News Stories
News stories are carefully crafted, written or visual pieces that cover a range of local happenings or significant global events that have recently taken place. These news stories aim to break down these often complex events into understandable chunks, making it easier for readers to grasp the essential information and context behind what has happened.
Are Receipts Dangerous
Skyler Dunphy
Written 8/28/25
Receipts have been used since the 1960s. Ever since then, they have been widely used in the retail, restaurant, and other markets as proof of a purchase. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Receipts are made from thermal paper, which has BPA in it. “BPA can be absorbed into the body through the skin. The chemicals are hazardous to reproductive systems in humans and animals and are linked with obesity and attention disorders.” According to the Mayo Clinic, “Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children. It can also affect children's behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that BPA is safe at the very low levels that occur in some foods. This assessment is based on the review of hundreds of studies. The FDA continues to monitor the research.” So this shows that our bodies can digest BPAs safely; however, this is only the case if the BPA is swallowed. BPA can also be absorbed by the skin. “Studies have found that individual thermal receipts can contain BPA that is 250 to 1,000 times greater than the amount in a can of food. Testing thermal paper samples from 18 hospitality businesses in Minnesota found that half of them contained BPA at levels ranging from 54-79 micrograms per square centimeter of paper. This came from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Due to these high levels of BPA in receipts, studies have shown that cashiers have higher levels of BPA in their bodies than people in other occupations. Researchers have found that BPA exposure is linked to several health issues, partly because BPA mimics the structure and function of the hormone estrogen. That means BPA can bind to estrogen receptors and influence bodily processes, such as growth, cell repair, fetal development, energy levels, and reproduction. In addition, BPA may also interact with other hormone receptors, such as those for your thyroid, thus altering their function. Your body is sensitive to changes in hormone levels, which is the reason why BPA’s ability to mimic estrogen or affect other hormones is thought to influence health. This came from Healthline.com. The research shows that receipts, specifically thermal paper receipts, can cause health issues, specifically for retail and cashier workers. If you work in a cashier position or handle many receipts in a day, it is best to either wear gloves or to wash your hands after handling them.
Sources
Bauer, Brent A. “What Is BPA, and What Are the Concerns about BPA?” Mayo Clinic, 24 Mar. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/faq-20058331. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Perkins, Tom. “High Levels of Toxic Chemicals Found in Paper Receipts Used by US Retailers.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 14 Apr. 2025, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/14/paper-receipt-chemical-bisphenol-s. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Petre, Alina. “What Is BPA and Why Is It Bad for You?” Healthline, 17 Dec. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-bpa. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
piranha. “A Brief History of Your Everyday Paper Receipt - BPC.” BPC, 11 Nov. 2022, bpcuk.com/a-brief-history-of-your-everyday-paper-receipt/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Sandhei, Peder. “BPA and BPS in Thermal Paper.” Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 27 Aug. 2013, www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/bpa-and-bps-in-thermal-paper. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Pope Leo XIV
Skyler Dunphy
The Catholic Church has a new leader! On Thursday, “Robert Francis Prevost was elected to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics” (Povoledo et al.). This new pope is significant as he is the first American pope in the church's 2,000-year history. According to The New York Times, “Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago. Despite his American roots, his life has transcended borders. He served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order”(Povoledo et al.). While the pontiff's political views are unclear as of now, there have been some guesses, like how Pope Leo XIV’s views on women in the church are similar to the late Pope Francis. Up until Pope Leo XIV was elected, he was a member of the antiabortion club; he was one of the original members. This view on abortion matches the Catholic Church's teachings on the procedure. Leo, as a cardinal, cared a lot about solving the climate crisis, stating “from words to action.” Most of the assumptions of Leo’s political views match the late Pope Francis. There has been some concern with Pope Leo being an American, as he voted in the republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016, along with voting in the general election; this came from The Washington Post. When Pope Leo XIV was on the balcony after he was elected, he said, “Peace be with you.” This caused many Catholics and Christians to be excited to see what the new pope had to offer as he addressed this in his formal speech to the Catholic people.
Sources
Diario AS. “ON the BRINK of TEARS: Prevost’s EMOTIONAL BALCONY MOMENT as Pope Leo XIV.” YouTube, 8 May 2025, www.youtube.com/watch?v=emr73opAHpI. Accessed 10 May 2025.
Kaur, Anumita, and Tobi Raji. “What We Know about Pope Leo XIV’s Political and Social Views.” The Washington Post, 8 May 2025, www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/08/pope-leo-xiv-views-political-robert-prevost/. Accessed 10 May 2025.
Povoledo, Elisabetta, et al. “Who Is Robert Francis Prevost, the New Pope? What to Know about Leo XIV.” The New York Times, 8 May 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/world/europe/who-is-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html. Accessed 10 May 2025.
Jesse Mutagoma
NYA Varsity News- NYA Student Basketball Players Beat Faculty Team in Intense Back-and-Forth Game
The High school girls' and boys' basketball teams beat the school faculty team 18-15 in the NYA gym on Thursday afternoon.
The game was played with two eight-minute halves[BT1] [BT2] [BT3] along with a new five-point scoring system where there was a green box near the logo on each side of the court where players could shoot from that distance to get five points.
Gage Kloza and Ella Giguere kept the high school team in the game with a few threes from Kloza and consistent steals from Giguere that led to many breakaway layups.
Mr. Hach and Steve were the backbone of the faculty team. Mr. Hach was a beast on the offensive boards while Steve pushed the tempo of the game by hitting a couple of clutch 3’s.
The first half of the game ended with the faculty up three points with the score being 6-9.
The student team came back in the second half after a variety of turnovers from the faculty team.
Mr. Jackson had a chance to tie the game with 0.8 seconds on the clock, but missed the tough shot with multiple hands in his face. The final score was 18-15 with the students claiming the victory.
The MVP of the game went to Steve who showed confidence on the court and was the one picking out important passes to make to try and keep the faculty in the game.
NYA Varsity News- NYA Middle School Girls' and Boys' Basketball Teams Beat the School Faculty After a Battle Between Both Teams.
The Middle School girls' and boys' basketball teams beat the school faculty 23-12 during the varsity news event in the NYA gym on Thursday afternoon. on
The Middle School team started the game off strong with a few layups, putting them in the lead for the majority of the first half.
The faculty didn't go down so easily, getting as many rebounds as they could and scoring off their offensive rebounds.
The first half of the game ended with the Middle School being up 2 points and the score being 8-6.
During the second half, the Middle School turned up the game by hitting a couple of deep threes and lighting up the gymnasium.
The faculty team couldn’t contain the middle school teams' persistent pressure with multiple steals and scoring layups, taking advantage of the faculty’s turnovers.
The final score of the game was 23-12 with the Middle Schoolers beating the faculty team by 11 points.
[BT1]halves
[BT2]student
[BT3]threes
TikTok is Banned
Skyler Dunphy
The app known as TikTok is in its final days. According to The Hill, “The rule, which was signed into law in April, requires TikTok to break ties with its Chinese parent company ByteDance before January 19 or it will be banned in the U.S.” This means that unless ByteDance (a Chinese-owned company) sells Tick Tock to an American company, it will no longer be available to U.S. citizens. A question that is on the minds of all the users is, ‘But why?’ According to NBC Chicago, “The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion.” While it does say in TikTok’s privacy report that it does collect your information such as email, phone number, age, etc. However, according to CNN, “TikTok CEO Shou Chew previously told U.S. lawmakers that the company has never been asked by the Chinese government for data on its U.S. users and would never comply with such a request. TikTok has also said it is implementing a plan to store U.S. user data on third-party US-based servers, with access to that data controlled by US employees. The company is moving to implement a similar solution for European data.” Even though Shou Chew has stated this, the Secretary of Defense’s Assistant stated that TikTok is a “potential threat,” According to the U.S. Department of Defense. So that is it; unless TikTok sells itself to an American company, it will be banned on the 19th of January 2025.
Sources
· Fung, Brian. “Analysis: There Is Now Some Public Evidence That China Viewed TikTok Data | CNN Business.” CNN, 8 June 2023, www.cnn.com/2023/06/08/tech/tiktok-data-china/index.html. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
· Martichoux, Alix. “Will TikTok Be Banned in January? Here’s Where Things Stand as Deadline Nears.” The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024, thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5035677-will-tiktok-be-banned-in-january-heres-where-things-stand-as-deadline-nears/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
· Press, Associated. “Is TikTok Getting Banned? Why the Social Media Platform Faces Uncertain Future.” NBC Chicago, 10 Dec. 2024, www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/is-tiktok-getting-banned-why-the-social-media-platform-faces-uncertain-future/3620916/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
· TikTok. “Privacy Policy | TikTok.” Www.tiktok.com, 22 May 2023, www.tiktok.com/legal/page/us/privacy-policy/en. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
· Vergun, David. “Leaders Say TikTok Is Potential Cybersecurity Risk to U.S.” U.S. Department of Defense, 6 Apr. 2023, www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3354874/leaders-say-tiktok-is-potential-cybersecurity-risk-to-us/. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
United Healthcare CEO Association
Skyler Dunphy
Important note! This paper discusses murder and death.
Reader’s discussion is advised.
Please read with care!
On Thursday, December 4th, 2024, the CEO of United Healthcare was assassinated. What happened? On the night of December 4th, 2024, a masked gunman stalked and killed Brian Thompson, who was the CEO of United Healthcare. There is a lot to unpack, as there is some controversy with the American Healthcare system. In the following paragraphs, I will discuss who killed Brian Thompson. Next, I will break down what the police are doing to try to solve this murder. Finally, I will conclude with what could have prompted the murder of Brian Thompson.
While the identity of Brian Thompson’s killer remains unknown as of 12/6/24, the killer has done something that will hopefully lead to his arrest. Officials state that they do not think the killer was experienced. The reasoning is that the killer bought some candy bars before the murder took place and then left them at the scene of the crime. In addition, a phone was left there that local police had deemed the suspect’s phone. Finally, the suspect took off his mask to flirt with the cashier at the store where he bought the candy bars. This action exposed his face to a camera. There were approximately three rounds fired at Mr. Thompson: the three bullets had these three messages on them. “Deny, defend, and depose.” “ “These words” were written in permanent marker, according to one of the two officials, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation he spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.”
According to two law enforcement officials. These three sayings are considered American healthcare’s motto; however, that is just speculation. “Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound to identify the suspect and are working to determine if he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, the official said. Police have also released new photos Thursday of a person wanted for questioning in connection with Thompson’s killing. The images, showing an unmasked man smiling in the lobby of a Manhattan hostel, add to a collection of photos and video that have circulated since the shooting — including footage of the attack itself, as well as frames of the suspected gunman, stopping at a Starbucks beforehand. This news/information came from The Associated Press.
**UPDATE** The killer has been found! On December 9th, 2024, 911 dispatch got a call from a McDonalds worker; he claimed that someone was eating there who matched the description of Brian Tompson’s killer. When police showed up and questioned the man, they found a gun and a silencer. The gun was what is considered a ‘ghost gun,’ according to the Apple News Today podcast. A ghost gun is a gun that cannot be traced. In addition, the gun is believed to be 3-D printed. The suspect’s name is Luigi Mangione. Officials have stated that they believe Luigi had a family member who United Healthcare denied for a procedure. Currently, Luigi is under investigation.
According to the New Yorker, “The jokes came streaming in on every social media platform, in the comments underneath every news article.” “I’m sorry, prior authorization is required for thoughts and prayers,” someone commented on TikTok, a response that got more than fifteen thousand likes. “Does he have a history of shootings?” Another person wrote under an Instagram post from CNN. “To most Americans, a company like UnitedHealth represents less the provision of medical care than an active obstacle to receiving it.” These insults were directed more towards United Healthcare itself.”Than…” You can’t leave it hanging like that.
Sources
Basu, Shumita. How Police Found the Suspect in the United Healthcare Shooting. Apple News Today, 10 Dec. 2024, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/apple-news-today/id1473872585?i=1000679869547. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Hammond, Elise, and Lauren Mascarenhas. “Police Questioning Man in Connection with UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Killing.” CNN, 9 Dec. 2024, www.cnn.com/us/live-news/brian-thompson-unitedhealthcare-death-investigation-12-9-24/index.html. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Inside Edition. “Messages Found on Casings in UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting.” YouTube, 5 Dec. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrvmLTvBCzY. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
OFFENHARTZ, JAKE, et al. “UnitedHealthcare CEO Gunman Left Message on Ammunition: AP Source.” AP News, 5 Dec. 2024, apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
Stallone, Michael. “What We Know about the Suspect in the CEO Ambush Killing.” FOX 5 New York, 6 Dec. 2024, www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-murder-midtown-shooting-suspect. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.
Tolentino, Jia. “What the Murder of the UnitedHealthcare C.E.O. Means to America.” The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024, www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/what-the-murder-of-the-unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-means-to-america. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Wendling, Mike. “CEO Brian Thompson’s Killing Exposes Simmering Anger at US Health System.” BBC, 7 Dec. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2eeeep0npo. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
WRAL. “Security Firm Breaks down How Security Works for CEOs: Brian Thompson Killed in New York Ambush.” YouTube, 5 Dec. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fU4CFjUN3U. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.