In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today.

[Content Note: Guns; violence] There was another school shooting in New Mexico yesterday, during which a 12-year-old boy "pulled a sawed-off shotgun from a bag and opened fire" on his classmates. He seriously wounded two students, one of whom is still in critical condition, before social studies teacher John Masterson talked the shooter into putting down his weapon. I honestly don't even know what to say anymore.

[CN: Anti-choice terrorism] Today, the US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in McCullen v. Coakley, a case about buffer zones about reproductive health clinics meant to ensure patient and staff safety from anti-choice demonstrators and terrorists. The case is a challenge to Massachusetts' buffer zone law, "brought by seven Massachusetts anti-abortion protesters, who...say the buffer zone is unconstitutional and violates their right to free speech." Buffer zones decrease violence and harassment and increase patient and staff safety. Tara Culp-Ressler has more on why abortion clinics need buffer zones.

[CN: Racism; harassment] Marissa Alexander will be allowed to remain free on bail, after Florida State Attorney Angela Corey (currently one of my least favorite people on the planet) alleged Alexander violated the conditions of her release, despite the fact that Alexander's corrections officer "had authorized and given Marissa Alexander permission for each of the trips and stops alleged by the State to be willful violations of Marissa Alexander's bond."

I love this headline: "Scientists find ridiculously huge canyon beneath Antarctic ice." The canyon is "about two miles deep and 25 miles wide, in places, nearly twice the size of the Grand Canyon." Yowza!

The ACLU has more on yesterday's net neutrality ruling.

Did you like the film Avatar? I was not a fan myself! But if you liked it, I bet you will be pretty excited about this news: "Sam Worthington & Zoe Saldana Returning for 3 More Avatar Sequels." That is a lot of sequels!