Virus is Spreading

On April 27th through the 29th, two men shared a hospital room, one of the men had the newly discovered infection called novel coronavirus. Recently the second man that shared the hospital room at Valenciennes Hospital, has been tested also positive for novel coronavirus, also known as NCoV. Currently, this newly diagnosed man has been put into isolation at University Hospital of Lille. NCoV is spreading throughout the Middle East and Saudi Arabia rapidly, causing 18 deaths out the 31 people who have been diagnosed with it. Doctors are focusing on how this virus originated, what is causing it, and how it is being spread. They are warning people who have flu like symptoms to keep a close watch, because it can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure then eventually death if it not monitored correctly.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/12/health/france-ncov-patients/index.html?hpt=he_c2

Suicide Rates Increase in Adults

In today's world, news media focuses on tons of teen suicides that have tragic stories such as girls being bullied til their death, but what about the other millions of people who commit suicide, that don't get any media attention? Recently a report came back from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention about the  suicide rates among adults. According to the report, between the years of 1999 and 2010, people of the age between 35 to 64 had a 28.4% increase of suicide.They also said specifically people from 50 to 59 year old suicide rates has doubled. Not only did the report show that suicide rates has doubled for adults it also showed that 38,000 Americans committed suicide in 2010, which is more than the people who died from a homicide the same year. Dr. Tom Frieden from the CDC says, "This report highlights the need to expand our knowledge of risk factors so we can build on prevention programs that prevent suicide." Also Lanny Berman, from the American Association of Suicidology believes the suicide increase of adults has rocketed because of the recession and the depression that comes with it. Although people may never know why the suicide rate is increasing they are working on ways to promote prevention.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/03/suicides-almost-double-among-50-somethings/?hpt=he_c2

Integrated Prom

Every year at Wilcox County High School in Rochelle, Georgia there are not one, but two different prom dances. Instead of the school controlling the dances, the parents of the students host them both, only problem being is that they are segregated, a dance for white students and a dance for African-American students. Students in the past have tried endlessly to end this ridiculous escapade and finally this year, a Facebook page finally ended it. Students created a page named "Integrated Prom" where people can donate money and their help to put on a prom for everyone to attend no matter what race or color. It was reported that nearly half the school attended. But, although there was this integrated dance, parents of white students still hosted a separate prom for their children.
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/bridging-divide-wilcox-county-high-school-students-hold-200912244.html

The Effects of the Cinnamon Challenge

As you may have seen or tried it yourself, the cinnamon challenge is a hit on Youtube. The actual challenge is trying to swallow tablespoon of dry cinnamon in under 60 seconds and they post it on Youtube for the public to enjoy. About the majority of the people who try this challenge end up puking, gagging, coughing, and choking on the cinnamon. Little do they know this infamous dare causes burning and inflammation of sensitive and critical tissues in the throat, nose and mouth, which can end up with a trip to the doctor and a call to poison control.  According to the American Association of Poison Control Center, 139 reports were made from cinnamon abuse in the first three months of 2012, and most of them needed immediate medical attention. Because the cinnamon dries out the mouth and lungs it makes it difficult to swallow which in return causes collapsed lungs and most people will end with a ventilator. Doctors urge parents and kids to know the risks of these dangerous dares that seem harmless.

App Controlled Hand

Jason Koger lost both of his hands in a four wheeler accident a few years ago due to being shocked with 7,200 volts from a power line, he is now one of the first double amputees' to receive prosthetic hands that are controlled by an iPhone app. Touch Bionics, a company in the UK, is currently launching I-Limb Ultra Revolution. Ian Stevens, CEO of Touch Bionics, says the bionic hand offers, "unparalleled dexterity and control, enabling wearers to more easily perform activities of daily living and thus increase their quality of life." Touch Bionics also says that their product is the closest thing to real human hand. The app is designed to have the hand multiple grips, such as a way to hold hands, play pool, use power tools and 24 other grips. It also has a "auto-grasp" feature which prevents the hand from dropping anything. The hand is currently not waterproof but it is making life easier for amputees across the nation. 
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/12/health/bionic-hands/index.html?hpt=he_c2

Craigslist Farm Killer Sentenced to Death

Richard James Beasley, from Ohio, was sentenced to death for allegedly killing three men. The three men, Ralph Geiger, David Pauley, and Timothy Kern answered a craigslist ad asking for help on a Ohio cattle farm. Another man, Scott Davis, also answered the ad, showed up to the supposedly cattle farm in the woods and was shot in the arm by Beasley,  but he did escape. The authorites connected Davis's story with the other murder victims and charged Beasley. It has been said that Beasley had the intentions to steal from his victims.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/justice/craiglist-killer-death-sentence/index.html?hpt=ju_t3

Washington Island Hosts Gibraltar Prom

This years prom will be held at Jacobsen Museum on Washington Island. The students who plan on attending the prom are to be at the ferry line at approximately 4:50, ten minutes before the ferry leaves. Dinner will be held at the infamous Bread & Water Cafe, where the students will only be served...bread and water. After the dinner, a school bus will transport the students to the Jacobsen Museum for the dance. This years DJ is also the infamous Old John Smokey, who will only be playing songs with spoons. After the dance, students are supposed to find their own way home. It is expected to be a great time. The estimated attendance is about ten people, as of this day.

Meatball Theft

Estelle Casimir, a housekeeper at the U.S Military Academy in West Point, New York, pleaded not guilty for her crime of trying to steal a bag of frozen meatballs. According to the report, Estelle was cleaning up the kitchen and mess hall for the evening when an on duty manager saw her trying to hide a black bag in her arms, claiming it was garbage. The manager asked her many questions as to why she wouldn't just throw it away in the nearest dumpster, the manager later convinced her to reveal it was frozen meatballs, which were on the menu that night. Currently Estelle is suspended with no incoming payment and her lawyer is trying to reach an agreement with the U.S attorney. If an agreement can't me met, Estelle is scheduled to report to court on April 19th, and could face two years in jail and $2,000 fine.

  http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/24/us/new-york-meatball-theft/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

Baby Killed and Father Shot

On March 11th, Jonathan Watkins, father of six month year old, Jonylah Watkins, were both shot in their minivan. Both the father and daughter were also with the mother,whose name wasn't mentioned,  and was also reportedly shot in the leg, which turned out to false. The family was parked in the south side of Chicago, with Jonathan Watkins holding is daughter in the front seat of his lap, and mother in the passenger side. According to the original police report, Jonathan was said to be changing his daughter's diaper while they were both shot, and the mother was shot in the leg, both alleged reports were false according to the Chicago police superintendent. Authorities believe Jonathan was the target for the shooting and they have footage of the suspect's van speeding away. Currently  no one is in custody, but officials strongly believe they will soon catch the suspect and make an arrest.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/19/justice/illinois-baby-shooting/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

A Cure for HIV

Two years ago, a mother who was announced HIV positive moments before her delivery to her baby girl, was afraid her disease would transfer to her daughter. Doctors made a plan to treat the baby girl that had the virus, which would soon turn out to be AIDS, to treat the newborn with  three antiretroviral drugs. The drugs were given within thirty hours of the birth. Today, doctors are amazed and in awe for the results they found. HIV researchers say that the daughter is now "functionally cured" with only a very small presence of the virus that will require NO lifelong treatment, if she hadn't been treated with the drugs when she was born. Doctors are now furthering the investigation to see if were just by chance, or whether they may have found a potential cure for babies that are born into the virus. All factors of the baby and mother are being weighed out to see what exactly happened.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/03/health/hiv-toddler-cured/index.html?hpt=he_c1

Hot Air Balloon Ride Gone Wrong

Tuesday morning a group of tourists boarded a hot air balloon in southern Egypt to look at the stunning views of the Nile River and other historic sites in Egypt, from a different perspective. Little did they know, it would be maybe the worst decision of their life. A total of 21 passengers were on the hot air balloon, including 19 tourists, 9 from Hong Kong, 4 from Japan, 3 from Great Britain, 2 from France, and 1 from Hungary. The other two passengers, were the Egyptian pilot and Briton. Apparently, a fire erupted inside the balloon due to a gas explosion, causing the balloon to shoot upwards and then fall 1,000 feet to the ground. All the tourists have been reported dead, while the two operators are currently in critical condition. While this tragic event is being investigated, the hot air balloon attraction is currently banned until further notice.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/world/africa/egypt-balloon-deaths/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

Possibility Of A New Virus

Recently a new virus by the name of "Novel Coronavirus" was found in the middle east. So far this disease has killed five of the twelve affected people. The first case of this virus was found in a Amman, Jordan, hospital in April, and has recently been reported in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and this last Saturday in the UK. Dr. William Schaffner, from the Vanderbilt University Medical Caneter, stated he wouldn't be surprised if this virus broke out in the U.S and Dr. Susan Gerber agreed. Dr. Gerber also stated, "That's why the CDC is working closely with the World Health Organization and other international partners." This serious infection has symptoms of minor respiratory infection, fever, and cough, and if not treated it could result in kidney failure and pneumonia. As of now, doctors in the U.S are advised to ask patients of these symptoms about their recent travel trips.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/18/health/coronavirus/index.html?hpt=he_c2

Thinner Mice

Recently doctors at the University of Michigan discovered that the drug, amlexanox, used to treat canker sores can maybe be used for a different cause. Doctors at the university had mice on a high fat diet which caused them to be obese, the mice were later on injected with amlexanox, and was magically thin again. The doctors first thought that due to the energy boost the drug came with, that the mice moved more causing them to loose the weight, but studies showed they moved the same. The doctors went through many studies to make sure the drug is the magical remedy to loosing weight. While they continue to study the drug and the mice, they plan to try it out on humans within the next year. Dr. George Bray hopes this newly found use of amlexanox can help obesity, which is something that needs to be stopped before it gets worse. 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/10/health/mice-weight-loss-drug/index.html?hpt=he_c1 

Hand-Held Helicopter Drones

Recently British soldiers located in Afghanistan received small hand-held helicopter drones that serves as surveillance camera. The Scandinavian designers named it the Black Hornet Nano, only weighing sixteen grams, and measured to be four inches, made to fit into a palm of a hand. The tiny camera built into the drone displays not only still images but video. Sargent Christopher Petherbridge, who is with  Britain's Brigade Reconnaissance Force, stated that they use it for "insurgent firing points and check out exposed areas of the ground before crossing." The Hornet was reportedly developed by Norway's Prox Dynamics AS with a $31 million contract.

http://news.yahoo.com/uk-sends-hand-held-helicopter-drones-war-zone-101428321--finance.html

Trial Begins For Rape Case

The trial for the young woman who was gang-raped on a bus began earlier this week. There are reportedly five men who are being held trial and accused for the brutal attack. The man who was with the young medical student during the attack, testified earlier this week and is reportedly being cross examined later on during the trial. The five men being held trial can be convicted of kidnapping, murder and rape, if found guilty. There is also a sixth suspect that is being held in a separate trial due to him being a juvenile of the age of seventeen. According to the report, the prosecutors are expecting to finish their case by the end of the month.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/05/world/asia/india-gang-rape-trial/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

5 Dead in New Mexico Shooting

Around nine in evening on Saturday, a police department in Albuquerque, New Mexico received a  call from  a young man of the age 15, complaining about a party, who was later identified the suspect of the shooting that occurred later on. When police arrived they found five victims who were shot dead multiple times outside the home, where the party took place. Three of the victims were said to be children and two adults. One of the victims was identified as a local pastor, with the remaining victims being his family members. Police claim they are doing a thorough investigation because of all the physical evidence.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/20/justice/new-mexico-shooting/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

Illegal Gun Dealing

On Friday, January 11th, a Virginia woman was accused of purchasing twenty-five firearms in a fifteen day period, planning on trafficking the firearms. Although their is no law indicating how many firearms one can purchase, Kimberly Dinkins went to sell them to other people and make her own profit. The Bureau  of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said the Kimberly stated she sold all the firearms, but lied when the police found some still under her possession. According to the authorities, one of the  firearms she sold was to a drug trafficker in Maryland. Kimberly is soon to be in court represented by the federal public defender's office.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/11/justice/virginia-woman-indicted/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

Police Standoff in Aurora, Colorado

Early Saturday morning, a woman fled from an apartment complex that was being held hostage from a gunman. The woman that fled the apartment, uninjured, reported to the police she saw the three victims, dead, once she heard gunshots at about three in the morning.  Once the police showed up at the scene, they tried everything from calling the gunman on the phone, using bullhorn commands, and tear gas to get the gunman to come out of the building. According to reporters, five hours into the incident SWAT was called in and drove an armored  vehicle into a window of the house, which caused the man to fire at the vehicle, the police didn't return fire. Minutes after the vehicle incident the man once again started firing at the police from an upstairs window, this time the police returned fire and killed the man. No officers were injured and the  names of the victims are to be announced.

 http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/05/justice/colorado-aurora-standoff/index.html?hpt=ju_c2

New Year's Stampede

One in the morning on New Year's day, a total of 60 people were killed due to a stampede of people leaving a firework show in Abidjan in Ivory Coast. A total of twenty-six children, twenty-eight women, and six men were killed in addition to 49 other citizens being injured. Reporters claimed that the deaths occurred due to suffocation and being trampled on by other men and women. Almost all the victims were young because they wanted to be apart of the yearly celebration while the elder people stayed home. Police say that there were no other reasons why the stampede occurred other than carelessness and the narrow streets that thousands of people were compacted in.  

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/01/world/africa/ivory-coast-deaths/index.html?hpt=wo_c2