Skylar Wolfe Journalism

By Skylar Wolfe The governor of Idaho signed two bills Monday that limit the rights of transgender people, according to CNN . The laws, known as House Bill 500 and House Bill 509, ban transgender women from competing in girls sports in Idaho schools and block transgender people from changing the gender on their birth certificates, CBS News reported. LGBTQ+ rights advocates are asking Idaho’s republican  Gov. Brad Little to veto the laws, although the current “stay-at-home” order prevents in-person protests, CBS News reported. The state American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told CNN that the laws “violate the rights of transgender Idahoans.” The deadline to veto the bills is Tuesday, which is the International Transgender Day of Visibility, according to CBS News.

By Skylar Wolfe Coverage of the COVID-19 U.S. outbreak has been constant for weeks now, as the situation seems to change by the minute. News stories that I have seen the most focus on the rising number of cases and deaths, the economic situation, celebrities or important figures that have tested positive. Another common story has been the animals that are reaping the benefits of people staying home, such as the penguins that got to explore the Chicago aquarium, as reported by the Guardian . From news stories and from personal experience, I know that hospitals and clinics are flooded with patients. Not only are many people unable to get tested for COVID-19, but many clinics are asking people to cancel other kinds of appointments, as described by the US News & World Report . Of course, it is very important that there be a lot of coverage on data and statistics about the virus, as well as government voices attempting to guide the people. However, I think a lot of people

By Skylar Wolfe  Courteney Cox told Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday that she is watching "Friends" for the first time while in quarantine, reported Independent . According to CNN , Cox told Kimmel in a Youtube video,  "I don't remember even being on the show, I have such a bad memory."   Cox played the role of Monica Geller throughout 10 seasons of the wildly popular show. "I remember loving obviously everybody there, and having fun, and I remember certain times in my life that I was there," Cox said, according to CNN. "But I don’t remember episodes."  According to Independent, the rumored "Friends" reunion, previously set to start filming last Monday, was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. The silver lining may be that Cox now has time to refresh her memory on the show.  “I just started season one," Cox said, according to Independent. "It’s really good!”

By Skylar Wolfe Starbucks launched a vegetarian breakfast sandwich featuring Beyond Meat in Canada on March 3, according to World Animal News . The sandwich features a Beyond Breakfast Sausage vegetarian patty made from pea and brown rice protein, as well as egg and cheddar cheese, the New York Post  reported. The Beyond Breakfast Sausage contains no GMOs, soy, gluten or artificially produced ingredients, according to World Animal News. According to the New York Post, Starbucks confirmed that Beyond Meat will be featured in sandwiches in Starbucks locations across the globe. In January, Starbucks launched oat milk at various locations throughout the Midwest, according to CNBC . These additions to the menu demonstrate the growing popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, according to Rosalind Gates Brewer, Starbucks' Chief Operating Officer "The combination of those pairings is significant for us in terms of how we think about what the customer is asking for us to

By Skylar Wolfe Billie Eilish , known for wearing oversized clothing, showed a video at her concert of herself wearing only a bra while commenting on the way people judge women’s clothing choices, reported the New York Post . The speech she delivered hits on several news values, including, prominence, novelty, and timeliness. Firstly, Eilish’s following make her a prominent figure, which makes her speech worth covering. Secondly, as the public often sees Eilish in oversized sweatsuits, it is unusual that she would show skin in public. Most importantly, her comments on the public’s opinions on women’s clothing largely reflect attitudes of the “me too” movement.   “If I wear what is comfortable, I am not a woman” Eilish said.  “If I shed the layers, I’m a slut.”

By Skylar Wolfe Photos of elephants sleeping after getting drunk in a garden in China went viral on twitter on Wednesday, reported Live Science . A group of 14 elephants fell asleep after consuming 30 kilograms of corn wine last Wednesday in a village in the Yunnan province of China, reported Newsweek . Conservationist Parveen Kaswan wrote on twitter that elephants enjoy and actually seek out alcohol, marking the spots where they found it, reported Newsweek.   Live Science explained that people often bury their liquor, but “somehow elephants find it,” said Kaswan.

By Skylar Wolfe Italy residents are finding the silver lining in the country-wide lockdown as the Venice Canals run clear, CNN reported. The normally cloudy canals now reveals fish swimming below, as well as swans and dolphins enjoying the water, according to ABC . ABC reported that the water is not necessarily cleaner, but there is less sediment due to less boat traffic, according to Pierpaolo Campostrini , managing director for the Consortium for Managing Scientific Research on Venice Lagoon System. Although the water may not be cleaner, the CNN reported that the air quality has improved due reduced travel, according to a spokesman of the Venice mayor’s office. Citizens share their thoughts in a a Facebook group titled ”Venezia Pulita,” or ”Clean Venice,” CNN reported. “What a marvel this Venice was; this virus brought something...beautiful,” Katie Fameli said in the group, reported CNN. There are currently more than 35,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy, with t

By Skylar Wolfe Conducting successful, meaningful interviews is one of the most important skills a journalist can have. Michael Barbaro  interviewed  Donald G. McNeil Jr. , a science and health reporter for The New York Times,  on The Daily's episode Thursday, titled "The Coronavirus Goes Global." Barbaro did an excellent job in the interview of crafting questions at the level of knowledge possessed by the general public in regards to the latest coronavirus, COVID-19 . This allowed McNeil to lay out all of the important facts of the virus in a way that could be understood by anyone. Barbaro began by asking about the "bigness, scariness, awfulness" of the coronavirus, which is truly the big question that everyone wants an answer to. This was a very successful way to begin the interview because it lets the listener know right away that Barbaro is asking questions that they want to know the answers to. Barbaro then asks about specific facts of the vi