Regan Binding Snow Hits Plains, Midwest This article talked about the “life threatening” snow and ice storm that is sweeping across the Midwest and the east coast. On top of the 3+ feet of snow in the areas, there are winds up to 45 miles per hour and in most places over an inch of solid ice underneath. These three things are a dangerous and deadly combination, forcing cities to shut down airports and close a lot of highways. Cars cannot drive in these conditions, and people are being encouraged to stay inside and travel as little as possible. Even police officers have been removed from many stretches of highways because the storms are so severe that they do not want them risking their lives to patrol these areas. So far there have not been any deaths due to the storms, but many rescue operations (especially in Oklahoma) have been put into effect as motorists were getting trapped on parts of the highway with no way of getting out. Even the police officers who tried to help ended up getting stuck, which forced Oklahoma to call in the National Guard to get these people to some place safe. So with all of this horrible weather, how are people getting to and from work? And more importantly, how is this weather going to affect the Super Bowl, which is set for this coming Sunday in Dallas, Texas. Governments in Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri declared states of emergency, and shut down many local businesses for today, which allowed most people to stay at at home. Dallas had to shut down their airport, but only for a short amount of time. The storm is expected to be cleared out by Thursday, so hopefully it will not have too much damage on the fans travelling for the Super Bowl.
Shea McClellin Tue/Thur At Cairo square, protesters sow seeds of new Egypt
This story is about the protest going on in Egypt because people in the country are tired with President Hosni Mubarak. Ahmad Sami stated "I want to live in a democracy, in social justice. I want to choose my parliament." He also said anyone and everyone should have a chance to run for president including people like him. This has been the largest protest in Egypt’s history. People where angry because the president was going to pass the thrown to his son so he could continue the way his father ruled. Well people in the country didn’t like that idea so they decided to protest and now the country is in total Chaos. The police were called in to try to put a stopped to the protest by using tear gas, etc, but it wasn’t working so the country called on the military to control the streets, ever since then it has been peaceful. Although he police have stopped trying to control the area, protesters have since burned police cars and wrote other obscene message on buildings and the pavement. Police cars have also been burned and destroyed. The government has enforced a curfew and if people don’t abided the will be arrested. This is a very sad story to say the least. Women and children are being forced to find somewhere safe to stay because the city is out of control. The country needs to find a new leader as soon as possible and restore peace in the country, but that’s going to be a really tough thing to do. Maybe the U.S. needs to help.
Show me the money: State funding cuts will force university to bump student fees By Suzanne Craig, Assistant News Editor of The Arbiter Craig’s piece about student funding was filled with information concerning the school’s budget and where student tuition money goes. I thought this was a very well written piece. It did contain a lot of numbers which were a bit overwhelming, but being a student at Boise State University, I honestly had no idea where my money was being distributed. Craig thoroughly covered down-to-the-dollar exactly where tuition costs go. She also did so in terms that were easily understandable to readers. One tip of good journalism that we have learned through reading the Harvard book is that a journalist should write to their readers. This is very important news to students at Boise State. It is news that students are interested in reading. I also really liked that there was a “get involved” sections that let students know where they can get more information about what is going on with school funding as well as a meeting students can sit in on and learn. That was an excellent addition to help students who care out.
After five years of planning, the new Boise State Transit Center located at the Student Union Building is scheduled to open soon. The 3,000 square foot addition to the SUB will provide a central place for local and inter-county bus routes. Project manager Aaron Whitman said the Transit Center was originally going to be placed inside the Lincoln Garage, but after much consideration, it was decided to move it to the SUB. The SUB provides many services to students and visitors that come through, which is why it’s logically the best location for a Transit Center. Inside the Transit Center there will be a touch screen television. This will provide users with bus schedules, maps, weather, live shuttle tracker, news feeds, and a staff directory all in one place. The best part about the Transit Center is that it’s free for students! All you have to do is go down to the Transportation Department in the lower level of the Lincoln Garage and ask for a bus sticker. Place the sticker on your student ID and show it to the bus driver as you hop on board. It’s a cheap and effective alternative to the horrible parking situation on campus.
This article grabbed my attention right away. I am an avid user of the inter-county busses as they are my primary mode of transportation to-and-from campus each day. I live in Homedale, and riding the bus is a life saver. I only have to drive 25 miles one way into CWI in Nampa as opposed to driving 40 miles one way into campus. The best perk of the new Transit Center and the inter-county busses is that both eliminate the hassle of trying to find a parking space or paying $300 per semester for reserved parking located on the east side of Bronco Stadium. It’s less gasoline I have to put in my car each week, less wear and tear on my car, and I don’t have to put up with the traffic.
Arbiter Online- “Teens and TV: Bad role models lead to false expectations.”
The shows on television have been sending kids the wrong messages. Even if the shows are on a family channel, they are very unreliable.
This piece was written by Evahart and talks about how television shows are affecting how the kids act and speak in their daily lives. She found that a survey by “A.C. Nielsen” found that kids in American watch about 1,500 hours of television a year, while they only spend about 900 hours in school. This huge chunk of time they are spending watching t.v. is when they are viewing shows like “The Secret Life of an American Teenager” and “Pretty Little Liars.”
“The Secret Life of an American Teenager” is on the ABC family channel, even though it has a parental advisory. The show is about a 15-year-old girl who gets pregnant. Evahart goes on to say how the show portrays a high school where numerous teen girls start getting pregnant. She says that the show is mainly about sex.
Another show that is on ABC family is “Pretty Little Liars.” Evahart says that this show is about a 16-year-old student who hooks up with her English teacher. These types of things are being portrayed as cool to the kids who are spending their time watching these shows.
Evahart encourages parents to be proactive and find out what their kids are watching. She also explains the steps in using the V-Chip to block certain shows on your t.v. that you don’t want your children viewing.
This is a great piece and may help adults realize the types of shows that are being watched by younger kids.
This article is about the fact that Apple rejected Sony’s e-book reader app because of the fact that Apple wants its customers to have applications which they are used to using. Sony’s app isn’t considered an “in-app” and would force its users to be transferred to a website which Apple views as inconsistent with their other applications. The drama behind this whole issue, however, is that Apple already has Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle e-book reading apps for the iPhone and iPad which lead users to a website as well. It is basically stating that Apple is somewhat of a hypocrite and the company is now being questioned about whether or not they are going to remove the Amazon.com apps from its store.
I think this article is very clear-cut and well written based on the simple sentences, but only to users who are tech-savvy. In today’s society we assume that everyone is intelligent when it comes to technology, but we know that is not the case at all. My mom, for instance, still pulls out her tangible address book to dial a number instead of programming it in her phone, simply because she cannot figure out how to. I think Mintz could have strengthened this article by explaining to her readers what an app and an e-book reader is. Although I’m assuming the majority of America knows what an app is, we are suppose to be writing to an 8th grade reading level, so I feel a few simple definitions would have made this more clear.
Kyle Shirley Egypt has lately been the center point of media fire as the government continues to become more decentralized and protests begin to turn into violent riots. With the increased level of hostility in Egypt, American news reporters and media officials covering the downward spiral are urged to either “not go to Egypt” or to “evacuate immediately.” The government has started taking preventative measures now for Americans’ who are stationed over in Egypt by chartering air planes to a nearby air base in Europe. "As you know, we cannot demand that an American leave, however, we certainly push for them to leave," said a senior State Department official. The level of hostility and chaos has become even more embellished by the media since Anderson Coopers recent attack made headlines. Although much of the details on that story are sparse and inconsistent, we will leave it for what it is. As for the flights coming and going to Egypt, specifically for chartering Americans, has seen less and less demand. There have been several flights where every seat has been completely full and there have been flights that do not have a single passenger on them. The Government, for now is considering lowering the amount of available charters at the moment and sending charter planes to pick up Americans upon request. For the most part this article was very clear and to the point but really doesn't seem to be something news worthy. It almost sparks a moment of "duh" when one begins to read it. Of course the government will be picking up Americans and flying them out given the hostility in Egypt at this time.
Kelly Sweeney Idaho Statesman: Murphy: Pressure’s on for Boise State's new kicker Not long after Boise States kicker Kyle Brotzman missed the two field goals in the 2010 Nevada game, uproar happened in the Boise community. People were sending out death threats to Kyle and the Brotzman family. Then there was the team themselves, who were 100 percent behind the frustrated kicker, Brotzman. Kellen Moore, Boise State quarter back, and Head coach Chris Petersen were among the supporters. Brotzman, a senior, was the all time leading scorer not only for Boise State football but also for all NCAA kickers. Now it was time for the Broncos to find a new kicker. Scouts.com 12th ranked kicker will be coming into the Bronco program next year. Van Ginkel will not be handed the job, but will be the only kicker on scholarship next season. Ginkel comes from a family of five boys, all football players, all kickers. His father, Pete, said that he wanted a college kicker and that is exactly what he got. Special teams coach, Choate, said that Ginkel knows more about kicking then he ever will. He is a true student to the game, and is a tremendous fit for Boise State. The tough part for Ginkel will be his contribution he will have to give to a top-10 program. Ginkel could very well be the only freshmen with the other 22 starting players, but feels he is more than ready for it. His show down could very well be in the 2011 season on September 3.
Kristine D. /TuTh News Review Feb 3, 2011 NYC smoking ban expands to parks, and Times Square. This story originally posted on msnbc.com Mayor Michael Bloomberg after a 36-12 vote stated “This summer New Yorkers who go to our parks and beaches for some fresh air and fun will be able to breath even cleaner air and sit on beach not littered with cigarette butts.” It has long been known that second hand smoke kills. Many states have bans on smoking in bars and restaurants and from Main to California sweeping urban bans to ban smoking in public parks and beaches are being added. New Yorks ban, besides public parks and beaches, will also ban smoking on boardwalks, and pedestrian plaza’s such as Times Square. The ban goes into effect 90 days after the mayor signs the bill. The ban gives the city’s Park Department the power to ticket someone with a quality-of-life summons equal to tickets for minor things like public urination or panhandling. Fine’s would be less than $100. Smokers’ rights groups held protests against the ban as they believe it violates individual freedoms. Some smokers support the ban and realize is it isn’t intended to be punitive but rather self-enforced by residents warning someone who lights up that it’s illegal. Health and environmental advocates applauded the council vote. New Yorkers will soon breathe easier and be breathing cleaner air too.
Meridian Republican will pitch law banning physician-assisted suicide in Idaho
This story is about how Sen. Russ Fulcher, wants to make Physician assisted suicide a crime in Idaho. The Senator will propose legislation Friday to make this issue illegal. Fulcher wants Idaho to join the more than thirty states that have made physician assisted suicide illegal. Fulcher already has six co-sponsors all of whom are republican. Idaho’s neighbors Oregon and Washington have laws specifically allowing physician assisted suicides. His proposal would say that it is not a crime to administer or prescribe or dispense medication to relieve another person’s pain or discomfort even if the medication could accelerate or increase the patient’s death. This issue gained standing after Kathryn Tucker of Coeur d’ Alene wrote and editorial about this issue in the Coeur d’ Alene press. Tucker wrote “Aid in dying refers to the request of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient for a prescription from their physician for medication they can consume to bring about a peaceful death.” And “As medicine has progressed, one of the challenging realities is that for some terminally ill patients dying can be so prolonged and so agonizing that they find themselves trapped in a process they find unbearable."
Aaron nelson Super bowl 45 Espn.com It is almost super Sunday time. In three days super bowl 45 will finally be here. It has been a great season, but it is bitter, sweet for some fan because it is the biggest game of the year but then football is done till the fall. The big game is February 6th at 4:31 eastern time. This will be one of the most anticipated games in recent years. The two best scoring defenses will be playing each other this has not happened since 1985. These two teams have a lot of championship history. The Packers won the two very first super bowls, but the Stealers have won seven which the most in NFL history. This super bowl is being played in Dallas, Texas in the new Cowboys stadium which will hold 100,000 for this huge game. In the latest odds for the game the packers are 2.5 point favorites, which is a bit of a surprise due to the fact that Pittsburg has won two rings with them team that they have now, and the packers team has not been to the super bowl since 1997. To all the football fans, unplug your phones get all your food ready send the kids to the grandparents, make sure the beer is on ice and get ready for one of the best things we as football fans share… the SUPERBOWL! It is here we are ready to put all the questions to rest and crown a new champion .
National Signing day Stories: Floyd Raven’s mom forged his signature to attend Ole Miss
The University of Mississippi was thrilled Wednesday morning when they received a certain fax from Floyd Raven; it was a signed Letter of Intent from Raven. Floyd is a senior cornerback out of Reserve, LA. He is one of the top prospects in the state and has been wavering between Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Michigan. This would have out Ole Miss in the top 20 for recruiting classes because they signed other great in state prospects. Floyd was not only a top player in the state but one of the top cornerbacks in the country as well, a position that would much help the Ole Miss rebels. But what they didn’t know was Floyd Raven’s LOI was forged by his mother. Yes his mother! Floyd was apparently going to commit to Ole Miss- where his mother wanted him to go- but decided to change his mind to Texas A&M. According to Floyd his mother was unaware of his decision of changing his commitment and when he was away from the house, she signed the LOI and faxed it to Ole Miss. Floyd spoke on the matter and stated, “I never told her I had changed my mind to Texas A&M. I forgive her for it. It was an honest mistake.” Houston Nutt, UM head football coach stated in an interview with an AP reporter that, “Bottom line is, hey, we did get a signature, we did get a letter, but I want people that want to be here," Nutt said. "I want people that really truly want to be here. I'd rather just talk about the ones that we have.” Floyd will be attending the University of Texas A&M in the fall .
Emily Mexico kidnaps apparently leave 25 kids on street Approximately 25 children were found abandoned in a northern Mexican border city, seemingly left by their parents’ abductors. There is evidence that “indicates that their parents were kidnapped and that was the reason they were abandoned.” There is an open investigation, looking into who is responsible for the abductions; the area is filled with violent drug cartels which have been involved in kidnappings before. The exact ages of the abandoned children has not been released, however, local news media report that the children range in age from a few months to 10 years old. What is the point of publishing this article in the Idaho Statesman? Other than the events occurrence, what do readers stand to learn from viewing? I am very interested in reading about these children, however this piece left a lot to be desired. How far has the investigation come? Are authorities any closer to locating the parents of these children? If there have been prior abductions in the area, related to various drug cartels, have they been questioned? What is being done to find the abductees? How long were the children left on the street before they were found? What motivation does an abductor have to separate the parents from their children? Where are the children now? What happens to them in Mexico’s ‘court’ system? Where will they go? I think if the writer would have answered these questions the story could have been much better.
The city of Boise finally cleared the placement of a Walgreen’s near downtown on Tuesday. Apparently, this was the last road block in the development of the Whole Foods complex set to go in between Myrtle and Front St. This is an interesting article because I am happy to hear that there will finally be a Whole Foods in the city however, I do have my worries about a store of this size putting local stores out of business. Stores such as the Co Op seem as though they could go by the wayside if they suffer too much business loss. I am hopeful that residents will continue to shop local as much as possible in order to maintain stores such as the Co Op in the coming years.
The article itself was not very long but rather simply presented the facts about the green light for the project. It sounds as though the city is happy with the decision to bring in Whole Foods, and I hope that it can settle into the community peacefully.
Jacy S. Tu/Th Obama says Egypt’s transition must begin now CNN Politics Feb. 2, 2011 After the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced Tuesday, Feb, 2, 2011, he will not be in the running come the September re-elections Obama says the transition need to start immediately. The U.S. president is hoping the process will be meaningful and peaceful. Also Obama said that this transition “should lead to elections that are free and fair, for a government that is not only grounded in democratic principles but it also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.” With Egypt being the main Arab ally of the United States many are looking at Obama with questions that don’t have easy answers Obama is being pulled on both sides with some saying it is our responsibility to give them a good government policy, while others say to back off. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, John Kerry, says “that the U.S. government should start paying attention to the genuine political, legal, and economic needs of the people in the Middle East.” After nearly three decades of the Mubarak policy, Kerry says that we now need to devise and Egyptian policy. With others, including Mohamed ElBaradie one of Egypt’s leading opposition figures tells the U.S. to let go, and “start building confidence with the people as opposed to the people who are smothering the people.” Yes, I think we should help the people of Egypt out, but believe that for them to be truly happy with the outcome it needs to be something they do on their own. If we were able to play big brother and step in when they ask for help it would be good for both sides.
Stop the presses: First iPad newspaper debuts AP Business
Big surprise: with new technology being introduced on a constant basis, print newspapers have been taking a hit everywhere as more and more people turn to the internet for quicker and easier ways to read the news. In most cases, news is also free online, making it much more economical for those on a budget.
To adapt to this transition from print to online, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has come out with a digital newspaper designed for iPads only. At 99 cents a week or $40 a year, subscribers can have access to over 100 pages of iPad newspaper delivered to their handheld device everyday. Sections will include News, Opinion and Gossip.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me is leaning towards the fact that it's actually quite innovative and interesting; it makes me wish I had an iPad so that I could access this information. It’s fascinating how much the world of journalism has changed over the past few years, and I’m excited to see where it’s going. On the other hand, as a journalism major, it worries me to see how much print journalism has been declining in the past four years. I’m afraid to see what the job market will look like when I graduate.
The idea of targeting a specific audience, such as iPad owners, is brilliant. First of all, a majority of Apple owners can be admittedly snooty about their technology (I have a Mac, and I’m guilty) so the idea of having access to the only iPad-only exclusive news content would be the perfect thing to bring up over a cup of espresso at a local vegan coffeeshop.
Joe Ross Tu/Th Daniel Rubin: Son of terrorist El Sayyid Nosair tentatively faces past The feature article of the Philadelphia Inquirer is an interesting story on Daniel Rubin. It's a story of his life about being the son of a terrorist killer. The story first discusses the crimes El Sayyid Nosair commited, he was convicted of the murder of Rabbie Meir after a speech in New York. In 1993 he was the main part in the World Trade Center bombing. Daniel discusses his childhood where his Father displayed pure innocence in the eyes of Daniel. He discussed how his Father was always showing humor, a funny Dad who was loved by Daniel. In 1990 El Sayyid took Daniel to a shooting range. He had the then 7 year old Daniel fire an assault rifle while at the shooting range. Daniel went on to tell how his Mother shielded Daniel's sister and brother from their Father's case. The criminal cases against his Father sparked negative attention to the Rubin family. Daniel concluded that within the last couple years he has been completely comfortable of his family. He's come to realization that there is nothing that he could ever do to change the fact of the crime his Father did.
Article: "The Other Big Game This Weekend: Puppy Bowl"
By Danielle Paquette, Special to CNN on CNN.com
With all the talk about bad snow storms and crisis in Egypt it was nice to find some good news worth reading. This article talks about the annual Animal Planet Puppy Bowl which puppies from shelters across the country are "drafted" to be part of the bowl and get a chance of being adopted. According to the article over 250 animals have been adopted since the bowl started in 2004. These animals include the halftime show kittens and this year they have included "chick" cheerleaders (and I mean the baby chicken type of chick). In 2009 they had an incedent of "puppy indecentcy" when "A clean-shaven Chinese crested puppy --"censored" by a Girls Gone Wild-style digital black rectangle -- burst onto the miniature football field, weaving between baby Labradors and beagles and Chihuahuas." This puppy was traditionally shaved but it was a funny and cute editon to the Puppy Bowl. I loved the fact that this actually helps the puppies and other animals find a home where they can find all the love and attention they deserve. I think that it might be a great thing to watch...especially if you're not a Steeler or Packer fan.
John Lloyd Idaho Statesman: Former Boise State lineman Daryn Colledge loves Green Bay’s unique support This article explains how Green Bay Packer fans are different compared to any other teams he’s played on before. “They don’t just ask how you’re doing, they tell you how you’re doing, how the team’s doing, and what you can do to make the team better,” said Daryn. Boise State has two players in this game; Daryn Colledge a starting left guard and Korey Hall a reserve fullback and special teams expert. It looks like they support every person on the team because they actually care about their team and the winning mentality that Vince Lombardi brought in the 1960’s. Green Bay’s success is due to their gigantic fan base in mostly every state and Daryn is part of the team that is slowly turning into America’s Team. Daryn also said that his wife called him saying there was a Brett Favre jersey on his front porch waiting for him to sign it and return it to the original owner. Not only did Daryn sign it, he got Brett to sign it as well as some other Green Bay players at the time. This was during his rookie campaign in which he had to play both tackle and guard to protect the legendary Brett Favre. Boise State has never had a player win a Superbowl in the NFL. Daryn and Korey Hall look to become the first one and write it in the history books. My prediction to the game (no this isn’t relevant by what the heck) is a Green Bay victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21.
The article I am focusing on this week comes from Shanghaidaily.com. It is an html based website for the original Shanghai Daily, which is also the only English language daily newspaper.
"Obama says change in Eygpt must happen now"
President Obama's address towards Eygpt government, February 1, 2011 was expressing concern and doubt about current leader Hosni Mubarak continuing his term another six months. Obama ordered for a transition of power in Eygpt.
Eygpt has been a long time ally with the U.S. and when President Obama spoke with President Mubarak over the phone and was direct in saying that Eygpt is in need of an orderly democratic, economic and social reform. In response to the thousands of protestors gathered earlier in the day to bring Mubarak down, Obama said, "To the people of Egypt, particularly the young people of Egypt, I want to be clear: We hear your voices. I have an unyielding belief that you will determine your own destiny and seize the promise of a better future for your children and your grandchildren." Although Obama made it clear that no other country but Eygpt could determine their fate. After days of Mubarak ignoring protestors and greivences of his country, Obama sent a private message to Mubarak urging him to prepare for a transition of power.
Despite U.S. advice, Mubarak announced that he would be spending the remaining eight months of his term to peacefully transfer power. Many skeptics of this were concerned about alienating new powers in Eygpt because of its “role in Middle East peacemaking and its control over the strategic oil shipping routes through the Suez Canal.”
U.S. lawmakers are not pleased with Mubarak’s decision and have renewed a threat to withhold aid if a change in democracy is not made.
The Idaho Statesman: "End-of-Life Debate likely in Idaho Legislature"
The article from the Statesman informs the reader of the controversial process that involves critically-ill patients giving written consent to their doctors to end their lives early. Proponents call it "death with dignity," while the opponents malign it as "physician-assisted suicide." After laying out the definition, the article goes on to layout the political issues surrounding the topic, saying that, as of now, the states of Oregon and Washington currently allow the end-of-life procedure and that Montana's Supreme Court recently declared it the right of all of that state's citizens as well. However, the Idaho legislature is on record for being openly hostile to the idea and legislation sponsored by Senator Russ Fulcher of Meridian would effectively ban the option for patients who desire the choice for themselves. That does not mean that patients who request this lethal treatment do not have advocates on their side either. People like Kathryn Tucker of Compassion & Choices, a non profit in favor of end-of-life choice, say that "it's appropriate for Idaho to allow physicians to provide this care subject to standard of care."
Idaho Statesman: Mountain West Conference saw little value in expansion possibilities
The Mountain West football conference has shut down the chance of expanding on the eight teams currently in the conference. Reports that Utah State, currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, would join Boise State and move over to the Mountain West, have now been denied by the MWC commissioner. The MWC met this month to discuss possible expansion, but now have stated they do not see any current teams that would bring enough fire power and help boost the conference. The Mountain west is currently in talks with CBS sports to televise it’s games, something that would bring more revenue to each of the schools. The TV deal would bring in a reported 12 million per year to the conference. Boise State is joining a conference that is losing powerhouse TCU in 2012 to the Big East, and Utah this coming season for the Pac-12. The Mountain West conference also expects to maintain two rivalry games for each of its members, having each team play eight conference games of the ten teams currently in it. The Mountain West is expected to release a preliminary schedule later this month.
Lindsey Hileman Investigators: Cause of fire that forced Boise hospital to move maternity ward Friday unknown Idaho Statesman
This article from IdahoStatesman.com covers a fire on the 8th floor maternity ward of St. Luke’s downtown. The fire started early this morning; fire crews were on the scene by 2:38 am. No one was injured in the fire but mothers and their babies have been moved to another part of the hospital until the mess can be cleaned up. St. Luke’s staff anticipates that everyone should be able to move back by Sunday.
Though the cause of the fire is still undetermined, I would not be surprised if it turns out to be a cigarette that was poorly extinguished. The fire began in the trash can of a storage closet and that just seems like a place that a stressed-out new mom or a busy hospital employee would sneak off to smoke. There is nowhere to smoke inside the hospital (as there should not be) nor can smokers light up right outside the building. There are signs just outside that say smoking is prohibited within a certain distance of the building. I would imagine that it was cold and someone didn’t feel like taking a walk.
The 5 Ws were addresses in the first paragraph. As the story goes on the facts get less and less important. I actually thought that one paragraph was a little repetitive. It was stated in the first paragraph that cause was unknown but the seventh paragraph states, “Boise fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire.” I would hope so. I didn’t figure that they would give up at “unknown cause”. It ends with a comment about this being unrelated to another recent fire in the hospital.
By Kyle Blackhurst The article I read was about the expansion of the Boise State football stadium. If the State Board of Education approves this, BSU hopes to begin construction in 2012 and open in time for the 2013 football season. The new additions are creating a new locker room, training room, and football offices. All of the new recruits have been asking Coach Peterson about how long it would take for it to be done. Coach Peterson had this in response: “The great thing is for us to be able to say, with the state board approval, ‘Hey, you’re going to be in that thing in two years.” The Bronco’s are expecting the new additions to be built in a quick and timely manner due to the fact that it has always turned out to work that way. The Boise State Athletic Director, Gene Bleymaier, anticipates the final price tag on the project to be around 35 million dollars. So far the school has raised 11.7 million dollars for the new project. Along with this project comes the task of moving the school track to Dona Larsen Park. The new facility is said to have a good power over other schools in the impact on recruiting. Coach Peterson says that building the facility is more important to our programs success at this time than adding seats. After all, why would you need to add more seats when your stadium isn’t even full at your last home game?
This article discusses how it can be easier and more tempting to cheat while taking an online course. It also discusses that instructors that teach online courses get extra training on how to spot plagiarism and how to give assignments with steps instead of one end project so that the student cannot just purchase an essay to submit. This article gave a good view of the teachers’ perspective, but it would have to good to have some feedback from students as well. That way the reader can see why students are more tempted to cheat and “waste their time and money” Is it because the courses are harder to take online? Or because they don’t think they ‘ll be held accountable? This is something that can be looked into further and more in depth so that perhaps cheating can either be deterred by better teaching or more involvement with students and teachers with the online course. The article could also discuss the schools policies and whether the teachers are going to be required to use the Testing Center on campus- Or if it’ll be at the teachers discretion. As well as if the blackboard programs that detect plagiarism are going to be used more in the future. Overall this article could use more research and background information, but it’s a very intriguing topic that catches the readers’ attention.
University decides how though it needs to be with smokers
An on going debate between the university health department and the smokers is still going strong. Since the ban on smoking has been in affect in BSU, smokers have been finding places to smoke around campus. Boise City has issued a complaint to Boise State University last week because of the large amounts of cigarette butts thrown out on Greenbelt. Jennifer Summers a health educator for Boise State University who has been helping educate smokers about the smoking policy on campus said “there was a growing sense of smokers saying, ‘come back when you’re going to do something about it’.” People who use the Greenbelt for recreational purposes say that it’s not only about the smokers and the smoke it is also about the garbage. Boise State’s current policy is a simple three-strike policy for the violators. First time when a smoker violates they are simply reminded of the policy and are given an education card. The second time, their personal information is taken and given a written warning. The third time the smoker is caught, a Security Incident Report is completed and that person is directed toward the appropriate office. John Uda, an executive director of Campus Security said that there are currently eight full time officers and five part time officers and he said that enforcing the smoke free campus policy has to be whole wide campus effort. The main goal of Campus Security is to get the numbers of repeat offenders down.
Idaho Statesman Rich Raimondi: An education system that works
The article published in the statesman on February 6th discussed the idea of Catholic Schooling for Idaho children. The theme for Catholic schools is: “Catholic Schools: A+ for America.” Catholic schools have high expectations of their students in promoting excellence in the classroom. Catholic schools also have high graduation rates with high percentages of graduates going on to college and completing a college degree with good moral values, according to the article in the statesmen. The Treasure Valley has over 1,750 students in the Catholic schooling system, which consists of 5 elementary schools and Bishop Kelly high school. 20 percent of the students in the Catholic school system in the Treasure Valley are of other Non-Catholic faith systems. But 100 percent of the students are working towards something uniquely offered in catholic schooling, “Educate and develop the whole student in the Catholic tradition-spirit, mind and body.” The spirit is developed through a relationship with Jesus Christ which is completed through community service and a commitment to justice as well as a dedication to live out the teachings of the Catholic Church. The mind is developed through small class sizes, highly committed and educated professors, personalized attention, developing creativity, critical thinking, reflective problem solving, analytical thinking, an ability to communicate orally and in written form as well as other skills taught to the students in the classroom. The body is developed through recognizing that ones body is a gift from God and with that one is to treat their body with respect and modesty as well as a commitment to balance and life long self-control of a healthy life style both physically and mentally. Over 98% of the students schooled in Catholic schools go on to college. Bishop Kelly was awarded over 12 million dollars in scholarships to its graduating class last year as a result of high ACT scores, thousands of service hours in the community, athletic accomplishments, as well as Science Olympiad, economics and debate. But most importantly the article believes that students in the Catholic schooling system are being prepared to be leaders of our communities and that now is the time to consider the Catholic schooling alternative.
BY: MEGAN REECE MWI's Business Growth in Boise http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/04/1514152/mwi-will-move-headquarters-to.html
A new Boise based business is growing, and moving into a nearly double sized building. Increased revenues have made the purchase of the old Albertson’s building possible for MWI, a veterinary supply company. The company’s revenues came up 55% totaling 366.2 million dollars. 29% is from growth in the United States, and 26% from MWI’s acquisition of England’s Centaur Services Ltd on February 8th. To more conveniently serve their Midwest customers, MWI opened a sixth veterinary pharmacy in Whitestown Indiana, and now has six pharmacies in its distribution centers. More growth was added when the company moved its Visalia, California distribution center to an 81,000 square foot building in December. Revenues could rise for the company to 1.5 billion for the fiscal year. Megan Reece http://bsu273.blogspot.com/2011/01/week-3-250-word-post.html
Whitney Holm Article found on February 7, 2011 Idahostatesman.com “‘Bath salts’ a dangerous drug, Idaho police say”
A 19-year old boy from Boise, ID was found convulsing in his bed last week. He took a drug that was labeled as “bath salts.” It can be found at local paraphernalia shops in the valley. The high this drug gives is said to be similar to cocaine. This young man did the drug again once he got out of the hospital last week because he said he needed the high it produces. Spice was the main drug problem in Boise and Meridian in the past few months. Now, the spice ban has taken effect in Meridian. Now, officers have a new drug to deal with. The paraphernalia shops are good at marketing drugs that have labels that make them sound innocent like potpourri, plant fertilizer or now, bath salts. I don’t understand why these paraphernalia shops are able to be in business. It seems that every week there is a new story about a young kid overdosing on a drug that is not legal. If the United States has banned other drugs from being sold, then why is it okay to keep a store open selling drugs? Marijuana is a drug that is banned and it’s not known for making people convulse and get addicted to it. It looks to me as though these drug suppliers and stores are making a mockery out of our legal system. They are finding all sorts of ways to keep selling a drug that they know is bad for people in order to turn a profit.
Young Soldier from Boise Idaho charged in Afghan Murder.
A soldier native to Boise Idaho is accused of an Afghan murder. According to the Army document, Nineteen year old Pdc. Andrew Holmes is accused of alleged premeditated murder of Gul Mudin. The document stated Holmes killed Mudin with a grenade and a gun. Holmes was not the only soldier accused of killings, five other soldiers were said to be responsible for the killing of three Afghan civilians. Holmes was charged with murder and is now being held in a military jail. Holmes’ high school principle described him as a “nice pleasant young man. She could not merge the young boy she knew with a man who committed a murder. Centennial Principal Alta Graham portrayed Holmes as a normal student who did not get into trouble, and who had an involved mother. The accused murder, Holmes, has had one traffic citation in the past. Concerning the total of five soldiers accused of murder, Lt. Col. Tamara Parker stated, “Sometimes soldiers do not live up to the values that we would expect. These men are charged with very serious crimes. I'm not aware of another case like this." The U.S. military is seeking to win favor with the locals in Afghan, and this investigation has put a damper on the possibility. The particular location of this event, Kandahar Providence, had been a main focus to stop and control any rebellion. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander has worked to reduce civilian casualties, and pushes that success in Afghan will start by gaining the trust and favor of the civilian population.
Since the 2008 economic downturn, the city of Boise and surrounding areas have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people panhandling. Some Downtown businesses have fielded complaints from their customers regarding overly aggressive panhandlers to Boise Police. Other businesses say that panhandlers drive away customers. Boise Police received 376 complaints of panhandling in the year 2009, as compared with 95 in 2005. Business owners, customers, and police officers alike are struggling to find a way to help assist those in need while curbing this growing problem. Earlier this winter, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, introduced the ‘Have a Heart’ campaign which encouraged residents to donate their money directly to assistance agencies designed to help those in need, rather than to individuals. Many found this to be an excellent solution and applauded the measure but some panhandlers say their needs can’t be met by traditional non-profits. One family interviewed for the article was living in a motor home while panhandling. They argued that they had food and shelter but were lacking money to pay for other necessities like gas. They claimed the only solution for their problem to be gainful employment. This issue is not going unnoticed by lawmakers. The Boise City Council is working on a measure that would strengthen the current statues regarding panhandling and allow for easier enforcement by Boise police officers. The mayor also met with non-profit leaders last spring to plan a “Continuum of Care” program that would look at ways to get federal aid to those in need.
Tom Luna's Proposed Education Reform Strikes Debate
Idaho Statesman
There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounded the recent bills Tom Luna has brought to the State Board of Education. Luna, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, wants to make 6-8 online courses mandatory to graduate high school. Among other things, Luna wants to increase class size and cut more than 1,000 professional education jobs. Although the idea was to get Idaho’s high school graduate more college and career ready, many tustee’s are disagreeing with Luna’s plan. The board has already expressed feedback fueling the discussion further. They believe that Idaho should be more in line with the college preparedness plans that other schools have proven to work. Tom Luna will bring the bills to the Senate Education Committee in the weeks to come. Parents and Students are enraged over the topic, siting drastic changes in the form of instruction. Most reports have touted parents’ concern over the regulation of Internet classes and how their children will be evaluated. Another main concern that has come up is the expense of the computers and their upkeep compared to the in person instruction a student will receive.
Regan
ReplyDeleteBinding Snow Hits Plains, Midwest
This article talked about the “life threatening” snow and ice storm that is sweeping across the Midwest and the east coast. On top of the 3+ feet of snow in the areas, there are winds up to 45 miles per hour and in most places over an inch of solid ice underneath. These three things are a dangerous and deadly combination, forcing cities to shut down airports and close a lot of highways. Cars cannot drive in these conditions, and people are being encouraged to stay inside and travel as little as possible. Even police officers have been removed from many stretches of highways because the storms are so severe that they do not want them risking their lives to patrol these areas. So far there have not been any deaths due to the storms, but many rescue operations (especially in Oklahoma) have been put into effect as motorists were getting trapped on parts of the highway with no way of getting out. Even the police officers who tried to help ended up getting stuck, which forced Oklahoma to call in the National Guard to get these people to some place safe.
So with all of this horrible weather, how are people getting to and from work? And more importantly, how is this weather going to affect the Super Bowl, which is set for this coming Sunday in Dallas, Texas. Governments in Oklahoma, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri declared states of emergency, and shut down many local businesses for today, which allowed most people to stay at at home. Dallas had to shut down their airport, but only for a short amount of time. The storm is expected to be cleared out by Thursday, so hopefully it will not have too much damage on the fans travelling for the Super Bowl.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/01/winter.storm/index.html?hpt=C1
Shea McClellin
ReplyDeleteTue/Thur
At Cairo square, protesters sow seeds of new Egypt
This story is about the protest going on in Egypt because people in the country are tired with President Hosni Mubarak. Ahmad Sami stated "I want to live in a democracy, in social justice. I want to choose my parliament." He also said anyone and everyone should have a chance to run for president including people like him. This has been the largest protest in Egypt’s history. People where angry because the president was going to pass the thrown to his son so he could continue the way his father ruled. Well people in the country didn’t like that idea so they decided to protest and now the country is in total Chaos. The police were called in to try to put a stopped to the protest by using tear gas, etc, but it wasn’t working so the country called on the military to control the streets, ever since then it has been peaceful. Although he police have stopped trying to control the area, protesters have since burned police cars and wrote other obscene message on buildings and the pavement. Police cars have also been burned and destroyed. The government has enforced a curfew and if people don’t abided the will be arrested.
This is a very sad story to say the least. Women and children are being forced to find somewhere safe to stay because the city is out of control. The country needs to find a new leader as soon as possible and restore peace in the country, but that’s going to be a really tough thing to do. Maybe the U.S. needs to help.
Nichole S.
ReplyDeletet/th Class
Show me the money: State funding cuts will force university to bump student fees
By Suzanne Craig, Assistant News Editor of The Arbiter
Craig’s piece about student funding was filled with information concerning the school’s budget and where student tuition money goes. I thought this was a very well written piece. It did contain a lot of numbers which were a bit overwhelming, but being a student at Boise State University, I honestly had no idea where my money was being distributed. Craig thoroughly covered down-to-the-dollar exactly where tuition costs go. She also did so in terms that were easily understandable to readers.
One tip of good journalism that we have learned through reading the Harvard book is that a journalist should write to their readers. This is very important news to students at Boise State. It is news that students are interested in reading. I also really liked that there was a “get involved” sections that let students know where they can get more information about what is going on with school funding as well as a meeting students can sit in on and learn. That was an excellent addition to help students who care out.
Jarrod Driskell
ReplyDeleteT/TH
The Arbiter
After five years of planning, the new Boise State Transit Center located at the Student Union Building is scheduled to open soon. The 3,000 square foot addition to the SUB will provide a central place for local and inter-county bus routes. Project manager Aaron Whitman said the Transit Center was originally going to be placed inside the Lincoln Garage, but after much consideration, it was decided to move it to the SUB. The SUB provides many services to students and visitors that come through, which is why it’s logically the best location for a Transit Center. Inside the Transit Center there will be a touch screen television. This will provide users with bus schedules, maps, weather, live shuttle tracker, news feeds, and a staff directory all in one place. The best part about the Transit Center is that it’s free for students! All you have to do is go down to the Transportation Department in the lower level of the Lincoln Garage and ask for a bus sticker. Place the sticker on your student ID and show it to the bus driver as you hop on board. It’s a cheap and effective alternative to the horrible parking situation on campus.
This article grabbed my attention right away. I am an avid user of the inter-county busses as they are my primary mode of transportation to-and-from campus each day. I live in Homedale, and riding the bus is a life saver. I only have to drive 25 miles one way into CWI in Nampa as opposed to driving 40 miles one way into campus. The best perk of the new Transit Center and the inter-county busses is that both eliminate the hassle of trying to find a parking space or paying $300 per semester for reserved parking located on the east side of Bronco Stadium. It’s less gasoline I have to put in my car each week, less wear and tear on my car, and I don’t have to put up with the traffic.
Sydney Gill
ReplyDeleteArbiter Online- “Teens and TV: Bad role models lead to false expectations.”
The shows on television have been sending kids the wrong messages. Even if the shows are on a family channel, they are very unreliable.
This piece was written by Evahart and talks about how television shows are affecting how the kids act and speak in their daily lives. She found that a survey by “A.C. Nielsen” found that kids in American watch about 1,500 hours of television a year, while they only spend about 900 hours in school. This huge chunk of time they are spending watching t.v. is when they are viewing shows like “The Secret Life of an American Teenager” and “Pretty Little Liars.”
“The Secret Life of an American Teenager” is on the ABC family channel, even though it has a parental advisory. The show is about a 15-year-old girl who gets pregnant. Evahart goes on to say how the show portrays a high school where numerous teen girls start getting pregnant. She says that the show is mainly about sex.
Another show that is on ABC family is “Pretty Little Liars.” Evahart says that this show is about a 16-year-old student who hooks up with her English teacher. These types of things are being portrayed as cool to the kids who are spending their time watching these shows.
Evahart encourages parents to be proactive and find out what their kids are watching. She also explains the steps in using the V-Chip to block certain shows on your t.v. that you don’t want your children viewing.
This is a great piece and may help adults realize the types of shows that are being watched by younger kids.
Sara Cray
ReplyDeleteApple rejects Sony app over book-buying options
This article is about the fact that Apple rejected Sony’s e-book reader app because of the fact that Apple wants its customers to have applications which they are used to using. Sony’s app isn’t considered an “in-app” and would force its users to be transferred to a website which Apple views as inconsistent with their other applications. The drama behind this whole issue, however, is that Apple already has Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle e-book reading apps for the iPhone and iPad which lead users to a website as well. It is basically stating that Apple is somewhat of a hypocrite and the company is now being questioned about whether or not they are going to remove the Amazon.com apps from its store.
I think this article is very clear-cut and well written based on the simple sentences, but only to users who are tech-savvy. In today’s society we assume that everyone is intelligent when it comes to technology, but we know that is not the case at all. My mom, for instance, still pulls out her tangible address book to dial a number instead of programming it in her phone, simply because she cannot figure out how to. I think Mintz could have strengthened this article by explaining to her readers what an app and an e-book reader is. Although I’m assuming the majority of America knows what an app is, we are suppose to be writing to an 8th grade reading level, so I feel a few simple definitions would have made this more clear.
Kyle Shirley
ReplyDeleteEgypt has lately been the center point of media fire as the government continues to become more decentralized and protests begin to turn into violent riots. With the increased level of hostility in Egypt, American news reporters and media officials covering the downward spiral are urged to either “not go to Egypt” or to “evacuate immediately.” The government has started taking preventative measures now for Americans’ who are stationed over in Egypt by chartering air planes to a nearby air base in Europe. "As you know, we cannot demand that an American leave, however, we certainly push for them to leave," said a senior State Department official. The level of hostility and chaos has become even more embellished by the media since Anderson Coopers recent attack made headlines. Although much of the details on that story are sparse and inconsistent, we will leave it for what it is. As for the flights coming and going to Egypt, specifically for chartering Americans, has seen less and less demand. There have been several flights where every seat has been completely full and there have been flights that do not have a single passenger on them. The Government, for now is considering lowering the amount of available charters at the moment and sending charter planes to pick up Americans upon request. For the most part this article was very clear and to the point but really doesn't seem to be something news worthy. It almost sparks a moment of "duh" when one begins to read it. Of course the government will be picking up Americans and flying them out given the hostility in Egypt at this time.
Kelly Sweeney
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman: Murphy: Pressure’s on for Boise State's new kicker
Not long after Boise States kicker Kyle Brotzman missed the two field goals in the 2010 Nevada game, uproar happened in the Boise community. People were sending out death threats to Kyle and the Brotzman family. Then there was the team themselves, who were 100 percent behind the frustrated kicker, Brotzman. Kellen Moore, Boise State quarter back, and Head coach Chris Petersen were among the supporters. Brotzman, a senior, was the all time leading scorer not only for Boise State football but also for all NCAA kickers. Now it was time for the Broncos to find a new kicker. Scouts.com 12th ranked kicker will be coming into the Bronco program next year. Van Ginkel will not be handed the job, but will be the only kicker on scholarship next season. Ginkel comes from a family of five boys, all football players, all kickers. His father, Pete, said that he wanted a college kicker and that is exactly what he got. Special teams coach, Choate, said that Ginkel knows more about kicking then he ever will. He is a true student to the game, and is a tremendous fit for Boise State. The tough part for Ginkel will be his contribution he will have to give to a top-10 program. Ginkel could very well be the only freshmen with the other 22 starting players, but feels he is more than ready for it. His show down could very well be in the 2011 season on September 3.
Kristine D. /TuTh
ReplyDeleteNews Review Feb 3, 2011
NYC smoking ban expands to parks, and Times Square.
This story originally posted on msnbc.com
Mayor Michael Bloomberg after a 36-12 vote stated “This summer New Yorkers who go to our parks and beaches for some fresh air and fun will be able to breath even cleaner air and sit on beach not littered with cigarette butts.”
It has long been known that second hand smoke kills. Many states have bans on smoking in bars and restaurants and from Main to California sweeping urban bans to ban smoking in public parks and beaches are being added.
New Yorks ban, besides public parks and beaches, will also ban smoking on boardwalks, and pedestrian plaza’s such as Times Square. The ban goes into effect 90 days after the mayor signs the bill.
The ban gives the city’s Park Department the power to ticket someone with a quality-of-life summons equal to tickets for minor things like public urination or panhandling. Fine’s would be less than $100.
Smokers’ rights groups held protests against the ban as they believe it violates individual freedoms.
Some smokers support the ban and realize is it isn’t intended to be punitive but rather self-enforced by residents warning someone who lights up that it’s illegal.
Health and environmental advocates applauded the council vote.
New Yorkers will soon breathe easier and be breathing cleaner air too.
Katie
ReplyDeleteTU/TH
Meridian Republican will pitch law banning physician-assisted suicide in Idaho
This story is about how Sen. Russ Fulcher, wants to make Physician assisted suicide a crime in Idaho. The Senator will propose legislation Friday to make this issue illegal. Fulcher wants Idaho to join the more than thirty states that have made physician assisted suicide illegal. Fulcher already has six co-sponsors all of whom are republican. Idaho’s neighbors Oregon and Washington have laws specifically allowing physician assisted suicides. His proposal would say that it is not a crime to administer or prescribe or dispense medication to relieve another person’s pain or discomfort even if the medication could accelerate or increase the patient’s death.
This issue gained standing after Kathryn Tucker of Coeur d’ Alene wrote and editorial about this issue in the Coeur d’ Alene press. Tucker wrote “Aid in dying refers to the request of a mentally competent, terminally ill patient for a prescription from their physician for medication they can consume to bring about a peaceful death.” And “As medicine has progressed, one of the challenging realities is that for some terminally ill patients dying can be so prolonged and so agonizing that they find themselves trapped in a process they find unbearable."
Aaron nelson
ReplyDeleteSuper bowl 45
Espn.com
It is almost super Sunday time. In three days super bowl 45 will finally be here. It has been a great season, but it is bitter, sweet for some fan because it is the biggest game of the year but then football is done till the fall. The big game is February 6th at 4:31 eastern time.
This will be one of the most anticipated games in recent years. The two best scoring defenses will be playing each other this has not happened since 1985. These two teams have a lot of championship history. The Packers won the two very first super bowls, but the Stealers have won seven which the most in NFL history.
This super bowl is being played in Dallas, Texas in the new Cowboys stadium which will hold 100,000 for this huge game. In the latest odds for the game the packers are 2.5 point favorites, which is a bit of a surprise due to the fact that Pittsburg has won two rings with them team that they have now, and the packers team has not been to the super bowl since 1997.
To all the football fans, unplug your phones get all your food ready send the kids to the grandparents, make sure the beer is on ice and get ready for one of the best things we as football fans share… the SUPERBOWL! It is here we are ready to put all the questions to rest and crown a new champion .
Hunter White
ReplyDeleteNational Signing day Stories: Floyd Raven’s mom forged his signature to attend Ole Miss
The University of Mississippi was thrilled Wednesday morning when they received a certain fax from Floyd Raven; it was a signed Letter of Intent from Raven. Floyd is a senior cornerback out of Reserve, LA. He is one of the top prospects in the state and has been wavering between Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Michigan.
This would have out Ole Miss in the top 20 for recruiting classes because they signed other great in state prospects. Floyd was not only a top player in the state but one of the top cornerbacks in the country as well, a position that would much help the Ole Miss rebels.
But what they didn’t know was Floyd Raven’s LOI was forged by his mother. Yes his mother! Floyd was apparently going to commit to Ole Miss- where his mother wanted him to go- but decided to change his mind to Texas A&M.
According to Floyd his mother was unaware of his decision of changing his commitment and when he was away from the house, she signed the LOI and faxed it to Ole Miss. Floyd spoke on the matter and stated, “I never told her I had changed my mind to Texas A&M. I forgive her for it. It was an honest mistake.”
Houston Nutt, UM head football coach stated in an interview with an AP reporter that, “Bottom line is, hey, we did get a signature, we did get a letter, but I want people that want to be here," Nutt said. "I want people that really truly want to be here. I'd rather just talk about the ones that we have.”
Floyd will be attending the University of Texas A&M in the fall .
Emily
ReplyDeleteMexico kidnaps apparently leave 25 kids on street
Approximately 25 children were found abandoned in a northern Mexican border city, seemingly left by their parents’ abductors. There is evidence that “indicates that their parents were kidnapped and that was the reason they were abandoned.” There is an open investigation, looking into who is responsible for the abductions; the area is filled with violent drug cartels which have been involved in kidnappings before. The exact ages of the abandoned children has not been released, however, local news media report that the children range in age from a few months to 10 years old.
What is the point of publishing this article in the Idaho Statesman? Other than the events occurrence, what do readers stand to learn from viewing? I am very interested in reading about these children, however this piece left a lot to be desired.
How far has the investigation come? Are authorities any closer to locating the parents of these children? If there have been prior abductions in the area, related to various drug cartels, have they been questioned? What is being done to find the abductees? How long were the children left on the street before they were found? What motivation does an abductor have to separate the parents from their children? Where are the children now? What happens to them in Mexico’s ‘court’ system? Where will they go? I think if the writer would have answered these questions the story could have been much better.
Boise City Council Clears Final Hurdle for
ReplyDeleteWhole Foods Complex
By: James Snyder
Idaho Statesman
The city of Boise finally cleared the placement of a Walgreen’s near downtown on Tuesday. Apparently, this was the last road block in the development of the Whole Foods complex set to go in between Myrtle and Front St. This is an interesting article because I am happy to hear that there will finally be a Whole Foods in the city however, I do have my worries about a store of this size putting local stores out of business. Stores such as the Co Op seem as though they could go by the wayside if they suffer too much business loss. I am hopeful that residents will continue to shop local as much as possible in order to maintain stores such as the Co Op in the coming years.
The article itself was not very long but rather simply presented the facts about the green light for the project. It sounds as though the city is happy with the decision to bring in Whole Foods, and I hope that it can settle into the community peacefully.
Jacy S.
ReplyDeleteTu/Th
Obama says Egypt’s transition must begin now
CNN Politics Feb. 2, 2011
After the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced Tuesday, Feb, 2, 2011, he will not be in the running come the September re-elections Obama says the transition need to start immediately. The U.S. president is hoping the process will be meaningful and peaceful. Also Obama said that this transition “should lead to elections that are free and fair, for a government that is not only grounded in democratic principles but it also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.”
With Egypt being the main Arab ally of the United States many are looking at Obama with questions that don’t have easy answers
Obama is being pulled on both sides with some saying it is our responsibility to give them a good government policy, while others say to back off. Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, John Kerry, says “that the U.S. government should start paying attention to the genuine political, legal, and economic needs of the people in the Middle East.” After nearly three decades of the Mubarak policy, Kerry says that we now need to devise and Egyptian policy. With others, including Mohamed ElBaradie one of Egypt’s leading opposition figures tells the U.S. to let go, and “start building confidence with the people as opposed to the people who are smothering the people.”
Yes, I think we should help the people of Egypt out, but believe that for them to be truly happy with the outcome it needs to be something they do on their own. If we were able to play big brother and step in when they ask for help it would be good for both sides.
Lauren Hooker
ReplyDeleteM - 6-9
Stop the presses: First iPad newspaper debuts
AP Business
Big surprise: with new technology being introduced on a constant basis, print newspapers have been taking a hit everywhere as more and more people turn to the internet for quicker and easier ways to read the news. In most cases, news is also free online, making it much more economical for those on a budget.
To adapt to this transition from print to online, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has come out with a digital newspaper designed for iPads only. At 99 cents a week or $40 a year, subscribers can have access to over 100 pages of iPad newspaper delivered to their handheld device everyday. Sections will include News, Opinion and Gossip.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about this. Part of me is leaning towards the fact that it's actually quite innovative and interesting; it makes me wish I had an iPad so that I could access this information. It’s fascinating how much the world of journalism has changed over the past few years, and I’m excited to see where it’s going. On the other hand, as a journalism major, it worries me to see how much print journalism has been declining in the past four years. I’m afraid to see what the job market will look like when I graduate.
The idea of targeting a specific audience, such as iPad owners, is brilliant. First of all, a majority of Apple owners can be admittedly snooty about their technology (I have a Mac, and I’m guilty) so the idea of having access to the only iPad-only exclusive news content would be the perfect thing to bring up over a cup of espresso at a local vegan coffeeshop.
Joe Ross Tu/Th
ReplyDeleteDaniel Rubin: Son of terrorist El Sayyid Nosair tentatively faces past
The feature article of the Philadelphia Inquirer is an interesting story on Daniel Rubin. It's a story of his life about being the son of a terrorist killer. The story first discusses the crimes El Sayyid Nosair commited, he was convicted of the murder of Rabbie Meir after a speech in New York. In 1993 he was the main part in the World Trade Center bombing. Daniel discusses his childhood where his Father displayed pure innocence in the eyes of Daniel. He discussed how his Father was always showing humor, a funny Dad who was loved by Daniel. In 1990 El Sayyid took Daniel to a shooting range. He had the then 7 year old Daniel fire an assault rifle while at the shooting range. Daniel went on to tell how his Mother shielded Daniel's sister and brother from their Father's case. The criminal cases against his Father sparked negative attention to the Rubin family. Daniel concluded that within the last couple years he has been completely comfortable of his family. He's come to realization that there is nothing that he could ever do to change the fact of the crime his Father did.
Marijane Weitensteiner T/Th
ReplyDeleteArticle: "The Other Big Game This Weekend: Puppy Bowl"
By Danielle Paquette, Special to CNN on CNN.com
With all the talk about bad snow storms and crisis in Egypt it was nice to find some good news worth reading. This article talks about the annual Animal Planet Puppy Bowl which puppies from shelters across the country are "drafted" to be part of the bowl and get a chance of being adopted. According to the article over 250 animals have been adopted since the bowl started in 2004. These animals include the halftime show kittens and this year they have included "chick" cheerleaders (and I mean the baby chicken type of chick). In 2009 they had an incedent of "puppy indecentcy" when "A clean-shaven Chinese crested puppy --"censored" by a Girls Gone Wild-style digital black rectangle -- burst onto the miniature football field, weaving between baby Labradors and beagles and Chihuahuas." This puppy was traditionally shaved but it was a funny and cute editon to the Puppy Bowl. I loved the fact that this actually helps the puppies and other animals find a home where they can find all the love and attention they deserve. I think that it might be a great thing to watch...especially if you're not a Steeler or Packer fan.
John Lloyd
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman: Former Boise State lineman Daryn Colledge loves Green Bay’s unique support
This article explains how Green Bay Packer fans are different compared to any other teams he’s played on before. “They don’t just ask how you’re doing, they tell you how you’re doing, how the team’s doing, and what you can do to make the team better,” said Daryn. Boise State has two players in this game; Daryn Colledge a starting left guard and Korey Hall a reserve fullback and special teams expert. It looks like they support every person on the team because they actually care about their team and the winning mentality that Vince Lombardi brought in the 1960’s. Green Bay’s success is due to their gigantic fan base in mostly every state and Daryn is part of the team that is slowly turning into America’s Team. Daryn also said that his wife called him saying there was a Brett Favre jersey on his front porch waiting for him to sign it and return it to the original owner. Not only did Daryn sign it, he got Brett to sign it as well as some other Green Bay players at the time. This was during his rookie campaign in which he had to play both tackle and guard to protect the legendary Brett Favre. Boise State has never had a player win a Superbowl in the NFL. Daryn and Korey Hall look to become the first one and write it in the history books. My prediction to the game (no this isn’t relevant by what the heck) is a Green Bay victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21.
Amy Sperline
ReplyDeleteThe article I am focusing on this week comes from Shanghaidaily.com. It is an html based website for the original Shanghai Daily, which is also the only English language daily newspaper.
"Obama says change in Eygpt must happen now"
President Obama's address towards Eygpt government, February 1, 2011 was expressing concern and doubt about current leader Hosni Mubarak continuing his term another six months. Obama ordered for a transition of power in Eygpt.
Eygpt has been a long time ally with the U.S. and when President Obama spoke with President Mubarak over the phone and was direct in saying that Eygpt is in need of an orderly democratic, economic and social reform. In response to the thousands of protestors gathered earlier in the day to bring Mubarak down, Obama said, "To the people of Egypt, particularly the young people of Egypt, I want to be clear: We hear your voices. I have an unyielding belief that you will determine your own destiny and seize the promise of a better future for your children and your grandchildren." Although Obama made it clear that no other country but Eygpt could determine their fate. After days of Mubarak ignoring protestors and greivences of his country, Obama sent a private message to Mubarak urging him to prepare for a transition of power.
Despite U.S. advice, Mubarak announced that he would be spending the remaining eight months of his term to peacefully transfer power. Many skeptics of this were concerned about alienating new powers in Eygpt because of its “role in Middle East peacemaking and its control over the strategic oil shipping routes through the Suez Canal.”
U.S. lawmakers are not pleased with Mubarak’s decision and have renewed a threat to withhold aid if a change in democracy is not made.
Shanghaidaily.com
From: David Lowenthal
ReplyDeleteThe Idaho Statesman: "End-of-Life Debate likely in Idaho Legislature"
The article from the Statesman informs the reader of the controversial process that involves critically-ill patients giving written consent to their doctors to end their lives early. Proponents call it "death with dignity," while the opponents malign it as "physician-assisted suicide."
After laying out the definition, the article goes on to layout the political issues surrounding the topic, saying that, as of now, the states of Oregon and Washington currently allow the end-of-life procedure and that Montana's Supreme Court recently declared it the right of all of that state's citizens as well.
However, the Idaho legislature is on record for being openly hostile to the idea and legislation sponsored by Senator Russ Fulcher of Meridian would effectively ban the option for patients who desire the choice for themselves.
That does not mean that patients who request this lethal treatment do not have advocates on their side either. People like Kathryn Tucker of Compassion & Choices, a non profit in favor of end-of-life choice, say that "it's appropriate for Idaho to allow physicians to provide this care subject to standard of care."
Ebenezer Makinde
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman: Mountain West Conference saw little value in expansion possibilities
The Mountain West football conference has shut down the chance of expanding on the eight teams currently in the conference. Reports that Utah State, currently a member of the Western Athletic Conference, would join Boise State and move over to the Mountain West, have now been denied by the MWC commissioner. The MWC met this month to discuss possible expansion, but now have stated they do not see any current teams that would bring enough fire power and help boost the conference. The Mountain west is currently in talks with CBS sports to televise it’s games, something that would bring more revenue to each of the schools. The TV deal would bring in a reported 12 million per year to the conference. Boise State is joining a conference that is losing powerhouse TCU in 2012 to the Big East, and Utah this coming season for the Pac-12. The Mountain West conference also expects to maintain two rivalry games for each of its members, having each team play eight conference games of the ten teams currently in it. The Mountain West is expected to release a preliminary schedule later this month.
Lindsey Hileman
ReplyDeleteInvestigators: Cause of fire that forced Boise hospital to move maternity ward Friday unknown
Idaho Statesman
This article from IdahoStatesman.com covers a fire on the 8th floor maternity ward of St. Luke’s downtown. The fire started early this morning; fire crews were on the scene by 2:38 am. No one was injured in the fire but mothers and their babies have been moved to another part of the hospital until the mess can be cleaned up. St. Luke’s staff anticipates that everyone should be able to move back by Sunday.
Though the cause of the fire is still undetermined, I would not be surprised if it turns out to be a cigarette that was poorly extinguished. The fire began in the trash can of a storage closet and that just seems like a place that a stressed-out new mom or a busy hospital employee would sneak off to smoke. There is nowhere to smoke inside the hospital (as there should not be) nor can smokers light up right outside the building. There are signs just outside that say smoking is prohibited within a certain distance of the building. I would imagine that it was cold and someone didn’t feel like taking a walk.
The 5 Ws were addresses in the first paragraph. As the story goes on the facts get less and less important. I actually thought that one paragraph was a little repetitive. It was stated in the first paragraph that cause was unknown but the seventh paragraph states, “Boise fire investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire.” I would hope so. I didn’t figure that they would give up at “unknown cause”. It ends with a comment about this being unrelated to another recent fire in the hospital.
By Kyle Blackhurst
ReplyDeleteThe article I read was about the expansion of the Boise State football stadium. If the State Board of Education approves this, BSU hopes to begin construction in 2012 and open in time for the 2013 football season. The new additions are creating a new locker room, training room, and football offices. All of the new recruits have been asking Coach Peterson about how long it would take for it to be done. Coach Peterson had this in response: “The great thing is for us to be able to say, with the state board approval, ‘Hey, you’re going to be in that thing in two years.” The Bronco’s are expecting the new additions to be built in a quick and timely manner due to the fact that it has always turned out to work that way. The Boise State Athletic Director, Gene Bleymaier, anticipates the final price tag on the project to be around 35 million dollars. So far the school has raised 11.7 million dollars for the new project. Along with this project comes the task of moving the school track to Dona Larsen Park. The new facility is said to have a good power over other schools in the impact on recruiting. Coach Peterson says that building the facility is more important to our programs success at this time than adding seats. After all, why would you need to add more seats when your stadium isn’t even full at your last home game?
Shantel Darrah
ReplyDeleteThis article discusses how it can be easier and more tempting to cheat while taking an online course. It also discusses that instructors that teach online courses get extra training on how to spot plagiarism and how to give assignments with steps instead of one end project so that the student cannot just purchase an essay to submit.
This article gave a good view of the teachers’ perspective, but it would have to good to have some feedback from students as well. That way the reader can see why students are more tempted to cheat and “waste their time and money” Is it because the courses are harder to take online? Or because they don’t think they ‘ll be held accountable? This is something that can be looked into further and more in depth so that perhaps cheating can either be deterred by better teaching or more involvement with students and teachers with the online course.
The article could also discuss the schools policies and whether the teachers are going to be required to use the Testing Center on campus- Or if it’ll be at the teachers discretion. As well as if the blackboard programs that detect plagiarism are going to be used more in the future.
Overall this article could use more research and background information, but it’s a very intriguing topic that catches the readers’ attention.
Larisa Gavrilyuk
ReplyDeleteThe Arbiter
University decides how though it needs to be with smokers
An on going debate between the university health department and the smokers is still going strong. Since the ban on smoking has been in affect in BSU, smokers have been finding places to smoke around campus. Boise City has issued a complaint to Boise State University last week because of the large amounts of cigarette butts thrown out on Greenbelt. Jennifer Summers a health educator for Boise State University who has been helping educate smokers about the smoking policy on campus said “there was a growing sense of smokers saying, ‘come back when you’re going to do something about it’.” People who use the Greenbelt for recreational purposes say that it’s not only about the smokers and the smoke it is also about the garbage. Boise State’s current policy is a simple three-strike policy for the violators. First time when a smoker violates they are simply reminded of the policy and are given an education card. The second time, their personal information is taken and given a written warning. The third time the smoker is caught, a Security Incident Report is completed and that person is directed toward the appropriate office. John Uda, an executive director of Campus Security said that there are currently eight full time officers and five part time officers and he said that enforcing the smoke free campus policy has to be whole wide campus effort. The main goal of Campus Security is to get the numbers of repeat offenders down.
BY: NADINE RUSSELL
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman
Rich Raimondi: An education system that works
The article published in the statesman on February 6th discussed the idea of Catholic Schooling for Idaho children. The theme for Catholic schools is: “Catholic Schools: A+ for America.” Catholic schools have high expectations of their students in promoting excellence in the classroom. Catholic schools also have high graduation rates with high percentages of graduates going on to college and completing a college degree with good moral values, according to the article in the statesmen.
The Treasure Valley has over 1,750 students in the Catholic schooling system, which consists of 5 elementary schools and Bishop Kelly high school. 20 percent of the students in the Catholic school system in the Treasure Valley are of other Non-Catholic faith systems. But 100 percent of the students are working towards something uniquely offered in catholic schooling, “Educate and develop the whole student in the Catholic tradition-spirit, mind and body.”
The spirit is developed through a relationship with Jesus Christ which is completed through community service and a commitment to justice as well as a dedication to live out the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The mind is developed through small class sizes, highly committed and educated professors, personalized attention, developing creativity, critical thinking, reflective problem solving, analytical thinking, an ability to communicate orally and in written form as well as other skills taught to the students in the classroom.
The body is developed through recognizing that ones body is a gift from God and with that one is to treat their body with respect and modesty as well as a commitment to balance and life long self-control of a healthy life style both physically and mentally.
Over 98% of the students schooled in Catholic schools go on to college. Bishop Kelly was awarded over 12 million dollars in scholarships to its graduating class last year as a result of high ACT scores, thousands of service hours in the community, athletic accomplishments, as well as Science Olympiad, economics and debate. But most importantly the article believes that students in the Catholic schooling system are being prepared to be leaders of our communities and that now is the time to consider the Catholic schooling alternative.
BY: MEGAN REECE
ReplyDeleteMWI's Business Growth in Boise
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/04/1514152/mwi-will-move-headquarters-to.html
A new Boise based business is growing, and moving into a nearly double sized building. Increased revenues have made the purchase of the old Albertson’s building possible for MWI, a veterinary supply company. The company’s revenues came up 55% totaling 366.2 million dollars. 29% is from growth in the United States, and 26% from MWI’s acquisition of England’s Centaur Services Ltd on February 8th.
To more conveniently serve their Midwest customers, MWI opened a sixth veterinary pharmacy in Whitestown Indiana, and now has six pharmacies in its distribution centers. More growth was added when the company moved its Visalia, California distribution center to an 81,000 square foot building in December.
Revenues could rise for the company to 1.5 billion for the fiscal year.
Megan Reece
http://bsu273.blogspot.com/2011/01/week-3-250-word-post.html
Whitney Holm
ReplyDeleteArticle found on February 7, 2011
Idahostatesman.com
“‘Bath salts’ a dangerous drug, Idaho police say”
A 19-year old boy from Boise, ID was found convulsing in his bed last week. He took a drug that was labeled as “bath salts.” It can be found at local paraphernalia shops in the valley. The high this drug gives is said to be similar to cocaine. This young man did the drug again once he got out of the hospital last week because he said he needed the high it produces. Spice was the main drug problem in Boise and Meridian in the past few months. Now, the spice ban has taken effect in Meridian. Now, officers have a new drug to deal with. The paraphernalia shops are good at marketing drugs that have labels that make them sound innocent like potpourri, plant fertilizer or now, bath salts.
I don’t understand why these paraphernalia shops are able to be in business. It seems that every week there is a new story about a young kid overdosing on a drug that is not legal. If the United States has banned other drugs from being sold, then why is it okay to keep a store open selling drugs? Marijuana is a drug that is banned and it’s not known for making people convulse and get addicted to it. It looks to me as though these drug suppliers and stores are making a mockery out of our legal system. They are finding all sorts of ways to keep selling a drug that they know is bad for people in order to turn a profit.
Tawnya G.
ReplyDeleteYoung Soldier from Boise Idaho charged in Afghan Murder.
A soldier native to Boise Idaho is accused of an Afghan murder. According to the Army document, Nineteen year old Pdc. Andrew Holmes is accused of alleged premeditated murder of Gul Mudin. The document stated Holmes killed Mudin with a grenade and a gun. Holmes was not the only soldier accused of killings, five other soldiers were said to be responsible for the killing of three Afghan civilians. Holmes was charged with murder and is now being held in a military jail.
Holmes’ high school principle described him as a “nice pleasant young man. She could not merge the young boy she knew with a man who committed a murder. Centennial Principal Alta Graham portrayed Holmes as a normal student who did not get into trouble, and who had an involved mother. The accused murder, Holmes, has had one traffic citation in the past.
Concerning the total of five soldiers accused of murder, Lt. Col. Tamara Parker stated, “Sometimes soldiers do not live up to the values that we would expect. These men are charged with very serious crimes. I'm not aware of another case like this."
The U.S. military is seeking to win favor with the locals in Afghan, and this investigation has put a damper on the possibility. The particular location of this event, Kandahar Providence, had been a main focus to stop and control any rebellion. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander has worked to reduce civilian casualties, and pushes that success in Afghan will start by gaining the trust and favor of the civilian population.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/17/1234600/boisean-charged-in-afghan-murder.html
Jessica Adamson
ReplyDeleteIdaho Statesman
Boise faces a new reality in panhandling
Since the 2008 economic downturn, the city of Boise and surrounding areas have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people panhandling. Some Downtown businesses have fielded complaints from their customers regarding overly aggressive panhandlers to Boise Police. Other businesses say that panhandlers drive away customers. Boise Police received 376 complaints of panhandling in the year 2009, as compared with 95 in 2005. Business owners, customers, and police officers alike are struggling to find a way to help assist those in need while curbing this growing problem. Earlier this winter, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, introduced the ‘Have a Heart’ campaign which encouraged residents to donate their money directly to assistance agencies designed to help those in need, rather than to individuals. Many found this to be an excellent solution and applauded the measure but some panhandlers say their needs can’t be met by traditional non-profits. One family interviewed for the article was living in a motor home while panhandling. They argued that they had food and shelter but were lacking money to pay for other necessities like gas. They claimed the only solution for their problem to be gainful employment. This issue is not going unnoticed by lawmakers. The Boise City Council is working on a measure that would strengthen the current statues regarding panhandling and allow for easier enforcement by Boise police officers. The mayor also met with non-profit leaders last spring to plan a “Continuum of Care” program that would look at ways to get federal aid to those in need.
Michele Sneed
ReplyDeleteTom Luna's Proposed Education Reform Strikes Debate
Idaho Statesman
There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounded the recent bills Tom Luna has brought to the State Board of Education. Luna, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, wants to make 6-8 online courses mandatory to graduate high school. Among other things, Luna wants to increase class size and cut more than 1,000 professional education jobs. Although the idea was to get Idaho’s high school graduate more college and career ready, many tustee’s are disagreeing with Luna’s plan. The board has already expressed feedback fueling the discussion further. They believe that Idaho should be more in line with the college preparedness plans that other schools have proven to work. Tom Luna will bring the bills to the Senate Education Committee in the weeks to come.
Parents and Students are enraged over the topic, siting drastic changes in the form of instruction. Most reports have touted parents’ concern over the regulation of Internet classes and how their children will be evaluated. Another main concern that has come up is the expense of the computers and their upkeep compared to the in person instruction a student will receive.