Once a year, students at Hamilton Middle School in Montana are handed a lollipop as they walk into their school’s lunch room. The flavors such as orange, cotton candy, cherry, and root beer are assigned to tables in the room. Students sit at their lollipop flavor’s table to be with…
California Wildfires
Firefighters are currently battling two major wildfires, the Camp fire and Woolsey fire, in California. The Camp fire has set some grim, new records by rapidly becoming one of the most destructive and deadly wildfires to hit the U.S. in the last century. According to authorities, around half of the…
Tackling Concussions
An estimated 2.5 million high school students reported having at least one concussion over the past year. The concussions were related to sports or physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 million students reported having two or more concussions during the same time frame….
Running Into History
Runner Justin Gallegos is a junior at the University of Oregon who made history this month by signing a contract with Nike. Why is this history? It’s history because it makes Gallegos the first professional athlete with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects motor skills, movement,…
Understanding Consent
You may be familiar with the term consent, or permission, for something to happen. People may give consent to law enforcement to have their home searched or give consent for a special medical treatment to be performed. However, many people struggle with understanding sexual consent. Most agree that sexual consent…
JUUL Accused of Targeting Teen Customers
JUUL is the most popular e-cigarette device among teens and young adults, but the manufacturer is under fire for marketing to underage users. Last month the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began investigating whether JUUL was using specific types of advertising to attract teens, such as featuring young people—particularly…
Florence Still Poses Danger for North and South Carolina
Hurricane Florence landed in North Carolina on September 14, causing severe rains, catastrophic flooding, and mudslides. More than 1 million people were ordered to evacuate before the storm, but many chose to stay behind to protect family members, their pets, or their homes. Now officials are warning the Carolinas to…
Major U.S. Retailers Tighten Rules on Gun Sales to Teens
Gun control is a complicated issue in the United States. It’s illegal to sell firearms to anyone under the age of 18 or to anyone who has a criminal record, mental disability, or dishonorable military discharge. However, none of these restrictions are foolproof in preventing gun violence. Last week, several…
U.S. Students Rise Up Against Gun Violence
Last Wednesday, fourteen students, two coaches, and one teacher were killed during a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. More than a dozen others were wounded while trying to escape or protect their classmates. The Parkland students, who had practiced lockdown drills, barricaded themselves inside classrooms…
Vaping Isn’t the “Healthier” Choice for Teens
You may have heard that vaping is a less harmful alternative to smoking, and it might seem more appealing than cigarettes. But while e-cigarettes can help adults who want to quit smoking, they can have the opposite effect on teens and young adults. Recent studies suggest that young people who…