SpaceX launched a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station on April 23. The astronauts originated from three countries: the United States, France and Japan. Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur work for NASA; Akihiko Hoshide is a member of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and Thomas Pesquet…
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FDA, CDC lift pause on Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
United States health officials lifted their recommended pause on the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine April 23, after 11 days of the hold. After conducting a review of available data and reaching out to healthcare providers across the U.S., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease…
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Biden aims to address “Shadow Pandemic”
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many aspects of daily life by bringing about unexpected societal outcomes, such as the notable increase in sexual violence. Domestic abuse is becoming increasingly prevalent during the pandemic, a consequence of the many stay-at-home orders instituted throughout the past year. As people face worsening…
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Democrats mull potential changes to the Supreme Court
On April 14, Congressional Democrats proposed legislation that would expand the Supreme Court to 13 justices, as opposed to nine – the longstanding standard since 1869. This proposal is the first significant effort to overhaul the Supreme Court since President Roosevelt attempted to expand it in his second term. The…
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Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 variants
As we pass the one-year mark of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate, causing variant strains to emerge and spread across the globe. Currently, the main coronavirus variants of concern have been identified as originating in Britain, South Africa, Brazil and California. COVID-19 vaccines scheduled to be approved at the end…
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New bill in U.K. Parliament sparks protest
The United Kingdom’s Parliament introduced a bill that would grant police officers fewer restrictions in their ability to control protests. The bill was brought forward after the death of Sarah Everard invoked a wave of protests and vigils across the U.K. Sarah Everard left a friend’s house March 3 to…
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Debate over secularism and Islam divides France ahead of 2022 presidential election
Critics allege recent amendments approved by France’s Senate to an anti-separatism bill infringe on civil liberties and reflect rising Islamophobia among French political elites. The amendments were offered to a broader anti-separatism bill backed by French President Emmanuel Macron in response to recent terrorist attacks. The bill is intended to…
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Making strides for police reform in Missouri
Protests calling for police reform have swept the country for the past year, sparked by former police officer Derek Chauvin’s killing of George Floyd in May 2020. With Chauvin currently facing trial, and continued instances of police brutality against African Americans, the issue of police brutality has not gone away…
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Debate continues on Confederate monument in Liberty
The debate over the Confederate monument in Liberty’s Fairview and New Hope Cemeteries continues as the Liberty City Council seeks legal advice to see what authority they have over the situation. The Hilltop Monitor published an article in October 2020 with information about the push to remove the statue. More…
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