March 2016
Volume 91
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Issue 7
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Raise.me starts new trend in earning scholarships for CBCSD students
Derrick Johnson/The Signal
Senior counselor Carla Hartenhoff talks to Mr. Busby’s class about making their own Raise.me portfolio.
Derrick Johnson Editor-in-Chief
Scholarship season is well underway, and now there’s a new way for students to earn money from colleges, Raise.me. The website allows colleges to give micro scholarships to students based off their high
Renovations coming soon to the west end Morgan Barth Reporter
Change is starting to happen throughout Council Bluffs. Plans to renovate the ‘West End’ have went into effect in 2014 and have been carried into 2016. From the riverway to West Broadway, improvements will be added. It will bring popularity that the West End never had, and the face of that specific part of town will be improved. At the beginning of West Broadway, renovations have started at Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park. Two medium-sized office buildings will be added, along with condos that hold
community space, retail use and townhomes. Further east of these renovations, apartments townhouses and mixed-used buildings will line the new street that’s being installed. Also, West Broadway Corridor’s landscape will be enhanced. There will be fewer drive-ins and curb cuts. Landscape will be added to the intersecting side streets to complement the roads. Streets in front of Thomas Jefferson will also be apart of those renovations. If approved by the school board, there has been discussion within the city to work where the old train tracks were
Also in this paper... Page 2:
I will never forget my skin color National Civic League announcement CBCSD budget cut proposals
school resumes. The University of Iowa has teamed up with Raise. me to give micro-scholarships, specifically to Council Bluffs Community School District students. It all stems from the Iowa All
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Winter Arts Assembly Robotics fundraising ad Senior Checklist
99 pilot project, which chooses a school district in each Iowa county to receive scholarship money for its students. CBCSD was chosen this year based off of average income and other qualifications. With the program, students can create a Raise.me portfolio, and earn up to $1,200 from the University of Iowa spread out over four years. Simple things like participating in extracurricular activities or earning B’s in math classes can give up to $75 dollars for each year. All information is recorded by Raise.me and sent to the college in order to determine how much money you deserve. “You can start this as early as your 9th grade year and start plugging things in,” said senior counselor Carla Hartenhoff. “It becomes a working document.” Although the program wasn’t announced to long ago, CBCSD students who plan to go to the University of Iowa have already taken advantage of the website. Future Hawkeye, Sadie Andrews, has spent some time making her portfolio for the University of Iowa, earning $525. “I think it’s really cool,” said
Sadie. “Instead of having to worry about getting enough, I can base it off my small accomplishments through high school.” Other schools such as Morningside, Buena Vista University, and University of Nebraska-Omaha have also set up Raise.me platforms that best suits them, making this a new trend that seems to be growing fast. Although they are on the website however, the University of Iowa is the only college that is associated with the incentive program geared towards TJ and AL kids. “Even if you’re not going to the University of Iowa, just putting [the portfolio] in can show kind of where you’re at in terms of what colleges are looking for,” said Hartenhoff. 2016 seniors who have been accepted to the University of Iowa have until April 1st to get their Raise.me portfolios created. Mrs. Hartenhoff will be helping those specific students with their Raise.me portfolios as the deadline gets closer.
Megan Carroll/The Signal West Broadway, an area that may soon be renovated.
installed and add in a running trail, or a transit line. New traffic signs, like School Zone’s have also been planned to go up on T.J’s campus. Signals and street lights will also be installed, along with sidewalks and sanitary storm sewers that
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R5 comes to Omaha Fuller House breakdown #FREEKESHA
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have drainage improvements. First Avenue has been planned to turn into a two-way street, it will have a side path for bikes and walkers. Roads will be restored to create a cleaner and smoother passway for vehicles and pedestrians. Avenue A is said
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Bright future looming for Jacket’s Clingenpeel Storey sees success for Jefferson bowlers Sports Schedule
to be changed to strictly a bus or rapid transit route, if passed by officials. The city has continued their plans by restoring buildings along with the CBCSD Stadium; new facilities have also been opened along West Broadway.
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Super Tuesday recap Candidate portfolios
NEWS
I will never forget my skin color: Being black in a white society Tiana Larsen Reporter A lot of people talk about race, and I mean a lot. But I can’t escape from being black even if I wanted to. It’s just who I am. I had went through many things and learned a lot for only being 17-years-old. Some people will never know how it feels to be an African American. You are born into your life without any choice. Everyone is stereotyping you. Everyone thinks just because of my skin color I am out to do bad things, and it’s not true. Society makes living the life while being black a constant hassle. Although people have been fighting for change for decades now, we still face an unfair struggle and it is not right. Do you understand how it feels to be petted like a dog because your hair looks “fascinating”? That’s not even the worst of it, and it gets to the point where it’s exhausting to be black. People will never understand just how hard it really is. For example, some people think African Americans are a bad example for kids to look up
to. People only view blacks in a way where only bad perspectives are shown, but what people do not see is that we are successful. Our president is an African American. Can you believe that Martin Luther King’s dream finally came true in 2008? Barack Obama’s election changed American history forever and it helped guide the new era of racial harmony. When slavery was going on, many African Americans were stripped from their homes and identities, as well as their well-being. As time went on, Jim Crow Laws still separated freed blacks from whites, and they were banned from owning any property or voting. Although we’re years removed from these times, the division still stands. Slavery is illegal in every single country in the world. But yet it still exists. Although people in the United States are doing a part to change perspectives on oppression and slavery, other countries around the world are still struggling to make this change. An organization called #EndItMovement wants to help people all around the world dealing with slavery. This organization helps those trapped in slavery today be heard, and
change the world in an inspiring way. Some people believe that African Americans are getting shot while being unarmed, while we just have “scary” faces with skittles in our pockets. Police have guns, tear gas, and stun guns in their possession. The fight’s not fair. There has been to many lives lost by police killings. Too many phone calls to families of young black kids telling them their child won’t be coming home. But, in some cases, it’s not because police officers are racists or think black lives don’t matter, it’s because police perform the way they are trained. Right now, in 2016, my job has taught me that some still feel threatened by people of color. And those customers feel they have the right to attack the workers with verbal and physical abuse. Today racism still divides many African Americans from the rest of society. Race permeates everything in my life, no matter where I go or what I do. In a country where everyone is assimilated, where families are blended, and where people are people, I can never forget my skin color.
Graphic provided
The National Civic League announced Council Bluffs as a finalist to recieve the AllAmerican City award. Communties were chosen based on how well they devlop innovative solutions to help their youth. Winners will be announced in June.
CBCSD board has 2016-2017 budget cut discussions Adriana Ibarra Reporter The Council Bluffs Community School District is looking to cut $4.5-$6 million by the end of 2018. This will cause a better funding and more grants. CBCSD is not the only district to be facing budget shortage. Omaha’s Westside Community Schools are also facing financial issues; they are looking to fall short $5.4 million for the 2016-17 school year. To get an idea of what’s being decided by CBCSD, Westside is proposing $3.9 million in cuts. 18 part-time and full-time jobs will be lost, including the high school librarian, an instrumental music teacher and five Spanish teachers at elementary schools. The teachers being cut from the budget would be replaced by software. To save even more money they will not be hiring substitute teachers. Juniors and seniors would be expected to work independently if their teacher is absent. With these precautions, the district would still dip into its reserves for next year by $1.7 million. If Iowa lawmakers do not take
Editor’s Note: Due to a recent board meeting, information that was finalized after our print won’t be found in this story. However, a follow up on budget cuts will be published next month.
THE SIGNAL Editor-in-Chief Derrick Johnson Copy Editor Ana Aguilar Paginator Angela Gardner Staff Morgan Barth Megan Carroll Morgan Hanslip Dylan Harold Adriana Ibarra Cody Kinney Tiana Larsen Nick Mitchell Jordon McAlpine Alejandro Viera Cami Wagaman Adviser Rob Lindquist Phone: 712-328-6493 Facebook: CBJacketJournalism Twitter:@TJHSJournalism Web: cbjacketjournalism.com Snapchat: tjhsjournalism
Derrick Johnson/The Signal
Superintendent Martha Bruckner speaking to the school board about proposed ideas to cut spending.
action and deliver enough to help boost funding, then CBCSD believes that they could face major cuts as well. Dr. Bruckner, the Superintendent of CBCSD, is
aware of the situation. In the NonPareil she said she had no intentions of cutting any jobs for the next school year. She stated in an email to the CBCSD staff, that keeping classes similar to
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their sizes now is a priority, and no one needs to worry about losing their jobs. Until more information is released nothing has been finalized.
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 room C128. The Signal is printed by OH-K FASTPRINT in Omaha, NE. The Signal is a schoolsponsored-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. Advertising rates are available upon request.
NSPA Member Publication IHSPA Member Publication
ACTIVITIES Great job to everyone who performed and was recognized at the Winter Arts Assembly
All pictures taken by Nick Mitchell.
Senior Checklist April 5 & 6: Order Cap & Gowns April 15th: Due date for order form for senior t-shirts April 15: Senior class meeting 10:15-10:45
TJHS Robotics has now qualified two teams for Worlds in April. Visit their GoFundMe page and contribute now! https://www.gofundme.com/hhrp6f42
April 15: Turn in all scholarships you have been awarded to Counseling Center April 19: College Crossroads at Abraham Lincoln High School 5:00-7:00 pm April 4-22: Prom tickets on sale
*Must have clearance sheet, fines paid, detentions served
Even more stories online! Visit cbjacketjournalism.com and click “The Signal� in the menu. Page 3
ENTERTAINMENT
R5 comes to Omaha Morgan Barth & Adriana Ibarra Reporters On Wednesday, March 14th, pop rock band “R5” rocked at the Holland Performing Arts center in Omaha, Nebraska. R5 is a band originating from Los Angeles, California made up of Lynch family and close friend Ellington Ratliff. It consists of lead singer Ross, bassist Riker, guitarist Rocky, and also includes Rydell on the keyboard and Ratliff on the drums. Ryland Lynch, who opened up the show, has been on tour with R5 for the past nine months. Being their younger brother, he is also interested in music, however his genre is very different. Ryland has a passion for remixing music and has the dreams of becoming a famous DJ. The crowd was rushing to the front of the stage to dance and sing to his new singles “Take Me There” and “Fall Back in Love.” Ryland Lynch said that he was impressed and told the crowd “You guys are going to blow off the roof.”
Adriana Ibarra/The Signal
R5 performing in front of Omaha fans.
Next to hit the stage was singer-songwriter Max Schneider. He performed his popular song “Gibberish”. Not only were teenage girls screaming with excitement, moms and brothers were also.
Schneider had told the crowd to follow his lead and not care who was watching you while you were dancing. He said sing as loud as you can even if the words you are singing could be wrong. After performing his last song,
Fuller House gathers attention from both old and new fans
Schneider came out into the lobby to take photos with fans and sign his merchandise. Then, after waiting 15 minutes, the lights in the arena dimmed and the only thing heard was piercing screams. R5 kicked
#FREEKESHA Cami Wagaman Reporter
Courtesy of www.ew.com Kimmy, Stephanie, and D.J with her son Tommy in Fuller House.
Alex Vieyra Reporter You got it dude! On February 26th, the reboot of the loved television show from the 80’s, Full House, was released on Netflix with the oh so clever title, Fuller House. The story now revolves around returning character DJ Tanner-Fuller, after she lost her spouse. DJ is caught in distress about raising three kids on her own before Stephanie Tanner (younger sister) and Kimmy
Gibbler (best friend) decide to stay with DJ and help her with the responsibilities of a single parent. The adult characters from the original series, however, will not be appearing as regulars in the show. Characters such as Danny, Joey, Jesse and others will be special guests appearing in individual episodes from time to time. The new characters are DJ’s three sons: Jackson, Max and Tommy Fuller. As well as Kimmy’s daughter Ramona
and “soon to be ex husband,” Fernando. All those roles except Fernando are regulars in the new series. The show does a great job of entertaining new viewers, as well as capturing the nostalgia of the people who saw the original show. People can see all these characters and their shenanigans if they have a Netflix account. There is one season with 13 episodes and though the second season has no release date, it is rumored to be soon.
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off two hours of the show by playing their song Dark Side, a single of their album Sometime Last Night. Taking it back to the beginning of their career, Riker and Ross Lynch had brought out their piano to sing Always which was written by Riker when he was 16 who is now 24. Famous songs including Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar, Ain’t it fun by Paramore and Sorry by Justin Bieber were remixed and sang by the band. With brother Ryland Lynch DJing at their sound/light board. During F.E.E.L.G.O.O.D. everyone in the arena was shouting out the words and singing along, including us. Ross Lynch left girls jumping and screaming as their show ended. “We’ve been performing for nine months and this is one of the loudest shows, we love you guys!” R5 ended the concert with thanking the crowd and telling them how much they love them. They said that they would definitely be back.
In 2014, popstar Ke$ha accused Lukasz Gottwald, also known as Dr. Luke, of drugging and raping her. Dr. Luke is a record producer for Kemosabe records, which is owned by Sony. According to the popstar, Gottwald emotionally and verbally abused her for over a year. There was recently a court appearance for the issue, where Kesha was denied of being able to break her contract with the record company, and she is required to produce six more albums there, which could tie her to her abuser for 12 more years. Twitter users have sparked controversy, by trending things such as ‘#SonySupportsRape’, ‘#PeopleOverProfit’, and ‘#IStandWithKesha’. Some Kesha supporters have taken it out of the social media sites, and have started protesting outside of Sony Music in Nashville. Although Dr. Luke’s contract isn’t expired until 2017, there are rumors that Sony may break his contract earlier than that. It is unknown what will happen to other artists that are signed with Dr. Luke if Sony decides to stop working with him. Other large names in music have rallied around Kesha and her family, lending helping
hands and support in any way they can give it. Taylor Swift donated $250,000 to help with their financial needs at this time. At the Grammys, Lady Gaga performed her empowering song “‘Til It Happens to You”, bringing light to the topic of sexual abuse. Gottwald has fired back, filing a lawsuit against Kesha, arguing that she is seeking to break her contract by publicly defaming him. In June, 2011, in another lawsuit against Dr. Luke, Kesha denied under oath that the producer had ever tried to make sexual advances towards her. “Thank you for all of the support in my legal case animals. I love all of you. It’s meant the world to me. xoxo,” tweeted Kesha. Receiving support is an important part of recovering after something as traumatizing as abuse, which is something that Kesha is dealing with at this time. Telling people around you about something that has happened to you such as abuse and sexual assault may be difficult, but speaking out about it is very important. If you or anyone you know has been through abuse of any kind, and reaching out to someone around you is not an option, call the National Domestic Violence hotline, at 1-800799-SAFE(7233) or visit www. thehotline.org.
SPORTS
Bright future looming for Jacket’s Clingenpeel Dylan Harrold Reporter “It has been a rapid climb progressively getting better day in and day out, year in and year out for 11 straight years,” says Varsity wrestling coach August Manz. Now after the 11 year climb and all the time he has put into this sport, Thomas Jefferson’s own Colton Clingenpeel can say he is a state champion wrestler. Manz is very excited about the amazing season varsity wrestler Clingenpeel had and is happy to see what is in store for his future. Colton went 60-0 in his final season of highschool wrestling and saw many accomplishments and great things happen along the way. This season he won his 200th career match and capped off this spectacular year by winning state championship for himself and his coaches. “He is a nice guy, and he is pretty funny too,” said varsity teammate Jesus Rubio. He also
Tracy Cligenpeel Clingenpeel celebrates with coach Manz after taking the state title
said that Colton is very serious when it comes to warm ups, and gets everyone ready for meets, and all the other wrestlers
SPRING SPORTS SCHEDULE Varsity Girls Track March 14th - Meet @ ISU March 26th - Meet @ USD March 31st - CB Relays
appreciate that. Varsity wrestling coach August Manz believed that Clingenpeel had the desire and
potential all along to win state this year. He was impressed with the hard work and extra time Colton put in to improve and
become the best he could be. Colton credits Manz as well as coach Adam Manz for impacting him as a person this year. “They know me the best and are always working with me to help me succeed,” said Colton. As his time at TJ comes closer to an end, Clingenpeel is looking on to college where he plans to wrestle. Recently, it was announced over social media that he will wrestle at North Dakota State University in the future. Colton will have a lasting impact and will be remembered for many good things at this school. Clingenpeel says he not only wants to be remembered at TJ for this season but also for the hard work and doing the right things. “I want to be remembered as a good role model,” said Colton. “Leave TJ on a good note.”
Storey sees success for Jefferson bowlers
Varsity Boys Track March 15th - Meet @ ISU March 24th- Invite @ Waukee March 31st- CB Relays Varsity Girls Soccer April 4th - Game vs. S.C East Varsity Boys Soccer March 26th - Scrimmage vs. Underwood April 1st - Game vs. S.C West Varsity Girls Tennis April 6th - Match vs St. Albert Varsity Boys Tennis March 31st - Match @ Lewis Central Varsity Girls Golf March 31st - Invite @ Dodge Riverside
Nick Mitchell/Yearbook Editor Senior Samuel Puentes looking to pick up another strike.
Nick Mitchell Reporter Two seasons ago when head coach Diane Storey took the helm of the boys and girls bowling teams, she didn’t see much success or many victories. However, the 2015-2016 season was totally different. This season was filled with victories, many new personal records, and many new firsts for the team. Coach Storey was trembling with excitement to relay the statistical improvements and overall team accomplishments. “The season was very exciting, it had it’s ups and downs but the
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ups were more plentiful,” said Storey regarding the exciting statistics about the 20152016 season. “We had a lot of individual and team success.” Overall, varsity individual averages shot up for everyone on both of the Varsity teams. In 2012, the boys individual average was 145 pins. The new average for the end of this season was 195 pins. The girl’s also saw improvements for their averages. In 2012 the girls racked up 133 pins. The end of this season the averaged at 146 pins. Since last year the overall pin average for both teams went from 2600 pins to 2800 pins.
“It was kind of exhilarating, the passed couple of years we had a lot of losses. Then this year rolled around and we were almost undefeated. It’s bittersweet that it’s over with but I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” said senior varsity bowler Koury Stewart regarding the season as a whole. As a team, they have seen many victories. The girls were the City Champs for the first time. Both teams were runner ups in the Missouri River Conference, which was also a first for both teams... Check out the rest of the story on www.cbjacketjournalism.com
Several race changes after Super Tuesday Ana Aguilar Political Reporter The first Super Tuesday is the biggest day of the 2016 primary season, in which both Republicans and Democrats hold their own primaries or caucuses in 11 states. Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. As well as Republicans in Alaska and Democrats in Colorado will have their caucuses. It is different from other primaries because of no other primary day having as many delegates at once, which at the end the results will give the race clarity of who is on top. Not to mention that because of how important the results are many of the times candidates drop out after the big day. As predicted by many, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton came in on top in the super Tuesday results on March 1st. Companies like Google and Bing both made predictions before
Tuesday with polls, and tracked search interest in candidates in real time, however, they were not right on what specific states the candidates would win, yet they did predicted right the big winners. Trump was able to win seven states across the country, while Ted Cruz took three states, and Rubio only one. Leaving John Kasich and Ben Carson with no wins at all and small support from their supporters. Even more, Trump getting 319 delegates and Cruz ending up with 226, while Rubio simply having 110. “This has been an amazing night,” Trump told his supporters later on that night in Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, in front of reporters too. He also said how he plans to go after Clinton and putting his whole focus on her. Although, Cruz did win his home state Texas, which it is the biggest prize of the day because of the many delegates it has, and also won Oklahoma, and Alaska. Marco Rubio got his first win
Democratic
POLITICS
Graphic provided.
of the whole presidential race in the Minnesota caucuses. “I am the only candidate who has beaten Donald three times,” Cruz said to his supporters, telling them how he is the better candidate to beat Trump. Ben Carson almost took the lead from Trump, but a day after super Tuesday said that he saw no path forward and decided to drop out of the race. “I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results,” Carson said in a statement. “However, this grass-roots movement on behalf of “We the People” will continue.” In the Democratic Race, Clinton also won seven states
increasing her already large amount of delegates. The results showed the large amount of support she got from AfricanAmerican voters on the southern states, through Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, as well as the northern Massachusetts. “What a Super Tuesday,” Clinton said at a her victory rally in Florida. She also criticized Trump by telling her supporters that America is already great, instead what needs to happen is to make America “whole again.” Bernie Sanders won four states, including his home state Vermont, along with Colorado, Minnesota, and Oklahoma. After this, he plans to campaign in
CANDIDATE PORTFOLIOS
states in the industrial Midwest such as Michigan to try to shake Clinton down. The democratic candidates need to get 2,383 delegates to be able to get the Presidential Nomination. As of now Clinton has 1,052 and Sanders has 427 along with super delegates. “This campaign is not just about electing a president,” Sanders said in a rally Tuesday night in Vermont, “It is about transforming America.” There have been two more “Super Tuesday” types of voting days since March 1, with campaigning continuing through the National Conventions where each party will choose their nominee for President.
Republican
Bernie Sanders
Hillary Clinton
Ted Cruz
Donald Trump
John Kasich
Senator Bernie Sanders served in the House of Representatives for 16 years. He is the most liberal candidate of them all, having long championed liberal causes like the expansion of Social Security and opposition of free-trade. He wants to enact to single-player health care system through Medicare for all. He also wants to make public college tuition-free for everyone by taxing financial transactions as well as raising payroll, estate and corporate income taxes. Sanders has won eight states, and currently has 818 delegates.
Hillary Clinton is the most recognized of the race, due to being the former Secretary of State, 2008 presidential candidate, and being a former first lady because of her husband, Bill Clinton. Clinton has been criticized and accused of corruption due to hiding emails and accepting donations from foreign governments. Her policy positions are that she opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade government, and as well as the Keystone XL pipeline. She has won 17 states and has 1,132 delegates from the elections.
Senator Ted Cruz has played a role in the federal government for a few years now, arguing cases and even playing a role in the government shutdown in 2013. His main and most important positions are that he opposes the Export-Import Bank, as well as ethanol subsidies through the renewal fuel standard. He also supports that states should be able to have their own definition of marriage. As of now he has won seven states, including his home state, Texas from the elections and has earned 396 delegates.
Donald Trump has proved to be the most controversial candidate in this year’s race, causing outrage and protests at some of his rallies. The policies that he supports are that in response to mass gun tragedies, as well as treatment programs for people with mental problems. Trump also wants to build a wall across the Mexican border, and would increase fees on border crossing cards, temporary visas, and entry at border ports to pay for it. From the elections Trump has won 15 states and has 661 delegates.
Ohio governor John Kasich has returned to the presidential race after a bid that didn’t last long in 2000. His most important policy positions are that he wants to lift the budget sequestrations caps on military spending, while cutting waste in the Pentagon. Kasich also wants all health insurance regulation to be done by states, and end federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Throughout the whole race, Kasich has only won one state and that is his home state, Ohio. And as of today he has 138 delegates.
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