Thursday, January 27 top stories
It is Thursday, January 27. Here are today’s top stories.
Kobe memorial displayed on 2-year anniversary
Yesterday, January 26, was the second-year anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others. A sculptor brought a bronze statue of Kobe and Gianna up to the site of the crash in Calabasas, California for a one-day display. There were several fans who hiked 1.3 miles to see the statue and pay their respects. The memorial had the names of the other crash victims engraved on it. The sculptor, Dan Medina, said nobody asked him to do it and he did it all on his own so some fans could have a sense of healing.
Scientists regrow frog’s missing leg
Scientists said they have seen a partial regrowth of the hind limbs of African clawed frogs that had their legs amputated. The scientists used a mix of five different drugs and a device called “BioDome.” Scientists said the frog was exposed to the chemicals for only 24 hours and that it triggered a regenerative period that lasted for 18 months to an “almost complete limb.” Scientists hope that in the future, they can see mammals or even humans regenerate limbs.
U.S. economy grew 5.7% in 2021
The U.S. economy grew 5.7% in 2021, the best pace of growth since 1984. The 5.7% is the increase in the U.S.’ gross domestic product (GDP), its total output of goods and services. It is a positive bounce for America from a steep drop in our GDP in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hiker dies after selfie on cliff
In Arizona, police said a 21-year-old male hiker was found dead after he apparently slipped while taking a selfie off a 700-foot-high cliff. His body was found at the bottom of a mountain called Flatiron Summit. His name was Richard Jacobson. He was camping on the peak and wanted to take a photograph of himself with the city skyline in the background but lost his footing. A friend said Richard loved the outdoors and he “guesses he died doing what he loved to do, just in a tragic way.”
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Justice Breyer formally announces retirement
Today Supreme Court Justice Breyer gave remarks from the White House with President Biden to officially announce his retirement.
Breyer said he would step down when the court is in its summer recess, which is usually at the end of June or early July, and that he assumes his successor will be nominated and confirmed.
Breyer said our country was founded on an “experiment” in the idea that we are free, created equal, and can resolve our differences through the rule of law and the Constitution. He said it is up to students today and the next generation on whether the American experiment still works.
President Biden said he would announce his nominee by the end of February. He promised that the person would be the first Black woman ever nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court and be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said in a statement that Biden “must not outsource this important decision to the radical left.”
There was criticism from conservatives that Biden is eliminating many other potential judges because he wants to appoint a Black woman. The White House responded that former President Ronald Reagan, in 1980, made a similar promise to nominate a woman to the court, and followed through with Sandra Day O’Connor’s confirmation in 1981.
For whoever Biden nominates, he will need the support of all 50 senators in the Democratic caucus, or at least 50 senators, in order to confirm his nominee.
That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.
https://gizmodo.com/frog-s-missing-leg-regrown-with-chemical-cocktail-scie-1848426828
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/01/27/gdp-2021-q4-economy/
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/stephen-breyer-biden-retirement-announcement/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kobe-gianna-bryant-statue-crash-anniversary/