Here’s some Newshiglights from political to pop culture.
1) The Intense Polar Vortex
This past week, the country has been plagued by a polar vortex. A polar vortex is when there is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. Currently, the vortex’s main target is the mid-west where states like Illinois have faced temperatures as low as -38 degrees. There have been 21 deaths related to the extreme cold including one University of Iowa. The targets next victim- the East Coast. So bundle up because we are in for even colder weather!
2) Speaker of Rebuttal Speech Announced
The Democrats rebuttal to the State of the Union will be given by Stacey Abrams. She is 45-years-old, and she was a candidate for Georgia’s governor race. She lost very narrowly and this made waves in the news. She has electrified the party, and is expected to deliver a very rousing speech. She is the first non-sitting public official and the first black woman to deliver the rebuttal. Want to hear from hear before the speech? Tune into the Super Bowl to see her 30 second advertisement for her organization, Fair Fight Action. The State of the Union will be delivered on February 5 at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
3) Black History Month
February marks the beginning of Black History Month. To honor it, Politicians of all races have been tweeting out their support for hero’s who went without recognition- such as Fannie Lou Halmer, a civil right activist who rallied for women’s rights, voting rights, workers’ rights, and the end to illegal segregation, all while undergoing violence – and known ones such as MLK Jr., Rosa Parks, and Thurgood Marshall. Snapchat and Twitter have also made their support know by creating filters and hashtags.
4) Sorrow in Seoul
Kim Bok-dong Died this past Monday at the age of 92 in Seoul, South Korea. She was a former sex slave for the Japanese military during World War II. She was important because she helped bring international attention to the suffering of women in similar positions as her.
5) Have an Hour and 40 Minutes to spare?
Shane Dawson, known for his enthralling YouTube docu-series just released his newest
segment- Conspiracy Theories. In the first part, he talks about four conspiracy theories. His next part is set to come out February 8, so if you haven’t watched it already you have time to catch up!