The month of November has seen its fair share of news. With a large influx of events and constant updates, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest stories. Below is an up-to-date synopsis of top events from November’s news cycle.
Elon Musk Twitter Takeover
Mass firings, longer hours and many changes have riddled Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter since Oct. 27. Matthew Southern wrote about from having to pay for your blue checkmark to being fired for expressing disagreement, as well as offering to reinstate Donald Trump’s account, this Twitter takeover has been rather eventful.
Death of Shanquella Robinson
Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year old from Charlotte, NC, was murdered after traveling to Puertos Los Cabos with friends in late October. Her friends called her mother on Oct. 29 to notify her that Robinson had alcohol poisoning and that she would receive medical attention shortly. Her friends returned to the United States but left her body in Mexico. A month later, an autopsy revealed Robinson died of a severe neck injury. The Mexican and United States’ authorities have since been working together to search for answers and those involved.
University of Virginia (UVA) Shooting
Mass shootings, which can be described as any shooting where three or more persons were killed, were frequent in November. Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 23, opened fire on three of his classmates after a school trip on Nov. 13. Jones’s family stated that this shooting happened because of the bullying he had received from high school onwards. However, police have yet to find evidence of Jones being friends with the victims or interacting with them. The UVA football team canceled their remaining games, ending their season early.
University of Idaho Passion Killing
Still in the university sphere, four students of the University of Idaho were found stabbed to death in their off-campus housing on Nov. 13. Police have yet to identify a suspect let alone a motive behind the killing of the four students. Videos surfaced of two of the victims at a food truck with two men trailing and lurking from the shadows. At least one of these men, however, has been cleared in connection to the killings. Students felt unsafe returning to the campus, causing the University to increase their presence of security and allow students to complete the rest of the semester online if they’re not comfortable physically going to school.
Donald Trump Announces 2024 Run for President
Former President Donald Trump announced his campaign for president on Nov. 15.
With his third presidential bid, Trump is aiming to make ground for the Republican party after their midterm disappointments. Experts speculate that Trump will have serious competition during the primaries, with expected bids from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence.
Virginia Walmart Mass Shooting
On Nov. 22, 31-year-old Andre Bing, an overnight manager at Walmart, opened fire on his co-workers, killing six (including one 16 year-old), before killing himself. Co-workers described Bing as stand-offish and stated that he had shown signs of violence before. Michael Corkery covers this story, uncovering that Bing is said to have kept a “Kill List” on his phone of the employees he held vendettas against and those he wanted to hurt.
Senate Passes the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA)
On Nov. 29, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that required the government to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages. The RFMA requires states to recognize the legality of same-sex and interracial marriages in all 50 states. It would also repeal the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, which limited the definition of marriage to be between one man and one woman. The bill now has to pass through the House for a second time to accept amendments made in the Senate. Democrats are hoping to get it passed before Republicans take control of the House.
By Aminah Jenkins, Editor in Chief, and Khadejra Golding, Reporter