Above The Fold

Updates from Laura Phelps

Winning an SPJ award

Journalists at The Detroit News had a big presence at an annual awards dinner Wednesday night.

 I learned late last week that I won second place honors for breaking news at the SPJ Detroit conference. Quite exciting! The news came at the same time as new developments on the story for which I was nominated with great Detroit News reporter George Hunter. Bob Bashara, the focus of the story, was charged with murder among many other charges last week.

You can follow the latest updates on that story at www.detnews.com  

Morning fog in DC

Morning fog in DC

pbsthisdayinhistory:

Mar 27, 1912: The First Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees Are Planted in the U.S.

On this day in 1912, the first two Japanese cherry blossom trees were successfully planted by First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda on the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Japanese Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gave the U.S. over 3000 trees to demonstrate the growing relationship between the U.S. and Japan.

Every spring, Washington D.C. commemorates the initial planting through the National Cherry Blossom Festival. 

As we wait for this year’s blooming period, treat yourself to this delicious spring recipe!

Image: Cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. 2013 (Diana Alvarenga)

(via ourpresidents)

theatlantic: Competitive Timed Tests Might Be Contributing to the Gender Gap in Math In the first round of the timed competition, boys performed better than girls, reinforcing the conclusions of earlier studies. But when a second round was added, the advantage for boys disappeared. Here’s where it gets even more interesting: When the competition was extended to three rounds, girls began to outscore boys. And the first-round advantage for boys disappeared if the time element was removed from that competition. Read more. [Image: AP]

theatlantic:

Competitive Timed Tests Might Be Contributing to the Gender Gap in Math

In the first round of the timed competition, boys performed better than girls, reinforcing the conclusions of earlier studies. But when a second round was added, the advantage for boys disappeared. Here’s where it gets even more interesting: When the competition was extended to three rounds, girls began to outscore boys. And the first-round advantage for boys disappeared if the time element was removed from that competition.

Read more. [Image: AP]

Happy Valentine’s Day, ladies and gents.

Happy Valentine’s Day, ladies and gents.

Grand Canyon. Who knew that we’d find snow there?

Grand Canyon. Who knew that we’d find snow there?

Can you guess where I took this picture almost a year ago?

Can you guess where I took this picture almost a year ago?