Columbine’s death toll continues

How Columbine became a blueprint for school shooters [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 18 April 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note When two teenage gunmen opened fire and killed 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, the massacre – and the media coverage that followed – essentially became a [how-to manual for future school shooters](. This is one of the main findings from an in-depth study of school shootings conducted by researchers Jillian Peterson and James Densley, who call on the media to deprive school shooters of the notoriety they seek. Measles continues to spread, alarming public health officials – and many other people as well. Should you be worried? If you were vaccinated years ago, is your vaccine still effective? What if you or your child had only one dose? A vaccine expert [answers questions]( about how to keep you and your family safe. Imagine Martin Sheen, inspired by his role as President Jed Bartlet in “The West Wing,” tossing his hat into the 2020 U.S. presidential race. It sounds absurd, but that’s exactly what’s happening in Ukraine, where a comedian named Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who played the Ukrainian president on a popular TV show, is leading in the polls to become Ukraine’s (actual) president. Penn State’s Lena Surzhko-Arned, an expert in post-Soviet politics, [tells the story of Zelenskiy’s political rise](, and explores what’s at stake. Would you lie to save the job of your colleague? Is it OK to cut through traffic because you are late to work? Should you track your child’s emails? Tell us about your everyday moral quandaries and we’ll get an answer from an expert. Write in your questions to ethical.questions@theconversation.com or reply to this newsletter. Jamaal Abdul-Alim Education Editor Top stories Students leave Columbine High School late April 16, 2019, in Littleton, Colo., following a lockdown at the school and other Denver area schools. David Zalubowski/AP [How Columbine became a blueprint for school shooters]( Jillian Peterson, Hamline University ; James Densley, Metropolitan State University Media coverage of the Columbine school shooting that took place in 1999 has ended up becoming a playbook for school shooters in the United States and beyond, an analysis of school shootings reveals. Steve Sierzega receives a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the Rockland County Health Department in Pomona, N.Y., Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Seth Wenig/AP Photo [If my measles shot was years ago, am I still protected? 5 questions answered]( Eyal Amiel, University of Vermont The growing number of cases of measles has many people asking: Am I safe? A vaccine expert provides some answers. Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy performs on stage during a show in Brovary, near Kiev, Ukraine. AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti [A comedian who played a president on TV might actually become Ukraine’s president]( Lena Surzhko-Harned, Pennsylvania State University The blurring of politics and entertainment has become an issue in democracies around the world. But the forthcoming Ukrainian election is in a league of its own. Ethics + Religion - [Notre Dame’s history is 9 centuries of change, renovation and renewal]( Maile Hutterer, University of Oregon The Notre Dame Cathedral was long a powerful symbol of church authority - but it wasn't static. The design kept changing to keep up with the changing times. Science + Technology - [As governments adopt artificial intelligence, there’s little oversight and lots of danger]( James Hendler, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute AI can help make government more efficient – but at what cost? Citizens' lives could be better or worse, based on how the technology is used. Politics + Society - [Trump declares economic war on Cuba]( William M. LeoGrande, American University School of Public Affairs The Trump administration has declared the most severe new sanctions against Cuba since President John F. Kennedy imposed an economic embargo banning all trade with the communist island in 1962. - [Bolsonaro’s approval rating is worse than any past Brazilian president at the 100-day mark]( Helder Ferreira do Vale, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Bolsonaro was elected to bring Brazil a 'better future.' Instead, his first months in office have been marked by mismanagement, legislative gridlock and protest. Health + Medicine - [Brain scans help shed light on the PTSD brain, but they cannot diagnose PTSD]( Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University The brain can do a lot, but it is vulnerable, especially to traumatic events. Over the years, researchers have learned the unique ways in which it is damaged by experiencing or witnessing trauma. Most read on site - [How US tax laws discriminate against women, gays and people of color]( Anthony C. Infanti, University of Pittsburgh A country's tax policies say a lot about what it values – and some of America's tend to promote inequality. - [Mapping the US counties where traffic air pollution hurts children the most]( Haneen Khreis, Texas A&M University Childhood asthma cases caused by traffic pollution are on the decline. But children in some parts of the country are faring better than others. - [Can changing the microbiome reverse lactose intolerance?]( Patricia L. Foster, Indiana University You may think that your milk-drinking, ice cream-licking days are behind you as you battle the discomfort of lactose intolerance. But there maybe be a way to reverse the situation. Today’s quote ["There is significant interest in harnessing AI for its fullest positive potential. But the significant dangers of abuse, misuse and bias -- whether intentional or not -- have the potential to work against the very principles international democracies have been built upon."]( [As governments adopt artificial intelligence, there's little oversight and lots of danger]( James Hendler Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [James Hendler] [Support The Conversation. We rely on donations to bring you knowledge-based, ethical journalism]( [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111