Organize & Declutter Room by Room

When it comes to spring cleaning, it is best to go from big tasks to small tasks. Taking the time to declutter your space, and putting items in the right place can assist in helping you feel less overwhelmed. Putting books away, hanging up clothes, putting miscellaneous items in boxes or their respective drawers can help in opening up your space and making you feel more motivated to move on to the smaller tasks.

Categorically organizing your clutter can also help in your spring cleaning endeavors by separating things such as trash, donations, or items to organize and store. Also organizing this by room can help reduce the anxiety and daunting nature of spring cleaning. Even writing a list of tasks and crossing them out one by one can help you feel fulfilled as you make it through.

Sweep, Dust, Vacuum & Mop Each Room

Nothing is better than that freshly cleaned house smell. Sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming each room before going over it with a mop will help clean up dirt and those pesky allergens. If you have pets this can be harder, but there are plenty of cleaning products made especially for pet owners to make life a lot easier.

If you have asthma or any other illness that makes this part of cleaning difficult, it is best to bring an outside source. There are plenty of affordable cleaning companies out there, which can clean your home once or on a regular schedule.

Organize Paperwork in Home Offices

Cleaning off your desks, putting away papers in labeled filing folders, and creating allocated stations in your office are all solutions to creating the most productive home office. Making an area just for your printing and scanning will help train your brain to get into work mode when you are in your office space.

Rearrange Furniture to Maximize Your Space

After cleaning, if you are in a small space, such as a studio apartment or dorm, slightly rearranging your items to maximize your space will help improve your mental well-being and comfort level.

When rearranging your space, using the same method as organizing with tackling the big items first is the most efficient way. Starting with the focal piece of furniture first, move your way down to the smallest piece to figure out how to utilize your space as efficiently as possible. Organizing a small space can make the biggest difference.

SEE ALSO: Sustainable Moving: Tips For a Green Moving Season

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Eighty percent of moves are recorded to happen from April through September, which means we are right on the crux of peak moving season. With single and family homes going through the changes of home-buying, home-selling, renting, or downsizing, this can be a chaotic time for those who are trying to make a big residential change.

One efficient way to facilitate a sustainable move is to greatly reduce the number of disposable packing materials used. Using reusable storage totes, packing blankets, and old clothing in replacement of paper can eliminate the amount of trash after a move.

When it comes to a green move, less is more. Whether you are moving from a large home to a smaller one or vice-versa, you will still need to purge a lot of your belongings to make room for new beginnings.

While it can be tempting to leave items you no longer need outside, there are plenty of sustainable and charitable ways to rid yourself of furniture, clothing, and any other things that won’t be relocating with you. With the convenience of plenty of different marketplace apps, there is a slew of options for you to sell your items and make some extra money along the way. If you don’t have time or the need to sell items then there are plenty of local donation centers that will take your unneeded belongings and allocate them to people or places in need.

Throwing away electronics without proper disposal can result in mass damage to the environment. When disposing of electronics, such as computers, batteries, or TVs, there are plenty of companies out there that specialize in e-waste removal.

When it comes to the actual move, research affordable moving companies that use green practices. If you are in Chicagoland, moving companies like Joey’s Movers will ensure a green and affordable move for any size home.

Whichever green options you choose, you can not only reduce stress on yourself during your move but also on the planet.

SEE ALSO: Tips for Dealing With Difficult College Roommates

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Allocating a budget

The first and most important step in picking out your first apartment is figuring out what you can afford. Deciding on a budget can help you narrow down location and living situation. For instance, if you live in a major city where rent can be more expensive you may want to look into living in surrounding areas if your budget is on the lower side. If you do want to live in the city then you might want to consider living with someone to split the costs.

Living alone or with someone

When it comes to having a roommate or multiple roommates there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, would be the aforementioned budgeting situation. Would it be in your best interest financially to live with someone? Another aspect to consider would be your comfort level. Are you able to compromise enough to share your space? If not, then are you someone who would feel comfortable enough to live alone? Once you begin to answer these questions then it will be easier to determine whether or not a roommate living situation is a right option for you. If you do choose to with a roommate, then there are plenty of safe resources out there to help you find the right one.

Deciding on the size of an apartment

Settling on the size of your first place will largely depend on your spatial need. Do you need an extra room for an office? Is a larger space too stressful for you to clean? If you like to cook, you may want a larger kitchen or if you like baths you may want a place with a bathtub and now just a standing shower. Writing down everything you need for an ideal space will make it easier when going hunting for your new place.

Picking out a location

Location is of extreme importance when looking for your first place out of college. College campuses tend to be relatively safe with the school security measures in place around the area. Ensuring you are in a safe area is imperative to making this important step of living off-campus. Researching the crime rate and downloading apps, such as the Citizen app, and setting the location to where you might want to move can help in finding out if an area is safe. If you do not have a car then seeing the public transportation options in the area is also a great step. If you do have a car then checking out the parking options will be helpful. Taking all of these into consideration will help narrow down a location.

Hiring movers to eliminate stress

Once you have decided on where to move then you will want to decide how the movie is going to be executed so you won’t need to stress. Find a reliable moving company in the area and see if they have student discounts. Eliminating one less task will do wonders in easing relocation anxiety.

SEE ALSO: Home Spring Cleaning Tips For the Remote Worker

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It’s easy to get lost and confused when it comes to political polls, especially in the last hours, due to their varying methodologies, averages, and intricacies. This is why College News will be providing you an insight into the current happening of the 2020 U.S election.

What do the polls say?

In the race for the presidential seat, Biden is currently on the frontline leading Donald Trump by about 10 percentage points considering national polls. According to Decision Desk HQ, which happens to be an election forecasting company, they predict that Biden has an 86.7% likelihood of winning the 2020 U.S election.

Nevertheless, if Biden wins the November election, his robust leads in several critique swing states would be the reason. It would include states like Pennsylvania, which Trump won in 2016 with less than 1% points.

Considering the recent state polls, Joe Biden has accumulated up to an average of 4.8% points in state polls. Some professional and reputable electoral forecasting companies, which include DDHQ, are of the opinion that Trump’s rival, Biden has a 74.5% chance of taking the lead of the Keystone State.

Taking a look at Florida State, Biden has an edge with a current lead against Trump. Donald Trump had claimed victory in Florida State during the 2016 elections with 1.2% points, 113,000 votes. But considering the recent turnout in Florida, DDHQ believes that Biden has a 63% chance of coming top in Florida polls.

Could the polls be wrong?

Yes. There is a good possibility that the polls could be “wrong” and may not have predicted the final electoral results correctly. The big question roaming on several minds during election night is, just how wrong were the polls?

Incorrect polling turned out to be one of the major critiques during the 2016 election against Hilary Clinton. Nevertheless, the polls have always been very close to the figures. For example, during the 2016 election, which featured Trump against Hilary Clinton, the national polls had outperformed with just two percentage points.

According to polling, which states are closest?

According to FiveThirtyEight, the states close in the race are Iowa, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. In the states highlighted, Biden currently has the lead except in three states – Iowa, Ohio, and Texas, led by Trump.

Polling stats in swing states during the eve of the election:

A recent poll estimates that Trump is taking the lead in the Lone Star State with as little as one percentage points. If for any reason, Biden manages to flip Texas Democratic to his way, which hasn’t happened since 1976, he can be sure of an Electoral College victory.

Taking a close look out North Carolina, Biden seems to take the lead with an average of just 2 percentage points. Meanwhile, North Carolina turns out to be one state that Trump is desperately needs for his fight for reelection into office.  Furthermore, absentee ballots will already have been validated before Election Day, which will ensure the votes are counted more promptly.

As we’ve earlier mentioned, Ohio is currently one of the states in which Trump takes the lead over the Democrats with an estimated average of 1.2 percentage points. During the 2016 November presidential election, Trump won Clinton with an average of 9.5 percentage points.

According to RealClearPolitics their estimates that Donald Trump is currently ahead of Joe Biden in Georgia polls with just 0.2 points. Ever since the time of President Bill Clinton in 1992, Georgia is one state that hasn’t voted for a Democratic candidate.

For Arizona, Biden currently takes the lead against Trump with 2.6 percentage average points in polls. Arizona was a state that Trump won in 2016 with 3.5 percentage points.

In Pennsylvania, Biden takes the lead against the Republicans with an average of 4.8 percentage points. Trump had won this state during the 2016 election, with 44,292 votes. Pennsylvania is one state Biden can’t afford to lose in his race for the presidential seat.

Lastly, for Wisconsin, Joe Biden currently takes the lead with an average of 8.2 percentage points in polls according to stats provided by FiveThirtyEight. During the 2016 U.S presidential election, Trump won Wisconsin with less than one percentage point in votes.

For a candidate to emerge as a winner, they must have received nothing less than 270 electoral votes.

Even as we stay glued during these last 24 hours of the polls, presidential nominees will have to pass through the final Electoral College in December to see the candidate that is declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

The post What You Need to Know About the 2020 Presidential Election appeared first on College News.

Meanwhile, the other two officers who were also involved were not charged. According to Kentucky law, a person will be charged with wanton endangerment if an act that shows “an extreme indifference to the value of human life”. The number of years punishable per count for such felony is five years. Officer Hankison was charged on three counts, making it a 15 years sentence if found guilty.

However, Breonna Taylor’s relatives and activists find the lack of charges given an extremely negligent and erroneous repercussion for a blatant erasure of human life. All throughout the country there are massive rally cries calling for all the three white officers who were involved to be charged with manslaughter or murder. But this request has been rejected upon reviewing the evidence by a grand jury.

What are the prosecutors saying?

Earlier this week, Judge Annie O’Connel made an announcement concerning the charged brought against Mr Hankison by the grand jury.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, held a news conference which expanded on the decision.

Also Read: Colleges cancelling spring break during COVID-19

”Every day, this family wakes up to the realization that someone they loved is no longer with them. There’s nothing I can offer today to take away the grief and heartache this family is experiencing as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister, and a friend.” Cameron said in his message addressing the Taylor family.

The attorney general said that the ballistics report revealed that Breonna Taylor was shot six times, but only one was fatal. The analysis also concluded that it was Detective Myles Cosgrove who fired the shot that lead to Taylor’s death. Cameron stated that they can’t state for a fact that the shot fired by Hankison struck the deceased but the bullets had hit a neighboring apartment, hence the reason for his sentence.

The prosecutor also said that Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly who are the other two officers had been justified of protecting themselves, a justification that prevents them from pursuing criminal charges. Cameron, who happens to be the first black attorney general of the state, added “If we should just act on emotion or outrage, that wouldn’t be justice. The attorney general also made it known that the FBI is still investigating if federal laws have been violated, in regards to the case.

What’s the reaction to the Breonna Taylor Decision?

Ben Crump describes the incidence as “outrageous and offensive”, Crump is the lawyer representing the Taylor family. Official has agreed to pay Taylor’s family $12m in settlement. President Trump, in a White House news conference, commented on the decision. “I thought it was brilliant.”

He praised the attorney general who addressed the issue on a Republican Party conference for doing an excellent job. “I think he’s a star”.

On the other hand, Governor Andy Beshear urged the prosecutors to let go of the evidence, which was presented to the jury.

In his statement to reporters about the Breonna Taylor decision, Governor Beshear said: “I think having more of the facts out there so people can see, people can truly process it, is where we need to be.”

The post Breonna Taylor Decision Sparks National Outcry appeared first on College News.

Michigan had earlier revised their school calendar regarding this situational ethics and Kentucky officials this week also decided to play things safe and revised the school calendars to prevent the spread of the virus on campus. The officials emphasized that ”the revised calendar creates a condensed semester in which students will remain engaged in coursework on campus, rather than potentially travelling to other regions and returning to Lexington, which would increase the risk of spreading COVID-19.”

Data says spring break travel increased COVID-19 spread

Kansas State Provost, Chuck Taber had also earlier pointed out that it was necessary to reduce risk by ”reducing travel mass between K-state campuses” following the decision of colleges cancelling spring break. Due to the recent studies that have been carried out, it turns out that the concerns are valid. Taking a close look at the data of the June study carried out by Vanderbilt and Ball state, the research revealed that a high volume of studetns who went on spring break ended up bringing back COVID-19 to their campuses.

Also Read: Are You Scared About Drowning in Debt?

Provost Nancy Brickhouse at Baylor, explained to the students regarding the school’s decision not to take spring break, “preventing the COVID-19 outbreak like we saw across the country last spring was a priority to contain the spread of the virus”.

Other schools like Purdue and Carnegie Mellon are adopting the idea of several “reading days” or “break days” all through their spring’s academic calendar to give the students and faculty a breather.

Academic calendars are also condensing fall break

Academic calendars are also condensing the academic session to the extent that fall breaks are also being cancelled.

There were also cases where the allocated days for spring breaks are now tracked into the winter recess. Medical expert warned about a “twindemic” of both COVID-19 and flu. So, delaying the semester would be the ideal thing to set in motion.

Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers earlier said this week that he had supported UW-Madisson’s decision in colleges cancelling spring break during a time like this. He notes the risk of students being exposed on campus. The Governor also made mention of the expected vaccine which will be on pharmacies or doctor’s offices hopefully mid-year.

“For our country to vaccinate 300 million people, it’s not going to happen overnight,” Evers said. UW-Madison and other colleges cancelling spring break is a “wise step on their part.”

Also Read: Decorate Your Dorm on a Budget

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Nationwide curfews begin to lift in George Floyd protests

With major cities lifting their curfew, protesters nationwide are still pushing forward in their efforts for change even though it has been two weeks since George Floyd’s killing. They continue to voice out the bias entrenched by law enforcement agencies, especially the police, when carrying out their duty and call for immediate changes in the system.

Trump hesitates investigation Minneapolis police

According to two top Trump administration officials, “We do not believe in systemic racism in the country’s police” has led to a stark contrast on Sunday. The Attorney General William P. Barr said that President Trump is reluctant to investigate the problems in the Minneapolis city police where the national outburst began.

George Floyd gets put to rest amongst friends, family and public figures

George Floyd’s public memorial took place on Monday, June 8, and was held at Fountain of Praise church in Houston where many celebrities and political figureheads were in attendance.

Houston’s Jack Yates High School, where Floyd graduated in 1993 will have a hsted a candlelight vigil, which was held before a private service at the Fountain of Praise church that took place on Tuesday, which was followed by Floyd’s burial at Houston Memorial Gardens cemetery.

Here are other significant developments

• On Sunday morning, President Trump said he is ordering the National Guard troops to begin withdrawing from the nation’s capital.
• The ideology of withholding funds from the police has already begun a hot topic of interest as protests continue nationwide.
• Philonise Floyd is scheduled to testify before Congress on Wednesday, which happens to be the first congressional hearing on the law enforcement since his brother’s killing in police custody on Memorial Day.
• In a statement made by the Denver Police Department on Sunday said that there are making rules to ban all uses of chokeholds as part of a broader effort to address the use of force by its officers, amending the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
• Former President Obama and his wife Michelle addressed the unrest caused by George Floyd’s protest and the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday’s Class Of 2020 event for graduates. “It’s fair to say that your generation is graduating into a world that faces more profound challenges than any generation in decades,” Barack Obama said.

Also Read: The Cards We Are Dealt: Being Black in Lyric Opera

The post The latest on the George Floyd case and protests appeared first on College News.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BqRGt0T8jI

Know Your plant’s Light Requirements

If you have a sun-loving plant, place it facing north or north-east. Since the sun is harsh in summers than winters, keep your sun-sensitive plants to an east-facing window than the west. Thoroughly monitor the temperature and soil moisture to make sure that the leaves are not burnt, which is an essential part of indoor gardening.

Shower Them Together

Plants that require high humidity, must be spritzed water together. It is also a great way to keep them clean. The dust particles can hinder them from getting maximum sunlight. Make sure to use room temperature water with a low quantity of minerals in it. Mist the plants during a cool temperature, either early morning or in the evening. Never spray mist on the plants in fully exposed sun.

Feed Them Some Fertilizer

Fertilizers come as both, solid and liquid, and are great options. The fastest and simplest solution is liquid fertilizer. You can always check the label for the recommended time interval. Over-fertilizing your plants can damage their roots. Better to be on the less side than more.

Bathroom Can Be The Best Spot

Who would have thought that placing your plants in the bathroom can be helpful? Some moisture-loving plants like ferns enjoy their stay in the bathrooms. A place where they can get regular doses of mist.

Order The Indoor Gardening Necessities Online

During this pandemic, shutters are down. It doesn’t mean that you cannot pursue your long-awaited passion for gardening. There are places that offer to deliver plant equipment, including pots and seeds at your doorstep.

Do Not Over Water

Water your plants only when the soil seems dry to the touch. Water is essential, but make sure not to overwater them. Not only do the roots absorb water and nutrients but they also exchange gases through the soil. Think of it “breathing” through roots. This is why it is important to have well-draining pots. Overwatering is often the cause of indoor plant death.

At the End

Indoor gardening requires time, patience and faith. A great way to destress yourself during this isolation period. Trust us, it is not that hard!

Also Read: Sage Cleansing or Smudging for Beginners

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Getting into the metaphysical can be a daunting task. All of the different assortments of crystals, the meaning of auras, and getting the hang of cleansing rituals can be enough to make one reconsider getting to know the ins and outs of learning the spiritual world. However, even a novice spiritualist can learn the basics of spiritual cleansing.

One way to do this is through the art of sage cleansing. This cleansing is great for beginners and just requires sage and positive thinking. Check out these basic steps on how to do a beginner’s sage cleansing.

What is sage cleansing or smudging?

Commonly referred to as “smudging” sage cleansing can bring positive energy to your personal spaces, objects, or even yourself. You can sage whenever you want to, but some especially notable times that you might want to perform a sage cleansing is right after a move, the death of a loved one, a major change to your space, a new relationship begins, and more.

The first step to begin your first smudging sessions is to buy the sage. You can buy sage from your local occult store or website. White sage must be dry before you attempt to light it.

Imagine positive energy while sage cleansing

Once you light the sage you can put it on a non-burning surface. Most rituals will find an Abolone Shell, which you can also find at the same locations that you would find your sage. Once the sage is lit and placed safely on the shell then fan the smoke with a feather or your hand and imagine a positive white light absorbing all of the negative energy. You can do this while saying a positive mantra of your choice in your head or even looking up a sage prayer.

This simple act is all you need to do to do a traditional smudging. Happy cleansing!

Also read:

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Experts have warned that the prison symptoms could explode with the virus, which has promoted all prison systems to announce that every inmate will be under a 14-day mandated isolation period in order to contain the virus. Celebrity inmates, such as R. Kelly have requested early release in order to avoid exposure to COVID-19.

Tekashi 6ix9ine is considered a medical risk because of his asthma

Last week, Tekashi 6ix9ine made this request with the judge overseeing his case, Judge Engelmayer. His lawyer, Lance Lazzaro, relayed in a statement that Tekashi 6ix9ine was fearful for his health due to being a part of the high-risk group because of his asthma diagnosis. Judge Engelmayer ultimately denied his request, but told him that his lawyer would have to take that up with the Bureau of Prisons.

Lawyer explains why 6ix9ine might get an early release from 0rison very soon pic.twitter.com/QY7LG2IBsN

— Febrazy Media (@realfebrazy) April 1, 2020

Bureau of Prisons denied him after judge turnover

On Wednesday, April 1, Inner City Press reported that the Brooklyn-bred rapper was having issues figuring out which establishment would be able grant the early release. Once Tekashi 6ix9ine’s legal team went to the Buereau of Prison’s as suggested by Judge Engelmayer, it was then revealed that he must take it up with the United States Marshals Service due to his status as a witness.

Lazzaro explains the systems release process

On Wednesday, Lazzaro talked to Complex about the Bureu of Prisons decision and next steps.

“The remedy at that point was to apply to the Bureau of Prisons, which I knew would more than likely deny him,” he explained. “But they had up to 30 days to issue that denial. I kept pushing them to make a decision immediately because, in today’s environment, with the virus spreading in a way that nobody could have imagined, it was imperative to get a quick decision. So the Bureau of Prisons through the general counsel this morning denied my request for compassionate release. That now becomes an appealable decision in front of Judge Engelmayer.”

Judge & government both agree Tekashi 6ix9ine should get early release

Well, Judge Engelmayer seems to be leaning towards his release with a statement that suggests that he plans to let 6ix9ine serve the rest of his sentence at home unless the government has any major obections. However, the government said in their decision that they would not get in the way of Tekashi 6ix9ine being released. “In the event the Court finds ‘extraordinary and compelling reasons’ presented by the defendant’s medical condition, placing him at high risk during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government does not oppose the defendant’s motion for compassionate relief.”

Update: no 69 order yet by Judge Engelmayer. No way to know what timing is in his mind. I’ve seen the joke about him studying up on memes, and maybe that’s it. Meanwhile, playground across from courthouse has now been locked. Time to write up today’s other cases. https://t.co/pKfOJSz09s

— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) April 1, 2020

If released, Tekashi 6ix9ine will be on home confinement until the end of his sentence, which was initially set to be early July due to a portion of his time already having been served prior to his sentencing.

Also Read: Harvey Weinstein Tests Positive for Coronavirus

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