Global
‘Mini Moon’ Moves Away
On Nov. 9, AP News reported that Earth will be moving on from an asteroid that has been tagging along with Earth’s orbit for two months. The rock, which is expected to re-emerge briefly in January, is presumed to have been picked up by the gravity of the Sun, hence its departure from Earth’s rotation. Even though it was never classified as a moon, NASA mentioned it as an object of interest after its discovery in August. In 2055, NASA predicts the object will once again begin a temporary, partial lap.
South Korea Moots Martial Law
On Dec. 3, the president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, made an overnight decision to impose martial law by putting military forces in the streets of Seoul, according to AP News. The decision came in a television address and cited concerns over North Korean communist forces and anti-state threats, the Center for Strategic and International Studies announced. The action was heavily opposed by many lawmakers, with it eventually being recalled by the Korean parliament, CNN reported. Yeol now faces scrutiny for his decision with some now calling for his resignation or impeachment.
Namibia Elects First Female President
On Dec. 3, according to AP News, Namibia announced Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will be its next president, making her the first female leader the country has had. The election, which has drawn concerns from many opposition parties, was extended three days due to glitches and ballot concerns. Nandi-Ndaitwah, from the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) party, won with 57% of the vote. She will now be the second female president in Africa currently.
National:
Trump Takes Term Two
On Nov. 6, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, was named the 47th president after winning the popular vote, every swing state, and the electoral college with a total of 312 against Democratic nominee Harris with 226. Trump will be the second president in U.S. history to be elected in two non-consecutive terms following Grover Cleveland’s win as the 22nd and 24th president. Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 election after running for re-election after his win in 2016 over then-Democratic nominee Hilary Clinton. Trump has started the process of selecting his cabinet members and will take office after inauguration day on Monday, Jan. 20th.
The Onion Owns Infowars
On Nov. 14, the Onion, a satirical news parody website, won the auction for the conspiracy company Infowars, founded by Alex Jones. Jones, a notorious conspiracist well-known for his denial views of Sandy Hook, was sued by the victims’ families for his assets, AP news reported. The Onion aims to use the website as a medium to reach audiences disturbed by Jones’ views, according to the New York Times (NYT). The bid, which the families sanctioned, agreed that the Onion owning the site would bring some relief.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
On Nov. 28, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrated its 100-year anniversary as it marched down downtown New York City. The parade, which has been broadcasted on NBC, has been held 98 times, after taking a two-year intermission between 1942 and 1944 due to supply needs during World War II, according to Business Insider.
State
Trump Uses Texas Land for Immigration
On Nov. 26, the Texas Tribune reported members of the Trump administration meeting with Texas officials in the Rio Grande Valley to discuss land use for mass deportation facilities. The 1,402-acre ranch named Starr County is now a construction site for the expanding border wall. Dawn Buckingham, the Texas Land Commissioner, offered the land to the Trump administration for the project dubbed “Jocelyn’s Initiative” after Jocelyn Nungaray, a girl from Texas who was allegedly killed by illegal immigrants. According to NBC, the property would only be used in the case of a national emergency, thus diverting funds to help build the necessary infrastructure.
Extreme Weather Irks ERCOT
On Dec. 3, ERCOT warned of both a warmer winter and high chances of an extremely cold winter. Chief Meteorologist at ERCOT Chris Coleman warns of similar winter weather patterns to those in 2021, where winter storm Uri left millions of Texans around the state without power. However, ERCOT is still in a better place than it was during Uri as weatherization initiatives to protect the grid have been put into place, according to the Texas Tribune.
Local
Turkey Trot Reaches Record Numbers
On Nov. 28, the ThunderCloud Turkey Trot, one of Austin’s hallmark Thanksgiving traditions, reached record-high numbers with KXAN reporting over 21,000 runners. The tradition, which just reached its 34th year, has been growing steadily since its start in 1991, according to ThunderCloud. The trot starts at the Long Center and runs through downtown Austin. The run, held annually on Thanksgiving Thursday, benefits Caritas of Austin, a local nonprofit helping the homeless population in the Greater Austin area, according to KXAN.
