FEBRUARY 2022 NEWS RECAP
Local News
Police Shooting at Lexington Halfway House
On February 12, a knife-wielding man was shot by the Lexington police. The man lived in the Halfway House—a mental health facility in Lexington—on Hancock St. A jogger reportedly heard screams for help from inside the house and called the police. When the police arrived, the man stood outside with a knife in hand. Despite attempts to disarm the man, he continued to get back up. When he advanced on a fallen officer, one officer opened fire, fatally striking the man. The man’s death gained widespread attention and enabled discussions about the role of the police and police training. As the investigation continues, more information is expected to be released.
Massachusetts Plans on Lifting Mask Mandate–Lexington Pushback
Governor Baker announced a lift to the mask mandate at the end of February in order to improve the learning experience for students. Given the downward trend in cases and increased access to vaccines and COVID-19 tests, he does not predict a spike in cases. Lexington Public Schools, like other school districts, hope to keep masks on for the first few weeks of March. Many parents and faculty alike worry about the spread of COVID-19 after February break because of traveling.
Big Headlines
Putin Invades Ukraine
Throughout February, Putin ordered troops to the border of Ukraine. Countries like the US attempted to mediate the conflict, but the window for diplomacy narrowed as time went by. On February 22, NATO countries implemented economic sanctions on Russia, aiming to deprive Russia of the resources and capacity to invade. Many of the sanctions target Russia’s elite, acting under the assumption that Putin is driven by the interests of the Russian elite. These sanctions have been used as a tool even after Russia began its invasion into Ukraine. In the last week of February, Putin began his invasion, launching missile strikes and commanding troops to move inwards. Russian artillery has taken the roads in Ukraine which has seen the early signs of a refugee crisis. The international community has used sanctions and condemnation of Putin rather than a military approach, fearing that they might ignite a war. Putin has put nuclear forces on high alert in recent days. As the fighting intensifies, talks of Ukraine joining the EU have also been proposed as a potential solution.
Culture and Entertainment
Kanye West’s Instagram Posts Target Ex-Kim Kardashian & Pete Davidson
Kanye West, also known as Ye, has taken to Instagram to express anger and frustration with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, who filed for divorce in January. West has posted multiple times a day, showing private message conversations, paparazzi photos of Kardashian and new boyfriend Pete Davidson, and photoshopped images of “Skete” (Pete Davidson). Kardashian has expressed concern for her safety and the safety of Davidson. Ye has gone to the lengths of bribing SNL hosts so they do not perform with Davidson.
Super Bowl Recap: The Game & Halftime Show
The Super Bowl ended with a 23:20 score between the Rams and Bengals. Aside from the game, the halftime show gained enormous attention, featuring 5 performers in addition to a surprise appearance from 50 Cent. The show’s setlist included “The Next Episode”, “Alright”, “Lose Yourself”, and “Still D.R.E.”
Netflix Inventing Anna Series is a Hit
Con artist Anna Delvey’s story about how she assimilated into the world of the New York elite has taken the internet by a storm. Netflix paid Delvey $300,000 for Inventing Anna, a 9-episode Netflix series that topped Netflix’s charts. The story of the “fake heiress” explores her background and the experiences of her friends who paid for her expenses for years on hand. While Delvey has received immense support and publicity from the show, with TikTok calling her a “girlboss,” the show has been criticized for downplaying Delvey’s victims and glamorizing scammers. Delvey has since gained a huge following, captioning her bio on Instagram “Reinventing Anna.”