DML Morning Briefing, Nov. 6

Today is November 6. Below are some of the stories grabbing headlines this morning. I hope you share this briefing as doing so will make you the smartest person in the room.

1.Professor settles lawsuit with college called ‘epicenter of censorship in Texas’
FoxNews–On Thursday, Collin College, a public institution in the Dallas area, agreed to settle a case initiated by education professor Suzanne Jones, fired by the institution last year for protected speech. Jones will be reinstated to her post.

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), Jones’ representatives in the lawsuit, the college cited three incidents that led to Jones’ firing.

In 2017, she signed her name and college affiliation in an open letter in the Dallas Morning News supporting the removal of Confederate monuments. In 2020, Jones used the name of Collin College on a website associated with the Texas Faculty Association, a statewide faculty union Jones helped organize at Collin College. Finally, Jones, who sat on the Collin College Faculty Council, publicly supported the council’s proposed plan regarding campus reopening amidst the pandemic.

Despite calling Jones an “excellent faculty member” with positive reviews and extensive service to the college, Collin College administrator Toni Jenkins joined President Neil Matkin to authorize the non-renewal of Jones’ teaching contract — against the recommendations of three senior faculty members.

Ryan Lynch: You can be a role model and excellent at your job but that won’t even save you. Once you go against the grain especially in the world of teaching in universities all your credentials are thrown out the window. It’s a real shame.

2.Dusty Baker reacts to first World Series win as manager: ‘You gotta persevere’
FoxNews–Before Saturday night, Dusty Baker had managed the most games in Major League Baseball history without winning a World Series title.

Baker made his managerial debut in 1993 with the San Francisco Giants. They lost in seven games in 2002 to the Anaheim Angels. He didn’t make another one until last year, but the Houston Astros lost to the Atlanta Braves.

Finally, he has a ring.

The Astros took down the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win their second title in franchise history, and the first of Baker’s career as a manager.

Ryan Lynch: Congratulations to the Houston Astros for taking home the world series and also to Dusty Baker. I just hope there were no trash cans banged on last night.

3.Passenger plane crash-lands into Lake Victoria in Tanzania
Reuters–A Precision Air flight carrying 39 passengers made a crash landing into Lake Victoria on Sunday while attempting to reach a nearby airport in Tanzania, the airline said.

At least 26 people were rescued from the plane, the airline said in a statement, adding that no deaths had been confirmed.

Flight PW494, which departed from the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, “crash landed” into the lake as it was approaching the lakeside city of Bukoba, Precision Air added.

Ryan Lynch: I hope everyone involved turns out okay and well. This is one of the reasons why I hate to fly.

4.Wells are running dry in drought-weary Southwest as foreign-owned farms guzzle water to feed cattle overseas
CNN–Now frustration is growing in Arizona’s La Paz County, as shallower wells run dry amid the Southwest’s worst drought in 1,200 years. Much of the frustration is pointed at the area’s huge, foreign-owned farms growing thirsty crops like alfalfa, which ultimately get shipped to feed cattle and other livestock overseas.

“You can’t take water and export it out of the state, there’s laws about that,” said Arizona geohydrologist Marvin Glotfelty, a well-drilling expert. “But you can take ‘virtual’ water and export it; alfalfa, cotton, electricity or anything created in part from the use of water.”

Residents and local officials say lax groundwater laws give agriculture the upper hand, allowing farms to pump unlimited water as long as they own or lease the property to drill wells into. In around 80% of the state, Arizona has no laws overseeing how much water corporate megafarms are using, nor is there any way for the state to track it.

Ryan Lynch: Are any of you experiencing this in Arizona?

5.Who wants to be a billionaire! Powerball jackpot rises to $1.9b – the highest in global history – after no one won last night’s draw
DailyMail–A record Powerball jackpot grew to an even larger $1.9 billion after no one won the lottery drawing on Saturday night.

The numbers for the drawing were: white balls 28, 45, 53, 56, 69 and red Powerball 20.

The website of the California Lottery Association said the next chance for someone to get lucky will be Monday.

The new $1.9 billion jackpot is for a winner who is paid through an annuity over 29 years. Winners of lottery jackpots usually prefer a lump sum of cash, which for Monday’s drawing would be $929.1 million, the California lottery site said.

Ryan Lynch: Lottery tickets just aren’t my thing. But whenever a new record is reached I always buy a ticket. I think I’ll go to the store today and grab one. If any of you are getting a ticket for Monday I wish you the best of luck!