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Justice Department sues California over brand-new net neutrality law

Michelle R. Matisons Science & Technology

"Net neutrality" is more than just a catchy phrase referencing internet accessibility; it is the principle of equal treatment of all internet data. As it stands now, companies can favor certain data, content, and websites over others, which is a violation of First Amendment free speech protections, according to net neutrality advocates. In order to avoid these data and content manipulations, states have passed laws, as California did Sept. 30. The California law, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2019, is one of the strictest in the country. This is why it didn’t take long for the federal government to announce a lawsuit against the Golden State.

Are we in the middle of a street food renaissance?

Bambi Majumdar Food & Beverage

You can usually trust California to lead innovation and change. The Golden State legalized street food vending in September, a move that may soon be reflected elsewhere. Street food has been a fixture of the state’s landscape for decades. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are known for their food trucks and eclectic street foods, popular with both locals and tourists. But it was not an easy road to popularity for these businesses.

Replacing NAFTA: A better 3-country pact ahead?

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

Canada and the U.S. have renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which took effect Jan. 1, 1994. President Trump, who called NAFTA "the worst trade deal ever," praised its successor, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "Promise made, promise kept," the president said on Twitter, of his campaign pledge to renegotiate NAFTA to improve trade fairness for American businesses, consumers and workers. That stance resonated with voters, especially in Rust Belt states where blue-collar employment has plummeted.

Travel2020: When tourism turns into the walking hordes

Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Travel and tourism are things of inestimable value to most people. We dream of new places and save up diligently for these aspirational moments. But when does a walking tour turn into a nightmarish episode from "The Walking Dead"? As the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) met in Seoul recently for the 7th Global Summit on Urban Tourism, some 900 delegates from treasured cities around the world came together to hash out agreements on ways to manage what is now known as "overtourism" in the years to come.

Violent crime down in US amidst criminal justice budget debates

Michelle R. Matisons Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

The official U.S. crime rates released annually by the FBI are highly politicized numbers that various stakeholders cite for many reasons. According to Ames Grawert, senior counsel at the Brennan Center, the newly reported 2017 statistics lead to a conclusion that, "Concerns about a widespread crime wave appear overblown." The 1990s involved a notable violent crime wave that reinforced the Clinton-era drug war and mass incarceration policies. Today’s decline in violent and property crimes clash with the Trump administration’s criminal justice goals, which are mirroring the mass incarceration fervor of the ‘90s.

Do smaller classes reduce performance gaps?

Bambi Majumdar Education

New research from the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences (CBS) produced some interesting insights for class sizes. The new study points to the impact of class sizes on students' performance. Researchers found that smaller classes can help reduce performance gaps, especially in science or STEM. Data collected from four institutions, which included exam grades and non-exam assessments, show that class sizes not only affect performance, but also have an influence on student attrition.

FDA campaign targets teen e-cigarette use

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently called the use of e-cigarettes among teens an "epidemic," and announced a campaign to educate young people along with an initiative to target retail and online sales of the addictive product. Is it really such a big deal? Yes. Some e-cigarette devices can contain as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, according to information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Walmart warns about new trade policy with China

Seth Sandronsky Retail

When Walmart warns President Trump about his trade policy, does he listen? This is no academic question, as the president exercised his legal authority to hike U.S. tariffs of 10 percent on $200 billion of Chinese imports, climbing to 25 percent in January 2019. On Sept. 6, Sarah F. Thorn, senior director for global government affairs with Walmart — the U.S.' biggest private-sector employer — wrote to the United States Trade Representative in a letter, "The immediate impact will be to raise prices on consumers and tax American business and manufacturers."

The advent of mobile forensics

Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

Mobile usage has outpaced all other platforms. Therefore, it is only natural that mobile forensics has become an integral part of criminal investigations. The recovery of digital evidence or data from a mobile device under forensically sound conditions needs more than sophisticated technology. It also requires advanced mobile forensics training for law enforcement officers. In many cases, mobile digital evidence is critical to a conviction. But the lack of trained officers in this area thwarts that process.

First of its kind: Housing for homeless vets at the Cabin in the Woods…

Miranda Y. Brumbaugh Civil & Government

One of the most concerning issues for military veterans is homelessness. Whether vets are struggling with mental health issues or simply don’t have the funds for a home, one state is offering a solution. The Togus Veterans Administration Medical Center in Chelsea, Maine, has recently opened the Cabin in the Woods project. Thanks to this new project, 21 veterans now have their very own home. However, this initiative is dedicated to providing homeless veterans in Maine more than just a home.

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