First Lady get Chicago moving!

On February 28, I had the chance to cover a big Let's Move! event in Chicago. Let's Move! is First Lady Michelle Obama's intitiative to get kids healthy through physical fitness and better eating. The event in Chicago marked the three-year anniversary of Let's Move! and kicked off the Active Schools campaign.

Before the event even started, I interviewed the Secretary of Education Mr. Arne Duncan. I spoke to him about education cuts, and why it is important to balance homework and physical education.  I spoke to Mr. Duncan in the media room right before he went onstage to speak in front of the media, teachers, and students who came out to hear him and the other athletes and notable people speak.

In the interview, Secretary Duncan explains why it's important to be physically active during the school day, why it's important to balance homework and physical education, and how looming budget cuts could impact kids and teachers across the country.

Watch my interview with Secretary Duncan below:



After the event, I interviewed Gabby Douglas, the gold medalist in gymnastics in London, Ashton Eaton, the gold medalist and world record holder in the decathlon in London, and Bo Jackson, who played both professional baseball and football at the same time.

Gabby Douglas spoke about how it is important to be active and how you have to train to gain success. She trains for 4 and a half to 5 hours a day! Check out that interview, too!




You can find out more about the Let's Move! Active Schools event by reading my story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website! And learn more about Let's Move! by checking out the stories my fellow Kid Reporters have written about the program.

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

The view inside Obama HQ

In the main event space at President Barack Obama's Election Night party at McCormick Place in Chicago, hundreds of national and international news agencies were set up and broadcasting. After my parents, brother, and I arrived and explored, we made our way to a workspace that looked on to a TV that was showing six different news stations simultaneously. Massive overhead screens also hung throughout the event space. Obama supporters at the event focused on those screens and cheered loudly whenever a projection favoring Obama was announced.

Of course, when it was announced that President Obama had won re-election, McCormick Place erupted with cheering and chants of "Four More Years!

The announcement was made at around 11:20 p.m., and as the crowd waited for the President to deliver his victory speech they danced, clapped, sang, and waved little American flags. The music was loud, and so was the crowd!

But everyone at McCormick Place had to wait a long time for the President. Mitt Romney delivered his concession speech at 1 a.m. — nearly two hours after Obama was declared the winner. The crowd seemed to lose some of its energy as the night dragged on. Except for the section of supporters directly behind the President's podium. Their presence was revealed a short while before the President took the stage. They were concealed behind a blue curtain. This newer, fresher cheering section was located directly in the sight line of most of the major TV outlets, providing them with images of energetic attendees.

Obama finally took the stage at 1:40 a.m. He was met with wild, loud, and long cheers. First Lady Michelle Obama joined him on stage, then left the President by himself to deliver his victory speech.

In his speech, Obama thanked his supporters, his family, his Vice President, Joe Biden, and even his opponent, Mitt Romney.

But he also spoke to pulling the country together after a divisive presidential election. "We are an American family, and we rise and fall together as one nation and one people," President Obama said.

A big part of the President's speech was that it's now time to move past the campaign and focus on working to improve the country. Obama said that he wants to work with Romney to solve the problems facing the nation.

"In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward," Obama said.

When President Obama concluded his speech, the crowd went wild! He was joined by his family and the Biden family. Then an explosion of red, white, and blue confetti filled the air.

Obama supporter A.J. Dilay summed up the feelings of a lot of the people at McCormick Place last night. "Being here tonight has been so uplifting," he said. "Just the energy is like nothing I've ever felt. I'm just screaming inside and full of joy."

I know it's a night that I will never forget!

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Photo: Supporters cheer at the end of President Barack Obama's remarks during an election night party, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Four More Years!

President Barack Obama defeats Mitt Romney to earn another term

After months of campaigning, the 2012 presidential election came to an end last night.

President Barack Obama defeated former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to earn four more years in the White House.

President Obama won the popular vote 50 percent to 49 percent, as of early Wednesday morning. But he won nearly 300 electoral votes, with Florida still not called for either candidate. The first candidate to 270 electoral votes is declared the winner.

At a rowdy Election Night event in Chicago, was met with wild, loud, and long cheers. First Lady Michelle Obama joined him on stage, then left the President by himself to deliver his victory speech. 

Check out the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website for the rest of the story!

—Kid Reporters Natalie Wexler and Coleman Hirschberg

Photo: President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party Wednesday, November 7, 2012, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) 

Celebration in Chicago!

The crowd has not stopped dancing, clapping, singing, waving their little American flags, and cheering since the news was announced that President Obama will serve another term. The music is loud, and so is the crowd! Now, everyone is waiting for the arrival of the President.

More to come!

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Update from Chicago

At McCormick Place you can hear cheers from the crowd whenever projections favoring President Obama are displayed onto massive overhead screens throughout the event space. 

A documentary that "counts down" the road to the 2012 election which features the President and has appearances by the Vice President and First Lady has been playing intermittently throughout the evening.  The film consists of a combination of outtakes from speeches, and interactions with the President's supporters, as well as photo montages and a dramatic musical score.

The crowd and the excitement is growing here as the President's supporters listen to music and await updates on the state of the race.

More to come!

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Photo: Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler on the press riser at President Barack Obama's Election Night event in Chicgao. (Courtesy Natalie Wexler) 

 

DNC spokesperson in Chicago

At Mcormick place in Chicago on Election Night, I interviewed Melanie Roussell, the spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee.  I asked her how she felt about the campaign, and here's what she had to say:

"It has been a long road, it has been rough and tumble. But we had a very vigorous debate about the issues that are in front of this country, and the clear choice of this election between President Obama who wants to continue moving forward and creating an economy that is built to last, growing the economy for the middle class out, and Mitt Romney who wants to take us back to the same failed policies of the past. So we have had that conversation and the American people know the choice in this election and today they are going to decide."

More to come!

 

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Making my way into Obama's Election Night rally

I was on my way to President Obama's election night event at McCormick Place in Chicago, when traffic came to a complete and abrupt halt. A police car with it's siren blaring pulled up in front of the car in front of my cab and closed down the road.

The police officer said that a motorcade was coming through!

The President wouldn't be arriving at McCormick Place until approximately 10 p.m. because he was reportedly going to the Fairmont Hotel to watch election results with Vice President Joe Biden.

After several minutes, seven police cars came whizzing by, but no motorcade.

Finally, the motorcade comprised of motorcycles, police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and limousines passed us heading North into the city. It turned out to be Vice President Biden's motorcade. The President and the Vice President don't travel together for security purposes.

Once we reached the venue, we walked in the rain to reach McCormick Place. We were directed to wait in a creepy, dark basement before we went through security. The screening was similar to airport security procedures with metal detectors and bag searches.

In the main event space hundreds of national and international news agencies were setting up and broadcasting. A sound check of the main sound system was being done that featured a reading from the popular children's book Where the Sidewalk Ends. Coincidence?

After exploring, we made our way to a workspace that looked on to a TV that was showing six different news stations simultaneously.

I am very excited to see where this night will go...

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Photo: Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler works on this blog post at the McCormick Place media center. (Courtesy Natalie Wexler) 

Election 2012: Illinois voters weigh in

March 20 was the day of the Illinois Republican primary. I went to three different polling places, in 3 different cities in Lake County, Illinois. The towns that I visited were Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Winnetka. All are suburbs of Chicago. Over the course of the day, I spoke with six women and three men.

Preferred Presidential Qualities?

The people that I spoke to desired different qualities in their President.

Lake Forest voters identified “sincerity,” and “recognizing and respecting the different values of people” as valuable presidential attributes. Melanie Rummel, a Lake Forest voter, would like a President who can help our country overcome its economic challenges.

Among Highland Park voters, two of them told me that they want a President who “is honest,” and one said she wants a president who “cares about the working people.”

In Winnetka, voters that I spoke with would like to have “a President that is in touch with reality,” “cares about healthcare,” “makes good choices for everyone,” and who can “put the country back on track.”

Hot Issues

The overwhelming majority of voters that I spoke with said that the economy was the most important issue in our country today.

Ralph Keen from Lake Forest had this to say about the economy: “The economic recovery, and keeping it underway is the most important thing. The economy is a necessary thing, and until that is fixed, everything else is a luxury.”

In Highland Park, the environment and the economy were on voters’ minds. Highland Parker Hannah Higgins stated that the biggest issues for her were support for the middle class, and the environment.

In Winnetka, it was about healthcare as well as the economy. Husband and wife Tom and Elizabeth Joyce share similar opinions - he cares about the long term health of our country, and she cares about healthcare in our country.

Jennifer Frient, also of Winnetka, thinks that it is a big problem that all of the debt that our country has accrued will be passed on to its children.

The Battle

The battle for the Republican nomination for president, also known as “the primaries” started in January, and ends in June. During this period, candidates attempt to inspire Americans to to vote for them; and often try to convince them not to vote for their competitors!

Five out of nine people that I spoke with thought that the long primary will hurt the Republican candidates’ chances of winning, because their individual weaknesses will be revealed; and many will make each other look bad with “attack ads” and related campaign tactics.

One-third thought that the long primary battle wouldn’t be relevant to the results of the race.

One person even thought the prolonged process would have a positive effect because they thought that it would give the candidates a greater opportunity to clarify themselves and their positions.

Wishful Thinking?

In Lake Forest, voters were satisfied with the candidates, and didn’t identify anyone that they wished were in the running. In Highland Park, one person wished that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was a candidate. Governor Jon Huntsman was a popular choice in Winnetka, as three voters said that they wished that he were still in the race.

Who won the Illinois primary? Check out my story on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website to find out!

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Photo: Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler outside one of Illinois' polling places on March 20, the day of the Illinois Republican primary. (Courtesy Natalie Wexler)

An Interview with Dr. Mayim Bialik

On Saturday March 3, I got the opportunity to meet Dr. Mayim Bialik. She has appeared on the 1990-1995 show Blossom, and now she appears on The Big Bang Theory as Amy Farrah Fowler.

When I got home from school on March 1, my parents told me to check my email. When I did, I found an email from my editor asking me if I could interview Dr. Mayim Bialik. I instantly replied yes. When I researched Dr. Bialik, I learned that both of her parents were teachers, she has a Ph.D. in neuroscience, she started acting at a young age, and that she was coming out with a book!

The interview took place at the Hyatt in Chicago. Dr. Bialik lives in Los Angeles, but she was in town for Texas Instrument’s T3 International Conference. When I walked into the Hyatt, I saw many educators rushing in different directions and speaking different languages. But everyone came here for one reason: to help their students learn better. I then boarded the elevator for the 28th floor and for Dr. Bialik’s suite where I would conduct my interview.

I was so excited for the interview! I asked Dr. Bialik a series of questions, and then I realized we had some things in common. She told me that "it takes all different types of people to make the world go around," that education is incredibly important, using humor while teaching helps students learn, and that math and science are the basis of almost every career.  

Overall, it was one of the most exciting experiences of my life when I got to meet Dr. Mayim Bialik!

Watch my video interview with Dr. Mayim Bialik here!

—Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler

Photo: Kid Reporter Natalie Wexler with Dr. Mayim Bialik after their interview in Chicago on March 3. (Photo courtesy Natalie Wexler)