World/National News

Prince Phillip’s Funeral

By: Alexandra Burke

On April 9th, 2021 Prince Phillip at the age of 99 passed away. Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the longest serving royal consort in British history. Queen Elizabeth is now in mourning of her husband of 73 years. The funeral was held April 17th on the grounds of Windsor Castle. It was a relatively small ceremony compared to the other funerals held for the royals. It was a ceremonial funeral instead of a state funeral. Due to the pandemic no people of the public were allowed to attend. On the day of the funeral there was a period of national mourning. Phillip’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault underneath St. George Chapel which will not be his final resting place. When Queen Elizabeth passes away they will both be buried in the King George VI memorial chapel.

Image courtesy of Haveuheard.net

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

As the coronavirus vaccine becomes more readily available across the US, appointments are filling up quickly and people are excited to finally get rid of COVID once and for all. The two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have seen much success among the public. In fact, the Pfizer vaccine is even available to the younger age group, 12 years and up. However, these vaccines require that one receives two doses about three weeks apart from one another. This poses an inconvenience to some with scheduling issues, discomfort, or illness due to the vaccination. For this reason, the company Johnson and Johnson pushed out a single-dose vaccine that many people have also received. However, the company has experienced a lot of trouble and pushback that may prevent them from further administering their vaccination. As of April 12, nearly 7 million Americans received the J&J vaccine. Among these millions of people, six experienced severe blood clotting in the brain called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), coupled with thrombocytopenia, low levels of blood platelets. Each of the women were aged 18 to 48, and one tragically passed away following her vaccination and blood clotting. With rising concerns regarding the effects of the J&J vaccine, the CDC paused its administration. Some Americans who were concerned about the vaccine in the first place do not feel any safer receiving a dose. They fear the novelty and uncertainty associated with vaccination, and the severe blood clotting instilled even more fear. However, US health officials continue to push forward the vaccine, claiming that all of the positives outweigh any drawbacks. With that, some people feel that the vaccine is important to stop the spread of COVID and return to “normal” life. The percentage of people who experienced such severe health issues following the vaccine is so low, making it very rare. It is more common to get ill or die from any other daily life activities than from a vaccine. J&J also experienced other forms of pushback that impacted the vaccine. A factory mix up in early April destroyed 15 million vaccines when a Baltimore Emergent Biosolutions Inc. factory experienced a manufacturing error at the plant. However, the company quickly underplayed the situation by saying that they already met the most recent delivery target. Furthermore, Biden stated that regardless of the mix up, the US is still expected to have enough doses of the vaccine for all adults in May. With Pfizer and Moderna still administering vaccines, it is probable that this is the case. Hopefully in the near future everyone will be eligible to get the vaccine and there will be enough supplies to reach the demand, bringing us one step closer to normalcy.

By: Mary Grlic

By: Julia Manning

After a one year break, March Madness returned for an exciting tournament with lots of surprises. There were a lot of huge upsets in the first round alone. A thirteenth seed Ohio beat a fourth seed UVA. Another thirteenth seed, North Texas, beat a different fourth seed, Purdue. Fifteenth seed Oral Roberts won in a close game against second seed Ohio State. The Abilene Christians, fourteenth seed, beat Texas, a third seed, by one point. The final four teams were Gonzaga, UCLA, Baylor, and Houston. Gonzaga beat UCLA, and Baylor beat Houston. The final teams in the NCAA March Madness tournament were Gonzaga and Baylor. Gonzaga beat them 86 to 70. Some fans were able to watch the games. The stadiums were filled to 25% capacity with social distancing. Just like the men's first round, the women's tournament had some major upsets in the first round. Wright St., a thirteenth seed, beat Arkansas, a fourth seed. In a close game, Belmont, a twelfth seed, beat Gonzaga, a fifth seed. The final four teams were Stanford, South Carolina, University of Connecticut, and Arizona. Stanford beat South Carolina, and Arizona beat University of Connecticut. In the final game, Stanford beat University of Connecticut in a super close game: 54 to 53. Overall, the 2021 NCAA March Madness tournament was an exciting one to watch.

Courtesy of gatorswire.usatoday.com

Ukraine-Russia Dispute

By: Dan Butt

Following a tense standoff in Eastern Europe, a withdrawal of Russian forces and vehicles near the Ukraine border has begun. The Kremlin had announced on April 22nd that a “snap inspection”, involving over 10,000 servicemen, 60 ships, about 200 airplanes, and thousands of vehicles had been completed. These numbers are highly disputed, with the European Union citing over 100,000 troops amassed near the Russo-Ukraine border and in occupied Crimea. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu promised that soldiers would return to permanent bases by the 1st of May. This “snap inspection” was the largest Russian build-up of Armed Forces since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March of 2014. The former Ukrainian oblast, or state, was obtained through a local referendum many have called corrupt and false, due to the results showing support for annexation gathering a figure that seems high for a country with a large minority of ethnic Ukranians and Tatars. Left behind will be selective tanks and heavy artillery. The move leaves the country with more firepower straddling the shared border then before. They will be sitting there until the Russian-Belarus Zapad-2021 strategic military exercises. The exercises are a response to NATO’s Defender-Europe, an international event designed to train and prepare U.S. and NATO partnered militaries. While this may conclude a temporary episode in Russian aggression, the Kremlin’s pushes into Ukraine and the Black Sea have not gone unseen. In Southeastern Ukraine, Russian-backed separatists wage war against local militias and battalions in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. This conflict has been ongoing since 2014.

By: Iyaa Kalra

The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are awards given out for artistic and technical merit in the film industry. Instead of being held in the famous Dolby Theater, the Oscars were moved to Union Station due to COVID-19 protocols. In addition, this year the show remained hostless, and had no musical performances in comparison to previous years. This year's show proved to be more diverse in comparison to previous years. As Hollywood makes its move in an inclusive direction, Chloé Zhao made history by becoming the first woman of color to win best director for “Nomadland”. Similarly, Pixar’s “Soul” won Best Animated Feature Film which featured the studio’s first Black lead character. With the coronavirus pandemic in play and shut downs of theaters, many large budget films were forced to push their release dates farther out. This was a big moment for popular streaming services such as Netflix, leading its studio with seven wins; Disney coming in a close second with five wins. The awards show has been on a steady decline with 2020 being a record low year for viewership with about only 23 million viewers. The main cause of this lack of viewers is caused by having the highlights on social media and production dragging out the awards in recent years, especially this year with the lack of performances. In fact, the most entertaining moment was a music trivia game led by Lil Rel Howery which ended with Glenn Close dancing to the 1988 E.U. hit “Da Butt”. Many hopeful critics believe that the production team will change their ways due to the decline in viewership. The last award of the night was Best Actor presented by Joaquin Phoenix. This went to Anthony Hopkins for his performance in “The Father” as a man suffering from dementia. He made history by becoming the oldest to win best actor. It had been widely expected to be awarded to Chadwick Boseman, famously known for his role as Black Panther, who passed away in August after a 4-year battle with colon cancer. He was nominated for his last role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. In lieu of honoring his outstanding performance, the Oscar attendees were given an NFT of Chadwick Boseman in their goodie bags.

This awards season was in no way normal compared to previous years. Given that Hopkins’ name was read as winner, and he wasn’t available to accept his award in person causing confusion, the show ended on an anti-climax. Thankfully they didn’t get the envelopes switched this time but the dismay created by this year's Oscars was similar to that of 2017’s Best Picture mix-up.

Courtesy of twitter.com/carriecourogen

The Grammys By: Mary Grlic

The ongoing pandemic has had a major impact on award shows, drastically changing who attends and where the event can take place. To no surprise, the 63rd annual Grammy Awards were unlike any other, although it did handle the pandemic very well to produce an enjoyable experience for viewers. With live performances and in-person attendance, the award show surely did not seem like a typical Zoom conference that everyone is so bored of by now. Highlighting the achievements of women and circling back to Black Lives Matter protests, the Grammys have many notable highlights. Women made history at the 63rd Grammy Awards. Beyonce set a new record with her 28th win, as well as her 79 total nominations. She won six Grammys in one night, sharing the record with fellow singer Adele. Taylor Swift became the first female artist to win best album of the year three times. Only three other artists, all male, have ever accomplished this feat: Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder. The Grammys were also progressive in recognizing ongoing social unrest in America, with H.E.R. 's song “I Can’t Breathe” being awarded Song of the Year. She wrote this song to fight against police brutality in honor of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Lil Baby referenced police brutality against the black community in his performance of “The Bigger Picture.” The opening scene pictured an African American being arrested and knelt on by a police officer before being shot. Country artist Mickey Guyton performed her piece “Black Like Me,” which she wrote during the Black Lives Matter protests to highlight racial inequality. With music performances from artists such as Harry Styles, BTS, Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B, viewers were captivated by the diversity and lively atmosphere of the show. Fans got to enjoy a little bit of an alternate reality during these troubling times, as well as return to a sense of normalcy by viewing this award show. The show brought together many artists with comedian and public figure Trevor Noah as the host and stars like Lizzo, Ringo Starr, Jhené Aiko, and Jacob Collier as presenters. Despite many challenges with the pandemic in the way of award season, the 63rd Grammys were an enjoyable experience that truly made history.

Courtesy of usmagazine.com Courtesy of vanityfair.com

COVID-Friendly Places to Go By: Melissa Ng

As the weather gets warmer and people are dying to return back to normal, the collective yearning for social gatherings is increasing. Although some people already think masks and social distancing are no longer necessary, there are smarter and better options for people who still want to stay safe. This pandemic has made me appreciate nature like I never had before. It’s given me the opportunity to explore some amazing outdoor reserves Long Island has to offer. I’ve been to gorgeous castles and mansions and gardens resembling the description of Eden. I encourage those who are inclined to explore to take advantage of the beautiful landscapes we have access to. Gardens are the perfect places to safely gather with people. The serene environment with open outdoor space checks all the boxes to finding peace in a pandemic ridden world. There are an endless amount of options when it comes to visiting gardens on Long Island, and all throughout New York. Recently I visited Clark Botanical Garden in Roslyn Heights. This garden was perfect for anyone looking to have a nice stroll with a friend, or even alone being surrounded by lush greenery. It was impossible to be stressed when surrounded by blooming flowers accompanied with sounds of nature. My personal favorite was the big pond. There were benches good enough for meaningful conversations, or even just admiring the big koi fish making laps as turtles sunbathed. It’s the perfect way to destress after a long school week. I felt incredibly safe walking around as there was a lot of space to distance from people (I recommend going in the morning because more people started showing up later in the afternoon). Additionally, there is no fee for visiting the garden but a donation would be appreciated. Another garden close to home is Old Westbury Gardens. When you enter the garden area (past the historic Westbury mansion) you’re completely immersed in a whole other world. Multiple sections offer new experiences. There’s a walled garden, a rose garden, a lilac walk, a cottage, a pond, a reflecting pool, and a lake. It was such a great opportunity to get out of the house and safely hang out with friends, while also enjoying nature at its finest. In addition to gorgeous gardens that are the definition of cottagecore aesthetics, it’s possible to live out a fairytale in the Hempstead House at Sands Point. Although the building is called a house, its unique architecture resembles a castle fit for royalty. There’s a beautiful garden in the front, and a gorgeous view overlooking the beach. There is also a big grassy area perfect for picnics, a dog hiking trail, and a trail that leads to the beach. I highly recommend trekking the path to the beach, especially if you want to see a gorgeous lake home to a bunch of turtles. This area was a great, open space to hang out with friends and family.

Old Westbury Gardens

By: Matthew Fiore

New York State has made tremendous progress in controlling COVID-19 in recent months, after a large spike in cases this winter. As a result, Governor Cuomo announced the ending of many restrictions early this May. On May 19th, these new guidelines took effect in New York, with similar reduced restrictions also being implemented in the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut on that day. In New York, all capacity-based restrictions were lifted, providing businesses with more control over how they set up their spaces. The only requirement was that unvaccinated people needed to be kept six feet apart; fully vaccinated individuals no longer needed to maintain social distancing. After more than a year of shutdowns and extremely stringent restrictions, businesses were able to return to near pre-pandemic operations. Another big announcement came by the federal government on May 13th. The CDC announced that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks except in hospitals, nursing homes, jails, schools, and on public transportation, as well as in places where it is mandated by state or local laws. This announcement came with mixed reactions. On one side, many fully vaccinated people were delighted to take off their masks as they felt completely protected from the virus. Others felt that this move came too early since not enough people were vaccinated, kids still aren’t eligible, and unvaccinated people might lie about their vaccination status. Ultimately, New York and Connecticut adopted this guidance on May 19th when the other restrictions were reduced, and New Jersey later followed suit on May 28th.

More recently, on Friday, June 4th, the New York State Department of Health announced that masks would no longer be required in schools if the CDC did not find any scientific reason they should still be mandated. However, two days later, the Department of Education released a memo to school districts stating that masking policies should not be changed until further notice. On Monday, June 7th, Governor Cuomo clarified the new rules: masks are still mandatory inside school buildings, but not outside. After a lot of confusion, many students, parents, teachers, and local government officials throughout the state were upset and angered by the conflicting information. June 15th, however, was the biggest milestone yet in the fight against COVID. It was the day when New York hit 70% of adults with at least one dose of the vaccine. As a result, all restrictions were lifted for businesses -- cleaning procedures, social distancing, and mask enforcement are all optional now. However, masks are still required in schools, jails, hospitals, and on public transportation per state and federal laws, and CDC guidance. We have come a long way in the fight against COVID-19. With nearly 4 in 5 Nassau County adults with at least one dose of the vaccine, we are almost out of this for good. If you have not yet been vaccinated, I urge you to do so as soon as possible in order to protect yourself and those around you.

Courtesy of ABC7NY