Media Quiz 1

1. Visitor in white robe preaching against "homosexual sin" - Magnolia’s first ever LGBTQ Parade and Festival has attracted a white-robed, bible-thumping visitor all the way from Greenwood, AR. Ricky Lee Franklin has been protesting the festival in full costume since September 5th, standing on the sidewalks with his sign, staff, and crown of thorns. He has been speaking out against homosexuality to the people of Magnolia in preparation for the Pride Festival. (Magnolia Reporter)

2. Arkansas has worst food insecurity rate in the U.S., report says - The USDA has recently reported that Arkansas has one of the worst food insecurity rates in the U.S. Activist leaders in Arkansas are advocating for a change through an increase in federal support, such as nutritional programs like SNAP, as well as running organizations that aim in helping vulnerable communities. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is also trying to combat the issue through the Food Desert Elimination Grant Program, which has given out grants to four communities through the Arkansas Minority Health Commission. (THV11)

3. Friday’s job report underscores the severity of America’s child care crisis - The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, in August, the amount of Americans that missed work because of issues with child care was at an all-time high. Child care services have gotten disproportionately expensive in the past few years, partly because of COVID-19 shutdowns, causing parents to have to miss work to take matters into their own hands. The cost of child care will be a major talking point during the debate season and an important issue to consider in November during the election. (NBC News)

4. ‘All the streets were destroyed:’ Palestinians count the cost as Israel pulls back from Jenin - Following the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israel has recently decided to momentarily pull out from Jenin and Tulkarem. Residents of the West Bank have expressed their anguish over the ruins that their cities have been left in under Israeli occupation. At least 680 Palestinians have died since the war on Gaza began last October, making 2023-2024 the highest death toll in the West Bank in the last 15 years. (CNN)

5. Paris Olympic Star Murdered in Horrific Fire Attack - Rebecca Cheptegei, a Ugandan track runner who competed in the 2024 Olympics, died on September 5th. The cause of death was multiple organ failure brought on by being set on fire by her boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema. Ndiema covered Cheptegei in gasoline and set her on fire over a disagreement on September 2nd, and she eventually succumbed to her injuries. (The Daily Beast)

6. Nikocado Avocado Just Pulled Off the Biggest Social Experiment the Internet’s Ever Seen - Mukbang Youtuber Nikocado Avocado reveals his shocking 250-pound weight loss in a new video titled “Two Steps Ahead.” In the video, he claims that he has been posting pre-filmed mukbangs while he has secretly been on a weight-loss journey over the past two years. Many fans are claiming that his “social experiment” is genius, and a bit scary. (Her Campus)

7. Croissant-shaped lamp bought on Temu turns out to be an actual croissant - A Tiktoker by the name of ‘Froginahatgirl’ posted a video showcasing a croissant-shaped lamp that she bought off of Temu. The real kicker is that she found out that the lamp was a real croissant covered in resin, after noticing that ants were getting inside of it. She tore the lamp apart, and even tasted a piece of it, and confirmed that it was an actual croissant. (Metro)

8. Adele confirms she’s taking a break after Las Vegas gigs: ‘I want to live my life’ - Adele announces that she will be taking a hiatus from her career after her three-year stint in Las Vegas ends in November. She has no plans for new music, and states that she wants to start pursuing other creative endeavors besides singing. As of right now, we do not know how long this hiatus will last. (Los Angeles Times)

9. New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water - Researchers at MIT have developed a nature-based material that can filter heavy chemicals and metals out of water. The development of this filtration material was researched as a response to PFAS chemicals, which are present in many everyday items, contaminating a large number of water sources. The material is made out of natural silk and cellulose, which also contain antimicrobial properties which prevent the filters from going bad. (MIT News)

10. Hunter Biden makes last-minute guilty plea in tax case - Hunter Biden pleads guilty in his case where he was charged with nine counts of federal tax evasion. This decision has thrown off federal prosecutors working on the case because it means that he will not be going to trial. He had formerly denied the charges, which were that he avoided paying 1.4 million dollars in income tax from 2016 to 2019. (BBC)

11. Trump denies sexual assault claim of accuser by saying he wouldn’t have 'chosen' her - After his latest court hearing, Trump told reporters that Jessica Leeds, a woman who accused him of sexual assault in the 70s, would “not have been the chosen one.” He claims that Leeds will most likely sue him in the future, just like E. Jean Carroll did in 2023. Carroll claims that Trump sexually assaulted her in the late 90s. (ABC News)

12. Rare 1776 continental dollar coin found inside toffee tin to be auctioned - Wonton Auction Rooms had one of their clients bring in a rare 1776 continental dollar coin that will be auctioned off for upwards of $25,000. They initially were skeptical of the value of the coin, but, after sending it to an authenticator, it was found to be genuine and valuable. The coin features the first design that the U.S. ever made for a coin. (CBS News)

13. Father of US school shooting suspect charged with murder - On September 4, Colt Gray, a fourteen-year-old, shot and killed four people in a school shooting in Georgia. His father, Colin Gray, is being charged for manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children. These charges are due to the fact that he supplied his son with the gun that he used to commit the terroristic act, despite knowing that he was a threat. This is one of the first school-shooting cases where the parent is also found guilty for the atrocious act. (BBC)

14. Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan dies - Reports have confirmed that Rich Homie Quan, a rapper from Atlanta, died on September 5th. He has accumulated several accolades since his career took off in 2013, such as multiple BET Awards and many collaborations with big artists such as 2 Chainz and Gucci Mane. The cause of his death is unknown as of right now. (BBC)

15. The moon had active volcanoes into the dinosaur age, study finds - A new discovery has led researchers to conclude that the moon had erupting volcanoes while dinosaurs were still present on earth. This discovery was spurred by the uncovering of three glass beads on the moon’s surface, found by a Chinese probe in 2020. These beads suggest that there were volcanoes on the moon as late as 120 million years ago. This new discovery may mean that the moon was capable of having life at one point. (NBC News)