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by Cyna Mirzai-

Almost one-third of women in the United States use a mobile app to track their periods. However, a bill to protect menstrual app data from search warrants failed the Virginia General Assembly in February, alarming abortion rights supporters for a future of post-Roe abortion restrictions. 

The state’s Democrat-controlled Senate passed a bill to prohibit the issuance of a warrant for the search and seizure of menstrual health data stored on electronic devices, allowing people to protect personal information about their menstrual health. According to AP News, the legislation passed with a 31-9 vote, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to send it to the House. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who introduced a 15-week abortion ban early this year, tabled the bill through a procedural move in a Republican-controlled subcommittee.

Inspired by the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, introduced the legislation since current laws allow search warrants to be issued for access to all data stored on computers, computer networks and other electronic devices as long as there is a probable cause for a crime. 

Before the repeal of Roe v. Wade, an abortion could be performed up until the third trimester of a patient’s pregnancy in Virginia. Therefore, if a person stopped tracking their cycle on an app due to a terminated pregnancy, there would be no probable cause for a crime. However, as stricter abortion laws continue to pass in various states, these tracking apps can become the scene of a crime.  

Sen. Favola said her bill is straightforward and one of the shortest bills of the Senate’s season, per WUSA 9. She will wait until the election of a new General Assembly in 2023 to try for the bill again.

While this can remain an alarming time for many, there are still ways to protect one’s personal information. The Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance last year encouraging people to turn off location sharing and tracking activity across apps. Some tracking apps also state they do not share or sell data, but if weary, creating a personalized menstrual data tracker by using spreadsheets, digital planners or even paper planners will aid in concealing personal information.

by Emaryi Williams –

According to AARP, savings bonds were really popular gifts “back in the day”, especially among grandparents. Savings bonds date back to 1935 when former president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into legislation that the U.S. Department of the Treasury could sell them as a new type of security.

According to Treasury Directs, when you buy a savings bond you’re essentially “lend[ing] money to the U.S. government. In turn, the government agrees to pay that much money back later — plus additional money (interest).” The interest can only be earned for up to 30 years, and it can also be federally taxed.

There are three main types of savings bonds in the United States:

1. Series E — These types of bonds were created in 1981 to help fund World War II. As of 1980, they are no longer being sold. While these would be out of date, they are still redeemable.
2. Series EE — These bonds were created in 1990 to replace the Series E bond and were used as a way to help save and pay for college. These bonds earn different interest rates based off of when they were issued.
3. Series I — These bonds were created in 1998 to help Americans save while protecting them against inflation. These bonds have a combination of a fixed rate and a semiannual inflation rate that reflects the consumer price index.

Now that you know the difference between savings bonds, you may still be wondering where they went, and why you may not see them anymore.

The answer is simple. They went online.

As of 2012, savings bonds were no longer printed on pieces of paper. To both purchase and redeem an online savings bond, you must go through Treasury Direct, which is maintained by the U.S. Treasury. The move to online was made to make bond purchases easier and more accessible using the internet.

Despite paper bonds being discontinued, you can still cash in paper bonds. You can even convert your paper bond into an electric one on Treasury Direct’s website, letting it mature longer online. According to Investopedia, another pro to switching to electronic bonds is that when you want to cash out an electronic bond, you can choose to only take a portion and keep the rest maturing. You cannot do that with a paper bond.

Rules about interest and taxes are still the same for both paper and electronic savings bonds, and they can be found on Treasury Direct’s website. There is also a tool available to help bondholders determine what their bond may be worth today.

by Emaryi Williams-

As inflation rises in almost every aspect of American life, including housing, renting an apartment is starting to look unrealistic for some. According to Virginia Realtors, rental demand and prices for apartments are on the rise. Early preparation is important if you are thinking of finding an apartment.

In no particular order, here are five things to have or consider before renting: 

1. Budget

According to Capital One, it is a general rule to have a job that pays three times your rent, and most landlords even require it for renting. This will be key in trying to set your budget. According to Citizens Bank, one common budget plan is the 50/30/20 Budget Rule, which divides your income into needs, wants and savings respectively.

2. Savings

With the numerous upfront costs that accompany a newly acquired apartment like furniture and appliances, aspiring renters need to have money readily available. The exact amount of money is subjective to the potential apartment and additional charges, but Supermoney says that the average person should have $5,000 to $8,000 in their bank account before moving.

3. Security deposit and application fees

To get through the application process, there are two main fees of which potential renters will need to be aware. According to Virginia tenant law, a landlord is required to charge tenants a security deposit, which is a maximum of two months’ rent. Potential renters will also need to make sure they are aware of the application fees. In Virginia, laws limit application fees to $50. 

4. Credit score

Fixing a poor credit score cannot happen overnight, so making sure you have a good score is something you want to do well in advance of looking for a new apartment. According to Flex Finance Inc., the more competitive the market is, the higher your credit score will need to be with the following ranges:

• Exceptional: 800 – 850
• Very Good: 740 – 799
• Good: 670 – 739
• Fair: 580 – 669
• Poor: 300 – 579

If you have a bad credit score, you may need to look into a co-signer.

5. Required documents

According to Apartmentguide, there are standard documents that you will need to provide your potential landlord. Other than providing your social security number, you will need to provide proof of employment with paystubs/bank statements, a government-issued ID, vehicle registration (for a parking pass) and rental history.

by Golder Baah-

In the last few years, Disney has been remaking many of their classic animated films into live-action movies. Although there hasn’t been an official announcement or confirmation of a live-action version of “The Princess and the Frog,” rumors are circulating in the news and on social media that Disney is working on it.

Social media users have immediately jumped to who should play Princess Tiana and who should not. Many people on social media are voicing their opinions on the role due to Hollywood’s repetitive colorism. Hollywood has a history of giving roles that are meant for darker-skinned women to lighter-skinned women, and the media is not having it for the live-action version of “The Princess and the Frog.”

According to Deadline, “nearly 80% of Black female characters have light or medium skin tones.” This is due to the stereotype of darker-skinned black women “not having the white standards of beauty.” This limited representation on the big screen does not accurately showcase the range of Black women in today’s society. 

In 2021, the trailer for the movie “The Harder They Fall” was released, and the media immediately noticed the portrayal of Stagecoach Mary, a real historical figure who was a dark-skinned Black woman, was being portrayed by light-skinned actress Zazie Beetz. This sparked questions on social media about why a light-skinned actress was cast in the role of a real-life darker-skinned woman when there are darker-skinned actresses who could have justified the role. 

According to TeenVogue, “Hollywood still overwhelmingly believes that a Black woman must possess non-Black ancestry or features to be considered beautiful or valuable.” Concerns over colorism and blackface were brought to light again when light-skinned actress Zoe Saldana was cast as Nina Simone, a dark-skinned musician who faced racial discrimination. Saldana wore a prosthetic nose, false teeth, and dark makeup for the role. 

While there have been some efforts to increase the number of roles meant for dark-skinned women in Hollywood, inclusivity cannot be achieved until dark-skinned women have equal representation on the big screen. With the potential upcoming live-action version of “The Princess and the Frog,” many people on social media are hoping to see Hollywood make progress and accurately represent the Black community in film and TV, rather than continue to disappoint with a lack of representation and blackface. 

by George Waters-

Thrifting clothes is becoming more popular by the day. According to a report by ThredUp, the second-hand market is projected to boom 127% by 2026 from where it was only two years ago.

In the business world, that type of growth is generally beyond even the most optimistic of expectations, but why are so many people flocking to this market?

The best way to look at this is from the beginning, and reusing clothes and materials has been a facet of society for generations. As the authors of this Tryst article cover, thrifting in the U.S. is commonly linked to the Salvation Army’s inception in the early 1900s.

In reality, its roots go back even further as immigrants found ways to make what money they could selling used clothes and items on the streets. Before that, families would pass down clothes from one kid to the next as they were handmade.

As time went on, and thrifting became more of a social phenomenon and less of a familial one, its popularity dipped before rising back up in recent decades.

This can be attributed to a number of factors. Thrift shops have always been valued because of how cost-effective they are for the consumer, but a concern for the environment has likely sparked a new wave of conscientious customers.

Gen Z is especially contributing to this sentiment and is commonly attributed to the market’s rapid growth. Fashion guides using thrift hauls are extremely successful over social media.

There are some concerns, as this NY Times article points out, about how second-hand markets are growing however. The rise in fast fashion is flooding stores with cheap, poorly made clothes that consumers are less likely to buy but still take up precious time for employees to catalog.

Additionally, the surge in consumers has the potential to deplete the quality stock and create a rise in pricing, driving away the individuals with little cash flow that these institutions were originally designed for.

Either way, the second-hand market is making its push to become the first choice in the eyes of consumers.

by Alana Kirsch-

The Covid-19 pandemic was brutal for small businesses in America with restaurants, getting particularly hit hard. But if you’re looking for a silver lining, many of these changes provided options that brought alternative forms of revenue, opened a door for new customers, and changed the trajectory of the industry itself.  

Prior to 2019, a restaurant was a place to gather and share a meal. New safety regulations led the restaurant industry to re-evaluate its service model. Operators’ priority became their customers’ safety and restaurants worked quickly to implement new offerings that would keep them in business.  

While in-person dining services were paused restaurants focused on alternative forms of revenue. Sixty-seven percent of restaurants implemented curbside pick-up with another 27% implementing third-party delivery. 

People were able to order food from their favorite restaurants while reducing the risk of exposure. Many places even provided customers with a contactless delivery option, requesting the deliverer to leave the food at the door. 

New changes continued to be implemented even after the option for in-person dining services was re-opened.  Physical menus were replaced with QR Codes. This allowed customers to scan a code on their mobile devices which would direct them to an online version of an establishment’s menu. Contactless menus were an easy and accessible solution for most people. 

Cashless payments became the new normal. Many establishments adopted tablets to avoid giving customers physical checks. This allowed for the rise of contactless payment all together. Most restaurant establishments have continued using the new practices they implemented during the pandemic. 

Automation was not the only solution. Mandatory physical changes lead to deeper reconstructions within the system. Restaurants have been known for long hours, low wages, and few benefits. This too was changed by the pandemic. 

Social distancing called for restaurants to reduce their in-person dining availability. This allowed restaurant owners and operators to focus on the quality of their employees instead of the quantity.

With fewer and better employees to pay wages and benefits grew. The independent restaurant coalition reports since February of 2020 84% of restaurants have raised wages and 34% have added paid sick leave to benefits for their employees. 

An essential characteristic of working in any restaurant is the ability to adapt. This was especially true during the pandemic. Although these changes are a departure from the pre-pandemic world they lead to many necessary changes for employees and customers. 

by Cyna Mirzai-

The spring season often marks the beginning of plant buying season, with plant lovers and newbies alike searching for new greenery to take home. While houseplants can certainly be used for decoration, there is much more to those green and leafy plants than simply embellishing a space.

Although eating well and exercising have a substantial impact on one’s health and wellness, the environment in which one lives also plays an important role. Integrating varying houseplants into one’s home can create positive changes in stress levels, breathing and overall wellness.

A number of studies show that inadequate access to nature can contribute to higher rates of emotional and physical illnesses. However, since houseplants are seen as an essential connection to nature, multiple studies prove that being in the presence of houseplants can improve cognitive, behavioral and health-related functions. 

Plants are notably beneficial for reducing stress. One study found that people feel less physiological and psychological stress after repotting a plant compared with doing a computer task. The study also found the subjects to have significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and a suppressed sympathetic nervous system after repotting their plants. 

Similarly, another study found that patients in hospital rooms with plants and flowers indicated significantly more positive physiologic responses evidenced by lower systolic blood pressure and lower ratings of pain, anxiety and fatigue. 

While reducing stress is an important factor for one’s mental health, houseplants can also aid in improving one’s physical health. According to the World Health Organization, 3.2 million people die prematurely from illnesses attributable to household air pollution each year. Although opening windows and naturally ventilating indoor spaces can work as a remedy, many plant species can also improve air quality by removing cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene from the air. One study also found that soil in potted plants could help clean indoor air.

There is a myriad of different houseplants to choose from when looking for new flora. If you are new to plants, many botanists recommend starting out with pothos and snake plants. On the other hand, if you have a natural green thumb, try incorporating orchids and Boston ferns into your home.

by Nicole Tutino-

Fashion brands’ selection of materials for their apparel designs impacts the environment through the extraction of raw materials and through apparel production. 

Authentic leather is derived from animal skin. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the tanning process the skin endures to become a leather material results in the release of harmful waste, including “salt, lime sludge, sulfides and acids” into the environment. 

PETA notes cows are the usual source of leather; however, other animals, like pigs, sheep and crocodiles can also be sources. A cow releases “between 154 to 264 pounds of methane gas per year,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Southeast New England Program (SNEP). Methane — a greenhouse gas — comprises about 30% of global climate change, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Recently, brands have been experimenting with unconventional alternatives to leather, called vegan leather, to reduce their environmental impacts. Vegan leather can be derived from polyurethane, a synthetic plastic material. However, sustainable options include bio-based materials, like fruit waste.

Leather and leather alternatives can be used to create various products within the fashion industry; handbags often use this material.

Copenhagen’s Fashion Week for autumn/winter 2023 required brands to adhere to numerous sustainability guidelines to qualify for participation. During the show, ready-to-wear brand GANNI presented a handbag composed of a vegan leather material constructed from orange and cacti waste and recycled plastic, called Ohoskin.

Ohoskin, an Italian fabric company, claims their bio-based vegan leather reduces their carbon emissions by 90%. Carbon dioxide remains a major greenhouse gas contributor to global warming.

Although Ohoskin features polyvinyl chloride — a synthetic material — the plastic used is recycled.

Known for luxury sustainable and ethical designs, the Stella McCartney brand partnered with Bolt Threads to create a handbag composed from a fungi-based leather, called Mylo. The Mylo vegan leather begins with mycelium, the foundation for mushrooms. 

Mansur Gavriel, a luxury handbag and shoe brand, announced a new bucket bag featuring  recycled apple skin to imitate leather. The brand states the bag is waterproof which increases its usage opportunities. The brand included additional materials in the bag’s creation, such as polyurethane, polyester and cotton, which raises sustainability concerns.

Vegan leather products can include polyurethane, which is a synthetic material produced using fossil fuel resources. Non-renewable resources, like fossil fuels, contradict sustainability’s main goals. 

While concerns over vegan leather exist, brands’ exploration of plant-based materials allows a lower-impact alternative to traditional leather production. 

Since leather is used in other fields, such as upholstery, sustainable vegan leather can expand beyond fashion.

by Noah Hayden –

^{Photo: Noah Hayden}

Drone racing has been around for nearly 12 years. The sport is a mix between video games and traditional racing sports. The pilot wears a pair of low-profile FPV goggles while controlling a handheld drone that flies up to 120 miles per hour. 

When the sport was initially created in 2011, there was hope that it would become the “sport of the future.” Today, many spectators are seeing that dream become a reality as the sport is reaching new heights in popularity. In fact, the sport doubled its global broadcast reach last year. 

There are many national and local clubs with a passion for drone racing around the world. Virginia Tech is no exception as it has its own club, the VT Drone Racing Team. Despite the overwhelming amount of popularity, the sport has gained over just the last few years, the VT Drone Racing Team has not experienced the same boom.

The VT Drone Racing team experienced a multitude of hiccups over the past couple of years, one of which being Covid-19. “It was just kind of unfortunate that we really couldn’t recruit people from my freshmen year until this year,” said senior and president of the drone racing team, Sean Vredevoogd. “Post covid, we had about five active members.”

The lack of attention that the club was getting from its members also made it difficult to recruit new students even after the heat of the pandemic had passed. “We couldn’t give any of the new members the attention they deserved,” said Vredevoogd. “However, at the last Gobblerfest, we worked hard to prepare for an influx of around 20-25 new members.”

Even though the club met with an influx of new members just last fall, only about 13-14 members consistently participate in club activities. Much of the reason for this is due to how expensive the sport is. According to Benjamin Sawyer from Droneblogs.com, drone racing can cost between $300-$500 initially. Over time, the sport may cost thousands of dollars. 

“Parts break all the time,” said Vredevoogd. “It’s not very feasible to ask Virginia Tech to fund some of our equipment because it breaks so often.” Despite all of those reasons to stop, members continue to fuel their passion.

“It’s simple; there is just nothing like flying these,” said Vredevoogd. “The speed and the maneuverability, it’s just the most open and connecting flying experience.

by Jordan Meadows-

Four people on death row have been executed in the United States in 2023. The executions took place in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and two in Texas. 

In 2021, Virginia became the 23rd state – and first southern state – to ban the death penalty. Virginia has carried out almost 1400 executions since its inception, more than any other state in history. 

A state senator in Virginia, Bill Desteph (R-VA Beach), has proposed legislation that would restore capital punishment. The legislation states that the death penalty could be used when there is “the willful, deliberate and premeditated killing of a law enforcement officer when such killing is for the purpose of interfering with the performance of his official duties.” 

The bill is likely to fail in committee as Democrats hold a majority in the state senate. 

One in eight people on death row is eventually exonerated at the federal level. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, in the last 50 years, almost 200 people have been exonerated. In most of these cases, wrongful convictions arose from erroneous eyewitness identifications, false and coerced confessions, inadequate legal defense and more. 

In 2018, 79% of all homicide exonerations were due to misconduct on the part of the police or the prosecution – or both. That number grows to 87% for Black exonerees. Black Americans account for 41% of people on death row and 34% of those executed. 

There has been a multitude of instances where individuals with mental disabilities and children have been executed – ultimately banned by the Supreme Court in 2002 and 2005, respectively. 

Capital punishment costs taxpayers more than if they had non-capital punishment. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2020, the average time between someone being sentenced and executed was 18.9 years. During this time, the government is required to provide resources and funding for people on death row, such as the attorney. 

23 people are scheduled to be executed in five different states this year. One state, Ohio, has scheduled inmates to be executed in 2026. President Joe Biden is the first president to publicly oppose the death penalty but has taken no major steps to that end.