1. FLORIDA FLOODED

Florida is dealing with severe challenges after two powerful hurricanes, Helene and Milton, struck within weeks of each other. Helene caused significant damage and claimed 20 lives, while Milton hit hard soon after, resulting in at least 17 additional fatalities. The aftermath of these storms has left many areas in Florida flooded, with rivers overflowing due to excessive rainfall. Rescue teams have helped over 1,200 people trapped in their homes as roads are blocked by fallen trees and floodwaters, complicating emergency responses. Power outages remain a major issue, with about 1.4 million residents still without electricity. Although progress has been made in restoring power, many gas stations are running low on fuel, particularly in the Tampa area. The state government is working quickly to distribute more fuel to meet the demand. Airports and popular attractions, like Disney World, are beginning to reopen, but some locations remain closed. In St. Petersburg, city officials have set up temporary stations to provide essential supplies like water and gasoline to residents in need. Recovery will be a long and expensive process, and officials are warning people to be cautious when hiring contractors for repairs. Some may try to exploit the situation for profit. President Biden is set to visit Florida to assess the damage and offer federal support. The American Red Cross is also on the ground, helping people locate missing family members and providing shelter for those displaced by the storms. Write a paragraph summarizing this story and explaining why it’s important for communities to have plans in place for emergencies like hurricanes and other natural disasters.

2. “APPRENTICE” IS OUT

The movie *The Apprentice* is about Donald Trump's early career in New York real estate and his relationship with Roy Cohn, a controversial lawyer who helped Trump learn aggressive political tactics. The film, directed by Ali Abbasi, tries to show Trump as a complex person rather than just a politician. Trump’s campaign is very upset about the movie, calling it “garbage” and trying to block it from being released, but the director says it’s not meant to attack Trump politically. The movie is coming out close to the 2024 election, adding to the controversy. Look up articles about this new movie from at least three different sources. Write a paragraph that summarizes what the movie is about, then a second paragraph explaining the differences you noticed in the coverage between sources and possible explanations for those differences.

3. BUYING AND SELLING

Zillow is adding climate risk scores to its home listings to help buyers understand the dangers a property might face from events like floods, wildfires, and extreme weather. These scores, created by First Street Foundation, will show the current risk and predictions for the next 15 to 30 years. This information will be available on Zillow’s website and app by the end of 2024 for iOS users and in early 2025 for Android users. Since many states don’t require sellers to disclose past damage, this feature gives buyers important details to consider when choosing a home. Choose a climate risk factor that would affect a home (like wildfires or floods). Then, research how that risk factor has affected homes and communities in the last decade. Summarize what you learned, including what areas or states are most likely to be affected by the risk factor you picked and how climate risk factors could affect how someone chooses where to live.

4. ELEVATOR ISSUE

At the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, an elevator malfunctioned during a tourist visit, killing one person and trapping 12 others for about six hours. The elevator stopped about 500 feet underground, and the 12 trapped adults, who were about 1,000 feet deep, were able to communicate with authorities using radios. Engineers eventually fixed the elevator, but officials were prepared to rescue them by rope if necessary. The cause of the malfunction and the identity of the victim have not yet been released. An investigation is underway. Write your own version of this article that includes the key information readers would need to know: What happened, how authorities handled it, and what could’ve been done differently to prevent this situation.

5. APPRECIATING ABORIGINAL ART

The exhibit "Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting From Yirrkala" at the Asia Society shows Aboriginal art from northeast Arnhem Land, Australia. The Yolngu people have created art using natural materials for thousands of years, but they only started making art on bark for sale to outsiders in 1935. This exhibit includes 74 pieces, including paintings and videos, and is the largest display of Yolngu bark art in the U.S. Some of the artwork had never left Australia before, and many of the pieces hold sacred meanings that are hidden from outsiders. The exhibition honors Yolngu traditions while allowing for new changes. It features works by women, who were not allowed to paint in the past. One artist, Dhambit Munungurr, uses bright blue acrylic paint because she is unable to use traditional pigments after an accident. While these pieces of art often look like abstract Western paintings, they carry deep cultural significance for the Yolngu people. Some designs in the paintings even help support Aboriginal land rights in Australia. The art serves as a way for the Yolngu to keep their culture alive, even though not all their secrets are revealed. Using what you learned here and research online, write your own take on this story that focuses on a specific angle (for example: the history of Aboriginal art, the significance of the colors and materials used in it, the role of women in Yolngu art and how it’s changed, or the connection between art and land rights for the Aboriginal people).