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Welcome to Current Events !

 

Issue 19 News Updates

  • Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia on February 17 touched off euphoric celebrations in its capital—and angry riots in Serbia. Nik V., a 15-year-old Kosovar now living in Connecticut, explains in a Current Events interview why emotions run so high in his homeland. Students can read his story of being taken from his home by soldiers in the late 1990s, placed in a camp, and eventually chased out of Kosovo by Serb troops. Nik tells it in his own words at www.cenewsblog.com.

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced new slaughterhouse safety measures on February 28 following the nation’s largest beef recall. He said the USDA would add more random inspections at U.S. slaughterhouses and install surveillance cameras. The USDA also plans to investigate all 23 plants that supply meat for school lunches and other federal food programs.

  • The beef recall at Hallmark/Westland Meat Company didn’t just hit the federal food programs. General Mills and Nestle have both ordered product recalls because of the bad beef, according to Bloomberg News. It reports that Nestle recalled nearly 50,000 Hot Pocket sandwiches, and General Mills recalled 35,000 cases of Progresso Italian Wedding soup.

  • In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a long list of all the school districts that received beef involved in the massive recall at Hallmark/Westland.

    • For more issue-related updates and web-only content, check out the CE News Blog.
    • The Issue 19 Teacher's Guide is now available online.
    • Click on "Resources," above, for more activities and the latest Smart Stuff.

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