Local 

Know: The Weather Channel released a winter weather advisory warning until midnight, Jan. 7.

Inform: Meteorologists and forecasters feared of rainfall turning into ice as it hit the ground Sunday afternoon, Jan. 7. While the air temperature remained about 32 degrees, the ground temperature was below freezing, potentially causing the rain to turn into ice. The rain began to move into the St. Louis region around 4 p.m., and the advisory is set until midnight.

Care: While MoDot maintained cleared state highways, drivers were cautious and added extra time to their Monday morning commutes, Jan. 8. Global warming is causing dramatic changes in temperature throughout the seasons around the world and Missouri is no exception. According to John Posey, director of research for the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, there has been a 50 percent increase in the number of 95 degree days and an eight percent increase in precipitation in the form of rainstorms and flash flooding. The increase in temperatures could inflict economic harm to the Midwest as the U.S. could lose 0.7 percent of gross domestic product per year by the 2080s for every one degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature. In addition, without working to prevent climate change, the number of heat-related deaths by the end of the century could be equal to the number of Americans killed annually in car accidents. Growing and changing weather patterns affect everyone in every community.

National 

Know: Michael Wolff wrote a book called “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” summarizing President Donald Trump’s fitness to govern, Jan. 5.

Inform: Five months ago, Trump responded to North Korea’s nuclear threats by saying, “they will be met with the fire and the fury like the world has never seen.” This statement essentially led Wolff to the title of the book. Trump responded to the book on Twitter by calling it “really boring and untruthful.” He then continued to call Wolff a “total loser.” Wolff featured Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist. In the book Bannon is quoted calling the Donald Trump Jr’s meeting with a group of Russians during the 2016 election campaign “treasonous” and “unpatriotic.” After facing backlash for his statements, Bannon released a statement of regret. The White House then defended the president’s fitness to govern. Senior adviser Stephen Miller called Bannon “angry and vindictive” in a CNN appearance, Jan. 7.

Care: In response to Kim Jong-un’s threat of the nuclear button, Trump tweeted boasting that his nuclear button was bigger than Jong-un’s, Jan. 2. North Korea then reopened a line of communication with South Korea. Critics, lawmakers and other observers question Trump’s mental fitness for an occupation that gives him access to nuclear weapons. In a high power position, the president is the face of the country. Any decisions that he makes internationally or nationally will affect all U.S. citizens as well as citizens in other countries. If Trump were to press the button, the lives of everyone would be at stake.

International 

Know: Iran banned the teaching of English in primary schools, Jan. 7.

Inform: Worried about a Western “cultural invasion” from learning another language, Islamic leaders voiced their concerns. Since the foundation of Iranian culture is laid during primary school, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader, worried that the teaching of English would contradict Iranian culture. In Iran, the teaching of English begins in middle school around the ages of 12 to 14. English education is also offered at private language institutes after school. With recent political unrest towards the clerical establishment and government, tens of thousands of people are protesting in what might be the most serious internal crisis the country has faced in the past decade. The cost of basic goods such as eggs has grown by 40 percent causing people concern over the stunted economy. Police officers have killed 21 people and more than 1,000 were arrested. The protests spanned over 80 cities and rural towns made up of young working-class Iranians angry at the deepening social-class gap. 

Care: The world is destabilizing. While North Korea continues to threat the U.S. with nuclear weapons, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Dec. 6. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as a capital has caused several protests in Israel. Protests in Beirut hurled rocks at the U.S. embassy and a security guard was stabbed. Iran citizens are protesting the economic mismanagement, increased unemployment and inflation. As Trump moves to increase border security with a new immigration deal, nations around the world are experiencing political corruption, economic issues and nuclear threats from other nations. There are countries all over the word facing civil unrest, including Iraq, Venezuela and Nigeria.