Large Fire in Augusta

Large Fire in Augusta

 On Saturday, the 29th of February, a large apartment building in Augusta Maine caught fire. The incident occurred early in the morning, the cause of the fire is unknown at this time. There were 28 people displaced after the fire. The fire left one woman in the hospital after she jumped out of a third-story window in an effort to get out of the flaming building, her injuries are not life-threatening. The tenants who discovered the fire tried to put the fire out with a chemical fire extinguisher but with the wind, the fire spread beyond control. The red cross is helping the 28 displaced people and helping those who are in the hospital.

I am very happy that no one was hurt during the large fire. I feel that we among other people should help all that are now without a home. My main concern is that these people lost everything in the fire and may have trouble getting and replacing what they had. I am relieved that what happened in Farmington was not relived on Saturday morning. I feel that after the initial cause is found we can use it as a lesson and stop it from being happening in the future. I think that Maine has struggled quite a bit with fires in the last year and if we can work to educate about building fires we can stop incidents like these as a whole. 

Young Girl shot in Waterville

Young girl shot in Waterville

 On Friday, the 28th of February, Emahleeah Frost was shot in her home. The incident occurred during a drive-by shooting, the shooter’s identity is unknown. The bullet hit Emah in her chest and she was LifeFlighted to Maine Medical Center. The shooting took place while Emah was eating a snack by the window in her home on Summer Street. Emah Frost is now stable and recovering, the police are not sure if Emah’s family was targeted. The police are following multiple leads and are hoping to find who did this and bring them to justice very soon. 

I think this is definitely something to be concerned about. An innocent child was harmed during this event which makes the issue even more important. My main concern is that more people are going to be injured if these criminals are not caught. More children and adults could be harmed or killed if this continues. I feel that Law Enforcement needs to find the motive behind the shooting and how we can stop it from being an issue in the future. I think that if we can find their motives and can prevent these things from becoming out of control we can stop shootings like these as a whole. Last but not least, I feel as though these areas and the state of Maine as a whole should have more protection against something like a shooting happening. 

Coronavirus around the world

Current Event #X

 Coronavirus around the world 

 Today, February 18th, Dr.Liu Zhiming, a respected neurologist passed away. Dr.Zhiming’s death was the result of yet another fatal case of the Coronavirus. Zhiming was the 8th front line death during this extreme outbreak, over 3,000 medical personnel have been infected. Experts are now saying that after a peak in infections the number will drop drastically. The diamond princess quarantine is scheduled to end tomorrow, February 19th. There are close to 600 cases of the Coronavirus involved with the cruise ship. Overall there have been roughly 72,500 known cases around the world, most of these cases in China. 

I think that the Coronavirus is a huge issue that needs to be solved immediately. This Virus could affect our whole world in a very bad way if we don’t find a way to stop the spreading of the illness. Already there are close to 2,000 deaths and almost 73,500 infected people. That may be a small number but this over the course of barely two months, that means on average, 1,470 people have been infected with a form of the Coronavirus every day. If you were to multiply this by 365 to get a number that represents a year you would get 536,550. Can you imagine 536,550 people infected with a deadly virus in just one year. Over the course of many years, a large population of our world could be gone. This is why I feel this virus should be stopped immediately using almost any means necessary.   

Current Event #9 - Senate Passes USMCA Deal

Current Event #IX

Senate approves the USMCA bill

The article talks about the USMCA trade deal which was a deal between the US, Mexico, and Canada. President Trump first signed this deal with Canada and Mexico in 2018, but the house with the help of some member of the Senate, have taken many months to rewrite the bill. While the Senate rewrote the bill they helped sort out and strengthen labor, environmental, and enforcement parts of the deal. The Senate voted 88 to 10 for the bill, 37 Democrats voted along 51 Republicans for the deal. There was only one Republican who voted against this bill, they called the deal an agreement that limits trade instead of expanding it. Many Democrats voted against this bill because they were concerned about the lack of focus on climate change which has become an even larger issue in recent years. 

   

 I think this bill will help our country as well as all of North America. I feel that this will continue to boost our country’s economy. I think this bill will provide more jobs for all three countries. I think that this bill will have more of an effect on people than the impeachment trial. I believe this because the USMCA will affect more people’s lives in either a very negative or positive way. Last but not least, I feel that this bill will help to reunite the US as a country with all that is going on within it, form the impeachment to problems with Iran.

Current Event #8- US Cancer Rate drop

Current Event #VIII

US Cancer death rate sees largest ever single-year drop

The article talks about how the number of deaths caused by cancer has dropped every year for 26 years. From, 2016-2017 the US had its largest single-year rate drop of all-time previous to this. This year the rate dropped by 2.2%, the biggest drop in history. The article explains that the rate dropped so much due to a very large decrease in lung cancer deaths. The studies have shown that if the US had continued to have very high death rates from the late 1900’s there would have been 2.9 million more cancer deaths just in the United States. In 2017 studies also found that the death rate for cancer in men has dropped 51% since its peak in 1960. The death rate for women with cancer has dropped 26% since its peak in 2002. 

 I think this shows how the country’s knowledge about cancer and how to treat it has grown. I feel that this rate will only continue to drop as technology develops. I feel that even more effort should be put towards the cure for cancer so we can continue to have the rate drop by even more in coming years. I think that if we can decrease the number of deaths in the country caused by cancer our country will improve as a whole. I also feel that if we are able to stop cancer we should share with the rest of the world because it could be a “game-changer”. Last but not least, I feel that our country has come a very long way with both technology and medical treatments, as shown by the decrease in the death rate.

Current Event #7- Al-Shabaab attack on American base

Current Event #7

Kenya says its military killed 4 terrorists as al-Shabaab claims attack on U.S. base

This article talks about the attack on US base Camp Simba. This attack was carried out by Al Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab. Camp Simba reported that they had found four terrorist bodies so far. CNN reported that one US service member and two civilians were killed by the terrorist group. The article talks about how al-Shabaab claimed this attack on the US base and how al-Shabaab also claims to have destroyed military property. However, both the Kenyan and American personnel at Camp Simba deny this. The terrorist groups released many statements overexaggerating the situation at Camp Simba.  

In my opinion, I think that Camp Simba should continue its efforts in stopping the terrorists that have now taken American lives. I feel that the terrorist group who had been proud to claim the attack and the murder of an American soldier should be stopped. I think that the US should continue to work with Kenyan forces in order to shut these terrorist groups down. I believe the US should do more to prove that the situation is under control. If they were to do this I think it would give the terrorist group less credibility and help people trust the Kenyan and American forces trying to stop al-Shabaab. Overall I feel America needs to continue to support and fight with Kenyan Forces to stop them once and for all.  

Current Event #6 Sante Fe Mass Shooter not fit for trial

Current Event #6

The Sante Fe Mass Shooter not fit to stand trial

       This article talks about the teenage boy responsible for the Sante Fe mass shooting. The teen that was responsible for the deaths of 10 people last year was declared too mentally unstable to go onto a trial. The boy will be sent to a mental health institution to help him both mentally and physically. The article says that he will be re-evaluated after 120- 180 days under care at the mental health clinic. The article mentions that the teen was evaluated by three professionals chosen by the three parties. All three agreed that he was in no mental shape to be put on trial. However, the article also talks about those that justice should be sought out no matter what. One of the victim’s parents spoke out about how they believed their and everyone else’s loved ones deserved justice. The judicial party involved says that after the suspect is once again in a good mental state he will face his crimes.

        I believe that there are definitely two sides to the argument. One being that he put this on himself by making to decision to shoot the school. I can see how some may believe that there is no reason to help the person responsible. However, I can also see how some may believe that it is only fair to all those involved if he is in a good state of mind. That if the teen is helped they may be able to better understand why he would do this. I believe that he should be helped, but a the same time there is no way that he should be allowed to escape this without facing punishment. I believe this because if he is responsible for the deaths of children and teachers as they believe he is why families are missing a loved one that could still be with them if he had put the gun down.