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Missing Cleveland Girls Found Alive

05-16-2013 2:21 AM

This should give hope to desperate families everywhere. Cleveland police say they've found three missing women who disappeared as teens from the same neighborhood around the turn of the century. Michelle Knight, now 32, disappeared in 2002; Amanda Berry, 27, was last seen in 2003; Gina DeJesus, 23, went missing in 2004. The women were found in a house along with several children after Berry made a frantic 911 call, saying she had been kidnapped, "missing for ten years," and knew she had been "in the news." The three women have since checked into a local hospital and three brothers have been arrested. Neighbors said the house was always dark, with boarded-up windows, and that a man always entered through the back door.

Discussion Questions:

  • Who should get the credit for these women being found alive? Why?
  • How would you describe the individual in the video who initially found the women? Is he a hero? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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Jodi Arias Found GUILTY

05-14-2013 6:31 AM

Bringing the most salacious trial since Casey Anthony’s to a dramatic close Wednesday afternoon, jurors found Jodi Arias guilty of first-degree murder. The jury spent just three days in deliberation, following a nearly four-month trial that included tales of sex, lies, and even a bloody shower. Arias, a former waitress in California, claims that she killed her 30-year-old ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in self-defense. The prosecution presented Arias as a manipulative liar and boyfriend killer. Alexander was killed five years ago after enduring more than a dozen stab wounds, a slit to the throat, and a gunshot wound. Arias was placed on suicide watch Wednesday after saying she preferred the death penalty to life in prison.

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you agree with the verdict? Why or why not?
  • Do you think she should be executed? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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Biblical Verses and High School Football

05-12-2013 3:06 AM

A Texas court ruled Wednesday that cheerleaders in a small town are allowed to display Bible verses on banners at football games. A judge ruled the their actions didn't violate the Constitution after controversy began in September when the Freedom From Religion Foundation got a complaint about the banners and the superintendent banned them. The cheerleaders sued the school district, arguing their religious and free-speech rights were being violated.

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you agree with the Court's ruling? Why or why not?
  • Do you believe this matter should have been political? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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An Online Sales Tax Coming?

05-09-2013 10:26 AM

The U.S. Senate took a cue from retailers and states by passing a bill that would subject online shopping to state sales tax, with 69 to 27 in favor. States currently can only require online retailers to collect tax if the store has a brick-and-mortar setup in the state. President Obama has voiced support for this measure, but it is expected to be a tougher sell in the House, where conservatives view it as a tax increase.

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you agree with an online sales tax? Why or why not?
  • Do you think this measure will ultimately become a law? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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LaPierre and the NRA

05-07-2013 7:14 AM

Wayne LaPierre returned to the spotlight with an inspiring speech at the National Rifle Association's convention in Houston, Texas, on Saturday. “We will never surrender our guns, never,” LaPierre told a cheering audience. The NRA executive vice president argued that tragedies like Newtown and Aurora are being used "to blame us, to shame us, to compromise our freedom for their agenda." He also noted the recent defeat of a background check bill in the Senate, saying it would have done nothing to prevent mass shootings.

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you believe in gun control? Why or why not?
  • Why do you think the NRA is so powerful in the United States?

Posted by william.miller

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Israel Strikes Syria

05-05-2013 11:00 PM

CNN reports that the U.S. now says that Israel probably conducted an airstrike in Syria on Thursday or Friday. In this window, the U.S. reportedly has data that shows that Israel flew warplanes over Lebanon—but the Israeli warplanes probably did not enter the nation. While Israel has not commented on the situation, a source “close” to the nation’s defense said that Israel will do anything to stop the transfer of weapons from Syria to terrorists. Officials also said they had no reason to believe Israel was targeting a chemical weapons facility.

Discussion Questions:

  • Why are Israel and Syria at odds?
  • What role, if any, do you think the U.S. should play in this dispute? Why?

Posted by william.miller

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Attacking Ayotte

05-02-2013 5:55 AM

New Hampshire Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte was confronted at a town-hall meeting in her own state on Wednesday by Erica Lafferty, the daughter of the Sandy Hook Elementary School principal who was killed in the school shooting. Lafferty first met with Ayotte in Washington earlier this month, a meeting she brought up during the confrontation. “You had mentioned that day the burden on owners of gun stores that the expanded background checks would harm,” Lafferty said. “I am just wondering why the burden of my mother being gunned down in halls of her elementary school isn’t more important than that.” Ayotte is one of five senators being targeted in anti-gun campaigns led by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former U.S. representative Gabrielle Giffords. The NRA has also poured thousands into ads supporting Ayotte, making her the poster face of the culture war over guns.

Discussion Questions:

  • How do you react to the video? How would you describe the confrontation?
  • Do you think town hall meetings are good for government? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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First Major American Athletes Comes Out

04-30-2013 2:32 PM

Jason Collins of the NBA has become the first openly gay active player from a major American team sport. The 34-year-old, a center for the Washington Wizards, came out in a story he wrote for the May 6 issue of Sports Illustrated. “I wish I wasn’t the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, ‘I’m different,’” he said. “If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I’m raising my hand.” He said that the recent tragedy in Boston convinced him to come out now. “Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?”

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you think more professional athletes will follow Collins' lead? Why or why not?
  • Why do you think this story made such major waves with news media?

Posted by william.miller

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An Integrated Prom at Last

04-28-2013 5:17 AM

In the rural deep South, racial segregation is dying a slow death. Georgia's Wilcox County High School is helping fight for change, holding its first-ever integrated prom this weekend. Although a "white prom" was held, nearly half the school registered for this weekend's version. The prom was spearheaded by a group of four girls who campaigned at school and online (their Facebook group has 24,000 likes). They were able to raise enough for a ballroom rental, gift bags, and food. DJs and photographers from all over the country volunteered their services for the night. The school board plans to vote soon on making proms official school events, prohibiting segregation in the future.

Discussion Questions:

  • Were you surprised by this story? Why or why not?
  • Why do you think it took so long to integrate prom at this school?

Posted by william.miller

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Bangladesh Building Collapse

04-25-2013 5:51 AM

Authorities estimate that close to 100 people were killed near Bangladesh’s capital of Dhaka Wednesday morning when an eight-story garment factory collapsed. Hundreds gathered at the site of the accident—where officials fear more remain trapped under the rubble. Health Minister A.F.M. Ruhal Haque reported that more than 600 people had been rescued, and hoped that more will be added to that number. Bangladesh has received harsh criticism for its factory conditions after two other deadly fires at garment factories in the past year—one of which left 112 dead.

Discussion Questions:

  • Should international bodies do more to assure building codes exist across the globe?
  • How could we possibly prevent such tragedies in the future?

Posted by william.miller

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Upping the Age to Buy Cigarettes

04-23-2013 12:42 AM

The New York City Council is considering upping the legal age to purchase cigarettes from 18 to 21, Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced Monday. She’s counting on City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, fellow City Council members, and health advocates to support the proposed law, despite arguments from opponents that as legal adults, 18-year-olds should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to smoke. If this proposal passes, New York would be the biggest city to ban tobacco purchases for those younger than 21. “With this legislation, we’ll be targeting the age group at which the overwhelming majority of smokers start,” Quinn said.

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you agree with the proposal? Why or why not?
  • What impact do you think raising the age would have on smoking? Why?

Posted by william.miller

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Bombs and Other Weapons Found By Shootout

04-21-2013 5:43 PM

An arsenal of weapons including at least six bombs, handguns, and a rifle were found at the scene of the Watertown shootout between police and the two Boston bombing suspects Friday. A lone police officer first came in contact with Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev around one in the morning, Friday, and before he could call for backup, the brothers jumped out of their car and began shooting. Five other officers then arrived to what Police Chief Edward Deveau described as "a very tight area" to help in the shootout, during which an estimated 200 shots were fired in a 5-to-10-minute period and one of the brothers threw a pressure cooker bomb at the officers.

Discussion Questions:

  • What lessons do you think Americans will take from this incident?
  • How could we be better prepared for these types of attacks?

Posted by william.miller

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Poisoned Letter

04-18-2013 6:07 AM

A letter sent to Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker was found to have ricin or another poison in it, according to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The envelope was intercepted at an off-site Capitol facility where it was tested and then sent to Maryland for more tests. "We were told it's not as deadly as anthrax, but it's still very serious," said Senate Majority Whip *** Durbin.

Discussion Questions:

  • Why do you think Wicker may have been targeted?
  • Do we take enough precautions to protect our elected officials? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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Boston Marathon Bombing

04-16-2013 7:43 AM

Two powerful explosions shook downtown Boston on Monday afternoon near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, shortly after the winners of the race were presented. By 10 p.m. Monday night, the Boston Police Department had reported that three people died and at 140 were injured. According to news reports and law enforcement officials, “small but powerful” explosive devices were behind the explosions, and officials have found at least five more devices around the Boston area that they initially believed were undetonated explosives, but later decided were likely not bombs. “We will turn over every rock,” Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said at a press conference Monday night.

Discussion Questions:

  • Who do you think will turn out to be responsible? Why?
  • How do these events compare to September 11? Explain.

Posted by william.miller

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North Korea Targeting "Colorado Springs"

04-14-2013 5:00 AM

North Korea has threatened to attack another North American city, this time Colorado Springs, where the U.S. Air Force Academy resides. North Korea, however, seems to have no idea where Colorado Springs actually is. The bellicose country has released a propaganda video showing the mountain city to be about 1,000 miles from where it actually is, putting it somewhere in Louisiana. Despite reports that the nation possibly has nuclear weapons, we don't think you should be too worried just yet.

Discussion Questions:

  • Do you believe North Korea is a legitimate threat? Why or why not?
  • Do you personally fear activities by North Korea? Why or why not?

Posted by william.miller

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