Back Issues
"What's Happening in the USA?""¿Qué Pasa en los Estados Unidos?"
"What's Happening in the World?"
"¿Qué Pasa en el mundo?"
"What's Happening in California?"
“What's Happening in California?”
Price: $5(Our three most recent issues are full price.)
2007-2008
September 2007:
Monterey Jazz Festival Turns Fifty
Biography: Timothy Orr, Marketing Associate,
Monterey Jazz Festival
October 2007:
Marine Life Gets Added Protection
Biography: Kaitilin Gaffney, Central Coast Program Manager, Ocean Conservancy
November 2007:
Lake Davis Fights to Save Trout
Biography: Amber Rossi, Fisheries Biologist,
California Department of Fish and Game
December 2007:
Fire Investigators Look for Clues
Biography: James Palisi, Fire Marshal,
Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department
January 2008:
The Minimum Wage Goes Up
Biography: Jean Ross, Executive Director,
California Budget Project
February 2008:
High Speed Rail Finds Its Way
Biography: Dan Leavitt, Deputy Director,
California High Speed Rail Authority
Proposed Changes to Farmworkers' Visa Program
Biography: Cynthia Rice, Director of Litigation, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.
April 2008:
Muir Woods Turns 100
Biography: Jim MacDonald, Education Coordinator,
Muir Woods National Monument
May 2008:
Dry Cleaners Switch to a Greener Process
Biography: Peter Sinsheimer, Director,
Pollution Prevention Center, Occidental College
June 2008:
Law Requires Drivers to Use Hands-free Phones
Biography: Joe Simitian, Senator
State of California, 11th District (Palo Alto)
2006-2007
September 2006:
The Salton Sea Returns to Health
Biography: Dan Cain, Project Manager, Salton Sea Authority
October 2006:
Long Beach’s Port Turns Green
Biography: Jim Hankla, President, Board of Harbor Commissioners
November 2006:
Griffith Observatory Reopens
Biography: Dr. Edwin Krupp, Director, Griffith Observatory
December 2006:
San Francisco’s Christmas Tree Program
Biography: Gloria Chan, Public Information Officer, San Francisco Dept. of the Environment
January 2007:
The Lower Owens River Gets Water From LA
Biography: Carla Scheidlinger, President, Owens Valley Committee
The Getty Museum Looks for Art’s Rightful Owners
Biography: Carrie Menke, Postdoctoral Fellow, Getty Conservation Institute
March 2007:
Overcrowding in the Prisons
Biography: Donald Specter, Director, Prison Law Office
A Historic Fight to Preserve Allensworth
Biography: Victor Carter, President Friends of Allensworth
May 2007:
Bald Eagles Hatch on Catalina Island
Biography: Dr. Peter Sharpe, Director of Bald Eagle Project, Institute for Wildlife Studies
June 2007:
Santa Cruz Boardwalk Celebrates 100 years
Biography: Jimmy Raun-Byberg, Senior Technical Artist Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
2005-2006
September 2005:
The UC System Opens a Campus in Merced
Biography: Miriam Barlow, Assistant Professor, UC Merced School of Natural Sciences
October 2005:
San Jose State Unveils a Statue
Biography: John Carlos, Teacher/Activist/Olympic Champion
November 2005:
Project Open Hand Celebrates Turns Twenty
Biography: Artrese Morrison, Director of Volunteer Services, Project Open Hand
December 2005:
California’s Death Penalty
Biography: Barbara Becnel, Author/Editor; Executive Director of Neighborhood House
January 2006:
Court Blocks Video Game Law
Biography: Mike Antonucci, Popular Culture Writer, San Jose Mercury News
New Species in Caves at Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Biography: Darrell Ubick, Senior Curatorial Assistant, California Academy of Sciences
March 2006:
The First Annual Tour of California
Biography: Ian Sherburne, Bicycle Mechanic
Centennial of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire
Biography: Susan Goldstein, Archivist
May 2006:
Fresh Water Flows into the San Joaquin River
Biography: Dr. Carrie McNeil, Deltakeeper
June 2006:
The Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights
Biography: Cindy Montañez, Assemblywoman
2004-2005
September 2004:
Redding Opens the Sundial Bridge
Biography: Robyn Peterson, Curator of Art, Turtle Bay Exploration Park
October 2004:
A White Shark Goes on Display
Biography: Kevin Weng, Graduate Student, Hopkins Marine Lab of Stanford University
November 2004:
Photos Record California’s Coast
Biography: Kenneth Adelman, Environmental Activist
December 2004:
Bells Line El Camino Real
John Kolstad, Owner, California Bell Company
January 2005:
Recycling E-Waste
Biography: Mark Murray, Executive Director, Californians Against Waste
Oakland Considers Future of Mounted Police Unit
Biography: Chris Saunders, Police Officer, Mounted Unit, Oakland PD
March 2005:
CIF Tackles Steroids
Biography: Marie M. Ishida, Executive Director, California Interscholastic
Federation
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Biography: Glenn Geffcken, Festival of Books Senior Project Manager
May 2005:
Greyhound Eliminates Stops
Biography: Kim Plaskett, Senior Manager of External Communications,
Greyhound Lines Inc.
June 2005:
Santa Cruz Bans Smoking on Its Beaches
Biography: Joel Braga, Beach Maintenance Worker, City of Santa Cruz
2003-2004
September 2003:
SF's Conservatory of Flowers Reopens
Biography: Jim Henrich, Curator, Conservatory of Flowers
October 2003:
Walkers Go Border to Border on Coastal Trail
Biography: Linda Hanes, President, Coastwalk Board
November 2003:
San Onofre Sends Its Reactor Packing
Biography: Jude Posik, Radiological Planner, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
December 2003:
Bark Beetles Feast on Forests
Biography: Glenn Barley, Forester, CA Dept. of Forestry and Fire Prevention
January 2004:
Breeding Season for Elephant Seals
Biography: Michael Grant, CA State Park Ranger
February 2004:
Monterey Clears a Minefield in Afghanistan
Biography: Nahela Hadi, Executive Director, Adopt-A-Minefield
March 2004:
Cell Phones and Young Drivers
Biography: Debra Bowen, CA Senator, 28th District
April 2004:
California Youth Authority
Biography: Cynthia Florez-DeLyon, Assistant Director, CYA Prevention and Victims Services
May 2004:
Schools in Los Angeles Go "Sweatfree"
Biography: David Tokofsky, School Board Member, LAUSD
June 2004:
San Francisco Bay Reclaims Wetlands
Biography: Marge Kolar, Refuge Complex Manager, SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge
September 2002:
CSU's New Campus Opens
Biography: Richard Rush, President, CSU Channel Islands
October 2002:
Yosemite Rebuilds Half Dome Trail
Biography: Tim Ludington, General Foreman for Roads and Trails, Yosemite National Park
November 2002:
Court Gives Public Access to Beaches
Biography: Linda Locklin, Coastal Access Program Manager, California Coastal Commission
December 2002:
New Helmet Law
Biography: Jonas Lee, Product Planner, PRO-TEC
California Gets Less Water from Colorado River
Biography: Gary Bryant, Manager, Hoover Dam
February 2003:
Coast Guard Gives Away Two Lighthouses
Biography: Carol O’Neil, Historian, Point Sur Light Station
Sacramento’s Tower Bridge Wears New Paint
Biography: Steve Takigawa, Deputy District Director of Maintenance, Caltrans
April 2003:
Design of California’s Commemorative Quarter
Biography: Marie Hayden, Office Assistant, California State Library
May 2003:
LA’s Metro Opens a New Line
Biography: Gerald Francis, General Manager, Metro Rail Operations
June 2003
SF Zoo Copes With State's Budget Crisis
Biography: Deb Cano, Animal Keeper, San Francisco Zoo
2001-2002
September 2001:
CA's Coast Opens to Otters
Biography: Julie Hymer, Stranding Coordinator, Monterey Bay Aquarium
October 2001:
Keeping Lake Tahoe's Water Clean
Biography: Juan Palma, Executive Director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
November 2001:
Electric Vehicles to LA's Post Office
Biography: James Smith, Postmaster of Los Angeles
December 2001:
New Museum in Chinatown
Biography: Melissa Szeto, Executive Director, Chinese Historic Society of America Museum and Learning Center
Valid ID's for Mexicans
Biography: Marco Alcázar, Consul General of Mexico
February 2002:
100th Anniversary of John Steinbeck's Birth
Biography: Celeste DeWald, Director of Education, National Steinbeck Center
New Highway Exit Signs
Biography: Mark Bewley, Caltrans Transportation Engineer
April 2002:
Re-enactment of Japanese-American Internment
Biography: Mas Hashimoto, Past President, Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL
May 2002:
Condor Chick Survives in the Wild
Biography: Mike Barth, Wildlife Biologist, Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
June 2002
Superfund Site Becomes Fresno Sports Park
Biography: Kathi Moore, EPA Environmental Engineer
2000-2001
September 2000:
Beach Ordinances in Laguna Beach
Biography: Mark Klosterman, Chief of Marine Safety
October 2000:
Berkeley's New Skatepark
Biography: Lisa Caronna, Director of Parks and Waterfront
November 2000:
The Death Valley Encampment
Biography: Lee Crosby, Past President, Death Valley '49ers
December 2000:
SFO's New International Terminal
Biography: Ron Wilson, Director of Airport Operations, SFO
January 2001:
California's Electricity Crisis
Biography: Marwan Masri, Manager, Renewable Resources Program, CA Energy Commission
February 2001:
Health Care for Kids in Santa Clara County
Biography: Maríbel Ramirez, Outreach Worker, Gardner Health Center
March 2001:
César Chávez Day
Biography: Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Program Coordinator, César Chávez Foundation
April 2001:
"Violence is Preventable" Program
Biography: Betsy Magdaleno, Coroner's Investigator, County of Los Angeles Dept. of Coroner
May 2001:
The Gray Wolf's Return
Biography: Nancy Weiss, California Species Associate,
Defenders of Wildlife
June 2001:
The Dalai Lama Visits California
Biography: Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
September 1999:
Coastal Commission's Annual Beach Cleanup Day
Biography: Linda Maraniss, Center for Marine Conservation, Washington, D.C
October 1999:
San Jose's Mexican Heritage Plaza
Biography: John Rialson, Mariachi Youth Program Coordinator
November 1999:
Hector Mine Earthquake Near Twentynine Palms
Biography: Tom Parsons, Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey
December 1999:
New Gun Laws for 2000
Biography: Sarah Brady, Chair, Handgun Control Inc.
January 2000:
Cities' Recycling Efforts
Biography: Debra Kaufman, Recycling Program Manager, City of Berkeley
February 2000:
New and Expanded National Monuments
Biography: Leticia Ruiz, Chief of Administration, Pinnacles National Monument
March 2000:
California's Primary Election
Biography: Gail Dryden, President, California League of Women Voters
April 2000:
San Francisco Giants' New Stadium
Biography: Scott MacVicar, Head Groundskeeper
May 2000:
Yosemite Valley Plan
Biography: Jay Watson, Regional Director, Wilderness Society
June 2000:
California's 150th Birthday
Biography: Mary Helmich, Sesquicentennial Director, California State Parks
"What's Happening in the USA?"
Price: December 1993 - November 1998
$5 each
December 1998 - present
$10 each
(Our three most recent issues are full price.)
2007-2008
September 2007:
The Opportunity NYC Program
poverty in New York City; developing responsible behaviors; Mexico’s program; cash to parents for visits to doctors, schools; cash to children; cash to single adults
October 2007:
50th Anniversary of Integration at Little Rock’s Central HS
segregated schools; integration of public services in Little Rock; governor’s stance; President Eisenhower’s stance; troops and police; TV’s role in integration; “Little Rock Nine”
November 2007:
Philadelphia’s “10,000 Men” Hit the Streets
murder rate; Black community’s concerns; plan to put 10,000 men on streets; benefits to high-crime neighborhoods; peacekeeping patrols
December 2007:
Doping in Sports
Biography: Gloria Chan, Public Information Officer, San Francisco Dept. of the Environment
January 2008:
New Jersey Abolishes the Death Penalty
NJ study commission’s findings; deterrence; costs; effect on victims’ families; innocent people on death rows in U.S.; opinion polls; lethal injection; “cruel and unusual punishment”
February 2008:
The GRAMMY Turns Fifty
origin of award; Recording Academy; first ceremony in 1958; rock & roll; nomination process; categories; GRAMMY Hall of Fame
March 2008:
Space Junk
kinds of objects in orbit; danger to spacecraft; volume of junk; life span of satellites; China's and USA's shooting down of satellites
April 2008:
The Second Amendment Goes to Court
Amendment’s text; history of rulings; D.C.’s gun law; current case; individual/collective right to bear arms; handguns at center of debate
May 2008:
The Newseum Opens in D.C.
location and architecture; galleries; history of newspapers; interactive exhibits
June 2008:
The Great Lakes Compact
lakes’ formation; flow and sources of water; demand for water; causes of low water levels; Compact’s provisions to conserve water and protect environment
2006-2007
September 2006:
Courts Protect Americans from Wiretapping
limits on electronic surveillance; past abuses; uses; Bush administration’s wiretapping; court order to stop
October 2006:
The Embargo Against Cuba
American investments in Cuba; Castro’s rise; 1962 embargo; suffering of Cubans; votes to end embargo; loopholes for doing business
November 2006:
U.S. Population Hits 300,000
how Census Bureau calculates growth; “baby boom”; why populations grow; immigration; regional growth; environmental impact
December 2006:
Votes to Make English the Official Language
reasons for an official language; places that have it; newly passed laws and ordinances; immigrants
January 2007:
Alaska’s Polar Bears Need Protection
Fish and Wildlife’s announcement; Endangered Species Act; destruction of habitat; global warming
The Harlem Globetrotters Turn Eighty
team’s origin; wins over Minneapolis Lakers; integration of NBA; Hall of Fame; current focus on basketball
March 2007:
Changes to Daylight Saving Time
origin in WWI; U.S. use of daylight saving; AZ, HI, IA; saving energy; changes in dates
Honeybee Colonies Collapse
pollination; monoculture farming; hives on farms; theories about “colony collapse disorder”; danger to agriculture
May 2007:
“Paper or Plastic?”
environmental impacts; SF’s new program for biodegradable bags; recycling; canvas bags
June 2007:
Jamestown Gets a Closer Look on 400th Anniversary
profit motives; drought; disease; abuse of Indians; tobacco; slaves; “commemoration,” not “celebration”
2005-2006
September 2005:
Mt. Rushmore Gets Its First Bath
history of monument; its construction; need to wash and repair granite; cleaning process
October 2005:
FEMA and Hurricane Katrina
FEMA’s job; warnings of danger to Gulf Coast; simulation “Hurricane Pam”; what FEMA knew before Katrina
November 2005:
Rare Vacancies on Supreme Court
how vacancies occurred; selection process; diversity
December 2005:
300th Anniversary of Benjamin Franklin’s Birth
arrival in Philadelphia; accomplishments; celebration of birthday in Philadelphia and U.S.s
January 2006:
NCAA Seeks Nickname Changes
offensive nicknames and logos; appeals by some schools; new policy’s penalties; political correctness
February 2006:
Illegal Immigration Across the Mexican Border
numbers of immigrants; effect on job market and economy; costs to states; patrols; fence
March 2006:
Skyscrapers Turn Lights Out for Migrating Birds
flyways; migrations at night; confusion caused by lights and glass; “Lights Out” programs in NY and Chicago
April 2006:
MySpace
musical origin; alternative to public meeting spaces; growth of site; dangers; safety
May 2006:
Oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
gasoline prices; description of ANWR; oil deposits; “footprints” from drilling; arguments for/against drilling
June 2006:
Removing Soft Drinks from Schools
new agreement with soda companies; weight and obesity problems; diet; advertising at schools and on TV
2004-2005
September 2004:
Hurricane Charley Hits Florida
characteristics of hurricanes; National Hurricane Center; warnings; categories; damage; aid
October 2004:
Voting Machines
problems in 2000; voting systems in U.S.; optical scammers; touch-screens
November 2004:
Mount St. Helens Rumbles Again
Cascade Range; 1980 eruption; other volcanoes; causes of eruptions; geologists’ monitoring of activity
December 2004:
Oil Spills into Delaware River
this accident; clean-up techniques; effect on environment; oil tanker construction; Exxon Valdez; other sources of oil pollution
January 2005:
Montana’s Bison Hunt
bison populations; Yellowstone’s herd; brucellosis; cattle industry’ concerns; history of hunts 1985-91; protests; 2005
hunt; alternatives
February 2005:
Special Olympics
origin; growth of Games; oath; socialization; athletes’ health
March 2005:
Tasers
how they work; effects on victims; advantages to police; appropriate/inappropriate use; appeals for restricted use
April 2005:
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Lincoln; other presidential libraries; collections and exhibits in Springfield; opening celebration
May 2005:
New Programs for Homeless
causes of homelessness; housing costs; temporarily/chronically homeless; laws; shelters; new programs
June 2005:
Discovery of New Dinosaur
importance as missing link; site in Utah; diet; migrations;
discovery by fossil dealer; exhibit
September 2003:
40th Anniversary of the March on Washington
1963's march; MLK's speech; new inscription on steps of Lincoln Memorial; 2003's ceremonies; disparities in income, education and health; affirmative action; voter registration
October 2003:
The "Do Not Call" Registry
Telemarketers; states’ "Do Not Call" lists; national registry; restrictions; exceptions
November 2003:
The Navy Curtails Its Use of Sonar
Sonar; effect on marine mammals; theories about strandings; Navy’s agreement with environmentalists
December 2003:
America Celebrates the Wright Brothers
100th anniversary; “jumps” and flights; airplane design; controlled flight; 2003's ceremonies and commemorations
January 2004:
Courts Define Rights for Guantanamo's Prisoners
History of naval base; prisoners post-September 11; “unlawful combatants”; court rulings; Supreme Court’s hearing in 2004
February 2004:
Guest Worker Program
Need for foreign workers; illegal immigrants; dangers in crossing border illegally; coyotes; Humane Borders; advantages of guest worker program
March 2004:
Organ Donation
Wisconsin’s tax breaks; need for organs; organs from deceased and living donors; getting organs to patients
April 2004:
Amending the Constitution
Congressional approval; ratification by states; six amendments not ratified, including Slavery, Child Labor, Equal Rights and D.C. Voting Rights Amendments; recent proposals about prayer in schools, flag burning, "under God," and marriage.
May 2004:
New WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Location and design; opposition; dedication ceremony; remaining WWII veterans
June 2004:
New Investiagation of Emmett Till’s Murder
His murder; trial; killers’ later admission; influence on Civil Rights Movement; new info in recent documentary films; decision to reopen the case
2002-2003
September 2002:
West Nile Virus
Vaccines; carriers; symptoms; protection; cases in U.S.; spread across country
October 2002:
Opening of New Basketball Hall of Fame
Dr. Naismith's invention; opening ceremony; earlier halls of fame; architecture; exhibits
November 2002:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Turns Twenty
Vietnam War; Maya Lin's design; visitors to the memorial; the "Traveling Wall" replica; reading of names at ceremony
December 2002:
New York City's Plan to Reduce Noise
Complaints; "Operation Silent Night"; sources of noise; decibel levels; medical problems
January 2003:
25 Years of Alaska’s Pipeline
Discovery of oil; pipeline’s construction; flow of oil; environmental issues; Permanent Fund
February 2003:
America Remembers Lewis and Clark
Thomas Jefferson; Louisiana Territory; expedition’s purpose and successes; events commemorating anniversary
March 2003:
Protests at Masters Golf Tournament
Plea for women members; rights of private clubs; economic pressures; responses to plea; planned protests
April 2003:
Pledge’s "Under God" Goes to Supreme Court
Lawsuit; decision by 9th Circuit Court; origin of phrase; Supreme Court’s previous decisions; separation of church and state
May 2003:
EPA Goes After Dirty Diesels
Pollution from off-road diesels; EPA’s proposal; health and economic benefits; ports; biodiesel; responses to proposal
June 2003
Ford Celebrates 100 Years
Henry Ford; Model T; assembly line; Edsel and Mustang; 2003 celebration
September 2001:
40th Anniversary of Peace Corps
Origin; volunteers; goals; image; changes; celebrations
October 2001:
National Transportation Safety Board
Purpose; methods; involvement with September 11; help to families; work with local authorities; recommendations
November 2001:
Hiking's Triple Crown
Origin of National Scenic Trails; Brian Robinson's route; Pacific Crest Trail; Continental Divide Trail; Appalachian Trail
December 2001:
Artificial Heart Implants
History; design; patients; "assist devices"; advantages over transplants
January 2002:
Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City
History of Winter Games; benefits to host city; scandal; post-September 11 security; Olympic flame
February 2002:
Hubble Space Telescope
Launch; purpose; blurred mirror; servicing missions; images and information; new understanding of universe; successors
March 2002:
Nuclear Waste Storage at Yucca Mountain
Need for storage site; dangers; construction of site; current storage; Nevada's objections
April 2002:
West Point Turns 200
Role in Revolutionary War; engineering school; acceptance to West Point; training; bicentennial celebration
May 2002:
Oregon's Death With Dignity Law
History of law; stipulations in law; doctor's responsibility; opponents' and proponents' views; ruling upholding law
June 2002:
Drought Conditions in U.S.
Definition of drought; temperatures and rainfall; ways to save water; NYC; effect on farming and nature; Rio Grande
September 2000:
Fires in the West
How fires start; benefits of fires; U.S. Forest Service; dangers of dense growth; thinning forests; homes; firefighters' work
October 2000:
The Debates
Formats of three debates; Lincoln-Douglas; debates on radio and TV; Nixon-Kennedy; third parties
November 2000:
Astronauts Go to International Space Station
Construction of ISS; Mir; crew members; moving in; experiments; effects of space on humans; Mars
December 2000:
Presidents Clinton Visits Vietnam
Vietnam War; agreements; MIAs; sharing military info; locating remains; identifying remains
January 2001:
High-Speed Trains
Amtrak; trains' features; schedules; costs; future service
February 2001:
Sundance Film Festival
Origin; independent films; documentaries; this year's festival; Hollywood; digital equipment
March 2001:
Napster
Copyright laws; Napster's software; users; musicians; charges against Napster; court decisions
April 2001:
Arbor Day
National symbols; Nat'l. Arbor Day Foundation; vote for nat'l. tree; history of Arbor Day; Tree City USA
May 2001:
Racial Profiling
Origin and definition of term; riots in Cincinnati; history of racial
profiling; changes made by police; laws
June 2001:
Grand Canyon Star Party
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association; sky at Grand Canyon; history of star
party; activities at South Rim
1999-2000
September 1999:
Y2K
Computer problems; social impact; preventive measures; U.S. government
systems; impact on business/daily life
October 1999:
Smithsonian's New National Museum of the American Indian
National Mall; NMAI's history; collections/exhibits; museum's architecture;
groundbreaking ceremony
November 1999:
NAACP's Economic Boycott of South Carolina
Civil War; rebel flag; NAACP; civil rights movement; arguments for/against
flag
December 1999:
Arizona's Newest State Park (Kartchner Caverns)
Caves' discovery; rock formations and caves; sale to Arizona; development and protection
January 2000:
The Census
U.S. Census history; methods; problems; workers; 1990 Census; representation/money
February 2000:
Citizenship for Elián Gonzalez
Citizenship's meaning; U.S. Congress' role; dispute over E.G.; INS
March 2000:
Illinois' Suspension of Executions
Recent history of death penalty; innocent inmates; Gov. Ryan's decision; students
at Northwestern University; poor legal defense
April 2000:
Portland's Car Sharing Program
Members' needs; membership requirements; program's origin; similar programs
May 2000:
Prayer in Public Schools
First Amendment; Texas' current case in Supreme Court; history of Court's decisions; separation of Church and State
June 2000:
Washington Monument's Renovation
Construction; damage; phases of renovation
1998-1999
September 1998:
California's New Driver's Licensing Laws
Teenagers' accident rates; graduated licensing; California's new law; Maryland's law
October 1998:
John Glenn
1962 flight; space race; 1998 flight; tests; NASA
November 1998:
Equal Rights Amendment
Votes in Florida and Iowa; women's rights; ERA history; wages; women in politics
December 1998:
Digital Television
Analog broadcasting; improved quality; networks and TV stations; costs
January 1999:
States' Suits vs. Tobacco Industry
Higher prices; settlements; advertising; lower smoking rates
February 1999:
The U.S. Mint's New 25¢ Pieces
Mint's history; new 10-year program; U.S. coins
March 1999:
100th Anniversary of Duke Ellington's Birth
History of jazz; slavery; the Great Migration; radio and record player; Duke Ellington's career
April 1999:
Mormon Church's Genealogical Records on Internet
Church history; Mormons' genealogy; computers and data; advantages to researchers
May 1999:
Refugees from Kosovo to the U.S.
War in Yugoslavia; ethnic cleansing; relief efforts; U.S. history with refugees; new arrivals
June 1999:
Women's World Cup Soccer
Tournament history; 1999 teams; increased fans; popularity of soccer among women and girls; injuries; American team
1997-1998
September 1997:
Landmines
Ottawa Process; kinds of mines; damage to civilians; mapping and removal; ban; meeting in Oslo
October 1997:
Indian Mascots
LAUSD's decision; choice of new mascots; tradition; stereotypes; college and pro teams
November 1997:
Boston's Subway
Construction in 1897; traffic problems then; other subways; current service
December 1997:
Credit Cards
Average American's use; companies' profits; controlling spending; promotion; bankruptcy
January 1998:
High School Drug Testing
Testing non-athletes; athletes; methods; parents; court cases
February 1998:
Casey Martin vs. PGA
C. Martin's disease; carts; Americans With Disabilities Act; PGA's response
March 1998:
Academy Awards
History of film; growth of industry; Oscars; television; film preservation; ceremony;
April 1998:
Puerto Rico's Future
History with U.S.; current status; previous votes on status; choices in current vote; status in Caribbean
May 1998:
Sierra Club and Immigration
Overpopulation; immigration; environmental damage; vote by membership
June 1998:
Nike's Factories
Nike's marketing; conditions in Asian factories; announced changes; child labor laws
1996-1997
September 1996:
Women at the Citadel
Supreme Court ruling; Shannon Faulkner; protests; women at military academies; harassment
October 1996:
National Parks
National Park Service history; pollution; increased fees; preservation; visitors
November 1996:
"Galileo" Explores Jupiter
Discovery of Jupiter; Galileo's design and mission; water and life
December 1996:
Liquor Ads on TV
Prohibition; new ads; pros and cons
January 1997:
Third-party Presidential Candidates
Two-party system; growth of third parties; candidates; debates
February 1997:
Minimum Wage
Wage increase; effects on employers; unskilled labor; labor laws; working poor
March 1997:
Jackie Robinson
50th anniversary; early career; baseball's tribute
April 1997:
Linda Finch Completes A. Earhart's Flight
Linda Finch's flight; Amelia Earhart's route; equipment
May 1997:
The Library of Congress Celebrates a Birthday
LOC's history; Thos. Jefferson Building's 100th anniversary; holdings; research; visitors
June 1997:
Help to Flood Victims
Red River's flooding; relief organizations; damage; shelters; clean-up; donations; federal government's role
1995-1996
September 1995:
Women's Right to Vote
19th Amendment; suffrage movement; Susan B. Anthony; women's role in politics
October 1995:
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland; design and exhibits; recording industry; early rock artists; induction ceremony
November 1995:
Million Man March
Purpose of march; perception of Black males; Louis Farrakhan; speakers; attendees
December 1995:
Maximum Speed Limit
55 mph limit; energy crisis; safety measures; individual states; federal government's role
January 1996:
Baboon Marrow Transplant
Jeff Getty; baboon's reisistance to HIV; transplant history; risks; FDA; standard treatment of AIDS; expense
February 1996:
Electric Cars
General Motors' plans; laws; pollution; costs; features of EV's
March 1996:
U.S. Relationship with Cuba
Fidel Castro; refugees; U.S. embargo; Castro's visit to U.N.; downing of private airplanes
April 1996:
The New $100 Bill
Counterfeiting; history of paper money; new bill's features
May 1996:
The Right to Die
Aging population; Jack Kevorkian's methods; trials; assisted suicide; laws in U.S. and abroad
June 1996:
The Atlanta Olympics
History of Games; TV's influence; politics; IOC; profits; Atlanta's Games
1994-1995
September 1994:
The Guardian Angels
Origin in NY; relationship with police; growth; uniforms; training
October 1994:
The Baseball Strike
Cancellation of World Series; history as business; players' union; free agency; previous strikes
November 1994:
O.J. Simpson and the Death Penalty
O.J. Simpson's trial; reinstatement by Supreme court; methods; arguments pro and con; typical prisoner on death row
December 1994:
Proposition 187
History of immigration; CA's immigrant population; education; health benefits; legal challenges
January 1995:
U.S. Postal Service
First-class price increase; new stamps; competition; delivery volume; improvements
February 1995:
Smithsonian's Enola Gay Exhibit
End of WWII; exhibit; protests; moral issues
March 1995:
Denver's New Airport
Hub-and-spoke routes; Stapleton Airport; new airport's design; delays; costs
April 1995:
U.S. and Russia Together on Mir
Dr. Norman Thagard; Mir's history; experiments
May 1995:
Terrorist Attack in Oklahoma City
Victims; Timothy McVeigh; terrorism; FBI; freedom of speech
June 1995:
Curfews
Crime rates; curfew hours; fines; legality; discrimination; results; alternative programs
1993-1994
December 1993:
The Brady Bill
Assassination attempt on R. Reagan; Jim and Sarah Brady; NRA; stipulations of bill
January 1994:
The LA Earthquake
Deaths and damage; rescue; aid; utilities; aftershocks
February 1994:
Smoking
Bans in public places; Surgeon General; deaths and illness; advertising; addiction
March 1994:
The Iditarod
Route; history; evolution of race; equipment; rules; dangers
April 1994:
Nixon's Death
Cause of death; career; Watergate; foreign affairs; TV; funeral services
May 1994:
Earth Day
Events; history; changes in environmental awareness
June 1994:
The World Cup
Origin; champions; world wars; Pelé; tournament structure; game locations; profits
"What's Happening in the World?"
Price: $10 each
(Our three most recent issues are full price.)
2007-2008
September 2007:
The International Slavery Museum Opens in Liverpool
European slave trade; trading goods for slaves; port of Liverpool; museum’s exhibits; resistance by slaves; abolition movement; slavery today
October 2007:
Countries Race to Claim the Arctic
melting polar ice; newly navigable waters; oil and gas reserves; rights to coastal waters; Lomonosov Rigde; Northwest Passage; environmental concerns
November 2007:
The Torture of Prisoners
Hague Convention; Geneva Conventions; U.N. Convention Against Torture; Guantánamo’s prison; “torture memos” from gov’t.; U.S. position; damage to reputation
December 2007:
Flooding in Tabasco
reasons for flooding; dangers to residents; disease; rebuilding lives
January 2008:
The U.N. Climate Change Conference in Bali
Kyoto Protocol; IPCC’s reports on climate change; Nobel Peace Prize to IPCC and Al Gore; Bali’s “roadmap”
February 2008:
Venice Builds a Barrier Against the Sea
islands; tides; channels; flooding; damage to buildings; sinking of city; global warming; 1966 flood; the MOSE project; mobile barriers
March 2008:
Australia Apologizes to Aborigines
Aboriginal culture and population; mixed-race children; removing children from communities; “Stolen Generations”; 1997 report of abuses; apology by prime minister
April 2008:
Plastic Swirls in the Pacific Ocean
Northern Pacific Gyre’s discovery, location and size; currents; plastic items in gyre; effect on sea life; origins of plastic items
May 2008:
Worldwide Grain Shortages
disappearing grain reserves; water shortages; fuel costs; population increases; changing diets; biofuels; riots over shortages and prices
June 2008:
The Olympics Go to China
Chinese Olympic history; preparations in Beijng; pollution; torch relay; protests; Tibet; Sudan; role of politics in Olympics
2006-2007
September 2006:
The International AIDS Conference
attendees; lack of treatment in poor nations; costs; prevention programs; B. Clinton/B. Gates; new research
October 2006:
Darfur
civil war; race and religion; violence since 2003; destruction/deaths/refugees; aid; peacekeepers
November 2006:
“Banker of the Poor” Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel prizes; founding of bank; helping the poor; “village phone” program; “micro-credit”
December 2006:
Panama Expands the Canal
canal’s construction; locks; need to serve larger ships; new project to widen canal; traffic; profits
January 2007:
Kofi Annan’s Time Ends at UN
early career; election process; influence of Security Council; human rights record; opposition to war in Iraq
February 2007:
International Polar Year
history of polar study; three previous IPY’s; first IPY to research global warming; this year’s goals
March 2007:
New Discoveries at Stonehenge
Stonehenge’s blocks; religious meaning; solstices; village at Durrington Walls; connection to Stonehenge
April 2007:
A Wall Across Cyprus Falls
“Green Line”; Greeks and Turks on Cyprus; reason for wall; current economic/political situation; hopes for unity
May 2007:
Sao Paolo Bans Outdoor Advertising
visual pollution; ban on billboards/fliers/signs; legal challenges; benefits on residents
June 2007:
A Seed Bank Opens to the World
characteristics of vault in Arctic Norway; seeds to rebuild agriculture after local/global disasters; security at vault
2005-2006
September 2005:
Debt Relief to Poor Nations
extreme poverty; “Make Poverty History” campaign; Live8 concerts; Bono; how to define poverty
October 2005:
Turkey’s Massacre of Armenians
first public discussions; attacks 1894-1917; genocide; pressure from European Union; potential EU membership
November 2005:
Archaeologists Find 4,000-Year-Old Noodles in China
location of village; other items buried there; preservation of noodles; millet and wheat; Neolithic Period
December 2005:
Butterflies’ Migration to Mexico
route and duration of migration; monarchs’ destination; how they navigate; dangers; logging; tourism
January 2006:
Drought in the Amazon
extreme weather in 2005; Amazon basin’s water supply; effect on villages; disease; global warming; fires
February 2006:
Winter Olympics in Turin
competition sites; growth of Games; snowboarding; curling; biathlon; luge; drug testing; medals’ design
March 2006:
Succession to Japan’s Throne
law prohibiting women; male line of emperors; no male heirs since 1965; proposed law; Princess Kiko’s pregnancy
April 2006:
Nigeria’s Census
need for census; questions on census; past failures; new technology; difficulties; benefits to country
May 2006:
Child Slave Labor in Chocolate Industry
chocolate’s history; child labor; Ivory Coast; abuses; agreement by companies; “fair trade” products
June 2006:
World Cup Soccer
tournament’s origin; qualifying; new teams; awards; giant TV screens; FIFA rules against racism; security
2004-2005
September 2004:
Restoration of Michelangelo’s David
(500th anniversary; Renaissance; the sculpture; damage; restoration methods; pros and cons of restoration)
October 2004:
Polio Nears the End
spread of disease; symptoms; damage; vaccines from Salk and Sabin; WHO’s efforts; Nigeria; hope for eradication
November 2004:
Brazil Takes Guns out of Circulation
killing rates; demands for gun control; registration; new law; money-for-guns program’s success; corrupt police
December 2004:
Doctors Without Borders Withdraws from Iraq
DWB’s origin; growth of organization; Nobel Peace Prize; setting up operations; dangers to workers
January 2005:
Proposal for a New Calendar
ancient calendars; lunar calendars; Julian and Gregorian calendars; current traditional calendars; new proposal
February 2005:
Survivors of Tsunami Need Clean Water
destruction of sources of clean water; tanker trucks; water purification units; long-term sources; risk of disease
March 2005:
Kyoto Protocol Becomes Law
greenhouse effect; ratification process; obligations of developed /developing countries; “trading” emissions; climate change
April 2005:
Avian Flu Spreads
how it spreads; signs of outbreak; farms in Southeast Asia; human-to-human spread; symptoms; other flu epidemics
May 2005:
Ancient Obelisk Returns to Ethiopia
ancient kingdom at Aksum; Italy’s invasions of Ethiopia; obelisks; transport; celebrations
June 2005:
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
WWII; treaty’s history and provisions; nuclear powers; inspections by IAEA; North Korea; “Six-Party Talks”; Iran; reasons for wanting nuclear weapon
2003-2004
September 2003:
Train Lines Connect Both Koreas
Korean War; demilitarized zone; relations between North and South; new railways; China
October 2003:
The Concorde Flies for the Last Time
Routes; SST's features; speed records; financial problems; fate of remaining planes
November 2003:
Water Returns to Iraq's Marshes
History of marshes; marsh Arabs (Madan); Saddam Hussein's draining of marshes; effect on people and environment; rehabilitation
December 2003:
Another Cease-Fire Calms Kashmir
1947 independence for India and Pakistan; religion; previous wars; "Line of Control"; current relations
January 2004:
International Voyages to Mars
Conditions on Mars; signs of water; previous missions; current missions from Japan, Europe, US; landers tasks
February 2004:
Israel's Wall
Palestine; Arab and Jewish states; West Bank; violence; wall’s location and effect; "road map for peace"
March 2004:
Cloning by South Korean Doctors
First cloned human embryos; doctors’ previous work; cloning process; stem cells; potential cures
April 2004:
Ireland Bans Smoking in Pubs
Smoke-free areas; opposition to ban; enforcement; health risks of passive smoking; smoking in other European nations
May 2004:
The European Union Expands
New members; history of EU; economic effect of expansion; immigration
2002-2003
September 2002:
Zimbabwe Orders Whites to Give Up Farms
Colonial roots; war for independence; Robert Mugabe's political life; land reform; drought; Whites' response
October 2002:
China Changes Stance on AIDS
Spread through blood banks; infection rates; AIDS education; arrest of Dr. Wan Yanhai; spread of HIV; generic drugs
November 2002:
Spain Digs Up Mass Graves
Civil War; Gen. Franco; Assoc. for Recovery of Historical Memory; grave sites; identifying victims; truth commission
December 2002:
Permission to African Countries to Sell Ivory
Ban on trade since 1989; elephant population; poaching; conditions of one-time sale; wildlife programs
January 2003:
New Satellite Measures Antarctica’s Ice Sheets
Density of ice; satellite’s equipment; measuring clouds, land, ice; global warming; sea levels
February 2003:
International Laws Protect Victims of War
Meeting to update Geneva Conventions; International Red Cross; distinguishing civilians from soldiers in civil wars; terrorism; prisoners at Guantanamo Bay
March 2003:
China’s Three Gorges Dam
Yangtze River; electricity; flood control; destruction of towns; displacement of citizens; water pollution; tourism
April 2003:
SARS
Spread in Asia and Canada; symptoms; numbers of cases; how virus spreads; prevention measures
May 2003:
50th Anniversary of First Climb Up Mt. Everest
E. Hillary and T. Norgay; first attempts; Sherpas; dangers; trash; events commemorating anniversary
June 2003:
World Health Organization’s Tobacco Control Treaty
Members of WHO; tobacco-related disease; provisions of treaty; objections; approval process by countries
2001-2002
September 2001:
World Conference Against Racism
Previous conferences; apartheid; Israel/Palestinians; reparations for
slavery; U.S. withdrawal; migrants and refugees
October 2001:
Pisa’s Leaning Tower Reopens
History; source of lean; previous attempts to strengthen; excavation;
reopening
November 2001:
Raising the Russian Submarine Kursk
Explosion; Russia's initial response; international help; dangers in
raising; investigation
December 2001:
100 Years of Nobel Prizes
Alfred Nobel; ceremony; selection process; history of prizes; 2001 winners
January 2002:
Europe's New Currency
Old currencies; Euro coins and notes; distribution; difficulties; advantages
February 2002:
Volcano Destroys the City of Goma
Location; eruption; refugees; aid from U.N.; civil war; Congo's resources; health issues
March 2002:
Saudi Peace Proposal for Middle East
Proposal; recent violence; occupied lands; past peace plans; Arab Summit
April 2002:
Swiss Vote to Join United Nations
History of Swiss neutrality; benefits of neutrality; Swiss foreign policy; U.N. programs; March voting results
May 2002:
Alexandria Opens Its New Library
City's and library's beginnings; ancient scholars and holdings; fire; new library's holdings; architecture
June 2002:
House Arrest Ends for Aung San Suu Kyi
Suu Kyi's family; election victory; military gov't; first and second house arrests; UN; terms of release; Burma's future
2000-2001
January 2001:
Chernobyl's Shutdown
Disaster in 1986; effects; shutdown of last reactor
February 2001:
Australia's Centennial
Australia's origin; celebrations; Aborigines; immigration
March 2001:
International Tribunal in The Hague Convicts Rapists
War in Bosnia; crimes against Muslim women; Geneva Conventions; U.N.'s creation of tribunal; trial; historic conviction
April 2001:
Millennium Peace Prize for Women
New peace prize; winners; women's role in peacemaking
May 2001:
Overpopulation
India's census; world's growth rates; land's ability to support people;
factors affecting growth; water; education
June 2001:
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Discovery in England; spread of virus; symptoms; destroying animals; costs;
vaccine