(upbeat music) - Coming up next on "NewsDepth," President Biden delivers the State of the Union speech, we learn about the history of the political parties, cities on the solar eclipse path are expecting thousands of visitors, and a local gymnastics team has brought home the championship for the 21st year in a row.

"NewsDepth" is now.

(upbeat music) The state of our union is strong.

That's according to President Joe Biden.

Hello everybody, I'm Gabriel Kramer.

Thank you for joining us.

President Biden delivered his third State of the Union address and fourth address to Congress last week.

In his speech, Biden defended his record and touched on what he hopes to continue accomplishing.

Jenn Sullivan recaps his address.

- [Jenn] President Joe Biden addressing the nation Thursday, the State of the Union address coming at a pivotal moment for his presidency, highlighting his accomplishments, and laying out his plans for what he hopes to accomplish if elected for another four years.

- The state of our union is strong and getting stronger.

(audience applauding) - [Jenn] Thursday's speech comes at a tumultuous time, both domestically and internationally, Americans grappling with high inflation.

- I want to provide an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next two years as mortgage rates come down, to put toward their mortgages when they buy their first home.

- [Jenn] Biden also addressing the harsh criticism his administration has faced in regards to immigration.

- I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poisoning the blood of our country.

- [Jenn] But the turmoil overseas taking center stage Thursday, Israel-Hamas War causing rifts here at home as many Americans worry the President isn't doing enough to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, Biden using Thursday's address to make a major announcement.

- I'm directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelter.

- Thank you, Jenn.

If you'd like to learn more about the history of the state of the union, check out our "Politics on Point" video about it online.

On March 19th, Ohioans will take to the polls for the primary elections.

As a reminder, the primary election is the voting process held before the general election where members of a political party choose their preferred candidate to represent their party in an upcoming general election.

More than a few candidates have already dropped out of the race since the last time we checked in.

Former president Donald Trump is now the sole candidate running for the Republican nomination.

For the Democratic party, current President Biden is projected to win the spot on the ballot.

There are also three people running as third party candidates.

With the countdown to election day, we've got a series of "Politics on Point" reports to prep you for the big day.

By now, maybe you're wondering what exactly is the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans, Biden's party and Trump's party?

Well, never fear, our Nick Castele has the answer.

Take a look.

(musical fanfare) - It's time to party.

(noisemaker honks) (upbeat music) Oh, it's a political party.

What, you mean it's not that kind of party?

(Nick sighs) Actually, a political party is a group of people that share many of the same beliefs about how the government should work.

Political parties are the main way we elect people in the United States.

Usually we pick between the two major parties, the Democrats and the Republicans.

The Democrats are associated with the color blue, and the donkey, which has been their symbol since President Andrew Jackson's political campaign in 1828.

Political rivals said Jackson, a Democrat, was stubborn as a donkey, and Jackson latched onto it, so did political cartoonist Thomas Nast, who made the symbol famous.

Since then, the donkey has forever been associated with the Democratic party.

Nast also had a hand in the other famous symbol, the Republican elephant.

In one of his cartoons, he drew a scene at the zoo, and the Republicans were depicted as an elephant, and that's all it took.

Republicans embraced the caricature, remarking that the elephant is powerful, strong, and dignified.

Republicans are also associated with the color red, and sometimes the party is referred to as the GOP.

That stands for grand old party.

But these parties are at odds not because of their symbols, but because of their beliefs.

Most differences between the parties come down to an overall disagreement about the role the government should play in our lives.

Although not all Republicans agree with each other on every issue, generally, Republicans tend to believe a smaller, limited government is best.

They usually believe in personal responsibility, low taxes, and a strong military.

Republicans are sometimes called conservatives.

One famous Republican is Ronald Reagan, who is known for cutting taxes for every American in 1981.

- I think the people of this country today want more than anything for government to get off their backs and out of their pockets.

- [Nick] On the other side, we have the Democrats.

They are the oldest party in the United States, and they believe that the government should take a more active role in people's lives, especially those in need.

The Democratic party typically believes in equal opportunity, protecting the environment, and healthcare for everyone.

Democrats are sometimes called liberals or progressives.

One example of a Democrat is Franklin D. Roosevelt, who started a bunch of government programs to create jobs during the Great Depression.

- Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

- We've seen the two sides trade barbs in debate over the past few months, and now finally, it's all about to come to an end, at least until the next election.

(spring boings) - Thank you, Nick.

Spring break is almost here, and this year, travelers are visiting some unexpected destinations.

As we already know, a total solar eclipse is set to cross North America on April the eighth, and US cities within the path of totality, like Dallas, Indianapolis, even Cleveland, are expecting thousands of visitors that week.

The rare event is happening during a slow time of year for tourism for places like Vermont, and businesses of all types are already preparing and planning for this opportunity.

Calvin Cutler has more.

- [Calvin] It may be cool outside, but travel and tourism preparations are heating up in advance of this spring's total solar eclipse.

- We're really gonna blow it outta the water that weekend.

- [Calvin] Smuggler's Notch Resort is expecting over 3,000 guests.

Staff has a packed schedule, pond skimming, drumming, fire dancing, s'mores, educational programming, and fireworks.

- We do programming seven days a week off the mountain, and so we're very well equipped to handle this.

Between food and beverage and our activities department and everyone that's gonna work together to pull this off, we're good at this stuff.

- [Calvin] Others are gearing up and selling Vermont eclipse merchandise from glasses to mugs to hoodies.

The website Moon Over Vermont wants people to remember cosmic history in the Green Mountains.

- 13.12, we'll call it 13.15.

- [Calvin] Retailers are gearing up too.

At CrossRoads Deli in Waterbury, just a stone's throw from I-89, a major corridor for visitors, general manager Jeremy Allaire is bracing for people coming and leaving Vermont, fueling up, and making a run on sandwiches and Creemees.

- Generally, we wanna hire about 20 staff members.

We'll double our staff by then, with the Creemee stand being a big bulk of that, but our deli, our cashiers, all of that, we need to buff up and get ready for an event like this, which is gonna be huge for this area.

- [Calvin] April is typically a slow season for Vermont, and the state is working to get information to prospective visitors, and telling businesses who may be closed on Sundays and Monday, it could be worth opening up.

- But this would be a great opportunity for folks to maybe change their plans to just take advantage of the fact that there will be a lot of people we expect coming to the state again at a slow time of year.

- [Calvin] A big swath of Vermont, from Burlington to Montpelier to Newport will see the eclipse and its impact on the economy.

- Thank you, Calvin.

More than just businesses, city administrators also have some prep work to do before the big event.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state agency leaders have been preparing for the influx of visitors for the past couple years.

The state's Departments of Transportation, Parks, and Tourism have their work cut out for them.

Aaron Castleberry speaks with officials about preparing for one of the largest tourism events in Arkansas's history.

- The countdown is literally on.

- [Aaron] Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, along with cabinet secretaries and directors discussed their preparations ahead of the Great American Eclipse, which will happen on Monday, April the eighth.

- Next month's eclipse has the potential to be one of the largest tourism events in our state history.

- [Aaron] Arkansas Department of Transportation director Lorie Tudor says ARDOT has worked on their plans for two years.

- We know there's going to be delays.

- [Aaron] Because of that, the state is issuing a construction holiday.

- There will be no lane closures or active work zones from Friday, April 5th until Tuesday the ninth.

- [Aaron] Tudor also said ARDOT is working with the Arkansas Trucking Association to limit oversize and overweight loads.

Park Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis said that there are events planned at all state parks that are in totality.

- Each state park that's within totality is offering specific programs, tours, and activities in and around the before and after the eclipse itself.

- [Aaron] Education Secretary Jacob Oliva said, "While this is a fantastic tourism event for the state, it is also an educational opportunity, including having school age students collect light data for the University of Central Arkansas."

- In fact, we have 60 schools that our students are being trained on how to use the digital devices to capture this data, and will participate in about 45 counties as the eclipse goes through the whole state.

- [Aaron] The governor emphasized that this event will be a big one for the state, and hopes it will keep visitors coming back to Arkansas after the eclipse.

- Many people will be coming to our state for the first time, and we wanna make sure they keep coming back time and time again.

- Thank you, Aaron.

(dog barking) Oh, hey, Newshound.

You sound excited about this week's petting zoo.

Okay, take it away.

(lively music) (dog barking) Wait, where are you, are you already on spring break?

We still have work to do.

Wow, look at him go.

He must be on the trail of something good.

Oh, you found a story about a flamboyance?

That's a group of flamingos that took a vacation in Wisconsin.

You can check out the full story on our website and YouTube channel.

(spring boings) Thanks as always, Newshound, and thanks for inspiring this week's Write to Us question.

We wanna know what are your spring break plans?

Go to our inbox form online and tell us if you're looking forward to a vacation or a staycation during your break.

Last week, we asked why you think school librarians are important.

Let's see what you had to say by opening our inbox.

Ellie from Bolich Middle School in Cuyahoga Falls starts us off with, "My school librarian is important because she helps us learn things.

If we need to find or check out a book, she's always ready to help us.

She helps us find books for projects, research, or just to read for fun.

She's very nice, and always has a smile on her face.

That is why my school librarian is important."

Maxwell from Monroe Road Elementary in Lambertville, Michigan wrote, "Dear NewsDepth, my school librarian is important because she helps people when they don't know where to go.

She also teaches the school about kindness."

That's very kind of you to say, Maxwell.

Aaliyah from St. Christopher School in Vandalia said their school librarian helps outside of library as well.

"My school librarian is not just a normal librarian.

She also teaches religion to sixth through eighth grade.

She is important because if she wasn't there, what would we do in our classes when we have to read?

She also helps make sure that we have a book fair each year to go and get books."

Aiden from Sherwood Elementary in Cincinnati thinks their school librarian is innovative.

"One of my reasons why my school librarian is so important is that he lets us borrow any book, and once I was late and he took a book off the shelf and saved it for me.

He does an Innovation class in the meantime when not helping kids with his library, and we can do fun things like coding robots or drawing."

And Olivia from Olmsted Falls Intermediate School in Olmstead Falls sent us this email.

"Hi NewsDepth, I think we should have library teachers because if we go to the library and act crazy, there's no one there to tell the kids to calm down and be quiet.

Also, if we don't have library teachers, if someone puts an inappropriate book in the library, no adult will be there to take it out, and that's why I think we should have library teachers."

Thanks to everyone who wrote in.

You know I love reading all of your letters.

Now let's move on to sports.

Our next story is about endurance, to keep one of the longest running high school sports records in the country going.

The Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School gymnastics team has just won its 21st straight state championship, 21.

Ygal Kaufman caught up with them before the gymnastics meet to talk about what it takes to be a Brecksville Bee gymnast.

- [Ygal] Brexille-Broadview Heights High School's female gymnastics team, the Bees, are going for their 21st consecutive state championship.

The Bees train out of Gymnastics World in Brecksville, a gym that has been making elite gymnasts for over 45 years.

- There's definitely a lot of pressure.

There's pressure going into every state meet every year, but I feel like we just have to have confidence in ourselves, like just training in the gym, doing what we know how to do, and then going into the state meet with confidence in not only our team, but in our each individual self.

- It takes a lot.

While I also do club gymnastics, so I practice like 20 plus hours a week, like four or five days a week, so it's definitely a big commitment, but it's definitely worth it.

- How do you balance that?

You know, your sport, your school, your family life, your friend's life, you know, it's a big healthy balance of trying to figure that all out.

It's not a one and done recipe, it is different every year.

You have a whole new set of girls, a whole new set of issues.

Every year, there's something that impacted the team in a different way that you gotta kind of figure out and work through.

- [Ygal] Known affectionately to her team as Schneidie, Maria Schneider took over coaching duties from her mother, Joan Ganim.

Ganim started Gymnastics World with her late husband, Ron Ganim, in 1978.

- I've known Schneidie for so long since I've moved here like 13 years ago, so she's been a part of my life for forever, and she's just such a supportive person that's always here no matter what I need.

Like I got injured the other day, she like called like seven different people trying to figure out how she can help me.

She texted me every day of the week seeing like how I was doing, if I was feeling better.

- They're perfectionists, that's what this sport is.

So you have to know that a gymnast, especially if they're still around at this age, they are at hand a perfectionist in their own right, so they put their pressure on themselves.

- We practice together, we do team dinners before every meet, so we go out to dinner as a team.

We do team bonding stuff before.

It's more before season than during, so we do team bonding stuff then.

So I feel like we're definitely very close as a team.

- [Ygal] The Brecksville Bees say their confidence is high going into the title defense, but they say there are some areas that need work.

This includes the mental game, which Schneider says is even more important than the physical skillset.

- There's a lot of fear of's for a gymnast, any athlete, fear of success, fear of injury or re-injury, fear of disappointment, fear of, you know, fear of not knowing what's gonna happen when you walk in that competition, and so the mental health part of the game is all of that.

80% of what they do is all about their mindset when they go into that competition.

- I definitely think it's in our sights, and I think we can get it.

We just have to know we can get it and be at our best and hit all of our routines because it's not like a given, but if we are at our best and we do our best, then we'll be good.

- [Ygal] In the end, all that hard work and preparation paid off, and the Bees won their 21st straight state championship.

- Thank you, Ygal.

You know, sometimes, when I hear a snappy tune, I can't help myself, I just have to dance, and I'm sure many of you are the same way.

This week's A+ Award winners took that feeling to the next level and started a dance club at their school.

The Dancing Warriors are a group of four seventh graders at Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights.

Sophia, Hadyn, Anna, and Josie have all been dancing for years.

They each have their own specialties.

They decided to take their love for dance and turn it into an afterschool activity for their classmates, but it wasn't as simple as just turning on the music and dancing.

They had to come up with a proposal that outlined their plan and present it to the school's principal and members of the school's STEAM board.

Some of you probably know that STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Once it was approved, they had to recruit a teacher to serve as the club's advisor, which turned out to be Mrs. Shipley.

The Dancing Warriors told us that planning the club was pretty tough.

They met twice a week, and even though there were a lot of great ideas, they also had to make compromises to make sure the club would work the way they wanted.

Ms. Hribar told us that the girls demonstrated design thinking at its best, and they worked through all kinds of challenges.

They had to decide what types of dance to teach their classmates, how to fund the club, and how to make sure the dances were safe so nobody got hurt.

The club even has different levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, so that everyone can participate.

I think I'd be in the advanced group, but Newshound, he disagrees.

The Dancing Warriors told us that they're really proud of the club, and they learned a lot about patience, teamwork, compromise, and teaching other people new skills.

This week's A+ Award goes to the Dancing Warriors for starting a dance club at their school.

You never know, I may be the feature act at their year end recital.

Congratulations, girls, keep up the great work.

Let's turn back to the news.

The Dartmouth College men's basketball team made history last week.

They became the first college athletes to vote to join a labor union.

As Ross Keschke reports, it's a significant milestone in the rapidly changing business for collegiate sports.

- We believe, you know, the NCAA system is out of date, and we're trying to change that.

- [Ross] A potentially historic shakeup of American collegiate sports, Dartmouth men's basketball players voting 13 to two to officially join a union.

Junior Cade Haskins says this is something the team has been talking about since before the start of their season.

- I think we knew that pretty early on, like we knew it had been done, but I think it became more real after we signed cards and went through trial one, and now today, with all the media attention, it becomes even more real.

- [Ross] The vote would have the players join the ranks of the Local Service Employees International Union.

The labor group already represents about 500 employees working across Dartmouth's campus.

All of this coming after the National Labor Relations Board officially recognized the student athletes on the team as employees of the school, a classification Dartmouth and the NCAA have pushed back against.

The school sharing a statement, reading in part, "Classifying these students as employees simply because they play basketball is as unprecedented as it is inaccurate."

Unlike many other Division I programs, Ivy League schools like Dartmouth do not offer full athletic scholarships.

The president of the local union is celebrating the vote, saying men's basketball players at Dartmouth are treated differently than typical students because of their demanding schedules.

One goal he sees for a collective bargaining deal could be a healthcare plan.

- Well, the college doesn't cover their medical, so they can be, you know, injured bad for the rest of their life, and it's something they have to deal with.

- Overall, Division I athletics generated nearly 17 and a half billion dollars in revenue in 2022, according to a National Collegiate Athletic Association report.

The NCAA has long sought to stop students from receiving any compensation for athletics other than some scholarships and some modest stipend money.

But the Supreme Court opened the door for greater compensation for student athletes in 2021.

For this week's poll, we want to know what you think.

Should college athletes be compensated?

Jump over to our poll page to cast your vote.

You can choose between yes, they deserve to get paid, or no, they are not professional athletes.

And last week, we talked about Lake Erie, and we asked you what your favorite water activity was.

Let's check out the results of the poll.

52% of you said your favorite thing to do was go swimming.

About 29% of you said you enjoy just hanging out at the beach, 14% of you voted for fishing, and another 5% of you voted for sailing.

Sophomore wrestler Caley Graber made history in Minnesota by becoming the first female wrestler to defeat a male opponent in a state high school match.

Her impressive performance opens new doors in a sport where girls participation has quadrupled in the past three years.

Danny Spewack highlights this wrestler's career so far.

- [Caley] You know, really I love the sport.

- [Danny] Sophomore Caley Graber's climb to the varsity wrestling team at Northfield High didn't happen by accident.

- Well, I started wrestling when I was about four years old because my older brother wrestled, and yeah, from there, I just fell in love with the sport.

- [Danny] Last year, Caley won state at the girls tournament as a freshman.

- And then this year, I wasn't sure if I was gonna do girls or boys.

I really wanted to challenge myself against the boys, so decided to go for it, and it turned out pretty well.

- [Danny] That is an understatement.

- [Announcer] And from Northfield, Caley Graber.

- [Danny] Last Friday, Graber made history.

- [Cheerer] Break them down.

(spectators clapping) - By becoming the first female wrestler in Minnesota history (all cheering) to defeat a male opponent in a state high school match.

Being the first, has that sunk in yet for you?

- Yeah, it's been crazy.

Yeah, it's really, really exciting to know that I'm the first, and hopefully the first of many to come.

- [Announcer] Caley Graber.

- [Danny] Caley won two more times over the weekend.

- [Announcer] And that's gonna be the match.

- [Danny] To finish in fifth place.

- Absolutely incredible, you know?

It's just a wonderful thing to see somebody competing with their heart and soul out there.

- [Danny] Jules Doliscar coached Caley this year as an assistant.

- I think it's a great thing for girls wrestling.

I think it shows that you don't have any limits except the ones you put on yourself.

- [Danny] Caley's performance could open new doors.

- Breaking the ground for all these youth girls that are growing up in the world of wrestling.

- [Danny] Over the past three years, girls' participation in the sport has quadrupled, with more than 1,000 competing statewide this season.

- Amazing to show them that you know, we can compete with the boys, and they can do just as much as those boys can.

- Thank you, Danny.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race kicked off a week ago from Anchorage, Alaska.

The Iditarod is an annual long distance sled dog race.

It covers 1,000 miles of challenging terrain, including mountains, forests, and frozen rivers from Anchorage to Nome.

This race is considered one of the most prestigious sled dog races in the world, and tests the endurance, skill, and teamwork of mushers, or sled dog drivers, and their teams of dogs.

Beth Verge brings us their experience, - [Beth] When you're leading the pack to the Yukon.

(sled rumbling) - Welcome to Ruby.

- Thank you.

- Welcome.

- [Beth] Nearly 500 miles into the Iditarod, a 24 hour stop awaiting in Ruby.

- I'll be less tired later, me and them.

(items rustling) I've done 20.

Last year I did 24-hour in Nikolai, and that was the exact opposite of what I would have needed.

- [Beth] It's only natural that you'd want to feast.

- [Nic] I actually was wondering if there was a dinner.

- [Host] Oh yeah.

You mean at night or morning?

- I'm gonna be hungry here soon.

Here, dogs, here, dogs.

- [Beth] First, the dogs.

- [Nic] They're eating better than I've ever really had a team eat.

Like the ones that didn't want to, like that are typically poor eaters, were playing tug of war with the food.

- [Beth] And soon after, the musher.

- But never with a 24, so I have time to like hang out.

(food sizzling) - [Beth] Nic Petit, who's secured finishes as high as runner up in the Last Great Race on Earth, earning the First to the Yukon Award in 2024 for the fifth time in his Iditarod career, and the freshly prepared five course dinner to go with it.

- [Nic] Fantastic.

- [Beth] Belly's full, rest hard-earned, and a long journey still ahead.

- This is better, sorry, Grandma.

- Wow, thank you, Beth.

I wonder if Newshound has ever considered running the Iditarod?

Well, maybe all the training it takes would get in the way of his daily 15 hours of napping.

Okay, that's all the time we have for today, but you can keep the conversation going, and there are plenty of ways for you to stay in touch with us.

You can write to us.

We're at 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.

Our zip code here is 44115.

You can email us at NewsDepth@ideastream.org, plus you can catch all of our special segments on YouTube.

Hit subscribe if you're old enough so you don't miss out on any of our new videos.

Thank you for joining us, I'm Gabriel Kramer.

We'll see you right back here next week.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] "NewsDepth" is made possible by grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation.

(upbeat music continues) (bright musical tones)