Shark Scoop is a weekly roundup of five stories that examine developments in local, national, and global news, as well as a top headline in entertainment and sports.
BY: EMMA NIECE / STAFF WRITER
FBI Seizes Mayor Adams' Devices in Campaign Fundraising Investigation
On Nov. 9, the FBI seized two cell phones and an iPad of NYC Mayor Eric Adams as part of a federal investigation into the fundraising of Adam’s 2021 campaign. FBI agents had approached Adams on the street after an NYU event and presented him with the warrant to obtain his devices.
Just days prior to this, the FBI raided Adam’s chief fundraiser Brianna Suggs’ home in search for evidence of KSK Construction, a Brooklyn-based company, conspiring to funnel foreign money into Adam’s 2021 campaign.
Between 2018 and 2021, Adam’s campaign gained $6,000 from three U.S. citizens who are board members of The Turken Foundation. Law enforcement is currently investigating to see if foreign nationals went into New York’s Turkish-American communities to use U.S. citizens of Turkish origin as straw donors, which would have made it look as if American citizens were donating to Adam’s campaign.
Lastly, there is concern that Bay Atlantic University, a small Turkish-owned institution, could be involved in this campaign fundraising scandal. The Adam’s campaign "accepted and returned $10,000 in donations linked to the university." Adams currently has not been accused of anything. This is a developing story.
Should Those with Domestic Violence Restraining Orders be Allowed to Possess a Firearm?
Zackey Rahimi, a convicted drug dealer from Texas with a restraining order against him for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, recently sued the United States for abridging his Second Amendment rights. After being involved in multiple shootings in Texas, he was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm while under a domestic violence restraining order, which is illegal under both Federal and Texas State law.
Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) “prohibits the receipt or possession of a firearm or ammunition” by someone who is “subject to a court order that restrains them from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner...”
The United States argued that Congress may impose restrictions on firearm possession if a person is not a “law-abiding, responsible citizen.” They also argued, on the basis of the Bruen decision from last year, which made it so that all Second Amendment cases are evaluated with reference to text, history, and tradition, that historical laws disqualified people from possessing firearms due to their inability to be trusted with one, similar to § 922(g)(8).
Rahimi argued, however, that these historical laws aren’t similar to § 922(g)(8) because those laws didn’t involve the rights retained by citizens or the possession of firearms in the home.
There is a final ruling scheduled at the end of the term in June.
Somalia floods Kill at Least 29 People and Displace Over 300,000
Somalia has been going through one of their worst droughts in four decades, resulting in “rising food prices, sporadic conflict over resources, limited humanitarian support and interrupted market systems”, according to Anders Thomsen, Representative, UNFPA Somalia. The drought has also caused crop failure and the death of livestock.
Since early October, however, Somalia has been experiencing massive floods that have resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people, displaced over 300,000, and caused 1.2 million to lose their livelihoods. This is a second displacement for many people who have already had to move for shelter and work due to the drought.
The floods have destroyed essential infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Because of this, there is less access to clean water, health centers, and food. There is a higher risk for waterborne illness as sanitation facilities have also been damaged. Classrooms and learning materials have been destroyed as well, including some of the CARE-supported schools, according to Ummkalthum Dubow, CARE Country Director. CARE has been working on the “delivery of clean water, healthcare, nutrition, and protection support for women and girls”, who are at higher risk for Gender-Based Violence due to the lack of shelter and health services along with the dangerous weather.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that around 3.7 million acres of farmland could possibly be destroyed.
The United Nations has sent $25 million in aid to Somalia for what they’ve designated as a “once-in-a-century event.”
More rain is expected, especially in southern Somalia. Last week, the country officially declared an emergency in the most affected states (Jubbaland, Galmudug, and Hirshabelle South West).
Michigan Football Head Coach Jim Harbaugh Faces Three-Game Suspension Over Sign-Stealing Scandal
Michigan football has had a year of internal conflict. From allegations of impermissible contact with recruits, to the firing of Matt Weiss surrounding an investigation into him allegedly gaining unauthorized access to computer accounts, to the resignation of Glenn Schemechler after he was found to be engaginig in offensive posts on Twitter.
In addition to all this, Michigan football is currently being investigated in a potential sign-stealing scandal. The NCAA placed Connor Stallions, Michigan football off-field analyst and retired captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, at the center of the investigation. Stalions purchased tickets to over 30 games of future or potential future opponents over the past three seasons.
One source claims Stallions gave him a couple hundred dollars and requested that he film the game and upload it to a shared iPhone album. Additionally, Central Michigan is investigating video footage of a man on their sideline during their season-opening game at Michigan State.
The man appeared to be Stalions dressed in Central Michigan gear with sunglasses on and holding a possible play sheet.
Stalions resigned from his position on Nov. 3. Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh denied being involved in or having knowledge of Stalions actions. However, in a new rule that took effect last year, the head coach is made responsible for what happens on the team, no matter their involvement or awareness. On Nov. 10, Harbaugh was suspended for the rest of the regular season (three games), making this his second suspension of the season.
After 118 days, the Actors Strike Finally Ends
On Nov. 9, a 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike ended, with major studios reaching a three-year tentative agreement. SAG-AFTRA leader, BJ Lange, enthusiastically stated in a celebration Thursday that “We put in a good fight, and we proved what it takes when we come together with labor. Let’s go!”
SAG-AFTRA made a statement outlining the terms of their new agreement with the AMPTP. “In a contract valued at over one billion dollars in new wages and benefit plan funding, we have achieved a deal of extraordinary scope that includes ‘above-pattern’ minimum compensation increases, unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation that will protect members from the threat of AI, and for the first time establishes a streaming participation bonus.”
They also stated that their Pension & Health caps have been raised. Lastly, they stated that the agreement has improvements for multiple categories such as contract provisions that protect diverse groups and large compensation increases for background performers.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists along with its members must approve the three-year contract, but union leadership announced that the strike officially ended as of 12:01 a.m. Nov. 9, allowing for production to resume.