Home About Writing Samples Multimedia Samples Resume

Breaking News/Events Reporting

Click below to see all of my breaking news and events reporting!

The Center Square •

FAA announces flight reductions due to government shutdown

(The Center Square) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday there would be a 10% reduction of air traffic in 40 locations across the country due to the ongoing government shutdown. Officials with the FAA, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, said the reduction in services would begin on Friday. "Our sole role is that we keep this airspace as safe as possible," Duffy said in a press conference. "This is about where's the pressure and how do we alleviate the pressure." Bryan...
The Center Square •

Florida to crack down on H-1B visas, following Trump's lead

(The Center Square) – American graduates will be prioritized by the state public university system in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday.The second-term Republican said he is directing the State University System of Florida's Board of Governors “to end this practice” of importing workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring qualified Americans.“Universities across the country are importing foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and available to do the job,”...
The Center Square •

Advocates slam Vance's call for less legal immigration

(The Center Square) - Legal immigration advocates on Thursday  U.S. Vice President JD Vance's call for a reduction in legal immigration Wednesday night while speaking at an event hosted by Turning Point USA.Vance said legal immigration pathways are often used as a way to find cheap labor, a claim of which immigration lawyers and advocates disagree.“We cannot have an immigration policy where what was good for the country 50 or 60 years ago, binds the country inevitably for the future,” Vance said...
The Center Square •

Judge orders Trump to use emergency fund to disburse SNAP benefits

(The Center Square) – A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, while a second judge ruled that the administration's plan to not disperse funds was "unlawful." U.S District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use emergency funds to provide SNAP disbursements. In an announcement earlier this week, the USDA said the ongoing government shutdow...
The Center Square •

Treasury sanctions Russian oil companies, calls for ceasefire

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against two Russian oil companies on Wednesday. The department cited Russia's "lack of serious commitment" to ending the war in Ukraine, according to a news release. "Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "Treasury is prepared to take further action if necessary to support President Trump's efforts to end yet another war."The U.S. is targeting Open Joint St...
The Center Square •

Supreme Court to consider drug user gun possession case

(The Center Square) — The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to hear a case regarding whether regular drug users can possess firearms. The case, United States v. Hemani, challenges whether federal statutes barring a person who "is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance" violates the Second Amendment. The case centers on a Texas man who was charged with a felony when FBI agents found a pistol, marijuana and cocaine in his home after obtaining a search warrant, a petition to...
The Center Square •

U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Trump over H-1B visa fee

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of the world's largest business federations, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Thursday over its proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee. On Sept. 19, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation imposing a one-time, $100,000 fee on new H-1B applications. The administration cited wage suppression and lack of jobs for American workers in its proclamation. H-1B visas are typically issued to high=skilled foreign workers with bachelor...
The Center Square •

Federal judge blocks Trump from firing employees during shutdown

(The Center Square) – A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from firing employees during the partial government shutdown. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who is based in California, said the cuts were motivated by applying political pressure and without consideration of potential effects on fired employees. She also said the cuts appear to violate President Donald Trump's executive authority, even in the midst of a government shutdown.Trump and Office of Management and...
The Appalachian •

BREAKING: Josh Stein projected to win N.C. governor’s race

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in October 2024!
We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions...
The Appalachian •

University water test reveals chemical above ‘allowable limit’

A water test conducted at Appalachian Heights Residence Hall, the Student Recreation Center, Trivette Hall and Holmes Convocation Center found higher than the “allowable limit” of haloacetic acids in a water sample. 
According to a campus-wide update, haloacetic acids or HAA5s are a “byproduct of the chlorination process.” 
According to a notice posted on multiple buildings across campus Friday, the potential health effects of drinking the water over an extended period of time “may have an incre...
The Appalachian •

Free tax filing session offers advice, student aid

Tax day is April 15 and students at App State are eligible for education credits and returns. With this in mind, the Department of Accounting held a free tax filing help session Thursday. 
The session offered advice for students filing their tax returns and free filing help for students who make less than $79,000 per year. Students were asked to bring income forms from the 2023 fiscal year to complete the free tax evaluations. 
“I’m scared every year that I’m gonna accidentally commit tax fraud,...
The Appalachian •

Nazi flag raised outside Temple of the High Country, campus and community respond

Boone Police responded at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to a call of an individual waving a Nazi flag outside of the Temple of the High Country, according to a press release from Boone Police Department.

By the time responding officers arrived, the individual waving the flag had left the scene and left the flag on the sign outside of the temple. Officers recovered the Nazi flag for evidence.

“Like many in our community, we at the police department are disheartened this type of activity occurred in our t...
The Appalachian •

Boone Reads Together recognizes Junaluska oral histories

The Watauga County Public Library hosted its fourth Boone Reads Together book talk Saturday, celebrating Boone’s 150th anniversary.

Boone Reads Together is a bi-monthly library event held throughout the year to reflect on certain literature written by or about community members in Boone.

“Junaluska: Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community” was chosen for the library’s September selection.

Susan Keefe, professor emerita of anthropology at App State, co-edited the book by collecting num...
The Appalachian •

App State Wellness and Prevention offers free naloxone, fentanyl test kits

Wellness and Prevention services at App State have begun offering free fentanyl test strip kits and naloxone to students who anonymously request the service through their website or request them in office, according to Anna Oakes, News and Media Relations Director at the university.

According to a 2020 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, about 9.9 million Americans misused prescription opioids resulting in nearly 47,000 deaths in 2018....
The Appalachian •

App State hosts first annual diversity, equity, inclusion summit

Attendees of the DEI Summit make their way through the presentations in the Solarium, April 28, 2022.

App State’s interim Chief Diversity Officer hosted the first annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit April 28.

The summit included a gathering of departments throughout the university explaining their achievements toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity goals aligned with the university.

Jamie Parson is an associate professor in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. She als...
The Appalachian •

App State students honor trans lives with performance, moment of silence

Sustainable development junior Faye Guarino and biology senior Justice Taylor put up signson Sanford Mall April 22, 2022, in memory of transgender people who have been killed in 2021.

App State students gathered on Sanford Mall Friday for an annual rally in honor of transgender lives lost in the past year.

“A lot of people here, especially, think if it’s not directly affecting them it doesn’t matter,” said Tea Critchfield, a junior music education major who led the event. “These were actual pe...
The Appalachian •

Groundbreaking event marks beginning of Innovation District construction

Chancellor Sheri Everts and others break ground on the the Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research March 25, 2022. The Conservatory will be the first building of the university’s Innovation District.

Chancellor Sheri Everts held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first building of the Innovation District — The Conservatory for Biodiversity Education and Research Friday afternoon.

According to the university website, the Innovation District is App State’s initiative to create a spac...
The Appalachian •

App State introduces veterinary technology degree

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job demand for veterinarians and veterinary technicians is projected to grow by 15% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.

Beginning in August, App State will welcome veterinary technology students as part of a new initiative toward an online veterinary technology degree program.

The new degree program will offer a Bachelor of Science in veterinary technology, which includes on-site clinical training and caree...
The Appalachian •

App State switching to a swipe-based meal plan policy for 2022-23 academic year

A student stands in front of the Carving Board in Roess Dining Hall as their meal is prepared.

Starting in the fall semester, App State will transition to a swipe-based meal plan policy for certain campus dining locations.

The new swipe plan policy will apply to Rivers Street Cafe in Roess Dining Hall and Park Place at the Pond in Trivette Dining Hall. The new system, “dining dollars,” will be used in locations such as Sanford Commons, coffee shops, convenience markets, food trucks and vending...
The Appalachian •

App State’s SGA releases first midterm report

SGA released its first midterm report highlighting its accomplishments throughout the past semester and goals for the upcoming semester.

Student body President Bailey Gardin and Vice President DJ Evans lead the administration. According to the report, the goals of their administration have been to implement “pillars of accountability, equity, wellness and engagement.”

“There’s been a lot of talk on campus that people don’t really know what SGA does,” Gardin said. “So, I think it’s very importa...
The Appalachian •

North Carolina eighth in nation for retail store solar energy potential

Solar panels are emerging as a new source of power with the potential to generate thousands of gigawatt hours of clean electricity, according to a report from Environment North Carolina.

The report ranks North Carolina eighth in the nation for solar energy potential in collaboration with big box stores and retail chain stores such as Target or Walmart. According to the report, if all 3,684 big box stores in North Carolina installed solar paneling on their roofs, 3,241 GWh of clean electricity w...
The Appalachian •

This day in history: Facebook gains popularity at App State

Facebook reported its first ever decline in new users since its creation Feb. 2, but the website started gaining popularity on campus 17 years ago today, according to a news article from The Appalachian archives.

On Feb. 8, 2005, college students wishing to connect with friends from home and their campus community turned to the social media platform once known as “Thefacebook.com”, thus sparking its growth in popularity. App State was no exception to this trend, with 5,289 registered users from...
The Appalachian •

App State to require proof of COVID vaccine for employees

Beginning Monday, App State will require all employees to upload their vaccination cards, shifting away from the current attestation form that faculty and staff fill out, the university announced in an update Friday.

Vaccinated students on campus are currently required to submit their vaccination status or undergo weekly testing. Vaccinated students living off campus are strongly encouraged to submit their vaccination status as well. Vaccinated faculty must submit their results by Oct. 29.

Bef...
The Appalachian •

US Senate candidate Cheri Beasley joins App State students on Sanford Mall

U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley speaking to students on Sanford Mall during her campaign visit to App State Oct. 7.

In preparation for the looming 2022 midterm election season, students joined the U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley in conversation Wednesday on key issues for North Carolinians.

Beasley served as an associate justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court from 2012 until 2019 when she was appointed Chief Justice, but lost a reelection campaign in 2020. Beasley was the first Bl...