Shark Scoop is a weekly roundup of five stories that examine developments in global, national, and local news, as well as a top headline in entertainment and sports.
By: CHARLOTTE JONES / STAFF WRITER
Supreme Court Hears Testimony in Mississippi Abortion Case
On December 1, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments pertaining to the controversial Mississippi abortion law. The law, which was enacted in 2018, prohibits abortions after 15 weeks unless there is an extreme, life threatening condition for the fetus or the mother. The arguments lasted about two hours, hearing first from Scott Stewart, Mississippi’s solicitor general, then Julie Rikelman, the litigation director at the Center for Reproductive Rights, and finally Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, representing the Justice Department. The Supreme Court will not announce its ruling for a few months, and most analysts speculate that the decision will not be released until June or July, right before the justices leave for summer vacation.
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Begins the Holiday Season in NY
At 8 p.m. on December 1, Christmas officially kicked off in New York City with the yearly lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Rockefeller Center has traditionally been the home to a Norway Spruce tree since 1933, with a new tree being donated yearly by a family in America, which is then decorated and lit in a public ceremony. In 2020, the celebration lacked a physical audience due to the pandemic, but plans are in full swing for 2021. The celebration was aired on NBC from 8-10 p.m. and was headlined by stars such as Carrie Underwood and Pentatonix who performed some holiday hits.
Merkel Heightens Vaccine Restrictions in Germany
Germany is the latest country to up their COVID restrictions on the unvaccinated. Chancellor Angela Merkel labeled the newest restrictions as an act of, “national solidarity.” The recent crackdown on the unvaccinated will limit access to indoor activities such as attending indoor performances and frequenting restaurants to be strictly limited to those who are fully vaccinated. Olaf Scholz, Merkel’s successor, will be instated as the next Chancellor this Wednesday and is in full support of her decision. Currently, less than 70 percent of people in Germany are vaccinated against COVID.
"Euphoria" Returns for Season 2 in 2022 on HBO Max
HBO Max, home to the wildly popular show “Euphoria,” has recently released a trailer for the show's second season which is set to premiere in January 2022. Euphoria has a star studded cast which includes the likes of Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi, and Eric Dane. The show takes place in high school, and highlights the battle of addiction and how it harms more than just the addict. The new trailer can be found here.
Pittsburgh Penguins Are Purchased by Big Buyers
The NHL team the Pittsburgh Penguins are up for sale. Mario Lemieux is moving on as the owner of the team, and has agreed to an offer by the Fenway Sports Group (FSG). FSG is based out of Boston, Massachusetts, and is backed by NBA superstar Lebron James. The deal is expected to be around $900 million, and it will be finalized before the end of the year.