Current Stories | October 11, 2012
Wealth in health | Steph Scheurer reporting
Even in the midst of economic downturn, one industry has maintained steady growth. Wellness centers across the nation are proving there is wealth in health. Rochelle and her husband Ed understand the importance of being active and have made exercising a part of their daily lifestyle. "I like working out because it gets me going. And it's tough being a grandma," says Rochelle Wetsch. Movement is medicine for them creating change in their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. "I think everyone wants to feel good about themselves, you know, when you're working out, it releases endorphins in your body. Everybody feels better," explains fitness associate, Craigh Dolmage. And unfortunately, fitness doesn't come in a bottle. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says more than one third of U.S. adults are obese. Nationwide, the south has the highest prevalence of obesity at 29.5 percent, followed closely by the Midwest at 29 percent. "We had more of the family time aspect of life, when in the 70’s and even in part of the 80’s and then we've gone towards such a technology era that we're kind of missing a component which is just time for yourself," describes Brandy Chaffee, Public Relations and Marketing Manager. "Thirty years ago, exercising consisted of maybe a tread mill and weights in a small room. Today it's expanded to large facilities with hundreds of machines and personal trainers," says Studio One reporter, Stephanie Scheurer. "You've got space. You have access to personal trainers just about 24 seven," says Wetsch. The focus of health is also important though for another age group. The CDC also says approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents age two to 19 years old are obese. This has almost tripled since 1980. "It's not just about, you know, adults working out and becoming fit. It's about the children and making sure they're being active and not sedentary and that's a problem that we're trying to solve," explains Chaffee. The fitness center in Grand Forks North Dakota has partnered with the USDA Human Nutrition and Research Center by providing space for wellness studies. "They will bring people in to this facility, study their habits, you know whether it be physical, or nutrition, you know a combination of both," describes Chaffee. "I think that the opportunity to partner with other agencies, whether it's other healthcare providers, nutrition, and the like, is really where it's at. It's so much more than just a place to go sweat," says Laurie Betting, Associate Vice President for Health & Wellness. “And just like Ed and Rochelle, all we need is the right kind of motivation,” comments Scheurer. "You need to move that body," says Wetsch.
Breaking the silence on violence | Taylor Nelson reporting
Victims of domestic violence have a tough feat in breaking the silence. Many live in fear without anyone knowing of their hardships. The Clothesline Project makes it easier for those to come forward and share their story. The idea of hanging shirts that tell the victims' stories of domestic violence started in 1990 with 31 shirts. Today, over 50,000 are displayed worldwide. "It's kind of a two-fold, it helps survivors, and it’s a healing process. And then also those who don't know about the situation can come and find out more," says Brittany Burton, intern at the UND Women’s Center. The Clothesline Project encourages any woman or child to come forward with their story. Each colored shirt represents the type of domestic violence he or she went through. "White shirts are in memory of women or children who have died of violence, yellow shirts are for survivors who have been battered or assaulted, explains Burton. The list goes on with pink being for survivors of sexual assault, blue or green for those of incest or child sexual abuse, purple for those who have been attacked for their sexual orientation and red for children who have witnessed violence in their home. "Reading all the stories and even just the simple t-shirts, like handprints are for hugging not hitting, even that like really got to me," says UND student, Tirzah Wethern. While visitors pass through to look at the shirts, bells, gongs, and whistles may be heard. Each of these represents a different act of violence. The gong is for when a woman is battered and goes off every 10 to 12 seconds, the whistle signifies a reported rape every minute, and the bell is rung every 10 to 12 minutes for when a woman has died of violence. "Even with the gong that goes off and the whistle and the bell like, as you're in there, you don't realize how much this is happening," explains Wethern. The Clothesline Project is always ready to help and make the hardships of victims easier by giving them back their voice. The clothesline Project started in Massachusetts and has grown to 41 states and 4 countries.
Crosswalks or danger zones? | Olivia Faacks reporting
According to the rule of the road, the eighteen-wheeler is king. But the king of the crosswalk looks a little different with zero wheels and two feet. Moms have a lot to say when it comes to road safety. But for this mom, she just has one message to drivers. "Please slow down," says Erica Weisser, local mother. Weisser walks her kids to and from school every day-and every day it's the same story. "Cars are always driving past and we'll be standing there sometimes a couple minutes, 5 minutes waiting for a car to finally stop for us," explains Weisser. Although pedestrian fatalities are lower than they were 15 years ago, Weisser still has cause for concern. Statistically kids under the age of 16 are the most likely to be hit by a car. In fact, according to safekids.com, more than 46 thousand kids are injured each year in pedestrian accidents. "We want everyone to use caution especially when school's open. Small children are out there. They don't always understand the dangers involved with traffic," says police officer, Tom Brockling. There are 2.2 million accident related injuries at schools each year-and crosswalks are a major contributor. But drivers may not be entirely to blame. Many say that crosswalks allow pedestrians to be over-confident on the road. "Paint on the street is not going to stop any car so even if a person's in a crosswalk they still have some responsibility," explains Brockling. A major factor in accident prevention is to pay attention. But keeping roads safe can sometimes just come down to being a good neighbor. "I kind of look at it as a pay it forward kind of thing,” describes Weisser. Like I will stop for you and hopefully that will encourage somebody else to next time be like oh wow maybe I should stop. "So it really doesn't matter if you're on four wheels or two feet-keeping the crosswalks safe requires everyone to look both ways before crossing.
Coaching Boys Into Men | Taylor Braith reporting
A coaching initiative from around the country is breaking ground in the Midwest. Coaching Boys Into Men is a program with a focus on enhancing young athletes’ lives on and off the gridiron. High school football is a time for male athletes to have fun, make friends, and refine their athletic skills. Retired Coach Mike Berg has a different vision than these young men. Mike Berg, Former Coach. "It's an opportunity to talk about things and make real progress towards young men," says Mike Berg, former coach. Coach Berg and hundreds of other schools across the nation are taking part in the Coaching Boys Into Men initiative. The purpose is to have high school coaches not only teach their players about the game, but to teach them about life as well. "We implemented it this fall and so we're thinking that down the line, this will hopefully become part of every male athletic program in the county," explains Berg. The goal is to help athletes build respectful, non-violent relationships. They learn about respect for women and that violence does not equal strength. "Well I think Coaching Boys Into Men gives our male athletes to really learn respectful behavior," says Kari Kerr, CVIC Community Member. Being on a team can teach you many great things to use in your future, but it can also have negative effects on the young men taking part. Coaches hope the initiative will help these athletes feel comfortable being themselves and not caving into peer pressure. Specific aspects of this plan include meeting with the coach on a regular basis to discuss not only football, but also daily problems in the players’ personal lives. Coaching Boys Into Men is not mandatory for all high schools, but Coach Berg hopes that it will spread to all athletics and lead to a culture change in schools. According to Futures Without Violence, one in ten high school students nationwide has reported being physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. This is something Coaching Boys Into Men hopes to see change.
Music, dance, clogging | Anne Hook reporting
People like to look back at the past and remember traditions. A dance troupe is reviving old-time dance to the modern audience. The toe-tapping beat of the fiddle and banjo make it impossible to keep your feet still. "It's very infectious, I mean people very much like to hear it, and see it, and watch it," says Jim Brooks. For more than 30 years, the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers have entertained audiences with old-style dances. "It wasn't actually as much tradition as it was a revival of the tradition," Brooks explains. Brooks has been the clogger's leader for over 25 years and feels responsible for keeping the tradition alive. "As leader, I feel like sort of the shepherd of the group," says Brooks. The group prides itself on teaching audiences the history and art of clogging through their energizing performances. "Our big thing is try to teach the tradition, as well as to show and dance the tradition," Brooks describes. The pulsating rhythms enliven audiences with smiles and enjoyment. "It's hearing those rhythms, and hearing that music, and watching the dance. You got those three kinds of things…stimuli coming at you and it really does get the audience very interested and excited,” reminisces Brooks. Clogging is an Appalachian folk dance that combines the instruments and dances of English, African, and Native American cultures. "Clogging takes all of those traditions and puts them together in a percussive dance form," Brooks explains. Some members of the group are second-generation cloggers and stress the importance of keeping up the tradition. "I think it's really important to remember your roots and to take an interest in what has come before,” says clogger, Sarah Chagley. Though clogging is an older style dance, its upbeat tempo enlivens newcomers. "We like to be able to say look even though it's old, it's exciting," Brooks describes. With old-timers and toddlers joining in, the curtain won't be closing anytime soon on this old-style dance. Despite two knee surgeries, Brooks has no intention of sitting in the corner. The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers have performed across Minnesota and overseas in Europe with thousands of performances under their tap shoes.
Swords have been used around the world for thousands of years. They have been used for battle, hunting and sparring. One man has a close connection with sharp blades. Daniel Watson has a background in engineering, teaching Taekwondo. A rare combination for most, but it’s his favorite activity that deals with steel. "These are my children. I created them," says Watson, professional sword maker. It's hard to imagine one person could have such a close connection with something as deadly as swords. "Everybody thinks their own babies are beautiful. Now and then I will admit there has been an ugly one, but most of my babies are beautiful," Watson explains. Watson found his first sword in his grandfather's shed when he was nine. It was a 300 year old sword from China. Daniel's interest led to him taking classes on how to make these weapons. "There is sparring, there are schools of combat, and then there are the schools of cutting," Watson describes. Watson makes sure to mention the safety of using swords and the strict difference between fighting with swords and using them appropriately. "You don't fight with swords. You fight with sticks. You fight with padded weapons and you practice cutting with the actual sword," says Watson. His first sword fight was between Watson and the guardians of his grandfather's livestock. "Went out and split a fencepost with it. I thought it was cool, but my grandfather was very upset because he had to replace the fencepost," Watson reminisces. Even though sword making can be dangerous, Watson will not let that stop him from sticking with his hobby. Daniel has been making swords since 1979. His swords have been called the sharpest swords in the world. 
Sharpest swords in the world | James Gefroh reporting
Does precipitation impact politics? | Johnathan Metz reporting
To make their decision, voters will take into account issues like the economy, health care, and education. But one factor may affect whether they even arrive at the polls: the weather. Many political science studies have found a connection between weather conditions on Election Day and voter turnout. "Republicans actually like it when there's bad weather. It almost always benefits them in an election," explains Robert Wood, Political Science Professor. In a hotly contested presidential race such as this year's, even a snowy day could alter the course of the election. Crucial swing states like have a must-win nature for both campaigns, but its Midwestern location's fickle weather make it the most susceptible for this year. "My guess is that there would be a lot of Republicans this election cycle that will be praying for a blizzard in Ohio on November 6th," says Wood. Weather's grasp can be loosened through the use of mail in and absentee ballots. Voters can fill out their ballots at home and not have to worry about whether they need to dig out their umbrellas. In close races all across the country, what happens in the sky on November 6th might affect more than just people's clothing choices. It might affect the direction of the country for the next four years.
