, earlier this year. In the UK, it is against the law to promote instant formula products for babies up to six months since it could discourage breastfeeding.

Watchdog finds Trump officials pushed to weaken toxic ‘forever’ chemical report

kgtaylor7191 — 2024-02-08 14:19:05 UTC

The watchdog for the EPA found that the Trump administration appointees to the agency meddled in scientific findings on a toxic substance. It was discovered they did not follow the necessary protocols of review and clearance for the toxicity assessment of the PFBS acid.

In Chula Vista, when it comes to public records, not much is public

sgilduran3232 — 2024-02-08 14:22:45 UTC

In Chula Vista, when public records have been retrieved, reviewed, redacted and released, they almost never remain public.

Chula Vista officials are committed to transparency and respond quickly and efficiently to every request for public documents. This exposure would shed light on the condition of public record retrieval.

Violations and Neglect at Private Prison That Houses Tarrant Inmates

mafowler2709 — 2024-02-08 14:34:37 UTC

State watchdog finds medical neglect, other violations at private prison that houses Tarrant inmates. The Watchdog interviewed those in higher positions to see if they were involved in the violations, but some didn’t even know that these violations were occurring. Changes are currently being made to fix this problem.

Iran Attacks Foreign Journalists To Protect It's National Security

mafowler2709 — 2024-02-22 14:59:28 UTC

Court case and ITV investigation reveal tactics used by Iran to silence UK-based journalists. Iran has long targeted journalists abroad, reporting on events in Iran, using a range of online and offline tactics, including direct physical attacks, economic sanctions, online abuse, and the harassment of family members.

Four Yemeni journalists finally freed after being held hostage for eight years

sgilduran3232 — 2024-02-22 18:28:18 UTC

The four journalists – Abdul Khaleq Amran, Tawfik al-Mansouri, Hareth Homaid and Akram al-Walidi – were among the newly released prisoners who alighted from a Red Cross plane on 16 April in Marib. Their liberation was part of an exchange of nearly 900 prisoners between the Shia Houthi rebels and the government.

Nearly 75% of journalists killed in 2023 died in Israel’s war on Gaza: CPJ

kgtaylor7191 — 2024-02-23 17:21:30 UTC

A new report has found that 72 of the 99 journalists killed worldwide in 2023 were Palestinians reporting on the Israeli-Gaza war. This makes 2023 the deadliest for the media in nearly a decade. This could display a targeted attack on Palestinians by Israel and may later be presented to the International court.

Partisan Bias: PJ Media Source claims Biden is the American Vladimir Putin

kgtaylor7191 — 2024-02-26 14:56:31 UTC

The source discusses Biden and Putin's relationship claiming Biden's response to Alexey Navalny's death shows his lack of power over Putin and his "scripted outage" making him and Putin indistinguishable. This is displaying Partisan bias as the report lacks reference to valid sources and is clearly biased towards the opinions of the conservative party.

A deal between Israel and Hamas appears to be taking shape. What would it look like?

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2024-02-28 14:07:49 UTC

This new article talks about how Israel and Hamas are inching toward a new deal that would free some of the roughly 130 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for a weeks-long pause in the war, now in its fifth month. According to a senior official from Egypt, a six-week cease-fire would go into effect, and Hamas abides to free up to 40 hostages - mostly civilian women, at least two children, and sick,elderly captives.

Demographic Bias: New North Carolina congressional districts challenged in federal court on racial bias claims-

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2024-02-28 14:26:20 UTC

On Monday, North Carolina Black and Latino voters sued in federal court seeking to conquer congressional districts drawn recently by Republican state legislators, arguing to weaken minority voting power in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The General Assembly rearranged groups of voters, reduced the voting strength of minorities; strengthening “the state’s white majority.”

Partisan Bias: 2024 US Presidential Polls: ‘He is as old as I am’, Biden turns table on Trump

sgilduran3232 — 2024-02-28 14:29:23 UTC

The article shares the US President position in efforts to combat competition for the upcoming election. Partisan Bias is utilized to make Biden look dominant over the opposing party (Trump). The use of framing, seen through the headline, along with the tone help Biden look more competent for presidency.

Partisan Bias: Using Border Crisis for Political Gain

mafowler2709 — 2024-02-29 21:05:32 UTC

This article contains partisan bias. In this source it shows how Trump and Biden are using the border crisis for their political gain, but by using framing, tone, and source selection it paints Trump as the one who is impeding the process of getting rid of illegal immigration at the border.

US, EU eye Chinese legacy chips in renewed semiconductor accord

sgilduran3232 — 2024-04-05 14:02:05 UTC

The United States and the European Union committed to extend their cooperation on identifying disruptions in the semiconductor sector, with a particular emphasis on mainstream "legacy" chips from China. It said the two partners would share market intelligence about "non-market" policies and practices, which they converse prevail in China.

Fake Drug Pulled From US Markets due to Ineffective Nature

mafowler2709 — 2024-04-05 14:21:25 UTC

A drug for Lou Gehrig’s disease failed in a large study, the medicine will be pulled from the market, since it didn't help patients with the deadly neurological condition. New patients diagnosed will no longer be able to get a prescription.

Jeffery Epstein and his Stephen Hawkins accusations followed with his allegedly sexual encounter with famous late-night host, Jimmy Kimmel:

mafitzpatrick0057 — 2024-04-09 13:13:09 UTC

Involving Hawking, questioners asks, in reference to Epstein, “Did Jeffrey ever talk to you about Stephen Hawking’s proclivities?” The respondent answers, “Yes, he liked watching undressed midgets solve complex equations on a too-high-up chalkboard.” Additionally, the respondent replies “yes” when asked whether Hawking “frequented on the island for pleasure.” The other image includes an exchange about Kimmel in which the respondent says they gave him multiple massages and had s*x with him at the comedian’s suggestion.

Woman accused of shooting at drivers on a Florida interstate says she was directed by God

kgtaylor7191 — 2024-04-09 13:48:16 UTC

22 year old woman, Taylon Nichelle Celestine, checked out of her hotel before the incident on Monday and she allegedly told the staff that she was going on a shooting spree as directed by God in relation to the Solar Eclipse. The shooting resulted in two injuries. Celestine has now been arrested for attempted murder.