Specialized Sociology Search and Resources

12+ hour, 28+ min ago (922+ words) Published 4:05 pm Tuesday, December 9, 2025 More than 80 people packed into a room in Duncan's Cowichan Community Centre on Dec. 8, gathering in grief, anger and solidarity to support the family of Leonard Sylvester III. Sylvester a 38-year-old member of the region's Penelakut First Nation died following what his widow describes as a cascade of medical failures at Cowichan District Hospital and Victoria General Hospital. The event brought together grieving family members, Indigenous leaders, health advocates and representatives from the medical system involved in Leonard's care. Speakers addressed the room and, at times, spoke directly to Island Health representatives to demand answers, openness and systemic change, while community members gathered to support the family. In a written statement read aloud to those in attendance, Leonard's wife Boedaya Sylvester called for accountability from Island Health. Leonard's body was transported to Vancouver for an autopsy later…...

14+ hour, 44+ min ago (327+ words) My Mom Jayne," The Perfect Neighbor" and Cover-Up" were among the nominees for the Producers Guild of America Documentary Feature Award, the organization announced on Tuesday. The list was rounded out by The Tale of Silyan," The Alabama Solution," Mr. Nobody Against Putin" and Ocean with David Attenborough." In the separate Innovation category devoted to accomplishments in emerging technology, the nominees included the 4-D production of The Wizard of Oz" at Sphere in Las Vegas. Across all categories, the Producers Guild Awards celebrate the vital job of producing, and the noteworthy contributions that honorees have made to the industry," said Producers Guild of America Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line. The PGA is proud to recognize the extraordinary producers and teams whose work reflects their remarkable dedication and commitment to excellence." Maureen Fan, Joanna Popper and Angela Russo-Ostot will…...

21+ hour, 33+ min ago (325+ words) The Producers Guild of America 2025 nominees for the Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Pictures award include "The Alabama Solution," "Cover-Up," "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," "My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay," "Ocean with David Attenborough," "The Perfect Neighbor" and "The Tale of Silyan." Winners will be announced at the PGA Awards on Feb. 28 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The Producers Guild Awards recognize excellence in production across motion pictures, television and emerging media, as well as the leading figures whose contributions continue to define the producing profession. Producers to be honored at this year's ceremony include Amy Pascal (David O. Selznick Achievement Award), Mara Brock Akil (Norman Lear Achievement Award) and Jason Blum (Milestone Award). Last year, producers Lizzie Gillett, Robert Ford and Ian Bonh'te received the award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture for "Super…...

1+ day, 1+ hour ago (538+ words) Federal grant funds a nationwide program teaching Second Amendment history and constitutional principles in American high schools. [Constitution Glock iStock-697763612]Department of Education Awards Nearly $1 Million for Constitutional Literacy Program, iStock-697763612 The fight for Second Amendment education just received a major federal boost. The University of Wyoming College of Law's Firearms Research Center has secured a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop a nationwide program that will finally bring historically accurate, constitutionally grounded instruction about the Second Amendment into American classrooms. This represents a solid victory for gun rights advocates who have long watched the Second Amendment either ignored in civics curricula or presented through a distorted partisan lens. The $908,991 grant will fund "Armed with Knowledge," a two-year initiative designed to equip secondary school teachers across the nation with the resources they need to teach the…...

1+ day, 13+ hour ago (342+ words) The Producers Guild of America announced Tuesday the nominees for Documentary Motion Pictures at the 37th annual PGA Awards, giving a leg up to several films with Oscar aspirations. The seven nominees reflect a wide range of subjects and filmmaking approaches: The Alabama Solution (HBO Documentary Films), Cover-Up (Netflix), Mr. Nobody Against Putin (Made in Copenhagen), My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay (HBO Documentary Films), Ocean With David Attenborough (National Geographic), The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix), and The Tale of Silyan (National Geographic). "The Producers Guild Awards celebrate the vital job of producing, and the noteworthy contributions that honorees have made to the industry," PGA Presidents Stephanie Allain and Donald De Line said in a statement. "The PGA is proud to recognize the extraordinary producers and teams whose work reflects their remarkable dedication and commitment to excellence." While the Producers…...

2+ day, 4+ hour ago (635+ words) By Emily MyersDecember 8, 2025 APG offers Sunday worship services for both Catholic and Protestant congregations, as well as special services for the Jewish community during significant observances. Johnson emphasized the team's commitment to serving everyone who seeks support or connection at the chapel. "While we are limited in the number of services we offer, we're ready as a staff to provide for the religious needs of anyone who comes into the chapel; we are always ready and eager to start any new religious program if we feel like it will meet a need," he said. This flexibility reflects the RSO's mission to serve a community rich in faith traditions, backgrounds and spiritual experiences. Chaplains and religious affairs specialists are routinely present across the installation, not just in the chapel. They visit offices, attend events and listen to the needs of Soldiers,…...

2+ day, 7+ hour ago (569+ words) News | Dec 8, 2025 Three Rifle High School students spent this election season seeing democracy up close as student election judges for Garfield County. For each of them, the experience offered a rare look behind the curtain at how local elections truly function. Jaslyn Valencia, Alejandro Sanchez, and Kincaid Perdue completed two hours of security training and four hours of election training. According to Garfield County Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon, this is the same requirement for all election judges. Sanchez, who finished the full training but missed Election Day due to illness, said the process opened his eyes to the mechanics of voting. "It interests me, seeing how voting works, because I've never voted. I got to see everything that goes into the process of voting, from the kind of machines that are used to the paperwork that's required." Valencia was…...

3+ day, 18+ hour ago (500+ words) Nowhere is the massive void in critical thinking skills more obvious than in the political arena, which thrives on low information, nonthinking voters. A thoughtful review of sources and facts is a threat to those who seek complete control of the voting populace. Repressive regimes view critical thinking as a significant threat to their stability and control and actively work to suppress it. Critical thinking is about "how to think," not "what to think" and based on past and current failures in grasping this concept, we need an all-out effort to educate and develop these skills. The current Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards from the Texas Education Agency emphasize skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. But what are the methods currently employed to effectively teach these skills and are there verifiable successful outcomes? As a former educator at…...

4+ day, 9+ hour ago (219+ words) Pat McGravey goes over a lesson as he teaches a civics class at North Andover Middle School. McGravey won the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Award for "Civics in Action." Pat McGravey teaches "Civics in Action." The walls in Pat McGravey's civics class at North Andover Middle School are covered with historical memorabilia. Pat McGravey won the Edward M. Kennedy Institute Award for his civics in action teaching at North Andover Middle School. Retired Central Catholic High School teacher Leo McCue, center, in the classroom of former student and current North Andover Middle School civics teacher Patrick McGravey, left, and his former students Mariah Eskel, Mehak Sankhla, Parker Dubman, Keshav Mahadevan and Sreejith Krishnaa. Teacher Pat McGravey talks with his students after a civics class at North Andover Middle School. McGravey goes over a lesson. The bulletin board in Pat McGravey's civics class....

5+ day, 18+ hour ago (335+ words) Published 3:00 pm Thursday, December 4, 2025 A man convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the 2007 Surrey Six slayings has now also been found guilty of contempt of court. Cody Rae Haevischer is seeking a judicial stay of proceedings related to the murders based on abuse of process. The evidentiary hearing for that commenced on Nov. 4, 2024 and remains underway. Justice Martha Devlin on December 3 found him guilty of contempt of court, in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. Matthew Johnston, also found guilty of six counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, joined Haevischer in the stay of proceedings application but has since died. "Mr. Haevischer's stated reason for refusing the Court's direction was that answering the questions would violate the "inmate code,' which according to Mr. Haevischer prohibits "ratting' on fellow…...