On today’s NOTICE News: A toxic train derailment in Ohio has some scared to go back to their homes – and the consequences could last much longer. Plus: How did an adopted dog find his way 10 miles back to the shelter? The answer: It’s complicated. Here’s a transcript of the show.
Discussion Questions
- What’s so dangerous about the chemicals that were released in the train derailment?
- Why was a controlled release necessary to get the remaining chemicals out of the train cars?
- What physical evidence is there that would make residents in the area of the derailment think that something could still be wrong?
- In the lawsuit, what do local business owners and residents believe the rail company is responsible for?
- What do dogs physically have that make them unbelievably powerful trackers?
Writing Prompts
- Often, when there’s some sort of accident that involves chemicals and the environment, a period follows afterward of lawsuits and further fact finding. Why might people in areas of such accidents be hesitant to trust companies or the government saying everything is okay? Why might those responsible for the accident often be hesitant to admit the extent of the problem?
- Trump’s own ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has declared she’s running for president. Aside from the normal challenges that any campaign poses, what might be some unique challenges she could face, having previously been part of Trump’s own administration?
- In recent years especially, there has been a lot of advocacy for people adopting dogs from shelters. In what ways could such adoptions be a positive way to go about getting a pet? Who are the different entities it could help, other than the adopted dog itself, and why?
More info On…
- Our top story today: Worried residents near Ohio train derailment report dead fish and chickens as authorities say it’s safe to return (NBC)
- Initial report from the Feb. 3 crash: Derailed Train Cars In Ohio Drained Of Toxic Chemical Amid Mass Evacuation (Reuters)
- 2024 Election incoming: Nikki Haley Takes On Donald Trump For 2024 U.S. Republican Nomination (Reuters)
- More about how dogs can smell their way home (from the American Kennel Club)