February Newsbytes #3

By: Staff Writer Neha Shah

Local 

Teachers and parents alike are pleased with the steady downward trend in expulsions and suspensions not only across the Fremont Unified School District, but also throughout California. So far, only four Fremont students have been expelled this school year, a significant improvement compared to the past three years. In the 2013-14 school year, 15 students were expelled, 24 students were expelled in the 2012-13 school year, and in the 2011-12 school year 23 students were expelled. According to George Bailey, the FUSD Student Services Director, “Schools are getting better at trying to figure out why the kids are acting out and as a very last resort we are trying to expel or suspend students.”

 

National 

SpaceX has successfully made its third attempt in four days to launch its state of the art Falcon 9 rocket on Wednesday. Inside Falcon 9, a satellite DSCOVR (Discover) will provide relatively advanced warnings of solar outburst that can be harmful to life on Earth. The project was put into motion by Al Gore over a decade ago. The much anticipated flight was first canceled on Jan. 10 and then again on Feb. 10 due to unfavorable weather conditions and extreme winds.

 

International

ISIS insurgents have claimed yet another life. Kayla Mueller, a 26 year old aid worker and devoted humanitarian, had been held hostage in Syria since 2013 and confirmation of her death was received in a message from her captors on Tuesday. This latest death has sparked international outcry, and many are organizing tributes to both Kayla and the Jordanian pilot who was burned by ISIS late last month. “No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captivity and death,” President Obama said in a statement which called ISIS a “hateful and abhorrent terrorist group.”

 

Quirky
What started off as a harmless practical joke, ended with 20-year-old from Sydney, Australia being stuck (and naked) inside a washing machine. The 20-year-old told reporters that he was on the way to the shower, when he thought it would be a fun idea to climb into a washing machine. However, he soon realized he was stuck and cried for help. After unsuccessfully trying to pull the man from the machine, firefighters were stumped. Had it not been for a trusty bottle of olive oil that helped lubricate his escape, he might still be stuck in there today.