In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Highline College decided to ring in their 10th annual observation of the holiday by holding a multifaceted celebration.

Elder Roger Fernandes of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe began by telling traditional tales such as “The Fly”, a long passed down story about how even the smallest community members can make a difference.

The Q Center, Highline’s multifaceted resource center and social space for the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond, recently orchestrated an event that was part scavenger hunt, part open house.

While the purpose behind a scavenger hunt is usually to find items on a list, the Q Center scavenger hunt directed students to various buildings and departments on campus with specific questions for answering, such as “Is the Women’s Programs only a program for women?” and “Where is one gender neutral bathroom on campus?”

Highline College’s President Dr. John R. Mosby served Highline for roughly seven years before passing away in May of 2026. On Oct. 14, 2026 a moving dedication ceremony was held in his honor on the Highline campus.

Decorated by the Executive Assistant Office of the President Juli Hammond, the Mt. Townsend Dining Hall in Building 8 was decked out in floral displays and a touching tribute written by Dr. Mosby’s family.

For many students arriving at Highline College, the challenge isn’t just balancing classes, it’s finding a community that truly feels like home. CLCs offer support to students that lack a sense of belonging and community and are a great way for students to get involved on campus.

In case you don’t know, CLC stands for Cultural Learning Communities. They are small, supportive communities for students sharing similar goals, histories, cultures, or ideas. The purpose is to offer support, opportunities, and connections to help students adjust to college life.

Gov. Bob Ferguson recently appointed Lorraine Chachere to the Highline College Board of Trustees.

Chachere, a Burien resident, will be formally introduced to the Highline College community at the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, April 16. The introduction will highlight her professional achievements, commitment to education, and her dedication to community service.

Highline’s Q-center in collaboration with the Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence (CCIE), the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS), and the Public Speaking Center (PSC), helped organize a queer forward comedy show in Building 7.

The event, which featured comics Juno Men, Ricci Armani, and Jenna Nobs, was held this past Tuesday, April 7, and lasted from noon to 2 p.m.

Highline’s quarterly ThunderWeek welcomes students back onto campus for another exciting quarter. This one held the traditional open houses and club fair, introduced a DIY hat decorating event, and culminated in Spring Fest. Dozens of students attended events throughout the week, gearing up for a fun and festive quarter ahead.

The DIY hat bar attracted around two dozen students. Different shades of ball caps were supplied by the Q-Center, along with sequins, fabric swatches, and iron-on patches to create individualized designs. Some represented school spirit while others used the opportunity to make their own team or city swag.

You know that moment at night when you’re lying in bed, the room finally quiet, but your brain refuses to match the mood? The phone glow hits your face, you tell yourself you’re going to put it down, and then somehow you’re still scrolling. You’re exhausted, but your mind is buzzing like it’s stuck on “refresh.”

And then morning comes, and you wake up tired from a night you technically spent “resting.” Maybe this isn’t laziness. Maybe it’s overload.

Each year college students across the country are invited to tell powerful stories through sound in NPR’s College Podcast Challenge, which highlights emerging audio journalists and storytellers. This year the excitement of “March (Audio) Madness” brought together some of the most creative student podcasts in the country.

Among the finalists is a familiar voice – someone the ThunderWord’s newsroom staff is lucky enough to call a co-worker, student, and friend: Evelyn Rissell.

At Highline College, the scroll never really stops. In the classrooms, study rooms, and even between lectures. What can look like harmless downtime is something much bigger. Social media is shaping how students see themselves and not for the better.

Social media was created to connect people, yet instead, it has become a comparison machine. For many college students, that comparison is quietly damaging their confidence.

Following President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” being signed into law, beginning on July 1, 2026, graduate students may lose a critical source of educational funding. For ones enrolled in so-called non-professional graduate degree programs, they will no longer be eligible for fair, interest free, federally distributed loans.

As part of the administration’s new educational restructuring, graduate students are facing blows on two fronts.

The Tacoma Black Panther for Self Defense made an appearance on Highline’s campus last week, paneling to a diverse mass of students, and accepting donations of food, clothing, and hygiene products. The discussion ranged from the history of the party, to the fracturing of different chapters, the integral role of women in the party, and life living as a target for the federal government. 

The panel was a part of Center for Cultural Inclusion and Excellence’s MLK series, celebrating Black History Month.

Student mental health is declining. In 2026 the average student faces many different mental issues. Whether it be with their classes, lack of personal life outside of school, or sleep-related problems, student health is facing a massive reduction in positive emotions.

But how much has mental health been declining, and what could be done about this issue?

Highline’s Global Student Alliance (GSA) is reaching out to all international students to raise their voices and write to local congress representatives regarding ongoing issues facing the international student community. 

With this campaign the GSA’s drive is to focus directly on international students. Due to the specific and special strain they have faced this quarter (and in ones previous), they are hoping to allow a space for international students to air out concerns, grievances, and real fears.

Having modern technology is important on a school campus, especially when students, staff, and faculty alike depend on that technology. These machines range from computers to printers, and fortunately, most accounts find Highline technology dependable and user-friendly.

Ian Porter, a librarian at Highline said, “The technology services in the library are working really well … starting in the fall quarter the computers have been running a lot faster because of the IT department’s upgrades.”

Highline College will hold its 2026 commencement ceremony on June 18, 2026 at the ShoWare Center, a decision college officials say was influenced by venue availability, tradition, and capacity needs.

The decision marks a move away from Emerald Downs, where commencement was held last year, and brings graduation back to ShoWare Center, which hosted Highline’s ceremonies for more than a decade prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. College leadership said the venue change was influenced largely by ShoWare’s ability to accommodate graduates and their guests in a single ceremony.

The Highline College Board of Trustees (BOT) held their first meeting of 2026 last week, navigating new demands for transparency and campus engagement. The meeting was recorded and uploaded to the Highline College YouTube channel, as a direct result from the feedback during last month’s Executive Cabinet listening sessions. 

This was the first BOT meeting since Dr. Jamilyn Penn was appointed Interim President – and her first report to the BOT in this role.

The Academic Success Center (ASC) held its Winter Open House, where it welcomed students and community members to learn about academic resources available and highlighted different programs aimed to support the student body. 

The event was held on Wednesday Jan. 21 in the library (Building 25), on the sixth floor. It featured subjects including math, engineering, science, and achievement programs. The open house ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Highline College Board of Trustees (BOT) held a private vote on whether to address the status of Dr. John Mosby’s leadership of the college, or to continue waiting for word. The BOT privately casted their vote, and settled on asking Dr. John Mosby to resign as president. 

It’s unclear how this played out. Did Dr. Mosby acknowledge the distress on campus, or did he fight back, believing waiting on him was what was best for Highline?

Highline College Board of Trustees announced during the Dec. 11 meeting that Dr. John R. Mosby will not be returning as President of Highline College following his departure for a third medical leave in November. Dr. Jamilyn Penn, who was serving as Acting President, was appointed as Interim President until a permanent candidate can be found. 

In their announcement, the Board said, “[We] would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to Dr. Mosby for the work he has done in support of students, faculty, and staff during his tenure with us. The past several years have brought unprecedented challenges. Thank you to Dr. Mosby for everything he did to advocate for our students and employees during that time.”

At the end of fall quarter, a new Link Light Rail stop opened across from the college, and Highline College started a new “ORCA Incentive Program” to add to their many convenient alternative transportation options for students.

Many were excited about this as it means that commuting will be made easier if they don’t have a car, or simply want a different form of transportation to the campus. Public Safety has sent out multiple emails to students about this program and the qualifications students must meet in order to be eligible for it.

Welcome back Thunderbirds! The fall quarter of 2025 was very strong and the ThunderWord hopes readers had a refreshing and relaxing winter break.

As per tradition, the start of the quarter was marked by the return of Thunderweek, a week of events and spirit days to get students excited for the quarter ahead. 

Dear Highline College Community, 

Executive Cabinet members read the open letter that was posted in the Thursday, November 27, 2025 edition of the ThunderWord.

We acknowledge the sentiments and experiences that were shared. We are committed to addressing the fundamental issues and systemic concerns raised in the letter.

Highline’s 23rd Annual Legislative Breakfast was spearheaded this Wednesday morning by the Associated Students of Highline College (ASHC).

The event included several key issues brought forth by Highline student presenters, as well as local government officials with keen ears and open mindsets.

As part of an effort to expand four-year degree options beyond traditional universities, Highline College recently held a “Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree at Highline College” giving local students a chance to learn about affordable, career-focused bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) pathways. 

The fair offered prospective students and community members insight into degrees such as Business Management, Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics, Early Childhood Education, and Human Services.

Following the waves of complaints crashing into Financial Aid, Director Corrine Soltis acknowledged the frustration with the department, and internal policies have been changed, effective immediately. 

This acknowledgement has sparked joy and inspiration across faculty and staff. The effort to instigate change in the department has been an ongoing and long process, supported by the faculty who advocated to their students, the staff that supported logistics, and the students who spoke up in surveys, listening sessions, and discussions on campus.

For years, Highline College has prided itself on being one of the most diverse and inclusive colleges in the state of Washington. As a community college, fully one third of students (34%) are on campus to complete high school requirements, whether that is through Running Start or because they were underserved or struggling during their high school careers.

According to the Mission Statement, “Highline College creates anti-racist, equitable pathways in higher education to close opportunity gaps experienced by our students.” Further, the Mission Statement lists the following values: accessibility, accountability, cultural responsiveness and agency, environmental sustainability, equity-first focus, life-long learning, partnership with local and global communities, respect, social justice, student-centered approaches, transparency.

Vice President of Student Services (VPSS) Dr. Jamilyn Penn returned to Acting President this week as President Dr. John Mosby goes on his third medical leave. Dr. Penn steps into the dual roles amid contentious issues with Financial Aid and faculty.

She sat down with Managing Editor Mavrie Durham for a short interview about what she intends to focus on in her time as Acting President.

Highline College’s Financial Aid department has been in the limelight recently, and for all the wrong reasons. Students voiced their concerns and faculty advocated at a Board of Trustees meeting last week. The effort to reform the department is ongoing under new leadership.

The ThunderWord has collected student testimonials alongside the results from a recent survey conducted across campus.

President Donald Trump’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” is closely reaching its Nov. 21 deadline.

As top universities across the country issue their response to this loyalty pledge, it’s worth noting how this agenda could impact Highline’s current practices and student body.

As we approach the holidays, we also approach application season. Students will begin to melt over perfecting essays, double-checking submissions, and even trying to find scholarships. So how are we supposed to approach it? What if we don’t have someone over our shoulder, guiding us through the murky waters of scholarship applications? 

The first step: get over the idea that there isn’t a scholarship out there for you. Whether it’s grades or you don’t feel like you made as much of a presence on campus; there’s still something for you.

After the loss of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps or EBT, Highline College Foundation, in partnership with the Community Pantry, are stepping up to help students with an additional $100,000 in funding.

These efforts work towards keeping the campus hunger free.

Recent vandalism at Highline’s satellite campus in Federal Way, the Hub, provided a missed opportunity for Highline’s Executive Cabinet to take stronger stances against bias and antisemitism on campus.

Multiple instances of defacement have not been publicly condemned thus far, with only a single line addressing the existence of bias in a campus email.

After months of uncertainty following the loss of a major federal Title III grant, the Academic Success Center (ASC) at Highline College has secured new funding to keep the ASC in operation.

The solution came when interim Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Rolita Ezeonu identified emergency funds to support, offering a possible lifeline to students and staff. 

The Associated Students of Highline College (ASHC) hosted an open mic yesterday for students to share their voices in concern directly with Highline’s Executive Cabinet (EC). The message these students received was clear: We know, get over it.

Highline’s 2025 fall quarter has been met with its fair share of obstacles. From losing Title III funding, to the rising cost of living in the area, students have been under months of duress.

These past few weeks there has been a bit of a dispute on campus concerning the south plaza outside of the library (Building 25) reserved for free speech where several men have planted themselves with anti-abortion posters. The President of Highline College sent out an email regarding this issue saying “As a State agency, guests may visit our campus to express personal views and opinions (WAC 132I-140-012).”

The proselytizers standing in the south plaza have very graphic posters of what they claim to be an aborted baby, or what can also be called a spontaneous abortion.

The Academic Success Center (ASC) opened its doors to showcase its wide range of free tutoring and academic support services offered to students. Held in Building 25, the open house welcomed students and faculty to learn more about opportunities available in math, writing, public speaking, and general coursework. 

Attendees of the open house heard from ASC staff who shared insights about the tutoring process and how students can get involved or join in.

Have you ever screamed yourself hoarse into your pillow, when frustration or despair surmounts? The cathartic release leaves you feeling slightly better, if not more tired, and slightly emptier than a few moments before. Scream therapy is a type of expressive therapy, now weaved into art and culture. Perhaps some of us could benefit from the emotional release of stress here on campus. 

Scream therapy, an off-shoot of “primal therapy” came around in the 1970s from psychologist Arthur Janov, but the idea that screaming as a form of emotional release provides a “cure from neurosis,” as claimed Janov, is still speculative.

After a summer of tense meetings, classified staff and Highline College have reached a collective bargaining agreement.

A joint response from stewards, the bargaining team, and the union, said, “The Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) Classified Staff have ratified their 2026-2027 contract with an overwhelming 96.6 approval vote. 

Highline College was officially denied reconsideration to continue their Title III funding from the Department of Education, effectively ending the school’s federal Title III grant, jeopardizing funding for multiple college support services.

Right before the start fall quarter, Highline was notified by the Department of Education (DOE) about the non-continuation of Highline’s Title III Strengthening Institutions (SIP) grant, ending the grant funding a year early.

Marking the fourth day of ThunderWeek, Highline’s Center for Leadership and Service along with the Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence hosted the Clubs’ Fair last week on the first floor of Building 8 to a sizable turnout. 

The event ran from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There were a total of around 24 clubs in attendance with their large colorful displays – covering the wide range of hobbies, interests, and communities among the students at Highline.

If you are a new, or returning student, welcome to a brand new fall quarter – and the start of a new school year!

Highline has already got a calendar chock-full of exciting events for students to attend. The intention to hopefully relieve some of the stress of the new quarter and have some fun. 

The ThunderWord is entering the 2025-2026 academic school year with an unprecedented student editorial team. This group of senior reporters and editors will be your leadership behind the scenes. 

As a team, these editors have established their values and missions of The ThunderWord. Their goal is to focus on journalistic integrity, mutual respect, and personal growth. Following an award-winning year, these students look forward to the privilege of bringing Highline and the greater community the news.

Summer quarter has reached its end and Highline faculty and students take a five week break before classes resume on Sept. 22 for fall quarter.

Registration remains open, as does the Advising Center in Building 6. As finals conclude, grades should be available by Aug. 20.

Contract negotiations between classified staff and Highline College have reached an unpopular sticking-point.

WPEA President Amanda Hacker was informed last Monday that Highline would no longer participate in bargaining, instead sending contract negotiations to the Office of Financial Management (OFM), the legislative office that oversees union contracts. 

The following letter was written by the President of the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA), Amanda Hacker. In it, Hacker outlines what has transpired between WPEA and Highline College.

I’m writing to give you a full and transparent account of what has happened regarding the lump sum payment that you were promised in July – and to explain why WPEA is both disappointed and deeply frustrated by how Highline College has handled this situation.

Highline international students were invited to the Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) for the “Summer Refresh Retreat”. These 11 students were given a reprieve from the isolation that can surface during the summer months.

In partnership with the Public Speaking Center (PSC), the Counseling Center, and the MaST, faculty is looking to create a new space for international students.

TRIO, a long-standing federal college access program, has come under fire at the White House, with Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Linda McMahon and President Donald Trump requesting the complete elimination of the program.

TRIO scholars, advisors, and directors across the country are calling on peers to preserve it.

A picket line erupted earlier this week on Highline’s campus, organized by Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) members across Highline staff. Nearly two dozen people showed up to show support for equal pay. 

For the past year and a half, WPEA, a labor union for state workers, has been in a slow-moving, locked argument with Washington’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) over contract negotiations – specifically, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).

During their “Chill & Chat” event the Public Speaking Center (PSC) introduced their updated space to campus students, and displayed this core value of their work during the day’s events. “Everyone, without exception, has something important to say,” reflected the PSC director, Professor Amy Rider King. 

For the PSC’s limited summer hours, they hope to attain lofty goals. They are looking to engage with all of Highline, and broaden communication comfortability.

Highline’s 57th Arcturus launch party was an incredibly talented showing. Students from diverse backgrounds shared their amazing stories, poems, videos, music, and more.

The Arcturus is a student-led editorial magazine that puts together submissions from students on and off campus into one artful magazine. This student art exhibition celebrated its 57th edition in 2025. Of course it wasn’t an easy experience for those who submitted.

Summer quarter has arrived, and for the first time in recent history, the ThunderWord is staying open to keep campus connected.

During this condensed quarter, our limited operations will include briefs and recaps on campus events, our continuing coverage of Highline’s MaST Center, and periodic updates on local and national news. 

Highline’s Q-Center hosted an opportunity to learn about the history of body modification practices in LGBTQ spaces, with a special presentation by guest speaker and professional piercer Lynn Loheide.

On May 28 Thunderbirds united in Mt. Olympus to learn about everything from piercings, stretchings, tattoos, their evolutions and how to safely manage them.

Do you love theatre, watching musicals, listening to musical soundtracks, and discovering new shows? If so, then one of Highline’s newest clubs might be just the club for you! On Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m., in Building 7, the Drama Club will be meeting weekly starting June 10. 

Drama Club is a space for students at Highline to socialize and discuss musicals, plays, and any other theatre-related activities that interest them.

After 15 years, the partnership between Highline College and Akin has come to a close. The childcare center, located on the south side of campus, will be closing the doors at the end of August.

The center has been used by the community for childcare as well as educational purposes for students in education and nursing. 

Everyday at Highline, students and faculty of virtually every background work side-by-side, each benefitting from one another’s own character and sacrifice.

Each student eventually finds themself at one of the many spots on campus marked with the US and POW MIA flag, maybe feeling the shade pass over them, and often not registering the full meaning behind what it represents.

Last week, Highline college hosted their Pink Prom with drag performances by Delyla Dalyte, Caesar Hart, and Tyra.

Building 8 served as a beacon of inclusivity, with stickers, bracelets, buttons, and flashing giveaways at the entrance for everyone to find a representation of identity to wear.

Highline’s Got Talent was able to bring people together to witness the contestants’ array of talents. Students, faculty, and even family members, showcased individual skills and abilities and showed off their passions in a celebratory environment to their community.

Talent shows are timeless, and Highline’s display of skills took place on Thursday, May 8 in Building 7 which provided the stage for students to express themselves. Even though the show has started off a little rocky due to the technical issues, everyone was still able to enjoy the show of talent that Highline brought to its audience.

Building 7 was the beating heart of campus one week ago, as the students and faculty who make up Highline’s Achieve Program embodied the tenets of accessibility, diversity, and self-acceptance, further highlighting the importance of Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Day at collegiate institutions nationwide.

In fact, IPSE Day was the perfect opportunity for the crackling conversations between the audience and the student panel arranged by Communication Studies Instructor Amy Rider King, and monitored by Director of Accessibility Resources Julie Pollard and Associate Dean of Accessibility Resources Jenni Sandler.

Building 8, Mt. Townsend welcomed students and community members to its career fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local organizations of all varieties from STEM to military rejoiced under one roof, providing diverse resources to all.

A typical event with a fun twist – Career and Transfer Services made sure to keep Thunderbirds engaged through refreshments and music, as well as a bingo sheet that could be entered in a drawing for fun prizes.

Service and Mentorship Engagement Consultants (SMEC) hosted over 20 local organizations on Apr. 28, in Building 8 Mt. Constance to spread the word about their missions and ways to make a difference.

No matter what you’re passionate about, the Spring Volunteer Fair had a diverse variety of opportunities. From environmental science to human justice, the room was filled with possibilities complimented with music and refreshments.

Highline welcomes back Dr. Rolita Ezeonu as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs after the termination of Dr. Emily Lardner last quarter. Dr. Ezeonu has served as Interim VPAA in the past, from April 2017 to June 2018, before spending the past several years at Green River Community College as the Vice President of Instruction.

“Coming back now feels like a full-circle moment, an opportunity to rejoin a community that aligns with my values and am ready to contribute and be of service during a meaningful time in Highline’s journey,” Dr. Ezeonu said.

The Inter-Cultural Center opened their doors for Earth Day as Highline students filled the room with color to express their creativity through canvas painting. The Q-Center provided all artists with canvases, brushes, and vibrant colors to their heart’s content, along with full creative liberty.

“This is an event about identity and how our identity shapes the future,” said M.B., a professor in Geology & Environmental Science at Highline, aiming to highlight the importance of how climate change affects marginalized groups.

Since the beginning of this year, 300 student visas have been revoked by the current executive administration. This may lead to many visa bearing students asking what protections they have on and off campuses.  

Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk and Alireza Doroudi – if you’re a student on an F-1 or J-1 visa these names might be uncomfortably familiar to you. Without prior official notification, or request to appear before a judge, these students were detained by government officials.

Este trimestre estamos en el cambio de temporada donde las flores están floreciendo, nuevos animalitos saliendo a explorar. 

En este trimestre de primavera, tenemos una variedad de  programas que  se están ofreciendo para  ayudar a los nuevos estudiantes de diferente identidad. 

El primer  grupo es el programa de Trio que ofrece programas para ayudar a los estudiantes latinos o diferentes etnias a tener un año escolar más tranquilo, antes de graduarse en junio.

Highline’s Global Program hosted an event to welcome all international students to the campus in hopes to connect them with other international and domestic students through games.

The Global Program allows students to immerse themselves in global learning opportunities, attend campus events, make connections with students, and connect with advisers to explore exciting careers in international development and diplomacy.

Diverse clubs of many cultural backgrounds and interests united in Building 8, promoting and educating others on opportunities to connect throughout spring quarter.

Whether you’re a student looking for college resources, an up and coming filmmaker, or someone looking for an LGBTQ+ centered community, there’s a club for every Thunderbird at this quarterly event.

In wanting to create a welcoming community where students and staff could learn more about Ramadan practices and the significance of it, the Global Student Ambassador (GSA) members planned an event where you could do that, and more – like learning about Islamic art, culture, and charity, all while creating strong relations with people from diverse backgrounds.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is considered to be one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims show respect to the revelation of the Qur’an.

As another busy quarter draws to a close, all Thunderbirds can relate to burnout. The feeling of cramming for that final exam, while your partner won’t respond regarding the group project as your final essay remains untouched, the responsibilities can be exhausting and demotivating.

What is hard to notice is the habits we partake in when we’re stressed, and how some minimal changes make a noticeable difference in our energy and mood.

Highline students flocked to the Global Student Ambassadors’ (GSA) “Arts Around the World” event last month to celebrate traditional arts and crafts from various cultures. The GSA organized the activities with the hope of fostering relationships across cultural boundaries within the four hour event.

Jeffery Kunick, who is the supervising organizer of the event, elaborates further on this shared goal of the organization. “One of our missions here as a global student ambassador is to bring international and domestic students together.”

With all the commotion that came from the Biden administration’s efforts toward student loan forgiveness, a certain question has to be answered: Why do we pay for college? Well, for starters, we pay because it’s not free like public schooling. Primary schools are free because they’re funded by taxes and the state (technically).

Theoretically, you do pay for primary school, just not directly. There’s a basic education fund for every student, then schools can also ask for grants for specific programs, like Drama Club. Then, of course, there are levies, which are like grants, but they’re paid for by the communities around the school.

For the past three years, The Hub, a higher education center located in Federal Way, Wash., has attempted to bridge educational gaps by supporting Highline students, running start students through Federal Way Public schools, as well as working adults looking for continuing education. 

“Through a partnership with Highline College, the University of Washington Tacoma, the City of Federal Way and Federal Way Public Schools, The Hub provides access to post-secondary and adult education to the Federal Way community,” states The Hub’s website.

Highline, in partnership with Shirlyn Mwangi and the Akin’s Family Foundation, held a teddy bear event to raise awareness and donations for children living in harsh conditions, such as dysfunctional families and poverty. 

They hoped to show appreciation for the children of our community and bring awareness to the major situations that children in America are likely to suffer from and tell about what impact it has on them from childhood all the way to adulthood.

Highline College hosted the fourth annual Umoja Black Business Expo this past Wednesday. From 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Building 8 Mt. Constance was home to a diverse collection of art and culture, from shirts and jewelry to massages and haircuts, all made with love and pride.

30+ vendors participated in this event celebrating Black History Month, coming together to promote their small businesses. This time, they were accompanied by live music provided by Vibe Bingo.

To kick off a new peer mentorship program, the lead advisor and a few members held an event “Espresso Yourself: Meet Your Mentor” to help other students connect with each other and connect with a group of mentors who were able to answer questions and help the mentors network with students.

As a way to introduce the peer mentorship program, the event’s main goal was to bring students and mentors together while also building a community, with the students being able to connect to the mentors and have long conversations.

Accessible, affordable, and free—these were the key themes championed by the Washington Community and Technical College Students Association (WACTSA) during the 2025 Legislative Advocacy Day in Olympia, Wash.

Working to address the needs and concerns of two-year college students, The Washington Community and Technical College Student Association, which includes Highline College as a member, is a coalition of student governments from across the state who work to advocate with a collective voice.

The “Arcturus”, a student published literary magazine, put out their calls last week for the 2025 edition, opening the doors for writers, poets, visual artists, and creators to submit their works for this year’s publication, the 57th edition of the award-winning literary magazine. 

Instructor Jamie Wilson invites everyone on campus, whether student, staff, faculty, and alumni to share fiction or nonfiction stories, poems, and visual art in “an award winning journal that celebrates the diverse voices and talents of our Highline community.”

Over the past week, many schools have closed their doors due to snowy weather conditions.

Most of the schools in the area, such as our very own Highline College, Green River Community College, and Pacific Lutheran University, experienced delays throughout the week as a result of the snow, with cancelled classes or classes starting around two or more hours later than usual.

The combination of full time work and study is a reality for so many students, and maintaining performance can seem impossible. Some may think that you’ve got to choose between self-care and success, but the science may show something more promising: perhaps prioritizing mental health is the secret of mastering work and study.

Self-care has become a somewhat ubiquitous term, often vaguely referring to face masks and spa treatments, but actually applying it highlights the secret weapon that every student should already have in their arsenal: time management.

To celebrate Tết, the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) and Global Student Ambassadors (GSA) hosted an event where you could enjoy delicious Vietnamese food, play fun games and activities with your friends, get mystery gifts, and take fun pictures in a photo booth.

Tết is the commonly used name of the Vietnamese New Year but it originally came from Tết Nguyên Đán, which means “Festival of the First Morning of the First Day.” Tết has also been called the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year.

Highline’s sports Pavilion is dimly lit at night casting shadows of insecurity about the safety of attending games after dark. Mapped as Building 28, you could almost forget it exists, sitting in the far corner of the staff parking lot.

If you are going there from campus, access resides under the Library cliff,  a steep drop or a long flight of stairs with low lighting, leaving one to wonder how safe it is to attend evening events.

As students return to Highline for the winter quarter, they may notice some construction zones on campus. While these projects might cause temporary disruptions, they are part of a larger plan to enhance campus infrastructure and improve facilities for years to come.

From updating aging storm and sewer lines to adding new security features, these efforts are designed to keep the campus running smoothly and safely.

The Discovery Fair is one of the events during ThunderWeek that helps students discover campus resources available to them as well as student clubs.

ThunderWeek is a week of programs held by Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) and the Center for Cultural and Inclusive Excellence (CCIE). Its main goal is to welcome Highline students to the campus.

As Highline opens up its doors to 2025, its students are primed to take on the next chapter of their education with the kind of vigor you’d normally find with elite sports teams or characters from the Avengers.

Superheroes are not the only ones with academic, social, and personal excellence, however; for that, you don’t have to look further than Highline’s own campus.

The Highline College Wellness Center, a hidden resource available on the first floor in the biology building (Building 26), offers a wonderful space for exercise, to de-stress, and connect with other members of the community. 

The Wellness Center offers a wide variety of equipment and hours, providing the Highline College community with a dedicated space to improve cardiovascular health, muscular strength and endurance, body composition, and flexibility.

As we wrap up Highline’s fall quarter of 2024, the Thunderword would like to take a few steps back to highlight the memories made, events attended, and wonderful community the campus has fostered. 

As fall brought in its crisp breeze and cooler temperatures, Highline College brought along some special events and info-packed activities.

With the end of the 2024 fall quarter, the Thunderword staff wishes to say happy holidays until next quarter!

Finals week will take place beginning Tuesday, Dec. 10, with grades available the next Wednesday, Dec. 18. The winter quarter will begin on Jan. 6.

With the season approximately a third of the way over, the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks’ season isn’t shaping up the way fans were hoping, tallying a mediocre 3-3 record over the first six games.

The quest to become repeat champions (an achievement that has only be accomplished by two teams since the turn of the century) has been hampered by costly turnovers and a stagnate offense.

Many athletes who have played any sort of sport have dreamed of getting a college scholarship or just playing their sport on the collegiate level. They train and practice ritually to insure their success in that sport. But the jump from high school athletics to college athletics can be a vast one for many athletes.

Taking that step to the next level can be an exciting one, but also one that doesn’t come without hardship, hard work, and some growing pains. The two levels of competition (and the expectations that come with each) differ and understanding and navigating those changes can often be the difference in making that transition a smooth one.

The Seattle Kraken have finished up their sixth preseason and with that prospective players for the season have finished up what could be considered their final audition to make the final roster.

As a relatively newer team, they’re still gaining their footing in the league. The Kraken have only made the playoffs one time and overall have been considered a very middling team. It doesn’t help their reputation that the team that joined at the same time as them — the Vegas Golden Knights — not only made the playoffs for the 2025-26 season but they also reached the Stanley Cup Final, but were bested by the reigning champions, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Gout Gout, the 19-year-old sprinter, had his 200m record officially recognized. 

In Sydney, Australia in April of this year, Gout Gout ran a 19.67 second 200m sprint. This score got ratified on Tuesday, June 2, of this year, marking him as the Junior World Record holder. His runner up, Aidan Murphy, also became a record holder as he ran a 19.88 second 200m. This is Australia’s second fastest time. Three other people also set a record at that event.

The NBA Finals will see the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs face off in a repeat matchup of the 1999 Finals. The teams faced off in the 2025 NBA cup that occurred in this year’s regular season; a game in which the Knicks won out. Game 1 of this prestigious event kicked off last night in the Spurs’ home arena with the Knicks off to a winning start.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals concluded Wednesday, June 3, and the Knicks pulled off a come-from-behind win over the Spurs. The Knicks are currently on a 12-game win streak and currently have all the momentum. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs still feel confident in the series and have experience in being behind in a series.

Rookie guard Flau’jae Johnson has the Seattle Storm’s fanbase abuzz with excitement, even in her short time with the franchise. Seattle’s fanbase is one of the most loyal in the league, a community that held onto the Storm when the Sonics were taken away and built a culture of resilience and pride around women’s basketball.

The crowd that cheers on the Storm is a mix of longtime WNBA loyalists, former NBA fans searching for a home, and people who come for the sense of community the Storm creates. The energy inside Climate Pledge Arena feels like a heartbeat: steady, loud, and deeply rooted in the city’s identity. And that energy has been sparked anew thanks to the arrival of the young, promising athlete, bringing a new beat to the pulse of the Storm; which is fitting, because she is not just an athlete but also a musician, with a successful rap career.

The Thunderbird athletes were hard at work throughout the spring quarter. With the softball team and the men’s golf team both taking swings throughout their respective seasons, let’s take a look at how both teams ended their 2026 season.

The NBA Playoffs are well underway, and the First Round of the playoffs have concluded. As the top teams of the two conferences duke it out to continue their seasons until the conclusion of the tournament, where the best team of the Eastern and Western Conference will face off in the NBA Finals. 

Currently, we are in the tail-end of the Conference Semifinals of the playoffs for the 2025-2026 NBA year. The hunt for the Larry O’Brien Championships trophy continues for six remaining teams.

The SheBelieves Summit is U.S. Soccer’s premier leadership platform, bringing together influential voices across sports, business, media and culture to inspire and drive the next generation of women leaders.

The speaker line up was absolutely incredible including: U.S. women’s soccer coach Emma Hayes; philanthropist and founder of Pivotal Melinda French Gates; forward for the U.S. Women’s national team Ally Sentnor; Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) alum Julie Foudy and two-time Olympic Gold medalist and 10-time World Champion Hilary Knight, and more!

The 2026 NBA Playoffs are underway as 16 teams advanced to the post-season and will fight it out for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The playoffs ofically kicked off on April 14, and after the play-in tournament, we got our matchups for the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

This year’s playoff looks quite exciting and perhaps a changing of guards of stars of the 2010s no longer in the limelight. A new guard of players who have recently made some noise like the dominant Thunder team, the resurgence of the San Antonio Spurs, and the hungry, young Eastern Conference contenders.

There is a contender for a new world record holder for the fastest man alive. Gout Gout, an 18 year old Australian runner, broke Usain Bolt’s record from when he was 17 in the Senior Australian Championships. 

Gout ran a 19.67 second 200 meter dash. This is faster than Usain Bolt’s time at 17 years old, who is the current world record holder for the 200 meter sprint. His time at age 17 was 19.93 seconds. Bolt never improved on his time while he was a teenager, but he set the world record when he was 22 years old.

As the NHL’s main season comes to a close, and a number of teams prepare for the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Seattle Kraken are preparing for the next season. On April 11, 2026, the Kraken were officially eliminated from the playoffs after a long string of losses. 

After four players competed in the 2026 Olympics (none for the U.S. team) the Kraken went from a team with a decent standing this season – with a solid chance at representing the Pacific Division in the playoffs. Instead, they fell apart, ending their season with a 34-36 record, putting them sixth in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and out of the playoffs.

The Mariners have been a hot topic in Seattle following the start of the MLB season just a few weeks ago. All eyes are on the field for the first time since their widely celebrated success in the 2025 playoffs, hoping to build off of the momentum of last season, notable changes are already taking place in Seattle baseball.

At the end of last season, ecstatic fans filled T-mobile park to witness the first players in history to bring Seattle so deep in the playoffs. The Mariners advanced to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time in over 20 years during their historic 2025 run.

Barcelona returned to the top of LaLiga with a convincing 3-0 win over Levante at the Spotify Camp Nou, taking advantage of Real Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Osasuna. The victory moved Barcelona to 61 points after 25 games, one point above Real Madrid, reclaiming their position at the summit.

After suffering back to back defeats to Atlético Madrid and Girona, Hansi Flick’s side responded strongly. Marc Bernal opened the scoring just minutes after kickoff, marking his second goal of the season. The goal came after a carefully worked move that saw Eric García deliver the ball into the danger area, where Bernal reacted quickly to tuck the ball past Mathew Ryan.

Alysa Liu’s gold-medal winning return to figure skating has served as a global reminder of determination, moderation, and self-care. Liu has spoken openly about her struggles to return following a record-setting run in her early teenage years, but now, at 19, she is redefining an athlete’s relationship with their sport, and inspiring others as she goes. 

Liu began her figure skating career at five years old, going on to become the youngest female skater to earn gold at the 2016 U.S. championships, winning by less than a point. She continued to collect medals and reverence, and eventually announced her retirement in 2022 following the World Championships and the Beijing Olympics.

The Highline men’s and women’s 2025-2026 basketball season has unfortunately come to an end. Both teams worked incredibly hard everyday and it showed throughout the season. Every game, they wanted it even more than the last. Highline continues to show that they are top competitors in the North West Athletic Conference (NWAC). 

Highline exhibited amazing community and culture, and you see it on the court and in the stands. Both teams showed how Highline competes at this level – with great sportsmanship and tenacity. The men ended their season with a 7-7 in conference record, going 14-17 overall. The women’s season tallied a 7-5 in conference record and went 9-15 overall – with the addition of the woman making it to the NWAC tournament.

Highline men and women’s basketball both had inspired seasons. However, with regular season play concluding, the teams take divergent paths – the men’s season ends falling just short of the postseason, while the women are set to embark on the playoffs this weekend, with eyes set on a championship.

The Thunderbird women head to Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash., to play in the postseason tournament. Their first match, in the Sweet 16 round, is slated for this Friday, March 6, tipping off at noon.

Girona defeated FC Barcelona 2-1 at Montilivi in a dramatic Catalan derby, a result that cost Barcelona the top spot in La Liga and left them two points behind Real Madrid. The match was intense from the beginning and full of important moments, missed chances, and controversial decisions that ultimately decided the outcome.

The game started at a high tempo, with Girona showing early energy and forcing goalkeeper Joan García into action within the first minute. Barcelona struggled to control possession at times but still created several dangerous chances. Lamine Yamal was heavily involved in the attack and had two close-range opportunities that he failed to convert. In one key moment, he broke through on goal and attempted a chip over goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, but the keeper reacted quickly and made the save.

Highline women and men won a well-fought game Wednesday night, taking Tacoma Community College down once again.

In the Feb. 25 matches, the men and women played their hearts out on sophomore night. The men won 98-86, a game with high energy and grit – a stimulating one to be at. And the women clutching up 60-57, a definite nail biter and a game getting people out of their seats.

Atletico Madrid crushed Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, taking a commanding advantage ahead of the return match. A disastrous first half and early mistakes left Barcelona with a huge task to overcome in the second leg.

The game started in the worst possible way for Barcelona. Eric Garcia made a simple back pass to goalkeeper Joan Garcia, but the ball went under his foot and crossed the goal line. It was an early mistake that gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 lead in just seven minutes.

With a dominant second half comeback, Barcelona defeated Copenhagen 4-1, securing a top-eight finish in the league phase of the Champions League and punching their ticket to the round of 16.

The game started the worst possible way for Barça: In the beginning of the first half after a defensive error by Barcelona, Copenhagen played a through ball in between the Blaugrana center-backs to beat the offside trap, and Dadason was all alone with Joan Garcia and scored the opener and gave Copenhagen a 1-0 lead. It was the type of goal Barça always concedes in Europe, and it was extremely frustrating to watch.

Super Bowl LX captured the attention of fans across the country as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots to re-claim the NFL championship for the second time in franchise history.

On Feb. 8, the Seahawks clinched their second Super Bowl title with a 29–13 victory over the Patriots in Santa Clara, Calif., at Levi’s Stadium, showcasing a dominant performance on both sides of the ball. Although, it was not their first time winning the Super Bowl, it was the first time they won in twelve years.

The T-birds had some exciting games this past week with the men and women heading down to Pierce College. Both teams came away from the match up victorious over their Raider counterparts.

In the Feb. 7 match, the women showed grit and determination, defeating Pierce 46-40 in a come-from-behind win. The Thunderbirds outscored Pierce 20-7 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

FC Barcelona were crowned champions of the 2026 Spanish Super Cup after defeating Real Madrid 3–2 in a thrilling El Clásico final played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Brazilian winger Raphinha stole the spotlight with two goals, sealing back-to-back Super Cup titles for the Catalan side and extending their record to 16 overall triumphs.

After a tense opening period, Barcelona struck first through Raphinha, who finished confidently after moments earlier missing a similar chance. Real Madrid responded in spectacular fashion during first-half stoppage time, with Vinícius Júnior producing a brilliant solo run to level the score.

In front of a loud, energetic, and sold-out crowd, the Seattle Seahawks earned their right to play in Super Bowl LX by defeating their rival, the Los Angeles Rams, in a thrilling 31-27 victory at Lumen Field. With the win, the Seahawks become the NFC Champions and are set to appear in the Super Bowl for the first time since 2015 and for the fourth time in franchise history.

The Super Bowl will take place in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, where the Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots. The Seahawks vs. the Patriots sets up a rematch from the infamous 2015 Super Bowl XLIX.

It has been a hair raising, nail biting week for the Highline Thunderbird basketball teams. The Highline men and women both had competitive games against Lower Columbia Community College and Tacoma Community College.

Both the men and women had upsetting games against Lower Columbia on Jan. 24, but they were quite the war.

The Seattle Seahawks didn’t leave room for debate in their latest matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. From the opening kick to the final whistle, Seattle controlled the game, using explosive special teams play and a suffocating defensive performance to secure a decisive 41-6 win that felt as symbolic as it was significant.

Seattle set the tone immediately. A jolt from special teams ignited the stadium as electric returner Rashid Shaheed returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Shaheed handed the Seahawks instant momentum and energy before the 49ers could establish any rhythm.

The Spanish Super Cup final’s two opponents have been set through a couple of hard-fought matches, with Barcelona and Real Madrid coming out on top and ready to take on each other in the final matchup. Barcelona was the first to stamp their ticket to the final by taking care of Athletic Club in a decisive 5-0 victory. Then Real Madrid pushed past Atletico Madrid 2-1 to earn their chance to fight for the cup.

Both victories have earned each respective team a chance to win it all and sets up a dynamic final, sure to thrill fans as each team fights for the cup. Although the upcoming final match may be the most important one, each team has already battled to earn their spot in the final.

After a long, unpredictable regular season, only 14 NFL teams remain at the beginning of postseaon play, each just a few games away from reaching Super Bowl LX, where only one team will leave as the Super Bowl LX champion with the Lombardi Trophy. 

The NFL’s playoffs brings together seven teams from each conference, one being the American Football Conference (AFC) and the other National Football Conference (NFC) – creating a mix of division winners and wild-card teams.

Although the regular season has ended for both Highline men’s and women’s basketball, league play is starting for both teams. The men’s team faced Green River on Wednesday, Jan. 7, which was an unfortunate loss for the team; but the boys looked like they had a lot more connection and chemistry huddling at each dead ball. 

Sophomore forward Jackson Owens, while commenting about the regular season, said, “We had our ups and downs during the regular season but we have been working hard at practice as a team and coming together to get ready for league. I want to make it to the tournament again.”

Looks like former veteran safety Quandre Diggs is heading back to the Seattle Seahawks.

In a move that brings both familiarity and proven talent back to Seattle’s defensive backfield, veteran safety Diggs confirmed on social media on Nov. 25, 2025, that he will re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks. He initially will be joining the practice squad, according to ESPN.

The Highline men’s basketball started the regular season with an exciting win. Playing against Whatcom the Thunderbirds took home the victory with a score of 80-72 on Nov. 13.

Next, the team split a set of away games. On the road playing Portland Community College was a great game to watch, but an unfortunate loss. During the Nov. 18 game, the final scoreboard read 80-72, just like their last game, but this time with Highline coming up on the trailing end of the score.

The Highline Men’s Soccer team took home the long awaited championship title at this year’s Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) Championship. With a final record of 18-0-3, the team had an exceptional 2025 season. 

Winning a championship was no small feat after ending the 2024 season just shy of glory – placing second in the 2024 NWAC Championship.

Veronica Garcia is a grade twelve trans athlete who competes for Tumwater High School in Spokane Wash. She runs both cross country and track and field. During last year’s academic year, she competed at the state level for the 400 meter dash, where she placed first. Garcia also joined the girls 4×4 team, as they took home the third place trophy – against her teammates wishes.

The Seattle Mariners stunning season ended on Monday night, coming up one run shy of advancing to the World Series. Entering game seven of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), the Mariners needed one more victory to advance to their first-ever World Series.

However, that dream was halted with a 4-3 defeat to the American League’s number one ranked team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Highline women’s volleyball team captured a great victory on Wednesday Oct. 8, ending with a score of 3-0, bringing energy and momentum into their next match, taking place on Friday. After a hard-fought battle, the Thunderbirds came out on top and set the tone for their next game. 

This win is particularly meaningful given how the team has been navigating adversity. Highline’s roster is one of the youngest in the NWAC, featuring 10 freshmen and just two sophomores.

Seattle is buzzing. On the weekend of Oct. 4-5, nearly 200,000 fans filled stadiums across the city – chanting at T-Mobile Park, screaming at Lumen Field, and waving scarves for the Sounders. Everywhere you looked, the city was alive with jerseys, noise, and pride.

It’s been a while since Seattle’s sports scene felt this electric. The Mariners are back in the playoffs and chasing their first World Series run in over two decades. The Seahawks are proving they are far from done, showing flashes of the energy that made the 12s famous. And the Sounders? They’re still dominating, keeping Seattle on top of the soccer world.

The Seattle Mariners will play in the postseason this year. Not only did they win their division, the Mariners locked in the No. 2 seed of the American League (AL). The last time the Mariners experienced a division title was 24 years ago, when the in 2001 squad won a record-setting 116 games.

This high seeding ensures that the Mariners will have home field advantage throughout the AL playoffs (unless they have to meet the No. 1 seeded Blue Jays in the AL Championship).

The Highline’s men’s soccer team is gearing up for its new season following the defeat at the end of last year that saw the Thunderbirds skill clash with bad luck. Now, they are fueled up for the 2025-2026 season, with a solid foundation, a new roster, and returning Coach Skyler Roehr. So far, they have won all but a single tie in the early season.

The Seattle Kraken have officially ushered in a new chapter by appointing Lane Lambert as their third head coach in franchise history. With experience and vision for the future, Lambert’s arrival marks an exciting time for Kraken fans eager to see their team take the next step.

Announced on May 29, 2025, this strategic move follows the dismissal of Dan Bylsma after a single season, during which the team posted a 35-41-6 record and missed the playoffs for the third time in four years.

Following the ending of this year’s NWAC tennis championship and Highline’s women’s tennis taking home the women’s tennis title, the morning of May 5, 2025, NWAC announced their discontinuation of the sponsorship of men’s and women’s tennis within the conference. 

This discontinuation will impact Highline College, Bellevue College, Treasure Valley Community College, and Spokane Falls Community College.

The men’s golf team closed out league play this weekend at the Spokane Invitational, held May 10–11, finishing ninth in a competitive invitational. Despite the final standings, the tournament served as a meaningful benchmark for a young team gaining experience one round at a time.

The event featured nine teams from across the region, with Columbia Basin College capturing first place with a team score of +5. Bellevue and host school, Spokane, followed closely – both tying for second at +7. With individual rounds in the low 70s and some standout second-day performances, the tournament made one thing clear: the level of play across the NWAC is as strong as it’s ever been.

The Highline College women’s tennis team ended their season on a high note, winning the 2025 NWAC Championship on Saturday with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Treasure Valley at the Yakima Tennis Club.

It’s the program’s second title, and, with the NWAC tennis program ending, they go out as the final champions.

As Highline’s softball team continues through their first season back in NWAC play, they find themselves struggling all around, in conference and non-conference matchups. 

The team currently stands in last place in the west conference, with a 2-25 conference record, and a 2-33 overall record. Although, the team’s record does not reflect on the hard work these players put in every day, on and off the field.

It’s been a season of learning and perseverance for the Highline College men’s golf team, which recently wrapped up two challenging weekends on the course at the Columbia Basin and Skagit Valley Invitationals.

Finishing ninth out of nine teams at both events, the Thunderbirds may not have cracked the leaderboard, but they’re far from out of the fight.

The Highline College women’s tennis team just concluded a tough three-match stretch on the road, and although the final results weren’t in their favor, their fight and enthusiasm never wavered. From rough starts to tough moments, the Thunderbirds showed great courage, and some players made it clear they are players to watch this season.

It all began on April 6 at The College of Idaho, where Highline faced a strong opponent and fell 6-1. It was a tough start to the trip, but it set the stage for what was to come: a team that refined its game and learned from every match.

Priscila Heldes, a Brazilian volleyball player and former national team setter, brought global attention to herself after appearing in one of Fluminense’s Brazilian championship matches – while five months pregnant.

“A magical experience” is how Heldes, Fluminense’s setter, described the experience of playing in the Women’s Superliga while pregnant with her son Emanuel.

The 2024-25 softball season has been challenging for Highline, marked by a string of losses, tough opponents, and constant weather delays. From the first pitch in February to their final game in early April, the team struggled to find their rhythm, finishing with a 2-19 record overall and 2-11 in the conference.

Things started rough with an opening-day loss to Grays Harbor, followed by a rained-out game. As the season progressed, the team faced stiff competition in both non-conference and league play. Despite some promising flashes, such as their back-to-back wins against Shoreline on March 12, the T-Birds couldn’t maintain the momentum.

The Highline College women’s tennis team returned to NWAC play with a well-deserved 6-3 victory over Treasure Valley Community College. The March 15 match, was played on Highline’s home court, the Boeing Employee Tennis Center in Kent at 8:30 a.m.

The day began with singles matches, where the Thunderbirds gained momentum by winning four of six matches. Highline’s top singles player, Sophia Crosby, put on a powerful performance, defeating Treasure Valley’s Elena Henry in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.

The Lower Columbia Red Devils secured their spot in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) Men’s Basketball Championship game with a dramatic 61-58 victory over the Highline Thunderbirds in the Final Four matchup at Columbia Basin College. 

The win marks Lower Columbia’s first trip to the championship game since 2010, a milestone achievement for head coach Mickey Polis and his squad. The Red Devils’ last championship victory came in 2005 as part of a back-to-back title run.

Baseball is back in Seattle, but at what cost? After ending yet another season without a playoff appearance from the Mariners, fans are still hopeful the team has what it takes to make an October run. To hear a more in depth analysis of the Mariners 2024 season, read here. 

After a long six month off-season, the Mariners front office has been quiet. In January, the club agreed to a one year, 3.5 million dollar contract with infielder Donovan Solano. Along with Rowdy Tellez and Miles Mastobouni, who all made the opening day roster for the 2025 season.

The Thunderbirds continue their Cinderella run in the 2025 NWAC Men’s Basketball Championship, punching their ticket to the Final Four after back-to-back upset victories over top-seeded Skagit Valley and east conference No. 2 Spokane at Columbia Basin College.

With the victories, Highline advances to its first NWAC Final Four since 2014. The Thunderbirds will face a familiar opponent in west conference No. 1 seed Lower Columbia on March 15 at 5 p.m., looking to continue their magical postseason run.

Highline College’s women’s tennis team started their conference run, and found ease within the matchups. The team took on Bellevue College, winning 6-3 as a team. They also took on Spokane College, which ended in a 9-0 sweep for the Thunderbirds. 

During the team’s home opener matchup against Bellevue, they found themselves focused on the court, no matter what was thrown at them. Standout players for the night included Sophia Crosby and Caley Buchan, who both took wins in their singles and doubles matches.

The recent trading of QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, the fulfillment of WR DK Metcalf’s trade request (he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers), and the release of Seahawks veteran WR Tyler Lockett, has sent many fans up in arms, as the Seahawks pursue a path of change in the 2025 offseason.

Lockett, a fan favorite, was released from the Seahawks on Wednesday, March 5, as a salary cap casualty – thus bringing an end to a decade of one of the best receiver careers in team history. Although this may be a shock to some fans, this move was not one that was unknown to Lockett.

The road to the quarterfinals was anything but easy, as the Thunderbirds struggled in the competitive West Region. The Highline College men’s basketball team will face Skagit Valley in the NWAC Championship quarterfinals on Friday, March 7 at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Wash. 

Highline comes into the game with a 19-10 overall record, finishing 7-7 in conference play. The team showed off its progress with notable wins, including a resounding 118-103 victory over Olympic and a hard-fought 86-84 win against Mt. Hood during the Clackamas Holiday Showcase.

As Highline’s women’s basketball team closes out their 2024-25 season, they hold their heads high. The team found themselves in a new position this season, having the addition of new head coach, Emil Swain. The team was also assisted with the help of assistant coaches Vivienne McClean and Tiana Pye.

Swain was able to give a solid foundation to his team, and created energy within each matchup. The players kept 100% energy every time they entered the court, and maintained it even if they were losing.

The Highline College men’s basketball team has officially punched its ticket to the NWAC playoffs after a solid series of performances down the stretch. The Thunderbirds showed their talent, earning a well-deserved spot in the postseason.

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Highline pulled off a resounding 81-66 win over Grays Harbor. Isaiah Vargas led the charge with a stellar 27-point performance, adding eight rebounds and seven assists to his impressive stat line.

The Highline men’s basketball team is facing the last of their regular games but the playoff qualification is slipping away, as the Thunderbirds find themselves ranked fourth overall. And with South Puget Sound already qualified, there is only one spot left.

The last few games have been a rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs. An overtime loss to Green River (82-79) set the tone for a challenging week, but they bounced back with a solid 74-67 win over Pierce. However, they couldn’t keep the momentum going and fell 78-68 to South Puget Sound. Despite the setback, they outlasted Centralia in a closely contested game (75-74) and cruised to a resounding win against Grays Harbor, 81-66, showcasing their ability to dominate when everything clicks.

The Philadelphia Eagles got their revenge on Sunday for their Super Bowl loss two years back, dismantling the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 for their second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

The game was not as close the final score may suggest. By the time the first half concluded, the Eagles had 24 points scored while the Chiefs had 23 total offensive yards, for 0 points. By the third quarter the Eagles commanded a 34-0 lead, the largest lead in the Super Bowl since the Seahawks led the Broncos 36-0 in 2014.

As the 2024-25 NWAC women’s tennis season approaches, Highline College is focused on building upon last year’s success and making a strong bid for the championship. The Thunderbirds finished the 2023-24 season with an 8-8 overall record and a perfect 6-0 conference mark, but fell just short in the NWAC Championship final against Spokane. 

With having the largest team in program history, and a mix of returning standouts and promising newcomers, the team is determined to reclaim the NWAC title.

As Highline’s men’s basketball team gets into the groove of winter quarter, they continue to add to the excitement of their 2025 season. They have found themselves in nail-biter matchups that keep fans coming back for more. 

On Wednesday Jan. 29, the Thunderbirds hosted an electric NWAC conference matchup versus Tacoma Community College.

The Highline College women’s basketball team has seen highs and lows in their latest outings. The team delivered a commanding performance to defeat Tacoma 67-43 on Jan. 29 before falling 63-56 to Green River on Feb. 5.

Against Tacoma, Highline took control from the start, leading 13-9 in the first quarter and extending their lead with a 14-4 second quarter. They outscored Tacoma 24-21 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Though Highline’s women’s basketball team has struggled in the beginning of the season, they have found a way to win in conference matchups.

Currently sitting with a 3-11 overall record, two of the team’s wins have come from NWAC conference matches. 

Universal Dance Association (UDA) dance nationals is the largest college dance showcase in the dance world and on Jan. 17-19 colleges and universities from all around the country competed in the 2025 UDA dance nationals in Orlando, Fla. 

Qualifying universities and colleges compete in three categories: pom, jazz, and hip hop. They are then categorized by the size of school and NCAA status (D1A, D1, and open).

As we are halfway through the winter sports season, Highline’s spring sports are starting to get into action. Highline’s spring sports include men’s golf, women’s softball, and women’s tennis. 

Women’s tennis is by far the most anticipated sport during the spring, with them ending last year’s season as the runners up for first place in the NWAC final championship. Last season, the team went undefeated in conference play, and went 8-8 overall.

Cheerleading, in all its many different forms, is a point of contention amongst sports fans. Some believe that all cheer includes is encouraging the actual sports teams from the sidelines, waving pom-poms about, and leading the crowd in chants. Others see the work and effort put into routines, as well as competition leagues throughout the country.

Cheer requires mastery at many different athletic skills like acrobatics, tumbling, jumps, and stunts. These skills are seen in gymnastics and dance, other competitive sports also contested as sports by the general public.

Sports are evolving, but sports fans have been resistant to growing alongside it. As fans of the game and the culture, sports fans must actively work to cultivate an inclusive environment and fight against bigotry for future sports fans and sports as a whole.

The Philadelphia 76ers were looking rough to start the 2024-25 season. Despite having lots of talent on the team such as league MVP winner Joel Embiid and All Star Tyrese Maxey, success has been hard to come by for this team.

While Highline’s campus was closed for winter break, Highline’s men’s basketball team has been busy in the gym. The Thunderbirds have played 10 matchups over their break, winning eight of those and achieving a five game win streak.

Highline currently holds a 12-4 overall record.

Despite the Seahawks season coming to an end with no playoff appearance, this season has been nothing short of exciting for the young team. The Seahawks ended their season with a 10-7 record, and ended up second in the NFC West division.

With a new head coach, Mike Macdonald, a young team, and a challenging schedule, the Seahawks have pushed through this season with grit. With the highs and lows this season brought, the playoff hunt has been exhilarating.

A cold winter break didn’t stop Highline’s women’s basketball team from continuing their grind on the courts. Over the break, the Thunderbirds participated in four matchups – a highlight was playing in the SWOCC Crossover in Coos Bay, Ore. 

These ladies had some hard matchups over the break, and sadly did not win any of their matchups. However, they continue to show grit in their playing style.

Highline women’s basketball kicked off their 2024-25 season in the middle of November. The Thunderbirds got off to a strong start with a victory, but have struggled since.

Their first official game this season had them take on Shoreline Community College, where they picked up a 58-54 win.

In the Thunderbirds men’s basketball season home debut, they faced a thrilling matchup against Shoreline Community College and walked away with a comeback win at the Thunderdome. 

Highline had a slow start to the offense, closely trailing behind Shoreline to send the Thunderbirds to the locker room at halftime with a score of 31-33.

After a successful season by Highline’s men’s soccer team, their season has come to an end in the NWAC playoffs. Facing off in a tight matchup against East Region second seed Walla Walla, this matchup was decided in overtime. 

The Thunderbirds finish the season with an overall record of 14-2-1. They ended the conference with a 13-0-1 record, and remained undefeated at home. 

The Decatur Gators’ undefeated winning streak finally met an end against the Mount Tahoma Thunderbirds – losing with a score of 23-21 in the first round of the State Tournament.

The Gators maintained a 10-0 record until now for the 2024-25 season, making it to the State Tournament for the first time in Gator history. 

Highline women’s volleyball will continue their stellar season as they advance to the Elite 8 in the NWAC Championship. 

This past weekend at the Thunderdome, the team battled through the regionals bracket, punching their ticket onto the next part of the tournament, earning the second seed for the NWAC West Region.

As Highline’s fall sports come to an end, athletes start preparing for the winter sports season. Here at Highline, the winter sports feature men’s and women’s basketball. 

Men’s basketball is getting prepared for an exciting season, with high expectations for this year. While the women’s team is small but mighty team has a roster full of potential.

As fall sports come to an end at Highline, winter sports are just around the corner. A fan favorite, men’s basketball, returns to the court in less than two weeks for what will hopefully prove to be a thrilling season.

The 2023-24 season ended with an overall 15-14 record (6-8 in conference play) and landed fifth overall in the NWAC West Region standings. Building on their momentum from last year, the team is seeking to add even more success to the season this year.

Thomas Jefferson football recorded their first win of the season, when they prevailed over Kentlake 35-21 in a thrilling Friday night match.

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders and the Kentlake Falcons went head to head with both teams looking to get their first win of the season during this game and they were not gonna hold back.

For the third year in a row, Highline volleyball reigns as they clinched the Northwest Athletic Conference West Region Championship.

The Thunderbirds are currently 26-1 overall, 10-0 in the west region conference, and currently are on a 25-game win streak. 

The Highline women’s soccer team is back and ready to win after not playing during the fall 2023 season.

The Thunderbirds have recorded an impressive 7-3-2 record (5-3-2 in conference) and currently sit in third in conference standings. This new team has shown tremendous pride in the program under new head coach, Marco Monzonhad.

As we come to the middle of the season, the Highline men’s soccer team has truly shown how powerful of a team they can be. With a new head coach, and a demanding set of sophomores, this team truly has what it takes to be a winning team. 

The team is currently has an impressive 9-2-1 record this season, and have gone 8-1 within the NWAC west conference.

Decatur High School’s football team keeps turning heads in the local community by continuing their undefeated streak, beating Skyview, a consensus top ten 4A team, 15-14. 

The game took place under the lights of Federal Way Memorial Stadium, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., where we saw the Decatur Gators (now 5-0) face off with the Skyview Storm (3-2). The Gators managed to hold Skyview to two touchdowns while also coming out on top for a hard fought win.

In true Seattle baseball fashion, the 2024 Mariners season ended without a trip to the postseason. Finishing the season with a 85-77 record, the Mariners missed the postseason by one game – mirroring last season’s tragic ending of falling just short. 

While their playoff aspirations were dashed before the contest, Sunday, Sept. 29, Marked the Mariners’ last game of the regular season. The Mariners went out swinging, ending a disappointing season with a win – beating the Oakland Athletics 6-4 at home.

Through the first half of the season, the Highline Volleyball team has shown how strong the core of their team is and that they are a powerhouse in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC). Thunderbirds have put up an impressive 19-1 record thus far, placing them squarely on top of the NWAC West Region 

Highline Volleyball is currently in the middle of an 18-game win streak, while boasting an impeccable 13-0 record when playing at home and going a perfect 3-0 against conference opponents.

As the Highline Thunderbirds gear up for the upcoming soccer season, the team is buzzing with anticipation under the leadership of newly appointed Head Coach Skyler Roehr. Roehr, who served as the assistant coach last year, steps into his new role with high expectations and a deep-rooted passion for Highline soccer, having played his final season with the Thunderbirds in 2018.

Last season, Highline came heartbreakingly close to capturing the NWAC Men’s Soccer Championship. The Thunderbirds finished as runners-up after a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Peninsula College. The match ended 2-2 after regulation and overtime, and the ensuing shootout extended to 11 rounds before Peninsula secured the title with an 11-10 victory.

Club América won consecutive championships and extended its record of Liga MX titles to 15 after defeating rival Cruz Azul 2-1 on aggregate in the Clausura 2024 final.

Thursday’s first leg ended with a 1-1 draw at Cruz Azul’s Ciudad de los Deportes Stadium. Sunday’s second leg at Club América’s Estadio Azteca ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the team.

The Highline College men’s golf team concluded a commendable season with a notable performance at the NWAC Golf Championship, held at the scenic Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, Wash. Despite the tough competition, Highline standout player David Sibbett achieved a remarkable fourth place individually, underlining his skill and knowledge of the game.

This season, the Highline College golf team competed fiercely in several tournaments, building momentum and showcasing their talents. The culmination of Sibbett’s efforts was evident in the championship, where his performance was a testament to his consistency and ability to excel under pressure.

The 2024 season ends in a second-place finish for the Highline women’s tennis team, as they fell to a Spokane Community College with a 6-3 loss in the championship final. The season proved a rollercoaster of victories and setbacks, culminating in an exciting journey to the NWAC Championship.

Led by coach Laura Rosa, the season saw the team face tough opponents and made the six players truly prove their mettle on the court.

The season began with a dominant performance against Bellevue College, securing a solid 7-0 victory. Highline continued its winning streak with a convincing 7-2 victory over Spokane Community College. However, they faced tough losses against American River College and Menlo College, highlighting the challenges that awaited them.

Baseball was born as the perfect sport, which is at its essence, America’s pastime. A relaxing game where you can spend your whole day at the park with a beer in your left hand and a good friend sitting to your right as you complain to each other about the umpires.

Somewhere along the line someone got confused. Someone thought ‘big number good’ and decided that ‘no baseball is not a relaxing pastime, it needs constant scoring to satisfy the ever shortening American attention span – it needs more hits’.

This infectious idea, this poisoning of the mind started in 1973 as an experiment that went on for too long. Initially this contagion was confined to the American League. It was one of the beautiful oddities of baseball – where one league had the designated hitter (DH) and one did not.

After the recent string of North West Athletic Conference (NWAC) tournaments, the Highline College men’s golf team sits at sixth in the conference. These tournaments were an opportunity to showcase the team’s collective talent and individual prowess, boosting them to their current standing.

At the Olympic Invitational hosted in Port Orchard, Wash., David Sibbett led the charge with a standout performance, clinching first place after a thrilling playoff.

In a thrilling conclusion to their regular season, the Highline College women’s tennis team triumphed over Bellevue with an impressive 7-0 victory, clinching the top spot in their conference and securing a coveted place in the championship title match.

With their eyes set on the prize, the team displayed exemplary skill and determination on the court, leaving no doubt about their readiness for the challenges ahead.

Last Saturday, the Highline women’s tennis team embarked on a journey to Eastern Washington to clash with Spokane Community College, culminating in a thrilling 5-4 victory in favor of the Thunderbirds.

Spokane solidified its status as the toughest contender in the conference, showing its competitive prowess in recent matchups against Bellevue and Treasure Valley Colleges. With only one blemish on their record, a loss to Highline College on the road, this pivotal game determined the conference leader and secured the top playoff spot.

After beating Treasure Valley College with a final score of 6 to 1 in their last match, the women’s tennis team continues to be in a good position for a shot at the title this season.

In last Saturday’s regular season game, where Highline College played as visitors to Treasure Valley College, and emerged victorious, Henleigh Elder was the outstanding player of the match, with a 6-0 victory in singles and in doubles sharing the field with Sophia Crosby; they destroyed the local team with a crushing 8-1.

Fiction lives to show us possibilities of what could be, while horror presents us with numerous atrocities beyond us, monsters that we fear are a reflection of ourselves and our society.

Throughout history, much has changed in the genre, whether it be the books we read, the movies we watch, or the tales we seek. From the oral stories our ancestors told, to the first visualizations of these words, we have always sought the pleasure of being scared.

Tommy Wallach debuted with his 2015 novel “We All Looked Up”, and despite the soap opera written on the page, between the lines is a story about philosophy, the meaning of life, and that you never have to let the world define who you are. It’s a book that can simultaneously make you roll your eyes and make you bawl on the same page. 

The book centers around high school kids in Seattle who are very archetypal in their characters.

Doctor Strange Love meets Wes Anderson in this cautionary tale on climate change and unregulated greed. Tom Cruise is transformed from his iconic action hero character into a satirical amalgamation of out of touch and corrupt billionaires in“Digger”, Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) recent $125 million dollar box office bust. 

After an advertising run that left audiences asking, “What is that movie even about?” Upon release it has been met with mixed love and hate from critics and audiences alike.

You should watch it.

The stage production of the 1984 film, “Footloose”, made famous for its soundtrack and emerging star-quality cast, opened up this weekend at the Renton Civic Theater (RCT) to a nearly packed house and joyful crowd.

The  rock-and-roll classic about healing with community brought our own community together as local artists, from King County high schoolers to longtime musicians, performed for a charmed audience. 

“Euphoria” has gained notoriety over the years for its popularity and influence among Gen-Z viewers. However, much of this popularity isn’t due to the writing at all – it’s due to the distinct aesthetics. 

“Euphoria” has always been known for its unique visuals, style, and sound. With a first season so heavily acclaimed for its excellent cinematography, audiences are left wondering what has happened since then. How did a show so culturally iconic lose its momentum, and how did the well-known aesthetics the show was once known for just…disappear?

In the current days of the streaming era, many people don’t keep physical media like music and movies, since those are seconds away on their phone instead. Slightly older people have developed a superiority complex because some younger folk don’t know what a cassette tape is. 

Yet beneath the jokes and generational teasing lies a more serious conversation about what is lost when entertainment exists only as a digital file or a temporary subscription. Physical media is more than nostalgia. It represents ownership, preservation, and a more personal connection to art that streaming services often fail to replicate.

As anticipation builds for Ariana Grande’s upcoming studio album, “Petal”, Grande is set to release her new single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me”, on May 29, giving fans an early glimpse into what could become one of the singer’s most personal musical eras yet.

Although the song has not officially been released, excitement surrounding the new single has quickly spread across social media platforms following Grande’s announcement of the track and her upcoming album, “Petal,” which is set to release July 31.

The hit show “Euphoria” recently premiered its third and final season after years of anticipation, instantly sparking multitudes of online discussion among fans. Arguably one of the most divisive pieces of television in recent years, the series has gained some of the highest praise as well as some of the harshest criticisms…but why?

The generation-defining HBO series made its debut in 2019, instantly becoming a hit among teenagers. Starring Zendaya and a majority-female cast, the struggles of drug addiction, trauma, and relationships are portrayed through a colorful and glittery lens. Numerous themes of adolescence are explored through carefully curated cinematography, instantly capturing the attention of millions.

In the year 2001, the game studio Konami released “Silent Hill 2” which is not a sequel to “Silent Hill” but its own story. It was loved by the fans for its story, psychological horror, and atmosphere.

Over 20 years later, Konami announced that the beloved game “Silent Hill 2” was going to get a remake set to release for October 2024.

Watching the new Michael Jackson movie feels like stepping into a kaleidoscope. Every turn shows a different color of his life – some bright, some dark – all spinning around the same center: a boy who just wanted to create freely.

The film doesn’t pretend Michael’s world was simple. It shows the politics between the Jackson siblings, the pressure from Joseph, and the way fame wrapped around Michael like a spotlight he couldn’t escape, even when he wanted to.

In a society that worships visual effort, contemporary art has a tendency of provoking distinctly negative reactions among viewers. With time, effort, and results frequently overlapping in the artistic process, simplicity in a final product seems to be an easy target for criticism. Stylistic choices are perceived as an inability to reach standards of what “good art” should be, and age-old debates continue to be rehashed. 

Even the colorful world of artistic expression can’t help being viewed in black and white. Good art requires skill: detailed and time-consuming in the way that impresses people who linger over your shoulder. Good art draws people in. Good art makes sense. 

So what happens when it stops making sense?

Each year, Disney cashes in on the galactic success of the Star Wars franchise, and this year, they counted down to Star Wars Day (May the fourth) with the weekly release of “Maul: Shadow Lord,” which concluded on the fateful day. 

“Maul: Shadow Lord” rose to nearly every expectation set for it. Upon its initial release, the show shot up on the charts, dethroning “Star Wars: Rebels” (2014) as the highest-rated Star Wars show. The hand-painted environments gave the entire show a personal, human touch, which is especially important in a time of AI-riddled animation.

Around April 26, my Facebook feed filled with the same face, the same voice. Old concert clips resurfaced. Grainy recordings from decades ago played again. People were not just celebrating – they were holding on.

It was the birthday of a renowned Hazara singer, Dawood Sarkhosh. But that wasn’t the whole story.

For years, Sarkhosh’s birthday has not been like this. This time felt different. The flood of messages carried something heavier: gratitude, memory, and a quiet, unspoken fear.

Do you feel sad, depressed, unmotivated and feel like you can’t accomplish anything? Then you should watch the 2007 mecha anime “Gurren Lagann”.  

“Gurren Lagann” was made by the animation studio Gainax, the same animation studio that gave us “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, wanting to shift away from Evangelion’s depressing vibe and focus more on breaking limits, perseverance, and fighting against oppression.

Disney+ has reanimated three iconic songs to be signed by the characters, and just in time for the end of National Deaf History Month. The three songs Disney has chosen to reanimate are “The Next Right Thing” from “Frozen 2”, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from “Encanto”, and “Beyond” from “Moana 2”. 

The songs are specifically being animated in American Sign Language (ASL), so that people in the Deaf community or who are hard-of-hearing can also understand and enjoy the music, without having to read closed captions.

Noah Kahan is back with his highly anticipated fourth album, “The Great Divide,” which was released on April 24. Spanning 17 tracks, Kahan grapples with the aftermath of fame and how that has changed his relationship with those close to him and his home state of Vermont. 

The next day, Kahan released the deluxe version of the album called “The Great Divide: The Last of the Bugs,” with four additional songs.

I didn’t come to “SHIRIN: A Novel” for literature. I came because someone once said its author should be silenced.

In late 2012, Taqi Bakhtyari’s second novel, “Gomnami” (Anonymity), sparked outrage in Afghanistan. A radical cleric called it blasphemy—for questioning religious authority, for suggesting that women, not God, are the true creators of life. That was enough to exile him. It was also enough to make me read him.

When stepping into the high-tech, bright-light world of galactic sci-fi media, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Ryan Gosling’s one-man show “Project Hail Mary”, might be the way to go.

Space sci-fi is infamous for its convoluted, intricate scientific systems, its beautiful visuals, and its big, philosophical questions it tries to answer. However, that can be a lot to a new viewer of sci-fi. One of film’s most engaging components is how easy the concepts – ‘sciencey’ or simple – can be understood by the non-seasoned space film vet.

Olivia Rodrigo began phasing into a new era of music for her upcoming album “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” with the lead single “drop dead”, which was released on April 16. Along with the song, Rodrigo released a music video, shot in the Palace of Versailles.

The instrumentation of the song immediately transports the listener to summer, with its breezy, yet upbeat intro, followed by Rodrigo’s soft, yet confident vocals. It’s hard not to picture oneself going for a long drive with the windows rolled down right at sunset on a carefree summer evening while this song is turned way up. The production style is almost reminiscent of songs written for the hit Netflix show, “Heartstopper”, with its synth forward, reverb heavy atmosphere.

Netflix is under fire again in both the public eye and in the courts as Italy rules the most recent price increase unlawful and the companies dismissal of promised releases, leaving many people upset and their wallets drained.

A Roman court recently ruled that price increases over the last seven years were unlawful after lawyers discovered that their contract did not align with the Italian Code of Law and ordered the company to reimburse their customers by refunding the money.

Rising star RAYE (born Rachel Keen) has released her much anticipated sophomore studio album “THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.” It comes three years after her debut “My 21st Century Blues” which was also a long time coming. 

She actually entered the music industry in 2014 after dropping out of the prestigious BRIT School in Croydon, London. It’s the same school artists like Olivia Dean and Adele went to, but for her, she felt “confined”.

Florence + The Machine has released her sixth studio album “Everybody Scream” – a deeply profound work about her ectopic pregnancy miscarriage resulting in a near-death experience. She delivers themes of grief, horror, womanhood, and power through raw writing about the human experience. She asserts her power through the one defining truth of her career in music – that Florence Welch is one of the greats. 

Welch told Zane Lowe in an Apple Music interview, “I was thinking about greatness and the cost of greatness and how with every album I’m like ‘I’m gonna be satisfied with this one, I’m gonna be completely satisfied and have no issues with it’, and how it almost like never happens.”

Jenette McCurdy’s debut novel “Half His Age” is an excellent character-study of angry, insecure, instinctual, 17-year old Waldo, who develops an infatuation with her 40-year-old creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy. McCurdy’s direct and humorous writing examines the patterns we learn in youth that one must outgrow to truly live.

“Half His Age” hits every beat of an entertaining story, with a strong, direct, and hilarious voice behind it all. McCurdy does not pull any punches when laying out the reality of being a 17-year-old girl.

Every decade is known for its horror movie trends and tropes. The 1980s had the rise of slasher movies, the 1990s had a more self-aware and meta response to the prior movies, and the 2000s had hyper-gory “torture porn” movies. The current biggest trend is called “elevated horror”. 

The term can not be attributed to a single person, but instead to the general audience and critical thoughts on the genre at the time. It arose in the mid-2010s to describe art-house style horror movies that prioritize thematic depth and psychological dread.

After much anticipation for his fourth studio album, Harry Styles released “Kiss All the Time, Disco Occasionally,” on Mar. 6. His lead single “Aperture” set the tone for this new era of embracing dance sounds while still holding on to his signature pop flare. 

Although this album received mixed reviews, with the overarching theme of these reviews being that this album was spectacularly “okay,” I found this album to be inspired and fun. While his vocals are more muted throughout this album in comparison to previous projects, there are still occasional moments of lyrical impact.

“Resident Evil Requiem”, the ninth title in the Resident Evil series, brings back a couple of familiar faces and introduces a couple of new ones. We play as both the famous Leon S. Kennedy and our new protagonist FBI tech and intelligence analyst Grace Ashcroft, the daughter of a previous protagonist, Alyssa Ashcroft from “Resident Evil Outbreak”.

The first half of Resident Evil 9 (RE9) takes you from Wrenwood Hotel to Rhodes Hill Chronic Care Center where the game is more grounded, and feels similar to the Racoon Police Department from RE2/3 or the Bakers house from RE7. The map is more open world but still linear.

“Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle” just had its 11th anniversary with a whole host of new gimmicks, characters, events, and free rewards in celebration. Each year, Dokkan Battle celebrates its anniversary. Originally released in Japan on Jan. 30, 2015, it was released globally later that year on July 16. These anniversary releases attract players old and new each year.

Part one started off with the new characters: ‘Maximum-Power Battle Super Saiyan 4 Goku’ and ‘Earth-Shattering Climax Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta.’ Both legendary rare, Goku falls in the Super STR type while Vegeta is a Super TEQ type.

Pokémon’s 30th anniversary is happening in 2026, and its birthday is on Feb. 27.

Pokémon is the world’s largest grossing media franchise of all time, having made a lifetime revenue estimated between $115 billion to $150 billion. This far surpasses second place which even on the high end of estimates puts Hello Kitty at $80 billion.

Pokémon was able to achieve this in only 30 years. 

The release of “Wuthering Heights” (2026), starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, prompted outrage among the general public, being described as a disgusting and inaccurate portrayal of the 1847 novel by Emily Bronte. Despite director Emerald Fennell clarifying she intended to create a “loose interpretation”, it still sparks curiosity regarding the ethics of altering such a staple of English literature. 

While much of this adaptation has faced criticism, many debates stem from the undeniable misrepresentation of multiple characters – both in appearance and personality.

“Here There Are Blueberries” is a documentary-style play from the Tectonic Theater Project about a U.S. Holocaust Museum archivist’s experience receiving a Nazi-era photo album depicting life in Auschwitz from the perspective of the officials who ran it. 

This play forces audience members to confront their own humanity, making viewers wonder if they would commit the same actions as Nazi officers if given the right circumstances.

Bad Bunny’s halftime performance at Super Bowl LX was a celebration of love, America, and unity despite political pushback from the MAGA party. Bad Bunny’s performance topped the charts, telling the all-American story, surprising viewers with appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and even holding a full-blown wedding.

The NFL having Bad Bunny as the headliner, however, created a divide between communities, with some right-leaning figures claiming he was not American, despite being from Puerto Rico, a long-time U.S. territory.

After ten years, “Dragon Ball Super” anime is coming back with a remaster. Toei Animation revealed that the “Dragon Ball Super” anime is getting a remaster with brand new animation and a more manga-accurate story starting with “Dragon Ball Super: Beerus”. This part of the remaster will cover the ‘Battle of Gods’ arc, releasing in fall 2026.

It has been eight years since “Dragon Ball Super” episode 131 aired, finishing the ‘Tournament of Power’ arc. Since then, the manga continued and two “Dragon Ball Super” movies have been released: “Dragon Ball Super: Broly” (2018) and “Dragon Ball Super: Super hero” (2022). The only problem was that the movies didn’t cover the chapters of the arc following the ‘Tournament of Power’.

In Brené Brown’s “Atlas of the Heart”, Brown emphasizes the importance of accurately identifying the nuances of one’s emotions, and knowing how to meet others where they’re at. “Atlas of the Heart” walks readers through 78 “emotions and experiences” that are key components of the human experience as a whole.  

This book feels like one of the most important pieces that I have read in a while. From start to finish, I found that my preconceived notions regarding many emotions were challenged in many ways, forcing me to reflect on how I have viewed my emotional experiences, and the experiences of others.

Every year, the Grammys are built up for months (the nominations for this year’s ceremony were revealed on Nov. 7) as artists run campaigns to hopefully be awarded with the golden gramophone. In the lead up to the night, people love to try and predict the winners and some even get so confident that they bet real money on it. 

For anyone who’s curious about the state of the predictions this year, here are the front runners for the big four categories.

Yet another Star Wars show was announced this past week, but this one stands out in its appeal to older Gen Z and Millennials. “Maul: Shadow Lord” will feature the original voice actor from the “Clone Wars” animated show and return to the hand-painted animation style that made the original trilogy so visually stunning. 

The animation team revisited old school animation techniques used in the original Star Wars trilogy. The creative team has handpainted glass panels for their backgrounds and environments. Instead of live-action acting in front of these panels, Maul and his story will be animated on top of these glass panels.

Ariana Grande’s “Eternal Sunshine” is not just another pop album – it is a carefully crafted emotional diary that captures heartbreak, healing, and self-reflection with striking honesty. On her seventh studio release, Grande steps away from glossy chart-chasing and leans into vulnerability, delivering a project that feels intimate, mature, and deeply personal.

Grande’s seventh studio album, “Eternal Sunshine”, arrived in March 2024 and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She later released a deluxe version of the album, and will be going on a tour later this year in support of the project.

The Grammy Awards – the self proclaimed “biggest night in music” – has happened every year around early February since 1959. A prestigious and mysterious group of voters made up of industry insiders (singers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and more) decide who will take home the gramophone-shaped trophies. This year, the ceremony will take place on Feb. 1 at Crypto Arena in Los Angeles. Should we still care enough to tune in?

The Grammys are far from the only major award show. The other three that are considered major U.S. award shows are the Emmys (television), the Oscars (film), and the Tonys (theater). The four of them together make up the EGOTs. The Grammys are actually the newest of the four with the Oscars coming up on their 100-year anniversary in 2029.

“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” has had an influence on little black and brown girls in all stages of life. Really any woman or man who has felt empowered or seen by a lyric, maybe even just a tune, can understand how a specific key takes you back to a place. To me, “Tell Him” was that song. 

My first introduction to Lauryn Hill was “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, and initially Hill sounded familiar. I still don’t know if I’ve heard a remix of the song or just heard the song before and was too young to remember.

Every year at the end of Thanksgiving, I say my goodbyes to my family members, and the moment the door closes behind the last guest, I connect my phone to a speaker and play Christmas music. Classic tunes surround my family as we begin cleaning up and getting ready for the next phase of the holiday season: Chrismukkah.

While it might not seem obvious, listening to Christmas music is actually a very Jewish pastime because most of the creative minds behind popular holiday hits are Jews.

If there’s one place where you are able to see the full impact of “Wicked: For Good,” it’s online. The movie didn’t just trend – it took over people’s feeds. Fan art, cast photos, aesthetic edits, and behind-the-scenes clips are flooding Reels, making the movie feel like a full cultural moment.

Ever since “Wicked: For Good” hit theaters on Nov. 21, 2025, it feels like the entire internet has been taken over by reactions, edits, and emotional breakdowns from fans. TikTok and Instagram have basically turned green with “Wicked” content. But beyond the hype, does the movie live up to its massive online energy?

I’ve always been a fan of giant robot action. From “Transformers” and “Mobile Suit Gundam”, to “Pacific Rim” and “Titanfall”, mecha combat has had its grip on my heart. Earlier this year, “Mecha Break” joined the ranks, and now “Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon” has as well.

The game starts off with a sullen and tense mission to acquire a pilot’s license for you, 621, an augmented human piloting a mecha known as an AC, or Armored Core. Coming from offworld, you and your boss, Handler Walter, sneak onto the planet of Rubicon and loot the license from an AC wreck.

The movie “Weapons” has taken the internet by storm with many saying that it’s a wonderful movie, and the reviews and ratings reflect that – the movie earning 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.5 out of 10 star rating on IMDb. However, was it really that good?

Critic Bill Goodykoontz on Rotten Tomatoes says, “This is definitely a horror movie, increasingly by the minute. It’s also really funny – in places – and the finale combines horror and comedy in a way that doesn’t cheapen either one,” and left it a 4.5 out of 5 score. 

The last few years have been incredible for mecha and video game fans. First “Titanfall 2” made a huge comeback after years of near emptiness, then “Armored Core VI” released and revitalized the mecha combat genre once again. Then on July 2 of 2025, “Mecha Break” released and made its name known.

What is “Mecha Break” though? “Mecha Break” is an online multiplayer mecha combat game with a hero shooter twist. While “Armored Core VI” allows you to make your own unique mecha, “Mecha Break” takes more after its 2016 cousin, “Titanfall 2”, and has you choose from an assortment of machines with specific roles and abilities.

The Federal Way High School Drama Department has been busy preparing for their run of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” The show opens on Nov. 14, and it will feature some Highline College Running Start students in its cast and crew. 

These Highline students include Alinea Kirshenbaum, who will play Anne Frank, Avi Taylor, who will play Otto Frank, and Gale Miller, who is the Stage Manager Senior Trainer.

Listening to “My Little Love” always felt like speaking to that missing piece of yourself, apologizing for not being able to have a clear mind. For not being able to see. Being present but not genuine. In the song, Adele is speaking to her son about her most beautiful reflection of herself, which is him at an important point in both their journeys. 

She expresses the guilt she feels for being able to have come so far knowing he’s hurt, knowing her choices might have broken him or have an effect on him in the future. The song is a confession, as well an apology.

Imagine heavy drums, legs bouncing, head nodding – this is what takes over when listening to Afrobeats. The category of music has been around since earlier than 2009 and is only growing in listeners in recent years.

Back then, Afrobeats music was spread throughout YouTube, Facebook, or you’d have to attend weddings and a dance hall to hear the new hits. But now it’s played on the radio!

“Chicago” tells the story of rivaling Vaudeville performers in Chicago, Velma Kelly (played by Claire Marshall) and Roxie Hart (played by Ellie Roddy), and their endeavors with men who have wronged them and the criminal justice system.

After seven years, Chicago finally hit a stage in Seattle (the 2020 tour stops were cancelled due to the global pandemic) at the 5th Avenue Theatre from Oct. 22 – Nov. 2. Simply put, this show was worth the wait.  

It’s been eight years since “Andromeda” was released and it’s time to give it a look back. “Mass Effect: Andromeda” is a sci-fi RPG developed by Bioware that was released in 2017. It is a spin off series that takes place 600 years after “Mass Effect 3” (though the characters started their journey after “Mass Effect 2”) in a different galaxy altogether.

Honestly, I rarely give media five stars or a 10/10 rating as I always see how it could improve in one way or another. “Good Boy”, however, has earned all five stars and all ten points.

Not only does it soar with its concept, it sticks an impeccable landing and even does an impressive pose at the end. I absolutely recommend “Good Boy” to anyone who loves horror movies.

With its soaring music and heartfelt storytelling, “Wicked” casts more than a spell – it sparks a conversation about identity, acceptance, friendship, and most of all, self-love. The Broadway-musical adaptation film invited audiences to look beyond its breathtaking visuals and magical setting to uncover a message about what it truly means to be human. 

“Wicked” was one of the most anticipated film adaptations of 2024 and had very high expectations from fans of the beloved Broadway musical. Its release sparked plenty of conversation. While some viewers praised its stunning visuals and powerful performances, others felt it didn’t fully capture the magic of the stage version. 

I love pop music. Every time an artist like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, or Billie Eilish announce an album, I immediately pre-save, pre-add, and pre-order. I am also an avid vinyl appreciator. I love the feeling of physically holding music and slowly lowering the needle of my record player and immersing myself in the catchiness of pop that has defined my girlhood. 

At least, that’s how it used to feel when artists would simply come out with one standard vinyl, and then maybe announce a deluxe version a few months later. Now, it seems every artist is releasing numerous versions of each album, sometimes with the only difference being that each vinyl is a different color and the album cover is a different image.

Music has been around almost as long as humanity has. Like fire, stone tools, art, and clothing, humanity created music early into its life cycle. From the beginning, percussive slams and melodic hums have entertained and evolved to what they are now. Back then, music was made to celebrate. How has it changed since?

Well for one, cavemen didn’t have stereos and surround sound. More importantly, now music has lyricism and writing attached. Whether it’s upbeat pop or grungy rock, most every song has lyrics that convey a message and speak to the listener.

“The Conjuring” is one of the movies where you mention it and at least one person in the room knows what you’re talking about. The story of Ed and Lorraine Warren is a famous one, made that way by the movies, and as of Sept. 5, 2025, their story comes to an end in “The Conjuring: Last Rites.”

Before going into the movie, a lot of people seem to have left a five star review, or higher. “The Conjuring and the Conjuring 2 remain some of the best horror films within the last 15 years for my taste. Some would even say the conjuring is one of the top horror films of all time,” said reviewer tresm87 on IMDb.

Everyone’s heard of “Helldivers” right? If you haven’t, here’s an explanation: “Helldivers” is a game series following super soldiers (the namesake of the game) that defend Super Earth from evil aliens and murderous machines.

At least, that’s what the game jokes about it being. In reality, the truth is more complicated than that.

James Gunn’s “Superman” movie landed in the box office, with mixed reviews across the political spectrum. At the end of the day, many are glad to have a new soundtrack for the summer and a return to the traditional values of what Superman is all about.

In the first two weeks of its release, “Superman” soared past its  $225 million production budget, earning $416 million worldwide. The film is overall rated 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.6/10 on IMDb.

In today’s world, more movies and shows are starting to tell real stories from different voices. Recently, some amazing projects created by Black directors and writers have stood out in a big way.

These works highlight Black creativity, strength, and storytelling, and prove that Black stories deserve just as much attention as any others. 

Two unrelated projects from separate comedians have highlighted a societal appreciation for ‘cringe’ humor. Nathan Fielder’s HBO Max show “The Rehearsal”, and Tim Robinson’s A24 dark comedy “Friendship” take place in this tragic space of social imbalance, giving us main characters who can do anything but fit in.

While Fielder and Robinson are vastly different comedic minds, both have imbued the world with true gems of awkward humor this summer. Each comedian has individually taken great care in giving us the cringe that we might actually need.

In today’s media landscape, where audiences are craving fresh stories and authentic voices, Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” stands tall as a bold and unforgettable celebration of Black storytelling.

This film doesn’t just entertain – it uplifts, challenges, and redefines how we view Black history, creativity, and cultural legacy on screen.

“Transformers” has always been a special series. Unlike other ’80s action series centered on selling toys, “Transformers” has managed to successfully stay relevant in mainstream media in a consistent manner. While “He-Man”, “Thundercats”, and “GI JOE” have jumped in and then disappeared, “Transformers” simply never left.

Of course, Hasbro’s darling and mainstay money maker hasn’t been without struggle. After the original series finished, it looked like “Transformers” would be forgotten. Then “Beast Wars” came. Since then, “Transformers” has grown to a mainstay of pop culture. After all, there’s nothing cooler than giant robots.

At a time when authentic portrayals of young Black love are still few and far between, Netflix’s “Forever” offers a refreshing and heartfelt portrayal of first love.

Through its setting and reimagined context, “Forever” tells a story that’s not only about love, but about what it means to be young, Black, and striving – for freedom, for connection, and for a future that feels like it belongs to you.

Nothing matches the feeling of being in a crowded theatre, the lights going low, and everyone putting away their cellphones for a few hours. While theatre is a magical place, the price of tickets can oftentimes be not so magical, especially for students. 

The great news is that many resources are available for students to access theatre at reduced prices and sometimes for free! As a self-proclaimed theatre kid who loves a deal, here are my top suggestions for accessing affordable live theatre.

“Caddo Lake” stars Eliza Scanlen as Ellie, taking up a particular role of a perhaps mentally struggling character, and Dylan O’Brien as Paris, taking him out of his usual acting role as the sarcastic comic-relief, and putting him in the spotlight in this serious and mind twisting film. 

The writers of “Caddo Lake” somehow pack in time travel, mystery, sci-fi, and thriller, into a sub two hour movie, all while giving the watchers insight into the separate, yet entirely intertwined lives of Ellie and Paris.

“Bad Batch” finished its final season last year on this very day. After the previous season’s strong and impactful finale, a lot of hype and intrigue was riding on the conclusion to the series. Did it pay off? Let’s find out. 

***Be warned, this is not a spoiler free review.***

In the first episode, the “Bad Batch” starts on a somber note due to the tragic finale of season two. After the heartbreaking loss of Tech, one of the original members of the Bad Batch, and Omega’s capture, the surviving team members go home and lick their wounds.

On March 31, Seattle’s very own coffee shop, Starbucks, launched a brand-new mug collaboration with Disney. The limited mugs can only be purchased at the Disney parks or online. 

The Disney food blog says, “this mug is a great way to bring the joy and magic of Disneyland back home.” 

With two different options of the special mugs being sold, collectors can pick from options of either a Disneyland design or the Disneyworld design. The mugs feature different designs and themes than previous launches, including Car Land or Grizzly Peak.

“Parade” tells the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who moved to Atlanta to pursue a career at a pencil factory in 1913. There, he met Lucille Selig, whom he later married. As a Jewish man from Brooklyn, Leo is portrayed as a man who often felt out of place even with his Southern Jewish wife.

Leo, who held a management position at the pencil factory, was later charged with the rape and murder of thirteen-year-old factory worker Mary Phagan. 

Who here is playing “Marvel Rivals”? I imagine quite a few people have tried out the newest Marvel game. For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, “Marvel Rivals” is a hero shooter created by Chinese game studio, NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel. 

The game was released on Dec. 6, 2024 and immediately became a smash hit. The premise of the game is simple. Team up with five other players to capture and either push or defend the objective, and make sure the enemy team can’t do the same. If you want success, creating the perfect team is integral, but how?

It’s been a year and some change since “Baldur’s Gate 3” released, and despite it being a single player RPG from a smaller game studio, it continues to get consistently major updates that add a breath of fresh air to the game.

This isn’t a rare occurrence of course, there are quite a few games that do this as well. However they aren’t as common as the games that add battlepasses and seasons. Take “Call of Duty” and “Halo: Infinite”, both of which have microtransactions and seasons throughout their games.

In the Quarter Quell of the 21st century, Suzanne Collins’ fifth installment of “The Hunger Games” saga, “Sunrise on the Reaping” arrived in bookstores early on March 18. Collins used her power to commentate on implicit submission and propaganda, while breaking hearts with a story we’ve held close since 2010. 

Reader’s should absolutely read “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” before picking this one up. And if you haven’t read the original trilogy, what are you doing here? The shadow of Lucy Gray Baird is still on District 12 and the Covey, and to understand the full timeline of events readers need to go back to the 10th games.

Conan O’Brien has made headlines in the past year with a legendary guest appearance on “Hot Ones”, a successful Oscars hosting, and his acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize for his career in comedy that has spanned over decades. Though O’Brien has carved his legacy in the irreverent and goofy, his speech at the Kennedy Center was as prescient as they come, marking his signature marriage of silliness and poignant resolve.

O’Brien’s acceptance speech at the Kennedy Center spoke of his larger comedic ethos, and still thoughtfully acknowledged the recent disruption by President Trump, who named himself chairman of the center and then ousted the very trustees that nominated O’Brien to begin with.

“Dragon Age” is one of the premier fantasy RPGs of all time. Its cultural influence isn’t as large as “Final Fantasy” or the “Elder Scrolls”, but it’s one of the greats. Starting with the humble “Dragon Age: Origins” that was released in 2009, “Dragon Age” has cemented itself as a cornerstone of fantasy media.

“Veilguard” is a new stab at the “Dragon Age” universe that attempts to change the player’s perspective. Instead of being this well established character with a lengthy backstory that you either take part in or barely remember due to its lack of relevance, you have one defining event that sets up your connection to the main story.

El musical de Emilia Pérez fue uno de los más criticados por la comunidad Mexicana por la mala representación del director y los actores. 

Muchas críticas rodearon la película por falta de diversidad e inclusión de actores hispanos, y muchos argumentaban sobre la forma en que los actores no interpretaron bien el vocabulario de las palabras en español especialmente los “mexicanos”.

The 97th Academy Awards aired last Sunday, featuring a cavalcade of one of cinema’s strongest selections in years, as well as the remarkably-seasoned Conan O’Brien hosting.

As with any Oscars event, this year came with scandalous rumors, a catty monologue, and no shortage of fan reactions over who did, or didn’t, deserve to take home the golden statue.

The 31st Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremony was a two-hour event that gave 15 awards to actors and ensembles for their incredible performances, highlighting some of the biggest names in the industry as well as up-and-coming stars. 

The ceremony was broadcast live on Netflix Sunday, Feb. 23., with charming host Kirsten Bell lighting up the stage. Shogun won four awards for best ensemble performances, plus actress and actor in a drama. Six-decade Hollywood star Jane Fonda was given SAG’s Life Achievement Award, and so much more, all complemented with nostalgic montages and skits in between.

The world tuned in last week to Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) landmark 50th anniversary special and the entire entertainment industry seemed to be in attendance, performing, or both.

Much like any SNL episode in the past half-century, viewers from all over the world looked on as the most famous people alive stood shoulder to shoulder to celebrate arguably the most consequential syndicated program in history.

Winning five Grammys over a diss track about Drake and performing a star studding halftime performance at the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans in the same week? No other artist than Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar could pull it off.

The show starts with viewers seeing the stage set up as a Playstation controller. “Salutations!” exclaimed Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam. Fans of Lamar may recognize Uncle Sam as one of the main characters of his 2015 hit album, “To Pimp a Butterfly”.

The Grammys kicked off last week with multiple performances from renowned artists, many of which went home making history in the process. 

After so many years Beyoncé was finally able to win the most prestigious Album of the Year along with Best Country Album with her “Cowboy Carter”. Beyoncé came into the Grammys with the most nominations for her albums. She is the most nominated artist in Grammy history with 99 throughout her career.

As one of the most expensive holidays next to Christmas and New Years, Valentine’s Day grosses about $27.5 billion nationally per year. From $20 bouquets at the grocery store, to $30 chocolates, and of course all of the pressure to make the day romantic, or to find a partner, Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming.

If you aren’t feeling the love this year, or you and your partner simply aren’t into the classic “mushy” Valentine’s Day movies and want some different options, or if you’re single and want to be festive without having to watch the classics, compiled below is a list of movies from horror and thriller, to revenge and comedy, for you to binge.

“Spiritfarer” is one game that pops up every few years seemingly unnoticed due to its arguably niche concept.

However, the game’s core message and tragically beautiful story is so well done, that it’s disappointing how few people know of it. That is where this article comes in.

At its core, Gundam is a grounded anti-war drama meant to showcase the horrid truths behind warfare. Civilians die tragically, characters lose people they care about left and right, all because the leaders of Zeon are obsessed with destroying Earth so they can be the premier superpower.

Gundam is a famous series that began in 1979 that follows a young boy named Amuro Ray. Thrust into a war beyond his comprehension, 15 year old Amuro is forced to fight to survive after his home is attacked by a nation of space colonists known as Zeon. Yes, you saw that right. The main character is only 15, and he’s not even the youngest protagonist in Gundam history.

Machine learning, or AI, used in the field of medical research has helped advance several frontiers. Predictive analytics for disease prevention, diagnostics and medical imaging, along with drug discovery are among the many promising areas of application for these new AI tools. 

Some people may take it as a comfort that this technology is being used for good, while others may find it disconcerting. A 57% majority of Americans say AI is bad for society. Without federal regulation on AI it continues to develop, and is being integrated into most other technologies, regardless of the public’s opinion toward it.

Petco, the first chain that comes to mind when someone says “pet store”, serves 24 million people in the U.S. Walking through a pet store means passing by the aquatics section and seeing the shelves of betta fish (scientific name betta splendens) in their separated cups.

It’s uncomfortable, and it desensitizes consumers to seeing bettas in less-than-ideal conditions. However, keeping bettas in cups is a lot more dangerous for the fish — and sparks a lot more passionate controversy than the regular Petco customer may realize.

A new study discovered that dogs can tell the difference between several human emotions. While dogs have been known to recognize emotions, this is the first time scientists have discovered how they actually do this.

“Humans are really good at picking up small details on the face, and so are dogs,” says Raúl Hernández-Pérez from the University of Vienna. They monitored eight different dogs’ brains and showed them pictures of unfamiliar humans. The unfamiliarity of the photos shown allowed for less bias, as dogs become happy or excited when they see someone they consider their family. 

A sample study done on over 500 rattlesnakes showed a major health concern. These hidden illnesses are a real factor in the possible extinction of wild rattlesnakes in the United States. 

This study was conducted on rattlesnakes in two wildlife refuges in South Carolina and Florida. Most of their specimens were living rattlesnakes that they took skin swabs and blood samples of before releasing them. They also took tissue samples from dead snakes that were found on roads and in the wild.

New discoveries reveal that what scientists previously viewed as the Himalayan pit viper was actually five separate species. Not only has this discovery come over 100 years after the snake’s first discovery, but three of the identified species had been previously unknown to scientists.  

The Himalayan pit viper has been known to scientists for over 160 years. It was first reported in 1864 and categorized as a single species, which we now know to be untrue.

Scientists have discovered similarities in feline and human cancer, which can help develop new treatments for cancer in humans. 

A study, posted in February 2026 by the University of Guelph, genetically analyzed tumors in cats. This is the largest contribution to genetic profiling of cancer in cats. Cancer in cats has been one of the leading causes of death, but it was rather unstudied before this.

Star fish are disappearing all over the north west, dying in large numbers due to a disease called Sea Star Wasting Disease. 

As you walk along the Pacific West Coast beaches, you may notice something concerning: sea stars with twisted arms, lesions, or bodies that seem to be melting away. This distressing sight is a trademark of Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD). The disease has affected over 20 species of sea stars.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) officially has a new name that will hopefully help people improve diagnosis and treatment: polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).

This name change was brought about due to concerns that the old name placed too much emphasis on the presence of cysts and ovaries, while the syndrome is more accurately depicted as a hormonal or endocrine disorder.

In the fight against cancer, we have discovered that a protein called MYC that helps tumors grow also helps repair the tumor’s DNA when undergoing chemotherapy.

MYC plays a large role in cell proliferation, which is the division of cells into two daughter cells, and it controls the expression of about 15% of all genes. The large percentage of genes it oversees allows for it to easily turn cancerous, as cancer cells are just abnormal cells in the body, and this has been seen in its over activeness in a lot of human cancers.

A new breakthrough discovery uses nanoparticles to reverse Alzheimer’s in mice. This is a breakthrough discovery in Alzheimer research and the search for a cure.

Previously, Alzheimer research was focused on managing the symptoms by destroying the buildup of plaque in the brain. This new technology instead repairs the infrastructure and workings of the brain, so it can do these natural processes on its own. Scientists shifted their focus onto the blood-brain barrier (BBB), creating nanoparticles that help restore this barrier.

“Project Epic Furious: Strait To Hell” is an 8-bit, retro Zelda-styled computer (and cabinet!) game made by The Secret Handshake, who are also infamously known for their other protest art installations, e.g the Best Friends Forever statue at the National Mall, or the golden toilet at the Lincoln Memorial.

They installed the Project Epic Furious cabinets at the D.C. War Memorial for public interactions, and also put the game up on a web browser for online play-ability.

When stopping at a gas station, customers may notice brightly colored bottles near the register. These bottles contain a variety of substances, marketed in various ways, either as a supplement, an aid for sexual performance, or as a boost for energy. While easy to ignore, these drugs are highly addictive and often lack oversight or consistency.

The harmful effects of these substances are not being communicated to consumers. In fact, these drugs are often marketed as “dietary and brain supplements.” There is little oversight or regulation regarding these substances. 

In the Federal Way School District, AI is a tool that is being embraced and encouraged by educators and administrators alike – and Colleague AI is a tool that is springing into action for both.

Colleague AI is an online LLM that, unlike public user models that function as an ask-and-answer tool (e.g Gemini or ChatGPT), Colleague AI is built like a domain. Colleague AI can be used to create graphics, worksheets, quizzes or surveys, and create chatbots for assistance in brainstorming. Colleague AI was introduced years prior, but there’s been an emphasis on the district reminding the teachers it’s a tool that is available for them, should they want to use it.

When thinking about the concept of pets, coyotes and raccoons aren’t the first animals that come to mind. However, two intriguing cases of self-domestication may change that.

Self-domestication is an evolutionary survival tactic used by species who are losing their habitats to human urbanization. It is a process that scientists have characterized as reduced reactive aggression. This is the single trait that starts domestication. Reduced reactive aggression eventually leads to tameness or docility, seen in domesticated animals today like the house cat or dogs.

A new chapter of space exploration officially began as NASA’s Artemis II mission around the moon brought humans further into space than we’ve ever gone before.

On April 6, 2026, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman made history by surpassing the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth, a record previously held by the Apollo 13 crew, set in 1970.

Whether it be on online forums, social media, or even video games, children’s data is being collected, misused, and exploited across online platforms, often without their knowledge or consent.

For example, on the popular online video game “Roblox”, it is very easy to lie about your age and use fake IDs to pass the AI verification that “Roblox” implements. This is important as in “Roblox”, the developers implemented an age group system where users have to be in the same age range to speak to each other.

Sharks in the Bahamas have tested positive for cocaine and other drugs. The increased tourism and urbanization has led to the contamination of saltwater climates, which in turn affects our animals. 

Scientists caught 86 different sharks, spanning multiple species. They took blood samples from these sharks and tested them for 20 different kinds of substances. Around one third of the sharks tested positive for illicit substances.

Caffeine is classified as a central nervous system stimulant, or in other words, a drug. Chances are you as the reader consume caffeine in some form as approximately 85% of Americans drink caffeine. The interesting thing is it’s not stigmatized the way any other form of non-medical drug usage would be. 

People go on coffee dates all the time or joke about their chronic energy drink addiction. It’s not every day you meet somebody and they’ll ask you to go to a dispensary on the first date. What is it about caffeine that makes it socially acceptable to be addicted to it?

New research has discovered an oral bacterium called Fusobacterium nucleatum can cause and exacerbate breast cancer. This bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to the breast tissue, where it mutates the cell’s DNA that causes the growth and spread of tumors.

Fusobacterium nucleatum, or Fn, is a type of oral bacteria associated with periodontal disease, or gum disease. Fn has previously been linked to other types of cancers, but this new research suggests that it can cause breast cancer as well.

A new study has revealed that marmosets call each other by name. They are the first non-human primate to exhibit this behavior.

Marmosets are a small western monkey that lives in South America. They are very social animals, living in social groups of three to 15 individuals. They are frequently called “finger monkeys” on social media, due to their small size.

Scientists have discovered a new way to help animal conservation. New research has discovered that Giant Panda connective tissue cells can be used to eventually create a lab grown embryo, which will help increase their vulnerable population. 

Panda skin cells are being used to create specialized stem cells, called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), that are able to be turned into gametes. These specialized cells, iPSCs, are able to transform into any of the three layers needed for embryonic development, endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm.

The first piloted flight in the Artemis program launched on Wednesday, April 1 at 3:24 PST. This mission will be the closest that humans have gotten to the moon in more than 50 years, and will mark the furthest humans will have traveled into space. The last manned mission to the moon was aboard NASA’s Apollo 17, in 1972.

However, unlike the Apollo 17 mission, this voyage will have the four astronauts travel around the moon, but not land there. This is a test launch of the Orion spacecraft meant to verify the ship’s life support systems. This is the stepping stone to future advancements leading us back to the moon and eventually to Mars.

Life on Earth is something we take for granted every day. However, billions of years ago, Earth wasn’t the bright and welcoming planet we are familiar with. With oxygen levels dramatically shifting over the course of an eon, scientists decided to investigate how early life may have survived.

Today, the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen (1% consisting of other trace gasses like carbon dioxide). However, from the Archean Eon to the very beginning of Proterozoic Eon, Earth had little to no oxygen (in gaseous form) within its atmosphere. 

You read that right. The Moon, as we know it, is shrinking. And this isn’t from a “Despicable Me” movie where Gru is shrinking the moon. The Moon is shrinking, in real life. It isn’t really anything to be worried about, though.

The Moon has only shrunk about 50 meters (164 feet) over the course of several hundred million years. Given that the Moon’s diameter is 11,400,048 feet long, (2,159.1 miles), its width has been reduced by approximately 0.00144%.

The Moon shrinking does actually cause a few things, though.

Cavendish banana plants are being assaulted by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense worldwide, causing them to wilt and die. Fortunately, in this time of crisis, scientists may have just found something that could save bananas for generations to come. 

“Fusarium wilt – also known as Panama disease – is a destructive soil-borne disease which impacts farmed Cavendish bananas worldwide through its virulent Race 4 strains,” said Dr. Andrew Chen, a researcher at The University of Queensland.

Methane bubbles, pink water, and saltwater seas – these are a few of the words that describe some of the most unique bodies of water in the world. There is Lake Hillier in Australia, the Red Sea, Abraham Lake in Canada, Chillika Lake in India, and Lake Urmia in Iran.

What can we learn about the phenomena and science from these lakes?

Spider silk has always been known to be one of the strongest organic materials. Fortunately, scientists have found out why. Tiny, yet complicated chemical attractions allow spider silk to remain flexible while still being extremely strong.

The strongest spider silk is spider dragline silk. It forms the frame of the spiderweb, and needs to be able to hold the weight of the spider. It is stronger than steel (by weight), and tougher than Kevlar (a material used in the making of bulletproof vests).

Most people unlock their phones within minutes of waking up. They scroll through social media, check email, use navigation apps, track workouts, and stream music throughout the day. These small, everyday actions may seem harmless, but each one creates data that is collected and stored.

Every search, click, and swipe adds to a growing digital footprint. Many users grant access by quickly tapping “agree” on privacy policies without reading the details, often unaware of how much information they are sharing.

Recently, two confirmed reports of the Nipah virus have been made in India. The two confirmed cases are healthcare workers exposed to the virus in a laboratory setting in West Bengal. Both cases have been contained, with one still in critical condition. This virus is a special concern for many as it draws similarities to another, fairly recent highly infection virus.

The main issue with the Nipah virus is that it can potentially cause encephalitis, which is the inflammation of the brain. Most of the deaths come from seizures and comas, where the brain is too inflamed and stops functioning properly, making specific aid for the virus quite difficult. The World Health Organization (WHO) states, “While there are no specific treatments for Nipah, early diagnosis will promote early supportive care.”

TikTok’s U.S. operations were acquired by a majority-American company this week, in compliance with a September 2025 executive order issuing new terms and conditions and undating the privacy policy for the engaging social media platform.

The change led to another mass exodus of users, particularly over data-collection and concern over media-control in the U.S.

A few months ago, scientists investigated a cave in northern Germany. Inside, a hidden infrared camera captured something strange: A rat hiding in a corner jumped at an unsuspecting bat, jumping out of the shadows before swiftly dispatching it. With bat populations already low, scientists jumped in to research the threat. Rats had never been known to hunt bats, so this encounter bewildered scientists. 

The rats were identified as brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), one of the world’s most common and invasive predators. The research team turned to other bat caves around the area to see if they could get similar findings like the one shown on the infrared camera.

Recently scientists have pondered if lakes on ancient Mars could have stayed liquid for years. As new research suggests, there is a chance only the top layer of the lakes could have frozen over, acting as insulation to prevent the rest of the water from freezing. 

‘Ancient Mars’ refers to the early, geological history of the red planet, in which it was once teeming with water, and covered with ocean billions of years ago. Now, the planet is pockmarked with lake basins and structures resembling ancient river systems.

One of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s (RFK) most recent controversial public statements regarding public health is the new emphasis on meat and dairy on the food pyramid. While many experts agree with the decision to encourage people to consume fewer processed foods and added sugars, the emphasis on sources of saturated fats is raising alarm.  

While RFK intended for this new pyramid to showcase the importance of avoiding “highly processed foods,” many nutrition experts are concerned that foods that are known to be significant sources of saturated fat are featured on the very top.

In connection with the city of Des Moines, Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) has successfully begun preservation work to save marine wildlife living on the Des Moines Marina. By utilizing 30 individual divers, as well as a swarm of community volunteers, thousands of aquatic lives have been saved.

Spanning from August to December 2025, the MaST mission for these events was to do as much preservation and conservation work as possible. During their efforts, crews focused on piers L, M, & N at the marina.

“Rage bait,” “67,” and “vibe coding” all have something in common: They were named Word of the Year by various dictionaries. Another thing they have in common: They are terms that have been pushed by social media algorithms that have made their way to common usage. 

Social media has a big influence on our language. The way many people talk online is often different from the language used during in-person interactions – at least that used to be true most of the time. Recently, the language and slang used on social media has seeped into real life conversations more than ever before.

Billions of dollars in funding – from cancer research to investigations into immune cells – have been withheld or terminated entirely by the Trump administration in a political attack on vaccines, targeted outreach programs, and specific language. The cuts affect national institutions and universities alike, and will have consequences for years to come. 

The Supreme Court ruled in August that President Trump’s $2 billion in cuts to the National Institute of Health (NIH) will go forward. The largest project affected was a $77 million grant to the Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern University. The University’s president resigned in September, followed by the Interim President agreeing to pay the US government $75 million to restore research funding.

Social media contributes to growing political division by escalating, increasing strong beliefs, and fueling ongoing conflict. Platforms influence audiences, shape political reactions, and keep people continuously interacting with political information. So how do social media platforms use tactics to keep people engaged with political content?

In the video “Social media and political polarization in America” created by 60 Minutes, one of the interviewees, Tristan Harris, the co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology stated that, “They’re making us see more angry posts about politics so that we can be distracted from our anger, which makes them more money in the end.”

Think about how you use AI in your day to day life and how you’re using it. AI has changed our society in many ways. One specific change is in education.

Let’s start with the good news. AI use has a lot of useful assets when it comes to education. For example, it helps students who learn differently by teaching them in a way they need.

Egypt has unveiled its new “Grand Egyptian Museum” (GEM), just miles away from Cairo and the pyramids of Giza.

This archeological powerhouse boasts the largest collection focused on a single civilization. With its opening, the people of Egypt have a proper resting place for their rich history.

A discovery by the astronomers at the Pan-STARRS observatory in Maui, Hawaii, shows that the Earth has a “second moon,” or a quasi-moon. A quasi-moon isn’t really a moon at all however, it’s just a small asteroid that has decided to tag along with Earth for a while.

The Pan-STARRS observatory is a facility located on the summit of Haleakalā, it is a 1.8-meter telescope that operates as part of the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatories site. The astronomers at Pan-STARRS announced the discovery of the asteroid – named 2025 PN7 – in August of this year.

Did you know that 11% of adults have nyctophobia? For the unfamiliar, Nyctophobia is the fear of the dark, and it often begins at a young age for a variety of reasons. 

For example, nyctophobia can stem from traumas associated with dark places, or it simply could come from environmental factors like family members that also fear the dark.

Renowned scientist, conservationist, and activist Dr. Jane Goodall passed away at the age of 91. Her work and legacy impacted vital parts of how humans understand themselves and the world. Before her death, she filmed her “Famous Last Words” documentary via Netflix interview, leaving a parting message for all: preserve and persist. 

“When someone important dies, all you long for is just a little more time with them,” these words flash across the screen as the documentary starts.

The endangered JPOD orcas have returned! These orcas visited the south of Puget Sound waters and Tacoma’s Narrows bridge which was a huge shock to all those around to see. Orcas have not surfaced in these waters for nearly 50 years, and it seems they’ve brought with them a new member.

The portion of the JPOD spotted in nearby waters has an exciting family history. Chief among this is the baby they brought with them.

At a recent White House press conference, Donald Trump, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in tow, publicly stated that taking Tylenol during pregnancy can cause autism in children, despite this claim being widely unsupported by science. 

In the Sept. 22 press conference, Trump stated that “taking Tylenol is not good — I’ll say it: It’s not good,” and further asserted that communities without access to Tylenol have “no autism.”

Photos from the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) view of the Butterfly Nebula, known as NGC 6302, have provided scientists with new understanding of the universe. According to the ALMA observatory, the August 2025 Webb images “offer new insights into the final stages of stellar evolution.” These insights, include inklings to how planets form, and where the building blocks of life begin. 

While many folks were begrudgingly returning to work after last week’s Memorial Day holiday, Thunderword reporters & photographers had the chance to join the Marine Science & Technology Center (MaST) during a specimen collection trip. 

Typically, these trips are reserved for MaST employees. They are crucial to the center, as they allow them to diversify and reinforce their existing aquarium population.

Through every season, tide cycle, and rainy day the circle of life endures. If a whale dies, and washes up on your local shore, how do the powers that be preserve it?

According to four-time whale conservator and marine biologist Rus Higley, step one is simple. Higley runs Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST), as an educator he knew the power of having a local whale on display.

Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) is more than just an aquarium with hundreds of species of native marine life, it is a view into the greater oceanic world around us. 

Rus Higley, MaST’s director and knowledgeable caretaker, is a professor of marine biology. His work at the center allows all who enter a chance to have a deeper connection with these creatures living in the Puget Sound.

The decision to “demote” Pluto from planetary status back in 2006 caused a wave of disappointment and anger towards the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The backlash from this shows us the dangers of nostalgic thinking.

But why was Pluto no longer considered a planet, seemingly out of nowhere? It was not any sudden discoveries made, but rather a re-evaluation of an old term. At the time of Pluto being established as a planet, there wasn’t a clear definition of what a “planet” even was.

An outbreak of one of the most contagious diseases has occurred in Texas. With over 200 cases of measles and two deaths reported in multiple states at the time of writing, mostly among the unvaccinated, questions must be asked whether the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its newly appointed secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. will handle the outbreak appropriately.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can infect anyone but is especially dangerous for young children and pregnant people. It can be spread through coughing, sneezing, or breathing. The virus can stay on surfaces an infected person has come in contact with for up to two hours, causing a person with measles to infect nine out of 10 unvaccinated people they come into close contact with.

Bill Nye, known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year by then-President Joe Biden. Nye was honored for his line of work for decades in popularizing science and inspiring our future generations, encouraging their interest in the scientific world. 

“Bill Nye has dedicated his life to inspiring young people to take an active interest in science,” President Biden stated during the ceremony on Jan. 4, 2025.

As winter wanes and flowers blossom, the familiar buzzing of the pollinators return to campus. The most important of them all: Bees. Often overlooked for their small size, bees play an integral role in maintaining food security within a global ecosystem. 

Pollinators work by moving pollen from a stamen to a stigma; for instance, bees are responsible for pollinating the majority of the world’s leading crops, fruits, vegetables, and even nuts and seeds. Without bees the variety of our food supply would go down drastically.

Consumers across the United States are experiencing an egg shortage, raising prices beyond what many households can manage. This problem has been chiefly based on the severe outbreak of avian influenza which has reduced egg production, causing supply chain disruptions and rising feed costs.

Reports indicate that “the current outbreak has affected more than 30 million birds across 25 states,” leading to the culling of millions of hens to prevent the spread of the virus. As a result, egg supplies have declined, and prices have increased.

Snow, rain, wind, and sun, all within an hour is enough to give the squirrels whiplash. However, there are clear scientific reasons behind these rapid changes.

Snowfall is one of the most unpredictable aspects of winter weather. One night, heavy snow blankets the ground, only for it to melt the next day, followed by another round of fresh snowfall. This constant fluctuation can be frustrating for those hoping for a stable winter landscape, especially in the Seattle area.

La Niña, a complex climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean, interrupts normal weather patterns across the globe, and the Pacific Northwest is no exception. 

La Niña came through the PNW late winter of last year and Washingtonians felt the impact of devastating winds and dangerous debris. In the months since, multiple news outlets have reported on the widespread damage to people and their homes, recounting the stress those affected have been put under.

Meta is making sweeping changes to moderation of their content with the goal of reducing political bias, however critics are pointing out their changes are going to accomplish the opposite.

After the controversial 2016 election of Donald Trump, there were concerns regarding whether Meta, at the time known as Facebook, was doing their part to prevent the spread of fake news after it was revealed Russia was using social media sites such as Facebook to spread misinformation around the election.

In the wake of the TikTok ban, a new app has emerged as one of the top downloaded apps across Google and Apple app stores, despite political fears of Chinese access to U.S. data. Rednote, known in China as Xiaohongshu, which translates to English as “Little Red Book,” calls into question the attitudes of American citizens in comparison with the Anti-Chinese actions of the new administration.

The U.S. ​government, under the backdrop of bipartisan apprehension about data security and foreign influence, has followed through on legislation calling for TikTok to either divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban.

Though the ban has come and gone, the whiplash may have rendered users and non-users alike confused as to what actually happened.

The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet, but we’ve only explored about 5%. Beneath the surface lies a mysterious, unexplored world scientists are just beginning to uncover.

The deep ocean, stretching beyond 200 meters, is a place of crushing pressure, freezing temperatures, and complete darkness—a perfect hiding spot for nature’s strangest creatures secrets.

In a fantastic moment for technology and art, Ai-Da, the world’s first lifelike robot artist, sold a painting for over $1 million at a Sotheby’s auction.

The artwork, “A.I. God,” is a portrait of British mathematician Alan Turing, known for his important work in computer science and breaking codes during World War II. 

The healthcare system in many countries, particularly in the United States, is often criticized for being inefficient, expensive, and inaccessible. One of the primary reasons for the shortcomings of healthcare is the rising cost of medical services and treatments.

Healthcare in the U.S. is notoriously expensive, with prices for basic services like doctor visits, hospital stays, and medications far exceeding those in other developed nations.

Noland Arbaugh, a quadriplegic, gained control of his body for the first time in January 2024 after undergoing a surgical implantation of “The Link”, a microchip, created by Elon Musk’s Neuralink Corp.

Now, as the technology degrades inside Arbaugh’s head, experts worry about decreased performance as the technology becomes rapidly outdated. 

Laurinda Bellinger, an engineer working at Blue Origin, a leading aerospace company located in Bellevue, led the students of Highline in a seminar about the predictions of aerospace in the future, including what various industries would appear and continue to grow. 

Bellinger came with informative visuals, comprehensive explanations, and allowed for an extensive Q&A at the end of the lecture.

The discussion of UFOs has recently focused on Guadalupe Island, a volcanic island that lies approximately 241 kilometers off the coast of Baja California.

Danny Sheehan, a Harvard lawyer and UFO disclosure advocate, suggests that this remote island might harbor an underwater alien base.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the fashion industry, bringing significant changes to design, production, and consumer experiences.

By analyzing a large amount of data, AI enables designers to predict trends, create personalized recommendations, and streamline supply chains, leading to more efficient and responsive fashion businesses.

NASA has achieved a significant milestone in its quest to return humans to the Moon with the recent green light for the Artemis II mission.

Scheduled for launch in 2025, this ambitious mission aims to send astronauts on a historic journey around the Moon, marking a pivotal moment in NASA’s broader Artemis initiative.

Following the success of the Artemis I uncrewed flight test conducted last year, the Artemis II mission is poised to carry a crew of four on a 10-day voyage. The astronauts will orbit the Moon while testing critical systems that are essential for future lunar exploration.

Bringing scientific light onto a quiet class of organisms, HBO’s “The Last of Us” warned us of an impending epidemic by the apocalyptic fungus: Cordyceps. Zombies have been explained to us by the media as lingering electrical impulses in the brainstem (The Walking Dead), a virus that takes over and consumes the human body (World War Z), and most recently: mushrooms. 

In the original 2013 action-adventure game, “The Last of Us” creatively avoided using the term zombie, opting for the term infected. It refers to a species of fungus, cordyceps, that infect a hosts’ brain and control them. When idle, infected lie still and allow the cordyceps to grow from them in an attempt to connect to other cordyceps.

For almost 16 years, Twitter stood as one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, but in October of 2022, a certain tech billionaire bought the platform and changed it forever.

Elon Musk needs little introduction in today’s day and age. CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and cofounder of PayPal and Neurolink, Musk is seen by many as a pioneer in the tech industry.

In a world where technology is changing the way we learn, Duolingo stands out as a shining example of innovation.

The app has harnessed the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to create a language-learning experience that is not only effective but also incredibly engaging. With over 500 million users worldwide, Duolingo is transforming the way we approach learning new languages.

In recent years, the impact that technology has had in the field of education has been a major deal. Ranging from different online learning platforms, to apps and online classrooms that has made it more accessible for students and educators to learn anywhere they want – without being physically present in the classroom. 

Technology has had its impact on students, teachers, and administrators from learning platforms, assessment strategy, and grading. It also produced fear of plagiarism, academic dishonesty, and downright cheating through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Dr. Eric Baer, a geologist serving as the Chair of Pure and Applied Science here at Highline College, led Highline students into the world of volcanoes, what makes them super, and what a disruption an eruption would cause at his Science Seminar hosted by the college earlier this month.

Baer has studied volcanology, the study of volcanoes, at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before coming to Highline. He’s researched volcanoes, specifically supervolcanoes, across Japan and the United States.  

On Oct. 8, in Stockholm, John Hopfield, of Princeton University, and Geoffrey Hinton, of the University of Toronto, were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their groundbreaking contributions to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized Hopefield and Hinton “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks.”

Two American astronauts, sent into space for an eight-day mission by a Boeing Starliner, have been stuck for months on the International Space Station (ISS), as their craft was deemed too risky to safely make the return trip home.

On June 7, 2024, Boeing, in conjunction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), launched the two American astronauts, Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunni Williams, into space aboard Boeing’s ‘Starliner’ capsule. The mission: an eight day test of systems aboard Starliner, but this not-exactly-successful mission has turned into an eight-month detour around the planet for the pair.

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) evolving and becoming smarter, faster, and more integrated everyday, have you ever wondered if one day your job positioning might be at the risk of being replaced with AI resulting in you getting laid off?

In the article “AI Job Loss: Shocking Statistics Revealed”  by Daniel L., he revealed that in 2023, 37% of companies that are using AI saw workers lose jobs. It is expected that in 2024 there will be another 44% expected more AI-related job cuts.

Stanford Medicine has published a groundbreaking study that highlights the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) in skin cancer diagnosis.

Professor Eleni Linos, MD, leads the research, which illustrates how deep learning-powered AI can greatly improve the accuracy of skin cancer diagnoses, even for non-specialists, such as primary care physicians and medical students.

The search engine Google recently implemented an ‘AI Overview’ feature that is designed to summarize the search results of a user’s question. The AI Overview now pops up at the very top of the page with often unhelpful or factually incorrect information, replacing the typical links and data that used to make up this area.

Not only is the new feature distracting for many, the artificial intelligence has made a number of alarming mistakes during its debut month.

Pulling information from various sources on the internet means the AI is exposed to professional medical and news outlets, as well as user generated content on personal blogs, satirical websites, and social media. 

From plants and animals to fungi and bacteria, biodiversity is the remarkable variety of life on earth. Through its many forms and interactions, biodiversity performs valuable functions that support life itself, including humans. But as human activity is increasing the planet’s damage, we also face the risk of imbalanced ecosystems.

Biodiversity is the most complex system on our planet, as it provides plants, animals and humans with our most vital resources. It’s the sole responsibility of why we are here, and without it, there may be no future for humanity.

The company Boston Dynamics is the leader in the creation of dexterous robotics on a global scale. Their robots are revolutionary. Their robots can navigate. They can lift heavy objects. They can jump. But most importantly, they can dance.

Their first viral robot would be Atlas. Atlas is a hydraulic robot that stands on its own two feet. Atlas is a robot that walks, jogs, and jumps. With these abilities, Atlas is about to maneuver around. The power of Atlas’s hydraulics allows them to lift and throw objects, even to places above it. Atlas has dexterity, agility, and strength.

Virtual YouTubers (VTubers) are internet personalities who usually represent themselves through digital avatars. These avatars are typically in the style of anime. There are many different anime art styles and so there are consequently just as many styles for avatars.

These avatars have a few different methods with how they move. Most common would be Live2D. The most accessible are PNG-tubers. The most complicated of them are the 3D models. The avatars are controlled through either camera or trackers. Each of these methods has their pros and cons, it mainly comes down to preference.

The internet is as vast as our oceans. The possibilities with the internet are endless. That means it’s susceptible to websites slipping through the gaps, primarily ones that aren’t so honest and legitimate. These websites lead to digital piracy. They host shows, movies, and premium content.

Digital piracy can be found in every corner of the internet quite easily if you know where to look. Of course, these websites aren’t supposed to be available, but in order to take them down, the original owners would need to go through a lengthy legal process. Even when they do get shut down, even more will pop up in their place.

Have you ever felt that your desk is a tad bland? Is your workspace feeling a little empty? Worry no more! Even your peripherals can be exciting, it doesn’t have to be black or white, instead it could be a rainbow. The possibilities are endless.

A desktop should be personalized to reflect you. Most people think about the inside of the computer, for its performance. It’s understandable you would want your computer to be fast and efficient. However, most people overlook the aspect of comfort. The furthest extent the average person would possess would be a wrist rest and a mouse pad.

It’s springtime! Most know it to be the season of bloom, however to a quarter of the population it is known as the season of gloom. A season surrounded by sneezes, runny noses, and itchy eyes.

The spring brings about flowers, trees, and fruit. On the other hand, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, known primarily by a quarter of the population, its seasonal allergies. It is also known as “hay fever” and “allergic rhinitis”. The main cause of the fever is pollen, specifically tree pollen which kicks into high gear every early spring.

We are living in a digital age. With applications like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and more, trends are constantly coming and going. Although the digital detox trend might be here to stay, as it has become an increasingly popular millennial movement.

A digital detox is no new treasured insight, at least not to Facebook users who in 2012 made a collective attempt to break free from the taunting notifications of the app for several weeks. Although this moment was named as “media refusal” or “social media rejectors,” it was nothing short of this modern day act of improving well-being.

Video games have existed for decades and have quickly become a source of entertainment for people of all ages across the globe. Unfortunately with popularity, comes an increased rise in commercialization. In the case of video games, this commercialization comes in the form of many things, but microtransactions are the most prevalent.

Microtransactions are small in-game purchases that give the player either cosmetics and/or other content like level up packages or, on rare occasions, loot. They cost actual money, and oftentimes use an in-game currency as a go between. (Note that I said small in-game purchases.)

A rare total solar eclipse captivated millions across North America on Monday, April 8. The celestial spectacle, which lasted just over two minutes in the path of totality, offered a breathtaking display of nature’s grandeur.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow onto our planet. There are three main types of solar eclipses: total, partial, and annular. Monday’s event was a total solar eclipse, the most dramatic of the three, occurring when the moon completely blocks the sun’s light.

In the modern era, our dependence on technology has transformed the very notion of privacy into a quaint relic of the past. With smartphones as constant companions, our lives are an open book, ready to be dissected and monetized by algorithms and corporations. 

Take for instance, a daily bus commute where you’re surrounded by a sea of screens, each one a window into someone’s digital soul. It’s truly a sight, watching as people surrender their privacy with every tap and swipe, all in the name of connectivity and convenience. Who needs personal space when you have Wi-Fi, right?

Artificial intelligence has been taking over seemingly every corner of the internet and free market. Airlines, search engines, and marketing firms are adopting it, and it seems like every service has a new AI feature to advertise. For the average consumer, is any of this even useful?

AI itself has been mainly behind the scenes for decades, whether it be a computer player in a video game or an algorithm of any kind. Its recent boom in popularity, however, was due to OpenAI’s Chat-GPT releasing in November 2022. Recent advances like these began the AI boom as we know it.

Decades ago, the topic of global warming lacked attention regarding basic research, funding, and societal interest. Today, the issue is increasingly gaining more awareness, as its impacts on our environment are becoming more prominent through sea-level rise, disastrous storms, increased drought, and even loss of species worldwide.

This world renowned debate first took place in the late 1980’s, where the issue was perceived as something that wouldn’t impact us for generations. Well, that day has come, and its effects on us as humans are evident in these strangely warmer temperatures, rapid weather changes, and especially poverty and displacement.

Do you ever look up in wonder, interested to know about all that fills the sky? Well, if you were to be paying attention at the right time and place you may be dazzled by a show put on by a mysterious space traveler – a comet.

Comets travel through the depths of space while continuing to intrigue and inspire scientists and skywatchers alike. Have you ever looked up at night and seen what you thought was a shooting star, but that star and its tail didn’t fade? You were probably witnessing a comet, which at times can be seen slowly moving across the sky.

With new tech capabilities constantly on the rise, there’s little we can’t do without electricity, a wifi connection, and a few simple swipes of a finger. Technology has improved the way we live our lives in a myriad of way, yet we would be remiss to ignore the wealth of problems it has brought along with it.

Technology makes our lives easier as it allows us to stay uninterruptedly connected to the world around us. Yet, with its advancement continuously evolving, our engagement with our smartphones, laptops, fitness trackers, and other home devices is evolving as well.

Hey there Highline scholars, do you know how your body absorbs calcium, one of the important minerals for our bones? Calcium is a large mineral present in our body – it helps in strengthening bones and teeth. And although it is difficult to break it down through the digestive system, it plays a vital role in blood clotting.

Calcium bioavailability refers to the amount of calcium in a food or supplement that is absorbable and available for use by the body. It can vary depending on several factors, including the source of calcium and the other components present in the diet or supplement.

Metaverse 2, a virtual reality realm, offers a diverse experience allowing exploration of open worlds, participation in gaming challenges, and attendance at music concerts. Engage with a community building new worlds, make friends, and delve into endless possibilities and fun.

Let’s explore some features it provides without a gaming PC, followed by what unfolds. Within the metaverse, you can virtually travel to different states and countries, like an adventure in London, England, or the Bahamas provides a unique and immersive VR vacation.

Bob Ferguson, the governor of Washington, has recently confirmed his plan to ban cellphones across schools in Washington state. His plan would go into effect in September 2027, if approved.

On Monday, Sept. 28 2026, the Trump administration announced they had rolled back a Biden era policy that included LGBTQ people under the sex based discrimination policy Title IX. 

The decision comes after years of the administration cracking down on LGBTQ related issues and creating policies to limit specific freedoms. For example, pretty quickly after taking office, 34-time felon Donald Trump signed an executive order barring openly transgender individuals from enlisting in the U.S. military.

The highly anticipated “Girls Like Girls” film is coming to theaters on June 19, in time for Pride month. It is an adaptation of the book “Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko, originally based on her song of the same name. 

Kiyoko was a cornerstone of queer media in the 2010s. She was one of the first lesbians in mainstream media during that era, and she was looked up to by many young queer girls.

The Academic Success Center would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations to all ASC student employees who are graduating this year. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to supporting fellow students have made a lasting impact on our campus community. 

As you celebrate this important milestone and begin the next chapter of your journey, we are incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished.

Highline will be hosting their third annual Lavender Graduation for the school’s queer graduates. This event is meant to uplift our LGBTQIA+ graduates at Highline by celebrating their unique accomplishments and identities. 

The event is happening on June 11, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will be located in Building 8 in Mt. Constance/Olympus.

The 58th annual “Arcturus” launches next week, celebrating creativity across the diverse Highline community. The literary journal puts together a variety of artistic submissions from students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Founded in 1968 by a group of Highline students, the mission of the publication is to uplift the Highline community by showcasing works of art that represent this diversity.

The “Arcturus” is having their release party next Wednesday, June 3, in Building 2.

After an outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship, a strain of the Hantavirus that can be passed from human to human has stirred up global concern. The sudden uprise in cases outside of Asia alongside a 40% fatality rate has many people scared.

Three King Country residents are currently being monitored by Public Health after having come in direct contact with confirmed carriers.

Former Highline President Dr. John R. Mosby passed away Monday surrounded by friends and family.

He served as Highline’s first Black president, navigating the community through a period of growth and significant challenges including a global pandemic health, racial equity initiatives, successful accreditations, and the implementation of CTClink. 

Dr. Mosby served as Highline’s sixth president from July 2018 until Dec. 2025.

On International Workers’ Day, commonly commemorated as May Day, protests across Seattle and nationwide have laborers and activists rallied with a new purpose — fighting for workers rights, immigrant rights, and the end of the Trump administration that continues to strain the American working class. 

Local demonstrations took place across Seattle neighborhoods. Most notably Capitol Hill, where labor rights coalitions and various Seattle-based political advocacy groups mobilized around Cal Anderson Park to South Lake Union. The Seattle demonstration saw speakers tie the inseparable connection between labor rights and immigrant advocacy.

Shots fired at the correspondent’s dinner sparks speculation that it was a premeditated hoax. On Saturday night, a man rushed past the security checkpoint where the dinner was being held, and it said that he was targeting President Donald Trump. This would be the third assassination attempt on Trump.

Several videos have been released from that night with the public thinking it was all a hoax possibly to win over the midterm elections coming up.

Construction continues around the new Kent-Des Moines Light Rail station, but this time, instead of on the Light Rail itself, the construction is focusing on new affordable housing units.

For anyone following this publication quarter to quarter, it’s no surprise that constant local construction is a reoccurring theme. The Kent-Des Moines Light Rail station just finished construction and opened to the public last December, while the new construction started on March 18.

The Q Center, in collaboration with the Center for Cultural & Inclusive Excellence, the Center for Leadership and Service, and the Public Speaking Center, presents The Laughter Lab — a queer-forward afternoon of snacks, comedy, and conversation featuring professional touring comedians from the Seattle area.

Join us for a live comedy show featuring comics Juno Men, Ricci Armani, and Jenna Nobs who you may have seen on NPR, The Moth, Just for Laughs, The Comedy Store, and the Seattle International Comedy Competition.

After a grueling debate at the Washington State Legislature, lasting more than 24-hours in the House and a landslide vote in the Senate, a proposed income tax bill, colloquially known as the “Millionaire’s Tax” has passed a major legislative milestone. 

The bill aims at instituting the state’s first income tax to fund government services and, potentially, childcare. Most residents in Washington State are in support of the tax, but it is expected to drive out some of the wealthiest business owners.

People living in the United States and Europe immigrate for a multitude of reasons and always have. They could be fleeing conflict zones, they could be moving for financial reasons, or they could simply be exploring. Immigration is not only something humans have always done but it’s a normal thing for most living creatures to do. Birds migrate constantly for survival purposes and it is no different for us.

Here in the United States, immigration is one of the most hotly debated topics in modern politics. People immigrate worldwide all the time because it’s often a human necessity and simply a normal thing to do and yet, especially to the American right wing, it’s up there with the most important issues there is.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a proposal that prevents families with mixed immigration status from receiving federal housing assistance. Current HUD regulations dictate that mixed status households (meaning both eligible and ineligible to receive federal housing assistance) can receive assistance based on how many members of the household are eligible.

HUD’s proposal would limit the assistance to a temporary 30-day period, effectively barring mixed-status families completely from receiving said assistance. 

President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union (SOTU) address of his second term earlier this week, facing his lowest approval rating and at a time when most Americans view the union as weak. SOTU addresses are typically a time for sitting presidents to tout accomplishments, discuss actions taken to fulfil campaign promises, and outline their agendas for the next two years in office.

Trump did not do any of those things. His campaign promises centered around making life affordable for everyday Americans who have eaten the cost of his unpredictable tariffs, yet Trump criticized the Supreme Court’s decision that the tariffs were unconstitutional. In his effort to consolidate power, Trump did not make any demands of Congress either.

The Mexican army killed Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed “El Mencho”, a cartel leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel during a military raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco. 

Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense said Oseguera Cervantes was severely injured during the shootout and died while being transferred to Mexico City. Six other cartel members were also killed, and two arrested. Additionally, three military officers were injured during the operation.

Highline College will be hosting an open town hall with state lawmakers this weekend. Legislative District 33 state Sen. Tina Orwall, Rep. Mia Gregerson, and Rep. Edwin Obras will be in attendance taking questions and engaging in conversations about important issues in our local region. 

Taking place on Sunday, Feb. 22, from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., it’s highly encouraged that all able members of the community attend town halls and other local events held by elected officials. Questions can be submitted ahead of time.

Valentine’s Day spending reached a record $29.1 billion in 2026, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), surpassing their projected spending estimate of $27.7 billion.

Although spending significantly increased, only 55% of American consumers participated in the holiday – budgeting around $199.78 on average for gifts. The top spending categories during the holiday were candy, flowers, and jewelry. Nearly every one of these Valentine’s Day products have gotten significantly more expensive in recent years.

The National Poetry Month Committee calls out for submissions to this year’s Highline College Poetry Contest! There’s been a reduced amount of submissions compared to last year, so odds are good for the various cash prizes given to the winner. 

Send your poem(s) through the submission form by 4 p.m. on Feb. 20.

The 12 flag went up on Highline campus in anticipation of the Seahawks Super Bowl this Sunday. A few dozen students, staff, and faculty, all decked out in team spirit, showed up Thursday afternoon to watch Interim President Dr. Jamilyn Penn, raise the flag at the Veteran’s Plaza outside Building 6. 

Following the recent unlawful murder of another U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse for the department of veteran affairs, many associations from the University of Minnesota, Union De Vecinos, IFCO/Pastors Peace, and more have endorsed a nationwide shutdown. They are urging people to take a stand against ICE, this Friday Jan. 30.

This would mean no work, no school, no shopping for everyone causing an economic shutdown showing the government how much Americans and the American dollar is worth.

Oglala Sioux President Frank Star Comes Out condemned racial profiling done by ICE via a statement on Facebook, denouncing the treaty violation of four detained tribe members. One has since been released.

He’s urging citizens to carry tribal IDs as ICE operations continue. Star notes the detained men were living in a homeless encampment near the Little Earth Housing Complex in South Minneapolis. 

Alarming new info has people thinking about the future of the United States and wondering if history is slowly repeating itself under this new administration. Vice President JD Vance states that ICE agents should have absolute immunity, and should be going door-to-door in search of victims. 

As the quarter comes to a close and some students finish their Highline careers, the college is reduced to a limited operational capacity for the break, with some services available over the break. Many departments, like the Academic Success Center (ASC) say goodbye to valued students who supported their peers.

The ASC would like to recognize our graduating tutors, Emily Ortiz, for her contributions to this fall quarter. ASC Director Sheena Hendrix said, “Emily has been amazing to work with. She has consistently shown up for ASC leadership and our HC students. From tutoring, to tabling campus events. She’s done amazing work. While I’ll miss seeing her in the ASC, I’m excited to see her do great things.”

Two weeks from now, the second season of Amazon’s “Fallout” show drops its first episode. Releasing for streaming on Dec. 17, season 2 promises to be a fascinating and exciting romp through the ever popular New Vegas wasteland.

Unlike the previous season, the second season will be releasing one new episode every week until Feb. 8. With the returning main cast of Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, Aaron Moten, and Moisés Arias alongside antagonist Kyle MacLachlan and guest star, Macaulay Culkin, season 2 looks even bigger and better than the last.

Over the weekend many of the Washington residents and neighboring states witnessed major rainfall, powerful winds, and power loss. As Halloween celebrations gear up, another atmospheric river is set to arrive.

A powerful atmospheric river brought rain, wind, and snow across western Washington, leaving thousands without power, claiming one life, and dumping snow in the Cascades. The precipitation was immediately followed by deadly winds on Saturday, with the strongest recorded at 77 MPH.

There is less than 24 hours until the world’s favorite showgirl releases her 12th studio album, “Life of a Showgirl.” Taylor Swift, along with producers Max Martin (“…Baby One More Time” and “Blank Space”) and Shellback (“So What” and “I Knew You Were Trouble”), created this album in between the European Eras Tour shows last year. 

Former Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, released her book this past Tuesday titled “107 Days”, which recounts and reflects upon her presidential campaign, the shortest run in modern history. The book contains her notes, journal entries, and thoughts she had during those days, and more recent thoughts on current President Donald Trump’s actions since inauguration. 

Are you graduating this year and part of the LGBTQIA+ community? Or maybe you’re an ally who wants to show support? Either way, you are invited to Highline College’s 2nd Annual Lavender Graduation!

It’s a special ceremony that honors LGBTQIA+ graduates and celebrates their achievements, resilience, and the unique paths they’ve taken through college.

Another successful spring quarter means another round of Highline’s foremost celebration of artists of nearly every discipline. The collected works of your community’s painters, poets, and writers are taking center stage this coming Monday, June 2 for Arcturus’s 2025 launch party, showcasing this year’s theme: impermanence. 

Show support for the live readings of these spectacular submissions by stopping by the lunch (noon – 1:30 p.m.) or dinner (5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.) launch, both of which are open to the public.

Highline College will be hosting its very own “Highline’s Got Talent” next week – a fun, high-energy event celebrating student creativity and performance. Hosted by the Public Speaking Center, International Student Programs (ISP), and the Global Student Ambassadors, the show will highlight the diverse talents and cultural backgrounds that make up the Highline community.

Is your home cluttered with old paperwork or outdated electronics? BECU Tukwila Financial Center is holding their bi-annual Shred-it event next Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and this could be the week that you clear out all of your clutter! 

The event (held at 12770 Gateway Drive in Tukwila) has been a hit the past few years with those who want to get rid of old tax paperwork, and their partnership with the Tukwila Food Bank and Northwest Center makes this effort a win-win.

Hundreds of Hands Off protests are going on this Saturday, April 5, at noon. There are at least forty protests going on in Washington state alone. The event has achieved a global reach, to cities outside the US including London, Madrid, and Zurich. 

These protests were created to put a pause in the growing influence of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

Highline College’s core services have been going above and beyond to recruit students for their leadership team positions that specialize in a variety of skills. 

Programs looking for new hires include the Associated Students of Highline College (ASHC), Inter-Cultural Center (ICC), Q-Center, and more.

Next week, the Thunderword editors Mavrie Durham and Liv Lyons will appear on the Students Perspective on AI panel. The event takes place March 12 at 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in Building 8, Mt. Skokomish conference room. 

“Are you curious about how Highline students are engaging with AI in their academic and personal lives? Join us for an insightful panel discussion where students share their firsthand experiences, perspectives, and aspirations related to AI,” the event description reads.

Fireside Bistro, the hit spot in Building 8 for all things warm and cozy to fresh and sweet, recently announced on their social media that they are hiring a barista for the spring quarter. 

This student position involves collaborating with other workers to prepare drinks and food, as well as maintaining a clean and welcoming environment for all Thunderbirds. The Bistro can easily become one of the busiest spots to eat on campus, so applicants should be comfortable in a quick-paced environment and should take on any task.

Starting the year, winter storm Blair blasted into the Midwest before heading east to the coast. In only a few days, the storm brought in 8-12 inches of snow and in most areas, ice, along with multiple power outages. Blair is the first coast-to-coast snowstorm of 2025, hitting Kansas City, Mo., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

Highline’s TRiO program is hosting their “De-stress and Reconnection” event today (Dec. 5) from noon to 2 p.m. in the TRiO center on the first floor of Building 6.

Game tables, art stations, and lunch will be provided.

Highline is hosting the Associated Students of Highline College 2024 Legislative Breakfast in Building 8, inside the Mt. Constance/Olympus room, on Dec. 4, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 

This event provides an opportunity for members of Highline’s community to voice their questions, concerns, or their encountered challenges directly to local members of Washington State’s legislative branch over breakfast.

Thanksgiving is coming up, which means the season of stuffing has arrived! Highline College has TWO Friendsgiving events happening this week: MESA Potluck and Highline Clubs Friendsgiving. 

This year on Oct. 31, a Halloween party called Witches’ Night Out will be held from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.,  in Building 8 (first floor), for all members of the Highline community.

Various activities will be available for participation during the party, such as dances, games, cookie decorating, and tarot card readings.

Drag Bingo is being held tonight in the Student Union (Building 8) in the Mt. Townsend conference room, starting at 6 p.m. and hosted by Brandi Marxx from Tacoma. She promised an “unforgettable evening of Bingo, drag performances, and tunes.” 

Is your home cluttered with old paperwork or outdated electronics?

BECU Tukwila Financial Center is holding their bi-annual shred-it event this Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and this could be the week that you clear out all of your clutter! 

The Oddities & Curiosity Expo featuring all things creepy is coming to the state of Washington and will be held at the Seattle Convention Center. The expo is open to visitors of all ages from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20. 

This past week Israel has “defended” itself outside its borders by remotely detonating hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by militant group Hezbollah. The attack killed dozens and injured thousands more. 

The conflict has escalated since, with Israel carrying out air-strikes and raids within Lebanon. Hezbollah has continued their own assault into northern Israel. The fighting continues as Israel wages another conflict in the south.

Registration for summer and fall quarter is now open to all Highline Students. Summer quarter is shorter, more faced paced as it stretches over eight weeks as compared to fall classes, which last 11 weeks.

Summer begins June 24 and ends with exams being Aug. 14 and 15.

For students wanting to receive financial aid for the summer quarter, a separate form is required to be completed as it is processed differently than the typical academic year (fall-spring). Students must ensure they register for classes first and then fill out the Summer Aid Request Form.

Have any need for a living fossil, Japanese folk art, or home brew equipment? Check out the West Seattle Community garage sale. Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 11 there will be a total of 520 different vendors offering their wares from a transformer dining table (at 7031 13th SW), to a human hair wig (being sold at 1722 SW Cloverdale). 

Be sure to start right at 9 a.m. before all the good items are gone!

Is your home cluttered with old paperwork or outdated electronics? BECU Tukwila Financial Center is holding their bi-annual shred-it event this Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and this could be the week that you clear out all of your clutter!

The event (held at 12770 Gateway Drive in Tukwila) has been a hit the past few years with those who want to get rid of old tax paperwork, and their partnership with the Tukwila Food Bank and Northwest Center makes this effort a win-win.

Ah, Rome. The Eternal City, where every cobblestone tells a tale and every ruin whispers of ancient glory. Join me as we embark on a journey through the storied streets and timeless treasures of this legendary metropolis.

Our adventure begins in the mists of antiquity, where myth and history intertwine to tell the tale of Rome’s fabled origins. According to legend, the city was founded by Romulus and Remus, twin brothers who went on to establish a settlement on the banks of the Tiber River in 753 B.C.

Ah, dentistry, the art of making sure your pearly whites stay white… or at least not terrifyingly yellow. Believe it or not, folks, we’ve been obsessed with our chompers since the dawn of time. Picture it: 7000 B.C. You’ve got cavemen roaming around, grunting at each other, and what’s on their mind? Fixing that nagging toothache, of course!

So, our journey through the annals of dentistry begins in the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, where even back then, they were saying, “Hey, my tooth hurts! Let’s jam a rock in there and see if that helps.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t. But hey, you gotta give them props for trying, right?

In 1970, the Iranian government wasn’t planning just any old party. No, they were gearing up for an epic bash to celebrate the remarkable 2,500-year history of the Persian Empire. They weren’t settling for mediocrity; they wanted a celebration that would make history itself raise an eyebrow.

It took them a whole year to plan a three-day extravaganza, spanning from Oct. 12 to 14, 1971. For this epic event, they did something that even Hercules would have second thoughts about – crafting a 70-meter-long (that’s a whopping 230 feet) table and a matching tablecloth big enough that it could double as a landing strip for small planes. But here’s the kicker: it took 150 women over half a year to sew that gigantic tablecloth. That’s dedication!

We are living in this crazy world where unfortunately everything’s digital, right? Well it turns out, like, 90% of all the data floating around out there was just born in the past couple of years. Yeah, you heard that right – two years! It’s like we’re all suddenly drowning in a tsunami of data, and nobody handed out life jackets.

So, you know how you’re scrolling through Instagram, liking pics of puppies and drooling over food porn? Well, congrats, my friend, you’re adding to that ginormous pile of data. And it’s not just us regular folks.

A groundbreaking study published in Nature has produced the first global map of forest tree density and estimated that there are over three trillion trees worldwide. You read that right – trillion with a “T”. Researchers were clearly trying to one-up previous estimates of around 400 billion trees, which now seems paltry in comparison.

By collecting data from over 400,000 measurement plots in forests globally, the Yale researchers pulled off this feat of statistical one-upmanship. Their models estimate approximately 1.39 trillion trees exist in tropical and subtropical forests alone.

If you love high-end coffee, I’ve got the most expensive and the highest quality brew you can get – it’s called Kopi Luwak. It has a complex flavor profile that is smooth, earthy, and sweet, with a hint of chocolate. Its unique fermentation process gives it a distinct flavor that cannot be replicated.

Indonesia is the largest producer of Kopi Luwak coffee. Only around 1100 –1540 lb (500–700 kg) of Kopi Luwak is produced annually. Kopi Luwak can cost up to a whopping $100 per cup or $600 per pound, which is $500 more per pound than uranium (uranium is cheaper than I thought).

There can’t be too much of a good thing! The National Poetry Month Committee and Arcturus are operating at full steam in order to get students recognized. 

National Poetry Month (deadline Feb. 9) and Arcturus (deadline Feb. 14) will be announcing their respective winners as National Poetry Month approaches, and there is still time to get involved!

Ah, the realm of currency, where greenbacks (money$$$$) reign supreme. But what about those forgotten denominations, tucked away in the annals of financial history? Unless you’re an avid collector or have a rich uncle, chances are you won’t stumble upon these pieces of history.

Let’s begin with the elusive $2 bill. It’s treated like a mythical creature when discovered. Newsflash: It’s not a unicorn, just a less common bill. But don’t expect to buy your morning coffee with it unless you enjoy perplexed looks from the barista. (The $2 bill is legal tender.)

New research has revealed that rats produce high-frequency giggles when tickled, adding to evidence that these rodents share some similarities with humans when it comes to expressing positive emotions. What an earth-shattering discovery – someone call the Nobel committee!

Scientists conducted experiments where they tickled juvenile rats while recording the ultrasonic vocalizations the animals made in response. They discovered that the rats consistently produced a unique set of high-pitched chirping sounds during the tickling that were distinct from other rat vocalizations. Apparently rats think being tickled is hilarious. Who knew?!