Ozark Mayoral Debate by Marissa J.

On October 23, 2018, Ozark held its first Mayoral Debate since quite a while ago. This event took place at 6:30 in the newly built Ozark Performing Arts Center. Having mostly been used for school plays and assemblies, it now was the home of a debate between two determined candidates trying to prove themselves to Ozark’s community. Ozark’s High School AP Government and Politics class along with KDYN made this event possible. Our hardworking crews assisted the candidates as well as controlled the necessities such as sound, light, and the displays. Of the three running candidates, only two candidates were present that night. T.R McNutt was unable to attend the event due to personal health issues. However, Roxy Hall and Steve Whitaker were present and making their stands. Steve had clear and thorough plans for what he wanted and how he planned to achieve it. However, Roxy had one slight advantage. Roxy is highly familiar with the community and its issues while Steve is newly involved. At the debate, many favored Steve in the end though because he was able to give clear opinions and precise ideas. I believe that Steve was the winner of the debate. This event was an outstanding opportunity for many Ozark citizens to get more knowledge of their candidates as well as our High School class to learn new skills and gain political awareness.

Why do you think that the polls changed?
Is there a way that we could’ve got more of Ozark’s citizens to attend?
Should our questions have been broader or more specific? 
Do you think T.R being absent hurt his chances of winning?

Tension Rises at the Mexican Border by Peyton O.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/26/americas/migrants-border-questions/index.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/mexican-police-deploy-around-caravan-migrants-after-day-of-chaos-at-border/2018/11/26/7c500364-f109-11e8-99c2-cfca6fcf610c_story.h

The Mexican Border has remained a place of unrest throughout the past couple of days as the migrants on “the caravan” have arrived at the border. The migrants began their journey to the border early last month when 7,000 Central Americans fled the country of Honduras seeking asylum in the United States. However, the Trump Administration has explicitly stated that the migrants will be denied asylum in the U.S.. When the caravan arrived at the border, they were met with a blockade consisting of the Mexican Police and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents. Many of the migrants rushed the border, attempting to force their way into the United States. The CBP used tear gas to push the migrants back and deny their entry. Although the use of tear gas has been highly criticized by American citizens, President Trump stated that the use of tear gas was both necessary and safe. He also made the claim that some border patrol agents were severely harmed by stones thrown by the migrants. However, CBP leaders have stated that only 4 agents were hit with rocks, and their armor protected them from harm. Trump threatened to close the U.S.-Mexican border in a tweet on Monday. Although this is possible, it seems pointless to many as the U.S. economy would suffer as the billions of dollars coming into the U.S. from Mexico every month would be cut off.

What is your opinion on the use of tear gas?
Do you think we should give the migrants asylum in the U.S.?
Should the border be closed until the migrants disperse?

The Migrant Caravan Clashes with the US-Mexico Border by Jesse F.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-defended-tear-gas-migrants_us_5bfd17aee4b0771fb6bdbd78
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-agents-pepper-sprayed-migrants-history-challenges-caravan-response-outrage

Recently, a controversial “caravan” of migrants from Central America reached the US-Mexico border and attempted to rush into the country. It has been reported that some migrants threw “projectiles” such as rocks at border patrol agents, and the agents used tear gas to counter them, but it appears that no one was seriously injured on either side of the conflict.
As with previous controversies regarding US immigration policies, this conflict has polarized both sides. While some more liberal commentators have referred to the border patrol agents’ use of tear gas as a “chemical attack,” some more conservative speakers considered it justified and compared it to a similar incident under the Obama administration in which border patrol agents used pepper spray to deter migrants in 2013.

There is a clear divide in what people think is happening at the border. It is of utmost importance that we all understand and agree on what is actually going on. Are these particular migrants economic migrants or desperate refugees? Are they seeking asylum, or are they storming the border? How big of a problem is this situation? And how do we know the answers to those questions?

Whatever is happening, the way people understand events like this could influence how we see border security and immigration policy in the future. Events like this may affect what our border patrol agents will do hereafter as well, including whether using tear gas in a situation like this will be considered justified or not.

Mississippi Runoff by Bethany F.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/us/politics/cindy-hyde-smith-mike-espy-mississippi.html

Nearing the end of the election season, one last senate race is preparing for a runoff on November 27th. In Mississippi, Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith faces Democratic candidate Mike Espy. Espy is hoping to return some Democratic control to the state especially following the controversies surrounding Hyde-Smith. Ms. Hyde-Smith has stated that if a supporter were to invite her to public hanging “she’d be front row”. In a state with a history of racial lynching, this comment was considered by many to be extremely inappropriate. She has also been quoted saying that there were some liberals that they “maybe didn’t want to vote”. These comments have given Espy, a black man, extra motivation for his campaign.

The decision of this election would be impactful in American politics. With the current Senate standings, Republicans hold 52 seats while Democrats hold only 47 seats. While this election cannot level the playing field for Senate Democrats it could help close the gap and aid Democrats in next year’s election. This election will impact how efficiently decisions are made in the Senate. In the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, it is outlined that the Senate must approve federal judges. This election’s results along with the other Senate elections of this year have maintained Trump’s power to elect conservative Supreme Court Justices by holding a Republican majority.

What is your opinion of Hyde-Smith’s comments? Were you surprised to see Hyde-Smith win? How do you foresee this election affecting future politics?

The Cost of Doing Business Has Gone Up by Grace F.

https://www.apnews.com/553f34ee520f4ad69cfa03741a0caa2a

This June, SCOTUS upped the price of online shopping with the decision in SOUTH DAKOTA v. WAYFAIR, INC. States now have the right to require online sellers to collect sales tax for the state--regardless of their physical presence in the state--because of the large amount of states’ revenue that is channeled thusly. The foundation of the judgement was the Commerce Clause, which was interpreted to give states the right to charge/earn sales tax on out-of-state/online purchases. South Dakota claimed that the precedents, Bellas Hess and Quill, were out-of-date and unconstitutional because of the vast expansion of the Internet and the drastic impact of online shopping on states’ tax revenue. So, the big question is: Will your shopping bill look any different? The answer right now depends on where you live. “So far, 25+ states have taken advantage of the ruling, with the rest likely to follow by 2019,” says lawyer Eric Citron, who was involved in the Supreme Court case.

Have you personally noticed any price hikes while shopping online?
Is this an annoying but necessary and proper “evil” to fund state programs, or is it governmental overreach that interferes with free market principles?

Ozark Mayoral Debate 2018 by Daniel W.

Ozark had its first mayoral debate in many years on October 23, 2018. The debate was held at the Performing Arts Center at the Ozark Junior High School and ran by Ozark High School’s AP Government/Class and KDYN. Around 150 to 200 people were present and over five thousand watched on Facebook live. Steve Whitaker and Roxie Hall chose to participate in the debate, but the incumbent candidate, T.R. McNutt, declined the offer. Comprehensive issues within the town were discussed as well as clear-cut issues. Hall’s attitude in the event was positive at times and negative at other times, which makes sense because at that time she was on city council but was also running against the current mayor. Steve Whitaker’s plan to spend three million dollars as soon as he would take office is important to Ozark because that is a great amount of money and he could also get Ozark state funding after he spends it. Mrs. Hall’s plan was to save the money because they need some cushioning. I believe Steve Whiteaker won the debate; he was more precise with his answers and seemed like he cared more about the town. Mrs. Hall said “those who know me” many times which was an attempt to get votes by making her seem popular among people. She also lost respect when she said “we don’t do that in this town” after Mr. Whiteaker had said that she called him something vulgar at a city council meeting.

T.R. McNutt and Roxie Hall are having a run-off in December because none of the candidates recieved over 50% of the vote. Who do you think will win? How much of an effect do you think the debate had on voters? If you could change something about how we ran the debate, what would it be?

Mayoral Debate by Madison S.

On Tuesday, October 23, 2018, KDYN and Mrs. Dawa's AP Government and Politics class hosted a mayoral debate for the city of Ozark. There were three candidates running for the position: Roxie Hall, Steve Whitaker, and the former mayor, T.R. McNut. Two of the three appeared at the debate.
Going into the debate, I learned toward Mrs. Hall. She is a familiar face. She has always been involved in my life for as long as I can remember. I believe she had a better chance of receiving the position because she has been in this town for a long time. As the debate progressed, I began to see the points Mr. Whiteaker was making. He was making reasonable and valid point. Everyone in town thought Mr. Whitaker was just a crazy man, but  if he was he was crazy with a purpose. He had an action plan for Ozark, and he was ready to take it. He seemed to be more prepared than Mrs. Hall. Throughout the debate. Mr. Whiteaker answered questions better than Mrs. Hall.


After the votes were counted two weeks ago, it was determined that a runoff would pursue between Mrs. Hall and Mr. McNut. I believe the reason Mr. Whiteaker wasn't in the runoff because he just isn't well know and hasn't been that  involved with local politics until recently in Ozark. Mrs. Hall and Mr. McNut have been involved in local politics for many years. In my opinion, Mr. Whiteaker won the debate, and I think he could have done some good for this town.

Mayoral Debate by Logan W.

On October 23, 2018 the Ozark High School AP government and politics class along with KDYN  hosted the Ozark Mayoral Debate between two of the three candidates. These two candidates were Roxie Hall and Steve Whitaker. T.R. McNutt was unable to make it to the debate because of and eye surgery. During this debate Roxie and Steve gave many interesting points on many different topics. These topics went from increasing entrepreneurship in Ozark to the planned Ozark Marina.

I believe that Steve Whitaker won the debate and should become Mayor. Steve gave many solid and well backed up arguments and his arguments helped change people's minds at the debate. Many going into the debate were for Roxie as determined by our entrance polls, however our exit polls tell a different story and actually brought our polls very close. Even though i do believe Steve won the debate, he did say some unprofessional comments that most likely hurt him more than helped him. The debate was very interesting and has changed many people's opinions on who should be mayor of Ozark.

Who do you think won the Mayoral Debate?
Did you believe Steve’s comments helped or hurt him?
Who do you believe will be the best choice for mayor out of the three choices?

2018 Ozark Mayoral Debate

On October 23, 2018, two of the three Mayoral candidates for the Ozark Mayor position attended the Mayoral Debate. This debate was hosted by the Ozark High School AP Government and Politics class as well as the KDYN/KLYR radio station, and was held at the OHS Performing Arts Center.

Steve Whiteaker and Roxie Hall shared their opinions over some of the biggest local issues. These issues included expanding entrepreneurship, promoting economic growth, and the usage of city funds. As the candidates spoke, it gave the citizens of Ozark a clearer and more informed view of the candidates. However, T.R. McNutt was not in attendance due to a conflict in scheduling. Armed with this knowledge, the citizens of Ozark took to the polls, on November 6, to decide who the next Mayor of Ozark would be.

I believe that Steve Whiteaker won the debate. His views were very clear and compelling. I believe that his plan to draw in business from the interstate was very good, and his overall plans were very in touch with what Ozark needed. Roxie Hall also shared that she believed improving our city was very important. However her approach seemed to be less in tune with the needs of Ozark.

Who do you believe won the debate? Why?
Do you believe that T.R.’s absence from the debate caused him to lose support in the community?
Based off of the debate, who do you think will be the best Mayor and why?

On October 23, 2018 Ozark mayoral candidates attended a debate held at the performing arts center. This event was presented by Ozark High School’s AP government and politics class and KDYN/KYLR. The candidates, Roxie Hall and Steve Whiteaker, used this debate to share their views on why they think they should become the mayor of Ozark, Arkansas. Current mayor, T.R. McNutt chose not to attend the event due to a scheduling issue.

When Steve Whiteaker was inquired about his position on encouraging entrepreneurship in Ozark, he stated that he wanted to use reserve money to fund the downtown area to create new businesses while also creating other opportunities for grants. I think this would help the downtown area tremendously and create plenty of revenue and traffic for the town. Roxie Hall’s rebuttal included wanting to clean up downtown and provide a comfortable environment for the businesses. I think this would be ineffective because most establishments decide where to place themselves where they think the most business is, not where it is aesthetically pleasing. A ‘new layer of paint’ alone would not better the towns entrepreneur population.

In my opinion, Steve Whiteaker won the debate. His ideas where very innovative and I truly believe he could better the town of Ozark.

In your opinion, who won the debate and why? How did the debate affect your opinion of the candidates? Who do you think will win the election?

Ozark Mayoral Debate by Gabby S.

The Ozark Mayoral Debate at the Ozark High School Performing Arts on Tuesday, October 23, center shed some light on the candidate's political and economic stances.  This debate outlined the importance of community involvement and addressed many issues within the town that need to be attended to. One point of debate was the community center and whether or not the candidates supported the continued investment into it. Roxie Hall explained her reasoning behind her belief that the community center is a huge opportunity for the economy of Ozark. On the other hand, Steve Whiteaker made a point to recognize the burden the community center’s upkeep is to the city of Ozark. Although they disagree on how to address this issue, both have valid points. 

In my opinion, Steve Whiteaker won this debate - purely for his very detailed plans for Ozark’s improvement. His ideas to help promote entrepreneurship in Ozark by supporting and teaching citizen’s new ideas and involvement were much more thought out than Roxie Hall’s, in my opinion. 

What do you think about Steve’s ideas for Ozark’s economy? Why do you think the election ended in a nearly three-way tie? What do you think about T.R. McNutt’s absence?

Ozark Mayoral Debate Op-Ed by Dougie D.

On October 23, 2018 a mayoral debate for two candidates running for mayor in Ozark was held. Those candidates were Roxie Hall and Steve Whiteaker. It was held at the Ozark Performing Arts center and was open to the public. It was ran by both KDYN and Mrs. Dawa’s AP Government and Politics.

Starting off the debate, I sided with Mrs. Hall. Not because I had done my research, but because I trusted what everybody else was saying about her. With her daughter being a student in my grade, she was talked positively about while Steve Whiteaker was considered crazy because of his bad use of social media.

During the debate, my support for Roxie started to go down, something I was not expecting. I think it mostly came from the fact that she didn’t seem like she knew what she was doing and that Steve was much more comfortable in the position he was in. Steve had a more mature and friendly attitude while Mrs. Hall’s came off as a little bit rude.

My support for Mrs. Hall really hit a low when she was asked “What would you do to create unity and not create division in our city?”. Her response to this question was “I’m a strong believer in prayer.”
While I am Christian, I don’t believe you can answer a question about division with “prayer”. Different beliefs is a strong contributor to division. How are you supposed to fix division with something some people don’t believe in?

While I do have opinions against Mrs. Hall, I must thank her for trying and at least coming to the debate. That’s not something we can say about all the mayoral candidates. (You know who you are.)
Overall, I believe Steve Whiteaker won the debate.

After seeing the results of the midterm votes, how do you believe the debate affected the polls?
Who do you think won the debate and why?

Can We Protect Our Resources? by Hannah T.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/climate/global-energy-forecast.html

If we, as a global population, continue to use our environmental resources as heavily as we do now, we will see some major changes in the next twenty years. For example, soon, we won’t have much gas to put in our cars. The supply of it will go down. The supply isn’t set to peak until about the mid-2020’s, but that won’t stop the amount of oil the world uses. Oil is used as fuel for cars, ships, trucks, planes, and many more various things. Since oil is a non-renewable resource, once we use it all up, it will be gone forever.

However, some new ways to get electricity are growing more and more. Solar power is a renewable resource, so we will never run out of it, and the cost of it has declined 65% since 2013, making it a more affordable and environmentally beneficial source of electricity. Now, solar power doesn’t provide much electricity around the world, it only covers about 15% of it. But, by 2040, it has been predicted that solar power will provide about 40% of all the electricity in the world.

What do you think will happen once the oil supply is gone? Will there be alternate ways to fuel vehicles that use oil as fuel? Can we find ways to reduce the amount of oil we use on a daily basis? Do you think solar power will be used by everyone in the world one day?

Florida Governor's Race by Daniel W.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republican-ron-desantis-defeats-andrew-gillum-in-florida-gubernatorial-race

One of the most dramatic campaigns in the 2018 midterms has finally ended. On Tuesday night Fox News confirmed that Republican Ron DeSantis would defeat Democrat Andrew Gillum in the gubernatorial race in Florida. Desantis and Gillum both beat establishment candidates that were favored to win, but have completely opposite views. Gillum supports impeaching President Trump, raising the minimum wage to $15, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Desantis, on the other hand, has virtually the same stance on every issue as Donald Trump. Many political analysts have said the only reason he won the election was that President Trump fought to ensure Desantis would win. Andrew Gillum had many famous supporters, including Bernie Sanders. Gillum made history not only by being the first black gubernatorial nominee in the state of Florida but also by espousing an obstinate progressive agenda and just losing by half of a percent. Most Democratic nominees in this midterm appeared more moderate than they really are in an effort to steal votes. Gillum’s approach nearly paid off and might have caused a revolutionary turn for Florida.

Do you believe it is smarter to be completely open about your opinion if you are running for an office, or is it smarter to appear more neutral and say what more people want to hear? How much of an effect do you believe Trump really had on the voters in Florida? Do you believe far right or far left ideas are becoming more accepted in the United States?

Election Day 2018: 0 Days to Go by: Daniel E.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsstandhub.com/en-us/the-new-york-times/amp/election-day-2018-0-days-to-go

This is it. Today is the voters’ day, and America gets some answers. President Trump focused on boosting Republican candidates for Senate and governor in the Midwest. But many Republicans  have starting to preparing to lose the House. While the Senate is still looking red (Republican).The math favors the Democrats. More seats currently held by Republicans are leaning toward the Democrats than the other way around. Many more Republican seats are tossups. The House needs to pick 23 democrats to gain control of the House. But it’s far from a done deal. Even if Democrats hold on to their existing seats and win all the districts, they are rated as leaning or likely to pick up from the Republicans, they will still have to win at least six of the 29 Republican seats rated as tossups seats that could easily go either way. The Senate leans toward the Republican party. To maintain control of the Senate, they can only lose one seat. The Democrats are trying to defend their seats in order to have some leverage in the Senate. One Democratic seat for the Senate is leaning Republican, and five seats are toss ups. The result came out last night! Go check them!

If you are old enough, are you registered to vote? If you are old enough, did you vote in your local election? Do you feel with Trump's approval for some candidates in the Midwest will help them get elected? Do you believe this will help Trump's campaign in the future?

2018 Ozark Mayoral Debate by Ethan D.

Ozark Mayoral Candidates, Roxie Hall and Steve Whiteaker, recently participated in a mayoral debate at the Ozark High School Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 23. It was held by Ozark’s Ap Government and Politics class, and local radio station, KDYN/KLYR. Current mayor and candidate T.R. McNutt, chose not to attend the debate due to scheduling issues. Mr. Whiteaker plans on bringing tourists and visitors from interstate into Ozark to increase business and activities. He also plans on creating entrepreneurship opportunities in hope of getting businesses to be in Ozark, as well as, allow the citizens of Ozark to have a chance of making their ideas known and work. Whiteaker provided a lot of ideas and initiatives allowing him to catch the eyes of the audience and win the debate. Roxie Hall also performed well, telling that she wanted the ideas from the people and what is best for the city. However, the lack of current ideas and plans for the city showed a weakness, which led to less votes for her throughout the exit polls.

1. Who do you believe won the debate and why?
2. In your opinion what was the impact of Mr. McNutt not being present at the debate?
3. Who do you think will win the mayoral position, and what ideas or plans put them above the other candidates. 

2018 Elections by Logan W.

http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/cong.aspx

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2018/nov/06/midterm-elections-2018-live-results-latest-winners-and-seats

The voting on November 6 will determine how our country will pass laws for the next two years. The House of Representatives is predominantly Republican with 54.9% as well as the Senate with 51% . This allowed President Trump to pass laws through The House and Senate much easier. If the Democrats can win back the The House and Senate President Trump will lose a lot of his power he once had. Many of the laws President Trump has passed and wants to pass will be struck down by a predominantly Democrat House and Senate.

As of 6:00 a.m. on November 7 the Democratic party has won the House, but the Republican party has won the Senate. The election was closer between the two parties in Congress with the Republicans winning the Senate 53% and the Democrats winning the House 53%. President Trump will have a harder time passing his agenda with a more Democrat House.

1.How will having two conflicting parties in two seperate parts of Congress affect the outcome of new laws?
2. Did you support the new predominantly Democrat House of were you against it?
3. Will this new change in power help or hurt the United States?

Matters of Mayoral Debate 2018 by Grace F.

On October 23, 2018, two of the three Ozark mayoral candidates faced off in the Ozark Performing Arts Center for the Mayoral Debate; the third candidate, incumbent mayor Mr. McNutt, was unable or unwilling to attend. Each candidate answered 17 questions, with equal opportunity for rebuttals.

Though the two candidates agreed on many issues, one difference was the no-tobacco ordinance recently passed in Ozark. Mrs. Hall supported the ordinance because, “Tobacco isn’t healthy and needs to stay out of our public areas.” Mr. Whitetaker disagreed with the ordinance, saying he’d repeal it because, “the government shouldn’t meddle in our lives in any capacity.” While I respect his ideas about limited government, I think this scenario necessitates government regulation; there’s too much chewing tobacco used in Ozark, and the remnants left behind in our public places makes them gross and uninviting.

For me, Mrs. Hall won the debate. She stayed level-headed and professional, showing the public she’s a strong leader, not inclined to make politics personal. This is important so that personal biases don’t impede a mayor’s sense of justice.

So, in your opinion, who won the debate? Was any candidate was much affected by the debate in terms of support?

Veterans in a Up-Roar by Madison S.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/29/politics/pentagon-border-troops-migrants/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/30/politics/trump-troops-border-criticisms/index.html

Immigrants located in Central America, have been making a mass migration toward the United States and Mexico border. Most of the immigrants are from Honduras. One reason for them leaving their home is because of the poverty. Six to ten homes in Honduras are described as extremely poor. With the immigrants inching toward the border, President Trump and the Pentagon ordered 5000+ soldiers to the border to aid the national guard.

Veterans are in a up-roar because President Trump is sending roughly 5,200 military personnel to the border. Veterans think it is not necessary to protect the border. They believe that the United States should let the immigrants to seek asylum within the United States. A former Marine thought President Trump should not send that many people to the border because the immigrants are “unarmed and already in danger”.

Many say President Trump's decision is just a way to help his agenda. Some say it is wrong to not give asylum to these people in need. According to Henry Fernandez, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, "President Trump is manufacturing a crisis around the caravan for political gain -- to stoke fears and garner votes for the midterms." 

Do you think President Trump is doing the right thing by sending more troops to the border? Do you think the United States should provide asylum for the immigrants in the caravan headed toward the border? Should Americans be worried for their safety? What other reasons could there be for the mass migration?

Oped: Ozark Mayoral Debate by Bethany F.

A mayoral debate between candidates Roxie Hall and Steve Whitaker took place October 23rd. The debate occurred in the Ozark Performing Arts Center with local radio station, KDYN, as a sponsor. T.R. McNutt, the former mayor, chose not to attend. Based on polling done by the OHS Government/Politics Class, I believe that McNutt’s decision not to debate very much hindered his campaign. The debate was held to help inform the public on the candidates’ positions, goals, and objectives; it was also livestreamed to reach a larger audience. When asking his ideas for encouraging entrepreneurship, Steve Whitaker detailed his plans for creating a “business incubator” downtown. He plans to use the city’s reserve money to fund this while also creating opportunities for grants. I foresee that if he is able to get this passed it would be a great opportunity and would curate substantial revenue. In Roxie Hall’s rebuttal, she stated her plans to clean up downtown to create a comfortable environment for businesses. I think this is ineffective; businesses decide their locations based on where they know they can receive business. Steve Whitaker won the debate in my opinion. It seems that the public agrees based on the amount of people whose vote was shifted from another candidate to Steve as found in our poll. 

Who do you believe won the debate? What issue/question do you think was influential in changing people’s opinions? How do you think Ozark should increase business and economic growth?

Hate Crimes in Pittsburgh by Liberty C.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/us/active-shooter-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting.html?module=inline

11 families grieve for their loved ones after the Tree of Life Congregation mass shooting in Pittsburgh. The incident occured on Saturday, October 27. The assailant, who was later identified as Robert Bowers, opened fire in the synagogue, destroying the peaceful and celebratory morning. A bris was underway, which is a ceremony to mark a child’s birth. Thankfully, no children were among the casualties; however, 11 congregants were killed and 4 police officers were injured. Authorities are now calling this a hate crime. Bowers has been charged with 29 Federal charges, including obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs. He also faces at least 30 state charges, including 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. 

Hate crimes have become a more common thing in our society. It is affecting the way our citizens interact as well as how our minority population is treated. Critics of President Trump say that he is to blame for the surge of hate crimes. They claim that his Twitter comments and rallies have stirred the “nationalism pot,” but President Trump has denied these claims.

1. What is your opinion of the rise of hate crimes?
2. How should we combat them?
3. Do you think President Trump is partially to blame for the rise of these crimes?