Ryan Farrick is a writer and small business advertising consultant based out of mid-Michigan. Passionate about international politics and world affairs, he’s an avid traveler with a keen interest in the connections between South Asia and the United States. Ryan studied neuroscience and has spent the last several years working as an operations manager in transportation logistics.


California Prison Psychologist Locked in Cell with Rapist Settles Suit

A California prison psychologist who claims she was locked up in a cell with a convicted rapist as punishment for defending transgender inmates has accepted a $275,000 settlement. Lois Jespersen, who the Sacramento Bee says worked for the California Department of Corrections since 2008, left her post as part of the agreement. The settlement forbids


Trump Threatens to Close U.S.-Mexico Border

On Thursday, President Donald Trump threatened to bring the military to the U.S.-Mexico border if immigration can’t be curbed. “I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught – and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!” Trump tweeted in the


Branson Duck Boat Operators Use 19th-Century Law to Try Escaping Liability

Two companies involved in the summer’s Branson, MO duck boat tragedy are invoking a 19th-century law in an attempt to avoid legal damages. The July incident claimed 17 lives—nine of the dead were from a single family. The 1851 maritime law brought about by defendants Branson Duck Vehicles and Ripley Entertainment limits or eliminates liability



Harvard University Admissions Lawsuit Moves to Trial

A lawsuit accusing Harvard University of discriminating against Asian-American applicants in admissions moved to trial on Monday. Students for Fair Admissions have alleged that Harvard is biased against its Asian-American applicants, supposedly holding them to higher standards than students of other races. Harvard, reports the Associated Press, has denied the accusations. The Ivy League institution


Trump Administration Reconsiders Family Separation Policies

  The Trump administration took months to extricate itself from a family separation crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border. Now, with families once again flocking to the United States’ southern frontier, President Trump is reconsidering the policy. POLITICO.com reports that ‘three current and former Homeland Security Department’ officials confirmed the rumor. They say that if children



Hurricane Michael Will Cost U.S. ‘At Least $25 Billion’ in Economic Losses

Hurricane Michael is expected to cause at least $25 billion in economic losses from now until its dissipation. Bloomberg reports that about $3 billion of the total will ‘fall on the federal flood insurance program.’ Private insurers are likely to face bills ranging from $9 to $10 billion, according to disaster modeler Chuck Watson. Whatever


Canada Cannabis Industry Reps and Workers Can Enter the U.S., Says C.B.P.

In an unexpected policy shift, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said Canadians working in the country’s legal cannabis industry won’t be prevented from crossing the border. The reversal follows announcement made in September. CBP and Trump administration officials then held that “as marijuana continues to be a controlled substance under United States law,


Tennessee Accuses Nurse Practitioner Christina Collins of Unbelievable Opioid Prescriptions

Christina Collins, a nurse practitioner in Knoxville, Tennessee, is accused of prescribing ‘colossal’ doses of opioids to an unsuspecting patient. According to The Tennessean, the prescription ‘began with 32 tablets of methadone, a powerful opioid painkiller, swallowed eight a time throughout the day.’ Soon thereafter, the patient was instructed to take another opioid, Roxicodone, four