News Headlines and Features

Students agree: Uninvited guests should be charged

By: Gabrielle Burkhart, NtNewsNet.com

A Virginia couple is under scrutiny after attending the White House state dinner for India’s prime minister without being on the guest list. Tareq Salahi says that he and his wife are not gate-crashers and that the whole incident is a misunderstanding. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has said President Obama and his wife were angered that the couple was able to get into the White House. Students at the University of North Texas have their own opinions of what should now be done. Click here to listen.

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Students urge President to have plan for increased troops to Afghanistan

By: Kyle Scheumack, NtNewsNet.com

President Obama says that he will make an Afghanistan announcement soon, but has not said if he will send more troops. He did say; however, it’s his intention to finish the job. While students at the University of North Texas wait to hear Obama’s decision, they are voicing their opinions. Obama’s announcement is expected sometime early next week. According to USA Today, the announcement could come as early as Tuesday. Obama did say that the announcement would be after Thanksgiving. Click here to listen.

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Students are split on cell phone bans

By: Kelly Walker, NtNewsNet.com

Statistics show that 50-percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 text while driving. The study done by triple-A also says that texting drivers are 10-percent more likely to leave their lanes. With recent publicity for California’s stricter cell phone laws students are split between safety and what they feel is a necessity. Texas’s only law banning texting while driving is in school zones. Click here to listen.

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Change in UNT’s dead week policy gets mixed reaction

By: Julie Yates, NtNewsNet.com

Dead week at the University of North Texas is now only the Friday through Sunday before finals week. The Faculty Senate approved the change earlier this year. Previously, dead week has been an entire week.  The change was made to give faculty more time to finish coursework while still giving students time to prepare for their finals.  Students at the university have mixed feelings toward the change.  Teachers will still be able to teach new material until the Friday before finals.  Click here to listen.

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Smoking ban at University of Texas at Arlington raises questions at UNT

By: Liliana Villarreal, NtNewsNet.com

The University of Texas at Arlington approved a campus-wide smoking ban on Friday. UTA is the first university in North Texas to ban smoking all together. Currently, schools like TCU, TWU and UNT allow smoking in designated areas. Students at UNT had mixed opinions on the possibility of having a smoke–free campus. A smoking-ban has not been proposed on another North Texas campus yet. But some may see this as an example and could follow in U-T-A’s footsteps. The ban will not take effect until fall of 20-11. The president of the university says they will address issues of enforcement in the months leading up to the ban. Click here to listen.

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Students not overly concerned about H1N1 vaccines

By: Gabrielle Burkhart, NtNewsNet.com

The Denton County Health Department has received its largest shipment of the H1N1 vaccine containing 5,700 doses bringing the total inventory to nearly 11-thousand doses. The health department has scheduled three mass clinics so far for high-risk groups in the area. Students at the University of North Texas had various concerns about getting the vaccine. There has not been another reported death in the area from the H1N1 virus since October 28th. Information regarding the clinics can be found on the Denton County Health Department website. Click here to listen.

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Thanksgiving Break Interviews

Julie Yates, NTNewsNet.com, interviews students about Thanksgiving Break. Click here for her story.

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Reaction Strong Over Terrorism Trials in NY

By: Gabrielle Burkhart, NtNewsNet.com

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent decision to transfer five suspects in the nine-eleven attacks from Guantanamo Bay to New York for a civilian court trial has raised many public concerns. This decision strays from former Bush Administration policies to treat terrorism cases as a military matter. Students around the University of North Texas campus had mixed feelings about the decision. Click here to listen.

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Here are featured podcasts written and produced by the students:

Sarah Mueller, NTNewsNet.com reports on gas leaks in Denton, TX.  Click here for her story.

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‘Texas Giant’ to undergo major renovation

Scott  Brown, NtNewsNet.com, Date/Time  Written = 11/16/09 2:30 pm
A ten-million-dollar renovation began at Six Flags over  Texas in Arlington Monday, November 16th.  The theme park is  replacing the Texas Giant with a new wooden roller coaster.  The Texas  Giant has been a staple attraction at the park for nearly two decades.   Students at the University of North Texas generally seem to see the  replacement as an improvement.  Click here to listen.

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Students react to recent violence by teenagers

Scott Brown, NTNewsNet Date/Time Written = 11/14/09 11am
There has been a string of violent beatings in the North  Texas area perpetrated by teenagers recently.  When children behave in  such unacceptable ways it raises the often-debated question of nature versus  nurture: Are these kids products of poor parenting, or are some kids just  bad?  UNT students seem to think that although the parents play an  important role, teenagers are old enough to accept responsibility for their  own decisions.  Click here to listen.

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New Bush Institute Under Discussion

Nimia Amaya, NTNewsNet.com, Date/Time Written= 11/13/09 12 pm

Former president George W. Bush discussed the purposes behind the new and privately funded Bush Institute.  The institute is the public policy arm of his presidential library at Southern Methodist University.  The institute will focus on improving public education, promoting free trade, encouraging democracy abroad, and spreading women’s health initiatives.  University of North Texas students agree and disagree with the Bush-SMU initiative.  Click here to listen.