Student of the Month Story Lede

Who- Sophie Wolfe
When- March 2020
What- Student of the Month
Where- James Bowie High School
Why- Because she balances activities and school all while giving her best effort
How- Principle appointed



         Sophie Wolfe is Bowie's student of the month for March 2020, chosen by the principle because she balances her schoolwork and activities while giving it her best effort.

"My GPA is 4.7," Sophie shared.

Sophie is very smart, she often tutors other classmates.

"She is always helping other students when they don't understand,"said Mrs.Shmuela, Sophie's geometry teacher.

Sophie is involved in a lot of school activities and organizations.

"I'm in journalism and KEY club. I do a couple sports too! Basketball and soccer."

However Sophie also has a lot going on outside of school.

"I'm a U.S. secret spy agent, and I own a record label."

So she doesn't have a ton of spare time but when she does she likes to just hang out.

"When I'm not busy I like to spend time with my friends and family."

Sophie explores other interests through her hobbies.

"I like to play guitar and bake."

Sophie also enjoys literature.

"English is my favorite subject," she told us, "I love to read and write."

Even though Sophie is the Student of the Month, she has failed something before.

 "I got a 36% on an algebra test once. My parents weren't very happy."

She is high scoring in all subjects, but Sophie still has preferences.

"I think my least favorite subject is Geography. It's hard to understand."

Sophie gives school her all and does everything thing she can to help her grades.

"I do ALL the extra credit," she said.

She is studious and good with managing her time when it comes to school.

"I quiz myself every night before bed, says Sophie."

She brings her study habits to her friends too.

"She has a good influence on me, some times we'll be hanging out and she'll suggest a flash card quiz to prep for a test," said Sophie's classmate (and best friend) Cassie.

Sophie plays an important role her friend's lives.

"She always has our best interest at heart," says Cassie.

Sophie leads others to do the right thing.

"She is the moral compass of our group," Cassie shared.

Sophie is willing to lead anyone in the right direction.

"I enjoy group work. I'm often the leader of the assigned teams," she said.

Sophie tries to have a good outlook on the day and keep her energy positive.

"I start everyday with the same quote that's written on my mirror, Make today great."

Additional Student of the Month Interviews

Fellow Classmate of the Student of the Month: Cassie 

1. What kind of influence does Sophie have on you? She has a good influence on me, some times we'll be hanging out and she'll suggest a flash card quiz to prep for a test.

2. What kind of student is she? She is a very good student, I'd say her grades are higher than a lot of our friends.

3. Does she have an affect on your group of friends? She is the moral compass of our group.

4. What kind of person do you think she is? Sophie is a nice and responsible person.

5. Do you think she is a good student as well as a good friend to have? Yes, she always has your best interests at heart.

A teacher of the Student of the Month: Mrs.Shmuela

1. What class do you teach Sophie? I teach her Geometry

2. What kind of student is she in class? She is a very good listener and does her best to stay on task.

3. Do you notice her helping out? She is always willing to lend a hand to students around her.

4. Do you feel like she tries her best? Yes, she is a hard worker. 

Inverted Pyramid

My Top Story of the Century

1. John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dallas-1963
           On November 22, 1963, while riding through Dallas, Texas in an open top convertible, John F. Kennedy was assassinated. He was on a political outing supposedly trying to win over Texas for his reelection the following year. When the car passed the Texas School Book Depository at 12:30, Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired 3 shots from the sixth floor fatally wounding President Kennedy and seriously injuring Governor Connally. Kennedy was pronounced dead 30 minutes later at Dallas' Parkland Hospital.

           I think this is one of the top 3 most interesting events from the 1900s because it involved one of the greatest presidents getting shot. He was very well liked because of his views on equality. It's also very fascinating because of the books and articles written on the possible conspiracies that could've taken place. There are so many theories that go off the belief that there were multiple people aiming at the president and Oswald was framed.
       

2. John Glenn becomes first American to orbit Earth- 1962
         On February 20, 1962, NASA sent John Glenn to orbit Earth. They would observe his reactions and bring him back safe. After 3 years of training, Glenn rocketed into space on the Mercury capsule
Friendship 7. Near the end of his orbit, Glenn had to abandon the automatic control system and use the manual electrical fly-by-wire system.
            
         This was a significant event in the 1900s and in American history because before Glenn, it was unheard of for anyone to be able to orbit the Earth. He was also considered an American hero after a yaw attitude jet clogged and he had to abandon it.
         
          

             



3. British rock group The Beatles takes the United States by storm after debut on the Ed Sullivan show- 1964
            On February 9, 1964, "The Beatles" made their first live American television appearance. They preformed on Ed Sullivan and opened with "All My Loving" and followed up with Paul McCartney sining "Till There Was You," and then finished their first set with "She loves You." After the hour long broadcast, the Beatles performed two more of their most well known songs, "I Saw Here Standing There" and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand."
           
              The Beatles impact of American music shaped the way other performers arranged their music. Some even think the Beatles were the original rock and roll group. This event was of high importance in the 1900s because it inspired the styles of music that would come out from years to come.

Student of the Month Interview

I interviewed Sophie, our "Student of the Month"

1. What is you GPA? My grade point average is 4.7
2. What school activities are you involved in? I'm in basketball, Journalism, and KEY club.
3. What out of school activities are you involved in? I'm a U.S. secret spy agent, and i own a record label.
4. Do you do any community service? I do service projects in KEY club and I work at a food bank.
5. Do you have an inspirational quote you live by? "Make today great"
6. What class would you say your best at? I'm probably the best at English.
7. What subject do you think your weakest in? Geometry 
8. Have you ever failed a test? Tell us about it. Yes, it was in algebra last year. I got a 36% and my parents weren't very happy.
9. What are some study techniques you use? I quiz myself every night.
10. What is a hobby of yours? I play the guitar.
11. What do you like to do for fun? I like to bake and hang out with my friends.
12. Do you have a lot of spare time? What do you do with it? I don't have a lot of spare time, but when I do I exercise and spend time with my family and friends.
13. Do you play any sports? Basketball and soccer.
14. What is your favorite subject? English, because I love writing.
15. What is your least favorite subject? Geometry, it's hard to understand.
16. How do you handle group work? Pretty good, I like being the leader in group work.
17. Do you work better independently? No, I enjoy having a group.
18. Do you do a lot of extra credit work? Yes, I do ALL the extra credit.
19. How do you handle stress? I cry
20. Do you enjoy reading? Only if it's for fun, if I'm being forced or it's boring then no.

*For sources you can use a teacher and a classmate of the "Student of the Month"

CE 1.4

1. How many days and what cities will the Pope visit here in the United States? Page A1 "Pope greeted by Obama..."  The Pope is here in the U.S. for 6 days and plans to visit the White House, address Congress and the United Nations, and take part in a conference about the family in Philadelphia.

2. What are the terms of the occupancy limits the Austin city council just approved? Page B3 "Party's over..." The Austin city council just approved terms of occupancy limits for short term renters...

- No more than six unrelated guests

- No more than ten guests total

- No more than two people per bedroom, plus two

- No assembly of more than 6 people outside, and no outside gatherings past 10pm

3. What did Volkswagen alter in its cars that has been discovered and will cost them billions of dollars to fix? Page B7 "'I am endlessly sorry..." Volkswagen added a software that evades emission controls, and they've set aside a billion to cover costs.

4. Who did the Dallas Cowboys sign as a back-up quarterback in the wake of Tony Romo's shoulder injury? Page C1 "NFL Cowboys" The Dallas Cowboys new back-up quarterback is Matt Cassel.

5. What are the two central Texas companies who have said that they might not expand their business if tough new emission rules are passed? Page A1 "Clean air rules may be costly.."

The central Texas company is Samsung, who said they would most likely not expand if the new emission rules are passed.

Read the story on Page A1 - Students add their voice to finance case

Summarize in 2-3 sentences what you read.

Ten students in Houston, TX spent their summer researching and writing a legal brief for the sake of better education. They believe that the Texas Supreme Court shouldn't rule on state's school finance scheme without their perspective.

What do you think about those students?

I admire these students for showing such determination. All the work they did was for the sake of the community and the quality of education Texas students are receiving.

Will their efforts mean anything, in your opinion?

Their efforts and thoughts on this subject may or may not be considered "valid" by adults or government officials, but I think it's not about the outcome. It's about how students are going to voice their opinion on the subject and take control of their own education. So their efforts do me something to me.

What did you learn about the state finance system for public education?

I learned that the state has raised education standards, but hasn't done much to fund the resources to do so.

School Uniforms

#1 Sources
Some sources I can use include the principle, a teacher, a student, a parent, and a member of the school board (if you have the ability to).

#2 Questions
1. What's the new uniform?
2. How was it chosen?
3. Why is it being implemented?
4. Was input taken from the community?
5. What's your opinion about the new uniform?
6. Do you think it was considered in the process?
7. Will students have free choice of shoe?
8. Will there be a uniform jacket?
9. Will there be rules preventing students from adding more non-uniform layers during winter?
10. Are accessories permitted?
11. Where will families purchase all of these items or clothing?
12. Are they available online?
13. What are the prices for the uniforms?
14. Is there financial support for families who can't afford it?
15. What is the punishment for being out of uniform?
16. Will it go on a student's permanent record?
17. Could consist out-of-uniform violations result in expulsion?
18. Why should students have to wear uniforms?
19. How do you think (other) students feel about this uniform versus what they where on the weekends?
20. What effect does the district wide uniform policy have on you?

CE 1.3

1. Where was the Republican party presidential debate held yesterday evening? Page A1 "GOP hopefuls, Round 2" 
The debate was held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California.

2. What is the major concern that apartment complex owners (the Bernhards) have about the proposed Megabus terminal that may be built across the street from their building? Page B1 "Likely neighbor fights..."
The main concern of the Bernhards is the the terminal's 6am to midnight operating hours.

3. Why does Uber want to expand into East Austin? Page B7 "Wanted: 5,000 East..."
Uber wants to expand into East Austin because they believe there could be a lot of business as well as new employees. They also want to help improve transportation options in that area.

4. What are the 5 things that the new Athletic Director at the University of Texas, according the  information on page D1 "Defining Interim"
According to "Defining Interim" the new athletic director, Mike Perrin, has a to-do list. He needs to embrace the coaches, say thank you, wrap up the Nike deal, and keep the trains moving. 

5. What is so unique about two new sculptures on the 1st Street Bridge? "Page D1 "Rain Dance"
The two new sculptures on the 1st Street Bridge change shape and move during throughout the day. It is wired to receive data from the austin rain gauge.

 "Teen clock raises alarm"
1. What do you think about this story? Please be specific....tell me why.

I heard about this story yesterday and it was really disappointing. After reading the full article today my opinions haven't changed. I think young engineers and scientists should be allowed to explore and build technology without fear of school suspension and arrest. I understand the safety concerns, but there was no evidence of Ahmed trying to harm anyone or anything.
2. Do you think he was singled out because of the color of his skin or his descent?

I definitely think there was stereotype involved with the matter, despite what officials say about doing the same thing to any other student. It's a small town in Texas, there are going to be issues with race and religion.
3. What do you think should happen to the school district officials who did this?

School district officials involved in this will get a lot of hate and publicity so I don't think anything has to be done as far as losing their positions. If it happens again they will have learned their lesson about taking things to far, to fast.
4. Should the boy be compensated somehow for this action?

The boy is getting a lot of support on social media right now, and is going to the White House to meet President Obama soon. I feel like that is compensation, or at least an attempt depending on how offended by this he is.

Headlines, Links, and Photos

1.

Saudi officials: Crane collapse at Mecca Grand Mosque kills at least 87

2.

Texas responds to bands having to buy tickets at UT games

3.

Refugee crisis: Chaos as Hungary blocks migrants at Serbian border

4.

2 students killed in Houston school bus crash

5.

Target challenges Amazon, enters grocery delivery with Instacart

6.

Snapchat will let users pay to replay Snaps

7.

Justin Timberlake Shares the Cutest Photos 

of Baby Son Silas: It's "Insanely Amazing"

8.

Texas fires athletic director Steve Patterson amid fan unrest

9.

Photo of Sickly Polar Bear Signals Tragedy Ahead in Arctic

10.

Fast-food chains still overwhelmingly use antibiotics: study 

11.

Nickel Coverage: Five questions that need answered before Week 1

CE 1.2

1. How much money could a typical homeowner save next year in taxes under the $3.5 billion budget just passed by the Austin City Council for a median-valued home? Page A1 "Austin council approves..."
A typical homeowner could save $14 next year in taxes.

2. What are two similarities between a new group of human-like creatures recently discovered to today's human, according to the article on page A3 "Study: bones reveal...:
Two similarities between humans and this new creature are the hands and feet.

3. What do you think about Ben Loconte's plan to swim across the Pacific Ocean? Page A17 "The Watercooler" bottom right corner of the page.
I admire Loconte's determination to swim 8 hours a day. It's going to be a lot of work, but his idea to focus on an event or memory every hour is clever.

4. What are two new things available on the iPhone 6s and 6s+? Page B6 "What's inside matters..."
The new iPhones 6s and 6s+ have a better picture, with 12 megapixels instead of 8. They also include the new 3D touch system. You can save a series of taps to get you a shortcut from the home screen to any app you want to go.

5. Which of the 10 items "Back to the Future" predicted would be around in 2015 would you like to own" Page SA2 Tech Extra "10 things..." AND which gadget do you think is the coolest on the next page SA3 Tech Extra "Must have..."

A gadget I'd like to have from the movie "Back to the Future" is the smart clothes. The hoverboard is a classic too. My must have gadget from Tech Extra is the iShower2.  

       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Do you think that the person in the article got the money they deserved? I think the money was well-deserved , but in my mind you can't put a price on harm. It's all in the eyes of the victim.

2. What do you think about people who are somewhat shady, but aren't necessarily breaking the law, and then get arrested and later sue and are award some sort of money for the actions of law enforcement? People who are somewhat shady should be prepared for some attention from authorities, but the money given to Carlos Chacon was payed out for the way the attention was delivered. I don't think it's bad to receive money as long as you were the true victim in the situation.

3. Should they get that money?  Yes, they should get that money. When law enforcement is taken to the next level like that, there needs to be some compensation. It doesn't have to be as hefty as the payout given to Chacon, but there should be something.

4. Even if they have a criminal record? Police officers can take advantage of those records and target or purposely mistreat past criminals. People can over look the rights of past felons. They still deserve money or trial or whatever else an everyday person would get if they were messed up by a cop.

5. How much money is too much for someone who wasn't killed? Why? Nothing above $500,000 for someone who wasn't actually killed. You can't keep a reasonable budget if the government pays out $1 million to a family or person who didn't suffer a loss.

6. How mush is enough for someone's family who was killed? Why? The price on an actual death is ineffable. You can't ever give back enough to someone who's had to lose a mom, dad, or child. There should be a government limit or estimated price for a family who has lost a loved one to a situation like the one discussed in the article, but you can never give someone anything to compensate for the life of a human being.

7. Why do you think we are seeing more of this in our society today? I think we are seeing more situations like these in our society today because stereotypes can blind people from seeing the innocent and seeing the guilty. It's difficult to decipher what actions you are supposed to take when your faced with a possible criminal, but you should never shoot, or beat up, someone who hasn't even been arrested and tried.

Ethics

1. Using the Holocaust as a Metaphor
              The article, "Using the Holocaust as a Metaphor", is focused on PETA's, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, new campaign. The name, "Using the Holocaust as a Metaphor", is comparing the murder of animals for human use to the mass killing of Jews in World War 2. I think it is wrong to use this kind of comparison because not only are the animals representing the Jews, but it's ethically wrong to use this kind of emotional and dark scenario to market a new business venture.

2. A Suspect "Confession"
             "A Suspect Confession" is about the arrest of John Mark Karr, who sent emails to University of Colorado journalism professor, Michael Tracey. Tracey alerted the authorities after drawing some evidence from emails that have been sent over the past for years. Karr was sent back to Boulder, Colorado and DNA tested. He passed, but still wasn't released because he faced charges from a past crime in California. I think Michael Tracey did the right thing. Article were published, but he didn't keep the truth from authorities and that could protect people in the future.

3. A Self Serving Leak
               The article,  "A Self Serving Leak", was about two reporters, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, who were willing to go to jail to protect their source. As it turns out the leak, lawyer Troy Ellerman, was manipulating them and brought a case to court against his clients. A few years later, after the reporters were sentenced jail time, Ellerman admitted he was the leak and the reporters never served time or discussed the case any further. I think a confidentiality agreement is too hardcore, because in the worst possible scenario you would need to release information to protect other people. But after Ellerman manipulated them, he lost his protection. The reporters didn't have to have his back after that.

News Values

1. TimelinessThe student mountain climber story is an exciting achievement, especially since she's the first woman to do it, but if it hadn't happened August 29th we wouldn't still be publishing stories about it."Columbia student becomes first woman to free climb "murder wall" in Swiss Alps"http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/04/sasha-digiulian-murder-wall-swiss-alps/ "Pick your classes. Stock up on study snacks. Buy a shower caddy. These are just a few things the average college student might do the week before the semester begins.But if you’re Sasha DiGiulian, you’re gearing up for the school year by setting some serious records.On Aug 29, the 22-year-old professional rock climber became the first woman to free climb the perilous Magic Mushroom route up the North Face of the Eiger in the Swiss Alps. She and her climbing partner, Carlo Traversi, were the first American team to make the ascent.“There were definitely points on the climb where I would feel almost paralyzed by fear,” she says. “It hit me in waves, realizing the extent of the danger that the Eiger actually has to climbing it.”Although she and Traversi arrived in Switzerland Aug 1, they didn’t summit until the Aug. 29, largely due to inclement weather conditions. Storms can roll in unexpectedly on the Eiger, she says, which increases the danger of rock fall.“And when they’re large chunks of rock, no helmet is going to protect you,” DiGiulian says.In addition to the threats of dangerous weather and falling rocks, DiGiulian says she also had to overcome the pure physical exhaustion that comes along with a challenge like the Eiger.“On Saturday morning before reaching the summit and completing the climb, I felt like I couldn’t even open my hands, they were so tired,” she says. “It’s a lot of suffering, and a lot of convincing yourself that you can do something when there’s a lot of uncertainty and doubt.”When she’s not scaling cliffs, DiGiulian is a senior at Columbia University. She says she tries to split her time between her school and her sport.“I have a nontraditional approach to school, in that I live off-campus in my own apartment and travel every weekend,” she explains. (Living off-campus is rare at Columbia, where nearly all undergraduates live in university housing all four years.) “When I’m traveling, I’m doing school work on the plane.”DiGiulian schedules her classes for three days each week, and then spends Thursday through Monday traveling — on a climbing trip, at a speaking engagement or attending an event for her sponsors, which include Red Bull and Adidas Outdoor. When asked about her weekend plans, she tosses around the names of cities she’s planning to visit might the way most students toss around restaurant ideas.“I’m probably leaving for LA tomorrow to go climb Mount Whitney,” she says nonchalantly. She should be back just in time for the start of class this Tuesday.Despite her hectic schedule, DiGiulian balances her school life and professional life with the same precision with which she scales mountains — and she has genuine passion for both pursuits.“School was something I was brought up to value,” she says simply.And when she talks about her recent summit, her voice gets soft and dreamy.“Up on the Eiger you’re living in your own little world. You look around, and you see a sublime landscape of mountain ridges and snow-capped peaks,” she sighs. “It’s beautiful.”



2. ProximityIt is no longer against the law to skip school in Texas. Instead of a misdemeanor, its not considered a civil matter. This law doesn't affect any other state, so it's a case of proximity.*Found in Austin American Statesmanhttp://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/AustinAmericanStatesmanNIE/


3. ProminenceI think the article is prominent because it was a big deal when Kim Davis refused to acknowledge the Supreme Court ruling, and now there's a happy ending to the story."With Kentucky clerk in jail, gay couples receive marriage licenses"http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/04/rowan-county-ky-clerk-marriage-licenses/71692046/MOREHEAD, Ky. — Same-sex couples began receiving marriage licenses Friday in Rowan County, Ky., a day after the county clerk was sent to jail for refusing to issue the licenses.At least three couples received licenses Friday.William Smith and James Yates were the first same-sex couple to obtain a license from Deputy Clerk Brian Mason on Friday morning.Yates and Smith had an emotional embrace at the counter as soon as the clerk handed them a license. They shared the same a few moments later with Yates' parents outside, where supporters chanted "love has won."The couple said they were elated and overwhelmed to obtain their license, a day after Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court order allowing gay marriage.Yates said no one wanted Davis in jail, they just wanted her to provide the paperwork, and the couple didn't expect to be first in line Friday."This means, at least for this area, that civil rights are civil rights," he said. "We're very happy."A second couple, Tim Long and Michael Long, also received a marriage license Friday.The Longs said they had a commitment ceremony in 2008, and Michael Long had his name changed. But they wanted to be legally married in their home county, and after being denied once, they held up their license to reporters before heading back to work."We feel like we are accepted, like everyone else," Tim Long said, calling the day "very significant" for equal rights.It was the sixth time that Yates and Smith had sought a license. Yates said they already have two dates in mind for a wedding at a family home.Rowan County issued a little more than 200 marriage licenses last year, roughly two every three workdays.Tim Long, 51, said he is torn over Davis and feels sorry that she is in jail, "but she done it to herself." He said it's sad that couples have to battle so much spite to get basic rights.For April Miller and Karen Roberts, another couple who received a marriage license in Rowan County, they understood the enormity of the moment."We know this is bigger than just us," said Miller in an interview. "We have a handful of clerks around the country who are not listening to what the law is."Miller, a 54-year-old Morehead State University education professor and Roberts, a teacher, said they'd been together 11 years before joining the lawsuit to force Davis to issue the license.Signing the forms as cameras clicked, Miller said, "Oh my gosh, I'm so excited." Miller said they plan to marry in a small ceremony.They said they did not view themselves as heroes and were not feeling triumphant over Davis, who was jailed Thursday."We should have been able to get this the first day we walked in," Miller said. "This is about the rights of everyone."Earlier Friday, Davis' husband, Joe, said she was in good spirits and is prepared to remain in jail for months.Outside the Rowan County Courthouse, Joe Davis called U.S. District Judge David Bunning a bully for jailing his wife Thursday for contempt of court."She won't resign I promise you," he said. "Until something gives, she'll be there."Media outlets from across the country had descended on the courthouse early, surrounding Yates and Smith with cameras and questions. The couple was clearly feeling smothered as they tried to hurry out of the spotlight.Dozens of demonstrators were gathered on each side of the courthouse, waving signs and shouting at each other.Protesters for LGBT rights sang Amazing Grace. Preachers on the other side shouted sermons about immorality and Sodom and Gomorrah.Outside the courthouse Jerry Calvert, a Morehead, Ky., resident said, "It's a good day. It's about everybody being OK, living together."Opponents were also outside the courthouse, waving signs that among other things called the Supreme Court decision that allows gay marriage "illegal."Marsha Moors-Charles, pastor of Bluegrass United Church of Christ, stood with gay-rights supporters and said she was willing to perform marriages if any couples asked. Across the walkway, other ministers shouted damnation.While new civil rights laws are often slow to be accepted by some, she said, the "onslaught of bigotry and prejudice" that has followed the Supreme Court ruling has been "heartbreaking."Penny Stinnett, who was protesting the licenses outside, accused the deputy clerks of backing down and selling "out their salvation" even though Davis has been dedicated to her employees."I think it's sad," she said. "I think everybody in that office should have stood behind Kim Davis."Davis' supporters said a rally is planned at 11 a.m. Saturday outside the Carter County jail, where she is being held. The Liberty Counsel, which has represented her, said it plans a news conference outside the jail at 2:30 p.m. Friday.Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and his son Andy, who is running for attorney general, are targets of their ire, and they are demanding a special session and no votes for the younger Beshear in November.Joe Davis said he has no hard feelings against the five deputy clerks who agreed to issue marriage licenses despite his wife's adamant refusal to authorize the forms.Issuing licenses could pave the way for Kim Davis' release from federal custody, though the judge seems cautious about letting her out too soon.Joe Davis said he doesn't respect or fear Bunning, and he laid blame with Beshear, who has declined to call a special session to rewrite state law on marriage certificates."You ain't no governor because you have no backbone," he said.Joe Davis said he spoke with his wife Thursday night on the phone and the family plans to continue fighting. He said he plans to go to Frankfort next week to confront Beshear.But Davis also said he wouldn't stand in the way of any licenses Friday."We don't want no violence at all," he said. "And we don't hate these people. That's the farthest thing from our hearts."Rowan County Sheriff J.M. Sparks said about 10 officers were patrolling the grounds. Although emotions were high on both sides, he said there had been no arrests related to the protests as of 10 a.m.



4. Impact





5. Conflict 








6. Human Interest              The story about the Syrian family who lost two kids and the mother while trying to migrate to                 Greece from Turkey is a human interest story because it makes people think about their own                   families as well as the tragedies taking place overseas.                                  "Image of drowned Syrian,Aylan Kurdi, 3, Brings Migration Crisis Into Focus"http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/world/europe/syria-boy-drowning.html?ref=world                                                            "The smugglers had promised Abdullah Kurdi a motorboat for the trip from Turkey to Greece, a step on the way to a new life in Canada. Instead, they showed up with a 15-foot rubber raft that flipped in high waves, dumping Mr. Kurdi, his wife and their two small sons into the sea.Mr. Kurdi tried to keep the boys, Aylan and Ghalib, afloat, but one died as he pushed the other to his wife, Rehan, pleading, “Just keep his head above the water!”Only Mr. Kurdi, 40, survived.“Now I don’t want anything,” he said a day later, on Thursday, from Mugla, Turkey, after filling out forms at a morgue to claim the bodies of his family. “Even if you give me all the countries in the world, I don’t want them. What was precious is gone.”It is an image of his youngest son, a lifeless child in a red shirt and dark shorts face down on a Turkish beach, that appears to have galvanized public attention to a crisis that has been building for years. Once again, it is not the sheer size of the catastrophe — millions upon millions forced by war and desperation to leave their homes — but a single tragedy that has clarified the moment. It was 3-year-old Aylan, his round cheek pressed to the sand as if he were sleeping, except for the waves lapping his face.Rocketing across the world on social media, the photograph has forced Western nations to confront the consequence of a collective failure to help migrants fleeing the Middle East and Africa to Europe in search of hope, opportunity and safety. Aylan, perhaps more even than the anonymous, decomposing corpses found in the back of a truck in Austria that shocked Europe last week, has personalized the tragedy facing the 11 million Syrians displaced by more than four years of war.The case of this young boy’s doomed journey has landed as a political bombshell across the Middle East and Europe, and even countries as far away as Canada, which has up to now not been a prominent player in the Syria crisis. Canadian officials were under intense pressure to explain why the Kurdi family was unable to get permission to immigrate legally, despite having relatives there who were willing to support and employ them. So far, the government has only cited incomplete documents, an explanation that has done little to quiet the outrage at home and abroad.Mr. Kurdi, a Syrian Kurdish barber, and his brother Mohammad wanted to immigrate under the sponsorship of their sister, Tima Kurdi, 43, who lives in a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia. She had invited Mr. Kurdi to live in her basement with his family and work in her hair salon.“They can work with me, doing hair, I can find them a job, and then when they are financially O.K., they can move out and be their own,” she said by phone on Thursday.Mr. Kurdi, too, said his sister had told Canadian authorities that she would be “responsible for our expenses,” but that “they didn’t agree.”In fact, Ms. Kurdi said, she had applied at first only for Mohammad’s family, teaming up with friends and relatives to make bank deposits to prove she could support the family.But in June, she said, Mohammad’s application was rejected for lack of a required document proving he had refugee status. But under Turkish refugee policies, such documents are nearly impossible for Syrians to come by. In any case, the experience persuaded the family that neither brother would ever get a Canadian visa.That, Ms. Kurdi said, was when she offered to help her brothers finance the boat trip — something, she said through tears, “I really regret.”Now, she said, “All what I really need is to stop the war. That’s all. I think the whole world has to step in and help those Syrian people. They are human beings.”Aylan was named after a cousin, Ms. Kurdi’s son Alan, she said. She had never met Aylan or his brother Ghalib, 5, but saw and talked to them often on video chat. Aylan’s father grew up in Damascus, the Syrian capital, in the neighborhood of Rukineddine, but was originally from the Kurdish city of Kobani near the Turkish border. A year or so ago, he said in a telephone interview, he moved his family to Kobani because of increasing strains in Damascus. But he said it was not safe there either, with the Islamic State increasingly attacking the area.The family eventually moved to Istanbul, but it was difficult for Mr. Kurdi to support himself, and he had to borrow money from his sister for rent.Ms. Kurdi turned to her local member of Parliament, Fin Donnelly, who hand-delivered a letter appealing for help to Chris Alexander, the citizenship and immigration minister.“We waited and waited, and we didn’t have any action,” he said.In Canada, a country that has long prided itself on openness to refugees but has shifted that policy under a conservative government, this amounts to a campaign issue; Mr. Alexander had promised to admit 10,000 refugees from Syria, just over 1,000 had arrived by late August, and opposition parties like Mr. Donnelly’s say more should be welcomed. On Thursday, Mr. Alexander rushed back from the campaign trail to Ottawa, the capital, to deal with the family’s case, declaring that it “broke hearts around the world.”Mr. Kurdi said he tried several times to cross to Europe on his own. He almost drowned trying to cross the river at Edirne, in Turkey, he said, “and once from the borders with Bulgaria and I got caught and sent back.”Then he paid 4,000 euros, about $4,450, for the sea crossing — paying extra supposedly to avoid using a rubber raft.“Of course we were afraid of drowning,” he said, “but the Turkish smuggler said it was going to be a yacht.”Mr. Kurdi said the family had life jackets that were lost in the accident, but a senior Turkish security official said they were unavailable.Choking back emotion as he spoke, Mr. Kurdi described how he had flailed about while trying to find his children as his wife held on to the capsized boat.“I started pushing them up to the surface so they could breathe,” he said. “I had to shift from one to another. I think we were in the water for three hours trying to survive.”He watched helplessly as one exhausted child drowned, spitting up a white liquid, he said, then pushed the other toward the mother, “so he could at least keep his head up.”Mr. Kurdi then apologized, saying he could no longer speak, and ended the conversation with one parting message.“What I really want now is for the smuggling to stop, and to find a solution for those people who are paying the blood of their hearts just to leave,” he said.“Yesterday I went to one of the smuggling points and told people trying to get smuggled at least not to take their kids on these boats. I told them my story, and some of them changed their minds."

7. NoveltyIt's not everyday you see toy car transportation! This is definitely a novelty story."Texas State student uses Barbie jeep to get around after DWI"http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/03/texas-state-barbie-jeep-dwi/
"Anybody running her name through a search engine long enough will find the peculiar pictures of her rolling around Texas State University in a small, pink, plastic car better known as a Barbie jeep.“That’s Tara,” said her father. “Always got a little drama going on.”The story behind Tara Monroe’s peculiar form of transportation traces back to a recent arrest for allegedly driving while intoxicated. When her dad found out what happened, he didn’t hesitate.“I went and put my bike rack on my jeep and proceeded to drive to San Marcos,” Monte Monroe said. “And I told her, ‘The jeep’s mine. Here’s your bike. This is your new form of transportation.’”His daughter was upset and remorseful, he said, but she also wasn’t very happy about riding a bike around campus.  So she went on Craigslist and bought a battery powered Barbie jeep.“I figured I’d hear back from her,” her father said. “Well, I did hear back from her. She said, ‘Dad, I got a Barbie jeep.’ And she sent me a picture of her in the jeep.”A caption on the photo said, “My dad took my car away because I got in trouble and so I went out and bought my first car.”“She’s a diva,” said her sister, Taylor. “She doesn’t walk. She doesn’t sweat. She’s not going to ride a bike. She’s got to get somewhere, she’s going to figure out how she’s going to get there.  She’s stubborn.”Taylor figures Tara came up with the Barbie Jeep idea because they used to ride a toy car around Kingwood when they were girls.“I was in ninth grade, she was in eighth grade,” Taylor recalled. “We’d do that all the time.  We went through Starbucks drive throughs. The baristas there got a real kick out of that.”Since Tara Monroe bought her Barbie Jeep, photos and videos of her tooling around San Marcos in her toy car have popped up on the Internet. Now she’s getting phone calls from reporters and, frankly, she’s a little frazzled by all the attention. (On Thursday, she declined an on-camera interview.) “I don’t think she anticipated the publicity that would come from it,” her father said. “But I’ve told her, I said, ‘Use this to be an example for other people not to make the same mistake so they won’t be where you are.’”He hopes other students seeing her riding around campus in her toy car will take it as a warning about the consequences of drinking and driving.“She is paying and continues paying the penalties for her actions,” he said. “I want her and everyone else – all the kids in college that get out there and do this type of thing — to learn from it and not do it.”The way her dad’s talking, she may end up driving her toy car for a long time to come.“I don’t have any plans for her to drive for a very, very long time,” he said."

Current Events Quiz 1.1

1. The new police budget, of $394 million,was proposed to the city council this week.

2. The Travis County Jail is working with a training school to help inmates remove their tattoos so they can move past the old memories and get a fresh start.

3. The newly proposed parking pass prices for ACL Fest is $100 per car.

4. AISD will have to spending $2 million less than last year because of the new sharing requirements.

5. The Texas Longhorn football team will be playing Notre Dame this weekend.

Short Answer: Since the Federal Government passed it, state officials should honor the same sex marriage law. Personal opinions are always okay, but when you work for a city or state you work for the people. The people voted yes, so any government system should respect that.