NEWS
Wednesday, 30 November 2016 00:00
NEW MINIMUM WAGE LAW
In November 2016, voters increased Arizona’s existing minimum wage and added an employer paid sick leave requirement by approving Proposition 206 - the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Initiative. This publication explains the minimum wage increase.
Monday, 21 November 2016 00:00
WHY DOES THANKSGIVING DAY CHANGE DATES?
Thanksgiving has been celebrated since the 17th century but was not declared an official holiday until Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill into law on November 26, 1941 declaring Thanksgiving to be held on the fourth (or last) Thursday in November. Since the last Thursday and not a specific date was declared as the holiday the actual date itself changes from year to year but always remains in the same time period in November. Before the law was created Thanksgiving had been celebrated on a number of different days by different presidents. FDR himself attempted to change the holiday to November 23, the next to last Thursday in November, but the public was reluctant to follow the proclamation. After a couple of years of trying FDR conceded to the public and established the holiday we know today. Would you like to see other legal holidays for Arizona? They are listed in A.R.S. 1-301.
Wednesday, 16 November 2016 00:00
PITCH AND 1972
In September, Pitch a new series on FOX was launched about the first woman in Major League Baseball. Eight episodes in and the show is going strong. While Pitch is still make believe and a woman president didn't happen this year these two ideas show the tremendous strides that women equality has achieved over the years. Even as little as 44 years ago women were treated differently in schools. They weren't allowed to play on sports teams or be part of other "male" activities. That all changed on June 23, 1972 when Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was signed in to law. This piece of legislation marked a shift for women's equality and made it mandatory for women to be given equal access to academic and athletic opportunities regardless of gender. This legislation has given you the school systems and opportunities you understand today and a hope that Pitch and ideas like it will be a reality of tomorrow.
Wednesday, 09 November 2016 00:00
ELECTORAL WHAT?
The election is over and soon the United States will have a new president. While you were watching the news you may have noticed that they covered what was happening by state and they kept referring to numbers, especially 270. That is because in order for a new president to be elected they need to receive 270 electoral votes from the electoral college. Electoral what? you may be asking. Follow this link and learn more about the Electoral College.
Monday, 24 October 2016 00:00
DO YOU WANT TO VOTE?
Kids Voting Arizona allows you to do just that! Over the last several Presidential Elections Kids Voting has had the same results as the winners of the real Presidential Elections. Join your peers and become part of the largest election in Kids Voting history. Click here to vote now! Remember every vote counts!
Tuesday, 18 October 2016 00:00
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT BANNED
Solitary confinement, a long used tool used to punish those in detention facilities, can no longer be used on juvenile offenders in federal prison facilities. Solitary confinement is the practice of isolating people in closed cells for 22-24 hours a day virtually free from human contact and is known to have devastating and lasting psychological effects on those individuals who have had to endure this punishment. This executive order comes as part of a string of several criminal justice reforms. To read more click here.
Monday, 24 October 2016 00:00
What do you think?
Join kids across Arizona and take a poll about who you think should be our next president? Click here to tell us what you think. Once you submit your answer you will be able to see the current poll results.
Monday, 03 October 2016 00:00
KIDS VOTING IN BEAR ESSENTIALS NEWS
Have you heard about Kids Voting? Bear Essentials News has and they created a feature piece on this great organization that you can see by clicking here. Kids Voting is a voter education program created especially for you! Polls will open up 30 days before November 8th presidential primary which means it is almost here! So, it’s time to get brushed up on the issues and learn more about our presidential candidates and vote! Follow this link to go to Kids Voting Arizona or if you are not from Arizona click here to find your state affiliate.
Tuesday, 26 July 2016 00:00
DANGERS IN DRIVING ON PROM NIGHT
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. In 2014, 2,270 teens ages 16-19 died in motor vehicle accidents . That is equal to six teens dying in accidents every day. Teenagers actually drive less often than all age groups, except for the oldest group of drivers, but the fatal crash rate for ages 16-19 is three times higher than drivers 20 and older.
Wednesday, 03 August 2016 00:00
Compare the Candidates: Where Do Clinton and Trump Stand on Education?
With the the presidential election just around the corner, where do Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump stand on education? Education Week has reviewed statements, proposals, and positions on various education policies for both the Democratic and Republican nominee's to provide some background on these issues.
More...
Thursday, 07 April 2016 00:00
THREATS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
In January 2016 a student at Hamilton High School in Chandler was arrested after posting a threat to the school on Snapchat. Although the student claimed that the threat was intended to be a joke, the student was taken into custody and could have faced serious consequences. Why? Because posting a threat on social media is a potential criminal offense.
Thursday, 07 April 2016 00:00
DRINKING AND DRIVING
You know what kills more teens every year than anything else? Car crashes. And almost 1/4 of all car crashes involve an underage driver who’s been drinking. As everyone knows, when you drive a car you need to be able to make quick decisions – so even after one or two drinks your slowed-down reaction time seriously raises your likelihood of being in an accident.
Tuesday, 05 April 2016 00:00
DELEGATES AND SUPERDELEGATES
If you turn on the news, look at social media feed or talk to friends you’ve probably heard lots of talk about delegates and superdelegates. What does it all mean? What does it have to do with the election in November? We will attempt to break it down and provide an easy to digest explanation of the process.
Thursday, 07 April 2016 00:00
SUPREME COURT NOMINATION PROCESS
If you follow the news, you may have heard that United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in February, and that the process to appoint his replacement is now underway. This post provides some background and explains in simple language how the Supreme Court nomination process works.
