Analysis on class

The most useful part of this semester in JOUR 3101 has been learning AP style.  When I entered the class I was completely unaware that print news reporting had its own 'style' that it followed.  I still have much to learn and know with AP style, but it is something that I know I cannot completely memorize.  I can only know what I should recognize when writing or proofreading articles.

The least useful part of the class I would say is the powerpoints and lectures.  I don't feel like I have completely benefited from the lectures that the class has on Tuesdays.  I only found myself referencing the slideshows themselves and my notes a few times throughout the entire semester.  It was a lot more useful to have hands on information, like the labs every Thursday, that helped me learn and recognize things that need to be changed while writing articles.

I do find myself reading news differently.  I have noticed AP errors in magazines and newspapers that I would no have recognized before.  I can also tell while watching broadcast if something on the prompt was written incorrectly or it was a public service announcement.

89 year old woman shoots at house intruder

An 89-year-old woman from Iowa shot a single shot at a man who bashed in her front door on Tuesday, reports the Star Tribune.  The woman, Beatrice Turner, grabbed her handgun and threatened the man who was knocking on her front door.  She told him, 37-year-old Nelson McAlpine, that he had the wrong house and to leave, but he then started breaking through the door.

Turner shot at McAlpine after he entered her home.

Police found McAlpine in Turner's front yard.  He was unharmed and was arrested on the charges of second-degree burglary.

Air travel resumes in Europe even as volvano is still erupting in Iceland

A limited amount of air planes were allowed to take flight on Monday in Europe after many have been stranded since last week due to a volcano in Iceland, reports the Star Tribune.  London is unlikely to allow air travel even on Tuesday because of the volcanic ash still emerging from the volcano.  More airlines are expected to allow travel on Tuesday morning including those in Germany and Scotland.

There is currently a new ash cloud moving towards London's skies.  Due to the many cancellations of flights, the London aviation industry is losing nearly $1 billion.

While some scientists say that is safe for air planes to travel through the ash cloud, some said that it is not worth the risk of the travelers.  There have many test flights through the ash cloud over the past few days to determine the safety of air planes.

One dead after crash near Highway 65 on Sunday

A car crashed into a tree and caught fire on Highway 65 near Isanti, Minn. around noon on Sunday April 18 killing one person, according to the Star Tribune.

The car was traveling at a high speed southbound along the highway passing multiple cars before driving into a ditch and finally landing in a tree and exploding.  The was a 1997 Toyota Avalon, which is not included in Toyota's multiple car recalls.

A state patrol spokesman said that it may take longer than usual to identify the driver of the car because of the extensive fire damage.  The spokesman also said that investigators are trying to determine why the driver was traveling so quickly, which led to the car accident.

Analysis on diversity

The article I am going to analyze for the week is about a school in Mississippi which is has now been mandated to integrate races at there school.

The article shows the stereotypes of whites in the South because the school district allows segregation by allowing many white students to transfer out of the school district they live to a school that is now identified as predominantly white.  This is a stereotype of whites in the South because during the Civil Rights movement 40 years ago, much of the demonstrations took place in the South because that is where much racism existed at the time.

The article describes the segregation of the public schools by saying there were "'clustered'" students with "'disproportionate numbers of white students into designated classrooms' at elementary schools".  The article also says that the school that allows white students to transfer out if they choose is "'...predominately black.'"

I did not know that school's still allowed there to be "segregation" during the 21st Century.  I'm also surprised to read that this was an issue that had been going on for a while, since this has been an issue since 1970, that had been dismissed since there was little activity in the ongoing case.  I believe this is something, that since it is illegal to have segregation, that should have been looked at in greater detail after it was brought to the courts attention.  It should not have occurred this long.

Man loses life while helping a boy in yard fire

A 21-year-old man went into cardiac arrest and died Sunday night after rushing to help a 12-year-old boy in a backyard explosion in Moorhead, reports the Star Tribune.  The boy, Devan Vanbrunt, was pouring gasoline on charcoal to light a fire when the gas vapors ignited, according to the Moorhead fire marshal.  21-year-old Dane Tvedt and his father heard the explosion from his home and ran to help when Tvedt collapsed.

Vanbrunt was flown to Regions Hospital, and is reported to be in critical condition as on Monday night.

Mass. teenager charged after fatally stabbing fellow student

A teenager from Boston High School was charged Monday for fatally stabbing a fellow classmate, according to the Star Tribune.  The suspect's defense attorney argued that the teen was mentally ill.  John Odgren killed 15-year-old James Alenson in January 2007.

Odgren took a carving knife to school the day of the alleged murder after watching killing videos that morning.  He then waited in a boys' bathroom and when no one came in, he moved to a second bathroom where Alenson walked in as well.

Immediately following, a student said they heard Odgren say "I didn't mean to kill him.  It was a mistake."  And later asked police how much time would be served for manslaughter.

Bipolar disorder does run in Odgren's family.