by Pranya Duvvuru- Editor - March 2, 2026

In December of 2025, reports of widespread fraud in Minnesota — largely blamed on Minnesota's Somali community — went viral on social media. The Trump administration responded by announcing a new initiative: they were going to increase the number of ICE agents in Minnesota from 150 to nearly 4,000. They termed it “Operation Metro Surge.”

The rapid increase in agents in the Twin Cities and the surrounding areas almost immediately heightened tensions in the community. ICE agents went door-to-door, detaining people and conducting random traffic stops that increased fear and distrust. Those tensions came to a head with the killing of two American citizens by ICE agents: Renee Good, a mother of three, and Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse for veterans. These killings inspired outrage across the state and the country, but especially right here in the Twin Cities.

In the weeks following the murder of Good and Pretti, Minnesotans organized two general strikes, in which thousands of people came out to protest in subzero degree weather and hundreds of businesses closed their doors. In District 196, educators and students from Eastview High School and surrounding schools organized a march to the Dakota County Service Center, where educators shared stories of students being afraid to step outside their homes. Students at Eastview High School, Eagan High School, Apple Valley High School, and Rosemount High School all organized walkouts in protest of ICE in Minnesota and calling for an end to the operation. These same protests occurred across the state, and across the country as well.

After hundreds of detentions, mass outrage, and the killing of two American citizens, the Trump administration finally announced a drawdown of Operation Metro Surge on February 12, 2026. While the number of ICE agents in Minnesota is still higher than it was before the surge, it seems as though "Operation Metro Surge" wasn't as successful as the Trump administration hoped.

by Safiya Mohammed - Editor - March 2, 2026

      Nurses. The backbone of healthcare but severely underlooked, underpaid, and underappreciated. They are one of the largest healthcare professions running the hospital left and right, from managing medical records to patient care. Recently, New York has experienced an uprising of nurses speaking up for themselves. 

New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) demand a higher pay for their labor. The average salary, according to the New York Times, for the nurses is around 160K per year. The NYSNA demands an average of 200-275K per year. Johnaira Dilone-Florain, a nurse quoted in the New York Times, says “If they were to move away from the money for just a second and look at the basic needs of human care, maybe they can see what we are fighting for” (Goldstein).

There were many other concerns voiced by several nurses such as staffing and workplace violence. Demanding a higher comfort in their workplace because of recent threatening events. With nurses leaving their jobs to protest on the picket lines, there are too many patients who need medical care. Hospitals count and recount staff members, causing extra pressure on nurses still working long hours in the harsh winters of New York. Dania Munoz, a Nurse at Mount Sinai, says “We need enough people to be able to lay eyes on you, lay eyes on your lab values, and change the plan, if necessary, And we need enough nurses also to do that” (Litwin). Also fighting for patients who have been denied care because of the color of their skin or their ethnicity. Fighting against recent events of discrimination. Fighting for equality. The nurses of New York are fighting for change and for a better tomorrow.

As of now, hospitals are willing to negotiate with the nurses and have offered an additional 5,000 dollars and giving the nurses the option to choose where that money goes, but there are no arrangements of expanding hospitals or changing workplace security. Taking a look at the practicals, this protest started on January 12th, 2026 and is ongoing pushing it to the 3rd week. Newly elected Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani presses negotiations with the nurses. He implies that money is not his first priority but more of the significance of nurses in the hospital.

At the end of the day, patient care is their number one priority but it should also be their safety and comfort while in the job. There are almost 15,000 nurses fighting today and their voice matters. As Munoz says, “The fight continues. It doesn’t stop once this contract is signed. We need to continue to fight for the things we believe in” (Litwin).

Works Cited

Dunbar, Marina. “New York City Expects Biggest Nurses Strike as Nearly 15,000 Set to Walk Off Job.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 12 Jan. 2026, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/12/new-york-city-nurse-strike.

Goldstein, Joseph, and Patrick McGeehan. “Nurses in New York City Say They Deserve $200,000 a Year. Here’s Why.” Nytimes.com, The New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026, www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/nyregion/nyc-nurses-strike-pay-raises.html.

Litwin, Laura. “New York City Nurses Strike: Nurses Share Firsthand Experiences, Oncology Nursing Implications | Cancer Nursing Today.” Cancer Nursing Today, 2026, www.cancernursingtoday.com/post/we-have-a-voice-nurses-provide-a-firsthand-look-at-the-new-york-city-nurses-strike.

by Alexis Johnson - Writer - Feb 26, 2026

As of recently, there have been several protests in Iran, and violence has skyrocketed.  Although this doesn’t seem like a necessarily “big event,” these happenings are quite huge and have led to a lot of unlawful pushback from the government. To give background, protests started because the Iranian people were frustrated at the worsening economic and political situation. These included things like the depreciation of their coin compared to the US and inflation especially concerning food prices. Politically, the economic protests morphed into widespread discontentment at the government and their economic policies, specifically concerning fuel. Soon, the bazaari (merchant-type people), students, and more were involved. This included millions of people across all 31 provinces, although it started in the province of Tehran. 

However, what stands out the most is the resistance measures taken by the threatened government, such as shutting down the internet. By doing this, they limit communication and plan making. Phone calls are mostly down as well, including in and out of the country. Many sources believe different things, and the death toll range is thought to be anywhere from 2,000 - 20,000, which are extremely high numbers, especially as most of the protestors seem to be peaceful. The way the law enforcement is responding is with violence, made worse because of the masses of people protesting. Also, there has been damage done to mosques, banks, and just cities in general, which would cost millions of dollars to repair. 

At the time this article was written, President Trump was seriously considering involving the United States to stop the protests. The foreign minister for Iran had issued a very probable and direct threat as well, making another mideast war all the more likely. It appears that an American aircraft and other war vehicles have been deployed and are approaching. Unfortunately, the death toll continues to climb and dozens are being arrested per day. Only time will tell the end of the protests and if it leads to a full-blown war.  

by Abby Tranter - Editor - Feburary 26, 2026

Greenland is a desolate, arctic island with less than 60,000 residents. 80% of its landmass is covered by a permanent ice sheet, making it nearly impossible to build infrastructure and make the area habitable. Average winter temperatures are as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas of the nation. This begs the question: why was Trump so keen on annexing the territory into the United States? 

Trump first became fixated on buying Greenland during his first term in August of 2019, when he suggested buying the island from Denmark as a “large real estate deal.” Since then, he’s shown varying degrees of interest in the area.  In early 2026 he ramped up his attacks on Denmark and Europe as a whole, threatening 10% tariffs on many countries in the continent and even implying that military force would be used to stake U.S. claims. 

American interest in the area primarily hinges on national security and militaristic concerns. Trump wants to build more military bases in Greenland and build a missile warning system to protect the United States. Historically, the U.S. has used the territory for similar purposes. During World War Two, Greenland was used as a base for refueling U.S. aircraft, and due to Cold War threats Thule Air Base was constructed as a place for bombers to be closer to the Soviet Union.  Trump has also constantly warned of Russian and Chinese presence in the area, asserting that the nations are using the territory to store nuclear weapons and other missiles. In this respect, however, the president is sorely mistaken. Russia’s nuclear stockpiles primarily reside in the Kola Peninsula, which is off the coast of Norway. Similarly, China doesn’t own any of Greenland’s territory yet. Another benefit control over Greenland could bring to the US is natural resource access. Minerals like neodymium, dysprosium, graphite, copper and lithium, which are necessary for most global technologies, are abundant in the area.

Fortunately for Greenlandic people, it seems that the territory won’t be taken over and renamed “Red White and Blueland” in the foreseeable future. The Trump administration recently struck a deal in Davos, Switzerland with NATO promising that the US would have future access to some of Greenland’s materials and land to build military bases. The extent to which the US will actually benefit from this deal is unclear, as they’ve already had the ability to station forces on the island since 1951. 

This development doesn’t just matter for the sake of Greenland’s future, it also shows that guardrails exist on the executive’s foreign policy agenda. While Trump is framing the deal as a major win for the US, it’s likely he had to forgo his efforts due to domestic and international pressures. Eight NATO countries sent military forces to Greenland to deter a US invasion of the island. Moreover, many European nations threatened retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. When markets dipped and Congressional Republicans voiced discontent due to these pressures, Trump finally backed down. Still, Trump may show renewed interest in Greenland in the future; the administration’s reputation of breaking foreign agreements proves that no deal is set in stone.

by Abby Tranter - Editor - December 10th, 2025

During the first half of every school year, there’s one infamous question that keeps college-bound seniors up at night: how are your applications going? The stress-filled frenzy of trying to cram your entire life story and academic success into a few textboxes isn’t for the faint of heart. This year, seniors have yet another cumbersome element to consider when filling out their applications: Trump's war on post secondary education.  

As of late October, Trump’s attacks have focused primarily on schools like Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, and Harvard. Even large public schools like the University of Minnesota have come under scrutiny, however. The administration’s list of complaints around these colleges is extraordinarily lengthy, but they often center around claims of “antisemitism” for allowing pro-Palestine demonstrations and “unfairness” for their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 

The White House has dangled incentives such as the restoration of millions of dollars in research grants above the heads of university presidents in order to get their way in changing their admissions policy.  The results have been mixed; some schools  have agreed to Trump's demands, others have stayed quiet or pushed back. At Eastview, these developments have led many seniors to wonder how their college admissions experience may be altered. The answer won’t be certain until after the results of the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, but there are a few popular predictions. 

The main potential implication is an increased focus on applicant’s raw statistics such as standardized test scores and GPA, rather than extracurriculars and essays. This would become all the more likely if the “Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement” is passed, which would require colleges to report their rationale behind admitting each applicant. The administration argues that this would make acceptances more “race blind” and “objective.” In reality, it would punish those without the resources to get help for exams like the ACT and SAT. Moreover, this change would neglect to consider the fact that some students have to spend their free time supporting their families rather than studying, worsening America’s education and income gap. Another factor that could shift admissions is the Trump administration's condemnation of international students. If schools do end up admitting less people from abroad and prioritize domestic students, it could provide a leg up to those of us already in the United States. Unfortunately, this would also come at the expense of the diverse perspectives and strong intellect that makes America’s colleges so globally renowned. 

As high schoolers, it’s tempting to only consider how these moves impact our chance of admission into schools and the coveted “college experience.” While these questions are relevant, they risk missing the forest for the trees.  The most cunning dictators understand that control over educational institutions fosters complacency, creates a platform for misinformation, and takes out one the biggest threats to their power: scholars. Trump’s moves aren’t just attacking universities, they’re chipping away at the independent institutions that make our country resilient to corruption. The war on colleges isn’t just an extra inconvenience for college-bound seniors, it’s a blaring warning sign around the state of our democracy. 

by Pranya Duvvuru - Editor - December 11th, 2025

For most people, 2025 doesn’t register as a very important year in terms of politics. But for Minnesota, this year is very important for one of the biggest cities in our state. 

On November 4, Minneapolis held its mayoral election, with current mayor Jacob Frey running as the incumbent in the race. Fifteen candidates ended up running in the race, but there appears ended up being four viable candidates: Jacob Frey, Omar Fateh (current state senator), DeWayne Davis (lead minister at Plymouth Congregational Church), and Jazz Hampton (attorney and CEO of tech company TurnSignl). Fateh, Davis, and Hampton are all members of the Minnesota DFL, running against the newly-independent Jacob Frey. 

Omar Fateh was one of the most dynamic candidates of the race, a democratic socialist who has been characterized as being the “Mamdani of the Midwest.” Running on rent stabilization and raising the minimum wage to $20/hour, Fateh was sharply critical of Mayor Frey’s stewardship of the city, characterizing the mayor as having betrayed his campaign promises of fixing homelessness in the city and making the city more affordable. Mayor Frey responded by both defending his achievements as Minneapolis mayor and characterizing Fateh’s campaign promises as being “nearly impossible” and “disastrous.” Fateh’s messaging made the mayor’s race a referendum on Jacob Frey and whether or not his policies actually improved Minneapolis life. Mayor Frey won that referendum. 

The election was a ranked-choice vote, with Mayor Frey receiving 53% of the vote and Omar Fateh receiving 47% of the vote. While Frey didn’t win a majority of first choice votes, he won the election in subsequent rounds of voting. While Fateh was effective in bringing out a sizable vote against Frey, it ultimately wasn’t enough to topple the eight-year mayor. 

by Alexis Johnson - Editor - December 10th, 2025

A couple weeks ago at the beginning of November, in the northern Samangan province in Afghanistan, disaster struck. An earthquake clocking in at a magnitude of 6.3 shook the town, lasting for roughly 20 seconds.

This earthquake, after it ended, destroyed or caused damage to approximately 500 houses, creating another crisis in the already struggling country. Tragically, and also unluckily, the earthquake occurred during a time at which the country is in both a climate and food crisis. It is hard for Afghanistan to get help, especially as the USA is making cuts to aid funding. Without this aid, it made Afghanistan’s condition worse after the earthquake. 

After the quake, the air was filled with dust and buildings had been taken down. People were also trapped in the rubble created by the event and they were being searched for. Unfortunately, one source says that around 20 were killed and over 600 were injured. Not just any buildings were damaged, though, as one of the most devastating things that was ruined during the quake was the Blue Mosque. This is a very holy site in Afghanistan, possibly a burial site of a relative of Mohammad.

However, help is being figured out slowly as many have lost their homes and loved ones. Rescue and support efforts have been promised by the United Nations mission there as well as India. Even with this help though, they are still struggling, as the rebuilding will cost them millions. Afghanistan’s government, as well as its citizens, are surely looking for more aid after this disaster that laid waste to their land.

by Abby Tranter - Editor - December 10th, 2025

One of Trump’s promises in his 2024 campaign was that he would be a “peacemaker” who would solve “endless wars,” particularly in Russia and Gaza. Consequently, he has brokered multiple peace deals creating temporary truces between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and Hamas, the most recent of which was implemented in October.  The true test as to whether this ceasefire  will last, however, is yet to come. Critics argue that the ceasefire’s vague path to peace and lack of enforcement capabilities will result in failure. Optimists say both sides are worn out from over two years of war, and now is the perfect time to make peace permanent.

What are the details of the newest ceasefire and peace deal? 

With the help of mediators such as Qatar, Turkey, and the US, the two sides agreed to  pause fighting and pursue an end to the war. The ceasefire agreed upon on October 9th is split into three stages. The first calls for the exchange of hostages and Israeli withdrawal from the most densely populated areas in Gaza. The second stage is  anticipated to force Hamas to demilitarize, and the third would create a new governance structure for the enclave. Details around the logistics of the second and third stage manifested in a separate peace deal drafted by the Trump administration and  approved by the UN Security Council in November. It includes the creation of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) to monitor security in the strip. Moreover, the plan proposes the creation of a temporary political force to administer Gaza until the Palestinian Authority takes power again at the end of 2027. 

Signs of Hope 

In the first week of the ceasefire, Hamas released 20 living hostages and the bodies of 26 more. Israel returned nearly 2,000 palestinian prisoners during this time period as well. Benjamin Netanyahu is facing heightened political pressure within his own country  to accept an end to the war, with 66% of Israelis supporting an end to the military’s bombardment of the enclave. 

Signs of Unrest

Despite Israel agreeing to an on-paper truce, they’ve already violated the ceasefire multiple times. Israeli attacks have killed over 350 people since the ceasefire, and that’s just a rough estimation of the casualties. The deal’s first stage is reaching an end, and while diplomats are working tirelessly to solidify details of the second stage of the peace deal, they have yet to come to an agreement.  This dilemma eerily reflects how the ceasefire established in January of 2025 failed. The deal collapsed in its transitions from first to second stage and due to tension around next steps in the peacemaking process. 

Overall, the complex historical factors that lie beneath this conflict often makes peace fleeting.   For the sake of the tens of thousands of people in Gaza suffering from displacement and famine, however, we can only hope that Trump’s bold claims of establishing a permanent solution to this war become reality. 

by Anders Peterson - Writer - December 4th, 2025

            If there is any news story that has been swirling around the country in the past few months, it would be the debate over the release of the contentious Jeffrey Epstein files. These documents concern the heinous sex crimes of the notorious business and their hypothesized relation to many prominent officials, including former President Bill Clinton, the disgraced former Prince Andrew of England and most notably, President Donald Trump. 

           Trump himself has pivoted drastically on this issue. After announcing at the start of his second term that he would gladly release the files, he sharply changed his position, opposing their publicity and doing seemingly anything in his power to dispel their influence. However, after a months-long push by the Democratic Party and an iconoclastic group of Republicans led by the libertarian-leaning Kentuckian Thomas Massie, it became clear that the House of Representatives would have enough votes to pass the bill that would require the Department of Justice to release these files. In a shocking twist, Trump called on all of his fellow Republicans to vote for the bill, claiming “[they] have nothing to hide”. In a nearly unanimous vote, Congress passed and the president signed the bill into law. This unleashes a multitude of questions, but most pressingly to us, how does this situation affect Eastview?

            Firstly, very few students have followed this story; junior Brandon Jones said he had known virtually nothing about it. “I mostly get my news from YouTube and I had never heard of anything about Epstein,” remarked Jones. However, this begs a different question: will this become a history-making scandal or will it fade with time? The infamous Watergate leak in the 1970s diminished America’s trust in the presidency already; the Trump administration is already embroiled in controversy. If Trump is, as suspected, in these documents, will the rift in the Republican Party widen if their leader is proven to be in leagues with a sexual criminal? Or will it stay loyal to him throughout? Whatever the outcomes, it is clear that both Eastview and the wider world must be watching. As some in the media predict, it is clear that this controversy will be the biggest test of Trump’s term thus far, whether it is uncovered during his presidency, like Richard Nixon’s Watergate, or the discovery of Warren Harding’s role in the Teapot Dome scandal years after his death. Whatever follows will have serious implications for years to come.

by Jyotsna Ganesh - Editor - October 12th, 2025

One of the biggest fears that prevail among the American people when it comes to the Chinese government is that they are going to steal the information of American citizens. Unfortunately this has become reality, in fact it has been happening for as long as 2019.

In 2024, network companies AT&T and Verizon were the targets of a cyberattack led by a Chinese espionage campaign named Salt Typhoon. Now, after nearly a year of investigation led by the U.S. government, this attack in October has been found to be successful and with it, revealed that the Salt Typhoon could geolocate and record the calls and texts of tens of millions of people in the US.

The Salt Typhoon, state-sponsored hackers by the People’s Republic of China, has been confirmed to be around since at least 2021 but many believe that it has been working underground since 2019. This hacker group has made use of bugs and preexisting tools in the hardware to swipe the data of nearly every American citizen in the 2024 attack. With such a feat under their belt, the hacker group has been confirmed to also have targeted more than 80 other countries.

On top of these cyberattacks led by Salt Typhoon, the U.S. and China are also negotiating on other various tech companies such as TikTok and Nvidia which only seem to raise the tension between the two countries. How will the combination of both the cyberattacks and the negotiations of other technologies affect the American people?  Will these tensions ever see a decrease? Only time can tell.

by Charlene Xu - Writer - October 13th, 2025

Those who follow the current political climate are likely aware of President Trump’s war on immigration, specifically with his increased use of ICE to arrest and deport those deemed necessary. What started as a movement to strengthen national security and eliminate public safety threats quickly became a frenzy of arrests, more so often targeting those with minor offenses.

On Sept. 4, federal agents detained 475 workers at a Hyundai manufacturing plant in Atlanta, Georgia. Among those arrested were over 300 South Korean nationals who garnered the sympathy and indignation of their countrymen and president. ICE claimed that those arrested were suspected of overstaying their visa worker permits, or ESTAs, or held B-1 business visas that did not allow them to perform manual labor. The sentiment South Koreans held towards their long-landing ally quickly turned sour in the aftermath of the event. In a speech on Sept. 9, the newly inaugurated South Korean president, Lee Jae Myung, stated that he hoped, ”such unjust infringements on the activities of [South Korean] people and businesses, who contribute to the mutual growth of Korea and the US, will not happen again.”

Per an agreement between the South Korean government and the Trump administration, on Sept. 11, 330 workers were released, including 10 Chinese nationals, three Japanese nationals, and one Indonesian national. However, as they tearfully returned to their motherlands, many turned to social media to accuse the United States of committing acts against human rights, to which the South Korean president responded that ”I understand that the government is conducting a more thorough review with the companies to determine whether any human rights violations occurred.” As detainees described the harsh and confusing conditions that they were put under during the ordeal, many Korean nationals demanded answers from the South Korean government. One such detainee, Chul-yong, told BBC that there was a shackle around his ankles and another around his waist, connected to handcuffs. He described how ‘It was so tight, [he] couldn't touch my face with [his] hands.’”

The event is sure to further heighten tensions between the United States and South Korea, though it is unlikely that South Korea will cut ties with their most powerful ally: a vexing stalemate for their new president.

by Arantxa Miranda Morales - Writer - October 13th, 2025

The powerful and shocking events of October 7th ignited a broader conflict in Gaza, unleashing havoc and devastation across the region. The Palestinian militant group Hamas conducted a deadly attack on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 Israeli citizens were killed and 240 hostages were taken. Since then, the Israeli military has led an offensive on the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, targeting southern and central Gaza, Khan Younis, Rafah, and northern Gaza in bombardment. Subsequent ceasefires narrowly negotiated in January of 2025 were violated and erupted into further warfare.

Despite the weakened position of Hamas, Israel controls nearly 75% of Gaza, and the offensive has continued to wage on. The situation in Gaza has been rapidly worsening, as blockades and widespread displacement have led to a humanitarian crisis. Israel has faced international condemnation for its conduct in Gaza, being declared a genocide by a United Nations Commission, which Israel denies, stating it has a right to self-defense. This conflict is marked by a complex web of factors that determine conditions in the region.

What is the historical context behind the Israel-Palestine conflict?

The conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians reflects a long-standing struggle for sovereignty, dignity, and control of land. Tensions intensified following the founding of the state of Israel in 1948 under a UN plan, sparking violent wars and displacement, such as the Nakba, the Six-Day War, and the Intifadas, that have shaped the conflict for decades.

What current political forces are shaping the conflict?

Domestic and international politics shape the conflict-ridden region. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, faces pressure from his far-right coalition to expand operations and settlements in Gaza. On the contrary, Netanyahu has faced increased criticism from Israeli citizens over security failures and conduct in Gaza. Key regional actors, including Egypt and Qatar, have aided in ceasefire negotiations.

What is left of Gaza?

As of September 2025, the death toll in Gaza reached a staggering 65,000. 

Famine has been declared in Gaza, as 11-month blockades have choked the flow of food supplies, leading to widespread starvation. The number of children at severe risk of death from malnutrition is expected to triple to 43,400 by 2026.

Strikes and evacuation orders have contributed to the displacement of nearly 2 million people. Regarding infrastructure, the World Health Organization explains that over 90% of Gaza's hospitals were damaged or destroyed. Water, sanitation, and electricity systems have largely collapsed. 

In times of conflict, families endure unimaginable sacrifices, going without food for days or grieving the loss of loved ones.

This conflict extends beyond Gaza, deeply affecting our own community at Eastview. Azhaar Ahmed, a leader in the Muslim Student Association, shared, “personally in Islam, we see all muslims as our brothers and sister[s,] so it hurts my heart to see the chaos in Palestine. I also have friends who have relatives in Palestine struggling.” As students grapple with the devastation in Gaza, staying informed is essential to consider the impact on the community.

by Arantxa Miranda Morales - Writer - October 13th, 2025

What are the Epstein Files?

The Epstein Files are a series of files surrounding the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was a high-profile financier with connections to well-known politicians and celebrities. The Files consist of over 300 gigabytes of court documents, papers, photos, and video footage.

The full extent and transparency of the unreleased files are unknown. Speculation arose on a potential client list of victims of Epstein, after Pam Bondi, the US Attorney General, responded to a question about the hypothetical list by answering, “It's sitting on my desk right now to review.” Although she later retracted this statement, rumors continue to proliferate about its existence.

How does this connect to the right and President Trump?

The Epstein files have long been a key point of discourse on the political right, often intertwined with theories about the ‘deep state.’ Anti-establishment rhetoric quickly adopted the case as a central talking point, portraying it as a prime example of the elite concealing information from the common people. As a result, the right has increasingly been putting pressure on President Trump to release the Epstein Files.

President Trump’s approach to the Epstein Files appears to be a reversal from previous approaches to promote transparency of public figures, sparking criticism from the right. This renewed attention coincides with increased scrutiny of Trump's past association with Jeffrey Epstein; according to The Wall Street Journal, Pam Bondi informed President Trump that his name appears in the files. 

What was in the files released by the oversight committee?

Since September of 2025, the House Oversight Committee, amid pressure, released over 33,000 files, including court documents, video footage, and letters relating to Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee proclaimed that 97% of the Epstein documents released had already been made public. One image subpoenaed from the Jeffrey Epstein estate was a suggestive birthday notecard that some analysts say appears to be signed by President Trump, although he has denied these claims.

What are students' opinions on the Epstein Files?

To better understand student attitudes toward this issue, a survey was conducted among Eastview and District 196 students, collecting responses from 72 individuals surrounding the Epstein Files. In response to the question ‘Should the Epstein Files be released?’, an overwhelming majority of 98.61% of respondents answered ‘yes’. This strong consensus, emerging from a set of diverse political perspectives, reflects a unified demand for transparency not just from politicians, but from students and everyday people. 

by Abbey Zila - Writer - October 13th, 2025

As of September 10th; “France’s newest prime minister took office on Wednesday as protesters across the country temporarily blocked highways, roundabouts and bridges in a show of frustration about the nation’s political direction”(Catherine Porter, New York Times). According to that article, these protests occurred shortly after the government collapsed due to a lost confidence vote. Prime minister; François Bayrou, a centrist, had presented an austerity budget—this ended in backlash and eventually Bayrou’s resignation after losing the aforementioned confidence vote—the backlash partially due to France’s recent debt crisis. France hit a GDP deficit of 5.8% according to AP news(this greatly exceeded the deficit of 3% predicted by the EU). Those things and his plan to remove two major holidays caused backlash. 

There are a few similarities between this movement and the Yellow Vest movement that happened in 2018—in fact, many who supported the Yellow Vest movement were found to also support or even participate in the recent protests; dubbed the “Let’s block Everything movement”. A few things the protests want from the government are: “strengthening public services, fighting media concentration, taxing the rich” (Catherine Porter, New York Times). The article says these align with left-wing belief in the country. This movement is not an organized movement; it has no leader(s) and, as Mendès France (digital literacy lecturer) says, “they are fragmented.” Two labor unions said they’d participate, however, most are waiting for September 18th when there will be a mass-strike. It was proven that there were more people voicing their opinions online than actually showing up. 

This goes to show that organized protests need to happen through more than just social media, but protesting is an important part of democracy as it's a way to make change and help support a cause. More updates about these protests can be found on trusted news sights, and perhaps social media—for that one, proceed with caution.

 Sources:

 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/world/europe/france-protests-lecornu-prime-minister.html 

https://apnews.com/article/france-politics-bayrou-le-pen-confidence-budget-4348b6c5dada3bb8846816f80de16bc3 

By Mustafa Dar - Writer - 4 April 2025

For three years and counting, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has become unpredictable, destructive, and contentious. The United States has been an integral part of supporting Ukraine as a fellow democracy, from trying to broker a ceasefire to funding its war effort. The reason for the conflict revolves around NATO- an organization consisting of 32 members from Europe to North America, established for 3 main reasons: to deter the Soviet Union, preventing the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration. What makes NATO unique is that every country in the organization pledges to protect any other nation—which has already promised the same—under attack from any other country, which deters any potential perpetrators. Ukraine joining NATO would bring them under the protective umbrella of the West, consequently putting the West close to Russian borders, which Vladimir Putin has expressed a dislike for. The US alone has provided $175 billion—as of February 2025—to Ukraine’s war effort which encompasses military, financial, and humanitarian support. Additionally, things seem to be looking up since the recent change in the presidency for the US as they have taken swift action in negotiating an end to this war. Trump’s optimistic approach to the could be a means of a quick and decisive end to the crisis. "Once we settle, there's going to be no more war in Ukraine," Trump predicted. "It's not going to be a very big problem," NPR News, February 24th, 2025. From leading two separate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to proposing deals that assist Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts he shows the dedication of the current government to ensure lasting peace and security for Ukrainians. However, a common census between diplomats suggests that NATO will have to be sidelined if the war is to conclude. This continues to remain a sticking point in discussions aimed to provide an end to this war. Ukraine’s request and Russia’s distaste for NATO leave the nations in a dilemma. In the end a negotiation is most likely, where there is no winner. Ukraine and Russia agree to a territorial compromise, where Ukraine cedes the contested regions to Russia in exchange for security guarantees. This ensures a plausible, stable future for Ukraine where it can be formally recognized as a NATO member.

by Leila Dunfee - Editor-in-Chief - April 1st, 2025

As the canopy dome of the Capitol Rotunda overlooked the crowd of former presidents, White House officials, foreign leaders, tech billionaires, and others of influence, Donald Trump was sworn into office to begin his second term as the United States’ 47th president. The inauguration was held on Monday, January 20th of this year, and marked the peaceful transfer of power from Joe Biden to Trump. 

Within hours of his inauguration, Donald Trump signed a doozy of executive orders, maintaining his notion that America will be entering its “Golden Age” under his administration. In the first week of his presidency, he signed 35 executive orders, heavily contrasting the four he signed in the first week of his first term and the 24 Biden signed during his first week. Few of the orders came as a surprise since most aligned with what he had campaigned on; still, they have raised concerns about his use of presidential power and the consequences they could bring. 

Some actions that are causing unease include withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement (an international promise to take climate action) and the World Health Organization, pardoning 1500+ January 6th insurrectionists, and stating that the federal government only recognizes two genders: male and female. Additionally, Trump has signed an order to end birthright citizenship–a protection granted by the 14th Amendment signed in 1868.

Many of these orders are being reviewed, questioned, and challenged by federal judges as their constitutionality is worth suspicion. Protests nationwide have been calling on the Trump Administration to back off and rethink some decisions.

By Chloe Larson - Editor - April 1st, 2025

Probably not… but maybe. Avian influenza, like H5N1, have been around for centuries. However, experts are growing increasingly concerned as H5N1 spreads across the US, infecting millions of chickens and herds of cattle. Across the world, bird flu is endemic in Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Americas are likely next. The only thing keeping humans safe for now is the relative inability of H5N1 to infect humans, preferring other mammalian and avian hosts. Still, according to the CDC, 70 humans have been infected with bird flu since April 2024. Luckily, despite the incredibly high mortality rate of 50% historically, only one of the recent cases resulted in death. No one knows for sure why the mortality has dropped so significantly, but theories include genetically inherited immunity from past flus, particularly the 1918 flu pandemic, or low-dose exposure in modern farming, such as getting splashed in the eyes with infected milk.

Although COVID-19 still lingers, it will likely not cause the next pandemic. Like many flus and other plagues of the past, COVID will likely become endemic, circulating every year or two. COVID is also known as SARS-CoV-2, named for SARS (which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome). SARS was an outbreak in 2003 but was contained rather quickly. Together, they prove that along with influenza, novel coronaviruses also pose a serious public health threat.

The final pandemic candidate you may have heard about in the news is measles. For years, measles has not been a threat due to its required vaccine, the MMR. The first dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine given after one year of age provides immunity to 95% of people; the second dose given before entering school protects at least an additional 2%. Despite being extremely contagious, due to high vaccination rates, measles outbreaks have been avoided for years. A 95% vaccination rate is considered necessary for herd immunity, but as vaccination rates fall, we start to see outbreaks, such as those in Texas. In one community with an outbreak, the rate was only 82%.

No one knows what the next pandemic will be. Even if it is something completely new, it will probably be like something we have seen before. What the public and our public health officials do right will determine how we will fare.

By Abbey Zila  - Writer - April 1, 2025

According to the USDA, egg prices are set to dramatically increase. Shelves in target or HyVee look more like 2020 than 2025 in terms of volume. So what can we make of it? As USA Today reports earlier this February, “If you’re a consumer who hoped the price of eggs would come back down to Earth soon, you may want to avert your eyes.” The USDA predicts that egg prices will shoot up by 41.1% this year, as well as other food prices going up by 3.4%. They also say that egg prices have already gone up by a staggering 13.8%. According to the USA Today article, “The agency said more than 18 million commercial egg layers were infected by bird flu in January 2025.” This likely contributed to the shortage as well as the dramatic increase in prices causing a scare that made people motivated to buy more. The risk of bird flu is low in humans, so it’s best to not be too worried about it for our sake, but its impacts on poultry are undeniable. 

So, how is America combatting the shortage and rise of pricing? According to CNN Business in another article from this February, “ramped-up exports [from Turkey] come as avian flu has killed more than 140 million egg-laying birds in the United States since 2022, and 17 million alone in November and December.” Certain grocery stores are limiting eggs per customer, and some restaurants are increasing the price per egg. Despite Turkey increasing egg exports, prices are still going up. This is because Turkey is the only country the USA imports eggs from, so it cannot fill all of our lost production even ignoring the higher costs of transportation.

Another way the USA is combating bird flu is vaccination. Though not all egg farmers use them, making it a less viable option. The research on these vaccinations is still ongoing, as well.

Are people actually worried? Well, social outcry seems to indicate so. This is because egg price increases can indicate a rise in other food prices too. Examples include: pork, beef, and other poultry products. Concern for this problem is completely warranted.

To conclude, egg prices are on the rise, but all hope is not lost. The White House, scientists, and egg farmers are still searching for solutions to this problem and  there may even be a vaccine on the horizon. So stay calm, and be sure to check grocery store pricing near you.

By Ava Johnson  - Writer - April 1, 2025

We can square dance, we can list all the state capitals and phases of the water cycle, but can we as students balance a checkbook? 

Turns out, most of us probably can’t. According to a study conducted by Professor Annamaria Lusardi of Stanford University, only seven per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds are sufficiently financially literate. Furthermore, two-thirds of American adults can’t pass a basic financial literacy test, according to a 2016 National Study by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. While this might not seem like a big deal, it absolutely is. Says Lusardi, “Being financially literate is just as important as knowing how to read and write." Being able to deal with finances is critical in continuing on to higher education, as many students end up taking out loans. Without proper financial education, students may make uninformed choices that can land them in serious debt. Luckily, Eastview has introduced a new graduation requirement starting with the class of 2028: Personal Finance. 

The Eastview website states that the personal finance course will “equip and empower students to make informed financial decisions in an evolving world, with an intentional focus on each student’s individual experiences, cultures, values, and goals.” Excited by the promise of gaining practical and useful skills, freshman Addison Johnson comments, “I think the class will be really helpful because I don’t really know that much about finance. Being able to be taught about how to make good choices with my money is definitely a skill that’s going to help me when I get older.” 

Eastview’s course is designed to focus on six essential skills: Financial Psychology, Earning and Income, Financial Systems, Credit and Debt Management, Risk Management, and Budgeting and Investing. Mastering these skills empowers students to take control of their financial futures. By understanding how emotions and behaviors influence money decisions, students can make smarter choices when it comes to saving and spending. Learning about how to make money and navigate complicated financial systems gives students practical strategies to manage credit and debt, while risk management techniques help with resilience in the face of unexpected challenges. Lastly, budgeting and investing skills help to lay the groundwork for long-term financial stability, making these fields directly applicable to the everyday experiences and future goals of Eastview students before and after graduation. 

By being required to take this course, Eastview students are directly set up for better outcomes. “The costs of financial illiteracy – of ‘being bad with money’ – are apparent,” says Keith Hall, the Assistant Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. “Those who go through life making poor financial decisions will inevitably end up with a far lower standard of living than was otherwise achievable.” We should be grateful that our school cares enough to look beyond graduation and invest in our futures. Through their guidance, we are not just graduating, but stepping into the real world as capable, resilient, and ready individuals.

By Chloe Larson – Editor – February 12, 2025

After nearly a year of slumping sales, on Monday, January 27th, Starbucks rolled out some new policies intended to bring back the cozy coffee house vibes. Policies that provide great perks for paying customers, but leave others out to dry. Starbucks’ new CEO, Brian Niccol, issued the change, reversing their “Open Door” policy dating back to 2018. Although unlikely to be well-enforced, the new policy states that only customers can use Starbucks’ facilities, including cafes, patios, and restrooms. At the same time, Starbucks announced the return of refills for hot and iced tea and coffee in stores. The goal of this policy is to encourage guests to linger (and buy more) and, supposedly, to offer a more sustainable option by using ceramic mugs for customers' personal reusable cups. If you are a Starbucks fiend, enjoy your refills, but I’ll be having my study group at Caribou Coffee.

By Evie Swenson - Editor - February 12, 2024

The horrific natural destruction that has occurred this winter has left American citizens fearing for the effects of climate change. Just a few short weeks ago on January 7, 2025, wildfires erupted across Los Angeles, killing at least 29 people and burning more than 50,000 acres of land. Among this included thousands of homes, businesses, schools, and structures that left many people homeless or displaced. Total economic losses from the blaze could surpass $50 billion dollars, which will far exceed the destruction from the 2018 Camp Fire, which until this year was considered the most costly wildfire in American history (NBC News).

The official cause of the fire has not yet been determined, however it is likely that a combination of severe drought-like conditions in Southern California could be a leading factor. The region had seen less than 10% of the average rainfall since October 1. Wind gusts reached up to 70 miles per hour. These severe climatic conditions are seen to be an effect of the quickly approaching phenomenon known as climate change. 

The number of wildfires has systematically increased from 1980 to now. Scientists are projecting that an annual average temperature increase of one degree celsius will raise the median area burned per year by 600%. More than 80% of wildfires are caused by human activities, and this future does not look ideal. 

Though the approaching possibility of irreversible climate damage is horrifying, there are countless things that we as a society can do to prevent this. Donate to climate activism, ride your bike or walk instead of driving, save energy at your home by turning lights off, install solar panels, recycle and compost, pick up littered trash, and thousands more small changes you can make to your life to help stop global warming. 

By Isabelle Bruecken -Writer- February 11, 2025

Jimmy Carter: An activist, winner, and a public figure with a legacy that will impact our lives for decades to come. Serving as our 39th U.S. president, Carter did more than just look after the nation, but he helped shape it into what it is today. Dating back all the way to 1963, Carter became known as the state senate of Georgia. He held this title up until 1967. Five years later, he was elected as Georgia’s 76th governor. He was the state governor until 1975. It wassafe to say that he was breaking molds for all sorts of topics since the beginning of his career.

It wasn’t until 1977, just two short years after being Georgia governor that he was electedto be the 39th U.S. president, representing the Democratic Party. He was an open minded president, creating fundamental changes like the departments of education and energy. He implemented what is known as an energy policy for price control, and pardoned all Vietnam draft evaders. 

Carter was a decent man, president or not. In 2002, about twenty years after his presidential term, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting and expanding human rights as we know them. He didn’t stop at equality and fighting for justice, that was only his beginning. Jimmy Carter created systems promoting education and stopped systems preventing equality or unjust actions in day-to-day living. His is a legacy we can’t forget and it is a legacy expected to live on for generations. 

Politicians like himself are more than just the label they are given; they are workers, sons and daughters, and people. Carter was a prime example of persistence and priority, setting the United States as his main priority today, tomorrow and forever.

By Norah Brusco and Evie Swenson - Editors - October 9th, 2024

Columbine, Parkland, Sandy Hook, Uvalde, Robb, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and now Apalachee High School. America has been dealing with school violence for decades, and Apalachee High School has just joined the list of massacres. 

         On September 4, a mass shooting occurred at a high school near Winder, Georgia. 14 year old Colt Gray has been identified as the suspect and is accused of killing two students, two teachers, and injuring nine others. The dead students have been identified as Christian Angulo (14) and Mason Schermerhorn (14). The teachers were Richard Aspinwall (39) and Christina Irmie (53). 

        This leads many to wonder, how could this have happened? According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, “Gray asked a teacher if he could go to the front office and speak to someone. The teacher allowed him to leave and take his belongings with him. Gray went to the restroom and hid from teachers. Later, he took out the rifle, and began shooting.” They added that in addition to the assault rifle, he also carried a knife.

       With tragedies like this ravaging communities, it raises the question of what Eastview High School is doing about this issue.  

According to Principal Bruce Miller, EVHS shifted to align with “I Love You Guys” for responses to emergency situations; they are hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate, and shelter. These protocols are in place so that students and staff have a clear understanding of what they should do in case of an emergency. It’s important for the Eastview community to feel safe, seen, heard, and valued. Miller says that the staff want students to have a place where they can “learn, grow, and develop to become whoever and whatever they want in a safe and welcoming place”. In order to fulfill these wishes, students should think about what they can do to make Eastview the school they want it to be. If you see something or hear something… always say something to a trusted adult.

The EVHS community is strong and if every member works hard to be kind, patient, understanding, and respectful, we can keep Eastview a strong, safe, environment for all those who are a part of it.

By Ava Johnson - Writer - October 9th, 2024

According to the song “Barbie Girl” by Aqua, “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic.” But when these plastics are in our bones, blood, and brains, it’s not fantastic at all. Microplastics are formed when the polymers in single-use plastics (like packaging such as bags, straws, and wrappers) break into tiny pieces over time. Since plastic is so prevalent in the modern world, these particles are everywhere, and they can have serious consequences. 

Exploring how microplastics enter the human body is a critical first step in understanding their potential health impacts. A 2019 study by the American Chemical Society (ACS) found that annually humans consume 39,000–52,000 particles through food intake alone, but they can also enter the body through inhalation and skin contact. Once inside the body, studies suggest there are correlations between microplastic exposure and chronic health issues. A study done in China found that people with inflammatory bowel disease have more microplastics in their fecal samples compared to healthy people, and the more microplastics in the sample were related to the severity of the disease. A similar study found that the same was true for people with cirrhosis (a liver condition). Further, Harvard Medicine stated that “Studies in cell cultures, marine wildlife, and animal models indicate that microplastics can cause oxidative damage, DNA damage, and changes in gene activity, known risks for cancer development.” 

Tiny, lab-grown models called organoids are now being used to study how microplastics affect the body. These models are made to represent various parts of the body, like the lungs, brain, and intestines. After being exposed to microplastics, it was reported that every model experienced some form of functional disorder. This means that microplastics were consistently found to have negative effects on the human body. Scientists have also noticed behavioral changes in animals after they were exposed to microplastics. The pollutants harmed nerve function by slowing the production of a specific enzyme used for nerve signaling. If this effect was observed in animals, there is no reason to believe that it couldn’t occur in humans too. 

Despite evidence highlighting scientists’ concerns about the effects of microplastics on the human body, there is a critical shortage of research that delves into the widespread effects of these substances on the human race, as health conditions arising from microplastics are a relatively new phenomenon. But according to the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, “Microplastics [have been] detected from the south to Antarctica, north to the Arctic, up to the peak of Mount Everest, and down to the Mariana Trench”. This alarming reality underscores that microplastics are not a fleeting issue; they are deeply embedded in our world. It is clear that they currently pose significant health risks that we do not yet fully comprehend, and our only hope to be able to potentially prevent future fatalities is to fund more research and invest in innovative solutions to minimize their impact.

By Chloe Larson - Editor - December 19th, 2023

Researchers from Stanford and the University of California found that ChatGPT (both 3.5 and GPT-4) declined between March and June of this year. They found that it was worse at identifying prime numbers, generating functional code, and explaining its “thought process”.

OpenAI’s vice president of product, Peter Welinder, turned to Twitter to counter the claims saying, “No, we haven’t made GPT-4 dumber. Quite the opposite: we make each new version smarter than the previous one.” Many are still skeptical, but Welinder says their current hypothesis is that “when you use it more heavily, you start noticing issues you didn’t see before.”

Welinder may be right that the decline isn’t purposeful, but experts point to another cause: LLM drift. Large Language Model drift suggests that these programs end up evolving unpredictably. The original parameters can’t account for how the AI grows and oftentimes this leads to improvements in one area that coincide with losses in others.

Still, it’s too soon to catastrophize, especially considering Google just released its Gemini AI model. With plenty of competition between AI companies, the consumer should win out.

The question I’m left with is: Is AI getting dumber, or is it becoming more human? My opinion? Why not both.

By: Tanisha Senapati - Editor - 21 February 2024

       In recent years, Minnesota has found itself facing a growing issue – the rising prevalence of methamphetamine use and production within the state. Minnesota, once known for its strong sense of community and safety, is now grappling with the harsh reality of a methamphetamine epidemic. CBS News writes that, “More than 11 kilograms seized, 14 alleged gang members off the streets and more than 70 charged—all since May.” It is also said that Meth use in southern Minnesota is rising by “astronomical proportions.” The drug, commonly known as meth, poses serious threats to individuals and communities, leading to increased crime rates, strained public resources, and detrimental effects on public health.
        Local law enforcement agencies have been working tirelessly to combat the meth problem. From targeted investigations to community outreach programs, efforts are being made to curb the production and distribution of meth. According to the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force,  it's so far seized as much meth this year as it did last year. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is also reporting 43 percent of drug arrests in 2021 were for meth.The impact of the meth epidemic is felt deeply within the Minnesota communities. Families are being torn apart, individuals are struggling with addiction, and innocent lives are being caught in the crossfire of meth-related crimes. Minnesota really does have a meth problem, however, not much has been done to fix it.

By: Lizzie Schiffman - Staff Writer - 21 Febuary 2024
      On December 1st of last year, Sandra Day O’Connor passed away at the age of 93 due to complications related to dementia and respiratory issues. Now, this news has impacted the United States population in a lot of different ways. For some people, this news may have come as a devastating loss, but, if you’re anything like me, you may be wondering who exactly was Sandra Day O’Connor and why should you care about her death. Let’s dive into O’Connor and her legacy.

         In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Sandra Day O’Connor to the Supreme Court to serve as the first female Justice. This was revolutionary for women at the time and set precedent for other women to take charge in politics. During her time on the Supreme Court, Justice O’Connor fought to affirm Roe v. Wade, which was critical in multiple issues regarding women’s health. She also held a critical vote in upholding affirmative action during her service. Affirmative action pushes for more representation of underrepresented minorities in American colleges. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor served in the Supreme Court until 2003. That was not the end of her career and impact. She continued to be vocal for worldwide judicial independence. In her lifetime, O’Connor wrote five books, two of which she wrote while actively serving. 

         Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was a force to be reckoned with. Altering the future of the Supreme Court, both with her wise rulings and her strong female presence. Upon learning of her passing, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. honored her by saying, “We at the Supreme Court mourn the loss of a beloved colleague, a fiercely independent defender of the rule of law, and an eloquent advocate for civics education. And we celebrate her enduring legacy as a true public servant and patriot.” In his eulogy at her funeral, President Joe Biden reminded us that “One need not agree with all her decisions in order to recognize that her principles were deeply held and of the highest order and that her desire for civility was genuine.”

By Pranya Duvvuru - Writer - October 10th, 2023

On September 15, almost 13,000 United Automobile Workers union (UAW) workers walked off the job at three auto plants in Ohio, Missouri, and Michigan. These plants are owned by the “Big Three” automakers: Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Since then, the strike has expanded to 38 parts distribution centers owned by G.M. and Stellantis (Ford was not included in the expansion due to what the union says is progress in its contract negotiations with the company). 

The UAW began their strike to advocate for better pay in their contract negotiations with the automakers. Their demands include a 40 percent wage hike over four years, a four-day work week, employee pension benefits, and annual cost-of-living adjustments. The union — led by a fiery populist president named Shawn Fain — says that the pay increases match what the top executives of the companies have received over the last four years, compared to the more modest increases in the union workers’ wages. After the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, in which American taxpayers helped bail out the Big Three Automakers, the companies have seen record profits, which has been reflected in the paychecks of the management but not in the workers' wages.

Something that is overshadowing the strikes is the debate over electric vehicles. The Biden Administration has made the phasing out of gas-powered vehicles a central part of its strategy toward the fight against climate change. Thus, it has given many subsidies to companies to increase production and incentives to taxpayers to increase demand for electric vehicles (EVs). EVs have fewer parts and, therefore, require less labor, reducing the need for skilled workers like those who are a part of the UAW. Most popular EV makers like Tesla aren’t unionized, so they can make EVs cheaper than the Big Three. That means that companies like Tesla and foreign automakers will likely benefit from the stalled production of vehicles by the Big Three companies.

By Tanisha Senapati- Editor - March 14th, 2023

On Friday, February 3rd, A wheel bearing on a Norfolk Southern freight train that was traveling toward Conway, Pennsylvania overheated and caused the train to derail near East Palestine, Ohio. The derailment of the train caused a significant fire and the release of numerous hazardous chemicals into the air, ground, and water sources. According to a letter from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, Ethylhexyl acrylate, isobutylene, and butyl acrylate were among the substances spilled.” Each of these chemicals has different environmental and health risks. 

The chemical contamination brought on by the derailment is believed to have killed 43,000 aquatic species on Thursday, February 23, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. While immediately after the train was derailed the city implemented an evacuation order, on February 8th the evacuation order was lifted and since then, state and federal officials have deemed the area's water and air pollutant-free. But East Palestine residents are skeptical. They can still smell the chemicals in the air and many have experienced rashes, sore throats, nausea, and headaches since the accident. 

The impact of the derailment on the environment is the main cause for concern. While contamination is a serious issue in and of itself, there may also be numerous more unintended repercussions. Following the leak, the chemicals may interact in "complex" and "unknown" combinations, spread to new locations, and cause additional harm. Additionally, it has been proven that some of the substances that escaped can have long-term health effects like cancer. U.S. Secretary of State Pete Buttigieg has called for "safety improvements" since some citizens are furious with the government's "slow" response. Citizens have also voiced concerns about how it seems as though the government is covering up this incident as news outlets didn't get word of this incident until a few days after. This is especially alarming given another similar incident happening with the same company later in the same month. 

By Max Huberty Writer - February 3, 2023

Have you ever lost an important rubric for a school project? You get that panicked feeling as you rummage through your folders. Then, while looking through the bottom drawer of your desk, you find a treasure trove of old documents. If this is familiar, know that you’re not alone. Many U.S. Presidents have left multiple classified documents around their houses. Most recently, classified documents have been discovered in President Biden’s Delaware home. 

Unlike the Trump Mar-A-Lago raid, Biden’s lawyers discovered the missing classified documents in the president’s former office in mid-November and turned them over. Later in January, the F.B.I. performed a search of Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware home and found six pages of papers with classified markings. More searches of Biden’s residences have resulted in finding zero new documents. Biden has remained compliant with the Department of Justice and voluntarily allowed the searches. Further investigation is being undertaken by the DOJ surrounding the documents. 

The documents’ contents remain unknown; however multiple documents had “SCI” designation, which stands for “sensitive compartmented information.” SCI designation is for extremely sensitive material from U.S. intelligence services. So, the next time you check your drawers, make sure there aren’t any classified documents hiding at the bottom.

by Emily Hering - Editor - November 18th, 2022

In just a few days after the release of her new album Midnights, global superstar Taylor Swift was breaking streaming records left and right. It’s not the first time she has shattered records set by other artists, and fans have come to associate a new Taylor Swift album with breaking records. What no one had anticipated however, was Taylor Swift breaking the online ticket purchasing site, Ticketmaster. 

       On November 1st, Taylor announced that she would be going on what she’s calling “The Eras Tour”. This means she will be performing songs from all 10 of her studio albums, not just Midnights. This will be Taylor’s first tour since before Covid-19, and she has released 3 new albums and 2 re-recordings since then. It’s understandable that fans were ecstatic to learn that all these new albums, along with her older ones, will be on the set list. I’m sure the enthusiasm from fans is great for Taylor Swift, but unfortunately, even the largest ticket selling platform could not contain the millions of Swifties going after those tickets.

       The pre-sale for Eras Tour tickets was on Tuesday, November 15, at 11 am. Minutes after the clock struck 11, the whole website completely crashed. Some fans got tickets before this happened, but most were either logged out or their screens were frozen. By noon, Ticketmaster had released a statement claiming there was a “historically unprecedented demand” for tickets and gave directions for what fans should do. Hundreds of thousands of tickets had already been sold at this point, but millions of fans who weren’t one of those lucky enough to get tickets right away, were now stuck in a seemingly never ending queue. Most fans' screens simply displayed a message saying there were 2000+ people ahead of them in line, and they needed to keep the window open to stay in line. This means you couldn’t close that tab on your device, in fear of moving even further back in the queue. 

       Here at Eastview, we saw the effects of those stipulations in real time. Teachers and students alike were afraid to close their laptops, walking around with them open all day. Many had family or friends waiting in the queue at home, and those students eagerly awaited the time when they could get their phone from the caddy and check their texts from that person. 

       Eventually Ticketmaster started working again, although many fans who had presale codes were still never able to use them. Everyone was upset by these delays and became even more frustrated when the general sale was canceled due to overselling the presale. This infuriated many people and a response came from Taylor herself on November 18—she said that “my hope is to provide more opportunities for us to all get together and sing these songs”. While many Swifties are still left ticketless, there is hope that everyone will get a chance to see her perform someday.

by Leila Dunfee - Staff Writer - October 2nd, 2022

On September 4, 2022, a mass stabbing occurred in thirteen different locations in Saskatchewan, Canada. This stabbing spree left ten dead (nine of which were of James Smith Cree Nation) and eighteen injured. It is believed that some of the victims were targeted, while others were randomly attacked. It remains unknown as to who is responsible for this attack on an indigenous community.

One suspect is thirty-two year old Myles Sanderson. Sanderson was taken into custody Wednesday, September 7, however, he died quickly after due to “medical distress.” Myles Sanderson did

have quite an extensive criminal record and had been released from prison by the Parole Board of Canada back in February 2022.

Shortly after Myles died, Damien Sanderson (30), Myles’s brother, was found dead due to stab wounds that did not appear to be self-inflicted. It has neither been confirmed nor denied as to if Myles was responsible for his brother’s death. 

The motives regarding the stabbings remain unknown. Because the suspect is deceased, there will be no criminal trial for the murders.

by Max Huberty - Staff Writer - October 3rd, 2011

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, researchers have been developing treatments such as vaccines and antiviral drugs. One such drug, Paxlovid, recently hit the market with emergency approval from the FDA. Now, let’s dive into what we need to know about this.

Paxlovid is a pill that should be taken by high risk individuals to decrease the probability of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Individuals should take the pill twice a day, and in three pill increments for five days after first developing symptoms. According to Kathy Katella writing for Yale Medicine, clinical test trials by Pfizer for Paxlovid had a 89% reduction in hospitalization and death rates. However, in the trials, Paxlovid had reported side effects of an altered sense of taste, increased blood pressure, muscle aches, and flu-like symptoms. Additionally, a “rebound effect” has been reported to occasionally occur. After taking Paxlovid for five days, symptoms from COVID-19 may return, although more mildly. Further research is needed to link Paxlovid to the effect as other patients in the clinical trial who received a placebo saw the same rebound effect. 

Overall, Paxlovid has its cons, but the potential benefit outcomes could be a huge step forward for the mitigation of COVID-19 and is a significant breakthrough for the medical department when it comes to covid.

by Sneha Narra - Editor - October 10th, 2022

Tensions are still high between Ukraine and Russia as the war goes into its seventh month. Both countries have paid heavily with Ukraine nearing 6000 casualties along with about 9000 injured, and Russia claiming to have had 6000 casualties but Kiev challenging that number with a staggering 55000 casualties instead. Earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin of Russia announced that half the Russian army is mobilizing, and that a draft for more soldiers will take place. This decision has met with heavy criticism from the rest of the world, and caused a state of chaos and panic among the Russian people. Meanwhile, Ukraine is getting large amounts of Military, Financial, and Humanitarian Aid from the rest of the world. The United States alone has spent about 54 billion dollars since 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, and the Senate had approved 13.6 billion dollars to aid Ukraine six months ago. 

Russia on the other hand, has been facing a major financial crisis due to the severe sanctions that have been imposed, as well as having over a 1000 major companies pull out of it. At the moment the only two allies Russia could hope to turn to are India and China, the only two countries preventing Russia from complete economic collapse. However, both the countries are also actively providing aid to Ukraine and do not approve Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, last week, both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping both questioned Russia and spoke out against the war, something they refrained from doing so far. 

As of today, Ukraine seems to be having the upper hand in winning the war, and Russia is running out of time and resources required to emerge victorious. Yet, the final outcome of the war is still uncertain, and we have to wait and see what the results are.

Rimika Dhara • Co-Editor in Chief • February 14, 2021

Amidst a storm of Executive Orders released every other day, our new President Joe Biden has also focused a lot of his attention towards fulfilling another one of his campaign promises –– to make his cabinet “look like America”. Not only did he appoint the first female, first African-American, and first Asian-American vice president, Kamala Harris, but he is now said to have the most diverse cabinet in the history of the United States of America. “From the beginning, Vice President-elect Harris and I have sought to build an administration that looks like America,” Biden said in a statement released to NewsHour. “Building a diverse team will lead to better outcomes and more effective solutions to address the urgent crises facing our nation.” Harris furthers this sentiment and emphasizes that “to meet the unprecedented challenges facing the American people, we must build an administration that reflects the very best of our country.”

This diversity transpires not only in terms of ethnicity, but also in regards to gender, sexual orientation, national orientation, familial background, etc. There are several notable firsts in Biden’s picks. In addition to the barrier-breaking Vice President Kamala Harris, there will be America’s first female Treasury secretary (Janet Yellen), its first openly gay secretary (Pete Buttigieg, for the Department of Transportation), its first Native American secretary (Deb Haaland, for the Department of the Interior), the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence (Avril Haines) and the first immigrant to lead the Department of Homeland Security (Alejandro Mayorkas), to name just a few. This is historic in comparison to the last four cabinets organized in modern American politics. Here are some statistics published by the New York Times that shed light on the previously prevalent disparity: 

Gender Composition of Cabinets: [Percentage of Women | Percentage of Men]

Clinton: 24% | 76%

Bush: 21% | 79%

Obama: 33% | 67%

Trump: 21% | 79%

Biden: 48% | 52%

Ethnic Composition: [Percentage of POCs | Percentage of White staff members]

Clinton: 32% | 68%

Bush: 25% | 75%

Obama: 42% | 68%

Trump: 17% | 83%

Biden: 52% | 48%

Although these statistics only accentuate the ethnic and gender diversity, I highly recommend further research on this topic to truly grasp its extent. One of my favorite articles that is extremely interactive and informative would be from CNN’s staff writers linked here. Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, senior fellow at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, explains “No matter how you slice and dice the data, whether you’re looking at the cabinet or at White House staff, you’re going to see the same commitment to diversity.” 

 This is an exceptional precedent, especially because this cabinet is the most accurate representation of American population we have ever seen. Civil rights leaders have praised Biden for keeping his promise of creating a Cabinet that better reflects the country's changing demographics. This is evident while comparing the US demographics and Biden’s Cabinet (link here). However, this is only the first step and they are cautiously optimistic. This means that we would finally be able to unify people on all walks of life, uplift communities vulnerable to ignorance and aggression, and truly become “One Nation. Under God.”

Allie Nathan • Staff Writer • January 20, 2021

Newsflash: there is a new strain of COVID-19 now in the United States! Is it time to panic again? The mutated strain labeled the B.1.1.7 variant was first reported in the United Kingdom and quickly spread throughout Europe, and is now being reported in numerous states in the US. A different variant of the virus (B.1.351) was discovered in South Africa only a couple of months later and has spread throughout Africa and parts of Europe. Most recently, a new variant of the virus was discovered in Japan. Are these new variations of the deadly coronavirus a cause for major concern? 

It is completely normal, and anticipated by many scientists, for viruses to mutate. Millions of strains of the common cold virus exist, and, especially for an RNA virus like COVID-19 with lots of geographic space between infections, a mutation of the virus was bound to occur. Robert Bollinger, MD, expert in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins, explains “all viruses mutate over time, some more than others. For example, flu viruses change often which is why doctors recommend that you get a flu shot every year.” Are the new variants of the coronavirus more dangerous than that original strain circulating around the world? 

The reason these new variants have so many people in a panic is because of how quickly they spread. Many experts are predicting that the virus itself contains a genetic mutation in the spike protein which makes it easier to bind to cells, thus resulting in a higher transmission and infection rate. 

Lucky for us, a study conducted by numerous scientists at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, published on January 7th, deduced that the current Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines will be effective in preventing the spread of these new variants. The mRNA vaccine is engineered to help our bodies build an immune response to the virus by training them to recognize a specific version of the spike protein that exists in the most common variant of the COVID-19 virus. While the spike protein of the new variants of the virus is microscopically different, Pfizer and BioNTech affirmed on January 8th that these differences were not significant enough to render the vaccine ineffective.

Despite their higher infection rates, the Council of Foreign Relations concluded on January 7th that these genetically mutated viruses are not more deadly than the strain of the virus that we have been fighting since March, simply more contagious. There is no evidence to suggest that people who contract either the B.1.1.7 or B.1.351 will have worse outcomes. 

As we round the corner into 2021 and hope to leave the disaster that was 2020 behind us, in light of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 variations, experts urge everyone to continue to follow coronavirus protocols. Wear your mask, stay away from risky situations, and when the time comes and the vaccine is available to you, get vaccinated!

Rimika Dhara • Staff Editor • January 17, 2021

Fast Fashion draws many  of its properties from our beloved fast food industry –– it’s cheap, accessible, and, of course, fast. Now, as a consumer, all we can ever demand for is readily available, inexpensive clothing items that will quickly adore (adorn?) our closets with all kinds of trends. However, as Mr. Kelly has taught all of his fellow seniors taking AP Economics, Opportunity Cost will always come back to bite us. In simpler terms, everything comes at a cost. Just like how you can’t devour a BigMac with large fries without butchering your diet, you can’t enjoy the $5 H&M crop-top without burdening the market with cheap labor, poor-quality material, and tremendous textile waste. Not to mention, they are barely going to last a few months.

Merriam Webster defines Fast Fashion as “a highly profitable business model based on replicating catwalk trends and high-fashion designs, and mass-producing them at low cost”. However, the cost that is often forgotten is the one that takes place behind the scenes. Now, I could talk about the environmental harms of the waste  created or the long term financial damage due to poor material and illusion of large savings. But, the ones who suffer the most are the ones who remain in the shadows, unheard and unprotected. Forgotten are those hands that weave the very fabric of our garments. All they receive in return for this cheap labor is a bare minimum wage, unbearable working conditions, legal loopholes, and unethical business tactics that all allure to higher profit margins. 

In 2016, the U.S. Labor Department investigated Forever 21 for unethical business practices occurring here in the United States. The Los Angeles Times reported that garment factories in Southern California paid workers a little less than $4 an hour, and $7 an hour on average. This was $3 less than the minimum wage in California. Here's how that was possible. Fast fashion retailers contract out to garment factories, distancing themselves from what occurs on factory floors. Because most fast fashion retailers do not directly employ the workers making their clothing, they are able to shield themselves from legal responsibilities for poor practices. The retailers set the price and order the manufacturers to make a garment for a specific, very low cost, to the detriment of the underpaid workers. Moreover, most retailers work with factories in developing nations because it is easier to take advantage of the workers due to a lack of labor laws. Some factories even rely on the work of small children. Several companies simply ignore diminishing conditions because profits matter more to them than basic human rights.

There’s obviously a lot to uncover here. There are innumerable loopholes that deprive mostly uneducated and vulnerable workers of their rights. But, the least we can do is investigate. I would highly recommend looking into the several lawsuits against your favorite fashion brands or even their policies. Keeping up with the daily news might just do the trick. We need to discourage brands that condone such practices and encourage retailers that emerge against it. New retailers have taken note of these human rights violations and have built their businesses off of ethical or clean standards. These retailers tend to be pricier, but some consumers are more willing to splurge when they know that a retailer is cruelty-free. Everlane, a retailer founded in 2010, has built its marketing strategy off of its ethical values for manufacturing. 

Forever 21, Zara, H&M, etc. may be affordable but can cause the violation of human rights. The fall of the fast fashion industry is not something that should be mourned. In fact, it signals progress. These simple lawsuits are not the demise of such companies but a mere push for them to do the right thing and strive to commit ethical practices. After all, as consumers, all we can do is demand, and we should demand for nothing less.

Alli Hering • Editor • January 17, 2021

COVID-19 has impacted nearly every aspect of Americans' lives over the past nine months. From our social calendar to our jobs and education, the virus has robbed many of us of the comforts of normalcy. Few would call the United States situation lucky, yet in comparison to those suffering around the world maybe we are lucky. While the United States has had one of the largest amounts of overall cases compared to countries around the world, we also have some of the best hospitals and treatment centers. Our country's wealth and privilege has been highlighted by this virus, COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate, but the ability to treat it absolutely does. As things start to hopefully look up for United States residents, with project Warpspeed and the distribution of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, the rest of the world is wondering if our luck will spread to them as well. 

Other wealthy nations, including EU states and China and Australia are also starting campaigns to vaccinate as much of their population as fast as possible. Unfortunately, developing nations, especially those in the Middle East and Africa, haven’t even had vaccines reach their nation, much less have been able to create distribution plans. Out of the 12 billion vaccines expected to be produced this year, 9 million have already been claimed by rich nations around the world. This clear skew of relief towards wealthy and powerful nations has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to take action. COVAX was set up by the WHO to distribute the vaccines to every nation in the world. Under COVAX each nation is reserved a specific percentage of a specific vaccine-essentially the US might get a hypothetical 65% of the Pfizer vaccine, but Libya could get a hypothetical 55% of the Moderna vaccine. This system was meant to provide flexibility to developing nations, so they can receive more doses of a vaccine that's for example, easier to store, without needing to always compete with wealthier nations for doses. 

Unfortunately the effort might be in vain, The plan for COVAX is to focus on the vaccines that are cheaper but not approved yet including the AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sanofi vaccines. But the three companies have all faced delays in their trials that could push back some possible regulatory approvals to the second half of 2021 or later. Because of the proportion system, this means that many developing countries will simply have to wait up to another year before even starting the distribution of vaccines. 

Wealthy nations like the US are hesitant to give up any of their current or future doses, since many nations are depending on the vaccines to provide herd immunity, something that only works if a large percentage of the population gets vaccinated. It's an unfortunate situation that doesn’t seem to have any spectacularly good solution. Only time will tell how the US project Warpspeed and COVAX and other vaccine distributions plans work out, but in the US, we once again must count our blessings and our luck. 

Thomas Nelson • Staff Editor • December 13, 2020

In the early morning of September 27, 2020, fighting broke out in the Caucasus, a mountainous region south of Russia, as a war that ended 26 years earlier was suddenly reignited. What possibly could have been the cause for such a long-frozen conflict to come back to life all of a sudden? And what was the outcome of this new round of war?

As it turns out, the seeds of the conflict had been planted back in July, when thousands of protestors turned out in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, demanding that their country take back the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which they felt belonged to them. At the time, Nagorno-Karabakh was effectively controlled by the neighboring country of Armenia, a regional adversary of Azerbaijan. Both countries have long-standing history in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and much of their animosity stems from the fact that the area is populated by both ethnically Armenian Christians and ethnically Azerbaijani Muslims. 

To truly understand where this struggle began, one must go back to the early 1990s, when both countries were part of the Soviet Union. After the USSR started to break up, the majority Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh wanted to form its own independent nation, modeled after the autonomous status it had previously enjoyed, but Azerbaijan rejected this, insisting, as it declared independence, that Nagorno-Karabakh was part of its territory. This soon led to clashes between the two ethnic groups, and eventually the Armenian government joined in. Because Armenia had the support of the newly formed Russian Federation, they were able to capture Nagorno-Karabakh and a significant amount of other territory from the Azerbaijanis by the time a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1994. So, for nearly all of its existence as an independent country, Azerbaijan was missing what it felt was a key part of its sovereign territory; this grievance boiled over in 2020.

Following the July protests, the Azerbaijani leadership made the decision to go to war. Part of the reason they now felt ready to do so was that they had gained the support of Turkey, a major regional power. With military aid from Turkey, they felt like they had a much better chance of beating Armenia in a ground war than they did in the early ‘90s. Armenia’s situation had also changed: Nikol Pashinyan was elected prime minister in 2018, and promised to take a stronger stance against Russia than his predecessors. However, this became inconvenient as the threat of Azerbaijan loomed large, as it meant that the much more powerful nation of Russia would be less willing to help Armenia defend itself. With these factors in mind, Azerbaijan went ahead with the invasion, which was supported by Turkish drone strikes.

44 days later, a victor emerged. A three-way peace deal was struck between Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan. However, it was Azerbaijan who clearly came out on top. They were able to recapture much of the land surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the end pressured Armenia to remove all its troops from the region. Russia was also a notable winner from the deal, as it allowed them to ramp up the presence of Russian officials in Nagorno-Karabakh and build a road connecting it to the rest of Armenia. However, Armenia came out with the loss, sparking massive protests in Yerevan, the capital, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Pashinyan. At one point, they even stormed the parliament building. The sad irony is that a war sparked by protests in Azerbaijan ended with protests across the border in Armenia, a microcosm of the never-ending cycle of destruction and animosity in the Caucasus.

Victor Mendez Robles • Writer • November 16th 2020

Over the past 200 years of the existence of the United States, there is at least one thing that connects every year, and that, believe it or not, is elections. There are elections almost every year, ranging from President to Mayor to City Comptroller. For every single election, there has to be a group of decently paid people running behind the scenes of it, making sure that nobody breaks the law. I went through this role as an election judge, on election day.

In the State of Minnesota, every person 18 or older on election day, who is an American Citizen can register to vote, if you have a valid drivers’ license and haven’t moved recently it can take only a couple minutes to register. Over the course of the election day, I registered about 10 people, and it took a very short amount of time.

The morning of election day, we started the day at 6 to set everything up for opening at 7, most election judges worked from opening, to close, which is at 8 o’clock. Even after the polls close, all the poll workers have to ensure that the numbers line up, the numbers being, the ballots we had out, the ballots that were used, and the number of voters, which took us an additional hour and a half to get all set before we could leave. So all things I worked for about 15 and a half hours.

In the morning prior to polls opening, we had to set up booths for people to vote in, the ballot counter, and the check in area for potential voters to receive their ballot. Before the polls opened all of the judges gave an oath, to essentially tell us that voter fraud has serious consequences if any of us do it.

When the polls opened in the morning there was a pretty small wave, about 20 people at most. That’s probably the most people that showed up the entire day, the rest of the day, outside of a couple of hours, was a couple people at a time at most. With some notable events throughout the day being, one guy who did not want to wear a mask, a guy with a Q-Anon tattoo, and a woman who made a mistake on 3 separate ballots.

In the latter half of the day, business was really slow, with maybe the biggest influx being about 8 people at the same time. However near eight o’clock, when polls open, if you are in the line you can come in and vote, so some guy comes in at about 7:50 to come and register, it takes him about 30 minutes to find proper documentation that proved his residency, but he stuck it out, and in the end could vote.

After the polls closed we shut down, and counted all of the ballots, and took down everything else. At the end of the day nearly 900 people voted in person in my precinct, which was about 300 less votes than in 2016, however this can be attributed to mail in ballots which millions of Americans used to vote prior to election day.

In conclusion, I was one of the dozens of poll workers working in Apple Valley on election day, and this is just my experience as a poll worker, it is by no means universal, but it was a great experience that I plan on doing again.

Sohan Addagudi • Editor • October 18, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. Whether it be in school, home, or sports, the Covid-19 problem has altered how we live our lives. But, just like any problem, Covid-19 still has solutions. Currently, federal and state governments have employed a number of “solutions” to counter the pandemic, such as social distancing and quarantining. Yet all of these solutions haven’t completely solved the issue as many people are still being negatively affected by the disease. However, scientists  are working to develop the best solution to this problem: a vaccine. 

In order to create a vaccine, scientists need to use weakened or inactive forms of the virus, make it into an injection, and give it to the patient. The patient's body then builds up a tolerance to the disease, making it able to fight off the actual virus. However, vaccine creation is far more complex than it sounds. Scientists need to go through long clinical trials, FDA approvals, and manufacturing and distribution challenges. As a result, the average vaccine takes around 10 years to develop, costing over 500 million dollars.

With the Covid-19 vaccine, scientists are being pressured to create a vaccine in less than two years, making it far more difficult to create than any other vaccine. Currently, there are a number of different teams working on different Covid vaccines. But due to the difficulty of actually creating a vaccine, only 11 out of 170 Covid vaccines are even close to being approved. These 11 vaccines are currently being tested in large scale trials, with the rest of the vaccines still in small scale trials or none at all. 

Even with the 11 vaccines close to being developed, it’s likely that it will still take a few more months until the vaccine is readily available. This is due to the numerous manufacturing and distribution challenges that companies will face while trying to spread the vaccine. These companies have to distribute the vaccine throughout the world, to nearly 8 billion people making it extremely costly and time-consuming. As a result, the World Health Organization predicts that a vaccine in the United States would be readily available by the summer of 2021. Scientists, however, are optimistic that a vaccine would be available to a small number of healthcare workers by the end of the year if testing goes smoothly.

Overall, vaccines for any disease are extremely difficult to develop and distribute, and the time frame for the Covid-19 vaccine makes it more difficult than any other vaccine before it. However, with scientists working hard, it’s likely that a vaccine will soon be available to the entire world in less than a year.

Thomas Nelson • Staff Editor • October 18, 2020

With the school year underway, it is important to consider the impact that coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) has had on our community and our state. As high schoolers, this disease is especially influential in our lives; after all, maintaining low rates of transmission is crucial to keeping schools open. So far, Eastview has been lucky enough to have very few cases of covid-19, allowing our hybrid learning and school activities to go on uninterrupted. However, there is no guarantee that this will remain the case going forward. In order to determine what direction we are heading in, we must look at some nationwide and statewide trends. For reference, all statistics given are measured relative to population, with each number representing the amount of cases or deaths per 100,000 people in a given state or region.

The U.S. as a whole has been experiencing an increase in the number of cases and deaths since around mid-September. However, this new wave of covid-19 infections has mostly avoided the previously affected hotspots like New York and Florida, instead wreaking havoc on the Midwest region. The states that have seen the greatest increases include both North and South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa, Montana, Idaho, Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma. What you may notice right away is that Minnesota is not on this list; however, all of its immediate neighbors are. As a matter of fact, at one point the five states with the highest average covid-19 cases per day included all four of Minnesota’s border states, with North Dakota leading the way, averaging over 55 cases a day. By contrast, Minnesota is currently averaging only 18 cases a day. So why has Minnesota managed to avoid the comparatively poor situation currently being experienced by our neighbors?

One possible explanation may be that our population is less susceptible to outbreaks, having been hit harder earlier in the course of the pandemic. In May and June, when Minnesota was experiencing (at the time) record-high cases and deaths, North Dakota and Wisconsin had much lower tallies. As a matter of fact, no state in the region matched Minnesota’s death rate of 0.4 per day until North Dakota in the last few weeks. Many of the most vulnerable people in the state either died or developed antibodies during this earlier wave, leaving the state better-protected in the fall, as cases started to trickle in from the east and west. Despite maintaining much lower numbers than our neighbors nowadays, Minnesota’s cases have started to rise gradually, recently experiencing an average of 18 cases over days, setting a new record. For more information, we must now zoom in and look at the picture within the state.

Interestingly, the area of Minnesota that has the fewest cases per capita during this new outbreak is actually the region surrounding the Twin Cities, which up until now has experienced the brunt of Minnesota’s covid-19 deaths. This region has seen 223 cases over the last two weeks, with many parts of western Minnesota having well over 400. Similarly, northern Minnesota has also been experiencing a much higher caseload than the cities. There are a few different factors influencing these intra-state patterns. One is similar to the reason mentioned in the last paragraph; the Twin Cities were hit much harder in May and June, leaving the population more protected against further infection. Another is geographic; the worst-hit counties in Minnesota are those closest to the borders. Because many people in these outlying areas rely on interstate commerce, there is more travel between both sides, bringing infections into Minnesota from all four of the hotspots surrounding us. Finally, the more rural areas tend to have populations that are, on average, older than the cities. With people over the age of 65 being by far the most vulnerable group, these areas are put at a disadvantage.

So what do all these trends mean for us at Eastview? Well, they show that Minnesota isn’t going to be the frontline in the battle against covid-19 any time in the immediate future. On the other hand, we should be wary of the rapid spread of the disease in surrounding states, as it may not bode well for Minnesota going forward. For now, just enjoy the privileges that you have as a resident of a relatively safe area, and take precautions, such as wearing a mask and social distancing, to ensure that we retain access to them.

Alli Hering • Editor • April 22nd, 2020

The past decade has forever changed the political landscape of the United States. From the first African American President, to blocked Supreme Court nominee, a hacked election, and an impeachment trial, Americans have become more passionate and involved when it comes to politics. The 2020 election was supposed to be a culmination of all of these feelings and opinions, a way for Americans to express exactly how they feel about the direction of politics in the United States. The preliminary debates for the election were fiery and direct, with candidates quickly highlighting their agendas and the flaws that they saw in their competitors. As the new year passed and Super Tuesday approached, popular candidates started dropping out such as Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Mike Bloomberg. The race had narrowed but it had actually widened its appeal. People flocked to the primary polls, almost every state saw an increase in voters from 2016. The election dominated the news cycle and everyone was eagerly waiting to see what would happen in the Democratic convention with the top two candidates still in the race Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. 

Unfortunately, the election buzz came to a screeching halt as Covid-19 spread throughout the United States. Between the cancellation of major sporting events, the widespread stay at home orders, and schools across the country going online, Americans focused their attention on the crisis at hand. While Americans attention was diverted, some major events took place in the 2020 primaries, Bernie Sanders dropped out and endorsed Biden. Sanders was a strong candidate with very clear ideas for America, and a large base of supporters. With Sanders out of the race Biden has essentially become the Democrats nominee to go up against President Trump in the 2020 regular election. Unfortunately Biden has more roadblocks ahead. The Covid-19 virus has stolen all the attention, and now Biden has to find a way to diplomatically and carefully win it back. 

Americans on both sides of the aisle are struggling to deal with the major changes in not only their everyday lives but also the economy, and their future. Biden can’t just demand attention be brought back to his campaign, not without insulting the majority of voters. What's more, Biden has to be very careful on how much he comments on the Trump administration's handling of the virus. His supporters need to hear his stance on the issue, and how he would work to combat the virus. However, voters don't want the virus to become a blatant tool to defeat the president, real lives are being impacted, and death tools and market crashes are not catch phrases or “vote for Biden” advertisements. The world is changing due to Covid-19 and Biden has to learn to change with it, in a positive way. 

Right now the Biden campaign is focusing its attention towards finding a vice presidential candidate for Biden's running mate. It's been announced they are looking for a woman, and the vetting process will officially start soon. While the campaign can't ride on the VP search all the way into the fall election, it's clear they need to be conscious of their upcoming announcements and strategies. This election is still America's chance to voice their opinions, and the upcoming democratic nominee needs to decide where his opinions lie and show Americans exactly who they are voting for.

Rimika Dhara • Variety Editor • April 20th, 2020

COVID-19 has not only deprived us of our social life, but has started to eat up our food as well. Amidst this global pandemic, food supply chains are experiencing tremendous amounts of strain from nationwide lockdowns–designed to curb the proliferation of the virus–as they heap pressure on food systems that had very little slack to begin with. The result is evident at a global scale: empty shelves and panicked buyers.

Transportation is at the heart of this global crisis as transportation links continue being tested in unprecedented ways all over the world. A vast majority of the world's food supply is dependent on the shipping of food in containers or board bulk carriers. Shipowners, already shaken due to closures of major ports, are now having to contend with sweeping lockdowns as they hinder access to ports and make crew changes all but impossible due to travel restrictions. Planning of routes has increasingly become a problem for shipowners as major ports around the globe continue to place restrictions and the government continues to amend rules differently in every country. 

Additionally, the shutdown in commercial aviation caused by coronavirus has sharply reduced air cargo capacity, making it harder and more expensive to move perishable goods that need to be delivered at speed. Shipments are being delayed as airlines struggle to arrange for crews, and lockdowns and curfews in countries such as Zimbabwe, Guatemala, Peru and South Africa cause labor shortages on farms. As a result, these cause an obstruction in planting, harvesting and packaging. This impacts transportation of food items that need to be shipped over relatively short time frames. Farmers all over are being told not to plant those food items because it is unclear if their food would be able to reach the market in time.

Labor shortages pose another distressing problem due to this crisis as they threaten to gravely disrupt the supply chains, hike up the prices of general commodities and make high-value items hard to find. These labor shortages are caused not only due to the restricted transportation of goods or travel restrictions, but also due to the risk of transmission of this virus. Workers everywhere have started implementing self-quarantine as grocery stores become high-risk transmission points for the disease. Nearly 3,000 workers of the 1.3 million people represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union have directly been affected by the virus, as of April 13, 2020–whether through infection, quarantine, hospitalizations and those awaiting test results– and 30 had died according to the Union’s research.

Supermarkets face problems of their own as they work around the clock to keep their shelves stocked and keep up with the panic buying. Moreover, just-in time supplies further strain the system that had little to no slack to begin with. Photos of empty shelves and steps taken by retailers to ration purchases suggest that while there may be plenty of food out there, the systems that get it to where it's needed are being stretched. Restrictions imposed by the governments to eradicate the spread of coronavirus is another factor that adds to the demand of supermarkets because people are eating more at home, instead of restaurants. 

A combination of these factors has led to the increasing levels of food shortages that we are experiencing. They also cause an imbalance in food stocks as places with abundance of food are having to throw away these items for a lack of buyers and restrictions on transportation. It is critical for us, as the market buyers, to critically introspect our pantries for excess of food and keep a check. These shortcomings are not only affecting our food industries but also the global economies and countless other industries that are dependent on it.  

Vikash Giritharan • Variety Editor • April 14th, 2020

While our communities, our nation, and our world as a whole are trying to tackle this unprecedented situation, the United States stands out as the epicenter of this devastating crisis. With over 600K confirmed cases and 25K deaths in the United States, the international community has criticized many of President Trump’s actions. However, it begs us to ask the critical question: how does the US’ response to COVID-19 differ from other countries? 

The first answer to this predicament is testing. Although the United States has started to ramp up production in the past few weeks or so, foreign countries were much better at this stage of planning. Countries such as South Korea ramped up tests by producing over 350,000 test kits per day. As a whole, this has allowed the country to test 3x more people than the United States, despite the fact that the US has 7x the population of South Korea. 

Additionally, scientists suggest that the United States let go of key advantages such as preparing for the virus two weeks in advance through a federal lockdown of some sort. It is no surprise that the United States has the most amount of cases in key urban districts. This is more apparent than ever in New York and New Jersey. Due to the millions of Americans that travel in and out of NYC for work through public transportation, many have unfortunately contracted the disease. As a result, hospitals are overfilled and close to a thousand individuals have passed away each day.

Furthermore, other countries have started to take severe action against those who violate lockdown. India has started to become a prime example of this. Recently, those who violate lockdown and are found by the police are forced to perform  embarrassing activities in public or sometimes even physical action in rare cases. As extreme as this may sound, this has led to one of the best precautionary responses to the virus especially in the second most populated country in the world!

All in all, during this time it is crucial for us to unite as a country rather than simply point blame on our current administration. While the CDC and healthcare centers work on trying to find the fastest solution to the current crisis, it’s important for all of us to realize the importance of our social distancing guidelines. Let’s all #StaySafe by following #StayAtHome. Because TOGETHER, we will get through this!

Julia Prewitt • Editor • April 7th, 2020 

Climate change- the scientific community has unanimously agreed that it is a threat, it is almost too late, and that we are not doing enough to fix it. One area that has been seeing dramatic impacts as a result of our inactivity is the coldest place on Earth: Antarctica. The continent is melting more rapidly now than at any point in the past 3,000 years, according to Robert E. Koop et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2016, and it has only gotten worse in the past four years.While West Antarctica has seen the worst of the effects,  East Antarctica, which has reached down to -133.6º F, is melting as well. As the entire continent faces these changes, it is vital to understand how this is occurring, and the implications it has for the rest of the world.

Climate change is coming to Antarctica from all sides, and this makes it one of the most dramatic representations of the larger change occurring across the globe. The primary cause for the melting of Antarctic ice is the rising temperatures. As water and air temperatures shift, the ice is heated from above and below as water flows under the ice shelves. A large factor of the rising temperatures is the changing wind patterns that have been observed in recent years. Because the climate is heating unevenly due to man-made carbon emissions, pressure systems have shifted. This results in warm water and air flowing unnaturally towards Antarctica. The low hanging clouds that are swept in produce change as well. The clouds’ low altitude trap heat at the surface of the ice. Heat at the surface of these glaciers can cause the production of atmospheric rivers. Atmospheric rivers are narrow flows of heated air that carry water vapor. These rivers are swept into Antarctica, and can cause surface ice to melt. Once this ice refreezes, it can cause fractures throughout the glacier and speed up the process of ice being pushed to the coast and broken off. There are a number of complex factors at play that explain the cause for melting ice in the Antarctic, but the underlying cause behind all of them is the man made climate change which is producing higher temperatures in places we have never seen before. 

As ice continues to melt, sea levels will rise. Anders Levermann at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany reports that if climate change goes unchecked, sea levels could rise up to almost 2 ft by 2100. This may not seem like much of a shift, but analysis by Climate Central says that up to 650 million people around the globe live in areas that are threatened by this change. These areas face the possibility of losing homes, cultures, and entire communities. An important factor that further complicates things is the socioeconomic divide this issue exacerbates. Those in poverty are unable to move away from the issues they will inevitably face, while the wealthy have the resources to move to areas unaffected by this shift. This phenomenon of the rich moving away from the impacts of climate change is called climate gentrification. It is a paradoxical situation as the rich are the largest producers of climate change, yet face the least consequences for their actions. Beyond the human aspect, the ecosystem of Antarctica also faces threats. Many animals, including penguins, seals, whales, and albatross will be touched by climate change. As the geography of the area changes, and temperatures continue to rise, smaller marine animals will suffer the greatest losses. However, as these animals begin to disappear, so too will animals like the chinstrap penguins, which depend on them for food. The loss of key players (the small marine life that the largest animal’s diets consist of) is like pulling the bottom card from an already shaky pyramid. A few animals may receive short term benefits from increased habitat, but overall the shift in ecosystem and continued habitat loss will harm them in the long run.

The changes we are seeing in Antarctica are symptoms of a much larger issue. Eastview High School may not be seeing the effects of climate change right now, but we absolutely will in the future. Everyone on the planet is seeing, or will see the horrors of climate change. It is too late to stop many of the changes we will face in the coming years, but if we act now we can minimize the harm and work to right the wrongs that have been made. It is up to us to educate ourselves and those around us about these issues, and to become advocates for the climate. This is our planet, and unless we decide to make a change, it will only fall to disrepair that cannot be fixed.

Valerie Nguyen • Staff Writer • April 7th, 2020

As I sit on my desk earbuds in, as I’m sure many other students are doing at home right now, I look outside to see the bright sun and cloudless sky. It’s kind of bittersweet in a way, how it’s such a perfect day to go outside and run in the grass with friends. And yet, I’m stuck glued to my chair because I can’t go outside, no one can. Due to self quarantine, the cities and towns that once were filled with life and human interaction, are now barren and empty. It seems like COVID-19 has taken everything away from us, graduations, proms, friends, and toilet paper. There’s no way this virus could do any good to us...can it?

It’s crazy to think how a deadly virus can actually have a positive effect on Earth. While the news focuses on death rates, and the newest stories about Trump, some sources have realized that the coronavirus has brought the climate some benefits. No, the virus itself didn’t eat at the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, but our nitrogen dioxide and pollution levels have been decreasing because of the quarantine. According to researchers at Columbia University, “emissions of carbon monoxide due to cars and trucks, have fallen by 50% for a couple of days this week”. This has led to a 5-10% percent drop of carbon dioxide and a solid drop in methane levels in New York City. As less cars and industries are in use, there’s less production of pollutants and harmful gases. There are many reasons as to why this is beneficial to us: it could help decrease global warming, help those with asthma, protect those with a higher risk for cancer, and boost agricultural life. With more pollution comes more harm to humans, and with the virus and quarantine it has slowly but surely dropped that percentage. However, there’s only so much that a few weeks of quarantine can do. The problem is that once this pandemic is over, our carbon emissions can easily spike up again. With governments focused on fixing the economy, there may be a boom in human activity. 

We can’t forget though, that people still need jobs, healthcare, and other necessities to get by in our society. So while we may be safe with the short term effects of stimulus checks and low carbon emissions for now, there’s no guarantee it can be that way in the long term. The coronavirus should be opening our eyes to changing how we deal with issues such as climate change and natural protection. If we keep on polluting, it isn’t going to be a virus that’s harming humans, but humans ourselves. As human activity has decreased these past weeks, the Earth is thriving; dolphins are coming out to visit Italy, the waters are cleaner and clearer, and the air is less polluted. Our planet has done so much to keep us alive and healthy, yet we are constantly using sources of energy that harm it. I see YouTube comments on videos that describe how Mother Nature has released the coronavirus to fight against human activity and help heal herself. While I do think the theories are slightly amusing and make light of the situation we are in, I also think that it’s important to reflect on how we have been treating our one home. So please, stay inside a little while longer even if it’s boring, park your car in the garage, turn on that Spotify playlist, and relax. Protect yourselves, and protect the Earth.

Victor Mendez Robles • Staff Writer • April 7th, 2020

The government plays a huge role in containing the spread of coronavirus. Since the initial outbreak in late 2019 the coronavirus has become a pandemic largely due to governmental inaction. However in the face of the threat coronavirus poses, many governments have scrambled to respond to the virus. In this article we will highlight the approach that various nations have taken, and see how effective they’ve been.

CHINA

China, the stem of the outbreak, has had the most time to respond. In December 2019 Chinese medical professionals found a new threatening virus, yet their attempts to warn about it were met with their arrests. After government officials were aware of the virus, the Chinese state controlled media did not mention coronavirus for weeks, allowing it to spread in its infancy. It was not until December 31st that China notified the World Health Organization of the coronavirus. On January 23rd 2020, after about a month of the world knowing about the Coronavirus, the government completely shut down Wuhan, China, which was where the outbreak originated from. Officials later put harsh restrictions on the entire country. China’s complete and total shutdown has been highly successful; since March 19th, China has not recorded a new case of coronavirus. However not every country can have the same restrictive measures that China has. 

ITALY

Italy, as the first country in Europe to encounter the outbreak, was very lackluster in their preventative measures. On January 31st Italy encountered its first case of the coronavirus. Nearly five weeks later, on March 9th 2020, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte locked down the entire country. This bold policy choice was made in response to the way coronavirus truly overran the nation. To date, they have the highest number of deaths from the virus, and their healthcare system has nearly collapsed under the strain of the virus. The measures that Italy implemented in early March have started yielding their first positive effects. Italy is starting to see the rate of newly infected people start to go down, and they are also starting to see that the number of deaths per day is also declining. The Italian government said in a statement that it would be at least until Easter (April 12th) until they would start to ease restrictions on their social distancing measures.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea has developed a comprehensive disease control plan, based off of previous outbreaks of other diseases. On January 20th South Korea recorded their first case of the coronavirus; they had a quick response, testing everybody that had come into contact with the infected people. South Korea has tested over 270,000 people, which allowed them to contain the virus. South Korea has been highly successful with their method of testing a huge number of people. By doing this, South Korea did not have to resort to shutting down the country like China, Italy, and the United States. While South Korea has had a very comprehensive plan, some other countries do not have such a detailed plan, such as the United Kingdom.

Great Britain

The British Government, for the first month of having the virus in the country, held the notion that if they allowed their citizens to be exposed to the virus, then they would slowly build herd immunity. This method involved at risk groups staying home, and letting young people who seem to develop COVID-19 as a more mild illness to develop immunity. Prime Minister Boris Johnson realized the inadequacy of this method, and on March 16th the British government issued a stay at home order for non-essential travel. The order was issued over a month and a half after the UK had their first case. The United Kingdom, unlike many other countries, are still seeing an increasing rate of infection daily. This trend can be attributed to the slow government response. However, since the United Kingdom has put into place the shutdown on non-essential travel, the rate of infection has been increasing at a much slower rate. 

INDIA

In late January, India recorded their first case of coronavirus. By February 6th, there were three cases in total, all of which were from students who had returned from Wuhan China. There are now over 4,000 confirmed cases in the nation. Almost two months later, on March 24th, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told all 1.3 billion Indian citizens to remain at home. This shutdown of the country is complete, closing all businesses, and shutting down all travel. This leaves millions of Indians without essential products and services. In addition, the Indian government has done a sub-par job in the amount of testing they have been doing, so the number of cases in India is likely much higher than what current testing has it at. India is still experiencing an ever increasing infection rate, the fact that the majority of Indians live in close proximity to one another does not help that fact either. While the measures will result in less infections, no positive benefits have yet to be seen.

By Thomas Nelson  Editor    April 7th

With all the time to spend at home, you may have seen some of Governor Tim Walz’s daily updates about Minnesota’s fight against the coronavirus. As this article was written, the number of diagnosed cases of covid-19 (the disease caused by the coronavirus) was nearing 1,000 in our state alone. However, it should be noted that Minnesota has done an exceptional job of preventing the virus’s spread. As a matter of fact, we have fewer diagnosed cases per capita than any other state. So, besides the governor’s daily briefings, what is our state doing to fight coronavirus?

On Thursday, March 26, Bethesda Hospital, the first hospital in the country specifically devoted to covid-19 alone, opened its doors in St. Paul. After just a week, the hospital had transformed from a long-term acute care hospital into one equipped with 35 ICU (intensive care unit) rooms. Intensive care is a term used to describe the important care and life support given to people with an urgent or potentially life-threatening illness who need to be treated immediately, so it makes sense that we will need a lot of it in order to fight covid-19. Around the world, there is currently a shortage in the number of ICU beds available, meaning that new rooms with intensive care capabilities had to be quickly constructed. Hopefully, with Minnesota taking advance steps to ensure that we have enough rooms to be able to treat patients who need ventilators and other critical life-support systems, we will be better off than places like New York, which has seen the amount of covid-19 cases completely overwhelm its capacity.

Some Minnesota companies have also been stepping up to help fight the pandemic, most notably Maplewood-based 3M. 3M normally makes industrial goods like tape, sandpaper and plastics, but have recently started manufacturing large amounts of N95 respirator masks.  N95 masks are the kind you would see on a healthcare worker or someone else exposed to dangerous particles on a regular basis; they come with built-in filters that prevent small particles from getting through. These are not the kind of masks that general citizens are recommended to wear, they are best left for first responders who are in desperate need of them. On Monday, April 6, President Donald Trump announced that 3M would make 166.5 million new masks over the coming three months. These masks will help to alleviate the burdens on those working on the front lines across the globe.

Not to be forgotten are Minnesota’s citizens, who, so far, have done a relatively good job of following social distancing guidelines. Minnesotans, who generally tend to be rule-following types, received an A- grade from Unacast’s covid-19 response scorecard, which tracks the levels of activity in various places. Unacast’s findings have shown that non-essential trips in Minnesota have dropped by 70%, and traffic levels have been 34-55% lower since Governor Walz’s stay-at-home order started. Minnesota’s history indicates that we are pretty good at social distancing; when an influenza epidemic broke out in 1918, the city of Minneapolis shut down churches, schools and other gathering places promptly, and saw a much lower amount of deaths than some cities that didn’t.

Of course, there is still some work to be done. Governor Walz says that we are competing against other states and the federal government to receive supplies like masks and ventilators. Some experts worry that, as more people start wearing masks in public, they will gain a false sense of security and abandon precautions like social distancing and not gathering in crowds. Some worry that people will buy up masks for personal use, leading to shortages for medical workers. But, the numbers indicate that Minnesota has been much more efficient and effective at combating this pandemic than a lot of the other states and countries afflicted by it.  So, let’s keep it up, Minnesota. It’s certainly hard to go for weeks without seeing your friends or participating in your favorite activities. But our sacrifices have gotten us this far, and, if we keep following the guidelines, we’ll eventually be able to see off covid-19.