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USC commencement speakers pull out after valedictorian speech cancellation

April 29, 2024
Israel-Hamas war protests on college campuses have been ongoing for weeks. At the University of South California (USC), professors who were going to give commencement speeches are pulling out in protest of the university’s decision to cancel its valedictorian’s speech and its main ceremony over safety concerns.

Valedictorian Asna Tabassum, a pro-Palestinian Muslim, was going to give a commencement speech until pro-Israel groups said Tabassum shared antisemitic statements on her social media.

Tabassum said the statements were not antisemitic but were out of precaution. The university canceled her speech, fueling further protests. At one point, USC called the Los Angeles Police Department, leading to the arrest of about 100 protesters.

Following the arrests, USC canceled its main ceremony, which would have involved about 65,000 people. The university said it had to take certain measures to ensure the students’ safety and the security screenings would have taken too long to process with such a large crowd.

Each of the school’s individual colleges are set to have their own smaller ceremonies.

Now, two of the people slated to give commencement speeches — C Pam Zhang and Safiya Noble — have pulled out.

“Asna’s removal, the administration’s refusal to engage in dialogue with student protestors, and the decision to invite LAPD forces onto campus, represent a violent and targeted refusal to allow true diversity of expression to flourish on campus,” the two said in a joint statement. “The right to free speech and peaceful protest are not only fundamental to democracy, but a particular, proud feature of American universities.”

Noble, a professor at UCLA, encouraged dozens of other projected speakers to join in boycotting USC.

USC is not the only college facing fallout of its handling of mass protests. There have been more than 800 arrests across university campuses since April 18.
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Bombings kill more than 100 in Iran as polarizing military figure honored

January 3, 2024
Two bombs exploded minutes apart, rocking the city of Kerman, Iran, about 510 miles southeast of the capital, Tehran, Wednesday, Jan. 3. The blasts killed more than 100 people, injured dozens more and left countless people running for safety.

The second bomb sent shrapnel into a screaming crowd fleeing the first explosion.

The gathering marked the fourth anniversary of the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. The blasts occurred near his gravesite as thousands of people lined up for the event.

Moments later, the area turned into a chaotic scene. Wounded laid on the ground as first responders scrambled to tend to the injured and dead.

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahdi told state television that the second blast killed and wounded the most people.

According to The Associated Press, a delayed second explosion is often used by militants to target emergency personnel who are responding to the scene, inflicting more casualties. Screams of people trying to escape could be heard on state TV. Officials said some people were hurt racing from the scene.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for what appears to be the deadliest militant attack to target the country since its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran, which supports Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, has many enemies who could be behind the assault, including exiled groups, militant organizations and state actors.

The deadly bombings come as Iranian-backed groups have intensified confrontation with Israel and the U.S. amid the war in Gaza.

While Israel has carried out attacks in Iran over its nuclear program, it has conducted targeted assassinations, not mass casualty bombings.

According to The Associated Press, Sunni extremist groups including the Islamic State group have conducted large-scale attacks in the past that killed civilians in Shiite-majority Iran, though not in a relatively peaceful Kerman.

Iran has also seen mass protests in recent years, including those over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022. Iran has also been targeted by exile groups in attacks dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Soleimani was the architect of Iran’s regional military operations. He’s hailed as a national icon among supporters of the country’s theocracy. Soleimani also helped secure Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government after the 2011 Arab spring protest.

The uprisings against Assad eventually turned into a civil and regional war, which is still raging on. The general also killed U.S. troops during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, arming militants with roadside bombs used to kill and maim service members. Following the attacks, American officials called for his death.

A drone strike launched by the Trump administration in eventually killed Soleimani after escalating incidents followed by America’s 2018 unilateral withdrawal from Iran with world powers. The polarizing military figure has drawn large processions in the past. During his funeral in 2020, a stampede broke out in Kerman, killing 56 people and injuring more than 200 others.
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Hackers interrupt Iranian president’s speech on live state TV

February 13, 2023

The current Iranian regime has been around for 44 years. Over the weekend, the Islamic Republic celebrated the anniversary of its revolution. But as the Iranian government celebrated its reign, it also faced some of the staunchest opposition it has seen in its 44 year history.

Iran’s government held organized rallies and celebrations on Saturday, but during the president’s live speech hailing his regime, anti-Iranian government hackers were able to break the livestream, interrupting the president’s speech on television. The hackers played a prerecorded one minute piece which depicted men in masks along with a voice that shouted “death to the Islamic Republic.”

The Iranian government is facing its strongest challenges from an anti-government resistance among Iranian people. Protests in the country have been consistent for six months now and are still gaining momentum.
PM rundown: Sen. Sasse steps down, Iran executes more protesters

January 9, 2023

An outgoing senator leaves a Senate vacancy to fill; a ban on bump stocks has been struck down by an appeals court; and children who are obese are now recommended to take weight-loss medication. These stories and more highlight your midday rundown for Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.

Sen. Ben Sasse steps down

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska officially resigned from his post on Sunday. He leaves the seat up for grabs, which Nebraska’s governor will appoint someone to fill.

The top prospect for the position right now is former Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. Sen. Sasse is leaving the Senate to become president at the University of Florida.

Court overturns bump stock ban

A federal appeals court has struck down a ban on bump stocks, a firearm accessory that allows a semi-automatic gun to shoot more quickly.

Bump stocks were banned by former President Donald Trump following the 2017 massacre in Las Vegas where a gunman shot and killed 58 people using rifles with bump stocks.

The appeals court voted bump stocks are legal because they don’t technically fit the definition of what a machine gun is. Machine guns are banned.

The decision doesn’t have an immediate effect on the ban because the case now moves back to the lower court to decide how to proceed. The Biden administration could take the case to the Supreme Court.

Medication, surgery for obese children

For the first time ever the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending children with obesity take medication to lose weight. In some severe cases, doctors are also recommending children have fat removal surgery.

It’s a controversial step to try and combat childhood obesity, which affects more than 14 million children. One out of every three children are now overweight or obese.

Doctors are now recommending children 12 years or older take medications to lose weight. Some come in the form of pills, others are weekly injections. In severe cases, children ages 13 years or older can now receive referrals for weight-loss surgeries.

The academy says these options are on top of already suggested diet changes and exercise routines. They say without dramatic intervention, these children could develop high blood pressure, diabetes, and other life-long health issues.

Iran executes more protesters

Protests in Iran have been ongoing since September, and the Iranian government is not letting up despite the outcries from Iran’s people. After several controversial executions, Iran hanged two more protesters over the weekend.

According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, two men were “wrongfully hanged” for protesting the Iranian government on Saturday. They called the executions “shocking” and the trials “unfair” and said they were based on forced confessions.

Iran is receiving international condemnation.

The government has arrested nearly 20,000 protesters, more than 100 of them facing a death sentence, and already killing four. Iran’s leader has shown no signs of letting up and neither have the Iranian people who are still in protest.

Comet to be seen with naked eye

Get your binoculars ready and mark your calendar for this Thursday. A chance of a lifetime is sailing into our inner solar system.

On Thursday, you could get a rare glimpse of a comet that hasn’t been seen with the naked eye since the last ice age. It has been in hiding for more than 50,000 years. Now, it’s your chance to witness the comet as it heads towards the sun and Earth. And while it might be close enough for people to see, it will still be 26 million miles away.
Midday rundown: Officer arrested after deadly crash; NFL Hamlin update

January 3, 2023

A tragedy in Louisiana has left two high school cheerleaders dead and a police officer arrested; speculation grows over NFL player Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and incidents of children eating cannabis edibles spike. These stories and more highlight your midday rundown, aimed straight down the middle, for Jan. 3, 2023.

Louisiana officer arrested after deadly chase

Maggie Dunn and Caroline Hill tragically died over the weekend when their car was struck by a police cruiser. Officer David Cauthron was in a high-speed pursuit of a home invasion suspect.

The suspect had stolen a car in the chase which sometimes reached speeds of 110 miles per hour and ran red lights. That officer has now been booked on charges of negligent homicide for pursuing the chase that killed the two teens.

The suspect that the police were chasing has also been charged for two counts of homicide in the girls deaths.

Speculation on NFL player’s cardiac arrest

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition after collapsing mid-game on Monday due to cardiac arrest.

As the 24-year-old is in a Cincinnati hospital, some on social media are speculating about the cause of the incident, questioning whether it had anything to do with the COVID-19 vaccine. This theory is nothing new. It has circulated as several athletes have died unexpectedly since the vaccine was introduced.

Straight Arrow News reporter Shannon Longworth spoke with a cardiologist last year for clarification.

The cardiologist said that young people sometimes have unexplained, abnormal heart rhythm, which can be life threatening. These cases are categorized as “sudden adult death syndrome,” and they occurred even before the COVID-19 vaccine.

So far, there’s no clear correlation between the two as the theory is lacking enough supporting data.

Iranian chess player faces scrutiny

An Iranian chess player has received warnings not to return to Iran after competing in a chess tournament without wearing a head covering. According to the report, the female chess player competed in an international chess tournament in Kazakhstan where she was not wearing a headscarf. Wearing a headscarf is mandatory under Iran’s dress code for women.

It comes at a time when Iran has faced backlash from its own people over its treatment of women.

The chess player could face prosecution from Iranian officials.

Spike in children eating cannabis edibles

More than 20 states have legalized marijuana, some as recent as the last midterm election. While legalization becomes more prevalent, so has the number of accidents with children getting their hands on edible cannabis.

In the span of five years, the number of young children who ate edibles rose 1,375%. There were more than 3,000 cases in 2021, compared to 200 cases in 2017.

These cases of kids eating edibles are only counting children six years or younger. The cases also account for nearly half of all poison exposure emergency calls.

Many edibles come in the form of candies, cookies, brownies, chocolates – all things which appeal to toddlers. Combine that with more products readily available through legalization, it is creating more exposure to children according to the study authors.

Human composting legal in New York

With a new year comes new laws, and one that is widely talked about this year is human composting, which has just been legalized in New York. New York becomes the sixth state to allow the controversial alternative method to traditional burial or cremation.

Human composting is essentially when a body is placed into a casket with natural materials like wood chips and hay. Bacteria breaks down the human body into soil within about a month, creating human compost that families can use to plant things in honor of their loved one.
Iran reroutes soccer star’s flight, pursues high-profile protest supporters

December 28, 2022

As protests on the streets of Iran continue, the so-called Islamic Republic is going after one of its high-profile athletes. An Iranian former soccer legend, Ali Daei, had his flight redirected mid-air as he was traveling to Dubai with his family. According to local reports, Iranian authorities are barring them and other high-profile figures from leaving the country over their outspoken support for widespread protests on the ground.

It’s been over a hundred days now since crowds like these flooded the streets of Iran. The protests were sparked in part by the death of Mahsa Amini, the woman who died in police custody.

It’s being called one of the largest anti-government demonstrations Iran has seen since the 1979 Islamic Revolution which brought clerics into power. Human rights organizations say at least 500 people have been killed in these protests. And more than 18,000 have been arrested so far.

The Iranian regime has also executed at least two people involved in the protests, sparking further condemnation by human rights groups.

While polling shows a significant fraction of Iran supports regime change, experts disagree as to whether Iran is in a position to effect that at this moment amid economic tensions. What is clear is that these protests have fundamentally changed the relationship between the state and the Iranian people.
Midday rundown: COVID-19 origins, Russian prisoner swaps

December 14, 2022

The 10 year anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre; roadway dangers; and more Russian prisoner swaps. These stories and more highlight the midday rundown, aimed straight down the middle, for Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022.

GOP requests 40 officials to testify on COVID-19 origins

GOP leaders in the house are doing the groundwork preparing for the gavel come January. On Wednesday, leaders released a list of 40 officials that they plan to interview in their efforts to investigate the origins of COVID-19. The list includes top senior Biden administration officials and top scientists.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is among those expected to testify in the new year.

Prisoner swap between Russia, Ukraine

Another prisoner swap has taken place, this time between Russia and Ukraine, the swap resulted in the release of an American Air Force veteran, Suedi Murekezi, who says he was subjected to torture, electric shocks and beatings while being held in a basement in Russian captivity.

63 other Ukrainian prisoners of war were released.

The veteran had been living in Ukraine since 2018 and was captured by Russian forces after it invaded Kherson.

UN women’s body votes to remove Iran

A United Nations Council took a vote today to remove Iran from the Women’s Commission. This is just the latest rift between the U.S. and Iran. Ahead of Wednesday’s vote, Iran says their removal would prevent countries with different cultures from having a voice in international commissions.

The U.S. says Iran’s policies contradict the rights of women. A revolt is being led by protesters in Iran, spurred by the country’s treatment of women.

Iran recently publicly executed protesters.

“The regime has rounded up and detained thousands of people for their involvement in these protests. Many of them now face harsh sentences, including the death penalty in sham trials that lack any due process. We denounce this draconian treatment in the strongest terms,” State Department Spokesman Ned Price said.

Study highlights car crash victims under the influence

A large study from highway safety officials highlights the deadly consequences of being under the influence while on the roadways. The study found that more than half of people injured or killed in traffic collisions, had one or more drugs in their system, or they had alcohol above the legal limit.

Not only were drugs and alcohol found in their bloodstreams, but in 54% of car crash victims, THC was found. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.

The study authors say the use of substances are impairing drivers at a time when traffic deaths in the U.S. have risen dramatically in recent years.

10 years since Sandy Hook massacre

“It was a decade ago that 26 people were killed at our school. And I think that realization is starting to hit us. Like 10 years. That’s a long time,” said Jackie Hegarty, who was in second grade at time of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Today, marks the 10th anniversary of the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre. 20 first graders and six teachers were killed in the attack.

In the decade that followed, the Sandy Hook shooting would be just one of more than 900 school shootings in the U.S. The first grade victims at Sandy Hook would be in their junior year of high school.

Today, people are pausing to reflect and remember a tragedy that struck the core of our country 10 years ago.

America’s biggest problem is government

What are Americans calling their No. 1 problem? It’s not the cost of living. Although, that came in second. It’s also not crime, gas prices or the need for world peace. Americans say their problem is with the government.

That’s according to a new Gallup poll, where Americans voted the politics in the U.S. government as the number one problem in the country.

It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise since the government has been voted America’s top issue seven times in the past 10 years.

The poll also shows what Americans aren’t worried about. The environment was mentioned the least when it came to America’s problems. As for the morals of Americans, they’re not concerned about those either. That came in second to last.
Morning Rundown: Putin hints of long war; Title 42 expiring

December 8, 2022

Title 42 is expiring; Iran executes a protester; Putin dangles bombs; and “Wordle” tops Google searches. These stories and more highlight the morning update for Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.

Biden administration appeals end to title 42

Last month, a judge ruled Title 42 would have to be lifted on Dec. 21, calling the COVID-era border policy outdated.

Now, the Biden administration is appealing that ruling. They are asking the courts to wait on ending the policy, while other Title 42 litigation plays out and while the government draws up a replacement policy.

Employees at New York Times go on strike

Hundreds of employees at the New York Times are holding a 24-hour walk out at their company today. It is the first strike of its kind at the newspaper in more than 40 years.

The union employees have been in contract negotiations now for a year-and-a-half. Wage increases and remote work policies are at the center of the stand still.

Iran executes anti-government protester

Today, Iran carried out its first execution linked to the protests and unrest over human rights. The protester, who was hanged, was blocking a main road in the capital. He also injured an officer at one of many demonstrations that have been carried out in the country.

Authorities are seeking the death penalty for 21 others who participated in protests.

Putin says war in Ukraine could be lengthy

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has said the war in Ukraine might be “a long process.” He sat down with state media, confidently discussing Russia’s position.

Putin brought up the potential of nuclear war, saying the risk is growing, but also adding Russia “has not gone mad” and would not “recklessly threaten to use such weapons.” The Russian leader touted Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which is the largest in the world.

House to vote on Respect for Marriage Act

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to hold a vote in the House today to pass a bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriages.

The measure already passed the Senate and is expected to pass the House. It’s meant to act as a safeguard to marriage rights.

The House is also supposed to take a vote on the defense policy bill this week.

‘Wordle’ tops Google searches of 2022

Every second that goes by includes 40,000 google searches from around the world. Google gets more than 1 trillion searches in a year. So what are people googling the most?

This year, “Wordle” was the most-searched word. The game people can play on their phones took the world by storm in 2022. It beat out searches for “election results,” which came in second.

Betty White, Queen Elizabeth, and Ukraine were also part of the top 10.

Google also released its most searched people of the year. The person who came in first was Johnny Depp. His defamation trial became America’s soap opera this past summer.

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