Author: Georgia McKoy

Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, has kicked up a storm by advocating for President Joe Biden’s name to be on the November ballot, stirring discontent among MAGA followers.  This move clashes with the timing of the Democratic nomination, testing Ohio’s ballot laws which were previously managed without much public fuss. Governor DeWine Sounds the Alarm Source: Wikimedia Commons In a statement, Governor DeWine warned, “Ohio is running out of time to get the sitting President of the United States on the ballot this fall.  Failing to do so is unacceptable.” He stresses the importance of meeting deadlines to ensure…

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration has imposed restrictions on the lighting of bridges in Florida.  Cities across the state are now limited to using the colors red, white, and blue for bridge illumination during certain times of the year. This decision impacts celebrations such as Pride Month which often utilize rainbow lighting. “Freedom Summer” Restrictions Introduced Source: FDOT_Secretary/X Governor DeSantis has termed the initiative “Freedom Summer,” during which the use of patriotic colors will be mandated from May 27 through September 2.  This was announced by the Florida Department of Transportation, specifying that only these colors can be used for…

Westbrook, a city in Maine, is making waves with a bold ordinance to house homeless migrants in private homes.  This city is looking at innovative housing solutions like turning private residences and community spaces into shelters.  “New Mainers” and the Welfare Equation Source: Wikimedia Commons One city official dubbed the migrants as “new Mainers,” noting they consume 90-95% of Westbrook’s welfare benefits.  The proposed housing options include not just homes but also churches and community centers. Volunteer Spirit: A Key to Westbrook’s Plan Source: Aubrey Odom/Unsplash Private homes and churches aren’t required to shelter migrants unless they opt in.  The…

The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors recently made a decisive move, voting to overturn the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates previously established in 2019 for the state’s public universities.  This major policy change is scheduled to take effect at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year. Protests Following Decision Source: UNC/X Following this decision, a wave of protests swept the front of the UNC System office in Raleigh.  According to a report from The News & Observer, around 50 students and other demonstrators convened at the scene, leading to the arrest of at least two individuals…

Red Lobster recently filed for bankruptcy, following the closure of nearly 100 stores nationwide. The company has changed hands multiple times over the last decade with each set of new owners attempting, unsuccessfully, to reverse its fortunes.  Among the strategies employed was the Endless Shrimp promotion, which offered unlimited shrimp for $20, leading to an $11 million loss in the last quarter of 2023. The Strategy Behind Endless Shrimp Source: Red Lobster/Facebook The Endless Shrimp promotion was intended to draw in large numbers of customers by offering unlimited shrimp, including variations like fried shrimp, shrimp scampi, and street corn shrimp. …

Hundreds of attendees at the Harvard College graduation ceremony staged a walkout in protest against the disqualification of 13 students who had been involved in an earlier encampment.  This group was said to be involved in activities deemed inappropriate by the university, leading to their exclusion from the graduation ceremony. Protests Resume at UCLA Source: UCLA/Facebook On the same day, administrators and police at UCLA dealt with the resurgence of protestors at the center of their campus.  This parallel event illustrated a day marked by student activism at major universities, reflecting broader unrest within the academic community. Harvard’s Governing Board…

A bill recently introduced in the California Legislature aims to protect teachers and support transgender student rights by ending forced gender disclosure policies.  The legislation, spearheaded by Assemblymember Christopher M. Ward, will ensure that teachers are shielded from retaliation for supporting students’ rights to privacy. Ending Parental Notifications Source: Element5 Digital/Unsplash Amid lawsuits across California over student privacy regarding gender identity, this new bill seeks to abolish policies that require schools to notify parents about their children’s gender decisions.  The move is to protect both students and teachers from potential conflicts and privacy violations. A Nationwide Debate Source: Wikimedia Commons…

Big news from TikTok—they’re cutting a “large percentage” of their global workforce. 1,000 employees are set to be laid off as part of a larger restructuring, impacting mostly those in user operations, content, and marketing.  This move marks a significant shift for the social media giant, signaling deep organizational changes ahead. Overhaul of Global User Operations Team Source: Nik/Unsplash In a bold move, TikTok plans to dismantle its global user operations team entirely.  The employees who dodge the layoffs will find new homes in other departments like trust and safety, marketing, and content. This shuffle not only changes faces in…

A serious disruption has occurred due to a fintech startup’s bankruptcy, leaving potentially millions without access to their money.  This situation unfolded after the company, backed by Andreessen Horowitz, and its banking partners disagreed on the sums owed to customers. The firm served as a bridge between customer-facing fintech brands and FDIC-backed banks. Bankruptcy Leads to Frozen Accounts Source: Eduardo Soares/Unsplash In April, the startup Synapse declared bankruptcy following the departure of several crucial partners.  By May 11, access to a crucial technology system used by lenders, including Evolve Bank & Trust, to manage transactions and account information was severed,…

A major leak of Mexican military intelligence has exposed U.S. gun shops connected to thousands of firearms found in Mexico, tying them directly to cartel violence.  This is the first detailed look in over two decades into the U.S. origins of guns that end up fueling conflict south of the border. How a Hack Revealed the Pipeline Source: Azamat E/Unsplash An anonymous group called “Guacamaya” obtained about 10 million records, unveiling how U.S. guns are being smuggled into Mexico. These weapons have been traced back to specific American sellers, thanks to the work of Distributed Denial of Secrets, a transparency…