THE CHIEFTAIN MAGAZINE
Chief.
 ISSUE NO. 2
COVER CREDITS AP IMAGES, GETTY PHOTOS CHIEF EDITOR Finn Hogan, Elena Naze
SENIOR EDITOR Grace Fiori
CONTRIBUTORS Elena Naze, Finn Hogan, Grace Fiori, Emma Gould, Katie Coen, Abby Blackmore, Seviya Mast, Valentina Maio
PHOTO CREDITS Josh Eelson/ AFP/ Getty Images, J. Scott Applewhite/ AP Photos Pexels, AP Photos, Getty Images, Sydney Meininger, TM Landry, Mrs. Kong and Digital Photography
Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief. Chief.
CONT ENTS
01
Recap of the DECA Mock Comp by Emma GouldÂ
02
Yellow Vest Riots by Valentina Maio
06
Nashoba in Pictures
15
Faces in the Crowd
17
FEATURE: Our Inheritance The Mueller Investigation California Wildfires National Environment Report
31
Arts and Entertainment
35
New Year's in Three Words
CONT ENTS
WELCOME TO
Chief magazine.
EDITORS NOTE For this issue of the magazine, we wanted to showcase not only the headlines that interested us, but also the issues that were most pressing for high schoolers and the next generation as we become adults. Why are these issues important? In short, because they will be ours to resolve soon. Our generation will soon be making decisions that address the state of the world now. Working, advocating, changing, voting for the Earth we want to live in. Understanding the issues: climate change, democracy, nuclear threats, human rights, helps us make informed decisions about what is best, for not just us but our communities. We hear it every day, our generation is going to have to deal with a lot of pieces to pick up. The amazing thing is we don't just have to put them back together, but we can reshape it to make it a better world for all of us. We hope that this issue helps with the puzzle.
Enjoy the mag, The Chieftain Press
WRITTEN BY EMMA GOULD
On December 8, over 100 DECA members participated in the annual mock competition. This competition allows students in DECA to present their projects to judges and receive feedback to prepare for the regional and state competitions. A wide variety of projects were presented. One project, presented by seniors Olivia Weadock, Brenden Lee, and Jane Bonazzoli, focused on ways to lower the amount of juuling happening in school.
This is Bonazzoli’s fourth year of DECA, “I want to be a business major and I like researching more on a topic and learning how different categories work in business.” When asked about what advice she would give to other new DECA members she said, “don’t be nervous. The judges are willing to listen.”
For new members of DECA, such as freshmen Grace Cassidy and Ava Reisner, this mock competition was a whole new experience. Cassidy and Reisner were part of the EFB (franchise business plan) category and did their project on Clean Juice. Cassidy and Reisner researched new franchises and Clean Juice, a 100% Certified Organic Juice Bar, was in the top three. When asked about what advice they would give to other new DECA members for future competitions, Grace Cassidy said, “don’t be so nervous, it’s not that bad.”
DECA advisor, Mr. A said that his favorite part of the mock competition is “ how excited the kids get especially after competitions. Everyone’s really nervous before the mock comp, but afterwards it’s completely opposite. People love their idea and get really excited.” Good luck to the DECA members in their upcoming competitions!
DECA students present to judges (Credit: Mrs. Grigas)
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A RECAP OF THE DECA MOCK COMP
WRITTEN BY VALENTINA MAIO In November, the president of France,
Most of the protestors were wearing yellow
Emmanuel Macron, approved a law on tax
vest jackets due to a video that a parisian
increase for fuel, not expecting the tragic
man had posted on the internet, asking his
response of the overall Parisian population.
fellow citizens to join him and support his cause by wearing the jacket during the
The main goal the government set was to
protest.
decrease the amount of fuel gases that aggravate the climate every day, and
Because of the tragic events that struck
improve the quality of the air and prevent
Paris which suscitated more attacks on
its pollution from getting worse. To achieve
Macron’s presidency and leadership, the
this goal, the government made the radical
President was forced to scrap the law and
decision to change the taxes on fuel
consider the general opinion of the
overnight. The law drastically damaged the
population.
parisian population, and triggered an estimated 33,000 people clogging the
Another solutions that could have been
streets in protest against the law.
taken, could have been replacing the most
"IT SOON BECAME A MUCH MORE SERIOUS PROTEST"
common fuel-depending public transportation with electric transportation, resulting in an attainment that is profitable and useful for the environment. Less than a month after these rebellions, the President gave a speech for the coming of the New Year, where he respectfully mourned the deaths of the “Yellow vest” protests and apologized saying, “We are free in our country only because generations before us fought not to suffer from despotism or any
The protest was initially peaceful and easily
tyranny, and this freedom requires a
contained by the police, but it soon became
republican order, it requires the respect of
a much more serious protest. President
each and all opinions.”
Macron was forced to place Paris into lockdown, and the 8,000 police officers that
As a final apology he increased the
were deployed across the city started
minimum wage and scrapped new pension
organizing violent clashes that injured
taxes.
many citizens and killed six people.
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YELLOW VEST RIOTS SET FIRE TO GOVERNMENT TAX ON FUEL
TM LANDRY A DREAM SCHOOL WITH A NIGHTMARE REALITY
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WRITTEN BY ELENA NAZE
The Louisiana private school, TM Landry, run by husband and wife, Michael and Tracey Landry, has made headlines with viral videos showing students getting accepted into their top choice colleges. However, after a recent New York Times investigation, the story is changing.
The school is run inside a practically empty warehouse in Breaux Bridge Louisiana, and advertises itself as a school for low-income, working class black families. Its viral success stories (even featured on the Ellen show) and a 100% graduation rate shed little light on how the school is really run. With about 100 students ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, T.M Landry is run with almost no teachers, textbooks, and full of abuse, both emotional and physical.
Students have said that they are forced to kneel in front of Mr. Landry, on rice, rocks, or even hot pavement for hours. They are choked, yelled at, and constantly pitted against each other, because, as Mr. Landry put it, it’s how the real world works. It was also reported that he locked a child with autism in a closet.
Younger students at TM Landry weren’t even
anger management classes after pleading guilty to
required to do work, some even said their
charges of battery. He argues that he was never
education consisted of learning from Youtube
sentenced and that the student’s mother had asked
videos and various computer programs. In
him to beat her child. He also argues that he no
addition, classes are optional and there were
longer physically punishes his students.
never enough textbooks or teachers, making it hard for students to attend class. One 6 year old
Landry also refers to himself as a “drill sergeant”
student was still unable to read and spent her
and has admitted to asking children to kneel before
school days playing with Legos.
him, so that they can learn humility. Parent Mr. Broussard said that “the longer these In addition to the abuse that they endured, the
kids stayed there, the further behind they were.”
school also falsified almost all applications to
In fact, one junior was so far behind that they had
colleges.
the math and reading level of a fourth grader. As for the high school students, their days are
Transcripts reflected classes they didn’t take and
filled with ACT prep. Students would take
praise they didn’t earn and financial aid forms
practice test after practice test instead of
reflected lower income than the family really had.
attending real classes. Bryson Sassau said that
Student Bryson Sassau said that Mr. Landry “was
when he went to college he quickly learned that
pulling all the information out of thin air.”
“if it wasn’t on the ACT, I didn’t know it.”
In addition to the false transcripts the students were
To maintain their reputation, the Landrys paraded
also forced to write essays with fake information
camera crews around the school, recruited high
containing harmful black stereotypes, all in an effort
performing students from other schools, and
to appeal to the Ivy League schools looking for
forced the students to rehearse and stage exactly
diversity. One student’s application even talked
what was to be said to the visitors. The dozens of
about his abusive and alcoholic father who never
college acceptance videos the school produced
paid child support and drove him to start a charity
became a promotional technique instead of a
organization called Dry House; none of which was
celebration of the actual successes of their
true.
students.
However, the false applications did work, but not
It is easy to see why the families fell for it,
just to get the students into college, they were also
though. In a town with 22% of its population
used to keep them out. Mr. Landry would reportedly
living in poverty and only 15% with a college
hold or alter transcripts of students who wanted to
degree, a ‘miracle school’ can seem like the only
transfer schools as a way to force them to stay. One
way out. The tuition costs up to $725 a month,
16 year old student’s transcript showed her birth
and around $7,200 annually. It’s not ‘cheap’ and
date as 1969 rather than 2002.
the school structure has forced some parents to pay for private tutors so their children can catch
The graduates of TM Landry’s that have gone on to
up.
top tier universities might feel the effects the most. Some have left their colleges to attend one closer to
TM Landry’s future plans include opening
home just to find out that their high school diplomas
another school just 45 minutes away. One parent
were not accepted, because TM Landry is not an
explained her frustration at such plans by saying,
accredited school.
“How do you look your son in the face every day and tell him that this person is going to get
Others have suffered from the way the school was
what’s coming to him, or he’s going to get his
organized: optional attendance to classes and
punishment, when every other day you see
completely student run. Asja Jackson, a graduate of
something else that this person is doing, or
TM Landry went on to Wesleyan University had to
they’re on to another school, or he’s on TV?”
drop out because of depression over failing exams and “childish” papers.
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Mr. Landry was sentenced in 2013 to probation and
moolah? Musicians are pushing for the company to switch to a “user-centric” model, where the money that a subscriber pays for their Spotify account each month is distributed among the artists they listen to. For example, if a user listens to only one artist, the majority of the money they are paying per month to stay subscribed to Spotify will go to that artist. Experiments performed in Finland have verified that this would allow for smaller artists to get a bigger piece of the pie. However, it would end up costing Spotify a large sum of money, meaning less money could actually end up going to the artists and more of it goes to Spotify to fund the new model. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that there are plenty of scammers out there playing their own tracks over and over again on a huge scale in order to get more money than they put in with their Premium accounts. Adopting the “usercentric” system could prevent this because the scammers are only getting a portion of what they put in, not more, based on the way the model works.
Plenty of artists are upset by Spotify’s current system, including Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, British electro artist Jon Hopkins, the Black Keys, and Taylor Swift. They believe that Spotify is favoring already rich artists like Drake, Ariana Grande, and the Chainsmokers instead of supporting small musicians. According to
WRITTEN BY SEVIYA MAST Spotify has been receiving backlash for the way
The Rolling Stone, Yorke told Sopitas in 2013 that “as musicians, we need to fight the Spotify thing.”
that the company pays contributing artists. Smaller musicians have come forward and said
Plenty of artists are upset by Spotify’s
that they feel the way Spotify distributes its
current system, including Radiohead’s
wealth- in a “pro rata” model- favors bigger
Thom Yorke, British electro artist Jon
artists. A pro rata model is based on the
Hopkins, the Black Keys, and Taylor Swift.
percentage of listeners. For example, if one
They believe that Spotify is favoring
artist has the rights to five top tracks that make
already rich artists like Drake, Ariana
up two percent of what is played in a month by
Grande, and the Chainsmokers instead of
subscribers, that artist receives around two
supporting small musicians. According to
percent of the money Spotify makes in a month.
The Rolling Stone, Yorke told Sopitas in
Some believe that this makes sense whereas
2013 that “as musicians, we need to fight
others think this is unfair.
the Spotify thing.”
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SPOTIFY FACES BACKLASH ON THE WAY THEY PAY THEIR ARTISTS
What is another way of distributing the
NASHOBA IN PICTURES
KAYLA BALLAS
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BELOW ARE A FEW SELECTIONS OF STUDENT WORK FROM THE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS, TAUGHT BY MS. KONG HERE AT NASHOBA.
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ONITAC NYDROJ EGAP SUOIVERP | REGOR EOZ
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CAT SABOURIN
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SHONI HALLOCK- MARTIN
EMMA YOUNG
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TTERRAB SIRHC
CARLI TESINI
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ABBY KOESTERICH
WRITTEN BY GRACE FIORI As fall sports ended and the new year came
When asked what her advice was for people
around, the indoor track team have been hard
thinking of doing indoor track next season, she
at work. The Chieftain Press sat down with
said indoor track was a great option because
Tati Picard, a senior at Nashoba and a captain
you get to choose what you want to do and
for indoor track, to talk about setting records
customize workouts depending on the area
and the team here at Nashoba.
you’re focusing in.
Tati recently set a Nashoba record during their
Tati loves the indoor track program as
second meet at the Reggie Lewis center, for
Nashoba specifically because of the “team
32’ 11” in shot put. It was a record previously
bonding activities. We are a very close knit
held last year by Nashoba graduate, Anna
group indoor track team. In general, we have
Cressman. On setting the record Tati said,
such small numbers that we get to know
“she was the one that was teaching me about
everybody … and cheer each other on at the
shot put and I told her when she left that I was
meets, we gather up and cheer each other on
going to beat her record, [laughs] so I did.”
for relays,”
Tati only joined the track team last year, but
She continued, “I love that about it, team
she has loved every minute of it, “I transferred
bonding has always been important to me,
here sophomore year, and I did outdoor track
team chemistry, and doing indoor track I feel
because my friend dragged me into it, I wasn’t
more empowered. I feel stronger than I have
going to do any sports whatsoever, and then
ever been, not just because of the workouts,
last year, I had nothing to do…and I got
but [because] I feel like I have people backing
dragged to indoor track [as well],”
me,”
SSERP NIATFEIHC EHT • 31 EGAP
FOLLOWING INDOOR TRACK
SSERP NIATFEIHC EHT • 41 EGAP
"I FEEL STRONGER THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WORKOUTS, BUT [BECAUSE] I FEEL LIKE I HAVE PEOPLE BACKING ME,"
Reflecting on the season so far, Tati said, “My throwers are doing a great job, they are higher than I expected them to be… [and] they have the numbers. I am very proud of them,”
However, meets can be hard because Nashoba has no indoor track, which means every meet is away. The team can be gone the whole day traveling to a meet. Tati acknowledged that, “traveling can be terrible, because sometimes we don’t get back until nine [for meets],”
The team had their most recent meet this Wednesday, January 9th, at Shrewsbury against Groton- Dunstable. Tati was confident going into the meet with everyone doing great in practice, continuing on a great season for Nashoba’s indoor track team.
SSERP NIATFEIHC EHT • 51 EGAP WRITTEN BY ELENA NAZE Sydney Meininger, a student in the
Sydney is also the Treasurer for the
transitions program at Nashoba, was
Nashoba Best Buddies chapter, and is the
recently made a Youth Ambassador for the
first student with an intellectual disability
Massachusetts Special Olympics chapter.
to hold the role. “I feel more involved in our school and even though I’ve graduated,
Sydney plays basketball with Special
I still see a lot of my friends because a lot
Olympics Massachusetts and is on
of them are still in Best Buddies.”
Nashoba’s Unified track team. Because she is a Youth Ambassador for Special
After she graduated last year, Sydney
Olympics, she has been given the
moved into the transitions program at
opportunity to go to San Diego California
Nashoba. She is currently attending a wide
for a week this February to attend a training
range of job sites from working in kitchen
conference with other Youth Ambassadors
doing meal prep, to her favourite job, an
from all over the world.
assistant gym teacher at Florence Sawyer.
She explains that Special Olympics means a
As far as what she wants to do for the
lot to people with intellectual disabilities
future, “I’m not really sure what I want to
because, “you get to be on a team and with
do. I want to eventually find a job either for
a disability to be on a school team
Special Olympics or Best Buddies.”
sometimes can be a challenge. But to be involved in Special Olympics is a way for you to be like your peers.”
FACES IN THE CROWD
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SYDNEY MEININGER
0U R IN R HE ITA NC E
THE CHIEFTAIN PRESS EXPLORES WHAT ISSUES OUR GENERATION WILL FACE AS WE ENTER THE WORKFORCE, COLLEGE, AND BEGIN THE MAKING DECISIONS THAT WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE AND OU R COMMUNITIES.
THE CALIFORN
THE CHIEFTAIN PRESS HAS INTERVIEWED AND COVERED THE CLEANUP AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT THE FIRES LEFT IN THEIR WAKE.
SSERP NIATFEIHC EHT • 91 EGAP
BEGINNING IN EARLY NOVEMBER, THE CAMP FIRE SPREAD RAPIDLY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH CALIFORNIA, QUICKLY BECOMING THE DEADLIEST WILDFIRE I N CALIFORNIA HISTORY.
IA WILDFIRES JOSH EDELSON/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
BEGINNING THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES THE AFTERMATH OF THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES PAGE 22
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PAGE 21
Pacific Gas and Electric had warned customers that they would be needing to cut power for “about 63,000 customers early Thursday, November 8.” But on Thursday, they did not cut power, saying, “”PG&E has determined that it will not proceed with plans today (Nov. 8) for a Public Safety Power Shutoff in portions of
WRITTEN BY ELENA NAZE
eight Northern California counties, as weather conditions did not warrant this safety measure.”
Minutes before the Woolsey and Camp fires
When NPR asked for a comment on their
started in California on Thursday, electrical
decision, they decline, saying they would not
and utility problems were reported in the same
share any information not in an official report.
areas where the fire originated.
They did, however, comment on the fires, saying, “Our hearts are with the communities
The two fires have resulted in the death count
impacted by the Camp Fire. The loss of life and
of at least 82 so far, with Camp fire being
property is staggering. Right now, our entire
responsible for at least 79 of the deaths,
company is focused on supporting first
making it the deadliest wildfire in California
responders and assisting our customers and
history, and the deadliest in the United States
communities impacted by the Camp Fire.”
in over a century. Together, the fires have entered more than 200,000 acres of land. As of
Southern California Edison said that they might
now, over 600 people have been reported
have to shut off power of around 74,000
missing throughout the state.
customers. They ended up only shutting off power for 8 customers on Thursday night due to
The investigation into the causes of the fires
dangerous winds and high chance of fire in their
will likely be ongoing for months due to the
areas.
devastation. The California Public Utilities Commission says that it is working with the
Cal Fire’s investigation will focus on how the
state fire agency to investigate the cause of the
fires started and how they spread. Based on
fires. They are currently looking into the 2
other fire investigations in California, it is likely
electrical incident reports from Thursday.
that a cause might not be known until next spring, at the earliest.
The first incident reported was from Pacific Gas and Electric at 6:15AM, and stated that
One of the main reasons to find a cause is to get
there was an outage of transmission lines on
compensation for the cost of fighting the fire.
Pulga Road in Butte County. Cal Fire said that
Thousands of firefighters have been on the lines
Camp fire started at 6:33AM the same morning
fighting Camp Fire and Woosley Fire, as well as
on Pulga Road. The second report was filed
a number of helicopters and fire engines.
from Southern California Edison, and said that at 2:22 it’s circuit relayed, 2 minutes before the
By Monday, November 19th, Camp Fire was
Woosley fire was reported by the Cal Fire. The
70% contained. The investigation will likely
relay was also in the same county that the
take place over the course of months, focusing
Woosley fire started in, Ventura County.
on remains from the fires, videos taken while people were fleeing, and weather conditions
SSERP NIATFEIHC EHT • 12 EGAP
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
WRITTEN BY GRACE FIORI Beginning less then two weeks into November,
Many in California were grateful for the rain
wildfires in California began and rapidly
that came soon after, but such extensive rain
expanded across thousands of acres. First came
after such dry conditions could lead to flooding
the Camp Fire in northern California, that
and debris moving dangerously. This could not
consumed the town of Paradise and continued
only hinder the ability of officials and
on, leading to a death count of 79, with many
firefighters to clean up and continue their search
still missing. Then following shortly after, the
efforts, but also pose a danger to displaced
Woolsey and Hill Fires began near Los
persons just as treacherous as the now halted
Angeles and Ventura counties. The Woolsey
fires.
Fire was contained in less then a week; however in that short period it covered over
Investigations into the exact causes and reasons
90,000 acres and led to the destruction of over
behind not just the cause of the fires, but what
1,500 buildings and three deaths.
conditions resulted in such danger and uncontrollable expansion of the fires, are still
Chiara Moni is a foreign exchange student
ongoing. Many are looking for changes in
from Italy who is currently spending a year in
legislation in creating better policies about fire
the United States as part of a student program.
prevention and management.
She spoke with the Chieftain Press about her experiences living in California, in the county
The Camp Fire’s rapid spread overwhelmed the
of Ventura. Her neighborhood Thousand Oaks
current systems in place for evacuation n and
was in the same region as the Woolsey Fire and
emergency communications. Long gaps and
Hill Fires.
unclear information that was relayed to community members did not adequately update
Even though Moni didn’t have to evacuate, she
people about the location and present danger of
did know friends who were forced to leave
the fires. Critics of the current system asked for
their homes. It was especially trying because
increased funding to improve emergency
the community was still reeling from the mass
systems and advocate for better mass-
shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill, a restaurant
communication technology.
in Ventura county that left twelve dead only a day before the fires began.
This week California Senators Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein wrote letters to fellow
Chiara described the series of events as, “hard
members of Congress asking for $9 billion in
because it was right after the shooting, and
disaster aid programs to help recovery efforts in
everybody was shocked…and then we noticed
California. As of this week, while no
the fire.”
advancements have been made in terms of legislation, recovery efforts are continuing as
Now seventeen days after the Camp Fire and
the people of California begin the long journey
Woosley Fires began, the blazes have been
of rebuilding.
completely contained. However, there are still regions burning, hundreds missing, and thousands stuck in makeshift shelters.
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THE AFTERMATH OF THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
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ASSESSMENT
NATIONAL CLIMATE
THE
FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM
“EARTH’S CLIMATE IS NOW CHANGING FASTER THAN AT ANY POINT IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN CIVILIZATION, PRIMARILY AS A RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES,”
THERE IS EXTENSIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE GLOBAL AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IS MUCH HIGHER, AND IS RISING MORE RAPIDLY, THAN ANYTHING MODERN CIVILIZATION HAS EXPERIENCED…”
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“RISING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE ELECTRICITY GENERATION CAPACITY WHILE INCREASING ENERGY DEMANDS AND COSTS, WHICH CAN IN TURN LEAD TO POWER OUTAGES AND BLACKOUTS THESE CHANGES STRAIN HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, INCREASE PEOPLE’S EXPOSURE TO HEAT, AND LIMIT DELIVERY OF MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES.”
SSERP NIATFEIHC EHT • 52 EGAP
CLIMATE CHANGE IS CHANGING THE RANGE OF INSECTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY CARRY DISEASES, INCREASING PEOPLE IN NORTH AMERICA’S EXPOSURE TO LYME DISEASE THROUGH TICKS, “AND MOSQUITOES THAT TRANSMIT VIRUSES SUCH AS WEST NILE…AND ZIKA”
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“WHILE AMERICANS ARE RESPONDING IN WAYS THAT CAN BOLSTER RESILIENCE AND IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS, NEITHER GLOBAL EFFORTS TO MITIGATE THE CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE NOR REGIONAL EFFORTS TO ADAPT TO THE IMPACTS CURRENTLY APPROACH THE SCALES NEEDED TO AVOID SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES TO THE U.S. ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, AND HUMAN HEALTH AND WELLBEING OVER THE COMING DECADES.”
THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION Americans have been watching for months now as the Mueller Investigation unfolds. So far 4 people have been sentenced to prison.
Most recently is Michael Cohen; who plead guilty to tax evasion, violations of campaign finance laws when running the Trump campaign, and lying to congress about the attempt to build a Trump Tower in Russia during the campaign. Cohen was sentenced on Wednesday, December 12th to 3 years in prison. He will begin his sentence in March of 2019.
Trump’s campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos, was sentenced to 14 days in prison after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about interactions with the Russian government. He has served his sentence and was released on December 7th after serving 12 days.
Alexander van der Zwaan, a dutch lawyer, plead guilty to lying to investigators about his conversations with the Trump Campaign. He was formerly employed by Skadden Arps, an international law firm that worked with Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, former aide to the Trump Campaign. Zwaan was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a fine of $20,000. He served his sentence and was released last June.
The fourth sentenced is Richard Pinedo, who plead guilty to identity fraud in connection
accounts to the Russians. Pinedo has offered his help to the Mueller prosecutors in the ongoing investigation. He was sentenced to 6 months in a federal prison and is expected to be released in March of 2019.
Time will only tell as the investigation rages on who will else will be sentenced.
WRITTEN BY ELENA NAZE
AP PHOTO/J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE
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with the Russian interference in the 2016 election. He admitted to selling dummy bank
WHAT WILL 2019 HOLD FOR THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION? Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation concerning
Stone is also refusing to turn on Trump, saying,
Russian interference in the 2016 election may be
“there’s no circumstance on which I would testify
nearing its end, as Mueller is expected to submit a
against the president.”
confidential report to the attorney general in midFebruary.
Despite this, the Mueller team has had a large success rate in getting the supposed Trump allies to flip on
The question that has been raised throughout the
him, using criminal charges as a bargaining method.
investigation is whether or not Trump, or anyone around
Stone even told NPR that he thinks he might be
him, conspired with the Russians during the election to
indicted. If he is, he could face a high profile trial and
help him in his campaign. However, Mueller has not
possible jail time.
made anything concerning the possibility of collusion with Russia public. Although he did confirm that
The tell-tale sign that the investigation is coming to a
Trump’s lawyers negotiated a possible Trump Tower in
close is that Mueller is moving forward on sentencing
Moscow during the 2016 election, and that Trump was
the convicted. Which, is because prosecutors
aware of the plans.
generally wait to sentence cooperating witnesses to have leverage over them in court
So what does 2019 hold for the Mueller investigation? Manafort is likely to be sentenced in early 2019; which
And because 2019 holds a Democrat controlled house,
means that during his hearings, it is possible that new
the Democratic party has earned the power to
details about President Trump’s possible collusion
subpoena witnesses and start hearings; because of the
might be uncovered.
fierce Democratic support of the investigation, there will likely be a large number of subpoenas.
Former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, will most likely be sentenced after his decision was held
Finally, when Jeff Sessions resigned due to Trump’s
back in December. This could be another possible tactic
request, a new candidate for Attorney General, and by
that the Justice Department is employing in the hope of
default the person who oversees the Mueller
getting more information out of Flynn.
investigation, will have to be named. Currently the position is held by Matthew Whitaker, the previous
Roger Stone, a long time advisor to President Trump,
Chief of Staff to Sessions. Many were concerned that
said multiple times during the 2016 election that he was
Trump was using him as a way to take control of the
in direct contact with WikiLeaks, which during the
investigation.
stolen by Russia. He had claimed he never had contact
Now, Trump has a new pick for Attorney General,
with them once investigators contacted him, despite
William Barr. Barr served as the Attorney General
private DMs with WikiLeaks exchanged over Twitter
during the Bush administration. He is expected to
back in 2016.
have a confirmation hearing early this year in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
As 2019 starts, the Mueller investigation continues in full swing. But the big question still remains: What are President Trump’s ties to Russia and is he guilty of collusion?
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election published Democratic documents that were
Chinese executive was detained and arrested by the US. Justice Department.
the events that occurred during the dinner, and Trump said that he too did not know the plans of the Justice Department.
Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of the company, Huawei, was arrested by the United States government after investigations revealed Huawei may have been in violation of America’s sanctions against Iran.
However, John Bolton, the national security advisor who was present at the dinner between the two leaders, said he had known of the arrest beforehand. In an interview with NPR, Bolton stated that he was notified by the Justice Department often,
An investigation by the Justice Department accused the Chinese company of misleading numerous banks concerning Huawei’s
but that, “…we certainly don’t inform the president on every one of them.” The Chinese government was angered by the
involvement in the Skycom company’s
actions of the U.S. government and Canada,
transactions in Iran; possibly putting the organizations that cleared those transactions at risk of violating U.S. imposed sanctions on Iran.
and called the actions taken a violation of Wanzhou’s human rights.
Canadian courts, in an attempt to placate China, granted Wanzhou bail, but have not
The arrest was made in the middle of the Group of 20 summit held in Argentina, where world leaders, including United States and China, met to discuss international economics. During the summit in Buenos Aires Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump met during a working dinner last Saturday, December first, to discuss the ongoing trade war between the two nations.
begun hearings on whether Wanzhou will be extradited to the United States for a trial there.
Amidst the international turmoil Mr. Trump, in an interview with Reuters, reinforced that, “whatever’s good for this country, I would do.” Trump reinstated that he would intervene in the Justice Department’s investigate to preserve his
They emerged from the meeting with a tentative truce to the trade war and the goal of creating a more concrete agreement within 3 months.
trade agreement with China.
Trump’s attempt at preservation of Chinese- American relations is an attempt
After the meeting between the two leaders, it was revealed that Meng Wanzhou had been detained in Canada during a stop in her flight from Hong Kong to Mexico. The United States requested that Canada detain and arrest Wanzhou when she arrived at a Vancouver airport and extradite her to the United States.
to halt the descent of global markets, which began falling last week when worries of a possible economic cold war between America and China scared investors. Markets continued to decline despite the 90 day trade truce determined between the two countries.
TRUMP’S SECOND TERM COULD DEPEND ON A CHINESE OFFICIAL THAT WAS ARRESTED IN DECEMBER WRITTEN BY GRACE FIORI
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The Chinese government was not aware of
In Vancouver, Canada on December first, a
Turmoil between the Saudi government and
famed economy over the edge. If the economy
other nations, concerning the death of a
falls, this could end up costing Trump a
journalist, and Trump’s rejection of his own
second term as he enters the third year of his
administrations guilty findings of the nation,
presidency.
threaten to spike oil prices. Whether too high or too low, both extremes which could hurt
This is a trend that many analysts have
the economy, or American producers,
compared to that of the late forty-first
respectively.
president, George H.W. Bush; when the economy fell during his reelection bid. It was
On both sides there has been a continuous
widely seen as the factor that paved the way
effort from both conservatives, progressives,
for Bill Clinton’s popularity.
and moderates to push higher tariffs on China in response to their recent actions.
When Bush was sworn in on January 1989, unemployment was at a healthy 5.4 percent,
These economic actions against China, often
and the economy was thriving in a bull market
initiated and antagonized by Mr. Trump and
created by the Reagan administration. Bush
his administration, have created a dramatic
continued encouraging economic growth and
trade war between the two countries.
had a relatively high popularity as President. So many strains on the economy could begin However, beginning in 1990, growth slowed
to show negatively. After the arrest of the
and fell, due to rising interest rates and
Chinese official, it is unclear how willing the
increasing oil prices caused by Iraq’s invasion
Chinese government will be to compromise
of Kuwait. By June of 1992, unemployment
with the United States. They have previously
had increased to 7.8 percent, despite economy
cancelled meetings back in September, all in
growth beginning to pick up. Bush had
retaliation. If Wenzhou’s arrest halts
recovered from a short fall, but it had not
conversations surrounding the trade truce
provided the jobs that so many in his
between the two countries, even temporarily,
Republican base craved, giving other
this could severely affect the economy, one
candidates their “in” during the election.
that is already beginning to show cracks in its expansion.
Trump’s economy has followed a similar pathway to that of George H.W. Bush; when
As the legacy of George H.W. Bush has
he took office in 2016 there was a healthy bull
illustrated, a healthy economy can play a key
market and growing economy, which mostly
role in Presidential elections. Especially for a
has been maintained to this day.
president such as Trump who has consistently campaigned on his economic success, leading
However, the effectiveness of such methods is
it to be a central factor in the votes that
being called into question. The stock market is
support him, even amidst other problems in
beginning to suffer, interest rates are
his administration.
increasing, and blue-collar workers have not been protected by Trump, despite his promise
As 2019 begins, it stands the test of time
to preserve manufacturing positions in the
whether or not Trump’s economy will
steel and coal industries. Many celebrated the
continue, and with that, whether he stands a
enormous 1.5 trillion tax cut, but once it
solid chance of continuing his presidency
expires, the American public will be left with
through 2020.
the aftermath of heavy debt.
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Tensions between China could push Trump’s
&
A REVIEW OF 'MARY POPPINS RETURNS' WRITTEN BY KATIE COEN AND ABBY BLACKMORE Nashoba journalists went to see Mary Poppins
The dance skills shown by the lamplighters were
Returns at the AMC Boston Common Theater
spectacular and the leading man, Jack (Lin
for the Boston press opening on December 18th.
Manuel-Miranda), stole the show.
From the costumes, the dancing, and Emily Blunt’s different take on the famous role of
The costumes reflect the time period, with Mary
Mary Poppins, the show was spectacular and left
Poppins standing out with her red coat and
endless smiles on the audience’s faces.
signature parrot umbrella. They take a twist on the original movie, especially when Mary
“Mary Poppins Returns” is the sequel to the
Poppins and the children stepped into an
1964 original Mary Poppins movie. The story
animated world. The famous outfits worn by
follows the Banks children 25 years after the
Mary and Bert are recreated as they sing new
original. Jane and Michael Banks have grown up
songs with new style thrown in by Blunt and
and are both caring for Michael’s children, John,
Miranda.
Annabel, and Georgie. With the Banks family mourning Michael’s wife’s death and struggling
Many jokes were repeated and referenced from
financially in the Great Depression era of
the first movie including Mary Poppins codfish
London, Mary Poppins is needed once again to
line, the maid making obnoxious jokes, and the
look after Bank’s children, both young and old.
opening credits, which resembled the original
Instead of Bert, a new character, Jack, is
movie. Right from the start the audience was
introduced. He apprenticed with Bert and now is
indulged in remembrance of the movie that
one of the many lamplighters in the heart of
brought magic into everyone’s lives as a child.
London, joining Mary Poppins and children on their many new adventures.
The movie was really a great tribute to the original cast and the effort put in by the new cast
None of the original songs are in the sequel, but
really showed. Not only were the performances
there are many great songs, including Lovely
of the leading actors impressive, but the quality
London Sky, Can You Imagine That?, The Place
of the movie was fantastic. Kudos to the special
Where Lost Things Go, and The Royal Doulton
effect editors who made the magic come to life
Music Hall including two show-stopping
from start to finish.
numbers, The Cover is Not the Book and Trip a Little Light Fantastic. Instead of the show-
The movie was very well made and we would
stopping tap number,
highly recommend you take a trip to your local movie theater to go see it. Special thanks to John
Step in Time, from the 1964 movie, a jazzy hip-
Vitti for making this happen. And remember,
hop number performed by Jack and the
anything can happen if you let it!
lamplighters was performed. The lack of tap was initially disappointing, but the dance number made up for it.
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ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
&
THE BEST OF 2018 WRITTEN BY ELENA NAZE AND GRACE FIORI
THE TV DRAMA RIVERDALE
During 2018 Riverdale wrapped up season 2 and aired the first 1/2 of season 3. It has continued with its edgy teen mysteries that made season 1 so popular, but has also continued, if not exaggerated, the classic cheesyness of the first season. If you’re looking for a fun mystery show and aren’t expecting anything but a good laugh, then you might want to tune into Riverdale Wednesdays at 8 on the CW.
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ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
&
THE ACTION MOVIE BLACK PANTHER One of the Marvel movies that came out
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ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
this year, Black Panther brought Wakanda to the screen in a way that earned it a Golden Globe nomination for Best PictureDrama. The Marvel film was considered “overrated” by many of its viewers; but if you’re looking for a sci-fi movie with a good amount of representation and some really cool battle scenes, give this one a try.
THE ROMANTIC COMEDY
TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE When it debuted on Netflix earlier this year, it was an instant hit- for good reason. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a genuinely good romantic comedy- still a little cheesy at time but overall full of heart and genuine relationships between friends and family. If you’re looking for a fun romantic comedy, it's worth streaming To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix.
THE TV COMEDY THE GOOD PLACE Season 3 of The Good Place, a comedy created by Michael Schur, began airing in 2018. It’s unique idea of what a sitcom is and exciting storylines have thrilled audiences with every twist and turn. If you’re looking for a wholesome sitcom with a well written stories and amazing performances by the whole cast, tune in to The Good Place which airs every Thursday at 8pm on NBC.
&
THE THRILLER MOVIE A QUIET PLACE The Quiet Place, directed and starring John Krasinski most known for his role as Jim in the office, is one of the best thriller movies of the year. Not quite horror, but still full of suspense, A Quiet Place is genuinely interesting, riveting, and has none of the classic bad- decision cheesiness that sometimes plague scary movies. If you're looking for a thriller with a creepy creature then it's worth checking out.
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ARTS ENTERTAINMENT
THE INDIE MOVIE EIGHTH GRADE The first movie by the comedian Bo Burnham, Eighth Grade chronicles eighth- grader Kayla the summer before she starts freshman year and enters high school. Sometimes painful, hilarious, sweet, Eighth Grade is always genuine, and anyone can find something to relate to and something to root for as we follow Kayla to high school.
GET MONEY NOW
COLLEGE MONEY WORKING
MY NEW YEARS IN THREE WORDS
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LOVE MUSIC HAPPY
TRY NEW THINGS
FEELING BETTER AGAIN
HAVING FUN ADVENTURES
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GRADUATION GRADUATION GRADUAITON
WE ASKED TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO DESCRIBE THEIR GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR IN ONLY THREE WORDS, HERE'S WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY.
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