Friday, 07 September 2018 13:57

SUPREME JUSTICE

A new Supreme Court Justice is in town, or is about to be; Brett Kavanaugh is currently in his final day of Senate hearings which will decide if he is the new justice on the bench. The United States Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the country. What they say goes and it is all ultimately decided by nine very influential people. With the recently retired Justice Anthony Kennedy leaving the bench at the end of July a new justice has been appointed to take his seat. Why is this such a big deal you may ask? Well their are many facets to that answer but two of the biggest boil down to that this person will become one of nine individuals to guide the law of the future for our entire country and the second is that Supreme Court Justices have tenure for life. That's right for LIFE. That is a lot of influential decision making; and there are no easy U.S. Supreme Court cases, just some that are less influential than others. So choosing a justice is a big deal. But how do they get chosen? To learn more about the United States Supreme Court read this article on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Wednesday, 29 August 2018 14:51

LYING IN STATE

Senator John McCain will lie in state today starting at 10 a.m. at the Arizona State Capital building to allow the people of Arizona to pay their respects. Lying in state is the special term that is used when the casket of a deceased governmental figure is placed in a public area so that the people may pay tribute to the passed official. Sen. McCain will be honored by an invocation by Father Edward A. Reese, S.J., with remarks by Senator Jon Kyl, and Governor Doug Ducey followed by a presentation of Wreath by Congressman Jim Kolbe, a benediction by Senator Jeff Flake with concluding prayers by Father Edward A. Reese, S.J. If you are unable to attend the ceremony itself Arizona PBS will be broadcasting the ceremony and will be continuing coverage up to  Sen. McCain's internment at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday September 2nd. For more information visit PBS Arizona's website.
Wednesday, 22 August 2018 14:08

A BIRD PROBLEM?

A new bird has migrated to Arizona. Bird, a dockless electric motorized scooter company, has made its way to Tempe and Scottsdale and will likely be popping up in more areas across Arizona in spite of some attempts to keep them at bay. The City of Scottsdale initially sent Bird a cease-and-desist order, saying that the scooters violate the City's ordinance about motorized skateboards but this issue has since been settled with city officials. However, many still have concerns about the new scooters stating that they impose a safety hazard due to reckless driving, and little enforcement of Bird's rules. In order to ride Bird users agree on their app to follow rules such as not driving on sidewalks, having a valid driver license and being over 18, they also agree not to leave scooters on public property. If an underage rider is caught their account is disabled and other actions such as fines may also be taken. Other people welcome the new "green" form of transportation that allows them to get from point A to point B without having to sit in traffic. Many users love the convenience of the scooter, being able to just leave it to be collected later either by another user or a "bird hunter", a person who collects and charges the scooters at night. But, mostly people say they are just fun. Bird also is giving back both to the community, offering free helmets, and the cities it is in by giving them $1 per scooter per day to help pay for more bike lanes and safe-riding programs.  So, are these new pay to use scooters and bikes a public nuisance and safety concern or a new affordable green way to travel? Let us know in here in What Do You Think?
Tuesday, 17 July 2018 00:00

IS NAME CALLING ILLEGAL?

Did you know it is illegal to call people names? That is right it is illegal to insult someone. In the law, insulting someone is called slander if it was said and libel if it was done in writing. If you say or write something that is false and it ruins a persons reputation you could find yourself in a legal battle. Many celebrities have found themselves in court because of libel and slander. For example Keira Knightley and Kate Hudson both sued tabloids for implying they had eating disorders. Katie Holmes sued for being called a drug addict and Sharon Stone sued over claims of plastic surgery. Of course you don't need to be a celebrity to sue but you do have to show that the name calling hurt your reputation and caused you an actual harm. If you would like to avoid going to court in the future remember some wise words from a wise rabbit; "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"    
Tuesday, 17 July 2018 00:00

6 MONTHS OR LESS-NO TEXT

This July a new law went into effect that all new drivers needs to know about, the no texting while driving law. If you are driving on a learner's permit or have only had your driver license for less than 6 months it is now illegal for you to text while driving. While various cities throughout Arizona have ordinances banning texting while driving this is the first state law on the matter. If you are a new driver and you are caught texting while driving you can face penalties up to $100 and the loss of your license for 30 days. Legislatures believe that this is just the first step towards stricter laws on distracted driving in Arizona and stricter laws for everyone are just on the horizon.    
Tuesday, 26 June 2018 00:00

MONSOON SEASON AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Last week officially marked the beginning of Arizona's monsoon season, a term for when the winds shift bringing wet air from the south causing more rain and thunderstorms. Monsoon season comes every year and so do the increase in traffic accidents. Arizona is known for its dry weather so when a torrential downpour hits the road drivers don't always know how to react; couple that with the most dangerous time to drive on a wet road is in the first couple of minutes (due to the oil build up on the road that takes some time to wash off making it extra slick), its no wonder we see accidents. Luckily, Driving Safely During Monsoon Season has some tips that will make sure you get home safe. 
Friday, 16 March 2018 00:00

AZ STUDENTS JOIN NATIONAL WALKOUT

Arizona students joined thousands across the nation who sought to raise awareness about gun violence in schools this past Wednesday. On February 14, 2018 17 people were gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida but this time after the memorial services had ended students decided something more needed to happen. Working with Women's March, a group focused on transformative, grassroots, social change, students organized a walkout to honor those who had passed one month after tragedy struck their school. On March 14, over 3,000 schools participated in the walkout some marching on their local capital buildings, others holding signs and still more spelling out #Enough on their football fields but all uniting to say that something has to be done to stop the violence. While the walkout itself is over, the uniting of a nation over a common message is a powerful and marks the beginning of a new student driven conversation of which Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the namesake of the Florida school, would be proud.  "Be a nuisance where it counts. Do your part to inform and stimulate the public to join your action." -Marjory Stoneman Douglas    
Friday, 09 March 2018 00:00

PROTECTING THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE

Teens may understand more than most that your friends can become closer than your relatives. The idea that someone who happens to share a few chromosomes but has never met you is closer to you than a person whom you share your hopes, dreams and life with  just seems a little absurd when you stop and think about it. But for years this is exactly how the law has looked at sick time. A person who is working may take time off to take care for a relative but would not be allowed to take that same time off to care for a friend or companion whom they were not related or married. Luckily, the law is finally changing and Arizona is among the states leading the way with "chosen-family" sick-time, a law that reflects "the varied relationships that matter to people." Now people close to us, who need us, can be cared for by us without legal red-tape standing in the way. This law may still have some restrictions around it but it is a positive step for those who wish to care for whom-ever they've added to their family without the added worry of the law standing in their way.
Friday, 02 March 2018 00:00

VR FIELD TRIPS

Leaving school property to travel hundreds of miles to go see a famous monument or museum may be a very educational experience but for many schools it just isn't feasible or budget friendly to do so; no matter how great the benefit. Luckily, one school in Brooklyn, New York may have the answer, VR. VR or virtual reality headsets allow the wearer to become fully immersed in an experience. The headset responds to the movements of the wearer and allows them to feel like they are actually in that environment. The teachers at the Berkeley Carroll School said that the experience, "instantly grabs the students." While VR may still not be a cheap endeavor it may be a relatively cost effective option for schools that will allow students to see experiences that they may not have been able to otherwise.   
Friday, 09 February 2018 00:00

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE OLYMPICS?

Red Gerard is the youngest Olympic snowboarding champion ever at 17 however, he is not the youngest to compete at the Olympics. Neither, is Tara Lipinski who won her first gold medal at 15 and is now currently doing commentary for ice skating and dancing at the PyeongChang Olympics. In fact the youngest known athlete to participate in the Olympics is Dimitrios Loundras who was only 10 years old and was one of the first athletes to compete in the modern Olympics in 1896. That was awhile ago, what about now? How old do you need to be participate in the Olympics? According to the Olympic Charter, the governing law for the Olympics, under Chapter 5, Rules 42 it says, "There may be no age limit for competitors in the Olympic Games other than as prescribed in the competition rules of an IF (International Federation) as approved by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Executive Board." So, as long as you have the skill and dedication you too can be an Olympic athlete no matter how old you are! 
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