Author Archives: Zachary

Steelers Promising Victory Despite Offense’s Performance – Final

Steelers Promising Future Despite Ugly Win 

The Steelers went into Buffalo week 1 of the 2021 NFL season and upset the Bills 23-16. 

Despite a slow start from the Steelers offense, the Steelers defense came ready to play. 

Linebacker T.J Watt, signed a $112 million deal with the Steelers just 2 days before the game. Espn explained this would make him the highest paid defensive player in the league. People worried about a slow start from him as talks of Watt’s contract loomed all week. However, Watt finished the game with 2 sacks,5 QB hits,and 1 forced fumble, leaving off where he started from last year. 

He’s had a heck of a week,” says Defensive Captain Cameron Hayward, “For him to go out there and handle it the way he handled it and capitalize on it, with a win like this, pretty proud of him. I know it wasn’t always pretty for him.” 

Along with Watts’ good game, New York Times says the rest of the Steelers defense looks promising again. 

With Bud Dupree gone this year at defensive end, the Steelers picked up Melvin Ingram for the pass rush. This leaves the Steelers with a 3 man rotation on the Defensive line. “Those three edge guys that you guys have been asking a lot about — Watt, Highsmith, and Ingram — they delivered today,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

The Steelers had MVP candidate Josh Allen looking frustrated and not himself all game. 

New York Times says the biggest play from the Steelers defense came from a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. The Steelers were up 10-6 when they blocked a punt and returned it in to go up 17-6. This was a turning point in momentum for the Steelers as they cruised to a victory from there. 

The offense took a little while to get going. According to Steelerswire.usatoday, Coach Tomlin uses the word, “unacceptable”. 

In the first half the Steelers looked a little slow on offense. Miscommunications between Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers looked to be an issue. As a result the Steelers had 65 total yards and 0 points at half time. 

“We didn’t do what we wanted to do, but we didn’t turn the ball over,” Ben Roethlisberger told the media after the game.

Along with these New York times states, Najee Harris, the Steelers new rookie running back, struggled to get anything going early. He came out with 8 rushing yards on 7 seven attempts in the first half. However Steeler fans shouldn’t worry about his production in week 1. 

Along with the addition of Harris the Steelers bring in 4 new offensive lineman. With that and a rookie running back, they’re going to need some time to gel together according to New York times. The bright side to this, the Steelers used Harris on every snap they could. New York times says that Harris is not to be worried about for Steeler fans. 

In the second half the Steelers offense looked brand new. 

Espn stated Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to Dionte Johnson, who showed incredible concentration, patting the ball and bringing it in. 

Johnson led the league in dropped passes a season ago and looks to improve in that region this year. This year he invested in a tennis ball machine to help his hand eye coordination. No drops in week one for Johnson. 

Only 262 total yards from the Steelers, yet it’s enough for week one. The Steelers will look to improve on this as week 2 they face the Raiders coming off a good win versus the Ravens.

Protest at Backwater University

A group of citizens are angry with Laura Cliff’s biology class for teaching evolution at Backwater University.

The group is led by pastor of Ever-Faithful Church of Living Water, Wilbur Straking. He plans to lead a group of 25 dedicated Christians to the state capitol next Monday to speak with legislators about this problem. Straking states, “we believe the teaching of evolution is against the principles of this Christian country. We want to put a stop to it.” 

Neither Laura or the university president would comment on the group’s charges. 

Lead #2

A local man died in a car accident in South Iowa City at 11am yesterday. Moyer Quick was a 65 year old who collided with a truck driven by Randy Radin, a 17 year old. 

Three survivors were transported by ambulance to Sioux City General Hospital. Radin is in critical condition with a fractured skull and internal injuries. 

Patric Stewart of the South Iowa Highway Patrolman, said both drivers were proceeding west on Highway 28 as Quick’s rear end struck Radin trying to pass him. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch. 

The accident is still under investigation.

Lead

East Dakota Highway patrol ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns yesterday in Sioux City, Iowa due to concerns troopers could develop cancer from long term exposure to radiation waves emitted.

Adam Smith a spokesman said “The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue, the whole situation is under review.” Studies are being conducted to possibly link cancer and the use of such guns. This comes two months after three municipal officers in Central City developed cancer from using the hand held units.

State Troopers will continue to use radar units with transmitters mounted on the outside of their cruisers as the situation is under review. 

News Article #2

As a result of Texas almost getting rid of abortions completely, California might be in trouble to follow. To start off in this article, Soumya Karlamangla explained how Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion nationwide, could be overturned due to Texas. California is home to Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. In California last year more than 100,00 abortions were performed alone. So what does all of this mean for California? 

Karlamangla explains next that if Roe V Wade were to be overturned then it would be up to the state for the abortion laws. Here we find out that if this would happen, California as well as 13 other states would most likely keep abortion legal. It’s also stated that most people would likely go to California for an abortion if needed. If abortion were to be ilegal for some California would be a hot spot for others to come in and get one. We will have to wait and find out to see what will happen in California abortion laws due to Texas. 

The audience that Karlamangla is speaking to here are California residents. Mainly I think she is speaking to those in California who are following the abortion laws in Texas and want to know what that means for their own state. It could also be anyone following the abortion laws around our nation. She stays with California as they have most of the abortion clinics. I liked how she explained California was the state where a lot of abortions happen. She also explained in this article that California could start getting a lot of people in from other states to treat an abortion. 

It’s hard for me to decide whether or not this is news, but I’m going to have to say it is. Abortion laws are laws that affect everybody or could affect a lot of people at some point. I think following what is happening with it, especially if a 50 year old ruling, Roe V. Wade, might be overturned due to Texas. I thought it was interesting how California’s governor is anti-choice, but the votes from the people would still be to allow abortions. Overall I would take this information as news and advise people to still watch over this as it could affect some of you in the future.

News Comment #1

In the article that I read, The New Orleans Saints, an NFL organization, had to move their season opening game from New Orleans to Jacksonville. This comes due to hurricane Ida that just swept through New Orleans. Although not much damage came to the Saints stadium or facilities, much of New Orleans remains without electricity and there’s still flooding nearby. The Saints have moved their practices to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, as their fanbase seems to be pretty good around that region. The Saints will host the Green Bay Packers week 1 in Jacksonville.

It’s clear to me that in this article the audience the author is trying to get to is the NFL fans, specifically the New Orlean Saint’s fans. Knowing this I thought the author does. great job explaining what all happened to the Saints as a team so far and what’s to come. They explain how they moved to North Texas for practice and why they couldn’t be in New Orleans. As a reader I like how they explained the power could be out in New Orleans for at least a few more days. This allows me to know why they had to relocate for a little bit due to the hurricane.

Along with this I was interested to know that where the Saints moved to was an area where Saints fans were. Saints head coach Sean Payton said this about the region their practicing in, “the region made sense because it had many Saints fans nearby, stadiums capable of hosting N.F.L. games and a major airport.” This is great information to put as otherwise I would not find this news.

The thing that makes this article news to me is the author explains why everything was put into the article. He explains reasons for why the Saints are moving practice, what their new region means for the Saints, why the Saints moved practice to where they did, and so on. I wanted to know what the Saints have been doing due to the hurricane and I believe this article does it specifically and correct.

Getting to Know Alexis Spier

On the first day of class I got the wonderful opportunity to meet Alexis Spier. Alexis is a 19 year old Sophomore that plays basketball here at Morningside. She came from Gretna, Nebraska where she was born and raised. She only has one older brother, Max. She came here to play basketball as she had said a friend of hers was coming as well. The campus was not too far from where she grew up so that was a bright side right away. 

Alexis in her free time loves to draw and paint abstract pieces. This means somewhat not realistic drawings. They are pretty cool! She also enjoys to shop with her mom, Kim, whenever she gets the chance to. She was a multi-sport athlete while in high school playing soccer, volleyball, and softball. Guess that comes with having an older brother and hearing how competitive she is. 

Alexis is majoring in Mass Communications and plans to look to use that in the future through sports. When asking her what her interests were for the future she said, “I would love to be an announcer for the NBA one day, as I love the sport of basketball. I could talk about sports until I die so I think being an announcer or on a show like SportsCenter would be amazing.” She explained that she likes to listen to others opinions as well, which is a strength she can use in the future for those jobs. It was great getting to know Alexis and hopefully everyone gets the chance!