Disney Finally Condemns Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Legislation
Many Walt Disney Company staff members have expressed outrage in recent weeks over Florida’s new “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law on Monday. The legislation outright prohibits “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity” for kindergarten through third grade, or any instruction “in …
Oscars 2022: Historic Wins and a Smack for the Ages
The 94th Academy Awards ceremony brought its own drama to L.A’s Dolby Theater on Sunday night. Several films garnered multiple Oscars, including “Dune,” with six wins in technical categories, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” for which Jessica Chastain won Best Actress, and Apple TV+’s “CODA” – the first film from a streaming service to nab …
Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmation Hearings: Day Two Takeaways
The second day of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings wrapped late Tuesday night after more than 12 hours of questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee. There was a marked shift away from the gracious tone Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) had set Monday as he initiated proceedings with thoughtful reflection on …
Families of Opioid Victims Sound Off on Sacklers
More than two dozen people impacted by the opioid crisis were finally able to confront members of the Sackler family in a virtual court hearing late last week. Victims of opioid addiction and relatives of those lost to drug overdoses shared heart-wrenching accounts of the personal devastation they had experienced on account of OxyContin – …
Russia Accused of War Crimes Amid Civilian Attacks
The Ukrainian city of Mariupol is facing particularly brutal devastation following a second failed attempt to evacuate civilians from the area. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says more than 1,300 people have died in Russian forces’ 10-day siege of the southern port. City officials have resorted to burying casualties in mass graves. An airstrike on …
Taking on Tech’s Gender Gap
A lack of gender diversity has plagued tech since its earliest days, and though the industry has progressed over the last 50 years, today’s numbers remain bleak. Women currently make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force, but hold less than 20 percent of tech jobs. Perhaps even more concerning is the fact that …
4.4 Million Galaxies Revealed in New Map of Night Sky
Astronomers from Durham University have released a new map of the night sky featuring 4.4 million galaxies. Nearly one million of the space objects they captured have never been seen before. The researchers used the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) European radio telescope to collect 3,500 hours worth of visual data from billions of light years away, …
Boycotts of Russian Exports Grow, But Efficacy Remains Uncertain
In addition to government-imposed sanctions, businesses and consumers are taking action against Russia by boycotting the country’s vodka exports, according to NPR. Major alcohol chains in Canada and New Zealand are eliminating Russian-made products from hundreds of stores and several U.S. states intend to do the same. Describing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an “egregious …
Anti-War Protestors Gather in Russia Following Ukraine Invasion
Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with reports of more than 130 casualties since attacks began early Thursday morning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law as explosions rang out across a number of cities, including the capital Kyiv. Over 100,000 Ukrainians have fled the country, according to Al Jazeera. Global leaders were …
NOAA Warns of Increasingly Extreme Flooding
Coastlines nationwide could see an average sea level rise of 10 to 12 inches by the year 2050, according to a study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released this week. Using satellite data to determine forecasting, the agency anticipates the most severe increase along the Gulf Coast, where water could rise by …