Tragic South Korean Plane Crash Takes the Lives of 179, Only 2 Survivors

Following the political discourse that has affected South Korea in the past several months, a tragedy has struck the nation. Last week, a passenger jet flying from Bangkok crashed in South Korea, killing all but two crew members aboard. Reports say the pilot of the airplane announced prior to the crash that a bird had struck the plane, and an emergency landing would be employed. Unfortunately, the plane’s landing gear did not work properly, and the aircraft crashed. Two of the passengers were Thai citizens, and the rest residents of South Korea. Acting President, Choi Sang-mok, addressed the country following the crash, only two days into his term after his predecessor’s impeachment. He has declared a seven-day period of national mourning for those killed and their families. As authorities attempt to recover and identify the bodies, loved ones currently fill Muan International Airport, waiting to receive news. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of U.S. investigators from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration to help South Korea’s team. A memorial  altar for those who lost their lives has been placed within Muan Airport. 

 

Former President Jimmy Carter Dies at Age 100

Former President Jimmy Carter, who started as a humble peanut farmer in rural Georgia, has passed away at the age of 100. He was the oldest president to have ever lived, and leaves behind a large family and a larger legacy. While he left the White House after only one term with negative public reception, Carter pivoted his post-administration life to philanthropy and helping others. Along with his wife, Rosylnn, who he had been married to for 77 years, he created the Carter Center, an organization formed to expand human rights throughout the world. Working with Nelson Mandela, Carter also formed The Elders, a group of global leaders focused on world peace. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian work, making him only the third American president to receive such an award. While many may remember Carter for his presidency’s economic and international crises, even more remember the generous and modest man that committed decades to doing good for others. Jimmy Carter’s state funeral will be held on January 9th in Washington DC, with the stock exchange and other organizations closing its doors for the occasion in his honor. 

 

New York State to Raise Minimum Wage

With inflation as an ever-present issue in the lives of Americans, many are living paycheck to paycheck. The federal minimum wage, which still sits at $7.25 an hour, is often not enough for American adults to care for their families. New York State has continually increased their minimum wage, and will be doing so again in the new year. Throughout the state, the minimum wage will be increased by 50 cents, meaning it will become $16.50 in NYC, Long Island, and Westchester, and $15.50 for all other counties. The federal minimum wage has been unchanged since 2009, while New York has grown continuously over the past decade. 

 

NYPD Chief of Department Resigns After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey has resigned after allegations against him have come to light. Lieutenant Quathisha Epps, an administrative worker in Maddrey’s department, filed a complaint with the city alleging Maddrey performed a quid pro quo exchange of sexual favors for Epps to receive more overtime. Maddrey submitted his resignation to new Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who accepted. Several other accusations have been leveled against Maddrey, including one police captain who says he sexually harassed her incessantly over years. While the Commissioner’s office is investigating the allegations, they have moved several heads of departments and inspectors within the NYPD. Among these are the heads of the Internal Affairs Bureau and six members of Maddrey’s office. “The NYPD works tirelessly to protect New Yorkers, and these roles are critical to keeping our communities safe,” Tisch said in her statement. “The interim Chiefs of Department and Patrol will continue to lead the efforts to reduce crime and disorder and build public trust,” Tisch said. 

 

Violent Tornadoes Cause Fatalities in the South

A severe weather event has caused destruction throughout the American South. At least four people have been declared dead throughout the region, with large scale destruction of communities. A series of tornadoes have ravaged across seven states, with as many as 44 tornadoes having been reported. One church in Mississippi was hit especially hard, with the structure completely destroyed. This will be the second time a tornado has ripped its way through the church in 90 years, the last time back in 1934. Now, many have lost their homes or are attempting to prevent further damage.

New Queens Precinct Opens in Southeast Queens, First in 10 Years

For over forty years, residents of the neighborhoods of Rosedale, Brookeville, Laurelton, and Springfield Gardens have called for a police precinct for their community. Now, activists like Bess DeBetham have finally reached their goal. What is now the first new police precinct since 2013, the 116th precinct will represent a region of Southeast Queens. Previously covered by the 105th precinct, community leaders felt they needed their own precinct to protect and serve them. Now, with officers closer to home, a safe community has never been more achievable. 

 

Mass Scooter Seizure Crackdown in Queens

This month, the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in collaboration with the NYPD, have cracked down on scooters in the borough. Along Roosevelt Avenue alone, 24 illegally parked scooters were removed from the streets. These scooters being parked illegally is not the only way they can be seized, however. Over 1,000 scooters have been taken from the streets by the NYPD for reasons of lack of insurance or registration. Often when they are illegally parked on busy streets, pedestrian safety is risked. 

 

Manhattan Man Sentenced to 29 Years in 2010 Murder of Glendale Woman

In the early morning hours of March 27, 2010, Rasheen Everett of Manhattan entered the apartment of 29-year old transgender woman Amanda Gonzalez Andujar. Everett strangled Andujar in her Glendale apartment, killing her, before pouring bleach on the body and stealing two bags worth of her belongings. Though Everett fled to Las Vegas, he was arrested within weeks after law enforcement recovered his DNA under the victim’s fingernails. When tried, Everett was found guilty, but his sentence was overturned due to a judge’s judicial error in 2021. Now, the office of the Queens District Attorney has retried Everett and secured a 29 year sentence for the murder. “This defendant callously took the life of a young woman and then tried to hide the crime. After a prior reversal of his conviction due to judicial error, we retried the defendant and the jury returned a guilty verdict. I hope today’s sentence brings a long-awaited measure of solace to the victim’s family,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz. 

 

Queens Man Indicted in Kew Gardens Shooting

Alan Rodriguez has been indicted for a shooting that occurred in November in Kew Gardens, with charges including attempted murder, assault, and illegal possession of a firearm. Jignesh Patel and Vijay Patel were standing outside their double parked car in front of Rodriguez’ residence when he pulled up and began a verbal dispute with them. Arguing about their car being double parked, Rodriguez pulled out a firearm and shot the two men, with authorities later finding five shell casings at the scene. Both men suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital. Now, Rodriguez could face up to twenty-five years in prison for the alleged crimes. “This was a completely senseless act of violence, and the two victims will now carry injuries for the rest of their lives. My office is committed to removing illegal guns from our communities,” said District Attorney Melinda Katz.

House Ethics Committee Finds “Substantial Evidence” Former Trump Cabinet Pick Had Sex with Underage Girls While in Congress

Matt Gaetz, who was formerly chosen by President-Elect Donald Trump to be Attorney General in the next administration, has been under fire for allegations of statutory rape. While he had previously been investigated on sex trafficking charges in 2021, they were resumed after Trump’s controversial pick. The Ethics Committee released their report this week, after probing into past evidence and court statements. The committee found “substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” Although they did not find evidence of sex trafficking, the rest have been substantiated by the committee. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, and has made comments regarding the Committee’s choice to file a report instead of bringing Gaetz to court to present his own evidence. 

 

Alleged CEO Killer Luigi Mangione Pleads Not Guilty

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year old Ivy Leaguer who has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder in furtherance of terrorism this week in a Manhattan court. Along with the New York State charges, federal charges have been brought as well, which could carry a death penalty sentence if Mangione is convicted. Thompson was shot twice in the back in front of his hotel, causing a massive manhunt by the NYPD to catch the shooter. Days after the killing, Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s. He was brought back to New York City and will face trial. Many people have spoken out for the young man, believing he did a good deed in making a statement against the corruption of the American healthcare industry. His last court appearance was attended by supporters and protestors outside. His next appearance is scheduled for February 21st. 

 

Terrorist Attack in Germany Leaves Five Dead, One a 9-Year Old Girl

Last Friday, the world experienced another tragedy when a 50-year old Saudi Arabian man plowed into a busy Christmas market in the German city of Madgeburg. The identity of the man has not been released, but law enforcement reported that he is a psychiatrist and has lived in Germany for over twenty years. He described himself online as a lapsed Muslim and subscribed to far-right ideologies. He drove his van into the large crowd, resulting in the deaths of five people, one of them only a 9-year old child. German authorities have reported over 230 injuries due to the attack, with the number growing as days go on. A large crowd of mourners gathered near the site on Monday to pay their respects to those affected. 

 

Woman Burned Alive on Subway 

In the morning hours last Sunday, a sleeping woman was brutally murdered on a Brooklyn-bound F train. Through security footage, law enforcement found that an unidentified man calmly approached the woman and set her clothing on fire, causing her to burst into flames and die. NYPD apprehended the man within hours of the attack, and have not yet released his name. Authorities did provide that he was a Guatemalan immigrant, and are trying to ascertain the reason for the senseless killing. This was the second subway murder on Sunday, with a stabbing earlier in the day.

Experts Say Drone Sightings in the Northeast Are of American Origin

Drone sightings have been reported along the Northeast this past week, with the machines flying overhead in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. While law enforcement agencies have provided little information to the public regarding their origin, some of the drones have been reported to be as big as 6 feet long. Experts have said due to the large size of the machines, the drones would need to be refueled within the continental United States, meaning they cannot be solely international. The Pentagon has assured the public that the drones are American, but the FBI noted that little is known about their usage or who is controlling them. Colonel William Dunn, formerly of the United States Marine Corps, is concerned about these developments. “The concern is definitely valid. One thing I do believe, I believe the government knows the source of these drones, and I believe the source of these drones is from inside the U.S., especially the larger drones,” he said. Many are asking the federal government to provide more information into this mystery. 

 

School Shooting in Madison, Wisconsin Leaves A Student and Teacher Dead

Earlier this week, another tragedy struck in Madison, Wisconsin when a 15-year-old girl opened fire in a private Christian K-12 school. The shooter, since identified as Natalie Rupnow, committed suicide on the scene after killing a teacher, a student, and wounding six others. The school, Abundant Life, is said to have many students who were bullied or having trouble at other schools; Rupnow was a new student this year. While law enforcement has not yet released a possible motive for the shooting, they are reviewing writings that Rupnow had describing some of her thoughts. The writings, which many are referring to as a manifesto, are currently being reviewed by police. A copy of the writings was allegedly leaked online. “A document about this shooting is circulating at this time on social media, but we have not verified its authenticity,” the Madison police chief, Shon Barnes, said. This incident has attracted particular attention due to the perpetrator being a female, which is extremely uncommon for this type of crime. Investigators are still looking into the incident, hoping to find more information. 

 

President-Elect Donald Trump Says He Will Consider Pardoning Mayor Eric Adams

Mayor of New York City Eric Adams has been dealing with a hefty federal indictment for months. Charges against him include bribery, wire fraud, and corruption. If found guilty, Adams could possibly be facing years of jail time. Democratic challengers have come from all sides during Adams’ crisis, with many hoping to unseat him as mayor next year. Adams claims these federal charges are a form of revenge, due to his public dissatisfaction with the Biden administration. President-Elect Donald Trump has previously expressed sympathy to Adams, claiming he was being treated unfairly by the federal government and the public. Now, he has openly stated he would consider pardoning Adams should he be found guilty at trial. At a recent news conference, Trump promised he would “look” at the case and consider a pardon. Adams’ upcoming trial should occur within the next year. 

 

Some New York City Amazon Workers Ready to Strike Amidst Holiday Rush

Two Amazon facilities in New York City are facing a shutdown when workers voted and announced they are prepared to strike if the company refuses to participate in contract negotiations. The workers in these facilities, one in Staten Island and one in Queens, are being represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of America’s largest unions. They gave Amazon a deadline for earlier this week to sit down with the organizers and begin negotiations. The deadline has passed, and the Teamsters Union has yet to make a statement regarding it. Amazon officials disagree with the tactics employed by the union. “The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union,” said Eileen Hards, an Amazon spokesperson. This strike comes after a scathing report led by Senator Bernie Sanders revealed that Amazon had a 30% higher rate of injuries than the industry standard last year. It also reported other workplace violations, such as hostility and lack of care. If Amazon chooses not to negotiate and the union refuses to back down, New York City deliveries will have a serious problem right before the holiday.

 

High Ranking Russian Military Official Killed in Moscow Bombing

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian military’s chemical weapons division, was killed this week after a bomb was placed outside the building he was exiting. Along with his assistant, Kirillov appeared to have died instantly from the e-scooter bomb outside a residential building in Moscow. Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, had charged Kirillov with war crimes only one day before his killing, citing his usage of chemical warfare on the Ukrainian army. The SBU quickly confirmed speculation and took credit for the bomb. Previous to this, Russia had been sanctioned for using chemical weapons which Ukraine reports put 2,000 people in the hospital. Kirillov’s death is being called a “terrorist act” by Russian officials, while Ukraine is rejoicing in their successful mission. Many are speculating that Ukraine is attempting big moves in order to hurry the pace of the war before the President-Elect comes into power and begins to limit aid to the country. 

 

Uncovering Mass Graves in Syria Following Assad’s Fall, Could Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Bodies

Following the recent fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, citizens are frantically searching for loved ones that were detained under the regime. Officials report over 150,000 people in Syria are missing, many assumed to have been kidnapped or killed by the former government. While people have reunited with their family and friends who were previously detained, attempts are currently being made to account for the many who are dead. Close to the Syrian capital of Damascus lies a mass grave filled with bodies and bones. A grave digger there told a Syrian advocacy group that trucks filled with 150 bodies each would arrive twice a week from the years 2012 to 2018, meaning there could be hundreds of thousands of people buried there. Efforts continue to reunite families, identify the dead, and bring peace to the war-torn country.

 

South Korean President Officially Impeached After Instituting Martial Law

After President Yoon Suk Yeol instituted martial law in South Korea, the country broke out in wide protest. Even members of Yeol’s party decried the decision, finding it corrupt. After weeks of protests and calls for Yeol’s resignation, a vote to impeach came after his refusal. The vote was passed, and Yeol was formally impeached as South Korean President. The final decision belongs to South Korea’s highest court, which has 180 days to make a final decision. Until that time, Prime Minister Han Duk-soo is serving the role of President. Yeol was ordered not to leave South Korea, and investigations are being made into possible crimes. Officials have accused Yeol of attempting to incite an insurrection, a crime that can be punishable by death in the country. When official investigators attempted to gain access to the President’s office, they were declined entry and waited for over seven hours. The team seeks to investigate the President’s computers as well as any incriminating documents within the office. This is now the second time they have tried and failed to gain entry, thus greatly hindering the investigation into any possible wrongdoing. While Yeol has been reported as putting together a legal team, it is unknown whether he will comply with court summons on the 21st of December. The final fate of the South Korean presidency is yet to be decided, and remains unclear.