1. FACT CHECK

Vice President Kamala Harris gave a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention, where she accepted the party's nomination for president. She criticized former President Donald Trump, calling him a serious threat to democracy, global stability, and women’s rights. Harris emphasized that Trump’s policies could lead to significant problems, including restrictions on reproductive rights and tougher immigration laws. She positioned herself as a unifying figure who could lead the country forward and tackle issues like housing affordability and foreign policy. Harris also highlighted her unique candidacy, noting that if elected, she would be the first female president and the first person of South Asian descent to hold the office. Read or watch Harris’ whole speech, then read coverage of the event from at least 3 media sources. Write a paragraph that summarizes what was said in her speech and a second paragraph that compares the coverage from the sources you used, highlighting key differences.

2. LANDLORD SCANDAL

The U.S. Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a company that makes real estate software, accusing it of helping landlords illegally fix rent prices across the country. The lawsuit, which includes support from several states, claims that RealPage's software allowed landlords to share confidential information and set higher rents than would occur in a competitive market. RealPage's software, YieldStar, is at the center of the controversy for suggesting rent prices based on shared data, which the government argues led to price increases. The lawsuit marks a significant step in regulating how technology is used in pricing and follows other high-profile antitrust actions against tech giants like Google and Amazon. RealPage denies the allegations, asserting that its software is designed to comply with the law and that it does not force landlords to use its pricing suggestions. The case also highlights growing concerns about the impact of algorithms and data on pricing across various industries. Using research online or in your newspaper, write an article that summarizes this new lawsuit and draws connections to the housing and rent pricing crises that some cities and states in the US are experiencing.

3. FINGER BEND

"Phone pinky" is a term trending on TikTok, referring to a dent or bend in your pinky finger caused by holding your phone too much. When you grip your phone with your pinky supporting the bottom, it can put pressure on the middle joint, leading to this physical change. Many people, especially those with long screen times, are noticing this dent. Physical therapists say phone pinky isn't dangerous, but it signals you might need to change how you hold your phone or reduce your screen time. You can prevent or reduce phone pinky by adjusting your grip, using a phone grip or stand, or limiting your phone usage to shorter periods. If the dent is severe or persistent, talking to a physical therapist for exercises and advice might help. Write a short PSA or create a visual aid that shares this information with people and what they should do to adjust their behavior.

4. INTERNET SLOW-DOWN

Recent internet slowdowns in Pakistan have sparked concerns that the government is secretly testing a new system to monitor and control the country’s digital space. Many believe these disruptions are part of a broader effort to suppress dissent, especially as the government cracks down on supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Freelancers and businesses have been hit hard by the slowdown, with some reporting significant financial losses. While the government claims the issues are due to system upgrades and blames VPN usage, digital rights groups argue that the authorities are deploying advanced technology to censor and surveil online activities. Critics warn that this could severely limit free speech and civil liberties in Pakistan. How would you feel if you knew your government was monitoring and suppressing content online? In what situations would this cause problems? Write an opinion article that details how you think this would affect citizens and whether you think it’s right for a country’s government to oversee what its citizens have access to online.

5. ALIEN LIFE

In 1924, as Earth and Mars came unusually close, there was a surge of interest in detecting alien life on Mars. Scientists and the public were fascinated by the possibility of Martian civilizations. To aid in this quest, the U.S. Navy enforced radio silence across the country to listen for any signals from Mars. During this period, a strange radio signal was detected by an old World War I radio receiver. The signal appeared to show a face, sparking widespread excitement and speculation that it was a message from Martians. However, despite the media frenzy, the source of the signal remains a mystery to this day. The event highlighted humanity's deep desire to find extraterrestrial life and the lengths we are willing to go to search for it. Although the technology used then was primitive compared to today's advanced tools, the 1924 Mars opposition remains a significant moment in the history of the search for alien life. The enthusiasm and curiosity from that time have persisted, driving ongoing efforts to explore the cosmos for signs of life beyond Earth. Research developments we’ve made in understanding life elsewhere in the universe from the past 100 years. Write an article about the topic and what the scientific data of the last century suggests.

1. A PARALYMPIAN’S CHALLENGES

The Paralympics are an important opportunity for athletes with varying disabilities to compete on the world stage and bring awareness to their sports, accessibility needs, and more. However, it isn’t without its own challenges and controversy. Christie Raleigh Crossley is a 37-year-old swimmer who has overcome significant challenges to compete in the Paralympics. A lifelong swimmer, she dreamed of making it to the Olympics, but her journey took a different turn after surviving two car accidents and undergoing surgery to remove a vascular tumor from her brain, leaving her partially paralyzed on one side. Now a single mother of three, she’s competing in the Paris Paralympics, aiming for multiple medals despite facing skepticism and accusations that she’s exaggerating her disability. In para sports, athletes are classified by the impact of their disabilities, but Raleigh Crossley’s neurological impairments, which are harder to quantify, have made her a controversial figure. Despite her success in the pool, she’s faced online bullying and accusations of cheating. Raleigh Crossley identifies as nonbinary and has faced difficulties with gender identity throughout her life. Her pursuit of the Paralympics has been a means of channeling personal trauma and coping with the physical limitations brought on by her brain injury. Financially, para athletes like Raleigh Crossley struggle with limited sponsorship opportunities and low stipends, especially when their disabilities aren’t as visibly apparent. A gold medal at the Paralympics could provide her with a financial boost, but it would likely also attract more scrutiny. As she prepares for what may be her last Games, Raleigh Crossley reflects on the uncertainty of her future and the importance of seizing the moment, driven by a lifelong dream to represent Team U.S.A. Consider the balance between making sure people are competing fairly—look up recent Paralympic cheating scandals for more on this—and respecting people with less visible disabilities who can end up facing undue scrutiny. While there isn’t an easy solution to this issue, use research to write an article about how you think this process could be fairer for athletes with invisible disabilities while protecting the competition process from people who could take advantage of it?

2. PENNY PROBLEMS

The U.S. keeps minting pennies, even though they cost more to make than they're worth and aren't really used in transactions. This creates a cycle where more pennies are produced to replace those that just sit around, creating a massive, unmanageable surplus. Currently, there are about 240 billion pennies in the U.S. Most of these are never used and are just stored away. This creates a problem for the U.S. Mint, which has to keep producing pennies to replace the ones that get lost or disappear, making the problem even worse. Despite suggestions to stop producing pennies and complaints from experts, Congress hasn't acted. Some blame a private company, Artazn, which profits from making penny blanks, and its influence on lawmakers. In contrast, Canada eliminated its penny in 2013. They rounded cash transactions to the nearest five cents but kept prices the same for non-cash payments. This change helped simplify things without causing major issues, showing that getting rid of pennies could be a practical solution for the U.S. too. Read more about the problematic penny and why it’s so challenging for us to simply stop producing them. Then, write an article that summarizes the topic and what, if anything, can be done about this paradoxical problem.

3. TYPING TROUBLES

Despite being tech-savvy and comfortable with mobile devices, many Gen-Zers struggle with typing on traditional computer keyboards. This generation, born between 1997 and 2012, has grown up using smartphones and tablets with touch screens, which hasn’t translated well to typing quickly on physical keyboards. A Wall Street Journal report highlights this issue, noting that while Gen-Z is adept at texting, they often use "hunt-and-peck" methods on keyboards. This slow typing is a concern for educators and employers, as it affects productivity and efficiency in school and work settings. Some Gen-Zers, like pop singer Billie Eilish, admit they regret not learning to type properly. Schools have seen a drop in students taking typing classes, and educators worry about the gap between expected and actual keyboard skills. In response, educational companies are seeing increased interest in typing courses, which they hope will help improve students' typing speed and test scores. The hope is that with better keyboard skills, Gen-Z will be able to communicate and perform more effectively in the digital world. Do you notice you or your peers struggle with typing on a physical keyboard? What do you think could be done to remedy this issue? Create a plan for a media campaign, like a TV commercial or digital infographic, that could encourage Gen-Zers to pay more attention to these skills. Write down what medium you would choose, what visuals and text you would include, and what message you would hope to convey with your campaign.

4. SUSPENSION INEQUITY

Despite efforts to improve school discipline, Black students are still punished more harshly and more frequently than their peers. Zaire Byrd, a student from Georgia, was thriving academically and socially until he got into a fight defending himself from a robbery attempt. He was suspended and sent to an alternative school, which disrupted his education and nearly led him to drop out. This is a common issue: Black students often face harsher penalties for similar or even lesser infractions compared to white students. Efforts to reform these disparities began with the Black Lives Matter movement and have led to some improvements, such as reductions in suspension rates and the introduction of restorative justice practices. However, significant gaps remain. For example, Black students in Missouri still account for a disproportionate share of suspension days, despite recent progress. The "school-to-prison pipeline" concept highlights how exclusionary discipline can lead to future involvement in the criminal justice system. Despite federal guidelines aimed at reducing these disparities, recent trends show some schools reverting to stricter disciplinary measures, especially after pandemic-related closures. Activists argue this backlash is a reaction to progress made in addressing racial inequities. Zaire Byrd eventually graduated and plans to attend college, but his experience underscores the need for continued reform to ensure fair treatment for all students. Byrd’s story is one example of a much larger systemic issue. Using research about the disparities in discipline for students based on race, write an article that summarizes what you’ve learned about this topic and how it’s impacting students in the US.

5. MPOX BACK ON THE RISE

Mpox, a virus once known as monkeypox, has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to a fast-spreading outbreak, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This outbreak is fueled by a new strain of the virus, which has also appeared in Sweden and Thailand. Unlike the 2022 outbreak, where the virus primarily spread through sexual contact, the new strain is also believed to spread through skin-to-skin contact, contact with infected animals, and possibly through respiratory droplets. However, scientists are still investigating the exact modes of transmission. The most vulnerable populations include people in central and eastern Africa, healthcare workers, household members of infected individuals, and people with multiple sexual partners. Mpox can cause painful rashes, fevers, and other symptoms, and while most people recover within a month, the virus can be fatal, especially in children, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women. The current strain in Africa appears to be more severe than the one from the 2022 outbreak. In the U.S., the newer strain has not yet been detected, but cases of the previous strain continue, with over 1,700 reported this year. The CDC recommends vaccination for certain high-risk groups, including some men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and nonbinary people. The vaccine, which requires two doses, significantly reduces the risk of infection, though it may not provide lifelong immunity. Access to vaccines remains a major concern, particularly in Africa, where the outbreak is concentrated but vaccines are scarce. Meanwhile, people in Western countries have better access, though the ongoing outbreak has faded from public attention. Write an article that shares information about this global health emergency with the public, including what it is, who is most affected, and how people can protect themselves and others.