Students will receive support for several programs designed to help with student retention Dominion Energy has committed $25 million to be shared by 11 HBCUs Students at Norfolk State University will receive support in several initiatives designed to enhance student retention and degree completion, increase the representation of minority students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) … Continue reading
Category Archives: Science
First sloth born at Virginia Zoo
NORFOLK, VA – The Virginia Zoo has something to celebrate. The Zoo had its first sloth birth on Sunday, March 8, 2020. This two-toed sloth is the first offspring for mom, Honey, and dad, Mervin. Even though baby sloths are approximately 12-16 ounces when born, they are covered in fur, have nails and teeth and … Continue reading
Governor Northam outlines plans for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
~ Virginia has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of March 4 ~ RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced March 4 that state officials are executing longstanding public health plans in response to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Virginia currently has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, and state officials are continuously monitoring the virus worldwide. Governor Northam, joined … Continue reading
Virginia Zoo announces new tapir baby “Luther”
NORFOLK, VA – The Virginia Zoo welcomes its first-ever Malayan tapir baby who was born shortly after 8 pm on January 20, 2020. The male calf was named “Luther” by his Zoo Keepers for the holiday he was born on – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He is the first offspring for parents Haddie, age … Continue reading
What the Norfolk State community needs to know about coronavirus
Who is at risk? Persons living in or near Wuhan City, China, persons traveling in that area in the past two weeks or who have had contact with someone who has been in that area or contact with someone diagnosed with Coronavirus infection. Current Virginia Risk Level: Low — no identified cases in Virginia as … Continue reading
Kamala Harris tells Spartan Echo she wants to help HBCUs as U.S. President
by Jessica Toliver, Editor-in-Chief On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Spartan Echo had the opportunity to speak with U.S. Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA). Several topics were discussed starting with Harris’s background and what helps guide her steps in wanting to help historically black colleges and universities continue to grow and succeed. Harris discussed two … Continue reading
Listen to the children: An editorial on climate change
An editorial by Mel Gurtov The Republicans are on the sidelines on the climate crisis. Government scientists are muzzled. Leading Democrats—though not all—are cautious. CEOs of some of America’s biggest corporations are pledging action while others, like investment firms, fossil fuel companies, and Charles Koch’s lobbyists, are downright hostile. And Donald Trump, the world’s leading … Continue reading
Free Norfolk summer youth program explores aviation
NORFOLK, VA (July – August 2019) – Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) and the City of Norfolk, VA have teamed to offer a robust STEM education program throughout Norfolk’s nine-week Parks and Recreation summer camp. The program’s mission is to reach the 1,400 students who will be participating in summer youth programs, and to provide … Continue reading
Zoo welcomes baby zebra, asks public for naming help
Abby, the 17-year-old Hartmann’s mountain zebra gave birth to a female foal on Monday, May 13, 2019. This is the fifth filly for Abby and fourth for father, eight-year-old, Zack. Zoo Keepers are looking for a name that starts with the letter “Z” after her dad who left the Virginia Zoo for breeding at another … Continue reading
Hampton Roads college teams named as semifinalists for American Evolution Innovators Cup
Unique competition challenges undergraduate students from across Virginia to develop innovative solutions addressing issues facing the Commonwealth and the nation Virginia’s 2019 Commemoration, American Evolution recently announced that teams from 4 colleges in the Hampton Roads area have been selected as semifinalists for the American Evolution Innovators Cup. Participants will compete for cash prizes totaling … Continue reading
Governor signs coal ash clean up legislation
~ Newly-approved bills will protect water quality by removing over 27 million cubic yards of coal ash from unlined ponds in Chesapeake Bay Watershed ~ RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam has signed legislation to clean up more than 27 million cubic yards of coal ash from unlined ponds in Virginia, after a historic bipartisan agreement that was … Continue reading
YouTube produces HIV/AIDS awareness video for NSU iBook Project
Norfolk State faculty members in diverse disciplines received a $48,000 grant from the National Library of Medicine to engage in community outreach to decrease the spread of the HIV. Project CHOICE: Information Access is designed to provide accurate information regarding HIV/AIDS using innovative educational technology to develop an iBook and EPUB (a digital book for Android devices). … Continue reading
Zoo has a new lion cub
NORFOLK, VA: The Virginia Zoo is thrilled to announce its latest birth of a lion cub. The male cub was born on October 28 to experienced mom Zola and dad Mramba. The cub weighed just three pounds five ounces at birth and has been a pure joy to all his Keepers. “The birth of any … Continue reading
NATO prepares “for tomorrow” in Norfolk
by Imajae Johnson The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is holding their annual Chiefs of Transformation Conference (COTC) in Norfolk, Virginia Tuesday December 12, 2017 through Thursday December 14, 2017. NATO is made up of twenty-nine countries and promotes the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Norfolk … Continue reading
The Latest: Bali volcano alert raised, airport closes
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The Latest on a rumbling volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali (all times local): 6 a.m. Indonesian authorities raised the alert for a menacing volcano on the tourist island of Bali to the highest level Monday and ordered people within 10 kilometers (6 miles) to evacuate. The National Disaster … Continue reading
Tesla wants to electrify big trucks, adding to its ambitions
DETROIT (AP) — After more than a decade of making cars and SUVs — and, more recently, solar panels — Tesla Inc. wants to electrify a new type of vehicle: big trucks. The company unveiled its new electric semitractor-trailer Thursday night near its design center in Hawthorne, California. CEO Elon Musk said the semi is … Continue reading
Recreational marijuana rules rile pot-friendly San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Famously pro-cannabis San Francisco, where the 4/20 marijuana holiday is celebrated with a group smoke-out on Hippie Hill, is having a surprisingly difficult time establishing regulations for the broad legal pot market coming to California in January. Writing local rules in the weed-friendly city has taken a contentious turn as critics, … Continue reading
Josh Norman trying to raise money for ‘ignored’ Puerto Rico
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Josh Norman doesn’t believe enough attention is being paid to the situation hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico and is trying to change that. The Washington Redskins cornerback is donating $50,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Puerto Rico and wants to convince other athletes, celebrities, corporations and foundations to donate another $200,000. … Continue reading
US and them: America, the elephant in room at climate talks
WASHINGTON (AP) — How’s this for awkward? The United States has a delegation at international climate talks in Bonn that will be telling other nations what they should do on an agreement that the president wants no part of. President Donald Trump has promised to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 Paris climate pact where … Continue reading
Virginia Zoo welcomes new male rhino
The Virginia Zoo is excited to welcome a male rhino. The 11-year-old male, Sibindi, arrived at the Zoo this weekend from White Oak Conservation Center in Florida and will take residence in the Africa – Okavango Delta with Bora and Zina. “We’re so pleased to have our rhino herd complete,” said Greg Bockheim, Executive Director … Continue reading
Fiji calls for urgency in talks to implement climate accord
BONN, Germany (AP) — Fiji’s prime minister called for a sense of urgency in the fight against global warming Monday, telling negotiators “we must not fail our people,” as he opened two weeks of talks on implementing the Paris accord on combating climate change, which is already affecting his Pacific island nation. While diplomats and … Continue reading
The Latest: US will continue participation in climate talks
BONN, Germany (AP) — The Latest on global climate change talks in Bonn, Germany (all times local): 4:25 p.m. A senior U.S. diplomat says Washington will continue to take part in talks about implementing the Paris climate accord, despite President Donald Trump’s threat to pull out of the pact. Trump announced in June that the … Continue reading
Sorrow, heartache, hope: Eyes of homeless offer hint of life
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s easy to walk past the homeless, to disregard the guy lying on the street or ignore the woman standing at an intersection holding a handwritten sign with a plea for help. It’s harder to look away when you’ve seen their eyes. Look past lines drawn by hard living or the … Continue reading
US report contradicts Trump team: Warming mostly man-made
WASHINGTON (AP) — A massive U.S. report concludes the evidence of global warming is stronger than ever, contradicting a favorite talking point of top Trump administration officials, who downplay human’s role in climate change. The report released Friday is one of two scientific assessments required every four years. A draft showing how warming affects the … Continue reading
Tribe rejects plan to build tram, hotel in Grand Canyon
Legislation to build an aerial tram to take paying visitors to a riverside boardwalk in the Grand Canyon has been voted down by the Navajo Nation Council. Members of the council voted 16-2 against the bill during a special session Tuesday in Window Rock, Arizona. It was the first time the full council had … Continue reading