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How is the shutdown affecting travel?

Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Economists are predicting dire consequences for the country if the government shutdown continues. Congress and President Donald Trump are unable to find a solution, as evident from the way negotiations blew up at the White House on Jan. 9. Among the many areas of the economy, travel and tourism may be the industry most affected by the shutdown. Federal employees are already working without pay, and soon, 800,000 paycheck-less employees will be plunged into dire financial straits. Low-staffed and overstressed airports will raise serious questions about aviation safety and security.

Manufacturing growth slows to end 2018. What’s next?

Michelle R. Matisons Manufacturing

While President Trump and others extol manufacturing sector growth, the year ended with the standard manufacturing production number dropping from 59.3 percent in November to 54.1 percent in December. Some say the decline is caused by the ongoing trade war with China, and others suggest that the new NAFTA — the United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA) — is challenging private-sector organizations. So is Brexit. But policy developments that challenge traditional manufacturing culture are not enough to explain this rapid month-to-month change.

How much pride do you have about your profession?

Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Most of us take great pride in what we do for living — especially those who are in sworn, uniformed careers, i.e., military, law enforcement, fire rescue, customs, corrections officer, etc. Then, there are those who chronically complain about their work. I know it's not easy but maybe they need to consider a career change! All of us understand that work can be challenging at times. But wouldn’t life be boring if we didn’t have these challenges, and subsequently weren't able to reap the rewards with a sense of accomplishment — taking "pride" in what we did accomplish?

How the government shutdown affects military pay

Miranda Y. Brumbaugh Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Create a spending plan. Have a garage sale. Contact creditors to ask about hardship programs. These are the types of tips the Coast Guard members and employees are hearing from CG SUPRT. Also known as the Coast Guard Support Program, this is the type of agency that steps up to help the military during budgetary crises. The latest crisis, a government shutdown since Dec. 22, is set to become the longest government shutdown in history. Find out more about the shutdown crisis and how it is affecting military pay for each branch.

American education’s teacher crisis

Patrick Gleeson Education

After decades of largely ineffective attempts by American teachers to raise salaries and improve teaching conditions, American teachers have changed their ways. In 2018, they were organizing, striking, or simply leaving the profession. Until recently, polarized state governments have been unable or unwilling to address the problem. Parents are often unaware of the seriousness of the crisis, which could leave many American students without access to an effective education.

How the partial federal government shutdown affects small businesses

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

On the 2016 campaign trail, President Trump vowed that Mexico would pay for a wall on its border with the U.S. from California east to Texas. That was then, and this is now: day 19 of a partial federal government shutdown. As Trump took to television yesterday to make a case for building a southern border wall that congressional Democrats oppose, we turn to some of the real-world effects on small businesses and the customers they serve.

Different visions dominate school safety debate

Michelle R. Matisons Education

The school safety debate picked up steam almost one year ago on Valentine’s Day 2018. That day, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, school and fired on students and staff, killing 17 and injuring 17 more. This debate is ongoing and presents many possible solutions from diverse sectors. A recently released 400-page report details that many factors blended together to result in such a tragic outcome. Controversially, this report recommends that teachers and staff use Florida’s Guardian Program, allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons to protect students in the event of a mass shooting or similar threat.

It’s not too late to hunt deer in Texas

John McAdams Recreation & Leisure

The general whitetail deer season ended on Jan. 6 in over 200 counties in Texas, but interested hunters can still get outdoors and fill the freezer with venison during most of January and early February. Though they don’t get nearly as much publicity as the archery or general deer seasons, most counties in the state have some combination of a youth season, a special late season, or a muzzleloader deer season that provide a couple weeks of additional time afield for whitetail deer hunters.

How military justice is being adjusted in 2019

Kristin Brandenburg Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

The Uniform Code of Military Justice has served as the governing body of laws for all branches of the military since it was enacted nearly 70 years ago. Over time, changes were made piecemeal as needed, but there hadn't been a holistic, overarching review of the existing laws that are on the books until recently. As of Jan. 1, a number of changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) are in effect — the result of an effort to modernize and standardize definitions and penalties as they relate to accusations and convictions of service members.

Study affirms that fluoridation prevents tooth decay

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

Researchers had to go all the way to chilly Alaska to reprove what they already believed to be true; water fluoridation does decrease the incidence of tooth decay and dental caries in growing children. The study, which was published in BMC Oral Health this month, reported that children with Medicaid in Juneau, Alaska, with no access to optimally fluoridated water had more dental caries-related procedures than young people who grew up before the Alaskan capital stopped its fluoridation program.

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