1. READY FOR RESULTS

On election night, it may take longer than usual to know who won the presidential race, especially if the results are very close. In 2020, a record number of people voted by mail due to the pandemic, and counting those ballots took extra time. Although fewer people are voting by mail now and some states have sped up the process, mail ballots still take longer to count. Democrats tend to vote by mail more than Republicans. This can create "mirages" on election night, where early results may look like one candidate is winning, but the final outcome shifts as more ballots are counted. It could be days before a winner is officially projected. Look up different battleground states and when they reported official results from the 2020 election. Then, write your predictions for how long it will take this year and compare to what actually happens.

2. CHIP HUB

New York State is becoming a key center for research in making computer chips, also known as semiconductors. The Biden administration plans to invest about $825 million to set up a new research facility in Albany, New York. This decision follows efforts by Senator Chuck Schumer, who has pushed to bring this facility to his home state. The new center will focus on developing the technology needed to manufacture chips, which are crucial for many electronic devices. This move is part of a larger plan to strengthen American technology and reduce reliance on other countries for these important components. The funding comes from a law called the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to boost the chip industry in the U.S. by supporting research and new factories. The facility in Albany will work alongside existing research sites and will be equipped with advanced machines that can create super tiny chip designs. This is significant because it will help the U.S. stay competitive in technology and provide jobs in New York. If everything goes as planned, a large portion of all U.S.-made chips will come from this area, making it a busy hub for chip production. Using research, write a brief summary of the chip shortage during the Covid-19 pandemic that created a sense of urgency for the United States to no longer rely on China for manufacturing and exporting them and how this new center would have an impact.

3. NEIGHBORHOOD DIVIDED

A new study shows that American neighborhoods are becoming more divided by political beliefs as people move. Researchers looked at the moves of over 3.5 million Americans since the last presidential election and found that Democrats and Republicans are moving to areas that match their political views. For example, Joshua Fisher, a Democrat, moved from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to a more liberal neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, while Ryan Troyer, a Republican, moved to a more conservative area near Minneapolis. This trend indicates that as people relocate, they are choosing neighborhoods that are more politically extreme than where they came from. On average, Republicans moved to neighborhoods that supported Trump by 19 percentage points more than their previous homes, while Democrats moved to neighborhoods that favored Biden by the same margin. Overall, movers ended up in neighborhoods that were 38 percentage points apart in political views. These shifts could have important effects on future elections. Even though the number of movers is small compared to the overall number of voters, they are contributing to a growing divide in how people live and vote. For example, more Democrats have moved to states like Georgia and Arizona, while Republicans are moving into Florida and Texas. Most of the people interviewed for the study said that while politics wasn't the main reason for their move, it did influence their choices. Many felt more comfortable in neighborhoods that reflected their beliefs, which made them happier in their new homes. Do you think it’s a benefit or detriment for people to live in areas that reflect their political views? Write an opinion article about your view.

4. FACTORY TOWNS ON THE UPSWING

Some U.S. factory towns, especially in North Carolina, are starting to recover after suffering from factory closings due to competition from low-cost imports, particularly from China. For many years, these communities faced economic struggles as textile and furniture jobs disappeared. However, recent investments in new industries like biotechnology, computer chips, and electric vehicles are changing the situation. Research shows that nearly a third of the $736 billion in investments promised in these industries is going to areas that were hit hardest by factory closures. For example, a company called Wolfspeed is building a plant in Siler City, North Carolina, which will create about 1,800 jobs. These changes offer hope for towns that once struggled, showing that with the right support and investment, they can revitalize and adapt to new economic opportunities. In other places, like Flint, Michigan, similar efforts are underway to transform communities once known for manufacturing gas-powered cars into centers for electric vehicle production. Overall, there's a growing belief that these factory towns can recover and thrive again. Choose a factory town and research its history, like any decline in the past decade or two, and whether any new industry is moving in and revitalizing the area now. Write a summary of what you found.

5. SKEWED POLLS

Some Republicans believe Donald Trump is likely to win the upcoming election based on various polls and betting markets, even though many other polls show a close race. Recently, a lot of polls that lean toward Republicans have been released, suggesting Trump is ahead. These polls are seen as a way to create excitement among Republican voters and set the stage to claim the election was rigged if Trump loses. Some of the polls are commissioned by groups that support Trump, which raises concerns about their accuracy. For example, one poll claimed Trump would get 74.3% of the vote, which would be an unprecedented landslide. While most independent polls show a tight race, these partisan polls can influence public perception, making it seem like Trump is stronger than he really is. Betting markets also show a rise in bets on Trump winning, but this increase is mainly due to a few big bets from specific accounts. Trump and his allies, including Elon Musk, have been promoting these betting platforms, even though they are not reliable indicators of actual voter opinion. This trend of emphasizing certain polls mirrors strategies used in previous elections, where Republicans flooded the market with optimistic surveys to boost their supporters' morale. If Trump loses, some warn that this practice is setting the groundwork for claims the election was unfair, which could undermine public trust in the election process. Democrats are also trying to use the situation to rally their base by highlighting these polls to encourage voter turnout and donations. Look up polls about the election from at least 3 different sources. Write a summary of each source and possible explanations for any differences you find between the three. Then, write a paragraph that explains why it’s important to look at the source of data, like who collected it and why it was collected, to understand the whole picture.