Around Campus:
- Ann Heisenfelt/AP
- David Kadlubowski/AP
Ann Arbor named most educated city in America
Tuesday, WalletHub.com named Ann Arbor the most educated city in the United States.
WalletHub analyzed 150 of the largest metropolitan cities across the country, with rankings determined by two key metrics: “education level” and “quality of education.”
Education level was determined by several key categories, including percentage of bachelor’s degree holders (Ann Arbor ranked first), percentage of graduate or professional degree holders (first) and the percentage of high school diploma holders (third).
The number one ranking came two days after the city earned the number 13 spot in Livability.com’s Top 100 Best Places to Live.
University awarded grant to study algal blooms
Wednesday, state officials announced that University researchers will be awarded a $653,097 federal grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
According to Sen. Carl Levin (D–Mich.) and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D–Mich.), researchers will use the grant to create tools that will predict water quality and harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes. HABs made the national news six weeks ago when algal toxins were discovered in the water supply of Toledo.
“When I was a member of the Detroit City Council, I helped pass the first local phosphorus restrictions,” Levin said in a statement. “We are still fighting harmful algal blooms today, and this grant will help make that fight more effective.”
Around the World:
Domestic violence crackdown in National Football League
On Sept. 8, video footage was released of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiancé in a domestic violence incident, which led to his indefinite suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Back in July, the NFL suspended Rice for the first two games of the season. But with the new evidence, Goodell enforced a harsher punishment and Rice, represented by the NFL Player’s Association, appealed the decision Tuesday.
On top of the Rice incident, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on charges of beating his 4-year-old son with a tree branch. Peterson was benched Sunday against the New England Patriots, but reinstated Monday. After the Vikings’ decision was met with criticism of being insensitive to child abuse, the team banned Peterson from all team activities on Wednesday morning.
“While we were trying to make a balanced decision yesterday, after further reflection we have concluded that this resolution is best for the Vikings and for Adrian,” owner Zygi Wilf and Team President Mark Wilf said in a joint statement. “We want to be clear: we have a strong stance regarding the protection and welfare of children, and we want to be sure we get this right.”
Wednesday night, the Arizona Cardinals deactivated their backup running back Jonathan Dwyer, after he was arrested for domestic abuse allegations. A report filed to the Phoenix Police Department last week cited consecutive days in July when the incidents occurred. Police said the alleged victims include a 27-year-old female and an 18-month-old child.
Scotland to vote on independence from United Kingdom
Thursday, Scotland could become the 31st country to be formed since World War II.
The Scottish National Party is staging a referendum on whether or not Scotland should become independent from the United Kingdom, which would end a 300-year history of unification. Eligible voters include Scottish residents aged 16 and older.
The issue has stirred mass controversy on both sides of the debate. Alex Salmond, first minister of Scotland, said it is time for the country to be free from the “shackles” of the London-based U.K. Parliament, but British Prime Minister David Cameron, in his final visit to Scotland, pleaded against the initiative, saying the separation would be a “painful divorce.”
The challenges facing the vote revolve around Scotland’s control of the North Sea oil and gas reserves as these resources become harder to obtain, as well as the country’s desire to keep the pound as its national currency, an initiative that the three U.K. parties oppose.
Excluding undecided votes, a recent poll by YouGov for The Sunday Times showed that 51 percent of respondents back independence while 49 percent are against it.