1. OLYMPICS DRAMA ON DAY 1

On July 26, 2024, the opening match of the Olympic football tournament between Argentina and Morocco was chaotic due to a fan invasion. The game was initially tied 2-2 when Argentina's Cristian Medina scored a goal in injury time, but the match was interrupted, and after a video review two hours later, the goal was disallowed, and Morocco won 2-1. The trouble started when fans stormed the pitch, threw objects, and a flare was seen on the field. The match was paused, and fans were told to leave the stadium while players stayed to finish the game in an empty stadium. The players were brought back two hours after the interruption to finish it out, with Morocco finally ending victorious. In another game, Israel drew 1-1 with Mali amidst heavy security and loud boos during Israel's national anthem. How would you handle these stressful interactions with the audience if you were a player? Do you think it would be distracting to your performance? Write at least a paragraph about your opinion, drawing on experiences from your own life to explain how you would feel in this kind of intense situation.

2. KENNEDY ON THE BALLOT

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running for president as an independent, has gotten enough signatures to appear on the ballot in Nevada. This was confirmed by Nevada election officials on Friday. Kennedy, a well-known name, is trying to challenge the two main political parties in the U.S. He has a strong following, but his campaign faced a setback when he didn’t qualify for a CNN debate in June. Instead, he held his own event to respond to questions directed at President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s campaign had to quickly gather more signatures after the Nevada Secretary of State’s office clarified that his original petition might be invalid because he hadn’t listed a running mate. Kennedy then chose California lawyer Nicole Shanahan as his vice-presidential candidate in late March. Over 22,000 signatures were verified, more than double the required 10,000. Write an article that summarizes Kennedy’s struggle to stay in the race, using research from your newspaper or online to add context.

3. CALIFORNIA CRACKS DOWN

Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered California officials to start dismantling homeless encampments after a recent Supreme Court decision gave more power to local governments to remove homeless people from public spaces. Newsom wants state and local leaders to act quickly and humanely, especially in areas where encampments threaten health and safety. California has a significant homelessness problem, with high housing costs and an estimated 180,000 homeless people. Newsom has invested $24 billion in homelessness since 2019 but acknowledges that there's still a shortage of emergency housing. Some cities, like Los Angeles, have already started addressing the issue by moving people into shelters, while others remain divided on how to handle it. The Supreme Court ruling allows for the removal of homeless campers but doesn't solve the root problem of affordable housing. Critics argue that simply moving people won't help in the long run without providing sufficient housing and services. If you were going to write an article on this topic, who would you interview and what would you ask? What sources would you look at for information to guide your reporting or add to your story? Write a paragraph explaining how you would report on this story.

4. A.I. BRINGS A VOICE BACK

Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, who couldn't speak clearly because of a rare neurological disorder, gave a speech on the House floor using a cloned version of her old voice. This was made possible by artificial intelligence. The AI program used recordings of her past speeches to recreate her voice; the AI voice plays from her iPad, and she uses it for interviews and speeches. She gave a speech to honor Disability Pride Month and show her strength despite her illness. Wexton was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a severe disorder that affects many parts of life, including speech. Although she initially thought she had Parkinson's disease, the correct diagnosis of PSP was much worse. This condition has made her change her life and career, as it affects her posture, movements, and voice. This new AI voice, developed by a company called ElevenLabs, has helped Wexton continue her work and communicate effectively, even though she won't seek re-election in 2024. While AI voice cloning can be used for good, like in Wexton's case, it can also be misused. For example, fake political messages have been created with this technology. Experts agree that there need to be rules and safeguards to prevent abuse. Despite these challenges, Wexton is grateful for her AI voice. She hopes to inspire others with disabilities by continuing to work and speak out, showing that she is still herself on the inside. Write a list of questions you’d ask Wexton if you could interview her for an article, podcast, or news show.

5. PROTECTING MINORS ONLINE

The Senate has advanced a new law aimed at making the internet safer for children and teens. This bill, supported by both Democrats and Republicans, would create stricter privacy rules and safeguards for young users on social media and other online platforms. The legislation would require tech companies to protect minors from mental health issues and online dangers like abuse and exploitation. It would also force these companies to turn on the highest privacy and safety settings by default for users under 17, and allow kids to opt out of features that encourage excessive use, like auto-playing videos. Additionally, the bill would ban targeted advertising to children and teens and create an "eraser button" to delete personal information. The bill has faced opposition from tech companies, who say it would be too difficult to enforce, and from free speech advocates, who worry it could restrict expression online. Despite these challenges, the Senate voted 86 to 1 to advance the bill. Now, the bill's future depends on the House of Representatives, where its passage is uncertain due to similar concerns and strong industry lobbying. Do you think these changes would affect your use of social media and other online platforms, either positively or negatively? Write an opinion article that explains how you feel about these changes as part of the group that would be affected by them. Use research online or from your newspaper to bolster your points.