National

On April 8th, a total eclipse is coming to Buffalo, New York. 

The gradual increase in seawater levels has contributed to the gradual sinking of coastal cities in the United States. This problem continues to be a silent problem that risks flooding and the livelihood or lifestyle of locals in these cities. Researchers from different universities in the US, Canada, England, and India have all reported and created a study to examine the potential impacts of subsidence in 32 cities along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts.

Following the post-pandemic trend of everything digitizing, College Board's SAT exam has gone digital for the spring of 2024. Juniors taking the exam soon are likely already aware that they will be foregoing the pencil and paper for a laptop or tablet, but for the underclassmen planning out their high school careers and just in case you didn’t know, here’s a run down of the new exam.

"I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force. And I will no longer be complicit in genocide," Aaron Bushnell, a 25 year old cyber defense operations specialist, said while walking to the Israeli embassy in a video of the incident. “I'm about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal." Bushnell, dressed in uniform, then walked up to the driveway of the Israeli Embassy and set down the phone he was livestreaming on. He doused himself in an accelerant and lit himself on fire, shouting “Free Palestine” repeatedly as he was burning.

For the first time in American history, the parents of a mass school shooter have been charged in their child’s case. In November of 2021, fifteen-year-old Ethan Crumbley fatally shot four fellow students at Oxford high school, wounding six more students and a teacher. His mother, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter by a Michigan jury on February 6, 2024. 

On January 25, 2024, the State of Alabama executed one Kenneth Eugene Smith. After a failed lethal injection, the State decided to execute Smith via nitrogen gas, an untested and unvetted method that some argue is inhumane. The execution sets a dangerous precedent going forward regarding capital punishment in America, and has sparked renewed debate over the death penalty and its role in American society.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once considered a leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, shocked his supporters on Sunday, January 21, 2024, by announcing the suspension of his campaign. In a video message posted on social media, DeSantis cited a lack of clear path to victory as the primary reason for his decision, emphasizing his commitment to not wasting volunteers’ time and resources.

On January 5th, 2024, it was reported that the door plug blew off an Alaskan Airlines plane and sparked safety concerns. Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, a Boeing 737, experienced a mid-air incident that stunned the airline industry. An unexpected door plug suddenly detached as the plane took off from Portland, Oregon.

Between January 12th and January 19th, heavy snowfall, rain, and strong winds buffeted the United States, resulting in casualties across the country. Fortunately, following last year’s holiday snowstorm, many areas were far better prepared as people stockpiled resources ahead of time and utility vehicles were ready.

I'm sure you've all heard of Harvard, the prestigious university that is so hard to get into, only the smartest, most qualified candidates get in. In the past week Harvard president, Claudine Gay resigned from her position after it was being questioned during a period of accusations of plagiarism and anti-Semitism.