The Monarch

The Fall of Silicon Valley Bank

The Fall of Silicon Valley Bank

Anik Chobe, Sanjana Bhupathi, and Alice Kang May 2, 2023
Silicon Valley Bank was among the top twenty American commercial banks, with $175 billion in deposits. SVB’s success was spurred on by the pandemic, with its bank deposits increasing drastically from 2020 to 2022 due to low-interest rates. However, even as SVB saw increased success, not everything was going smoothly
Is Biden Sacrificing America’s Willow Trees for the Willow Project?

Is Biden Sacrificing America’s Willow Trees for the Willow Project?

Navya Tyagali and Ruby (Eunseo) Lee May 2, 2023
On March 13, President Biden approved the United States’ largest oil drilling project in decades, which would allow for an $8 billion initiative to drill in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, America’s single largest expanse of untouched wilderness.

The Drone Zone: Renewed Conflict Between Russia and the US

Anika Bhutani and Katherine Wilcox May 1, 2023
On March 14, 2023, a US MQ-9 Reaper Drone had a run-in with two Russian SU-27 jet aircrafts over the Black Sea. In conflicting statements, both Russia and the US addressed the incident. Their responses have been semi-hostile to one another, with both sides claiming the other is at fault for the incident.
Tick, Tock: Midnight Approaches for TikTok’s US Doomsday Clock

Tick, Tock: Midnight Approaches for TikTok’s US Doomsday Clock

Valerie Chen and Ryan Rulkens May 1, 2023
On March 23, TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified before congress over the extent of the app’s data collection, as well as its connections to the CCP. One particular highlight from this interaction: North Carolina representative Richard Hudson asking whether TikTok accesses the home wifi, to which Mr. Chew responded, “Only if the user turns off the wifi…I’m sorry, I may not understand the question.”
Loyalties, Litigation, and Lawlessness: How California’s Bullet Train has Ground to a Halt

Loyalties, Litigation, and Lawlessness: How California’s Bullet Train has Ground to a Halt

Ryan Rulkens, Staff Writer April 30, 2023

In 2008, California voters narrowly approved plans for a high-speed rail system to be built between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This project was expected to be completed in 2020 with a $33 billion budget,...

Teenagers’ Struggle With Mental Health

Teenagers’ Struggle With Mental Health

Aarav Bavishi and Nicholas Corral April 30, 2023
The surgeon general has declared it “the defining public health crisis of our time.” The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared it a national emergency. Not COVID-19, but teenage mental health.
Freedom to Walk Act

Freedom to Walk Act

Ryan Tsai and George Feng April 29, 2023
As of last year, the act has made jaywalking legal and people can now cross the street without fear of being ticketed, provided that there’s no imminent danger.
Fentanyl? You Better Fend for Your All

Fentanyl? You Better Fend for Your All

Terena Nguyen, Staff Editor February 19, 2023
Emerging as a national threat, the opioid crisis has continued to plague our country with fatality rates that continue to toll to larger numbers. In recent years, the proliferation of the infamous synthetic opioid fentanyl has driven communities to shambles, as anxiety of whether the next victim is a loved one mars the vitality of our society.
(Military) Time Has Run Out for the JROTC

(Military) Time Has Run Out for the JROTC

Navya Tyagali and Ruby (Eunseo) Lee February 18, 2023
Since its inception, the United States J.R.O.T.C. program has introduced thousands of high school students to the responsibility of serving in the military. However, in recent years, journalists have unearthed evidence to support claims that the JROTC has been harboring a lot more than just a love for our nation.
The Lives of Ukrainian Women and Children: A Year of the Russia-Ukraine War

The Lives of Ukrainian Women and Children: A Year of the Russia-Ukraine War

Sanjana Bhupathi, Valerie Chen, and Alice Kang February 18, 2023
Since the start of the Russian-Ukraine war, countless lives have been destroyed and of these tragedies, one overlooked group has continuously suffered: women. Exploited, oppressed, and abused, women have endured the unfair consequences of war, which need to be revealed and stopped.
The Dark World of Artificial Intelligence

The Dark World of Artificial Intelligence

Varnika Arun and Grace Wang February 17, 2023
Used in healthcare and transportation, AI is projected to save tens of thousands of lives every year. However, all good things can be exploited, and AI is no exception. Deep fakes, or when AI is used to digitally alter one’s face or body, is one of the ways people misuse AI.
Japan: A Tempestuous Misfortune

Japan: A Tempestuous Misfortune

George Feng and Ryan Tsai February 17, 2023
Why does climate change pose such a menace to Japan, and how do we get people to fight against it?
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