Medill News Service

Maglev Train – Environmentally Safe or Ecologically Destructive? – Climate Change and the Ecocide Campaign

The 85-year-old Patuxent Wildlife Refuge outside Washington is the only federal refuge that conducts wildlife research while also providing a 12,841-acre home to hundreds of species, including threatened species such as the Northern long-eared bat and the spotted turtle.

“Where we’re located, our size, that is everything,” said Sandy Spencer, supervisory biologist for the Patuxent Research Refuge. “That means so much, not just to the bats, but to a lot of wildlife that lives here.”

Sam Droege,

Illinois Lawmakers React to Attack on the Capitol

WASHINGTON — Illinois House and Senate members condemned the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday as a “shameful chapter in our nation’s history” and “a coup” when pro-President Donald Trump mobs ransacked the Capitol and temporarily derailed Congress’ process of certifying electoral votes.

“The storming of the Capitol was a coup attempt with the purpose of overturning the election with a newly elected President,” said Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger in a video message to const

Counted Out: The Nonvoters of 2020

The 2020 Election showed a historic turnout across the country. According to The Election Project, 66% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the election. However, a large number of individuals still decided to stay home and not vote. In partnership with IPSOS and NPR, the Medill News Service team launched a survey to understand why these voters did not vote. In a special podcast, hosts Cheyanne Daniels and Jay Silver look into the reporting behind the scenes of the Medill News Service and attempt to understand why these voters chose not to participate.

In Victory Speech, Biden Promises Unity and Solutions

Joe Biden has become the 46th President of the United States (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden offered a promise for unity and healing in Saturday after securing the presidential election, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said “this is a country of possibilities” as she became the first Black woman to win the vice presidency.

“I’ll work with all my heart, with the confidence of the whole people, to win the confidence of all of you. And for that is w

Georgia Run-Off Elections Hold Key to Control of Senate

The state of Georgia has two Senate races that could determine the U.S. Senate (Jay Silver/Medill News Service)

WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans are looking towards two potential runoffs in Georgia to determine control of the U.S. Senate.

Democratic challenger Rev. Raphael Warnock and incumbent Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler will be heading to a runoff election on Jan. 5 because neither of the two won more than 50% of the vote in a race that had 12 candidates on the ballot. State law requir

Republicans Look to Hold Senate with Critical Election Day Wins

WASHINGTON — Republicans are likely to hold their majority in the Senate aided by crucial wins in the toss-up races in Iowa, Maine and South Carolina.

With those wins, Republicans have 48 seats, while the Democrats have 47 seats so far. Democrats need three additional seats should former Vice President Joe Biden win the presidency and Sen. Kamala Harris win the vice presidency, making her Senate president with a tie-breaking vote. Should President Donald Trump win reelection, Democrats would ne

Mental Health Cases Increase Amid COVID-19 and Election Concerns

WASHINGTON — As COVID-19 cases increase and Election Day looms, Americans are experiencing more stress than they did four years ago.

According to a survey released Oct. 7 by the Harris Poll on behalf of the APA, 67% of Americans said that the election adds stress to their lives. This is higher in than the 2016 election when only 52% of Americans said the election caused them to feel stressed.

“This is an election that people are invested in, and that includes emotionally as well as anything el

Obama Criticizes Trump’s Pandemic Response at Drive-In Rally for Biden

Former President Barack Obama in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at a drive-in rally for Joe Biden. (Livestream/Biden campaign)

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama told voters at a drive-in rally Wednesday that his former vice president, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, will “lead this country out of dark times” at the first stop on Obama’s tour of key battleground states.

“I am back here tonight to ask you to deliver the White House to Joe Biden and [ vice presidential nominee Sen

Five Races: A Look at the Most Contentious Races in the 2020 Senate Election

The next few Senate elections will decide which party will take over the Senate majority (Jay Silver/MNS).

WASHINGTON — The Nov. 3 election will not only decide who is the next president, but whether Republicans continue to control the Senate, with 35 seats up for grabs. Twenty-five are held by Republicans, five of whom are in close races whose results could hand control of the Senate to Democrats.

Currently, there are 53 Republican senators, 45 Democrats and two Independents. However, control

McCarthy Calls For Repeal of Law Protecting Social Media from Liability

WASHINGTON — House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy Thursday said a law protecting internet companies from liability for the content posted to their social media platforms should be repealed and condemned Twitter for deleting a tweet from the account of Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee concerning a news story that alleges Hunter Biden tried to set up a meeting between then Vice President Joe Biden and Ukrainian businessman.

“It is clear that Section 230 (of the Communications Decenc

Washington’s COVID-19 response inadequate, especially for Latinos, Arizona’s Democratic Senate Candidate says

ARIZONA-Democratic Arizona Senate nominee Mark Kelly criticized Washington’s stalled COVID-19 efforts Wednesday while emphasizing the importance of the Affordable Care Act and mental health resources for Arizonans.

“We’ve got a serious public health crisis and an economic crisis,” said Kelly, who is attempting to unseat GOP incumbent Sen. Martha McSally. “Latino communities in Arizona have been hit particularly hard by this crisis. And Washington has done little to bring relief to the individua

Vice President Pence Applauds Job Creation and COVID-19 Response While Campaigning in Iowa

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence praised President Trump’s handling of the economy at a campaign stop in Carter Lake, Iowa on Thursday. “In our first three years, it was jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Pence. “In just three short years, seven-million jobs created all across America, including 11,000 jobs right here in the Hawkeye State.”

His visit to Iowa, where recent polls show a tightening race between President Trump and former Vice President Biden, comes just 32 days before the presidential

Comey Defends Trump-Russian Investigation At Senate Judiciary Hearing

WASHINGTON – Former FBI Director James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that his investigation into the President Donald Trump’s campaign interference from the Russian government was done by the book, but admitted to problems with warrants obtains against a former Trump campaign aide.

“Overall I’m proud of the work. There are parts of it that are concerning which I’m sure we’ll talk about, but overall I’m proud of the work,” said Comey, who was appointed FBI director by Pr

Health Care Experts Testify on Vaccines and Guidelines to Curb COVID-19

WASHINGTON – The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that nine out of 10 Americans are still susceptible to the virus and reiterated a 2021 timeline for widespread distribution of a proven vaccine.

“A majority of our nation, more than 90% of the population, remains susceptible,” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor and Pensions a day after the United States crossed grim milestones of 7 million cases of COVID-19