JANUARY 2022 NEWS RECAP
Local News:
Lexington Hosts MLK Day of Service
On January 17, 2022, Lexington hosted a series of events centered around racial awareness. In the morning, the Lexington Human Rights Committee worked alongside MLK Day Community Conversation on Race Organizing Team to organize a community conversation about creating a racially inclusive curriculum. The discussion saw hundreds of participants across age ranges. Other events included a unity parade in Lexington center, a variety of interactive Zoom presentations, and several volunteer activities.
Blizzard Hits Lexington Amassing 2 feet of Snow
In late January, Lexington saw a winter storm with snowfall totalling two feet tall. In addition to blanketing Lexington with snow, the cold temperatures secured the Old Reservoir as a popular recreation spot on the weekend of January 28. Children could be found skating, playing ice hockey, or simply sliding across the lake.
Minuteman High School’s New Superintendent: Kathleen Dawson
Ed Bouquillon, the longtime superintendent of Lexington’s vocational high school, recently announced his retirement. This prompted Minuteman to begin its national search for a new superintendent. Kathleen Dawson, deputy superintendent of Orange County Schools in North Carolina, emerged as a viable candidate. On January 26, she was selected from a pool of qualified candidates. Dawson expects to take over at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Big Headlines:
Russia-Ukraine Crisis
Relations between Russia and Ukraine have long been strained. Throughout January, heightened tensions between the countries saw rapid Russian military buildup along the border. A Russian invasion seems imminent with the Biden Administration preparing for action. Russia’s plans for a military offensive invasion have prompted other countries to get involved, with Canada offering $120 million to Ukraine with the purpose of strengthening the economy, in addition to defensive reinforcements.
Honduras’ First Female President: Xiomara Castro
On January 27, Honduras saw the inauguration of its first female president. Xiomara Castro’s election marks the end of Juan Orlando Hernandez's eight-year term. A democratic socialist, Castro champions social mobility and campaigns for abortion access. Vice President Kamala Harris, tasked with overseeing migration from the US southern border, attended Castro’s inauguration and announced plans to collaborate with Honduras going forward.
Politics:
Supreme Court Blocks Vaccine Mandate
The Biden Administration's proposal for a vaccine mandate was shot down by the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) on the basis that the OSHA does not have the agency to “regulate public health.” The mandate entailed strict regulations on large private entities requiring that employees either be vaccinated or regularly tested for the virus. Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, many employers have opted to keep the mandate.
Anniversary of January 6 Capitol Insurrection
On the one-year anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attacks, the nation witnessed widespread grief and remembrance of the event. A number of activist groups joined together for a January 6th Day of Remembrance and Action. They advocated for voting rights legislation hoping to promote America’s value of democracy and work to protect it. The anniversary saw responses from those across the aisle as well, many calling for celebration. Though former President Trump ultimately canceled his conference, in late January he announced his plan to pardon the Jan 6 offenders. News pertinent to the 2021 insurrection was also released this month, with the SCOTUS allowing the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack access to the Trump documents.
Justice Breyer’s Retirement from the Supreme Court
Justice Stephan Breyer, one of the three liberal judges in the SCOTUS, announced his plan to retire at the end of the current term. As the court’s oldest member, Breyer’s retirement was long expected, and even pressured by several progressive groups advocating for Biden’s new appointment. On his campaign trail, Biden promised to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Breyer’s retirement sets the stage for Biden’s appointment.
Culture & Entertainment:
Rihanna and ASAP Rocky are Expecting a Child
Rihanna is pregnant with her first baby with rapper A$AP Rocky. She was photographed in New York City, and displayed her baby bump in a long pink jacket. She has yet to announce her pregnancy formally on social media.
Tom Brady’s Upcoming Retirement
After 22 seasons in the NFL and seven Super Bowl titles, Tom Brady’s retirement is fast approaching. Brady responded to rumors explaining that he is still “going through that process”, but sources suggest that his age, health, coupled with his family, are the primary reasons for speculation concerning retirement. Initially, Brady did not put forth a formal statement, instead shifting focus to the upcoming Super Bowl in February. In the final week of January, he confirmed his eventual retirement after this football season.
Encanto’s Viral Hit: We Don’t Talk About Bruno
Despite releasing in November, Disney’s Encanto received immense recognition this January. The soundtrack hit No. 1 for the third time, ending Adele’s 10-week streak for her first single since 2015: Easy on Me”. This sudden popularity has sparked rumors about whether Encanto will see a sequel in the coming years.
Super Bowl Halftime Show Performers
The 56th Super Bowl will feature a variety of artists such as Snoop Dog, Eminem, Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar. The Halftime Show trailer amassed 11 million views and the public was largely in support, but there has been backlash about the unpaid volunteers in the audience. These volunteers, many of which are trained dancers, fill up the football field during the half-time show and participate in the rehearsals. Recently, many have united alongside established dancers to protest their unpaid participation. A response from the NFL is likely.
by RIA VASISHTHA