Media Quiz #4

     

LOCAL NEWS

The Magnolia School District has been recognized for a second time as a “Gold Level” Reading Initiative for Student Excellence (RISE) Community by the Arkansas Department of Education. The department cites communities where learning opportunities abound with school-community partnerships that focus on building a reading culture for students, families, and the community. Because of outstanding school/community collaboration, the Arkansas Department of Education recently recognized Magnolia as a two-time “Gold Level” recipient.  Magnolia schools first two-time Gold Level winner of RISE Community designation | Public & Private Schools | magnoliareporter.com

Southern Arkansas University is honored to host the prestigious Smithsonian traveling exhibit, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” as it unveils its grand opening at noon Saturday. The exhibit is being displayed at SAU Beyond the Campus, on the west side of the Courthouse Square in Magnolia. Southern Arkansas University to host grand opening for Smithsonian's Voices and Voters exhibit | Education | magnoliareporter.com 

STATE NEWS 

Eighteen individuals from Texas accused of stealing close to $1.6 million worth of narcotics from numerous pharmacies in Arkansas were arrested in Houston on Nov. 28, 2023, following an indictment returned in the Eastern District of Arkansas.18 people arrested, accused of stealing $1.5M worth of narcotics from pharmacies in Ark | KATV

The Arkansas prison seminary program is growing. It's gotten so much traction that a new building is in the works at the Varner Unit in Lincoln County with enough space for 100 students. It's a new home for Arkansas inmates turning over a new leaf. Arkansas prison seminary program expanding, aims to help with culture, recidivism | KATV

NATIONAL NEWS 

 A Chicago man who spent 35 years behind bars for a murder he didn't commit was freed Tuesday after a judge vacated his conviction and dismissed all charges. Brian Beals, 57, struggled to find the right words to describe his feelings as he stood outside Robinson Correctional Center in Crawford County, some 210 miles (338 kilometers) south of Chicago, and embraced his sister and niece. "Relief, happiness, it was just amazing to walk out of there," he told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "I'm ready to begin life again."  Judge vacates murder conviction of Chicago man wrongfully jailed for 35 years : NPR

 

Federal automobile regulators say they've taken the first step toward making technology that prevents drunk and impaired driving standards in new cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday that such technology could help end a problem that kills thousands of people in the U.S. each year. NHTSA starts work on rule that could require new cars to detect drunk drivers : NPR

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Dozens of people have been injured in a wave of missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight, authorities say. Fifty-three people were hurt in the attacks, including six children, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Kindergarten and hospital buildings were reportedly damaged by debris as authorities said 10 Russian ballistic missiles had been shot down. Ukraine war: Dozens wounded in Russian missile strikes on Kyiv (bbc.com) 

Scientists say they have discovered why some women become extremely sick during pregnancy, bringing them one step closer to a potential cure. Babies produce a hormone that can cause severe sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), according to a study. Exposure to the GDF15 hormone ahead of pregnancy could be a new treatment. Hyperemesis: Scientists make pregnancy sickness cure breakthrough (bbc.com)

SPORTS NEWS 

 Shohei Ohtani agreed Saturday to a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal was announced after days of speculation over where the unique, two-way star would continue his career after six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Shohei Ohtani agrees to record $700M, 10-year Dodgers contract : NPR

Quarterback Joe Burrow will miss the remainder of the season after tearing a ligament in his right wrist during Thursday night’s 34-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Joe Burrow ruled out for season as NFL investigates how Bengals reported the quarterback’s injury | CNN 

POP CULTURE NEWS 

Oprah Winfrey’s striking weight loss has led to speculation she’s been using a weight-loss drug like Wegovy, or a diabetes drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro, which are known to induce weight loss. Now, the talk show host has confirmed that’s the case. Oprah Winfrey Reveals She Uses Weight Loss Drug To Maintain Weight (today.com)

In recent years, the traditional college course has experienced a significant cultural shift. In less than two years, Swift has become a popular subject at various colleges and universities, where students are learning about her songwriting and lyricism. Most notably, Harvard is set to launch a spring course called, “Taylor Swift and Her World,” in which students will get to study Swift alongside the famous works of contemporary literature like William Wordsworth and Shakespeare. Professors Explain Why Taylor Swift College Courses Keep Popping Up (today.com)

WEIRD NEWS 

Loads dressed as jolly Old St. Nick descended on New York City for the annual SantaCon charity pub crawl on Saturday. The booze-fueled stroll, which included no shortage of Grinches, elves and other Christmas-themed costumes, kicked off at 10 a.m. in bars and clubs in midtown Manhattan. Revelers were expected to make their way downtown where the festivities end at 8 p.m. in local watering holes in the East Village. Thousands descend on NYC for the annual Santa-themed bar crawl SantaCon | AP News

 An extremely rare white leucistic alligator has been born at a Florida reptile park. The 19.2-inch (49 cm) female slithered out of its shell and into the history books as one of a few known leucistic alligators, Gatorland Orlando said Thursday. Extremely rare white alligator is born at a Florida reptile park | AP News 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

Joe Burrow celebrated his birthday on December 10th when he was given a cupcake. Burrow later posted a picture on Instagram and captioned it "learn to love discomfort."