Schools closures prompt a surge in child labor
Azzy Brown, Copy Editor
October 20, 2020
Children are an easy source of cheap labor. Impoverished families living in developing countries where poverty is vastly prominent need all the money they can get. Due to school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, child labor is becoming increasingly prevalent. Most of the students residing in developed n...
Behind the COVID-19 education gap
Grace Pender, Copy Editor
October 20, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many facets of peoples’ lives, students and teachers across the globe have been faced with unprecedented circumstances and, as a result, have had to adapt their learning. At Pleasant Valley, 1,330 students are participating in a hybrid learning model and 230 st...
Hunger does not wait for a pandemic: The impact of delaying the Student Hunger Drive
Ingrid Hofmann, Editor in Cheif
October 20, 2020
Since its launch in 1986, the Student Hunger Drive has brought River Bend Foodbank immense success as schools throughout the Quad Cities compete to bring in the greatest amount of donations. Approximately 114,480 people in the area are food insecure, meaning they are unsure of where their next meal ...
Conundrum of fashion: Thrifting v. fast fashion
Kelly Brewer, Social Media Manager
October 19, 2020
The fashion industry has continuously caused chaos for years. Consumers have begun to speculate about the ethics behind fashion. Two popular ways of shopping, thrifting and fast fashion, have recently come under fire. Both thrifting and fast fashion provide cheaper options, but both have downsides as w...
Protocol in place: How PV is handling students with COVID-19
Nathan VanUtrecht, Copy Editor
October 14, 2020
After the first six weeks of school, only a few dozen students have tested positive for COVID-19. These small numbers are thanks to the protocols set in place by PV’s administration. Pam Cinadr, the nurse at PVHS, said the protocols are based on information given by various government health programs. ...
Deep Fakes: The modern equivalent of nuclear weapons
Azzy Brown, Copy Editor
October 13, 2020
Synthetic media has become substantially more convincing as technology continuously becomes more advanced. Deep Fakes are an example of synthetic media. They are forgery videos or audio recordings that look and sound similar to the real person. All around the world, people are using Deep Fakes ...
Unprecedented presidency: What would President Trump’s death mean for the U.S.?
Grace Pender, Copy Editor
October 13, 2020
Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, the presidential election year is in full swing. Voters have casted ballots and candidates have campaigned tirelessly. But an unprecedented twist recently came to light: President Trump tested positive for COVID-19. Trump announced via Twitter on Oct. 1, that ...
Focusing on the local elections
Sam McGrath, Business Manager
October 13, 2020
During an intense election year between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, many have not paid significant attention to local elections. While ads for each party run frequently, many people are not engaged in local elections nor do they know what each candidate actually stand...
The academic pandemic
Jonathan Chiles, Arts and Entertainment Editor
October 13, 2020
Seniors this year have been facing two pandemics, a literal one and a figurative one. While school adjusts to COVID-19, another well-known disease is spreading: senioritis. Senioritis has plagued seniors for generations and has caused seniors to lose motivation in school. Since this disease spread...
Halloween and COVID-19: Bettendorf edition
Lily Barrett, Student Life Editor
October 12, 2020
Trick-or-treating on Halloween is a highlight of many kids’ childhoods. Going door to door in costume to pick up candy with friends is traditional for Halloween night. However, this year, it is going to be a little different. The Scott County Health Department has given citizens precautions to take ...
Clothing businesses rise during COVID: How many teens turn to Instagram for profit
Azzy Brown, Copy Editor
October 5, 2020
Social media platforms have made buying and selling easier and more accessible. Many teenagers have turned to Instagram to become self-employed managers of their own accounts used strictly for business purposes. Because of the platform’s high engagement rates and targeted advertising option...
