Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
absolutvision WYd PkCa1BY unsplash?width=719&height=464&fit=crop&auto=webp
absolutvision WYd PkCa1BY unsplash?width=398&height=256&fit=crop&auto=webp
/ Unsplash
Culture > News

HC Wake-Up Call: Obama to Report for Jury Duty, Mississippi Students Can Read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ With Parents’ Permission & Whole Foods’ Mac & Cheese Bar

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Obama Is Just Like Us, Even When It Comes to Jury Duty​

Former President Barack Obama is technically just an ordinary citizen now, and even ordinary citizens have to report for jury duty. The New York Times reports that Obama has been summoned for duty in Illinois and that, according to a court official, he will attend the session. He’s expected to appear in November with proper security present before being evaluated to serve as juror in a civil or criminal trial. While former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were ruled out as jurors after being called forward in the past, Obama’s beloved status in Chicago could mean he has a “real possibility” of serving. Just imagine how fun jury duty could be with him at your side!

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Is Restored to Mississippi School Reading List After Being Removed

After removing To Kill a Mockingbird as required reading for eighth graders in a Mississippi school district, the Biloxi public school board has ruled that students will be allowed to read the classic novel if their parents give them permission. The New York Times says that following the massive outcry about the book’s removal, interested eighth grade students will have the option to join an in-depth discussion about To Kill a Mockingbird with English teachers. Biloxi School Board vice president Kenny Holloway said that the story was originally removed from the curriculum because some of its language “makes people uncomfortable.” 

A Denver Whole Foods Will Launch a Self-Serve Mac-and-Cheese Bar​

Whole Foods is already one of the greatest places on Earth, and one of its Denver locations may just become a heaven on Earth. On November 15, Whole Foods will open a new Union Station location that comes equipped with the chain’s first self-serve, mac and cheese station. Um, yes please! While the store will also feature a poke bar and a 100-pound tower of cheese, its mac and cheese bar will include the traditional dish, pulled pork BBQ mac and cheese, roasted tomato mac and cheese and a vegan version of mac and cheese. Time to visit Denver!

What to look out for…

Halloween isn’t until tomorrow, but we know that you’ve already been celebrating all weekend anyway. Extend the party spirit by indulging in National Candy Corn Day.

Kristen Perrone is a Siena College Class of 2018 alumna. She studied English during her time at Siena.