Picture this... you're walking home alone late at night. You're nervous about making it back home to your dorm or apartment after a late night out. Now there may be a way to calm your fears... and its an app? In a time where there's an app for pretty much everything, Kitestring answers the call for safety in potentially dangerous situation. It's an SMS based app that alerts your emergency contacts if you don't make it home. Kitestring's founder Stephan Boyer told us more on this morning's edition of Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call.

Kitestring app makes traveling alone late at night safe

A new study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control finds that alcohol accounts for one in 10 working age deaths nationwide. 

Binge-drinking, partying, frequent cocktails and drinking alone all have played into the complicated mosaic that defines Americans' relationship with alcohol. 

Dr Robert Brewer, co-author of the study and head of the alcohol program for the National Centers for Disease Control, came on Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call to discuss the study's findings and elaborate on it's dangerous implications. 

Study: 1 in 10 working age deaths related to alcohol

Almost a third of the world is now fat, and no country has been able to curb obesity rates in the last three decades, according to a new global analysis.

Hofstra University professor of nutrition Paola Puig sheds a light on how 2 billion people worldwide are losing the battle of the bulge. 

30 percent of the world is now fat, no country fit to fight battle of the bulge

Hofstra University is joining the growing ranks of campuses across the country that are making the SAT and ACT optional, rather than requiring students to submit scores from those admissions tests when they apply.

The school's admissions officials will continue to focus on students' high school academic records, as they have in the past.

The university came to this decision after several years of discussions among admissions officers, faculty and other campus officials. 

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director at FairTest: National Center for Fair and Open Testing, was a part of these talks. He called in to Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call to analyze what this decision means for future Hofstra students. 


Hofstra set to make SAT/ACT optional starting in 2015

At last count, over 57,000 Central American children have come to the United States since the start of the year, according to USA Today. That number is expected to grow to over 90,000 by the time the year is out.

With Border Patrol overwhelmed with processing the unaccompanied minors, President Barack Obama has asked Congress for nearly $4 billion to respond to the situation. 

The question on many people's minds are why are these children here, and what can be done about this 'humanitarian crisis' as the president calls it. 

Layla Razavi, regional advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, weighed in on Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call. 


ACLU insight into the Central American immigrant wave

On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision taht the government cannot require certain employers to provide insurance coverage for birth control if they conflict with the employer's religious beliefs.  

The decision has sparked a national debate over women's rights, contraception and health care, not to mention religion. 

Cristina Page, a consultant for the Institute of Reproductive Health Access and the author of How the Pro-choice Movement Saved America, tells Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call about the dangerous precedent set by the ruling. 





Feminist author: Hobby Lobby ruling sets dangerous precedent

House Speaker John Boehner's lawsuit against President Barack Obama has passed the House Rules Committee. Next stop, floor vote? 

With Congress' August recess right around the corner, many are wondering what will happen next. 

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has already called for impeachment, but she shouldn't hold her breath according to Meenekshi Bose, professor of political science and Director of Hofstra University’s Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency.

Bose breaks down the possible abuses of presidential power in this segment from this mornings edition of Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call. 

Boehner lawsuit a 'sincere' complaint in contentious Congress, though impeachment unlikely

Nassau County District Attorney and congressional hopeful Kathleen Rice returned from a three-day trip to Israel last week where she met with leading economic and national security experts, local business owners, and community leaders and families with strong ties to Nassau County's Jewish community. 

"I think Israel is our most critical ally," said Rice in an interview with Hofstra's Morning Wake Up Call. "It's important for us as Americans to support them."

Here's her full interview with HMWC's Brianna Borresen and Neil A. Carousso. 

DA Rice: Israel our 'most critical ally'

Following last week's interview with Nassau DA and democratic candidate for the fourth Congressional district Kathleen Rice, we invited republican candidate Bruce Blakeman on the program. 

Blakeman called for transparency regarding Rice's role as a co-commissioner of the Moreland Commission and strong support of Israel in the Gaza conflict. 

He estimates that he's the better choice for Carolyn McCarthy's vacated seat in the House because of his experiences in both business and the local legislature.

Decide for yourself! Take a listen.  

briannaborresen