News Wrap Up

Local News: Norfolk State Men’s Basketball Competing in NCAA Tournament

For the third time in Spartan history, Norfolk State University men’s basketball team made it into the first round of the 2022 NCAA tournament, with their previous two appearances in 2015 and 2019. Ranked as a 16 seed, they went head-to-head against Baylor University on Thursday. Despite hopes of displacing the number 1 seed and moving on in the tournament, the Spartans ultimately fell to the Bears with a final score of 49-85. NSU fought hard throughout the match with 80% free throw percentage, 29 rebounds, and 6 steals. Baylor will be continuing on to the next round as NSU returns home and begins preparing for their shot in the 2023 NCAA tournament. 

State News: New Tests Added to VA’s Newborn Screening Program

This past Wednesday, Governor Youngkin announced he would be adding two new disorders, Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), to Virginia’s Newborn Screening Program. The Newborn Screening Program has been mandated since 1966 for all children, except for any whose parents are religiously opposed. The tests are conducted by taking a blood sample from the baby’s heel two days after birth and then testing the sample for 33 different rare genetic disorders, including SMA and X-ALD. Other disorders include cystic fibrosis, critical congenital heart defect, and congenital hearing loss. This program aims to identify the disorders early to give parents a headstart on treatment plans.   

National News: 9 Dead in Texas Car Crash

This past Tuesday, a pickup truck blew a tire before swerving into oncoming traffic and colliding with a van. The two vehicles crashed head-on before they both burst into flames. The pickup truck was illegally driven by a 13-year-old; in Texas, the legal driving age is 15. Both the 13-year-old and his older passenger, Henrich Siemens (38), died. The van carried members of the University of the Southwest men’s and women’s golf teams. Six golfers and a coach died; only two of the athletes survived and are recovering in the hospital. There is currently an active investigation into why the 13-year-old was driving the truck and the exact details of the collision. 

International News: American Journalist Killed in Ukraine

This past week, journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud was killed by Russian troops in Ukraine. Renaud and another journalist, Juan Arredondo, were in a car going to film Ukrainian refugees when they encountered Russian troops who began shooting at them. Arredondo told reporters that he saw Renaud get shot in the neck and that he was left behind as the group tried to flee the soldiers. Renaud, who worked for Time magazine, was in Ukraine working on a global refugee project at the time of his death. An advisor to Ukraine’s interior minister said that Mr. Renaud “paid with his life for attempting to expose the insidiousness, cruelty, and ruthlessness of the aggressor.” For more information about Brent Renaud’s life, you can visit his and his brother’s personal website.