Author
Why nobody will ever agree on whether COVID lockdowns were worth it
By James D. Long; Mark A. Smith and Victor Menaldo As an increasingly vaccinated world emerges from lockdowns, lots of people are talking about whether the fight against the pandemic was too strong or too weak. Some people argue restrictions did not go far enough; others maintain the attempted cures have been worse than the […]
Support heat protections for Virginia workers
By John Ryan Extreme temperatures place outdoor workers at increased risk of heat illnesses, which if untreated, can lead to death. Even though I’m generally considered young and healthy, I have experienced heat illness first hand. Heat-related illness is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. It is a terrifying thing to personally […]
A testament to Virginia’s Black union members
By Julius Reynolds Almost exactly 108 years ago, a convention was held for workers in Alexandria. It was June 1913, and for the first time, the Virginia Federation of Labor allowed Black workers to join. Many of the oldest, all-White organizations in attendance left the convention in fury. The federation chose to dissolve the delegation […]
We need true universal internet access now
By Lawrence Framme The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Americans learn, work and interact. In a matter of weeks, kids suddenly had to take their classes online, family members could only visit virtually and coworkers could only meet on Zoom. These changes meant that universal access to fast and secure internet became a necessity, […]
End wildlife killing contests
By Sydney Hearst I was lucky enough to learn early on what the phrase “Virginia is for lovers” truly means. Virginia has exquisite and diverse outdoor landscapes, and I started exploring them at a young age. My father’s family is based in the Virginia Beach area, so my earliest memories include seeing dolphins in the […]
Congress considers future of the military draft, while Supreme Court holds off
By Max Margulies, United States Military Academy West Point and Amy Rutenberg, Iowa State University The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear arguments in the case of National Coalition for Men v. Selective Service System. In doing so, it acceded to the Biden administration’s wishes that it not address the question of whether women […]
Shot 55 years ago, James Meredith reminds us that powerful movements can include those with very different ideas
By Aram Goudsouzian, University of Memphis James Meredith was walking down Highway 51 just south of Hernando, Mississippi. It was June 6, 1966, the second day of his planned 220-mile trek from Memphis to Jackson, which he undertook to encourage Black people to overcome racist intimidation and to register to vote. As cars filled with […]
Memorial Day memories: courage of war correspondents allowed tales of soldier sacrifice to be told
By Michael Bugeja I never fought in the Vietnam War. I joined United Press International, a worldwide wire service, in 1975 at the end of that conflict. My heroes were UPI war correspondents — Leon Daniel, Kate Webb and Joseph L. Galloway. Daniel was a friend. He died in 2006. Webb was a role model […]
Japanese American soldiers in World War II fought the Axis abroad and racial prejudice at home
By Susan H. Kamei, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Imagine being forced from your home by the government, being imprisoned in a detention camp under armed guards and behind barbed wire – and then being required to join the military to fight for the nation that had locked up you and your […]
This could get ugly
By Richard Meagher Virginia Republicans are flying high right now. After an unprecedented but ultimately successful “unassembled convention,” the party’s ticket for statewide office is set. Party leaders are especially excited about their nominee for governor, Glenn Youngkin, a tall and telegenic newcomer to politics with especially deep pockets. With lieutenant governor nominee Winsome Sears, […]
Beer, doughnuts and a $1 million lottery – how vaccine incentives and other behavioral tools can help the US reach herd immunity
By Isabelle Brocas, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences A growing number of states, cities and companies are offering incentives to encourage people to get vaccinated. And the sweeteners keep getting bigger and better. New Jersey, for example, is picking up the tab for a free beer for anyone who can prove they […]
Strengthen democracy, break the deadlock on the For the People Act
By James “JJ” Minor With new laws attempting to restrict access to the ballotbox sweeping state legislatures nationwide, voting rights should be on the forefront of everyone’s mind. The transparency behind the motivation of those trying to make it harder for certain people to vote is palpable. And frankly, it is discriminatory and unacceptable. What’s […]