A lot has happened in the world over the past week. Let’s catch up on the major news headlines:
Rosalynn Carter Passes Away
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter passed away at the age of 96 on Nov. 19. Carter served as the first lady from 1977 to 1981, and during this time, made it her mission to fight mental health stigmas in the U.S. Her efforts to destigmatize mental illness lead to the President’s Commission on Mental Health that she chaired.
After former President Jimmy Carter’s time in office, he and Rosalynn continued working on humanitarian projects, such as starting their own non-profit human rights and world peace organization called the Carter Center. Many are still mourning the former first lady as her funeral was held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Georgia.
Fan Dies at Taylor Swift Concert
A 23-year-old Taylor Swift fan began feeling unwell at the Eras Tour concert in southern Brazil on Nov. 17 and later passed away. According to NPR, Ana Clara Benevides Machado went into cardiac arrest at the venue and received medical attention on site before being transported to a hospital, where she later died. The death is attributed to southern Brazil’s heatwaves that grew to insufferable temperatures.
Bomb Threat at American Dream Mall on Black Friday
This year’s Black Friday saw a bomb threat to the American Dream mall, forcing customers to evacuate the building briefly. Police received a tip about a bomb in the building shortly after the mall’s 7 a.m. opening. Authorities brought in K-9 units and thoroughly searched the mall but found nothing to substantiate the threat. The retail space opened back up to customers and employees around 9 a.m., and an investigation is still pending.
Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison
This past Tuesday, Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to 27 years in prison for financial crimes, on top of his two life sentences for murdering his family. The ill-famed lawyer has been making headlines for months as clients come out about his mistreatment and embezzlement. Murdaugh’s 27-year sentence is a result of approximately 100 instances of fraud. Murdaugh and his legal team are filing for a retrial of his murder case in an attempt to shorten his sentence, according to the Washington Post.
Cantaloupe Sales Have Been Linked to U.S. Salmonella Outbreaks
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a food safety report this past Friday that warned about salmonella in whole and cut cantaloupe. According to ABC News, the CDC reported 99 illnesses, 45 hospitalizations, and two deaths connected to the outbreak across 32 U.S. states. The observed illnesses associated with this were reported between Oct. 17 and Nov. 10, but many more people might have been and may continue to be affected by this strain.
Thanksgiving Travelers Break Records
This holiday season is expected to be the busiest for air and land transportation. This past week, being the week of Thanksgiving, saw a record-breaking amount of air travelers attempting to make it home for the holidays. NBC News cites Flightaware.com, which reported at least 312 cancellations and 6,000 delays, all before 5 a.m. on Thursday.
The Federal Aviation Administration also set out to remind travelers that delays and cancellations aren’t in the control of the flight staff and to be kind to them. A major component of their approach is raising awareness of the zero-tolerance policy that allows legal action to be taken against passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate and attempt to interfere with any airline crew members.
jhammer@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @Theonion, X
