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May Day: Unveiling the Layers of Its History and Significance

4 months 2 weeks ago
What do a vibrant floral crown, a labor march, and a centuries-old festival have in common? They all converge on May Day, a date that resonates with diverse meanings around the globe. Far from being a simple public holiday, May Day embodies a complex tapestry of cultural traditions, political struggles, and social celebrations that have evolved over time. Understanding its history and significance reveals much about human creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of justice. Origins of May Day: From Ancient Rituals to Festive Traditions The roots of May Day trace back to ancient pagan festivals celebrating fertility, growth, and the renewal of life. In many European cultures, May 1st marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season, a time when communities gathered to honor nature’s bounty. One of the most iconic customs is the Maypole dance, a tradition believed to symbolize the union between earth and sky, fertility, and communal harmony. For example, in England and Germany,

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Gus Garcia-Roberts Joins ProPublica as National Reporter

4 months 2 weeks ago

ProPublica announced on Thursday that Gus Garcia-Roberts has been hired as a national reporter.

Garcia-Roberts comes to ProPublica from The Washington Post, where he published investigations into the overdose death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs; the sexual abuse allegations against Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer and Major League Baseball’s secretive system in examining domestic abuse and sexual assault; and how the NFL has failed in hiring Black coaches, part of a series that won the Associated Press Sports Editors top prize for projects and the Online Journalism Awards’ prize for excellence in sports reporting.

Before joining the Post, Garcia-Roberts worked on investigative teams at Newsday, the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. At Newsday, he was a part of the team whose series on hidden police misconduct was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for public service. He is the author of “Jimmy the King: Murder, Vice, and the Reign of a Dirty Cop” and the co-author of “Blood Sport: Alex Rodriguez, Biogenesis, and the Quest to End Baseball’s Steroid Era.”

“We are so thrilled to welcome Gus and his enviable reporting and writing chops to ProPublica and excited to turn ProPublica’s lens on the world of sports,” said managing editor Tracy Weber. “Stay tuned.”

“I’m beyond excited to be joining ProPublica, an institution whose mission and work I’ve admired for years,” said Garcia-Roberts. He starts next week.

ProPublica

This Day in History on May 1: Grand Opening of the Empire State Building

4 months 2 weeks ago
May 1st holds a special place in history as a date that marks numerous significant events across the globe. International Workers’ Day (May Day) May 1st is globally recognized as International Workers’ Day, a day dedicated to celebrating laborers and the working class. Originating from the labor union movement in the late 19th century, particularly the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886, May Day has become an official holiday in many countries. It symbolizes the struggle for workers’ rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions. Parades, demonstrations, and various festivities take place worldwide, reflecting the ongoing importance of labor movements in shaping social and economic policies. 1707 – Act of Union: England and Scotland Unite On May 1, 1707, the Act of Union came into effect, uniting the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland into a single sovereign state known as Great Britain. This political union was driven by economic,

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Brendan Carr’s FCC Abuses Run Face First Into Trump Court Efforts To Destroy Regulatory Power

4 months 2 weeks ago
So we’ve established by now that the second Trump administration is attempting to completely destroy regulatory authority, consumer protection, labor rights, and corporate oversight. Whether by precedent-ignoring court ruling, executive order, illegally firing commissioners, cronyism, or regulatory capture, the effort isn’t subtle, and is poised to usher forth a new golden age of corruption. That’s […]
Karl Bode

Three-quarters of Americans oppose Medicaid cuts, poll shows

4 months 2 weeks ago
WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans, including most Republicans, oppose major cuts in federal funding for Medicaid, according to a poll released Thursday by the nonpartisan health research organization KFF. The survey shows that 76% of those questioned wouldn’t support  Congress slashing the amount of spending dedicated to the state-federal health program for lower-income Americans and some people […]
Jennifer Shutt