Current Events Quiz 10/8/14

1. What percentage of Texas students are considered college-ready compared to the rest of the United States? Page A1 "Texas SAT scores…"
33.9% of Texas students are considered college ready, while the national average is 42.6%.

2. Which group has spent the most money lobbying about Proposition 1 AND are they for or against light rail? Page A1 "Spending heavy on…"
Let's Go Austin is for Proposition 1. 

3. Which philosophy or model is Webb Middle School using to keep at risk students in school and being successful? Page B1 "Webb, Reagan…."
They are models of "community schools." 

4. What big change in sanitation recommendations will help canners this year? Page SA2 "Home canning now easier"
Washing the can lids is just as effective as heating them, which makes it a lot easier for canners. 

5. Of the three "Top Things to Do" on Page D2, which would you like to see or go do the most if you could AND WHY? Page D2 "Top Things to Do"
I'd like to go to the Rooftop Architecture Film series because I think some of the films shown could be potentially interesting. 

Short Answer: On Tuesday the United States Supreme court refused to hear arguments from multiple states about the Constitutionality of a same sex marriage bans which had been overturned in those states. Effectively the refusal to hear the cases means that those rulings will now stand, paving the way for same sex marriages in more than 30 states across the country. What do you think about this ruling and the result? Be sure to tell me why!!!
It irritates me that there's been yet another blockade in the road to marriage equality, but I'm glad to hear that over 30 states are on the way to such equality. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself as well as having several other friends in it marriage equality is of course an important issue to me, though I do think that it's important to remember that once the U.S.A. recognizes marriages with partners of the same genders, the fight for equality will be far from over. Regardless of whether we can marry or not, LGBTQ+ individuals are still at high risk of suicide and hate crimes in America (as well as across the world), and "gay marriage" being ruled as legal will not be the end of such violence, just as the Civil Rights Act of the 60s didn't end racism.