In case you haven’t been following what’s going on in our world, here is a quick recap from this week.
Oscar Pistorius Granted Bail:
On February 14, South African Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius was charged for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Steenkamp was shot in the bathroom of Pistorius’ home when he claims to have thought there was an intruder in his bathroom. On Friday, February 22, after a four-day bail hearing, Pistorius was granted bail. He is set to appear next in court on June 4th, 2013.
Source/Read more here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57570674/oscar-pistorius-granted-bail-in-murder-case/
Mindy McCready:
Country singer Mindy McCready was found dead on Sunday, February 17, on the front porch of her Arkansas home. She was 37. The singer’s death was an apparent suicide.
Source/Read more here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/18/showbiz/mindy-mccready-death/index.html
Spending Cuts:
March 1, 2013 marks the deadline for Democrats and Republicans to make a decision about spending cuts and tax increases. If a decision is not made by March 1, spending cuts will automatically kick in. CNN recently reported that “the cuts, set to kick in March 1, would slash the amount federal agencies can spend by $85 billion over the next seven months and $1.2 trillion over the next decade.” The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the cuts could reduce economic growth by at least 0.6 percentage points and reduce job growth by 750,000 jobs.
Other ways Americans could feel the impact include weakened unemployment benefits, longer security lines at the airport, furloughs at federal agencies, delays or closures at national parks, and higher prices for chicken and other products because of cuts to food safety programs” (Ashley Killough, CNN)
Source/Read more here: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/23/obama-urges-republicans-to-act-on-spending-cuts/
Good Karma:
Billy Ray Harris, a homeless man from Kansas City, Missouri, returned a diamond engagement when he realized a woman accidentally placed it in his donation cup. The woman was both shocked and relieved after going back to him to find that he kept the ring for her. Out of appreciation, the woman and her husband set up an online fundraiser for Harris and the donations have been pouring in.
Source/Read more here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/22/us/missouri-diamond-ring-returned/index.html
Car Bomb in Syria:
In a continuation of the civil war in Syria, a car bomb killed 53 people in central Damascus on Thursday, February 21. The explosion was targeting the headquarters of Syria’s ruling Baath Party and wounded more than 230 people and burned 17 cars, Syrian state TV said.
Source/Read more here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/21/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
And just in case you missed this too, check out the great video of First Lady Michelle Obama with Jimmy Fallon showing off her dance skills in the “Evolution of Mom Dancing” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq-URl9F17Y
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