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: JOSEPH SIMILE/ SPORTS CO-EDITOR
The US Releases the Oldest Prisoner At Guantánamo Bay
75-year-old Saifullah Paracha was released and repatriated back to Pakistan on Saturday, November 29. Paracha had been held without charge for 18 years. Initially arrested in 2003 on suspicion of affiliation with al-Qaida, Paracha was determined to no longer be a significant threat to the U.S. last year, and has finally seen release. The Department of Defense and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs both confirmed that Paracha had arrived in the country. The former businessman and television producer is at least the fourth person to be released from Guantánamo Bay this year, as part of President Biden’s efforts to reduce the population of detainees and eventually close the facility. As of Paracha’s return home, 35 detainees remain at Gauntánamo Bay, per the Department of Defense. 20 are eligible for transfer, three are eligible for a review board, nine are involved in the military commission process and three have been convicted.
Potential Foodborne Illness Outbreak In Brooklyn
New York City health officials are investigating a potential campylobacter outbreak in Brooklyn. Campylobacter is a bacterial infection that causes flu-like stomach symptoms. It can come from eating undercooked or raw poultry, or cross contamination. Unpasteurized dairy, seafood, and untreated water have also been tied to outbreaks. Health officials say approximately 50 cases have been reported in Brooklyn since the beginning of the month. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene declined to detail which neighborhoods have seen the bug. Those that are infected typically begin experiencing symptoms two to five days after exposure, with symptoms typically lasting a week. Symptoms include fever, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Officials are still trying to find the cause of the outbreak and identify as many infected people as possible. Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy believes it’s likely that far more cases have gone undiagnosed. “Whenever you have an outbreak of some type of foodborne illness, most likely, when you see the actual number of reported cases, it underestimates, and in some cases, greatly underestimates, the actual number of cases that have occurred,” Lee told NBC.
Terrifier 2 Grosses $8 Million
Damien Leone’s Terrifier 2 is shredding through the box office, grossing over $8 million to a $250,000 — largely crowd-sourced — budget. Initially premiered at FrightFest on August 29, and hitting theaters on October 6th, Terrifier 2 has become a sleeper hit and viral sensation. Initially only set for a one-week limited theatrical release, audience demand led to publisher Bloody Disgusting to extend its run. It is being shown in over 1,500 theaters for Halloween weekend, nearly double the 800 theaters it was being shown in on its opening night. Critics and fans have praised David Howard Thornton’s portrayal of Art the Clown and Lauren LaVera’s Sienna Shaw. There have been several reports of vomiting and fainting of viewers during their screenings, with one particular case allegedly having to call an ambulance. Critics praise Terrifier 2 for the improvements on the original film, especially in terms of plot. Jeffrey Anderson of Common Sense Media described the characters as memorable, which, as a result, “human life starts to matter more here than it did in the first film.” The film remains unrated, with Leone insisting that keeping the film unrated was essential for its success, acknowledging that Art having no limits is a necessity for the franchise. Art’s combination of extreme violence and comedic expressions has helped turn the mime-like clown into a modern horror icon.
Josh Primo Released By Spurs For Allegedly Exposing Himself To Women
San Antonio Spurs Guard Josh Primo was waived by the club on Friday night for allegedly exposing himself to multiple women. Primo was the youngest player in the 2021 NBA draft, and the 19 year old began this season averaging 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. News broke of Primo’s release Friday night without explanation. The Spurs released a statement, with CEO RC Buford saying “It is our hope that, in the long run, this decision will serve the best interest of both the organization and Joshua.” It was made clear that was all the Spurs had to say, and no staff, player, or executive will have any more to say on the topic. Primo issued a statement to ESPN, stating, “I know that you all are surprised by today’s announcement. I’ve been seeking help to deal with previous trauma I suffered and will now take this time to focus on my mental health treatment more fully. I hope to be able to discuss these issues in the future so I can help others who have suffered in a similar way. I appreciate privacy at this time.” Releasing a lottery pick this early into their career is unprecedented, per Mark Deeks. It wasn’t until Saturday morning that more details were released, with sources telling ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne that the decision to release Primo stemmed from multiple alleged instances of him exposing himself to women. Shams Charania reported that a former Spurs employee has alleged that Primo exposed himself to her, and she has since hired attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents the women in the sexual misconduct lawsuit against NFL player DeShaun Watson.
Midnight Madness This Tuesday, Nov. 2 at the WRAC
LIU Brooklyn’s annual midnight madness is set for this Wednesday, Nov. 2. It will take place in the WRAC, with a pre-game festival at 6:30 p.m., and doors open at 8:30 p.m. Per LIU, over $10,000 in prizes will be given out, including AirPods Pro, Xbox One S, Macbook Air, GoPro 4, 50” Flat Screen TV, and more, including a cash drop. Last year’s midnight madness featured a three point shooting contest between the men and women’s basketball teams, and a dunk contest between a few of the men’s players. There were also multiple contests involving LIU students being picked from the stands, such as one where two students had to put on an LIU basketball uniform and complete basketball drills. The tradition of Midnight Madness stems from the 1971 Maryland Terrapins, when head coach Lefty Driesell invited the public on a 1.5 mile team run on October 15, 1971, the first day basketball teams were permitted to practice. Driesell continued the tradition during his entire tenure at Maryland, as well as continuing it during his stint at Georgia State University. The University of Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness and University of Kansas’s Late Night in the Phog are two of the most famous midnight madness traditions, both annually broadcast by television or livestream.