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: MELISSA FISHMAN / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
Elizabeth Holmes, 38, the infamous CEO of Theranos has been sentenced to 135 months in prison for wire fraud. Holmes was convicted in January on four accounts of fraud for her $4.5 billion company which promised its investors that it would revolutionize the medical industry. Theranos’s machines were designed to test for a multitude of human illnesses with a single drop of blood, although its successes in doing so were few and far between. At the beginning of her career, Holmes was able to raise $945 million for her then start-up medical technology company and went on to give TedTalks and even dined at the White House. However, things went sour in 2015 when it was exposed that the company had hoodwinked investors and patients alike with its faulty technology. During her sentencing, Holmes seemed remorseful for her wrongdoings, stating that, “I have felt deep pain for what people went through because I failed them.”
Snow in Upstate New York Poses Dangerous Threat to Community
After an unseasonably warm past couple of weeks, upstate New York is now being hit hard by heavy snowfalls. As of Friday, Nov. 18, 11 counties in upstate New York are in a state of emergency as declared by Gov. Kathy Hochul with flights out of Buffalo airport canceled and public schools closed until further notice. Local meteorologists project that snowfalls can reach up to five feet, causing local officials to caution residents against driving during the storm. Buffalo, which is New York’s second largest city, has already reported two casualties. These deaths were due to cardiac arrest brought on by clearing snow, said County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and it is very possible that more deaths could be reported.
Hakeem Jeffries of NY’s 8th Congressional District vies for Speaker Seat
On Thursday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that she will be stepping down from her leadership position among the Democratic Party after a tumultuous few years on Capitol Hill. Hakeem Jeffries, 52, of New York’s 8th Congressional District has since announced his bid for the position which could make him the first Black man in either chamber of Congress to hold the top party leadership role. Jeffries currently represents large parts of Brooklyn, including Fort Greene, East Flatbush, Brighton Beach, Coney Island and several other neighborhoods. He is well-known for his years-long career in politics, calm disposition and a love for Junior’s Cheesecake which he sends out to colleagues and constituents during the holiday season. Jeffries was just reelected to public office during this year’s midterm elections, securing 72.4 percent of the votes from his district, according to the Associated Press.
Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Disaster
Fans of international singer-songwriter and superstar Taylor Swift are demanding change after the presale for her upcoming “Eras Tour” went horribly wrong this past Tuesday. Swifties have cited hours-long virtual queues, faulty technology and greedy bots during the presale, which prevented them from purchasing tickets, causing a public outcry against the ticket seller giant.Ticketmaster has since alleged that 14 million people tried to secure tickets to the 52-date national tour, but only about 2.4 million were successful. Several politicians are now helping fans push back against Ticketmaster, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who stated, “Ticketmaster is a monopoly, its merger with LiveNation should never have been approved, and they need to be reigned in. Break them up.”
FIFA World Cup to Begin Sunday in Qatar Amid Controversy
Soccer fans everywhere are gearing up to watch this year’s FIFA World Cup which will be held in Qatar after successfully winning the bid to host the tournament back in 2010. However, the World Cup is stirring controversy, as same-sex relations is criminalized in Qatar, as well as a recent discovery of poor conditions for migrant workers and bans on alcoholic beverages at the stadiums. Despite the controversy, several countries around the world are still allowing for their teams to be represented, including the United States, England, Australia, France and Japan. The World Cup will begin on Sunday and can be streamed on Fox Sports 1 or Telemundo Deportes.