Emily Anne Espinosa |Staff Writer| Nine professional counseling and college readiness organizations have joined together to form the Council of National School Counseling and College Access Organizations in order to promote college and career readiness. According to the American Counseling Association, the ratio between students and counselors have widened and become more disproportionate, due to an increase of students and a lack of sufficient resources for counseling professionals (such as state budget cuts). In order to keep students more focused on post-high school education and career options, this council will provide more resources and opportunities for high school students, in … [Read more...] about New program promotes college readiness
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NSA now can’t spy on you
By Jorge Campos |Staff Writer| The House of Representatives passed the USA Freedom Act to end the National Security Agency’s (NSA) cellular spying program. The American spying program automatically collects and records people’s phone information and was ruled illegal on Thursday, May 7. Congress will now have to immediately decide whether or not to end or replace the controversial anti-terrorist surveillance system, according to The Telegraph. The bill passed with a vote of 388-88, putting an end to the government’s collection of phone records, according to wired.com. However, the USA Freedom Act, which will stop the NSA from acquiring access to this information, is not in the … [Read more...] about NSA now can’t spy on you
New scholarship will give more aid to students
By Devin Ramos |Staff Writer| The Middle Class scholarship will give relief to students and families that struggle to pay for tuition in California State Universities and Universities of California. The rising costs of attending college show that people are in need of a scholarship tailored specifically to their income bracket. The scholarship can cut tuition by 40 percent for families making under $100,000 and will also target DREAM Act students. A student must first complete an application for Federal Student Aid to automatically be considered for the scholarship. In my opinion, the process to be considered has been made simple for students to obtain money to help them … [Read more...] about New scholarship will give more aid to students
The government is watching us
By Daniel DeMarco |Staff Writer| The coalition of congressmen have introduced anti-government surveillance legislation. This is in response to months of reports on the National Security Agency’s unlawful spying on citizens, according to a press release from the Young Americans For Liberty (YAL). “YAL seeks to identify, educate, train and mobilize students on the ideals of individual liberty and the U.S. Constitution,” as stated on their press release. The purpose of this legislation (USA Freedom Act) would be to reform the USA Patriot Act of 2001. The Patriot Act was constructed and passed in the wake of September 11, 2001. The original intent was to strengthen the … [Read more...] about The government is watching us
Government back open for business
By Daniel DeMarco |Staff Writer| On Oct. 16, 2013, President Barack Obama signed a deal passed by Congress, ending the partial government shutdown. Cutting it very close, Obama officially signed the deal around 9:30 p.m. the night before the country lost its ability to continue borrowing money. The deal was originally negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat leader for Nevada) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican leader for Kentucky). Both the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the plan. According to Aljazeera, the Senate passed the deal by 81 votes to 18 and the House passed it, … [Read more...] about Government back open for business
What to consider when choosing health insurance
By Daniel DeMarco |Staff Writer| The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has launched, but there are other options for health insurance. Obamacare was created for a purpose presented in the official title: To provide affordable health care for the masses in the form of a marketplace. According to CNN, most Americans won’t have to use the new marketplace because they will still be getting next year’s insurance plan through work. Brandon Crane (full-time factory worker, age 29) said, “I’m not really concerned with Obamacare, I’m happy with the insurance that my job gives me.” Many argue that a healthcare plan is not something that should be chosen quickly or randomly, … [Read more...] about What to consider when choosing health insurance
Social Media Act a hit with privacy advocates
By Shanieka Perrier |Staff Writer| I think the Social Media Privacy Act is great because it will protect employees and students from being terminated from work or school as a result of their Facebook activities. On May 2, 2012, the California Assembly Committee of Labor and Employment unanimously passed Assembly Bill 1844. The bill prohibits employers from requesting personal social media user names and passwords from employees, according to the Daily 49er. The Social Media Privacy Act was also approved a week before by the California Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. It prohibits colleges from asking for prospective students' social media user names and passwords, … [Read more...] about Social Media Act a hit with privacy advocates
More regulations on tatto artists are not needed
By Sara Nydam |Staff Writer| The new Safe Body Art Act is posing what I think are unnecessary regulations on professional tattoo artists and piercers in California. AB 300 seeks to raise $55,000 in revenue, according to the San Bernardino County Sun. I believe this money will be spent selfishly. The San Bernardino Country Ordinance is going to comply with the new state law which will “require practitioners at the county’s 91 body-art establishments to undergo blood-born pathogen training” starting in June, reported the SB County Sun. In order to raise the $55,000 for these programs, the state will be taking money from schools and local agencies, which means this act now affects … [Read more...] about More regulations on tatto artists are not needed