Thursday, 16 November 2017 00:00
PRACTICE SAFE SHOPPING
Shopping online. Most of us do this on regular basis, especially now with the holidays and the infamous Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner; and if you are a person who likes a good deal chances are you may have also shopped on one of the many personal sale websites like Facebook, OfferUp or Craigslist. These sites allow people to sell object that they have directly to you, just meet up and give the person the agreed amount and you take home your prize; however, with the increase in personal sales there has also been an increase in crime, people taking the money and running or worse. For this reason new online exchange zones have been created. This is place often around or at police stations where you can ensure that you and the person you are buying from will both get exactly what you bargained. Check out "Keeping Internet Deals Safe" for more information and to learn where your closes online exchange zone is located, and tell your parents chances are they haven't heard about this yet. Safe Shopping!
Thursday, 09 November 2017 00:00
KEVLAR FOR KIDS
On April 20, 1999 Columbine High School experienced the nation’s deadliest school shooting to date when 13 people were killed in a student lead mass shooting. Thirteen years later 20 children and 6 adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. In 2016, Townville Elementary School was besieged by a 14 year old shooter killing one 6 year old boy and just this September a 15 year old who wanted to “teach everyone a lesson” killed his own friend who tried to stop him. With so many shootings it isn’t a surprise that one school is offering a unique solution to the problem, a bulletproof panel that goes inside a student’s backpack to be used as a shield in case of an active shooter. However, some people think the precaution is unnecessary. After all while the above are all extremely tragic events in our country’s history these aren’t the first schools tragedies to have happened. In fact school attacks have been documented as early as 1764 and can be easily seen throughout the centuries. In fact according to statistics schools are safer than ever before and “are increasingly using resources to prepare for the worst, with nearly 90 percent of schools saying they have official plans in place in the event of a shooting.” So, is it necessary for schools to offer bulletproof protection? What do you think?
Thursday, 02 November 2017 00:00
THE COMPLICATION OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
Many of us Arizonans, weren't born in Arizona instead we made our way here for one reason or another from another state and unless that state was Hawaii chances are they participated in daylight savings time. If you were like me, when you discovered that in Arizona you didn't need to "spring" forward or "fall" back you were elated! The idea that one magic morning the day just started an hour earlier or later than it did the day before never made much sense to me. Over the years I have asked various people why we have daylight savings time and I have received a myriad of responses but turns out it isn't because of farmers or any of the other reason but actually because of war. In the United States, daylight savings time was established in 1918 to save fuel for World War I, and Arizona just refused to go along with the program; after all we had just become a state in 1912 and were obviously going through our rebellious teenage statehood years. In World War II, daylight savings time was again brought back and was later made permanent in 1966 with the Uniform Time Act. In all of that time, Arizona participated in it once and apparently that was more than enough for this state. In 1967 the legislator unanimously agreed to opt out of daylights savings time. Yay legislators! For the rest of the country daylights savings time officially has the clocks fall back an hour on November 5th.
Thursday, 26 October 2017 00:00
NATIONAL YOUTH JUSTICE AWARENESS MONTH
National Youth Justice Awareness Month was "dedicated to preventing youth from entering the juvenile and criminal justice systems and encourages communities to participate in activities and programs that help youth fulfill their greatest potential." Much research is still being done about youth in the justice system but here are some current statistics from the Campaign for Youth Justice that you may find interesting:
Every year in this country, as many as 200,000 youth are put into the adult criminal justice system, most of them fornonviolent offenses.
In 22 states and the District of Columbia, children as young as SEVEN can be prosecuted as adults.
Each year 95,000 youth are held in adult jails and prisons.
In a 2011 national poll, 69% of Americans opposed placement of youth in adult jails and prisons, while 89% favoredrehabilitation and treatment approaches for youth,such as counseling, education, restitution, and community services.
Research tells us that youth who are prosecuted in the adult system are 34% more likely to recidivate (commit another crime) and with moreviolent offenses than those handled by the juvenile system.
Youth sentenced as adults carry their criminal record their whole life, diminishing their chances to find jobs, accessdecent housing, obtain student loans and go to college, join the military, or even vote.
In the past 10 years, 30 states have enacted 48 individual pieces of legislation to remove youth from adult jails andprisons, limit the prosecution of youth in adult court, or revise sentencing laws.
Thursday, 19 October 2017 00:00
HALLOWEEN SAFETY
With Halloween just around the corner it is time to start thinking about an action plan on how you are going to handle the spookiest night of the year and what you can do to keep you and your friends safe. LFK has put together some ideas for you to do just that:
Practice responding safely to risky situations that could arise while trick or treating such as if a car approaches you and someone you don't know tries to get your attention, practice moving away from the car and telling a trusted adult;
Continuum of safe and unsafe actions such as approaching a house with no porch light on; walking down dark alleys; going inside a house; running across streets; Trick or Treating in groups; crossing the streets at corners or crosswalks after looking both ways; wearing reflective clothing or carrying a light; etc.
Compete taking this quiz and then create their own quiz for others: http://www.ncpc.org/topics/by-audience/law-enforcement/teaching-children/handouts/mcgruffs-halloween-safety-quiz-and-coloring-page.pdf
For more information visit our Halloween Safety page.
Thursday, 12 October 2017 00:00
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
Fire Prevention Week is October 8th-14th, do you know two ways to get out of your home? Do you know where the exits are in your school? A fire can take only seconds to spread and what you do with that time can mean life or death so have a plan and always know where the exits are wherever you are located. The National Fire Protection Association has an easy activity to help you create your own home fire escape plan just click here or watch their helpful fire prevention videos to learn more about you should do in case of a fire.
Friday, 06 October 2017 16:14
A VISIT FROM LIBERIA
Liberia, a country in West Africa, is a place that few people in Arizona have been but some lucky students at several schools across the state had the ability to learn about it first hand from Mr. Samuel Williams. Samuel was honored at the schools he visited by receiving special flag ceremonies and then he spoke about his own country and the difference that he is trying to make. Samuel came to the U.S. to further his education so that he can go back and help shape Liberia's budding democracy. (Liberia's constitution is only 31 years old and modeled after our own.) Here are a few of the facts that Samuel shared about his country:
• Liberia has had 2 civil wars and lost over 600,000 citizens over the course of those wars.• Samuel was 10 years old when his village was attacked and he had to play dead to survive. • To live moderately well in Liberia it will cost about $10 a day.• The minimum wage in Liberia is $7.00 a DAY.• Computers are not easily accessible however almost everyone has a cell phone.• There is 1 doctor for every 100,000 patients!• Polygamy is still legal however, most city citizens do not practice it any longer. Samuel’s grandfather had 27 wives!
Tuesday, 26 September 2017 00:00
NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY
National Voter Registration Day is a day to celebrate democracy and your right to vote! This holiday was established to remind everyone they need to register in order for their voice to be heard at the polls. Imagine, you go to vote only to realize you forgot to register and are now unable to cast your ballot. No one should be faced with that disappointment. Enter National Voter Registration Day, a day to remind people to register, so they never have to feel like their voice doesn't count. If you haven't registered, maybe you just turned 18, maybe you recently moved to Arizona, whatever the reason you don't have to wait any longer. Registering is simple just go to Service Arizona and fill the form out online.
Friday, 22 September 2017 00:00
FRIGHTENING FUN THIS FALL
The first day of fall is officially here and while it may not feel like it outside the obvious signs for Arizona are definitely there: days are getting shorter, Halloween costumes are on the shelves, pumpkin spice everything is everywhere and horror movies are hitting theaters in droves. Unfortunately, with movies and costumes also comes pranks and while many of them may be silly and harmless, like the red balloons tied on sewer grates, it is important to remember that pranks can go too far and when they do they can result in legal action. In 2016, a series of creepy clown sightings were spotted across 16 states and this past May in Arizona a man dressed in a Guy Fawkes mask, also known as the V for Vendetta mask, chased several children with an ax. Pranks, like the ax chaser, that intentionally place another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury are assaults and are illegal and can get you in a lot of trouble. It doesn't matter that the person who chased them never actually touched them, those kids had no idea what he was planning to do to them so it is a crime. If you are looking to creep out your friends this fall visit one of the many Halloween attractions for a good laugh and stay out of jail by avoiding masks and axes, even if you were just planning to have a little fun.
Friday, 15 September 2017 00:00
CONSTITUTION DAY
The United States Constitution is one of the most defining documents of our country and September 17th is the day set aside to honor it. Here is what Chief Justice Scott Bales had to say about it:
We observe Constitution Day on September 17 to recognize our Constitution’s progress since 1787.
Sixty years ago this month, nine black children who just wanted to go to school found themselves at the center of a constitutional crisis. After the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that racially segregated schools violate the Constitution, a U.S. district judge ordered the students to be admitted to Little Rock’s Central High School. The governor of Arkansas resisted by surrounding the school with state troopers and guardsmen. When the governor withdrew the state forces, their place was taken by a hostile mob blocking the students’ entry.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower responded by deploying the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division to enforce the district court’s order. Escorted by soldiers, the students – immortalized as the Little Rock Nine – bravely entered school under a barrage of threats and racial epithets. In televised remarks from the White House, the president explained his actions to his fellow citizens and the world.
Eisenhower said “the cornerstone of our liberties” is that “we are a nation in which laws, not men, are supreme.” He recognized the president’s constitutional responsibility to see to the faithful execution of the laws. “The very basis of our individual rights and freedoms rests upon the certainty that the president . . . will support and insure the carrying out of the decisions of the Federal Courts.” The alternative, he noted, is anarchy.
Read the rest of Chief Justice Scott Bale's article here.
More...
Thursday, 07 September 2017 00:00
MUSIC SPEAKS
"Where words fail, music speaks."-Hans Christian Anderson
Hans Christian Anderson, the author of the Little Mermaid and the story that inspired Frozen, died in 1875. He never met a 17 year old from Phoenix, Arizona named Isaiah Acosta but his quote was never more true. Isaiah was born without a lower jaw and without pathways for oxygen to enter his body. He can't eat like you or I and doctors were not optimistic about how or whether he was going to be able to live. But Isaiah has been able to thrive. The one thing he hasn't been able to do however is speak, until now. With the help of rapper Trap House and communicating through text messages and gestures Isaiah finally found his outlet, and it is powerful. With Isaiah's lyrics brought to life by Trap House, Isaiah has found his voice. Together, the two have come out with the song "Oxygen to Fly" and inspire everyone to never say Can't or Won't.
Friday, 01 September 2017 00:00
FREEDOM IN THE NET
The internet doesn't belong to one person there are: service providers, tech companies, content companies, commercial entities, social media groups, not to mention the biggest market of all US, the user; then take all of that and multiply it on a global scale, to make up this massively complex web that we enjoy. However, this beautiful creation of connectivity has its dark side and some are wondering what if anything should be done to temper it. CNN's Jeffery Tobin explains in the video "Where do your first amendment rights end online?" the current situation of where the internet currently intersects with your freedom of speech. This 3 minute video briefly explains your rights and the rights of your service providers using recent events check it out.
Thursday, 24 August 2017 00:00
WHAT IS NET NEUTRALITY?
The history of the internet is complex. Its birthday can go as far back as 1958 with the Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) or as early 1995 with advent of internet privatization or several dates in-between, like the creation of the World Wide Web on March 12, 1989- the point is the relationship status of the internet is "it's complicated" and it doesn't look like it will be changing any time soon. While we have all come to know and depend on the internet there is no denying that it is still evolving and its latest evolution is net neutrality and figuring out just what that means. Merriam-Webster defines net neutrality, also known as open internet, as the idea, principle or requirement that internet service providers should or must treat all internet data as the same regardless of its kind, source or destination. The United States Federal Communications Commission established the Open Internet Order to regulate how your internet service providers, companies like Cox and Century Link, must treat you. Internet service providers must be transparent, they can't block lawful content and they can't discriminate. Currently this regulation only applies to internet service providers and does not apply to other organizations in the tech industry but some wonder if there should be more government regulation on the internet especially where constitutional issues are concerned. Freedom of speech is one the most fundamental rights of the U.S. and some wonder if these companies who have the ability to censor speech should they be checked by the Open Internet Order and brought under more regulations. Other's believe as Thomas Jefferson did and who is quoted as saying, "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves;" in other words it should be left up to the people. What do you think?
Friday, 18 August 2017 00:00
SINE DIE
What? If you don't know what sine die means don't worry you aren't alone, neither does the majority of the population but these words are very important when they are tied to the Arizona State Legislature. Merriam-Webster defines sine die as "without any future date being designated (as for resumption.) When the Arizona State Legislature adjourns, or ends, sine die it means that this is the end of the legislative session. Once the legislative session ends the laws that have been decided during that legislative session will go into effect 90 days after the session adjourns. Since the legislature adjourned in May, this means all the new laws are now in effect. To learn more about the laws that were passed visit the Arizona State Legislatures website.
