February 1 top news briefs

Here are today’s top news briefs.

The TSA said it has the authority to fine passengers who refuse to wear a mask and deny entry or boarding on planes. TSA will view those who refuse to wear masks as “attempting to circumvent screening requirements or interfering with screening personnel.” The TSA can do this as a result of President Joe Biden’s executive order that directs federal agencies to mandate masks in airports, trains, bus services, and ferries.

CNBC reported that Melvin Capital, a hedge fund that bet against GameStop by shorting its stocks, lost more than 50% of its assets it managed, worth billions of dollars, as a result of the stock rally from Reddit and retail investors that quadrupled GameStop’s stock price. Will this turn into a film someday? News reports said MGM has bought the movie rights to the story. Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) wrote a letter to the SEC asking for an investigation on market manipulation by either side, saying investors are treating the stock market like a casino.

Actor Evan Rachel Wood said musician Marilyn Manson abused her for years, ever since she was a teenager. Wood said she was brainwashed and manipulated into submission. Vanity Fair reported that four other women have also made sexual and psychological abuse allegations against Manson, who’s real name is Brian Warner. Wood and Manson were once engaged but later broke up.

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Oregon has a new law that decriminalizes the possession of all illegal drugs and it goes into effect today. Those who are in possession of hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine, meth, will not be prosecuted but instead be fined $100 with the option to drop the fine if they agree to a health assessment. Lawmakers in Oregon hope to send those who are addicted to drugs to rehab or receive treatment instead of sending them to jails or prison.

In Rochester, New York, there were two police body-camera videos released that showed police officers pepper-spraying a 9-year-old Black girl as they tried to put her in the back of a police cruiser. The girl was also handcuffed. News reports said officers were called to the scene because there was a “family trouble” with the girl threatening to kill herself and her mother. The girl was taken to a hospital and was later released. The Rochester Police Chief said it’s not okay to do that and they will do the work to make sure these kinds of things don’t happen.

Dustin Diamond, who was well-known for his role as Screech in the 1990’s TV show “Saved by the Bell,” passed away from cancer at the age of 44 at a hospital in Florida. Diamond announced he had cancer last month. The specific kind of cancer is carcinoma, which starts in cells that make up the skin or the tissue lining organs and it spreads very quickly.

https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/tsa/536734-tsa-authorized-to-fine-passengers-who-refuse-to-wear-mask

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/31/melvin-capital-lost-more-than-50percent-after-betting-against-gamestop-wsj.html

https://www.axios.com/elizabeth-warren-stock-market-private-equity-f70dfb50-1b31-4ba0-9bfb-876324401cd8.html

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/02/he-horrifically-abused-me-for-years-evan-rachel-wood-and-other-women-make-allegations-of-abuse-against-marilyn-manson

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/02/01/oregon-decriminalizes-all-drugs-offers-treatment-instead-jail-time/4311046001/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/videos-show-rochester-officers-pepper-spraying-year-75600400?cid=clicksource_4380645_5_heads_hero_live_headlines_hed

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/01/entertainment/dustin-diamond-obit/index.html

https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/dustin-diamond-dead-saved-by-the-bell-screech-1234897484/