SUMMER 2022 NEWS RECAP

Local News

Maura Healey Becomes the Democratic Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts

Maura Healey, current attorney general of Massachsusetts, secured the democratic nominee for governor over Massachusetts State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz. Healey is also the favorite for the general election in November. Additionally, Healey’s preferred successor for attorney general, Andrea Campbell, also won the Democratic primary. 

Big Headlines

War in Ukraine Continues

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February earlier this year, the ongoing war between the two neighboring countries has only escalated. In total, it has displaced more than 14M people, led to over 30,000 casualties, and resulted in over $350B in property damage. Recently, Russia formally announced its annexation of four more territories in eastern Ukraine, drawing criticism from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterre who fears that the annexation will only increase war tensions.

Derek Chauvin Sentenced to 21 years in Federal Prison for the Murder of George Floyd

George Floyd's death in 2020 erupted mass protests nation-wide and this summer, Derek Chavin, Floyd's killer, was sentenced to 22.5 years in state prison. Chauvin's bid to vacate his convictions have been met with public distrust in the system and its convictions of cops in assault cases.

Queen Elizabeth II Dies of Old Age at 96

Britain's longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died on September 8th at Balmoral Castle, according to CNN. Following the Queen’s death, her eldest son, King Charles III, ascended to the throne and Operation London Bridge, a set of plans arranged for her funeral, was set into motion.  The Queen’s body was sent to Edinburgh before being transported back to London for the state funeral on the 19th.  

Monkeypox Outbreak Slows Down as Vaccination Stocks Increase

While the monkeypox virus has affected over 25,000 Americans since the global outbreak in early May, the infection rate has slowed down over the past few weeks due to an increasing supply of vaccinations. The CDC has expanded the approval of Tpoxx, an FDA-approved drug commonly used for smallpox, to combat the monkeypox outbreak while the U.S. Department of Defense is stocking up on vaccinations.

Dr. Fauci Will Step Down From Current Role

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden, will be stepping down from his government role at the end of 2022. He will also be leaving his position as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which he has held for the past 38 years. He will be devoting his time now to traveling, writing, and inspiring a new generation of scientists.

Politics

Protests in Iran

Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old girl, was murdered in Iran for breaking the dress code. In Iran, women are required to dress modestly. The Morality Police, Tehran’s Guidance Patrol, is tasked to enforce this policy and reportedly beat Amini for not wearing her headscarf properly. In response, thousands have begun protesting against the Morality Police. The Iranian government has denied she died from physical abuse, claiming a heart attack, and cracked down on protesters with tear gas, batons, etc. There was also an ordered blackout of internet use for one day.

Kentaji Brown Sworn into SCOTUS

At the end of June, Kentaji Brown Jackson was sworn in as the 116th Supreme Court justice, serving as the first Black woman on the high court. As part of his campaign, Biden promised to nominate a Black woman and announced Jackson in February. In April, the Senate voted Jackson in with a 53 to 47 vote.

Culture

Ned Fulmer leaves the Try Guys

Ned Fulmer, a video content creator, left the Try Guys after admitting to having an extramarital affair with one of his producers. The Try Guys is a popular Youtube Channel that was originally a part of Buzzfeed, before they left to start their own company in 2018. The affair especially came as a shock for longtime fans of the Try Guys, who may remember Fulmer for excessively mentioning his wife, Ariel, in videos. Following the scandal, Fulmer came out with a statement on instagram, apologizing for his “consensual workplace relationship” and promising to focus his attention on his marriage and kids. The Try Guys’ instagram also announced that Fulmer would be leaving the group after the incident.  

Taylor Swift Announces Tenth Studio Album, Midnights

Taylor Swift surprised fans at the MTV Video Music Awards when she announced that she will be releasing an album on Oct. 21 during her acceptance speech for video of the year. That night, Taylor announced her tenth studio album, Midnights, which will be a completely new album (unlike her rerecordings). The album consists of 13 tracks to represent 13 sleepless nights of her life, and Swift has been slowly revealing the track titles through her TikTok. Titles revealed so far include  “Vigilante Sh*t,” “Question…?” “Midnight Rain,” “Maroon,” and “Mastermind.” 

Rihanna to Perform at the 2023 SuperBowl

Rihanna revealed to fans that she will be headlining the SuperBowl halftime show on Feb. 12 in Arizona. It is possible that it could be a solo show, as Rihanna hasn’t picked a guest performer yet, although that could change. 

Celtics Lose 2022 NBA Finals

After a remarkable season filled with overwhelming triumphs, the Boston Celtics keep their head high as they reflect on their 2021-2022 season. The Celtics' season came to an end on June 17 after losing to the Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard: Trial Updates

After a six-week court battle in the summer, Johnny Depp won his high-profile defamation case against Amber Heard. The jury awarded $15 million to Depp, out of which he received $10.35 because of a local cap on punitive damages, and $2 million to Heard for her counterclaim. In the aftermath of the trial, the judge rejected Heard’s motion for a mistrial. The entire case made national headlines, with the general public choosing to vouch for Depp.

Emmy’s Highlights

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Kenan Thompson took place on September 12th. A few of the night’s biggest highlights include: Succession winning Outstanding Drama Series, Zendaya winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in Euphoria, and Lee Jung-jae winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Squid Game. 

Wholesome News

NASA Crashed an Aircraft into an Asteroid (On Purpose) 

Recently, NASA crashed into an asteroid with its spacecraft, DART, which was launched ten months ago in California. The $330 million project has life-saving implications for the future: deflecting harmful asteroids from crashing onto Earth and causing mass destruction. 

by ANIKA BASU, VIDULA MANNEM, & RIA VASISHTHA