A Thursday at Mega City Mall went on with its normal work day just like any other day. Various people come to get shopping lists done, enjoy the food court or make a paycheck.

That suddenly was disrupted by an explosion in the food court not long after the was opened and customers were in the building.

Reports from the scene sent by early responders reveal that initial injury numbers resulting from the explosion were less than 100. Medical reports have been received by both St. Mercy and Jean-Luc hospitals, treating injuries consisting of fire and smoke inhalation.

Two fatalities have been reported from the explosion.

The Mega City Police Department has established a special team of investigators that will work alongside federal law enforcement agencies.

Captain Fuglsang reports the investigation is still ongoing at this time, the special units are still trying to clear the scene for a thorough investigation.

The aftermath and reactions to the disruption is being looked at more closely than just an “accident.”

Bell Taco worker Okan, thinks other wise. “I was just preparing some tacos when I heard the sharp noise and saw the explosion. When I saw it, I knew it wasn’t just anything accidental, I assume a bomb went off.”

Fuglsang reports that there is no evidence of any initial threat to the Mall and its environments. The captain did not seem confident in knowing how long the investigation will deliver any answers or crucial information on anything when asked by reporters.

With these casualties vs the number of the people who did survive the experience, was this accident really unintentional? Or was it failed quest to sabotage the public?

She was just a simple girl from Little Rock, Josephine Becker was as average they came… according to her. Yet she was anything but average.

Jo took time on perfecting the little things, that’s what made the 5’4 blonde bombshell stand out. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas had her life switched up at age 17 when her parents decided to move to Santa Barbara, California. 

She was taken away during an important event in her life that would lead onto a future path. An avid basketball star, Jo was planning on committing to the University of Arkansas early as a junior, finish her senior year and attend the university.

^insert quote^

Her test scores were all laid out, playing time, stat requirements, meetings, practices, all of it was on her to do list to be able to play division 1 basketball. It all ended in smoke, her plans fell through due to the transferring hassle and the stress of the move on her goals.

She had to start over.

Moving to a new state in the middle of your Junior year can be shell shocking for sure. As bitterly as she described how much the move at the time stunk, her eyes couldn’t help but shine when she spoke of California.

^insert quote^

Louis’ eyes drew her in as the sea did. He was young and fresh, the typical surf-rat. His clock in time for work was 8 to 5 on that beach.

Jo met Louis and his four friends her first day in the neighborhood.

^insert quote “I can’t explain what made me think I needed to go to the beach when there were boxes in my room that needed to be unpacked. Plus my parents were super, super strict so I don’t know how they let me go either. ”

Yet she went, letting the waves talk her into coming closer, the sand sucking her in deeper into paradise. She made a friend at the local snack shack, Lizzie. Her first friend but certainly not her last.

Lizzie pointed out all the spots to see on the beach and all the right waves to catch. Jo scoffed at the idea of her being able to surf, but all it took was one go and she blew people away.

^insert quote “From that point on I knew I loved surfing. Basketball was my ticket out but the way I cold move with the waves totally changed me as a person. It made me realize I could meet anything new head on.”

When the couple finally met on the beach that day it was less than romantic. Jo gave a stiff punch to Louis’ jaw for him being a creeper with his four friends.

After that day she got to know the five boys better. Stepping on a shard of glass and cutting her foot, the five helped her back to her house.

“They were annoying at the very beginning, but when I got hurt that same day those five idiots showed me the different sides of them that I’ve kept around to this day. That day we became friends.”

Jo and Louis didn’t get together until he end of Jo’s senior year at the University of Tennessee. Before that time, Jo went through horrible relationship with Nathan, one of the five friends.

They ended in lies and betrayal that costed Jo a lot of her freedom from her parents, and took a toll on her body; borderline abuse.

Getting out as she planned, signing to play for the Volunteers instead, Jo understood herself better. She kept in contact with Louis after her disappearance from Santa Barbara and started new again but this time as an adult.

^instert quote “It was Louis all along. He was always the one I wanted to talk to, to see. When I was upset I went running to him, I don’t know why. It wasn’t until I hugged him for the first time in 5 years I felt the final click to what I’ve been missing. I was missing him.”

Homer, a 16 year old polar bear at the Midland Zoo was found dead in the polar bear exhibit just an hour after his 7 a.m. feeding. Zookeeper Sarah Getty, found Homer floating in the pool.

The other two polar bears were removed from the exhibit and are currently being monitored by the veterinary staff. Homer was the oldest bear in the exhibit compared to 9 year old Yukon and 10 year old female McKenzie.

Homer is the 3rd animal to have passed away in a span of four weeks. Regina the bobcat died of renal failure last week, and Kenya the giraffe broke her neck by her horns being caught in her stall two weeks prior.

Zoo Director Chris Bacon expresses his concern of the recent tragedy in the habitat. “We will do everything in our power to determine how this bear died. Animal welfare and the preservation of species are our primary goals here at the zoo.”

Bacon confirms that the two other animals who died this month are unrelated to the death of Homer the polar bear.

The polar bear habitat has thrived at the Midland Zoo since 1985, allowing the bears to engage in their natural behaviors, playing in manufactured snow, and hunting trout in the chilled pool. The bears are ambassadors educating the guests who come in to learn about their lives and what makes them endangered.

It’s the little things when it comes to Josephine Becker. A native of Little Rock, Arkansas had her life switched up at age 17 when her parents decided to move to Santa Barbara, California.

“It was one of the worst experiences of my life at the time.” She explained, readjusting her short blonde hair compared to her medium length hair she had when she was a teenager.

Josephine–or Jo to the world w played basketball on elite select teams growing up, she wanted to play for the University of Arkansas before the move.

Her test scores were all laid out, playing time, stat requirements, meetings, practices, all of it was on her to do list to be able to play division 1 basketball for her home state. She ended up not living out her plans due to the transferring and the stress of the move on her goals.

Her eyes shine when she speaks of California, how that particular house and the beach only a few hundred yards away brought her to her current husband, Louis.

When they met on the beach it wasn’t love at first sight, in fact, Jo gave him a stiff punch on the jaw. The reason being, Louis’ friend group at the time were being “creeps” and purposefully annoying Jo and her friend just to cause them “sexual tension.”

“They were annoying at the very beginning, but when I got hurt that same day those five idiots showed me the different sides of them that I’ve kept around to this day. That day we became friends.”

Her story is one people ought to get to know, it’s cute, touching and life changing.

I walked into Intro to Dance late this morning, I signed my name on the attendance sheet then proceeded to sit in my usual spot. My spot is the wall to the right hand side of the class room where I sit next to Sabrina Creason. Sabrina is a sophomore who plays setter on the volleyball team. We’ve sat next to each other in this class since the beginning of the semester.

The class was pointless like normal so Sabrina and I walked back to the Poppen Apartments together since we both lived in the same complex. I waited for for Sabrina to put on her white and gray north face coat, then she proceeded to pull her light brown hair out of the hood so it could fall below her shoulders.

Our walk was short but cold. Sabrina mentioned how this weekend football game should be fun.

“It should be a closer game since Northwestern isn’t terrible. Maybe we’ll win by 30 instead of 60.” She laughed carefree.

We walked in step wearing similar clothing, leggings and coats. Yet Sabrina chose to wear white boots made from Sperry. Interesting since there wasn’t snow on the ground you could never be too sure with this Iowa weather.

As we got to the door she took out her flowered lanyard and we went inside. When she said goodbye I noticed her voice sounded stuffy, like she’s been fighting a cold. The inside lighting brought my attention to how pale her skin was out I the cold weather, brightening her brown eyes.

1. https://www.foxnews.com/world/australia-rare-purebred-dingo-eagle

Ever wish a rare dingo purebred pup gets dropped from the sky into your backyard? No? This Australian family didn’t either.

Jane Guiney, found a young, stray puppy whimpering in her backyard. She suspected the furry creature was a dog or a fox and was dropped on the ground by an eagle flying by.

The puppy is actually a rare purebred dingo. Which is an endangered wild dog breed in Australia.

The puppy was discovered in Wandiligong, which is in the state of Victoria, around 200 miles northeast of Melbourne. The Guiney family provided care for the dog before taking it to a veterinarian to be treated for injuries. There it was determined the dog was actually a dingo.

Its DNA was tested for confirmation of its breed, and while they awaited results, the pup was taken to the Australian Dingo Foundation sanctuary. The results from the test concluded the dingo is a purebred Victorian Highlands Dingo

The dingo has since been named “Wandi,” and is fitting in at the sanctuary, according to foundation director.

2. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/u-s-opens-national-security-investigation-tiktok-sources-say-n1075211

Do you use the app TikTok? Or know some who watches or creates them?

TikTok has been growing more popular among U.S. teenagers at a time of growing tensions between the United States and China over trade and technology transfers. According to the creators of TikTok, sixty percent of its 26.5 million active users a month in the United States are between the ages of 16 and 24.

The U.S. government has launched a national security review of TikTok owner Beijing ByteDance Technology Company’s $1 billion acquisition of the U.S. social media app Musical.ly that was purchased two years ago.

Reason for the investigation into the app, is that the government is concerned if the Chinese company may be censoring politically sensitive content. There is also alarming concern about how TikTok stores a users personal data.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has started to review the Musical.ly deal. Sources confirm TikTok did not seek clearance from CFIUS when it purchased Musical.ly, which gives the U.S. security permission to investigate it now.

TikTok says China does not have jurisdiction over content of the app, and promises U.S. user data is stored in the United States only. Leaving no room for Chinese censorship over the app.

3. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/money/food/2019/11/06/starbucks-signature-red-cups-holiday-drinks-comeback/2512431001/

‘Tis the season to officially hang up lights and enjoy an Eggnog Latte: kiss the pumpkin spice goodbye and reel in the signature Starbucks Red Holliday cups.

This Thursday the international coffee chain makes its transition from fall flavors to focusing on Peppermint Mochas and Hot Chocolate. The Holliday season isn’t here unless the new red cups come inside.

Four different Holliday designs will be introduced this year, including classic red, white and green patterns, making the cup look almost like a present. Each cup has its own name for a signature twist on your order.

The official names of the four cups are Polka Dots, Merry Dance, Merry Stripes and Candy Cane Stripes. According to Starbucks, they designed the cups this year to “evoke mini moments of joy.”

The countdown to red cup season has been an anticipating event on the web as customers watch the hours dwindle down. The wait for the Holliday season is over and it looks like the wait for a Venti Peppermint Mocha in a Merry Dance cup is over too.

Print story: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bernie-sanders-legalize-marijuana-nationwide-first-100-days-plan

Broadcast story: http://video.foxnews.com/v/6097474480001

Bernie Sanders announced on the social media platform about his plans to legalize marijuana. Both leads have hooks on to get a reader interested in the story, but the print story is more informational. Sanders argued that the criminalization of the drug has ravaged communities of color and created an unequal incarceration rate.

The broadcast version focuses on the multiple Democratic candidates who want to legalize marijuana. All candidates looking to have politics catch up tot he modern culture. The printed version in comparison only focuses on Bernie’s future plans for legalizing marijuana if he is elected into the presidency. In his campaign, Bernie proclaims, “Legalize it, don’t criticize it.” It gives the definite plan he wants to execute and reasons for why he wants this legalization to happen, so it can impact lives.

In the news clip you have multiple sources being quoted. Mayor Pete of Las Vegas admitted to smoking pot in his past. Also, besides quoting candidates on why and if they did participate in doing drugs, the new anchors use their input to comprehend the reactions form the voters. The print version doesn’t have multiple sources or viewpoints on Bernie Sander’s plan of action for the future.

The attribution in the printed article is stated in Bernie’s campaign goal is to, “…legalize marijuana and vacate and expunge past marijuana convictions.” as well as in the news clip on Bernie’s radio interview and with The Five’s quoting his campaign promise.

The video has an advantage over the article, due to it’s visual evidence for the other candidates and its discussion with the news anchors about the topic. In the article you can only hear one voice, and that voice is speaking of Bernie’s plans and reasons. There aren’t background noises or impacting sounds in the interviews and during the discussions. As for the print story, it gives more visuals on Bernie’s social media posts, and direct quotes from him about the topic.

What I found interesting between the two versions the broadcast was definitely more engaging than the print story. The clip included different politicians, as well as keeping the prime subject (marijuana) in full view. The article seemed to be a brief article, not really reaching out to make sure its content was interesting besides using the big name of Bernie Sanders and marijuana legalization in the same sentence.