February 1, 2022 Top Stories
It is Tuesday, February 1. Here are today’s top stories.
Tom Brady announces retirement
NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced on Instagram this morning that he is retiring from the NFL after 22 seasons and seven Super Bowl championships. Brady said his playing career has been such a “thrilling ride” but that it’s time for him to focus on other things. Brady is 44 years old. He is considered one of, if not the, greatest football player to have ever played the game.
477-mile-long lightning flash
There are two new official lightning “megaflash” records.
The first, the image at the top, is the longest lightning strike at 477.2 miles, which took place on April 29, 2020 in the southern U.S. The distance was from the Houston area to southeast Mississippi.
The second, the image at the bottom, is a record for the longest-lasting lightning flash at 17.1 seconds. This happened on June 18, 2020 over Uruguay and Argentina.
Megaflashes are massive lightning strikes that travels horizontally up in the sky instead of vertically down to the ground, so there is almost unlimited range.
Judge rejects plea deal for McMichaels
A federal judge in Georgia rejected the hate crimes plea deal reached between the Department of Justice and two of the men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery.
Arbery’s family and their attorneys spoke out against the plea deal because it would allow Travis and Gregory McMichael to serve 30 years of their life prison sentences in their preferred federal prison.
One of the federal prosecutors who crafted the deal a few days ago said it was a good deal because they got Travis to admit that the killing was racially motivated. But now with the judge’s rejection of the plea deal, the federal hate crimes trial could begin next week, and it will be up to prosecutors to convince a jury that the killing was an act of hate.
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Pfizer vaccines for children under 5
Covid-19 vaccines for children under 5 years old down to six months of age may be available by the end of this month. Pfizer may submit an emergency-use authorization request with the FDA tomorrow for a two-dose regimen.
This is important — Pfizer said in December that their studies showed that two doses did not produce a strong enough immune response in those ages 2, 3, and 4, but it worked well for those 6 months to 2 years old. Pfizer is currently studying a third dose.
A source told the Washington Post that Pfizer is going ahead with seeking FDA authorization for the two doses so children can get started with their first immunizations. By the time studies for the third dose are ready, and if they receive FDA authorization, there won’t be a long delay before children can receive it.
Many people will be watching what the FDA does with the Pfizer request.
Former Miss USA dies at 30
A former Miss USA pageant winner, Cheslie Kryst, passed away at the age of 30 on Sunday morning. Police said she died from a fall from an apartment building in Manhattan that she lived in and are investigating the incident as a suicide.
Kryst’s family said they are “devastated” to share that their beloved Chelsie has passed away.
Kryst was also an attorney and a host for the “Extra” entertainment news program. She leaves behind her parents and five siblings.
Tesla recalling 54,000 cars and SUVS
Tesla said it is recalling almost 54,000 cars and SUVs because their FSD “Full Self-Driving” software allows them to roll through stop signs at up to 5.6 mph. The federal agency NHTSA had two meetings with Tesla in which they presented concerns that failing to stop may increase the risk of a crash. Tesla said they know of no crashes or injuries from the roll-throughs, but have agreed to recall the vehicles and disable the FSD feature.
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZcDCOOr-v4/
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33192441/tampa-bay-buccaneers-tom-brady-officially-announces-retirement
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/01/31/world-record-lightning-megaflash-us/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/us/ahmaud-arbery-hate-crime-plea-deal.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/01/31/coronavirus-vaccine-children-under-5/
https://www.axios.com/covid-vaccine-kids-under-5-pfizer-february-rollout-9d552aad-45ee-4b34-a0e9-5b26a8e4b3c8.html
https://apnews.com/article/cheslie-kryst-dead-a47deb81ccdfb00812718f84113f8f5e
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tesla-recall-2022-self-driving-software-rolling-stop-54000-vehicles/