More from Dan Reardon
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How does the environmental impact of an EV compare to a gas vehicle?
The Biden administration’s push to get more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road as a means to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve long-term environmental benefits has received billions of dollars in funding. However, while EVs emit less carbon during their operational phase, their production process can be significantly carbon-intensive, as highlighted in a recent MIT… -
How 5 companies are already using AI, from Mercedes to Wendy’s
Generative artificial intelligence has exploded since ChatGPT hit the mainstream late last year. Five For Friday has covered the jobs AI could replace and even the ways it could be sued. But technology advancement has already graduated past theoretical applications. Here are the real-world businesses already using generative AI in this week’s Five For Friday. … -
Push for EVs comes at a cost. Nickel production is far from green.
A concerted effort to increase the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States is positioned as a significant driving force behind the nation’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To support this clean transportation initiative, the Biden administration has allocated over $24 billion. However, as the funding for EV proliferation grows, so… -
4-day school week’s popularity could backfire on rural schools
The hallways are empty, rooms are dark and chairs are on top of desks at Weeping Water High School on Mondays. Students do not arrive until Tuesday. Weeping Water Public Schools in eastern Nebraska is one of a growing number of districts across the country that have switched to a four-day school week. The move… -
4-day school week gains popularity for teacher recruitment
Schools across the country are facing a teacher shortage, and some are turning to a four-day school week as a way to attract and retain qualified staff. However, research shows that it harms student achievement. The four-day school week is not new, but it has become more popular in recent years. According to the Four-Day… -
AI in politics: How synthetic media could shape the 2024 presidential election
Following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will be running for reelection in 2024, the Republican National Committee released an AI-generated video depicting a dystopian version of his potential second term. AI-generated images, audio, and video are considered synthetic media and it can be influential in shaping public opinion. Henry Ajder, an advisor on generative… -
Nebraska mining project challenges China, Russia for rare-earth metals
In part one of this series on the Elk Creek mining project, Straight Arrow News discussed the significance of the minerals that this endeavor aims to collect, why they are so crucial to U.S. interests and how their supply is largely controlled by foreign adversaries, such as Russia and China. Now, here is a closer… -
Protests, violence on college campuses challenge free speech protections
First Amendment free speech protections are supposed to work both ways. Speech everyone likes is not what needs protecting, rather it is controversial speech that the founders of this nation sought to defend. In the American tradition, the answer to this type of speech has been more speech, because when a controversial speaker is given… -
Russian, Chinese dominance of rare-earth metals threatens US security
When President Joe Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law, it provided $550 billion for tens of thousands of projects across the country, such as roads, bridges and mass transit. According to the White House, this “once-in-a-generation investment in [American] infrastructure” aims to “grow the economy and enhance [the nation’s] competitiveness” through these… -
Denver draws backlash over opening day preparations
While many Major League Baseball fans celebrated opening day and the return of “America’s Pastime” on March 30, the Colorado Rockies are dealing with controversy before their upcoming first pitch at home. As part of preparations for the Rockies opener on April 6, the city of Denver initiated the removal of homeless encampments near Coors… -
What are Trump’s legal options after indictment?
New York prosecutors have moved to file criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, marking the first criminal indictment of a former U.S. president in history. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has spent the last few years investigating whether Trump violated campaign finance laws in connection to hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels… -
After the Taylor Swift crash, The Cure is upset with Ticketmaster
Taylor Swift kicked off her Eras Tour Friday, March 17, at the State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona, where local Mayor Jerry Weiers had actually ceremoniously renamed the area “Swift City” in honor of the music superstar. However, while “Swifties” rejoiced over the start of this much-anticipated tour, just a few months ago that excitement… -
Why are banks collapsing and is your money safe in the bank?
Since the swift collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the entire banking system has been in turmoil. The news of failed and struggling banks has left millions of Americans with pressing questions. Some of the breakout searches on Google this past week include: What caused the banking crisis? Are we headed for a depression? Is my money…