NewsBank is one of many databases we provide to help patrons find reliable information on different topics. NewsBank, as the name suggests, gets its information from newspapers. Our library subscription includes three portals to information:
--Using America's News, you can search more than 2,000 U.S. newspapers, including the Mesabi Daily News and other small Minnesota papers. Search headlines, sports, obituaries, politics, and more!
--Are you working on your family tree? Explore America's Genealogy Bank, where you can quickly find your ancestors in over 300 years of historical newspapers.
--Search the largest and most comprehensive collection of newspaper obituaries with America's Obituaries & Death Notices.
Below you can find a sampling of the type of information to be found. Explore. Have fun. Contact us if you want to learn more.
March 2016
CURRENT EVENTS RESEARCH TOPICS
CURRENT EVENTS RESEARCH TOPICS
Civics, Government and Politics: U.S. Presidential Primaries and Caucuses
TOPIC: Each party requires a specific delegate count for a candidate to become the party’s nominee for president. What is the required delegate count for each party? How are the candidate’s delegates from each state decided? What is the difference between a primary and a caucus? What are some examples of how states differ on these? What are superdelegates and how do they differ from regular delegates? Who has won the primaries and caucuses already held?
SEARCH TERMS: (Republican OR Republicans OR Democrat OR Democratic OR GOP) AND (primary OR caucus OR primaries OR caucuses) AND (candidate OR candidates)
CIVICS, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: Trial Ceasefire in Syria
TOPIC: With a promise from President Assad to Vladimir Putin to respect the terms established, Syria’s opposition has agreed to enter into a temporary ceasefire from a war that has killed over 260,000 people. While Saudi Arabia has supported the opposition, Russia has supported Assad. How are ceasefires established in war torn countries? What are the goals of a ‘temporary’ ceasefire in Syria? How are the surrounding countries responding to the terms of the ceasefire?
SEARCH TERMS: Syria AND ceasefire
HEALTH: Zika Virus
TOPIC: The Zika Virus has been declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization. Women who are pregnant or of child-bearing age are being warned not to travel to several countries in both Latin America and the Caribbean where outbreaks have been reported. By the end of 2016, as many as 4 million people could be infected by the virus which is known to cause birth defects. How is the Zika virus transmitted? What attempts are being made to stop its spread? What is the relationship between microcephaly and the Zika virus?
SEARCH TERMS: Zika virus
SOCIAL STUDIES RESEARCH TOPICS
BUSINESS: Apple and the FBI
TOPIC: The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking legal measures to compel Apple Inc. to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino terrorists and is evidence in the investigation. What arguments has Apple made to protect the privacy concerns for their customers? What are the arguments used by the FBI? What are the most influential individuals and groups on each side of this debate, and what are their most persuasive arguments?
SEARCH TERMS: Apple AND San Bernardino AND terror* AND investigat*
BUSINESS: Cleber LLC
TOPIC: The Alabama-based company Cleber LLC will be the first manufacturer to open a plant in Cuba since the 1959 revolution when it starts building tractors there. What is the reason that they are opening up a plant there? How do regulations and conditions for manufacturing in Cuba differ from those in the United States?
SEARCH TERMS: Cleber AND Cuba AND tractor*
BUSINESS: Beijing is New ‘Billionaire’ Capital
TOPIC: Beijing has surpassed New York in the amount of billionaires within its city, according to Hurun, a Chinese private research firm. What economic factors attributed to the climb of billionaires in China? How does the presence of billionaires affect a culture as a whole? Why does news about the amount of billionaires living in a city/country matter?
SEARCH TERMS: Beijing AND billion*
CIVICS, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: Chaos in Uganda after Presidential Election
TOPIC: In Uganda Dr.Kizza Besigye, former bush war hero and main opposition contender for the past four presidential elections, has been arrested and detained several times since the election has taken place. President Yoweri Museveni has held office since 1986, and is said to have won this election with 60.8% of the vote. Why is Besigye under arrest? Why are protests erupting in response to the election? What has been the international response to the way the election and aftermath has been handled by the authorities in Kampala? How has President Museveni responded to international input about the fairness of the election?
SEARCH TERMS: Uganda AND election AND Besigye
CRIME AND LAW: Kalamazoo Shootings
TOPIC: Jason Brian Dalton, a driver for the online taxi dispatch service Uber has been charged with a series of deadly shootings at different locations in Kalamazoo, Michigan. What evidence have investigators discovered in this case and what are some of the unsettling aspects of Dalton’s role as a driver at the time of these shootings? What has been questioned about Uber’s vetting procedures during this case?
SEARCH TERMS: Uber AND Dalton AND Kalamazoo
CRIME AND LAW: Amnesty International Annual Report
TOPIC: In its annual report, Amnesty International scorned most European countries for their lack of sensitive response to thousands of refugees who were fleeing war-torn nations and seeking refuge in 2015. Thirty or more countries worldwide, including France and the US, illegally forced refugees to return to their countries where they faced inhumane and dangerous conditions. The one country that was an exception to the report was Germany. What is surprising about this report? What type of role has Amnesty International played in the refugee crisis? What types of strategies has Germany used to manage the refugee crisis that other countries have failed to do?
SEARCH TERMS: Amnesty International AND annual report
ECONOMICS: Lagarde to Continue as IMF’s Managing Director
TOPIC: Christine Lagarde will continue her role as the International Monetary Fund’s Managing Director. Why did the IMF’s executive board re-appoint her to the post? What leadership qualities does she have that make her well-suited for this position? What is the primary roles of the IMF within the global economy?
SEARCH TERMS: Lagarde AND IMF
ECONOMICS: Tough Year Ahead for South Africa
TOPIC: The World Bank has warned South Africa that they may be in for a tough economic year ahead. What are some of the factors that have led the World Bank to make such a warning? Aside from economic stability issues, what are some of the other aspects of South Africa’s culture that have an impact on the economy?
SEARCH TERMS: South African AND World Bank
ECONOMICS: U.S. Economic Report
TOPIC: President Obama has sent the U.S. Congress his annual economic report. What is the history and purpose of this report? What is its relationship to the president’s annual budget proposal? What are the key points in this year’s economic report?
SEARCH TERMS: Obama AND annual economic report
EDUCATION: The Language of Computers
TOPIC: The Florida state senate has endorsed requiring computer coding as a language requirement in the state education system. What are the differences and similarities between Florida’s legislation and the specifics of Chicago’s recent decision to make computer science mandatory in its public schools? What is different between computer coding and language as we traditionally think of it and what are the similarities? What are some of the ways a knowledge of computer coding can help adults other than just working in the field?
SEARCH TERMS: language AND computer AND Florida AND (code OR coding)
EDUCATION: Nearly 50% of Children in Pakistan Do Not Attend School
TOPIC: In a bleak report, the Pakistani government reported that 24 million children living in Pakistan from the ages of 5 to 16 years old do not go to school. The number of unschooled children is just about even between boys and girls. Most the children surveyed who were not in school dropped out of school by the fifth year. Why are so many children in Pakistan not being schooled? What factors affected children not receiving a primary education? What has been the response to such alarming statistics?
SEARCH TERMS: Pakistan AND school
HISTORY: Battle of Verdun Anniversary
TOPIC: The Battle of Verdun was one of the largest and longest battles of World War I. When did it take place? Where was the battle located? Who were the opponents? What was the desired outcome? What were some of its more pivotal events? What are the notorious aspects of this battle?
SEARCH TERMS: Verdun AND anniversary
HISTORY: Black History
TOPIC: Black History Month celebrates the dignity and contributions of African Americans throughout history as well as reflects on the hardships and injustices endured. In what years of U.S. history was slavery a legal institution and what states had adopted it? When was the abolitionist movement and what are some of its early successes? What are some events in the 1950s that started the mid-20th century civil rights movement?
SEARCH TERMS: (black OR African American) AND history
SOCIAL ISSUES: Push to Eliminate Child Marriage
TOPIC: Leaders of faith, social workers, child rights activists and public representatives met in Bangladesh to discuss strategies to ending the social ‘curse’ and family practice of forcing child marriage. Priests play a large role in intervention within families where parents have decided to have their children wed. What are some of the tactics used to stop this custom? How do forced, young marriages affect the children who marry? Why are girls, particularly, at risk for lifetime of turmoil in a forced marriage?
SEARCH TERMS: child marriage
SOCIAL ISSUES: Westminster Dog Show
TOPIC: A German Shorthaired Pointer is the winner of this year’s Westminster Dog Show. What are the qualities of this breed that can be displayed in dog shows? What are the seven new breeds that were added to the show this year?
SEARCH TERMS: Westminster Dog Show AND Shorthaired Pointer
SCIENCE AND HEALTH RESEARCH TOPICS
ENVIRONMENT: Carbon Emissions Rule
TOPIC: President Obama’s carbon emissions rule has been halted by the United States Supreme Court while lower courts hear state challenges to the rule which had been enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). What are the general carbon emission rules and what specifics are different states challenging? What are best legal and scientific arguments supporting each side of this case?
SEARCH TERMS: emissions AND Supreme Court
ENVIRONMENT: Cyclone Disaster
TOPIC: In Fiji, Cyclone Winston has been recorded as the worst storm ever recorded in the southern hemisphere. Thousands are homeless, a number of villages have been completely wiped out, and many deaths have occurred as a result of the storm. What category was the storm? How are categories of storms determined? What aid organizations have responded, and what are the fears about health issues that can develop after a storm such as this?
SEARCH TERMS: Fiji AND cyclone
ENVIRONMENT: South African Drought
TOPIC: South Africa is currently suffering a severe drought. How is this impacting their economy? How is the country handling the water shortages and the impact on their food supply? What has been the effect on power utilities? What has caused the drought? What are some solutions being investigated or implemented?
SEARCH TERMS: South Africa AND drought
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Wendelstein 7X Fusion Reactor
TOPIC: The Wendelstein 7X fusion reactor in Germany has produced its first evidence of hydrogen plasma. What is the Wendelstein 7X fusion stellarator, what are its capabilities and what is its purpose? What scientific function did it perform last December and what is the significance of that to its recent discovery of hydrogen plasma? What is the overall significance of both experiments to science?
SEARCH TERMS: Wendelstein 7X fusion AND hydrogen plasma
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Gravitational Waves
TOPIC: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory detectors (LIGO) have observed gravitational waves, thus confirming Einstein’s theory of relativity. What are gravitational waves and how do they confirm this theory? How were they recently viewed and what do they tell us about the universe? What potential discoveries do these hold for the future?
SEARCH TERMS: gravitational waves AND Einstein
SPORTS RESEARCH TOPICS
SPORTS: Super Bowl
TOPIC: The Denver Broncos have beaten the Carolina Panthers to win the Super Bowl. What were the key plays of the game and who were the key players? Why did this Super Bowl drop the tradition of using Roman numerals in the Super Bowl title?
SEARCH TERMS: Broncos AND Panthers AND Super Bowl
SPORTS: Daytona 500
TOPIC: Denny Hamlin has won the Daytona 500, a key race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. What have been some of the other peaks in his racing career? What are the key aspects of the Daytona International Speedway and how do drivers handle this track?
SEARCH TERMS: Daytona 500 and Denny Hamlin
SPORTS: Four Continent Figure Skating Championships
TOPIC: Canadian Patrick Chan and Japan’s Satoko Miyahara are the men’s and women’s singles winners in the Four Continent Figure Skating championships which includes the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania. What were the most impressive aspects of their skating? Who were the winners of the pair skating and ice dancing competitions and what were the most impressive aspects of their performances? What is the history of this event?
SEARCH TERMS: Four Continent Figure Skating Championships
SPORTS: Tokyo Marathon
TOPIC: Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia and Heleh Kiprop of Kenya are the winners. What are key highlights of their running careers? What is the history of this marathon, and what have been some of its most exciting races?
SEARCH TERMS: Tokyo Marathon
ARTS AND LITERATURE RESEARCH TOPICS
FILM AND TELEVISION: Academy Awards
TOPIC: In the Awards this year, Spotlight won for best picture, Mad Max: Fury Road won the most awards, The Revenant won three Oscars including best actor for Leonardo DiCaprio and Bree Larson won best actress for her lead role in The Room. Who were the other big winners, and what were the qualities of the work that impressed the critics? What was the focus of host Chris Rock’s humor? Why was there such a focus on diversity? What were some of the responses to his statements? What are some other examples of social issues being expressed within artistic expression?
SEARCH TERMS: Academy Awards OR Oscars
FILM AND TELEVISION: British Academy Film Awards
TOPIC: The American film The Revenant was the biggest winner at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA). What were some of the other big winners and what were the qualities of this film and the other winners that most impressed the critics? What is the history of BAFTA and what is its purpose and criteria in judging films?
SEARCH TERMS: British Academy Awards OR BAFTA
FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE: Colin Davis Paints the Bereaved
TOPIC: British portrait artist Colin Davis has an exhibition called Silent Testimony which are portraits of family members of those killed in the Northern Ireland Troubles as well as those injured in the conflict. Where is the exhibition currently taking place? What city will the exhibition be shown next and why is it significant that it be shown there?
SEARCH TERMS: Colin Davis
FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE: International Pop in Philadelphia
TOPIC: The Philadelphia Museum of Art is having an exhibit called International Pop that shows how pop art has spread around the world. Who are some of the major artists from different countries being represented and what are the most impressive qualities of their work? What defines pop art and what is its appeal to the public?
SEARCH TERMS: Philadelphia Museum of Art AND pop art
LITERATURE: Harper Lee
TOPIC: Harper Lee was the author of the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird and its follow-up 55 years later, Go Set a Watchman. What were the qualities of To Kill A Mockingbird that made it such a popular and acclaimed novel and what qualities in Go Set a Watchman surprised a lot of critics? What have been some of the legal issues surrounding Lee’s estate? What is the town where she spent most of her life and how has it influenced her novels?
SEARCH TERMS: Harper Lee AND To Kill A Mockingbird
LITERATURE: Umberto Eco
TOPIC: Italian novelist Umberto Eco is best remembered for his novel The Name of the Rose, a popular best seller and also a very popular movie. What is the book about and what are the qualities of the writing that impressed the critics? What are some of his other esteemed novels and what are the qualities of those books that most impressed the critics?
SEARCH TERMS: Umberto Eco
PERFORMING ARTS: DJ Katapila
TOPIC: Ishmael Abbey, nicknamed DJ Katapila, is one of the hottest DJs in the clubs and parties of Accra, Ghana and recently a reissue of his first album Trotro has been gaining a following outside of Ghana. What is involved in his performance? What are the qualities in his work that impress his fans? Why are funeral parties a venue that he often plays in Accra?
SEARCH TERMS: DJ Katapila
PERFORMING ARTS: Grammy Awards
TOPIC: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ song Uptown Funk were the big winners at the Grammy Awards. What were the qualities of these and the work of other winners that most impressed the critics? What are the qualifications to vote in the Grammy Awards and how is the voting done?
SEARCH TERMS: Grammy Awards
PEOPLE RESEARCH TOPICS
PEOPLE: Maurice White
TOPIC: Maurice White was the founder and leader of the popular band Earth, Wind and Fire. What were some of their major hits? What genres of popular music were blended to create their unique but very successful sound? What was their impact on music?
SEARCH TERMS: Maurice White AND Earth Wind and Fire
PEOPLE: Boutros Boutros-Ghali
TOPIC: Boutros Boutros-Ghali was an Egyptian politician who eventually became the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations. During his time as the leader of the UN, he oversaw the breakup of Yugoslavia and responded to the genocide in Rwanda. What is the role of the UN Secretary-General? What other notable world events happened during Boutros-Ghali’s time in office, and how did he respond? What notable leadership traits did Boutros Boutros-Ghali have in his career?
SEARCH TERMS: Boutros Boutros-Ghali
PEOPLE: Julian Assange
TOPIC: The United National Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) has called for the release of Julian Assange from detention. What is the reasoning behind this recommendation given in the report? What governments have been named in the report and what is their reaction?
SEARCH TERMS: Assange AND United Nations
PEOPLE: Sarah Parcak
TOPIC: Sarah Parcak is an American archeologist who has used satellite imaging to identify former sites of the Roman Empire that could hold archeological treasures. What television documentaries and news broadcasts have featured her, and what did they say about her work? What university does she teach at and what course?
SEARCH TERMS: Sarah Parcak
PEOPLE: Robert Califf
TOPIC: President Obama’s nominee, Robert Califf has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the new head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). What was his prior career and what role did it play in clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies? What are the duties of the head of the FDA?
SEARCH TERMS: Robert Califf AND FDA
PEOPLE: Sibghatullah Mojaddedi
TOPIC: Sibghatullah Mojaddedi was an Afghani politician and briefly the president of Afghanistan in 1992. What was he jailed for in 1959? Why was he forced to resign from the presidency?
SEARCH TERMS: president AND Mojaddedi
PEOPLE: Sushil Koirala
TOPIC: Sushil Koirala was the Prime Minister of Nepal for most of 2014 and 2015. What were his main achievements during this time? What position did he hold in the Nepal Congress and what were his main accomplishments there?
SEARCH TERMS: Sushil Koirala
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