In an example of life imitating art, Disney has pledged to donate $1 million to the Boys and Girls Club of America to help fund a STEM center in Oakland, California, just like the end of Black Panther. Wakanda is the most technologically advanced fictitious country in the world and after being isolated for decades, T'Challa tells his sister Shuri at the end of the movie that Wakanda will be reaching out to the rest of the planet, and that she will be leading a science initiative in Oakland. Now, Disney is helping Oakland and other areas expand their STEM program. STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, is a curriculum aimed at strengthening US students in the elements of science and math. The four elements are taught in an interdisciplinary manner that sees teachers working with each other on a curriculum that benefits students in job preparation for the real-world. Components of English are taught throughout the four elements, giving students a well-rounded concept on the … [Read more...] about Black Panther Success Leads to New STEM Center in Oakland, California
California
California Democratic Party Declines to Endorse Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Re-Election Bid
This has to sting. Following an appearance at a California Democratic convention in which members of the crowd chanted “time’s up” as she left the stage, the state’s party declined to endorse longtime Senator Dianne Feinstein as she seeks re-election. The delegates voted for her primary rival, state Senate leader Kevin de Leon, 54 percent to 37 percent. Since neither candidate reached a 60 percent threshold, the party is withholding an endorsement in this race. “The outcome of today’s endorsement vote is an astounding rejection of politics as usual, and it boosts our campaign’s momentum as we all stand shoulder-to-shoulder against a complacent status quo,” de Leon said in a statement, per Politico. “California Democrats are hungry for new leadership that will fight for California values from the front lines, not equivocate on the sidelines.” While the party’s delegates have expressed their approval for de Leon, … [Read more...] about California Democratic Party Declines to Endorse Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s Re-Election Bid
This Week’s ‘American Idol’ Theme: California Dreaming; ‘Song I Wish I Wrote’
This Wednesday night, American Idol's last four standing will be “California Dreaming" as they take on chart-topping songs by bands or singers from the Golden State. Also on deck for next week's theme: tunes they wished they had written, according to a tweet by Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe. Thursday night's results show will feature a pre-taped performance of the Jennifer Lopez hit, "Dance Again" -- the single is currently No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additional entertainment comes courtesy of season 7 winner David Cook, who'll debut a new song called “The Last Song I’ll Write For You." VIDEO: 'Idol Hangover': Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet Top The Week's Most Talked About Moments With only three weeks left in the competition, Thursday's results are critical for the final four singers, Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez, Phillip Phillips and Hollie Cavanagh. Whoever gets sent … [Read more...] about This Week’s ‘American Idol’ Theme: California Dreaming; ‘Song I Wish I Wrote’
California Congressman Wants Attacking Journalists to Be Federal Crime
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who represents California's 15th Congressional District, wants legislators to do more than just use words to convey the importance of a free press. He's hoping the House of Representative will pass a bill he introduced on Monday, the Journalist Protection Act, which would make it a federal crime to harm a journalist in the field with the intent of impeding their work.The safety and security of journalists has been top-of-mind throughout Donald Trump's presidency, and was ratcheted up in importance after a Michigan man was arrested and charged on Jan. 19 with threatening to kill CNN employees. (CNN president Jeff Zucker assured his employees that they were never at risk.)Swalwell, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, said the bill was already in the works at the time of the arrest but that efforts were expedited. He said the threat against CNN "hastened the need" for his bill and validated the concern he and his co-sponsors have for members of … [Read more...] about California Congressman Wants Attacking Journalists to Be Federal Crime
California University Students Gain On-Campus Access to Abortion Pill
This week, we celebrated the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted women the right to have an abortion, which has been under attack almost since the second the decision was announced. Yet despite that, pro-choice groups like Planned Parenthood and others have been pushing to allow women to have access to their legal rights.According to NPR, a new bill that was introduced back in February by Democratic Sen. Connie Leyva in California “would require all heath centers within four-year public universities to stock mifepristone and misoprostol, the two drugs used to induce a medication abortion for pregnancies less than 10 weeks. Medication abortion is different from PlanB, known as the morning after pill, as the latter prevents conception.”The reason for the bill was that the student government at the University of California, Berkeley passed a resolution back in 2016 asking their health centers to provide medication abortions. … [Read more...] about California University Students Gain On-Campus Access to Abortion Pill