Media Quiz 2

1. Columbia County will receive federal planning funds - The U.S. Department of Transportation has made the decision to allot a portion of more than $1 billion in federal funds to Columbia County. This is possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which will cover multiple areas across America. $280,000 will be given to the Columbia County Road Department to form a plan to make roads and driving conditions safer. (Magnolia Reporter)

2. Kendrick Lamar uses Arkansas couple's eBay listing as cover art - An Arkansas couple was taken by surprise when they found out that rapper Kendrick Lamar had used the image for one of their eBay listings as the cover of one of his most recent songs. The listing image featured a pair of used black Nike Air Force 1's, which Lamar used as the cover for an untitled song posted on Instagram. The couple originally had the shoes posted for $70, but after finding out that the shoes became famous, decided to relist them as an auction starting at $5,000, with a buy-now option of $75,000. (THV11)

3. National Park Service Announces New American World War II Heritage Cities - Communities in seven states and one U.S. territory will soon be recognized as American World War II Heritage Cities by the National Park Service. This designation's purpose is to appreciate the contributions of these towns and communities during World War II. Each state and territory is only allowed one New American World War II Heritage City and must fit certain criteria to be considered. (National Park Service)

4. Ireland drops plans for hate speech law, minister says - The Irish government has made the decision to not introduce hate speech laws following the Dublin riots of last year. The plans for the laws were originally presented two years ago and aimed to target hate speech on social media. Justice Minister Helen McEntee expresses a desire to strengthen hate speech laws but says that there is not enough agreement within the government to move forward. (Reuters)

5. Unknown fan who snagged Shohei Ohtani's 50th homer amid scrum owns a souvenir that 'could fetch upwards of $200,000' - On September 19th, Shohei Ohtani, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, became the first major league baseball player to have 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. His 50th homerun ball was seemingly lost to the crowd, though, as no one knows who retrieved it as of now. The ball can most likely be auctioned off for more than $200,000 because of its historical significance. (Yahoo Sports)

6. Lana Del Rey Has Reportedly Married Her Alligator Guide Man - According to multiple reports, singer Lana Del Rey recently married Jeremy Dufrene, an alligator tour guide she met in 2019. A marriage license was obtained by the couple on September 23rd. Photos of the wedding, which took place at the location where Duffrene conducts his alligator tours, have begun to spread across the internet. (Glamour)

7. An 8-year-old girl drove an SUV on a solo Target run. Here's what happened - On September 15th, an 8-year-old girl from Ohio drove multiple miles in her family's SUV. The family reported her and the vehicle missing, stating that they hadn't seen her in 2 hours by the time they decided to call the police. A few hours later, she was found inside a Target unharmed, claiming that she hit a mailbox on the way. The motives of the girl are unknown. (Click Orlando)

8. Celebrating 30 years of PlayStation with a nostalgic look - PlayStation is releasing a limited-edition PlayStation 5 that is reminiscent of their first console model from 1994 for their 30th anniversary. The limited edition model features the iconic grey finish and colored logo, similar to the design of the first PlayStation. On November 21st, only 12,300 units of the PlayStation 5 will be released for sale. (PlayStation Blog)

9. Erik Menendez says Netflix show is full of 'blatant lies' about him and his brother - Erik Menendez expresses his disappointment in the new Netflix show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which loosely follows the events of the brothers' trials regarding the murder of their parents. Erik states that Ryan Murphy, the co-creator, spread misinformation about him and his brother in the show. Murphy does not share the same sentiment, rather believing that the show "is the best thing to happen to the Menendez brothers in 30 years in prison." (NPR)

10. Charli XCX Brings Out Lorde for a Surprise Performance of 'Girl, So Confusing' in NYC - Over the summer, Charli XCX and Lorde shocked fans when they released a song together addressing their complicated past. In Charli XCX's latest show of her SWEAT tour with Troye Sivan, Lorde joins her on stage in singing the "Girl, so confusing" remix. Appearances like this are rare for Lorde, which is why fans were delighted and surprised at her arrival. (ELLE)

11. U.S. Capitol statue of Johnny Cash depicts Arkansas' history and progress - Johnny Cash has been honored with a statue in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol. He is the first musician to have a statue within the collection. Cash's background and story represent Arkansas' history and the progress that the state has made, specifically regarding human rights. Asa Hutchinson was the one to donate the statue to the Capitol, and Cash's transportation has been 5 years in the making. (NPR)

12. Biden-Harris Administration Announces $75 Million Investment in Rural Health Care - In an effort to improve healthcare in the South, the Biden-Harris Administration has allocated $75 million dollars to a range of healthcare centers and programs. One of the main issues that they are trying to combat is opioid use, and they plan to launch treatment and recovery services in rural areas. They are also focusing on implementing programs targeting maternal health services, as well as working towards keeping rural hospitals running. (Health and Human Services)

13. Earth will get another moon this month, but not for long! - We will be receiving a mini-moon in our orbit from the end of September to mid-November. The mini-moon, called 2024 PT5 is an asteroid from the Arjuna asteroid belt. Unfortunately, most people will not be able to see the mini-moon, even with binoculars and normal telescopes. (Space)

14. Maggie Smith, scene-stealing actor famed for Harry Potter and 'Downton Abbey,' dies at 89 - On September 27th, actor Maggie Smith died at 89 years old. She is most famous for playing the Countess of Grantham in "Downton Abbey" and Professor Minerva McGonagall in "Harry Potter." Her two sons and five grandchildren are devastated by her death. (AP News)

15. Shell to shut production at two oil facilities in Gulf of Mexico - As of September 22nd, the U.S. National Hurricane Center has stated that they have found a system in the Gulf of Mexico that has a 50% chance of becoming a cyclone in the next two days. In response to this claim, Shell has made the decision to shut down their Stones and Appomattox facilities. They have also been evacuating non-essential workers from the area. These are the only two facilities in the Gulf that they have shut down so far. (Reuters)