5 Current Events You Should Know About This Week
In words you actually understand.
by ISABELLE BERGSTEIN
Week of 02/21/22:
Hello my avid current event readers, we’re back this week with some new interesting facts and stories you may not know about! Keep reading to stay updated on all things “in the news” :)
Sandy Hook School Shooting Settlement:
As I’m sure most of you know, the unfortunate event that took place on December 14, 2012, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School resulting in the shooting of 20 students and 6 teachers was a jarring moment for the world to watch unfold. It was the first time a shooting had taken the lives of so many young children. As the families of these children mourned, they filed a lawsuit against Remington Arms, the gunmaker of the AR-15 rifle that was used in the shooting.
These families argued that Remington Arms’ advertisements and propaganda were made to appeal to mentally unstable people, such as the shooter that day. Through persuasive arguments and an exhausting case, these 9 families won and were awarded 73 million dollars. This is the first time in US history that a gun manufacturer has taken liability for a mass shooting.
This was a huge win for affected families and students while also being a major hit to arms companies.
Eminem’s Still On Top:
On a brighter note, Eminem has just become the first artist in Spotify history to have 10 albums each with over 1.5 billion streams.
This is a huge win for the popular rap artist that just made a legendary appearance during this year’s Super Bowl halftime performance. This is also a massive success for Spotify as a streaming platform.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Diagnosis and England's Ironic Law Change:
This past Sunday, Queen Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19. The beloved Queen is 95 years old, therefore many people are concerned as to whether she will survive this infection that has taken our world by storm. She has just reached her Jubilee year, serving a grand 76 years as Queen. Prince Charles and Duchess Camila have also tested positive for COVID, proving that this disease is running through Buckingham Palace. It’s too bad The Crown doesn’t cover today’s drama because this would be one hell of a season!
Ironically, Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the UK, announced his plan to end all COVID-19 restrictions on Monday. This means that masks, social distancing, and indoor capacity restrictions will no longer be mandated by the UK government. Ironically, the fact that the royal’s COVID cases have just been announced is a clear sign that the pandemic is far from over in the UK. It will be interesting to see how this new mandate plays out and how the Queen fights against COVID-19.
LeBron James’s Retirement is Confirmed Yet Unknown:
LA Lakers player LeBron James participated in NBA All-Star Weekend this past week where he released a statement about his potential retirement. He told The Athletic that his last season will be played with his son, Bronny. He stated, “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.” (Jason Lloyd, The Athletic). This emphasizes the bond that James has with his kids and how he would do anything to experience the father-son bond on an NBA court.
Bronny is currently a junior in high school, meaning that his first season of eligibility to enter the draft would not be for 2 full seasons. If accepted into the NBA, having Bronny and his father play together would be a legendary season not just for their family, but for the sports communities that have followed LeBron’s career closely for the past 18 years.
Colombia Decriminalized Abortion:
Colombia’s Constitutional Court, the highest court in the country, has officially decriminalized abortion. This comes as a result of extensive planning, organizing, and protesting by Colombian women who want to live with more opportunities for success.
What does this mean for the everyday Colombian woman? We know that this ruling will create more access to abortions with clinics and trained doctors, but how widespread will that be? In 2019, the Colombian government reported that 68.4% of the country was living in poverty. In a country with these conditions, abortion clinics would need to be easily reached from any area. Some people can’t afford a bus ticket to get to the grocery store, never mind travel across their country to have a procedure done safely.
Although this rollout of clinics and accessibility will take a lot of work to complete and put into motion, this court ruling is a huge step in the right direction and an achievable advancement for the rights of Colombian women!
Week of 02/14/22:
A Super Bowl title wasn’t the only thing that the LA Rams won this past Sunday:
The LA Rams not only managed to bring home a Super Bowl title, but also a marriage proposal, a newborn baby, and a monumental moment for a very special family.
Immediately after winning the game, Rams safety Taylor Rapp proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Dani Johnson, right on the football field. A dream proposal like this was nothing short of breathtaking. She happily accepted, and the couple brought home not just a Super Bowl ring, but an engagement ring too!
On another happy note, Rams’ wide receiver Van Jefferson welcomed his second child just moments after their win. Multiple reports said that his wife and high school sweetheart, Samaria Jefferson was rushed to the hospital earlier in the game. The second his job was done, he skipped the on-field celebrations and went straight to the hospital to be with her. This star player became a Super Bowl champ and a father of two all in one night!
As if both of these stories weren’t enough for our hearts to melt over this team of loving men, the story of Rams’ quarterback Matthew and his wife Kelly Stafford’s journey over the past few years is noteworthy in the most heartwarming way. After getting married in 2015 and having 4 daughters, Matthew became the ultimate Kobe Bryant-inspired “girl dad.” Unfortunately in 2019, Kelly was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She soon underwent a twelve-hour surgery which was successful, however, she had to work with Matthew and a team of doctors to learn how to walk again. Matthew had to take a significant step back from his football career to spend time supporting Kelly and his family during this difficult time. Now, Kelly is in great health and the couple had an embracing hug after the game that is going viral on TikTok. A victory like this was a monumental moment for their family.
The Infamously Confusing Ukraine-Russia Border Crisis and What You Should Know:
Ok, everyone, I am well aware that this is one of those issues that is super relevant today, yet no one really knows what exactly is happening. UGirl and I are here to help! To put things simply, Russian President Vladimir Putin is in a very hostile state and wants to take over Ukraine’s government and land. Now I know this may not sound like a big deal, but if it were to happen, many innocent people could be hurt or even killed and will likely spark a war. The American government and various diplomats have talked with both Russia and Ukraine in an attempt to mediate the issue, however, they have not gotten very far. No significant moves to invade have happened yet, but we will keep a close watch and provide updates soon!
The 2022 Oscars will be hosted by 3 women… FINALLY!
The Oscars have just announced that their infamous awards ceremony will be hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes! I know many of these awards shows like the Grammys have faced accusations of discrimination against women and races. However, I think this is a move in the right direction for women everywhere!
The Mysterious Tayler Holder Situation: What we know so far.
Ok girls, let’s get real. Prior to these allegations, I’m sure we all have noticed Tayler Holder and his immense thirst trap videos all over TikTok. Currently, he is allegedly being sued over multiple allegations of sexual assault. The horrifyingly common sexual assault and rape culture in America is a conversation for another time, but for now, let’s get this backstory straight: over the past two weeks, everyone in Holder’s social circle has unfollowed him on all platforms, including best friends Bryce Hall and the Mian twins. Clearly entering panic mode, Holder went on the BFF’s Podcast to clear the air, except the only thing that was clear was how awkward this interaction was. Since then, he has apparently sent out cease and desist letters to everyone close to him. No one is allowed to speak on these allegations legally as a result, therefore we are not sure what the current legal update is with Holder himself.
Who Won the Super Bowl? Maddy or Cassie? Our opinions on their behavior.
This Maddy Cassie Nate drama is the most iconic love triangle since the Twilight series and it seems to be taking our generation by storm. I’m sure everyone went into last night’s episode expecting Maddy to not only cause a public uproar but potentially multiple murders as well. However, acting in accordance with her constant unbothered attitude and bad bitch energy, Maddy stayed silent while Cassie nearly went off the deep end in a manic episode that lasted days. In my opinion, Nate seems to be the issue in all of this. If you were to remove him, the drama would eventually resolve and the waters would calm. How do you guys feel about this? Do you feel bad for Cassie or Maddy? Or both? Do we think Nate’s “f*cked up-ness” as his mother calls it, is irreversible? We’ll be back next week to discuss the newest episode! Kisses <3