Human-Slayer or Coded-Computer? The Pro’s and Con’s of A.I.

By Yuting Lin

If humans use AI correctly, it can be a powerful tool. AI can complete tasks in minutes that might take humans days or even months. It can operate all day without needing rest, unlike humans who require food, water, and breaks. Doctors, scientists, and engineers can use AI’s capabilities to make significant technological advancements. AI can also offer valuable advice when you need help.

Today, AI is embedded in nearly every aspect of our lives. For example, it’s present in our phones, computers, and the apps we use daily. Students can use AI to understand homework they find difficult. It can also schedule appointments for you and help write reports more quickly. AI even creates a lot of cool things, such as suggesting the next movie to watch or generating new song ideas.

However, there’s a problem if we don’t use AI responsibly. If people become too dependent on it, they might stop thinking for themselves. This could lead to a loss of critical thinking skills, creativity, and the ability to solve problems. Over-reliance on AI could make people avoid challenges, and over time, the human brain may deteriorate from lack of exercise.

In addition, AI will begin to take over certain jobs. For instance, self-driving vehicles could replace truck drivers. AI can also predict what people want by analyzing their conversations, which could lead to job losses for some artists, like painters. AI-driven robots have already replaced factory workers in many industries. If this trend continues, many people will lose their jobs, and society could become more impatient as attention spans shorten.

The main concern is that we can’t rely on AI for everything, or people’s brains will weaken from disuse. There’s also the risk of AI collecting and storing personal information. Since AI systems can be hacked, hackers might gain access to sensitive data and misuse it. This is why we sometimes experience spam or scam calls. In extreme cases, AI systems could leak private information, so we need to be cautious when using them.

Despite these risks, AI can still be an excellent support tool if used correctly. It should serve as an assistant, not a replacement. It’s okay to let AI help with answering questions or solving problems, but we shouldn’t rely on it to complete all of our work. AI can make errors in interpreting data, and its results may be incorrect. This is why it’s important to verify AI-generated information using our own judgment. When used properly, AI can be a valuable tool to make life easier.

A Reflection on Joe Biden’s Legacy

Courtesy of the New York Times

By Will Stark and Hank Bartholomew

On January 20th, 2025, Joe Biden’s first term as President of the United States ended. For the last four years, the Pennsylvania native has led the nation through various challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, the rise of extremist movements domestically, and widening political polarization. It’s hard to objectively look back at a president’s legacy when it is so fresh. Political loyalties and personal bias are hard to remove. But, to the best of our ability, here is a summary and analysis of Joseph R. Biden: a man who dedicated his life to service for his country.

For some, it’s easy to label the Biden administration as a failure, with the emergence of two major international conflicts, the largest influx of illegal immigrants since 2007, as well as a massive inflation spike in 2022. But that’s not the full story.

The other part of Biden’s legacy includes rebuilding a nation and its economy after a devastating pandemic, strengthening a crumbling democracy after a disastrous transition of power, and making strides in forward progress, socially and environmentally.

Presidency aside, Biden’s legacy on the nation is astounding. For over forty years, Joe Biden has served his country and has been pivotal in shaping the nation we recognize today.

Career

Biden was elected to the US Senate in 1973 at 29, putting him in the top five for youngest senators in United States history. As a Senator, he specialized in foreign relations, criminal law, and drug policies. Towards the end of his career, he chaired the Foreign Relations Committee. Joe was very vocal about sending support to protect Kosovo when it was invaded by Serbia in the 1990s, as well as creating resolutions that would establish a peaceful and united Iraq. 

Biden first became acquainted with the Oval Office in 2008, when he ran as Vice-Presidential candidate with Barack Obama. Together they led several key initiatives that shaped the Obama administration and its legacy. Biden was instrumental in American Policy in Iraq as well as economic policies that hugely benefited the economy. For his eight years of service, then President Obama honored Vice President Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction.

Successes

Following a brutal mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where an eighteen year-old teenager massacred twenty-one individuals with an assault rifle, Biden signed into law the first significant gun legislation in over thirty years. The forty-sixth president established the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which seeks to support local organizations that manage mental health and promotes coordination between schools and law enforcement. Similarly, in 2023, Biden awarded $286 million to school mental health professionals and organizations that promote student wellness. Barring action by the new administration, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention will continue to distribute one billion dollars of funding over the next five years. 

In 2021, Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a monumental piece of legislation that allocated roughly $1.2 trillion to fund infrastructure improvements across the country. The act will provide funding for a variety of upkeep projects, including broadband access, federal highways, public plumbing, electric grid renewal, highway safety and motor vehicle research, and new forms of energy, such as water and solar power. Furthermore, the construction of these projects has created hundreds of thousands of jobs; unemployment in the utilities sector hit a historic low of 2.5% in October of 2023. Eighty percent of the IIJA’s funding still has yet to be distributed, and barring potential action by the new administration, Biden’s legislation will continue to help fund American innovation and progress.

Since his son Beau’s death from brain cancer in 2015, Joe Biden has been a vocal and prominent advocate for cancer research and funding. In fact, Biden has almost certainly done more than any other U.S. President to combat the disease. After its first appearance under Barack Obama in 2016, Biden relaunched, in 2022, the Moonshot for Cancer Initiative, which seeks to end cancer by 2047. One of the initiative’s greatest accomplishments was the development of a central resource, the Cancer Research Data Commons, a databank that allows cancer institutions throughout the country to access instrumental data and information regarding cancer treatment. Furthermore, the Moonshot’s allocation of federal resources and funding has led to vast improvements in tumor mapping, immunotherapy treatments and drug resistance, cancer screenings, and cancer health and treatment and disparities. The initiative is a remarkable example of turning grief into action.

Failures

Capturing Biden’s legacy is tricky. Many successes, yes, but also many avoidable failures. He failed to bring peace in Ukraine and had controversial policies concerning aid to Israel in their crusade against Hamas. Biden’s administration was marred by dramatic inflation, which drove up living costs for Americans everywhere. An unsecured border let in historic amounts of undocumented immigrants. These factors combined give Biden’s legacy a darker shade; each of these points were constantly reiterated by political opponents in the most recent election and spawned doubts in voters’ minds in November.

However, the number of failures of the Biden administration that put them at fault is far more objective. Could Biden have prevented the invasion of Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza? Of course not. 2022 inflation has by many economists been declared an aftereffect of the pandemic, not solely government mismanagement. The emergence of crisis after crisis is not Biden’s fault and should not be attributed as such. However, as president of the United States, it was his sworn duty to handle and resolve such crises, to achieve the extraordinary, or at the very least make progress to the fullest extent of his ability. This failure lies at the center of Joe Biden’s emerging legacy.

Summary

Joe Biden was and is, quite simply, a servant of the nation. For almost his entire life, he has dedicated his efforts, even in the face of constant adversity, to improving and improving our nation. As his political career is likely to come to an end, we look back with thanks. Barack Obama was correct when he said that “to know Joe Biden is to know love without pretense, service without self-regard, and to live life fully”. Agree with him or not, Joe Biden dedicated his life to our country, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.

The First Twenty-Four Hours for A New Administration

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Courtesy of the New York Times

By Hank Bartholomew

On January 20, 2025, at 11:00 A.M Eastern Time, Donald J. Trump became the forty-seventh president of the United States. It marks the beginning of a historic term and a potential new direction in American policy. Perhaps what was most telling of how the next four years will look was Trump’s actions in his first day in office.

One of the new president’s first actions was to gut legislation from the Biden’s administration. Trump revoked over seventy of former president Biden’s executive orders and legislation, many of which involved Diversity Equity and Inclusion efforts and attempts to tackle the climate crisis. It’s a strong indication that this current presidential term will not maintain much of a focus on across-the-isle legislation or efforts to bridge the gap between conservatives and liberals. 

Soon after, Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Freedom of Speech And Ending Federal Censorship.” The legislation claims that the Biden administration limited the ability of the American public to speak their mind, and calls for immediate remedial action. Most likely, the order stems from Biden’s efforts to limit misinformation on online platforms such as Facebook and YouTube. Critics have suggested that this action may have the additional purpose of allowing many of the tech magnates that Trump has become cozy with to have greater freedom with regard to how they run their programs. 

One of the president’s most shocking actions was his withdrawal of the United States from a variety of climate legislation agreements, most notably the Paris agreement. On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly suggested that such accords have had debilitating effects on the American economy, and that the nation’s withdrawal from these agreements is the only way to allow American businesses to reach their full potential. With brutal wildfires still raging in California, the move has drawn sharp criticism from liberals in congress.

Quickly after, Trump pardoned over 1,500 of the January 6th insurrectionists who stormed America’s capital following Trump’s loss to Biden in 2020. While expected, the decision was nonetheless shocking; pardons on such a large scale are unheard of. Most likely, the pardons symbolize a gathering conflict between the White House and the Justice Department and legal system. 

Moments later, the president withdrew, via executive order, the United States from the World Health Organization, or WHO. The United States has been a leading member of the WHO since its founding in 1948, and the move may have drastic consequences both abroad and at home. Internationally, the withdrawal symbolizes an effort to move the United States to a relatively isolationist position. Trump has been a long-time critic of international organizations, arguing that the funding the United States often puts in is not equivalent to the results and support provided in return. It is possible that the WHO was just the first target on a long list. Domestically, the withdrawal represents a movement by the administration to reform American healthcare practices and policies. With Robert Kennedy Jr., a prominent advocate of anti-vaccination measures, at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services, it is not illogical to assume that much of America’s health policies may also see drastic change.

Trump also issued a proclamation “Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border.” The declaration calls for increased military personnel and barriers at the border between the United States and Mexico, and is most likely a first step in the President’s efforts to pursue the mass deportations he has called for while on the campaign trail. 

With regard to economic policy, the new president signed a memorandum labeled “America First Trade Policy,” which calls for actions to limit “unfair and unbalanced trade,” presumably via tariffs. Tariffs on foreign nations, particularly China, were a key part of Trump’s message while campaigning, and it’s quite possible that this memorandum was the first attack in a long trade war with the foreign power.

Focusing on the American economy, Trump then issued an executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy,” which calls for the review and removal of Biden-era policies intended to limit climate change. In particular, the order frees up coal-burning and fossil-fuel consuming corporations to continue their practices unhindered. According to the new administration, doing away with prior environmental regulations will “unleash” the American economy and stimulate vast American economic growth. However, critics and economists alike have warned that the removal of Biden’s environmental policies, which created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the green energy sector, may in fact have adverse economic consequences.

Perhaps the most shocking action taken by the nation’s new leader was his executive order attempting to redefine birthright citizenship. Titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” the order argues that citizenship should not apply to individuals born in the United States to an illegal or non-permanent mother and father. The statement is a shocking contradiction of the 14th Amendment, which in 1868, declared that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or proper.” The open contradiction of a long-time staple of the American Bill of Rights has already raised concerns; the executive order is already being challenged in court, and Democrats have labeled the statement a violation of presidential power. 

The second Trump presidency is still in its infancy, but many of its main promises and objectives are starting to truly come into focus. Still, all that is clear is that nothing is certain in the next four years.

Fatal Accident or Planned Terrorism: Cyber Truck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel

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By: Aarav Sapra

Elon Musk and Donald Trump have often been recognized as two influential partners who have supported each other numerous times during the election cycle. For instance, Musk backed Trump by funding multiple campaigns to help Trump triumph in the 2024 Presidential Elections. On the other hand, Trump has backed Musk’s stance on the H-1B Visa program, a crucial tool for attracting skilled talent to tech companies. However, ironically, on a bizarre morning in Las Vegas, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel on Jan. 1, 2025. The distinctive, triangular shape of the Cybertruck, parked near the hotel’s entrance, was reportedly engulfed in flames after a sudden and violent explosion. The Cybertruck had pulled up to the hotel and then proceeded only to blow up. Fortunately,  firefighters were on the scene quickly, extinguishing the blaze before it could spread to nearby vehicles or the hotel itself. After the incident was cleared up, authorities stated they found fuel canisters, fireworks and two semi-automatic handguns. Regardless, they could not figure out how the explosion had been ignited.

Although people speculated the truck exploded due to issues in the vehicle, Musk made it quite clear the explosion was caused by the massive fireworks or  bomb that was in the bed of the truck. A couple of days later, military officials identified the driver as Army Master Sergeant Matthew Alan Livelsberger. According to the Army, Sergeant Livelsberger enlisted as a Special Forces trainee, and served on active duty from January 2006 to March 2011. Afterwards, he was enrolled in  the National Guard from March 2011 to July 2012,  and later became an  Army Reservist from July 2012 to December 2012. He had rented the Tesla truck in Denver on Dec. 28 and passed through Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona before arriving in Las Vegas and parking in front of the Trump hotel. He supposedly detonated the explosives, and shot himself soon after.  

According to notes on Sergeant Livelsberger’s cell phone, which were shared publicly by the police, he had been concerned that the United States was headed toward “collapse.” One note stated, “This was not a terrorist attack. It was a wake-up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives?” Ultimately, this has resulted in the community speculating that the explosion may have been an act of protest or intentional sabotage, which supports Livelsberger’s beliefs. Others dismiss this theory, claiming it is more likely a coincidence. Given the high-profile nature of both Tesla and Trump, it is hard to ignore many potential theories that still may exist. 

California’s Ravaging Wildfire: The Full Story

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By Snigdha Chakravarti

On January 7, 2025 at 10:20am, the Palisades fire began its trek along destroying thousands of acres of southern California. A red flag warning was issued for LA and Ventura counties when the Palisades fire was first viewed, and at noon, evacuation orders began. Governor Gain Newsom declared a state of emergency as the Palisades fire grew to 1200 acres in a single day. Soon after, the Palisades’s destruction of southern California was joined by the Eaton fire at 6:18pm on the same day, resulting in evacuation orders in Eaton’s origin, Altadena county. The California wildfires had only just begun and would be the worst in the history of wildfires in Los Angeles. 

The wildfires in Los Angeles had occurred primarily due to drought and strong Santa Ana winds, thus allowing the fire to spread through “flammable vegetation.” In fact, in Mountain Lukens, which was exposed to the Eaton fire, wind gusts reached 100 miles per hour. By January 8th, the Lidia fire emerged in Acton county, and the Sunset fire started up in Hollywood Hills, all while the Palisades and Eaton fires spread 3000 and 1000 acres, respectively.  On January 9th, then-President Biden declared that the national government will deal with 100% (up from the usual 75%) of the costs spawning from the “catastrophic” fire for 180 days. The president stated how the federal funding would go to cleaning up debris, putting up shelters, and sending 400 federal firefighters and 30 federal firefighting planes. Additionally, the president mentioned how the Congress needed to “step up”  and “spare no expense” in order to pass the federal funding for rebuilding efforts. By this time, the Palisades fire had spread 17,000 acres and the Eaton fire, 10,000 acres. 

At around 4pm on January 9th, an evacuation alert was accidently sent to ten million residents of Los Angeles County; the evacuation alert was meant for people in and around West Hills, who were in danger from the newly formed Kenneth Fire. Due to this, the Office of Emergency Services would take care of evacuation alerts. According to County Supervisor Janice Hahn, the evacuation warning was “mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error.” Later, Kevin McGowan, the director of the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management explained how  the warning was “intended only for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills and those within the West Hills community of Los Angeles”, but the Office of Emergency Management was  “committed to sharing accurate information”, realizing that “these wildfires have created great anxiety, hardship, and distress among our residents.”

On January 10th, a new fire started in Granada Hills, while the Palisades and Eaton fires had spread 20,000 and 14,000 acres, respectively. Governor Newsom launched an independent investigation concerning the close of the Pacific Palisades Reservoir prior to the start of the Palisades fire, namely the “the reported unavailability of water supplies.” However, for other places in southern California, water contamination seems to be a major issue. In Pasadena, for example, residents are not allowed to drink water. Water contamination is primarily caused by the water source or the system delivering it. In many cases of the current wildfires in California, there are issues with the system delivering the water. As a result of high water usage by firefighters, depressurization occurred, thus resulting in a vacuum. This vacuum, according to Jackson Webster, a professor of civil engineering at California State University in Chico, “pulls contaminants, like gases from combustion,  back into the distribution system. And this causes chemical contamination of the distribution system which is very difficult to get rid of.” Such chemical contaminants include carcinogenic chemicals like benzene, which was found in water after the 2017 Tubbs Fire and 2018 Camp Fire.  Soot from damaged structures can also enter broken pipes and tank vents, furthermore contaminating the water. 

By January 21st, 28 people were dead while 18 were missing. The Eaton fire was deemed the deadliest fire in Los Angeles history with 17 deaths. However, both the Palisades and Eaton fires were contained, 65% and 89%, respectively. A whopping 15,000 structures were destroyed as a result of the fires.

On Wednesday, January 22, the Hughes fire broke out, spreading 500 acres in just one hour and eventually making its way through 10,000 acres. 31,000 people were evacuated and 23,000 were given warnings. These evacuees included students from Castaic Middle and High School, who were evacuated to a supermarket parking lot, students from Castaic Elementary, who were evacuated to a sports complex, and 4500 inmates from the Pitchess Detention Center.  Additionally, aircraft dropped 30,000 gallons of fire retardant and 113,00 gallons of water to keep the fire spreading to surrounding communities. By Friday morning, the fire was 36% contained. 

The Presidential Medal of Honor Recipients: What to Know

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By Jessica A. Dennehy

As one of the last acts of his presidency, the now former-President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals on the 4th of January. As the highest civilian award in the United States, these laureates made exceptional contributions to the recognized fields of national security, world peace, cultural contributions, public service, and private endeavors. Originating under the Kennedy administration, a total of 652 of these medals have been dealt out to the present day. This award serves as a means to recognize excellence, courage, and dedication to the improvement of society, and to hopefully serve as an inspiration to others on how to make a difference in the world. These honorees have been celebrated for their dedication to improving society, with the White House acknowledging their achievements in the official announcement. All quotes included in this summary are sourced from the White House.

José Andrés – A renowned Spanish-American chef, restaurateur, and multiple James Beard Award recipient, the White House has noted his role in popularizing “the cooking of his native Spain in his adopted home of the United States.” As the founder of World Central Kitchen, he has also played an important role in food distribution following natural disasters and crises.

Ashton Baldwin Carter (posthumous)—The former U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama, he served under 11 different Secretaries of Defense in both Democratic and Republican administrations. The White House applauded Carter’s lifelong devotion “to making the nation safer for all.” 

Hillary Rodham Clinton – A former Secretary of State, First Lady, and U.S. Senator, the White House referenced her Democratic nomination in the 2016 presidential election and how she “became the first woman nominated for president by a major United States political party.” 

Bono—Born Paul David Hewson, he is the frontman for the Irish rock band U2, known for their 1980s hits “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Beyond his contributions to music, Bono has also served as a pioneer against AIDS and poverty. As the co-founder of campaigning organizations ONE and (RED), Bono “united both sides of the aisle in the creation of the United States PEPFAR AIDS program.” 

Michael J. Fox – An actor best known for his role as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, Fox is a recipient of five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. Off the screen, he was commended for his role as a “world-renowned advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and development.” 

Tim Gill— An American entrepreneur and philanthropist who “transformed the publishing industry through groundbreaking software and leveraged his success to secure key victories in the fight for marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections.” The founder of Quark, he was one of the first openly gay entrepreneurs on Forbes 400.

Jane Goodall—An ethologist and conservationist, she’s considered the world’s expert on chimpanzees, having lived and studied with them for over 60 years. Goodall is “a passionate advocate for empowering individuals and communities to protect and preserve the natural world,” whose research has helped shape modern ideas of evolution. 

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous)—A women’s rights and voting rights activist who laid crucial groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act through her founding of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Her challenge to the oppression and exclusion of Black voices in politics “transformed the struggle for racial justice in America.” 

Earvin “Magic” Johnson—A now-retired basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, he helped them win five championships and advance to the finals nine times over his thirteen-year career. Johnson’s philanthropy through his Magic Johnson Foundation supports those who are traditionally underrepresented, including ethnically diverse urban communities and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. 

Robert F. Kennedy (posthumous) – A former U.S. Attorney General and Senator, his role in combating racial segregation, poverty, and inequality on a national scale has left a lasting impact. His “legacy continues to inspire those committed to justice, equality, and public service.” Coupled with the legacies of his eldest brother, John F. Kennedy, and his son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Kennedy family’s impact on the United States politics is still remembered and ongoing. 

Ralph Lauren—The legendary American fashion designer, he has “redefined the fashion industry with a lifestyle brand that embodies timeless elegance and American tradition.” Beyond  his trademark Polo shirts and Flag sweaters, his significant contributions to the fight against cancer and the preservation efforts of the Star-Spangled Banner have also not gone unnoticed.

Lionel Messi – The football star and current Inter Miami CF forward, Messi is “the most decorated football player in history.” A UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he also supports healthcare and education programs for children through his Leo Messi Foundation. He didn’t attend the ceremony in person due to predetermined scheduling conflicts. 

William Sanford Nye – Better known by science classrooms around the world as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” his educational TV show has remained a generational staple in science education. As CEO of the Planetary Society and  a prominent voice for space exploration and environmental stewardship, his advocacy of STEM also goes beyond the classroom.

George W. Romney (posthumous) – A former Governor of Michigan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Chairman of American Motors Corporation, his political contributions have spanned decades. The Romney legacy will stand for some time, especially with his son Mitt Romney being a former Governor, Presidential Nominee, and U.S. Senator.

David M. Rubenstein—The co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, an investment firm with almost $450 billion in assets. He is “renowned for his philanthropy and generous support for the restoration of historic landmarks and the country’s cultural institutions.”

George Soros—A Hungarian-American philanthropist and founder of the Open Society Foundation, Soros has “supported organizations and projects across the world that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice.” He’s known as the man who broke the Bank of England when he shorted the British pound. 

George Stevens, Jr. – A writer, playwright, director, and producer, Stevens is also the founder of the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors. According to the White House, he also “has illuminated American ideals of racial equity and justice for half a century.” 

Denzel Washington – A renowned actor and director, Washington has received two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and the 2016 Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. Some of his iconic films include “Glory,” “Malcolm X,” and “Training Day.” He’s a long-time supporter of the Fisher House Foundation, an organization providing medical assistance to military personnel at minimal personal costs, and has been a national spokesperson for Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 1992.  

Anna Wintour—the fashion icon and editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988, she’s behind the annual fundraiser that’s the Met Gala. She is also a “champion for philanthropic causes… and chief content officer of Condé Nast.”

Jimmy Carter: The Presidency’s Georgian Peach

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By Jessica A. Dennehy

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, passed away on December 29, 2024. He was 100. With his death, he broke a myriad of American records: the longest-living president, the longest presidential marriage, and arguably, the most impactful post-presidency. From the son of a peanut farmer in Georgia to a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, his life’s lofty accomplishments remained rooted in his humble upbringing.

James Earl Carter, Jr., better known as Jimmy Carter, was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. Raised as a devout Baptist, he was interested in both politics and peanut farming from a young age. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1946, he married Rosalynn Smith, with their marriage lasting for 77 years and resulting in four children: Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy. Jimmy and Roselynn Carter’s marriage is the longest-lasting presidential marriage in the history of the United States; the next longest belonged to George H.W. Bush, at 73 years. After serving seven years in the Navy, Carter returned to his hometown of Plains, Georgia in 1962, entering state politics shortly afterwards. He eventually became the Governor of Georgia in 1970 and gained national attention for his emphasis on ecology, government efficiency, and removing racial barriers. The culmination of his political career arrived when Carter announced his candidacy for President in December of 1974. He served as the Democratic nominee with his  running mate Senator  Walter F. Mondale of Minnesota. Campaigning against the incumbent President Gerald R. Ford, Carter eventually won the presidency with 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 241.

Although Carter was only a single-term president, his domestic policies have had a lasting impact on the federal government. He was responsible for the creation of the Department of Education and played a pivotal role in expanding the national park system to include an additional 103 million acres of land in Alaska.  Prioritizing civil service reform, he stuck to his Georgian promise to increase government efficiency,  appointing a record number of women, African Americans, and Hispanics to government positions in the process. Carter’s peace-keeping efforts on the international stage, however, were among his most notable achievements as President. In 1978, he helped orchestrate the signing of the Camp David Accords, which brought amnesty between Egypt and Israel. He also succeeded in obtaining ratification of the Panama Canal treaties, which granted long-promised control of the canal to Panama. While treaty-making, Carter additionally established full diplomatic relations with China and the Soviet Union, negotiating the SALT II nuclear arms treaty with the latter. However, the accomplishments of Carter’s presidency were marred by the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979, where U.S. embassy staff were held hostage in Tehran for the final 14 months of his term. This crisis, coupled with high inflation and interest rates, significantly weakened Carter’s re-election campaign, to the point that Ronald Reagan won the presidency in 1980.

Following his defeat, Jimmy Carter began arguably the most extraordinary post-presidential career in American history. In 1982, a year after leaving office, he founded the Carter Center  alongside his wife Rosalynn. The Carter Center is  a still-active nonprofit dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering, the promotion of democracy, and the improvement of global health. In 1986, under the Reagan administration, Carter had successfully negotiated the release of political prisoners in Nicaragua. In 1994, under the Clinton administration, he helped negotiate the de-escalation of nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula. His long-stand diplomatic and humanitarian efforts earned him global recognition, culminating in his receiving of  the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in conflict resolution and promoting human rights. In the aftermath of this accomplishment, Carter’s diplomatic efforts continued: in 2010, under the Obama administration,  he secured the release of American Aijalon Mahli Gomes from North Korea. 

Even as he faced a public battle with cancer in 2015, Jimmy Carter continuously advocated for global health initiatives and humanitarian causes. His global contributions have still kept him close to home, though.  A long-time resident of Plains, Carter maintained a deep commitment to his faith and education, teaching Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church and serving as a professor at Emory University in Atlanta for nearly 40 years. 

Tennis Star Simona Halep Retires

By Grace Wang

Simona Halep, former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion, has sadly announced her retirement from professional tennis. Following a first-round loss to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in front of a packed home crowd in Romania, Halep announced her official retirement from the sport after hinting at it a week earlier. Once the highest-ranked tennis player in the world, she was banned from competing due to a doping suspension, only returning to the court in March 2024 after the ban was shortened. But since then, she has only played a total of six matches with a record of 1-5.

Now 33 years old, Halep rose to the top of the world rankings in 2017, later winning a pair of Grand Slams in 2018 and 2019. With her undeniable career achievements and statistics, she has truly impacted the sport. Having earned more than 40 million dollars in prize money, she is the 3rd highest ranked female tennis player of all time, only behind the Williams sisters. She also held the world number one ranking for 64 weeks and won 24 titles in her illustrious career.

Carrying the flag for Romanian tennis, Simona Halep is the first Romanian, man or woman, to hold the top ranking in the world and is the first to win a Wimbledon crown. Her career is one to truly be proud of, and although she will no longer be on the court, her legacy will live on with a Hall of Fame career and undeniable contribution to the sport. 

Food Insecurity in the City of Buffalo Is Caused by Racism

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By: Selena Han

In the East Side of Buffalo, NY, many residents face the harsh reality of living in food deserts, where access to affordable, nutritious food is limited or nonexistent. The only easily accessible food sources are fast food chains and corner stores with high-fat snacks and sugar sweetened beverages. This lack of healthy food resources contributes to alarming rates of diet-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Food deserts are caused by systemic racial discrimination, a deliberate practice that has oppressed Black communities. Therefore, using the term “food apartheid” rather than “food desert” would be more accurate because “food apartheid” shows that accessibility to nutritious food has been restricted due to intentional discriminatory policies . It demands that these wrongdoings be corrected. The term “food desert” signals that these inequalities in food access are naturally occurring, as deserts are typically naturally occurring, when in reality these inequalities are fully intentional. Food apartheid is caused by racist discriminatory policies, for example, redlining, housing segregation, and harmful schemes labeled as “urban renewal” projects. These practices were intentionally designed to segregate communities in Buffalo and exclude Black communities from resources, including access to healthy food. This restricted access to healthy food in marginalized Black communities on the East Side led to increasing health disparities in Buffalo. 

The restricted access to healthy food in Buffalo is an effect of racial segregation in the city. This is caused by systematically confining Black residentes to underserved neighborhoods. Buffalo remains one of the most racially segregated cities in the United States, with its Black residents concentrated in neighborhoods like the East Side, where economic disinvestment and limited access to resources like healthy food persist as a result of discriminatory policies. According to the 2024 Food Insecurity Report from Feeding America, “…the average food insecurity rate among Black, non-Hispanic individuals and Latino individuals is nearly 23% and more than 21%, respectively, while the rate among white, non-Hispanic individuals is nearly 10%.” A major contributing factor to the racial segregation in Buffalo has been the discriminatory process of redlining. In the 1930s, the federal government, through the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation, created maps that rated neighborhoods based on their perceived investment risk. Predominantly Black neighborhoods in Buffalo were marked with red lines, indicating that they were “high-risk” for investment. This caused banks and lenders to not offer mortgages for loans in these areas, preventing Black residents from buying homes or improving their properties. It led to disinvestment in these communities, only because the residents in these neighborhoods were predominantly Black. Because of this, Black families were forced into living in underdeveloped neighborhoods that were segregated and lacked resources, like access to healthy grocery stores. Grocery stores avoided low-income neighborhoods due to economic risks that were emphasized by redlining, prioritizing profits over serving marginalized communities. Samina Raja, professor of urban planning at UB and founder of the UB Food Lab says, “food apartheid in Buffalo’s East Side, a predominantly Black neighborhood, is an issue deeply rooted in years of disinvestment in food systems by the government and redlining by major supermarket chains.” This is a major issue that urban planners, policymakers, and communities as a whole need to pay more attention to. Raja furthers, “When [urban planners] design cities and think about livable neighborhoods, they need to go back to the fundamentals. And regrettably, urban planning as a profession has neglected that for years.” These wrongdoings need to be fixed, as Dr. Henry Taylor, an internationally recognized professor for his work on marginalized communities of color, states, “Underdeveloped Black neighborhoods (UBNS) experience infant mortality, chronic disease, and premature death rates that are the highest in the nation, comparable to those in developing countries. These adverse health outcomes result from neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH).” With distressingly negative health outcomes in these neighborhoods, it throws residents back into a cycle of poor health, struggling to find healthier alternatives in their neighborhood. 

 It is not only redlining alone that contributes to food deserts, housing injustices worsened the problem as well. After World War II, many white families moved out of urban centers and into the suburbs in a phenomenon known as “white flight” due to racism. As white families left the city, predominantly Black communities were left behind in urban areas, which were increasingly disinvested by local governments and businesses. At the same time, the GI Bill, a bill that provided home loans and educational benefits to returning veterans, gave white veterans mortgages and loans for buying homes in suburban neighborhoods. Black veterans faced discriminatory practices when applying for mortgages or loans. This resulted in white families being able to build wealth through homeownership in the suburbs, while Black families were excluded from these opportunities. As segregated neighborhoods grew in the absence of resources and economic development, grocery stores became unwilling to open in these areas, leaving people without healthy food options. Another malicious practice used by racist realtors was blockbusting. They would buy property in white neighborhoods that bordered black neighborhoods and sell it to African Americans. Then, they prompted white residents near the borders to sell their homes before their property lost value due to the increasing number of Black residents in the neighborhood. Blatto, a researcher at the Partnership for Public Good, states, “Blockbusting occurred throughout East Side neighborhoods like the Fruit Belt and Broadway-Filmore.” This segregated both communities further and isolated Black residents on the East Side. There were also restrictive covenants implemented, like restricting the construction of multi-family housing in predominantly white neighborhoods. These restrictions prevented Black residents from being able to buy houses in these communities and made houses extremely unaffordable. Gehl, director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, writes, “ Across the nation, localities used zoning requirements to restrict the construction of multi-family housing and built highways to eliminate blighted areas and isolate communities of color.” White flight and the GI Bill created a racially segregated landscape, where resources like grocery stores and fresh food markets were predominantly concentrated in white, suburban areas, while there was a lack of grocery stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Less and less grocery stores were willing to invest in the predominantly Black communities, leading to a food apartheid crisis. 

Not only were communities in Buffalo maliciously separated, but many rich, thriving, predominantly Black communities were also slashed through by “urban renewal” projects. The process of slum clearance, often justified as a way to eliminate “blight,” involved demolishing entire neighborhoods, displacing thousands of families, and leaving many without stable housing. The displaced communities were often moved into already overcrowded and underdeveloped areas, which had few resources, including access to healthy food. A case study archive for urban renewal states, “The programs [urban renewal programs] cleared out blighted areas of cities by clearing out areas that were declared slums.  The programs were designed to replace the ‘slums’ with new, higher class housing and new businesses.” However, this was not actually the case. The author furthers, “Most of the housing authorities found that new housing alone was not enough to remove the slums and provide urban redevelopment.  The new housing often became the new slum a few decades after it was built,” (A Case…). The “urban renewal” projects were implemented in rich predominantly Black communities at the time, like Masten. It ripped apart vibrant, established neighborhoods and destroyed homes, as well as local businesses. Beyer, an urban affairs journalist, notes, “Old neighborhoods were thus demolished, replaced with highways, public housing, and top-down economic developments.” Thriving neighborhoods were split apart with highways that displaced whole communities, such as the Kensington Expressway.” The divisions, and subsequent disinvestment in these areas made it difficult for new businesses to thrive, especially grocery stores offering fresh produce. With limited resources and infrastructure, these neighborhoods were left without the essential services needed to combat food insecurity. 

While the historical factors contributing to food apartheid in Buffalo, NY, are undeniable, some may argue that food insecurity is not solely a product of discriminatory racial policies. It has been argued that food apartheid is not connected to racism because food insecurity occurs across all demographics. Food deserts are not caused by racism, instead it is caused by socioeconomic factors and lack of demand in certain communities. Shanks states, “When compared to other geographies in the U.S., rural areas have consistently higher poverty rates than urban areas, at 16.1% versus 12.6%, respectively, and greater food insecurity rates than the overall population, at 12.1% in rural communities versus 10.5% of all households, respectively.” While this may be true, food apartheid in urban areas is caused by systemic racism, although this may not be the case in predominantly white rural areas. In these rural areas, the restricting racial policies were not implemented, while in urban metropolises, they were, correlating directly with the historical discrimination that had been going on for decades in Buffalo.

In conclusion, the issue of food apartheid in Buffalo, NY, is deeply intertwined with the city’s history of racial segregation and housing injustice. Policies like redlining and the GI Bill segregated communities in Buffalo based on race, depriving Black communities of resources like healthy food. This segregation was further exacerbated by urban renewal projects, such as slum clearance and the construction of the Kensington Expressway, which displaced thousands of families and disrupted local businesses, including grocery stores. As a result, neighborhoods on Buffalo’s East Side have faced a persistent lack of access to nutritious food, contributing to food apartheid. These historical injustices continue to shape the city’s landscape, showing the need for policies that address the systemic racism that fuels food insecurity. To combat food apartheid, it is important to not only improve food access but also address the underlying issues of segregation, disinvestment, and racist policies that have made these disparities possible. We can help improve this issue by working with organizations that push for policy changes aimed at addressing the root causes of food apartheid. By advocating for better zoning laws that encourage the opening of grocery stores in underserved areas, or supporting local governments to give out funds for food access programs, we can push for systemic change. 

Harris Arizona Campaign Office Raked by Gunfire

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By Hank Bartholomew

Bullet holes and property damage were recently discovered at a DNC Campaign office in Tempe, Arizona. After responding to reports of gunfire, police identified at least five bullet holes in the building’s windows and door. This is the third incident of vandalism of the building, with the first being damage by what is believed to be a pellet gun, and the second also by gunfire. The shooting marks another act in the storm of political intimidation and violence that is starting to plague America.

Currently, details of the case are still quite vague. No persons of interest have been identified, although the Tempe police department has identified 2008-2013 Toyota Highlander as the potential vehicle the suspect may have used. The shooting is believed to have occurred at some time between midnight at 1:00 AM. The office itself was located in a relatively populated area: a strip mall near a fitness center and a daycare. Some of the campaign office’s staffers have changed residences in response to the attacks. Tempe Police Sergeant Ryan Cook confirmed in a statement that “No one was inside the office during the overnight hours,” but added that the shooting “raises concerns about the safety of those who work in that building, as well as those nearby.”

Tempe is a battleground init of itself. Located just Southeast of Phoenix, Tempe is a key part of both campaign’s strategies. The college town, home to Arizona State University, is a key point in the overall battleground state of Arizona. ASU students will be a tightly contested demographic in the coming election–they number 57,000 in a state that President Joe Biden only won by about 10,000 votes last year. It’s no surprise that in such a politically tense environment, tensions have bubbled over into violence.

It’s no secret that political polarization–and political violence–are on the rise in the United States. With assassination attempts on former president Trump, juror intimidation, and bomb threats to government officials, a wave of political violence has begun to envelop the nation. It is easy to claim or believe that these incidents are isolated, actions by a few disgruntled individuals that do not reflect the overall beliefs of Americans. But the more political violence occurs, the more accepted it is as what is normal.