Indonesia executes foreigners despite international protest

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

Indonesia has formally notified 10 prisoners convicted of drug trafficking that their executions will be carried out as soon as possible. On Saturday, the nine foreigners and one Indonesian man were told their executions by firing squad were to be carried out in Besi prison on Nusakambangan Island. Indonesia has incredibly strict drug laws and often executes smugglers; more than 130 people are on death row, mostly for drug crimes. One third of these convicts are foreigners.

When Indonesian President Joko Widodo took office last October, he declared Indonesia to be facing a drug crisis. Indonesia has some of the toughest drug laws in the world. But Jakarta believes their country’s drug problem justifies their harsh punishments; 33 Indonesians die every day as a result of drugs.

The Apex High School Stunt team makes it to playoffs

Johunna Gatlin
Staff Writer

The Apex High School stunt team has had an undefeated season so far with a record of 5-0 beating Panther Creek, Cary, Green Hope, Athens Drive, and Garner. The team will be competing in this year’s playoff games hoping to win the first state title for high school stunt.

Apex senior Madi Yarish shares her excitement about playoffs. “It feels great to make it to playoffs. This was Wake County’s first season having stunt and I’m so proud of how well our team did. We really made a name for Apex stunt and I can’t wait to see how playoffs turn out for us.”

Plausible post prom parties

Natalia Ghan
Staff Writer

If you don’t want your prom night to end at midnight, here are some fun and safe after prom ideas. 

Bonfire - A great way to get to know your friends better is to have a bonfire. Roasting marshmallows, playing guitar, and telling ghost stories with friends who supported you through high school will make for a fun night.
  
Bowling - Bowling is a game that a large group of people can play, is relatively inexpensive, and something most people know how to do. Conveniently, midnight munchies can be overcome by the nearby concession stand.

Annual PeakFest returning to downtown Apex

Maya Horton
Staff Writer

This Saturday taste some food and have fun at the annual PeakFest festival held in historic downtown Apex.  From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on May 2, there will be vendors lining the streets offering food, trinkets, martial arts lessons, bubbles and more.  Balloons, bouncy houses, and local businesses will all be there.  There’s even a section catered to the kids in your family featuring Happy Dan the Magic Man and other entertainers.  The weather is predicted to be in the 70s and fairly sunny, perfect for enjoying a day outside.  Don’t forget the sunscreen.

Georgia school system announces random drug testing for students

Michael Lyday
Features Editor 

The Carroll County school system in Georgia has announced that it will begin random drug testing in its five high schools beginning next school year. This new program was put into effect after a unanimous decision by the county’s board of education. The testing will affect all student athletes, students involved in extracurricular activities, and students who drive and park on campus. The measure has been well received by parents and students, who claim drug use among student athletes has become an issue. Critics have taken issue with the cost compared to the success rate of such tests; school drug tests cost $24 each while only 1 in 125 tests return positive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 percent of public high schools have mandatory drug testing policies. 

Great albums to jam out to this summer

Nicholas Chupka & Michael Lyday
News Editor & Features Editor

Warmer weather is finally upon us with spring in full force and summer getting closer. Here are some essential tunes for fun in the sun this summer.

If you’re going for a road trip this summer or just riding around town, roll the windows down and turn up these albums perfect for singing/shouting along to:

 

To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar: this funky hip hop album filled with many memorable songs such as “King Kunta” and “i” will be the highlight of your ride.

Celebration Rock – Japandroids: this high-volume powerhouse features summer anthems such as “The Nights of Wine and Roses” and “The House that Heaven Built” complete with catchy, shout-along choruses, overdriven guitars, and powerful drumming.

Joyce Manor – Joyce Manor: though it clocks in at under 20 minutes, this outburst of punk rock force is not short of thrills, fitting catchy hooks and unbridled energy into a small package. Like a can of pressurized air thrown into a fire, this album explodes through your speakers in a short but impressive display.

Run the Jewels 2 – Run the Jewels: features a riptide of verses with unbelievable flow and chemistry by collaborators Killer Mike and El-P. Never worry about overplaying this one; with sparse choruses or repetition, there will always be an aspect that is fresh or that had unnoticed every time you put it on.

Apex Track dominates at conference meet

Matt Sholtis
Sports Editor

The Apex Men’s track team won the SWAC Conference title in dominating fashion on Wednesday scoring 194.5 points. The closest team to the Cougars was Green Hope who scored 111 points. This was Apex’s second consecutive conference championship.  

Events were split between the two day meet. The first event of the meet was the 4x800 meter relay. It was a highly anticipated race on the boys’ side as four teams (Panther Creek, Apex, Green Hope, and Cary) were all within a few seconds of each other. Apex pushed the pace the first three legs and had a pretty good lead, but Panther Creek’s fourth leg battled back and passed Apex down the home stretch to win the race by less than a second. In the 100 meter dash Apex owns the top sprinter in the conference on both the guys and girls side; seniors Tyler Cook and Sydnei Murphy. Both had the fastest time in prelims and both took home the conference title. Murphy was the only girl to break 12 seconds while Cook was the only guy to break 11 seconds. Apex continued its dominance in the sprints with a 4x200 meter relay victory, edging out Green Hope. The Cougars had another strong showing in the 1600 meter run. Sophomore Ben Savino and junior Derek Duin stayed in the front pack for the majority of the race and Duin even held the lead for 400 meters or so. Senior Wyatt Miller also was in the race and had a big kick on the final lap to catapult him all the way up to sixth place, while Duin and Savino finished third and fourth respectively. Apex was the only team to have three runners score (top 8) in that event. Apex also dominated in the field events on day one. The Cougars went 1-2 in the pole vault with senior Michael Utecht winning and junior Zach Taft finishing second, and senior Jon Stephens won the long jump.

VIP program presents at Apex tomorrow

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Apex High School seniors will view the “VIP for VIP” or Vehicle Injury Prevention for a Very Important Person program tomorrow April 28 during second and fourth periods. The program is scheduled prior to prom and graduation for students to use as a learning experience. The program focuses not only on driving while impaired and speeding, but also avoiding distractions that can cause an accident to occur in a matter of seconds.

The day will begin with a memorial vehicle placed in front of school. Keep in mind that two students lost their lives in the vehicle. The program is broken up into two different sessions. The 9:15 a.m. session will take place in the gym where students will hear from various speakers. These will include emergency services and parents of teenage victims, followed by a video presentation. The afternoon session will begin at 1:00 p.m. During these 30 minutes, students will sit in bleachers in the senior parking lot to observe a reenactment of a fatal car crash.

What to do instead of prom

Natalia Ghan & Maya Horton
Staff Writer

If prom isn’t your ideal way of celebrating the end of another educational year, here are some alternatives that offer just as much (and sometimes even more) fun than you would find at prom.

Go Camping- Putting yourself in the middle of the wilderness with your friends is a great idea if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience. However, you might want to make sure you have a certified scout with you, or someone comfortable with fire safety precautions.

Hike - Strap on a pair of Chaco’s with wool socks and take a breath of spring air whistling between trees and flowers.  Exercise and meditative all in one, great memories, photos and likely more than a few ticks to bring back home with you.

All about corsages and boutonnieres

Natalia Ghan
Staff Writer

Prom season is coming up and corsages/boutonnieres are a tradition no one wants to miss out on. Flowers have been a popular accessory for formal occasions since the ancient Greeks, who believed floral accessories to not only be decorative, but also powerful tools in warding off evil spirits. Throughout history they have also been utilized as a natural deodorizer and can provide for an aroma to go with the night.

Wake County Board of Education proposes new calendar

Katie Mazanec 
Staff Writer

Wake County Board of Education has proposed a calendar for the 2015-2016 school year incorporating make up days. WCPSS took away three days of spring break due to snow days, causing many teachers, students, and parents to cancel or reschedule their plans to meet WCPSS’s late notice schedule.  To prevent problems from happening next year, the Board has proposed a new calendar listing the makeup days if inclement weather occurs.

This proposed calendar has mentioned the use of full-day Saturdays as possible makeup days. WCPSS has also mentioned that they would like to improve their communication with the public. Previously this year, many relied on Twitter and WRAL for weather delays. The school board will vote on the proposal May 5.

The proposed calendar can be found here: https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/Attachment.aspx?S=920&AID=38071&MID=1823

Apex students arrive back from the "Big Apple"

Sarah Kebea
Editor-in-Chief

It isn’t often that high school students get the chance to venture off into the world for an educational experience.  A group of 27 Apex students traveled to the Big Apple for Apex’s annual N.Y.C. Fashion trip from April 8 through Apex April 11.  Besides enduring the nine hour bus drive, the trip allowed students to broaden their views on the fashion industry.

View of New York City from New Jersey

The group stayed in New Jersey to minimize the cost of the trip.  Cindy Allen, Scott Ferguson, Dawn Harrison and Dana Styles joined the group on the trip as chaperones.  When asked of his chaperone experience, Ferguson replied that it was “great…everyone is really nice, the ones [students] who have been [the year before] come back because they are excited to be back.” 

Radio City Music Hall

The group visited Kent State University’s N.Y.C. Studio and FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) on this year’s trip, and also saw buildings of NYU spread throughout the city while they were out shopping, of course.  The group shopped at Macy’s, DASH, and a few other shops.  Junior Rose Quince revealed shopping was her favorite part of this year’s trip as she recalled the eight story Macy’s, with the world’s oldest wooden escalator saying, “[it was] either that or the stairs.”  Quince went on both this year’s and last year’s trip.  Quince is a firm believer that both trips to the Big Apple helped her with her design and overall construction of her fashion ideas, “Last year I totally failed making a dress; after I went [on the trip] it totally helped.”  Senior Taylor Stokes also went on this year’s trip, but unlike Quince, it was her first time going on the trip.  She said going to see the Broadway show, Mamma Mia, was her favorite part of the trip, “…it was really funny and I love musicals.”  The group also visited some prime tourist spots including Times Square, Soho, and Chinatown. 

Ferguson would like to see more students participate in the trip.  Of the trip, he said “…anyone who likes culture and the city in general [should go on the trip].”  When asked if he would chaperone the trip again, Ferguson replied, “If they asked me, I would definitely go.”  Next year’s N.Y.C. fashion trip has yet to be announced.  

Atlanta teachers tried for cheating scandal

Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer

Eight former Atlanta educators were convicted of racketeering on April 1 due to a cheating scandal that included 44 schools and nearly 180 teachers. The massive scandal affected thousands of students in Atlanta Public Schools between 2001 and 2009.

The schools involved had a sudden increase in scores in the 2001 statewide aptitude tests. The Governor at the time, Sonny Perdue, ordered a review which revealed cheating that spanned over half of the district’s elementary and middle schools. Further investigations uncovered ‘cheating parties’. Gatherings outside of school where teachers met in groups to alter student answer sheets. Educators earned bonuses and got their respective schools’ funding because of the inflated scores.

Former superintendent, Beverly Hall, had a major role in the scandal despite her fervent denial that she had any part in it. In 2009, she received the prestigious National Superintendent of the Year award for turning Atlanta into a ‘model of urban school reform’. Hall retired in 2011, just days before the state investigation uncovered the unexplained gains in test scores in several of the Atlanta Public Schools. According to her indictment, she placed improbable goals on educators and rewarded those who achieved her goals even if done through cheating. Allegedly, she fired the principals who failed to achieve her target goals. Teachers who tried to report test fabrication faced threats and retaliation. Hall died in March after a battle with breast cancer.

In total, 12 defendants stood trial, and 21 people took plea deals in 2013. The trial that occurred on April 1, 2015 sentenced eight educators, two of whom accepted plea deals. The remaining defendants will face various amounts of community service, jail time, probation, and fines.

A few accounts were submitted to the court detailing specific happenings of the affected children. One child, a third grader at the time, failed a benchmark exam in 2006. She was held back, but when she took another assessment test not long afterwards, her scores were well over the passing mark. Suspecting something was awry, her mother inquired about the grade but was apprised by the school that she was good at taking tests. As a result, she continued to move through the school system and as a ninth grader had only achieved a fifth grade reading level. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of students were ineligible for remedial help due to their high test scores.

“I think there were hundreds and thousands of kids who were lost in schools,” said Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry Baxter, who was noticeably angry. “That’s what gets lost. Everyone’s crying, but this is not a victimless crime that occurred in this city.”`

To see some of the trial, click here.

"What the HECK" News

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Obituary asks mourners not to vote for Hillary Clinton

• The family of Larry Darrell Upright added a strange request to his obituary. It is written, “the family respectfully asks that you do not vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016.” Upright was 81 when he passed away in a hospital in Concord, North Carolina. The family also asked that donations be sent to a Florida children’s hospital instead of sending flowers.

Apex art history students hit D.C.

Nicholas Chupka & Zane Muzzillo
News Editor and Staff Writer

Apex art history students made the annual trek to Washington, D.C. this past Friday, paying a visit to both the National Gallery of Art and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Art teacher Ian Sands said, “This trip was very successful, despite both the east wing of the National Gallery of Art and the second floor of the Hirshhorn Museum being closed. However, the itinerary was customized to accommodate the closings.”

This trip marked Sands’ ninth year hosting the trip. He reflects on how the excursion has changed over time, saying, “We added a visit to the Hirshhorn to the trip the second year, and scheduled less docent-led tours. Now we only do one docent-led tour and we started at the Hirshhorn this year, unlike past years.”

Tips to overcome senioritis

Aaron Koch
Staff Writer

Like many high school seniors I wake up as late as possible, shower, then drive to school as a surrogate corpse whose sole function is to attend school. Because of exemptions, most seniors do show up every day, but their efforts aren't always exemplary. We're coming to the end of a very long tunnel, it can be hard to care. Unfortunately for those who cannot find the motivation to cure their apathy, their chance of graduation might be at risk. Here are some things that might help:

1.      Make a goal

If you have a reason to go to school then you will. Pick an applicable goal of your knowledge, find a way to make sure that the classes you are taking now will help you in the future. Maybe if civics taught me how to file a tax return, I might have actually shown up.

2.      Feel empowered

I feel that one of the main reasons for not attending or slacking in school is because it makes the student feel empowered. It’s senior year, you’re probably 18 and you still have to ask to go to the bathroom? It’s insulting, I know. So for your senior year, try to do tasks not because the teacher told you, but because you chose to do so.

Fatal shooting takes place at Wayne County Community College

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

Wayne County Community College was locked down on April 13 as law enforcement responded to a reported shooting. Ron Lane, a print shop employee for 18 years, was fatally shot on the third floor of the Wayne Learning Center. Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce has said the shooting was not random, but an official motive has not been released. The shooter, identified as Kenneth Morgan Stancil III, a former student at the school had been fired by Lane because of his poor attendance. “Our hearts are heavy for the loss of a valued employee,” Wayne Community College President Kay Albertson lamented.

Students in the library say they heard a single shot and hid until police told them it was clear. Police say several people were attended to by emergency personnel but no one else was injured. Officers had believed Stancil was hiding in the bathroom, however when they cleared the space with tear gas they found they were mistaken. Students were locked in for three hours, while parents waited anxiously outside, one parent commented, “It's surreal. It really is.”

Blue Bell Creameries announces mass recall

Maya Horton
Staff Writer 

Blue Bell ice cream has recalled all of their products due to concerns over the bacteria Listeria.  

Blue Bell began their recall after three of five infected adults died last month.  An investigation from this revealed cartons of Blue Bell ice cream that tested positive for Listeria, prompting the voluntary large scale recall. This is Blue Bell’s first recall in over 108 years according to the frozen dessert company. Chief Executive of Blue Bell, Paul Kruse, released a video online Monday apologizing for the contamination.

Mediterranean swallows thousands over weekend

Adam Mancini
Staff Writer

As many as 900 people are feared to have drowned off the coast of Libya on Sunday when a severely overloaded boat carrying nearly 1,000 migrants capsized. The migrants were seeking escape from their war-torn country, hoping to find refuge in Europe. Only 27 people survived the accident, marking one of the most devastating shipwrecks in the history of the Mediterranean Sea. The captain of the ship and a crew member were both charged with favoring illegal immigration. The captain was also charged with reckless multiple homicide after reports surfaced that a few hundred passengers were forced to enter the lowest level of the ship, where they were locked behind doors and left to die.

Hillary Clinton announces 2016 presidential campaign

Nicholas Chupka
News Editor

Former First Lady Hillary Clinton announced her intentions to run for president on Sunday April 12, 2015. In her campaign announcement video, Clinton said, “Everyday Americans need a champion. And I want to be that champion. So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote — because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.” Clinton’s announcement comes with great importance as it could very well mean that the first presidential nomination of a woman by a major party could come by next year.

Ask Apex: Prom preferences

Kenison Garratt & Jo Gatlin
Staff Writers

Apex High students have begun their meticulous preparations for this year’s prom scheduled for May 2. This year’s prom theme will be Polynesian Paradise, and tickets will be available for sale and pickup April 20 to 24 during lunch and after school until 3 p.m. But aside from tickets, students have been planning their outfits and their evenings. The results of a recently conducted poll reveal the students prom preferences. 

Prep for prom: hair, accessories, and nails

Katie Mazanec & Maya Horton
Staff Writers

Prom is less than a month away, ladies! Here are some ideas to top off your dress.

Let loose without letting your hair down this prom season. When dancing the night away with your friends, it can get really humid. The best way to keep your hair looking beautiful is to keep it up.

• Pinned Bun: Buns are an easy and simple way to look classy at prom. Sock buns can be used to have a perfect ballerina type bun. Alternatively, curling hair and pinning it into a circle creates an equally elegant look.
• Half Updo: If your hair is shorter or you really want to wear it down, curled and pinned locks are perfect for a polished look.  It’s a complementary look for strapless or low-backed dresses.
• Curled Bob: This is a great style for those with short hair.  Classic pincurls or messy tresses can amp up your short hairstyle.  You can channel an inner Gatsby vibe by topping it off with a vintage type headband.
• Braided Crown: Braids are quick, easy and they add a chic and Bohemian flair to whatever you’re wearing.  There are various tutorials online showing easy techniques for intricate woven strands.
• Sleek Pony:  A polished ponytail gives a sophisticated classy look and is great for long hair lengths.  All that’s needed is a brush, hairband and a bit of frizz control spray.

Spring premieres you don't want to miss

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

Game of Thrones (HBO, Sundays at 9 p.m.): The fifth season of HBO’s fantasy series continues the show’s winning streak, despite containing some of the unevenness of prior seasons.  The series focuses on several royal families trying to secure power in the fictional world of Westeros.  The show is strongest during changes in the status quo, and the newest episode is no exception.  Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is being forced to build new alliances in a foreign land, and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) must deal with the fallout of last season’s explosive finale.  The performances, as usual, are phenomenal, and the show is great at giving characters interesting ways to reveal different parts of themselves.  This isn’t even to mention the show’s increasingly astonishing special effects, which are featured prominently in the new episode.

The sheer number of plots in the show means that some story threads were left out of the first episode, and not all of the characters are equally entertaining.  The plot of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), for example, seems to simply be stalling until it can reach the conflict it has been promising for seasons. It is too early to judge the season based on one episode, and it is still unclear if all of the show’s plotting and scheming is really leading to a satisfying end, but for now the show is as confident and fun as ever. 

Recommended if you like: The Lord of the Rings, Breaking Bad, Spartacus

Wake County unveils new testing plan

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

A task force employed by the state aims to change how standardized testing is conducted in North Carolina. The plan is for students to have four smaller, periodic exams throughout the school year or semester instead of one final exam at the end of each course. North Carolina would be the first state to employ this plan if it is approved.

The aim of the new testing method is to take stress off teachers and students for the final exams. It gives teachers an opportunity to adjust what they teach in class in response to the results from each quarterly test. It also gives schools a better chance of keeping students on track to move on to move on to the next grade.

Potato "promposal" mashes the competition

Adam Mancini & Zane Muzzillo
Staff Writers

Apex High senior Nick Fowler has clinched victory in the “promposal” contest. Fowler asked Andrea Gorcynzski by carving the word prom into a potato. “It was my first try, it took like three minutes,” Fowler explained. The post began to gain attention immediately, reaching 400 (each favorite counts as a vote) favorites in less than a day.

“I don’t understand why this happened. I don’t think anyone really knows why it happened,” Fowler said in reaction to the popularity of his proposal. The young potato whittler was never in it for the fame or the victory. “I didn’t do it for the favorites. I did it for her. I won when she said yes,” said Fowler. The contest ended Monday night, with Fowler’s post standing at 950 favorites, compared to the second place post with 409 favorites. Fowler and Gorcynzski will win free tickets to prom as a result of their first place finish. 

Many react to Indiana's new "religious freedom" law

Sarah Kebea
Editors-in-Chief

Indiana amended its new “religious freedom” law on April 2.  The amended law now clarifies that it does not specifically allow businesses to refuse to serve LGBTQ customers.  The original law states that Indiana will allow discrimination against the LGBTQ community in the state.  The governor of Indiana, Mike Pence stated in a recent press conference that he was “optimistic” about Indiana’s future, but many of the national community think differently.

Stanley Cup playoffs to start tonight

Sarah Kebea
Editor-in-Chief

The first round of the NHL playoffs starts tonight at seven with two games of the Eastern Conference.   The Montreal Canadiens will play the Ottawa Senators while the Washington Capitals play the New York Islanders.  In the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators will play the Chicago Blackhawks at 8:30 p.m. and the Vancouver Canucks will play the Calgary Flames at 10:00 tonight.  Tomorrow the games continue, starting with the Eastern Conference, the New York Rangers will play the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:00 p.m. and the Tampa Bay Lightning will play the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 p.m.  In the Western Conference, the St. Louis Blues will play the Minnesota Wild at 9:30 p.m. and the Anaheim Ducks will play the Winnipeg Jets at 10:30 p.m.  The winners of both first round series will advance to the second round of the playoffs.  

21 year old Jordan Spieth wins the Masters

Matt Sholtis
Sports Editor

In a great week of golf, Jordan Spieth pulled off one of the greatest performances we have ever seen at the Masters. Not only did he win the Masters at such a young age, but he did it in a way that we haven’t seen in 39 years. The greatness of this performance will be looked upon in awe for years to come, and as young as he is, Jordan Spieth is just getting started. 

It was a record-breaking performance for Spieth, who got things started on Thursday by shooting a 64 (-8) which is one shot from the all-time low round in Masters history. That gave him a three shot lead over the likes of Jason Day, Justin Rose, and Ernie Els. Spieth stayed red hot in the second round separating himself from the field shooting a 66 (-6) putting him at -14 for the tournament and setting the record for the lowest 36-hole score. That gave him a six shot lead going into the weekend. 

President Obama meets with Cuban president, plans arrival in North Carolina

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

President Obama met with Cuban President Raul Castro at the Summit of the Americas in Panama for a one-on-one discussion this past Saturday, ending a half-century-long standstill in diplomacy between the United States and Cuba. It was the first meeting between the leaders of the two nations in over 50 years, and the meeting is a crucial step toward more open negotiation between the countries.  The last time the countries had an engagement this substantive was when President Richard Nixon met with Cuban President Fidel Castro in 1959.

NFL's first female ref

Cameron Goz
Staff Writer

The NFL named Sarah Thomas as its first full-time female referee on Wednesday April 8. "I know I've got a job to do, and I've got to be great at it," Thomas, 41, told NBC's Today show on Thursday. Thomas was said to have been speechless when she got the call. She’s been through pee wee games, all the way up to NCAA Bowl games. In 2009 Thomas was one of five female refs in college football, and was even assigned to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. "I'm just out doing a job," she says, "It's meaningful to a lot of people, and I'm honored for that. But that's not why I set out to do this, to break a gender barrier of any sort. I just did it because I loved officiating."
 

Mr. Apex competition crowns a new winner

Johunna Gatlin
Staff Writer

Mr. Apex is an annual competition for senior males nominated by the senior class. This competition contains choreographed routines, a talent act, and an interview question. The 2015 Mr. Apex contestants were Zafir Alam, Sammy Camut, Andrew Fiorentino, Tyler Galvin, Trevor Hair, Bailey LaBerteaux, and Connor Riley.

For the talent section of the night Alam performed a magic trick, Camut and Riley danced and sang a duet, Fiorentino sang a song and “promposed” to his girlfriend. Fiorentino also performed a choreographed dance with Galvin while wearing a sumo suit.  Hair sang a song, and LaBerteaux performed a theatrical dance. The end of the night consisted of voting for a contestant and announcing Alam as the winner of the 2015 Mr. Apex competition.

Neurosurgeon proposes first ever human head transplantation

Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer

The first recorded surgery took place in the Neolithic Stone Age about 12,000 years ago. The human race has progressed substantially from that time. Modern medical specialists not only deal with current ailments, but also explore the boundaries of possibilities with the human body. Today, Italian physician, Dr. Sergio Canavero has proposed a new idea that if successful, may revolutionize the medical field for years to come.

The neurosurgeon proposes human head transplantation. Created with the aim to aid those with muscle wasting diseases or other bodily problems, Canavero wants to give the disabled a chance with a new healthy body. He will use a brain-dead body as the vessel and attach the conscious head from a diseased body.

WCPSS names Diann Kearney principal

Alexandria Sands
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Wake County Public School System named Diann Kearney as principal of Apex High School to begin Friday, May 1. Kearney has been principal of Martin Middle School in Raleigh since 2012.

Kearney sat down and discussed the principalship at Apex High School with Dr. Clint Robinson, area superintendent for southwestern Wake County, prior to her acceptance. “When offered the job, I was extremely excited to accept because I have lived in the area for over 25 years and understand what a great community and school this is,” said Kearney.

Kearney wrote in her introduction letter addressed to ‘Apex parents and families,’ “I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve in this role and I look forward to working with you to continue the many great traditions that have distinguished Apex High School over the years.”

Governor's Highway Safety Program pushes for further limitations on texting while driving

Aaron Koch
Staff Writer

Everyone knows that it is illegal to text and drive in North Carolina, but to what extent?  It’s hard to determine when someone is texting and driving since North Carolina only has a ban on texting and not any other use of hand-held devices. Under the N.C. texting ban, it’s perfectly acceptable to make phone calls or change music while driving as long as it isn’t texting. Furthermore, you are allowed to text as long as your car is legally parked or at a complete stop.

That’s why the Governor's Highway Safety Program thinks the current N.C. law doesn’t go far enough. Highway Safety Director, Don Nial, said, “The problem isn't when cars are stationary. It's when a traffic signal changes or a vehicle ahead of the texting driver takes off.” The problem Nial has with the texting and driving ban is that it doesn’t force people to use hands-free technology. It only delays the text until the next stop sign or traffic light which still has dangers. “A lot of people don't stop the text because the light turns green. They probably go ahead and finish their text,” Nial later said to WRAL.

The problem there is when you’re finishing a text at a green light, you hear a horn behind you and you’re pressured to hit the gas without looking. This could lead to rear-end crashes. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program is pushing for a hands-free bill in North Carolina, where drivers will be forced to use hands-free technology so they are never distracted with what’s in their hands.

South Carolina cop charged with murder

Cameron Goz
Staff Writer

A white South Carolina police officer, City Patrolman Michael Thomas Slager, was arrested and charged with murder in the Saturday shooting of 50 year old black male Walter Scott. Slager was taken into custody after law enforcement officials saw a video of Slager firing shots at Scott as he ran away. Slager claims he felt threatened and that Scott was trying to take his gun, while the video clearly depicts otherwise. If convicted, Slager could face 30 years to life in prison, with the death penalty on the table as well.

Nigerian prodigy accepted to all eight Ivy League schools

Dylan Tastet
Staff Writer

Harold Ekeh, a senior at Elmont Memorial High School in Long Island and Nigerian immigrant, has received acceptance from all eight Ivy League universities. He also received acceptance from other prestigious schools including MIT and Johns Hopkins University.

 Ekeh and his family had a comfortable life in Nigeria, but they moved to America for greater educational opportunity. Ekeh says he had trouble adapting to American life at first, citing specifically a cluelessness in American history classes, but soon began to prosper with the help of his school and community.

Restaurant guide for prom night

Alexandria Sands & Maya Horton
Arts & Entertainment Editor & Staff Writer

It’s time to start making dinner reservations for prom night, but first you need to decide where you’re going to eat. Do you want Italian, Japanese, or American? Do you want an over-the-top atmosphere or a more casual vibe? We have a guide for the best places to eat in a half-hour radius of the prom venue.

Italian

Daniel’s Restaurant & Catering in Apex serves all the Italian cuisine you could ask for. Pizza, ravioli, pasta, and seafood are just some of the choices. Prices range from $10 to $20. The inside is cozy while the outside features an alluring patio and fountain.

Transfer approval numbers dwindle as WCPSS shifts priorities

Kenison Garratt
Staff Writer

Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) families filing school transfers this spring will have less of a chance of being approved. There are 155,000 students in WCPSS and thousands of parents file for a transfer each year. In May and June of 2014, 5,960 of 8,402 student transfers were approved. There were also 275 appeals by rejected transfers, 156 of these were approved. However, fewer students will be accepted this year than in previous years, and most students approved will be ones who were unable to apply for hardship reasons. “We would like to try to honor as many requests as we can,” said Laura Evans, the county’s senior director of student assignment, “But we want them done and in earlier. We want our principals to know who’s coming and to be ready for them.”

Twin Peaks return in doubt as creator pulls out

Henry McKeand
Staff Writer

The cancellation of Twin Peaks in 1991 left many fans of David Lynch and Mark Frost’s surreal show hungry for more.  The show, which revolved around the disappearance of a local girl in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, captured the public conscience in a way that few shows before or after have.  It was a cultural phenomenon, with people spending large parts of their day discussing the show’s many mysteries and twists.  It helped start the careers of Kyle MacLachlan and Heather Graham, and the stars of the show graced the cover of entertainment magazines all across the country. 

Then, after the end of its second season, the show was cancelled.  It disappeared as soon as it arrived, and anyone who watched the show to its cliffhanger ending felt as if they had been cheated.  The finale created more questions than it answered.  A continuation felt natural, but any attempts to bring the show back were unsuccessful until last year when Showtime announced that it would revive the series for a nine-episode continuation of the story. 

Muppets to make return to ABC

Nicholas Chupka
News Editor

Co-creator of The Big Bang Theory Bill Prady and writer Bob Kushell of shows such as Anger Management and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have been tasked by ABC to co-write a pilot episode for the revival of Jim Henson’s The Muppet Show. The announcement comes after the recent success of Disney’s critically acclaimed 2011 musical The Muppets and its 2014 predecessor Muppets Most Wanted.  

Prady has a long history working with the iconic puppets, in fact his career began in 1982 working with Henson himself, eventually becoming a writer for The Jim Henson Hour. This isn’t Prady’s first attempt to revive the show; before beginning production on his show The Big Bang Theory, he shot test footage for a Muppet Show revival that was ultimately scrapped by Disney. The pilot will be shown before Madison Avenue advertisers in May and if all goes as planned the Muppets could see a return to television in the very near future.

MLB preview

Matt Sholtis
Sports Editor



Spring is here and with it comes the crack of the bat and the 2015 MLB season. This season is probably the most wide open the league has been in quite some time. There have been an abundance of roster moves in the offseason so some of the teams who have been in the bottom half of the league for the past decade might find themselves in a pennant race come October. The season is over five months long so predictions now are always fun to make especially once the end of the season comes around. Here are my predictions for the 2015 MLB season:

Ask Apex: Throwback TV shows

Jo Gatlin and Kenison Garratt
Staff Writers

Everyone can recall their favorite television show from their childhood. Many of the throwback shows our generation enjoyed were aired on Disney Channel, Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network. Results from a recently conducted poll of Apex High students show the most popular television series from the ‘90s and early 2000s.