(Photo courtesy of DIANEREHM). “Protestor holding ‘Stop Banning Books’ sign.” Lydia Robert Connector Staff Bans against book bans had begun with Illinois and California passing laws restricting the banning of books. On Monday, June 12, Governor Pritzker of Illinois signed a bill that made Illinois the first state to ban book bans and protect the…
New Covid-19 variants hit UMass Lowell
(Photo courtesy of healthshots). “Illustration of BA.2.68 Covid-19 variant molecule.” Julie Sage Connector Staff The height of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, but it’s not over based on the number of people on campus who have been sick. This is caused by the new COVID variants, of which there are many types, that have mutated…
House of Representatives Vote to Oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy
(Photo courtesy of ABC7NY). “Kevin McCarthy at a lecturn.” Eric Schultz Connector Staff On October 3, the United States House of Representatives experienced a historic first: its speaker was removed from office. Representatives voted 216-210 to vacate Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his office, with eight Republicans joining all 208 present Democrats. McCarthy had served only…
Assassination on Canadian soil creates high tension between Canada and India
(Photo courtesy of news.com.au) “Canadian and Indian flags.” Lydia Robert Connector Contributor On June 18, Canadian citizen and Sikh activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple in British Columbia, Canada. The two gunmen responsible for Nijjar’s death have yet to be identified according to Canadian police. In India, Nijjar…
The United States faces possible government shutdown
(Photo courtesy of New Santa Ana) “United States Capital Building in Washington, DC.” Eric Schultz Connector Contributor As has happened several times in the past, the United States federal government is close to a government shutdown. This shutdown is set to happen on September 30 if the yearly federal budget cannot be passed, which sets…
President Joe Biden joines United Auto Workers on strike
(Photo courtesy of Liberty Unlocked) “President Joe Biden at UAW picket line.” Johnathan Hatem Connector Staff United Auto Workers (UAW) strikers got a boost on September 26 when President Joe Biden became the first sitting United States President to visit a picket line. Invited by UAW President Shawn Fain, Biden spoke to a group of…
President Joe Biden possibly facing impeachment
(Photo courtesy of Livingston County News) “President Joe Biden listening in on an important meeting.” Eric Schultz Connector Contributor Last week, Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announced that an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden would be launched, with the first public impeachment inquiry hearing scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28. McCarthy and the House…
Mass incarceration is still an issue in the United States
(Photo courtesy of Brennan Center for Justice) “Chart depicting the U.S prison system growth in the past 66 years.” Nate Coady Connector Staff It will not come as a surprise to many people that America has the highest incarceration rates of any country. The issue of mass incarceration is something that has plagued the nation…
