Every day is seeking to rise to the challenge, 'neath the shadow of the mighty Rockies.
Examining California’s Drug Problem
The opioid epidemic has hit the U.S. in a way that’s shaken our population to its very core. California has been no stranger to addiction in the past. The large size of the state combined with its proximity to the border has made it a prime target for drug traffickers and any number of different manufacturing labs. The state has also taken a more relaxed stance on the medicinal use of substances like marijuana, creating an air of controversy around drug use for many. Prescription drug abuse has skyrocketed, and the more populated areas are seeing an increase in overdose deaths. The primary problem right now revolves around prescription drug abuse and opioids. There’s a gap between available rehab facilities and the number of people … [Read more...]
Going to School with a Full-Time Job or Career
When 18-year-olds are pushed into higher education before really knowing who they are, it creates an unfortunate chance that they’ll spend a lot of time and money earning a degree in something they don’t care about, aren’t very good at, or just don’t see themselves focusing on for the rest of their lives. Going back to school becomes a desire for many working adults who already have degrees. Similarly, there are working adults who weren’t able to go to college when they graduated high school or turned the chance down because they didn’t know what they wanted to study. However, they have full-time jobs now, and though they want to go to school, their time and resources are a bit scarce. This article is for those two groups of people. … [Read more...]
Las Vegas Schools in the Grips of a Drug Crisis
“Sin City” didn’t get its name by being chaste. Las Vegas, Nevada, has been a mecca for those wanting to experience life on the wild-side for decades. Unfortunately, this has also opened the door to a massive push of illegal and prescription drugs within city limits—often targeting high school students and young adults. According to a National Geographic investigation of the city, Las Vegas claims a violent crime rate that’s roughly 120% higher than the national average. This has been largely attributed to drug sales and the securing of the Mexican black tar heroin market. Drugs are sold in a way that mimics a basic retail transaction, and the casual attitude towards illegal substances has created a huge and ever-growing number of … [Read more...]
How Tech Jobs Are Driving U.S. Career & Economic Trends
When we consider the industries seeing significant growth and change, there are trends that simply can’t be ignored, given their propensity to shape and distinguish both the personal opportunities and the economic realities of the country. Specifically, technology is changing everything. From the job sectors seeing growth to how and where those jobs are taking place. In Colorado specifically, the state ranks in the top five for private aerospace employment, concentration of high-tech workers and performance, as well as a STEM-based economy. But Colorado isn’t alone in its participation in the changing landscape of industries and the economy. Tech Jobs Are No Longer Just in Silicon Valley This will come as no surprise. One of the … [Read more...]
Philadelphia Debates Safe Injection Sites Amidst Opiate Epidemic
Politicians and government leaders are trying to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic. With usage, addiction, and overdose rates on the rise, it's growing into an urgent and pressing matter for everyone living here. The destructive vice of drug addiction claims more lives every day, with no part of the country left untouched. From small, close-knit communities to the biggest cities, everyone knows someone affected by illegal substances. Approximately 64,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2016 alone, according to data compiled by the New York Times. Government officials are facing repeated calls for change and action from advocates and grieving families and friends. The latest headlines in the drug crisis show how the discussion is now … [Read more...]
Why the Skills Gap is a Knowledge Gap
Nearly a decade ago, in October 2009, when the recession and unemployment was at its absolute worst, unemployment peaked at 10 percent. All the while the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that there were 2.1 million available jobs. What happened after that was unsurprising, but unfortunate all the same. Both sides of the political aisle saw a chance to make a political statement. The Republicans called out the unemployed for being lazy, while the Democrats claimed that the greed of corporate America was to blame — if they would only pay what they should. The focus was not the fact that those jobs existed; instead, the focus was on the debate. Why the Shift to College Education? High school graduates have attended college at far … [Read more...]
Six Ways To Be More Mindful In All Areas Of Life
Being mindful is something that more of us could certainly benefit from in all areas of life including at home and work. Mindfulness is about being aware of the present moment and enjoying that, rather than worrying about everything else that may or may not happen (especially if there is nothing you can do about it either way). It can take some time to get used to being mindful, but there are specific practices that will help you along your mindfulness journey. Here are some ideas about bringing mindfulness into all areas of your life, even if those areas are normally stressful ones. Meditation If you find trying to fit meditation time into an already busy day difficult, then try to break it down into much smaller chunks of time. … [Read more...]
Net Neutrality: Where Do We Go from Here?
The freedom of the internet was recently thrown into uncertainty at the end of last year. There were measures put into place that secured the freedom to browse the internet freely and without any restrictions. You could sign up for service through a number of providers, and once you had access to the web that was it — no road blocks or restricted sites. That can all very well change. Without the security of Net Neutrality, companies such as Comcast, Verizon, Spectrum, can now alter the way you browse the internet. Nothing has yet changed, other than the fact that a change can happen very soon. The repeal of Net Neutrality had good numbers to oppose it, yet somehow it still passed. While many are looking for other ways to get neutrality … [Read more...]
The Latest Educational Approaches to Autism
Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can develop skills at a different rate, and they may acquire them in a different order than their peers. This is because the disorder affects the way we interpret and communicate information. A learner with ASD may not be responsive, even when called by name, and they may not use eye contact and appropriate gestures when speaking. They may have difficulty focusing, staying attentive, organizing information, making inferences, and maintaining emotional control. These challenges can create severe barriers in a child’s educational journey — but they don’t have to. As a teacher — and especially as a person of faith — you have an obligation to help learners reach their full potential. There have … [Read more...]
How to Stand Out in Job Hunting
Getting a job can be tough, depending on what you want to do, where you want to live and how much you want to earn. Maybe you’re fresh out of university or college, or lost your previous work for some reason. How do you get yourself on the market, and stand out from the rest? Don’t panic. There are lots of things you can do to make yourself more employable, to boost your attractiveness to companies. Let’s take a look at some of them. What do you want to do? Before starting your job search, you really need to pin down the basics of what kind of work you want to take up, where and the salary. You need to focus your hunt on the industry that you feel you’re best suited to. If you’ve worked elsewhere already, are you looking for a change? If … [Read more...]