The Signal - March 2018

March 2018

Volume 92

Issue 7

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Walking out for a change...

TJ students gather outside for 17 minutes of silence to honor the 17 lives lost in Florida.

Photo by: Cami Wagaman

Cami Wagaman Editor-in-Chief Metro area students participated in “#NationalSchoolWalkout” on March 14, 2018, exactly one month after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida took 17 lives.

Students all over the country have been rallying to support the students that survived the shooting as they put the pressure on congressmen to enforce gun control in the country.

Many schools in Council Bluffs participated in peaceful protests, including Thomas Jefferson.

Also in this paper...

Vice President Mike Pence visits Council Bluffs during a series of Tax Policy events.

Editor-in-Chief Cami Wagaman has more information on the event. Read VP Mike Pence visits Council Bluffs.

Page 2

Reporter Courtney Jones digs deeper into the trend of juuling amongst teens. The activity has been compared to vaping, as both are supposed to offer a safer way to smoke, but recent news has declared it as damaging.

Read It’s not cool to JUUL.

Page 2 Visit www.cbjacketjournalism.com for more content!

TJ senior Rachel Woods expressed that there are many victims of gun violence “that aren’t able to do things like this.

Something needs to be done.”

This walkout was not the first, and will not be the last. Students all over the country have made plans to participate in at least two more national walkouts during the rest of March and into April.

“Overall, I’m very impressed by the students and how they handled it,” said Student Resource Officer Brandon Diederich.

The walkout at TJ on Wednesday was held between the two buildings and lasted 17 minutes; a moment of silence for each life lost.

“Peaceful protests go a long way, especially when it comes

from kids,” stated paraeducator ment 17 people in honor of the Kyle Bartholomew. “Go because 3 teachers and 14 students that you truly believe in the cause. died in the Parkland shooting.

Nothing changes in the world if “Accomplish so much more you don’t change it. You have a with #walkup,” Dr. Murillo voice, use it.” tweeted Tuesday morning. “StuStudents at dents, let’s be the “So maybe something difference and TJ have been promised that can be done; so along make a positive if they choose the line this will be change by walking to participate up! #BeTheOne in the protests, so this will be a black #CBCSD.” they will not mark on our history,” “Everytime a face repercusmass shooting

sions. Approxi- -Rachel Woods happens the first mately 200 ‘18 thing to say is students from ‘now is not the TJ participated in the protest, and time to talk about anything’,” said they were joined by few teachers. Woods. “They try to push the Superintendent Dr. Vickie conversation back and back and Murillo encouraged students via back. So maybe something can Twitter not to walk out of school, be done so along the line this will but to walk up and complibe so this will be a black mark on

Iowa named best state Kelsie Anderson Reporter

our history and not something that people are dealing with on a daily basis.”

Change is starting to happen. Survivors of the shooting in Parkland have been in an uphill battle in attempt to change gun laws, and they aren’t willing to back down.

“Those who are saying that we aren’t making a difference haven’t met teenagers of our generation,” proclaimed Woods.

If you are looking for a different way to show your support for the recent shootings, you can call your congressperson and voice your opinion.

Iowa representatives: Chuck Grassley- 515-288-1145 or 202224-3744; Joni Ernst- 712-3521167, 515-284-4574, or 202-2243254; Steve King- 202-225-4426.

People enjoying the Iowa state fair in August 2017.

Photo by: US News

In February of 2018, US News and many other news sources wrote articles on the ranking of the 50 States.

Iowa claimed the rank of being number one, creating many mixed emotions, and sparking many arguments across the internet.

Some argue that Iowa shouldn’t be ranked as the number one state, since Iowa is known for farming and growing corn, however, Iowa is also known for having great education and healthcare with amazing

graduation rates.

The state of Iowa has struggled with rankings in the past, ranking number 15 in 2017, and number 19 in 2016, but ranking number one in 2018 posed a major shock to many people.

Iowa is known for having amazing manufacturing, construction and productions outside of state lines.

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Iowa was ranked number 17, for economy but Iowa proudly ranks number one in graduation rating for public schools according to US News.

David Daack, a consultant for Connected Nation was interviewed by US News.

“When people think of Iowa, they usually think of agricultural places that won’t necessarily need

to be connected,” states Daack, “But given the big data needs of agriculture today and in the future, those areas are going to need to be every bit as connected as the urban areas.”

In recent years, Iowa has gone through amazing industrial growth. Of all the food that the nation consumes, Iowa provides 7% of.

News

THE SIGNAL

VP Mike Pence visits Council Bluffs

Web: cbjacketjournalism.com Snapchat: tjhsjournalism

Vice President Mike Pence visits Council Bluffs on March 6th.

Photo by: Cami Wagaman citizens of Council Bluffs will be affected.

The panel consisted of Todd Behrend, Deborah Durham, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg, Ben McLean, and moderator Curtis Ellis, the senior policy adviser for America First Policies and Breitbart news site contributor.

“Americans and Iowans [will] keep more of their hard earned dollars,” said Gregg of the changes in the law.

Thomas Jefferson seniors Jayden Steele and Nick Puterbaugh were also in attendance on Tuesday.

“There will be more money in my parents’ pocket,” said Steele of the new tax plan.

As students become more responsible, they will start earning their own money, as well as paying taxes.

“In our future, we’ll be making our own money,” states Puterbaugh. “It’ll make a difference there.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds also spoke at the event and introduced the Vice President to the crowd.

“Iowa is a state where if you work hard and dream big,” said Reynolds, “anything is possible.”

Pence urges those in attendance to tell their friends, “We’re putting Washington back to work for them,” because as he stated, the media won’t do it.

Florida high school after school shooting in Feburary.

Photo provided by: ABC News

Due to recent events, Florida legislators are trying to improve school safety.

The biggest proposal is to train certain teachers to handle a gun properly. They are also pushing for schools to be safer, in order to lower the rate of school shootings.

Many people are opposed of letting teachers use guns in

Paginator Emily Eikenberry Cami Wagaman

Adviser Rob Lindquist Phone: 712-328-6493 Facebook: CBJacketJournalism Twitter:@TJHSJournalism

Florida gun laws

Morgan Jacobson Reporter

Copy Editor Madasyn Davis

Staff Kelsie Anderson Morgan Jacobson Courtney Jones Jordan McAlpine Maddie Nymann

Cami Wagaman Editor-in-Chief

Vice President Mike Pence made his way to the Mid-America Center (MAC) in Council Bluffs on March 6th, 2018.

“Thanks to President Trump,” started Pence, “America is back.”

Roughly 500 Iowans and Nebraskans were in attendance on Tuesday to hear the Vice President talk about the new tax law that President Donald Trump signed in December of 2017.

Since President Trump signed the bill, public opinion has gone up. In February of 2018, the majority of Americans (51%) supported it, which was at 37% when originally signed.

According to Pence, tangible effects in communities, companies, and paychecks have been responsible for this change in public opinion. The law doubles the standard deduction for most middle class families.

“The best days are yet to come,” said Pence. “About 90% of working families will see benefits.”

Pence was one of many guest speakers featured on the series, “Tax Cuts to Put America First”.

A panel discussed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, explaining how the

Editor-in-Chief Cami Wagaman

schools, it brings up many fears in parents and students alike.

Many concerned citizens are worried about teachers snapping and turning on their classes, others are scared that the teacher in charge of the weapon will leave it out accidentally.

Teachers need to go through extensive training, to prevent things like that from happening.

They will need over 132 hours with gun training and they need a carry conceal permit too.

The second proposal is to start putting in bullet proof glass, metal doors, and metal detec-

tors at all of the entrances. More people are willing to vote for this due to it being a much safer alternative as to teachers being able to carry weapons.

Another thing they are trying to do is to ban AR-15’s and assault rifles alike, that is up to debate for the committee. Bump stocks are also a topic of conversation that was brought up, they are trying to ban them outright, even President Donald Trump is agreeing with this. Bump stocks are tools that can make a semi automatic weapon fire fast like a fully automatic weapon.

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As he wrapped up his speech, Pence states that he is leaving Iowa with “more confidence than ever.”

The event was the fourth in a series of tax policy events for the Vice President. He stopped at a dinner for Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts in Lincoln, NE after the event at the MAC. With every political rally, there will be protesters. Many people from the opposite political party gathered outside of the MAC on Tuesday, some with signs that read “#BlueWave2018”.

There were approximately 15-20 protesters rallied together, as well as counter-protesters rallied in support of the Tax bill.

The Signal is a school-sponsored publication of Thomas Jefferson High School 2501 W. Broadway Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501. The Signal’s office is located in the upper library. The Signal is printed by OH-K FASTPRINT in Omaha, NE. The Signal is a school-sponsored-publication and therefore recognizes its responsibility to stay within the boundaries that the school administrator sets. The Signal will therefore inform its readers using a high standard of morals and ethics. The Signal encourages readers to respond in the form of letters to the editor, which can be sent to room C128. The Signal’s editorial staff reserves the right to edit the letters for grammatical errors and to remove any profanity. The editors also reserve the right to exclude letters that are false in their statements or accusations. The Signal will not accept advertisements that promote activities illegal to minors.

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It’s not cool to JUUL

A JUUL has the appearance of a USB drive, and is said to be a less harmful way of smoking, but has been proven to cause more harm.

Photo provided by: Madasyn Davis also a higher risk of lung cancer.

Courtney Jones These risks can also apply to second hand smoke. Some harmful Reporter chemicals that have been recently found in the vape include some Recently, a new fad has sprung of the same chemicals that are amongst teens and young adults found in antifreeze. called juuling.

JUUL labs has since released JUUL is a new form of ea statement about their prodcigarette that holds the appearucts, “Minors should not use ance of a USB-drive. The Juul has any nicotine product, including caught the attention of many and ours. JUUL was created for adult although its purpose is to give smokers of legal age only and we former smokers a safer way to instrive to keep our product out gest nicotine, many have picked of the hands of minors. Recent it up for the simple fact that it science raises concerns about looks cool. the adverse effects of nicotine on JUUL is supposed to offer a adolescent neurodevelopment." safer and healthier way of smokAlthough Many experiments ing but in recent news it has been and research has gone into provsaid to cause more damage than ing that many vape are actually good. not as safe as they are said to be, Recent studies show that researchers claim that it'll take at not only do e-cigarettes cause a least another decade before it is higher risk of heart disease but publicly accepted.