Smugglers along the U.S.–Mexico border were caught using a medieval-style catapult to launch marijuana over the fence. National Guard soldiers discovered a nine-foot catapult capable of flinging multi-pound bales of pot into the U.S., where they were picked up on the other side. While the suspects escaped, authorities confiscated the equipment and drugs, marking one of the most unusual smuggling...
School Lunches vs. Packed Lunches: A Health Study
A study published in the American Heart Journal found that sixth graders who ate school lunches had a significantly higher risk of obesity than those who brought food from home. The research linked school meals—often high in sugar, fat, and low-cost starches like corn and potatoes—to a 29% increased obesity risk, higher than the risk from excessive screen time. In...
Fatal Campus Shooting Near Virginia Tech Shakes Community (2011)
This 2011 ASL news video reports on a fatal campus shooting near Virginia Tech. A 22-year-old man, Ross Truett Ashley, shot and killed a campus police officer before taking his own life. The incident triggered lockdowns and renewed trauma for students still affected by the 2007 mass shooting. A vigil later honored the fallen officer as investigators and community members...
U.S. War in Iraq Ends: Withdrawal, Costs, and What Comes Next (2011)
This video marks the official end of the U.S. war in Iraq, announced as American troops prepared to withdraw. After nearly nine years of conflict, the U.S. lowered its flag in Baghdad, citing the removal of dictatorship and the creation of an elected government—while debates continued in the U.S. over whether leaving was too soon. President Obama supported withdrawal, while...
