An American flag waves behind a wire fence, erected in preparation for the Derek Chauvin trial decision. Mr. Chauvin was convicted on all charges Tuesday the 20th. (Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock via ABC News).

Your Summit Weekly Briefing

By Alex Tananbaum and Ashwath Vimal

 

 Disclaimer: Though the Weekly Briefings are no longer tagged in the Opinions section of Summit News and we try to remain as unbiased as possible, our opinions may show through in this article, especially in the “Actions” section.   

1: Summit: Local Hobby Stores and the Pandemic

In the article “Local Hobby Stores Stand Strong Against Covid”, staff writer Kai Wilson explores the hardships local hobby stores, in particular comics shops, have endured due to COVID-19. Wilson focuses on interviews with California store owners as they review the effects of the virus on certain game sales (Magic: The Gathering has not been selling as well, while Pokemon trading cards have) and the expectations of owners as to when they believe their sales will go back to “normal.” 

 

2. General News: Stocks of Tobacco companies fall due to new regulations, weekend of shootings 

 

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration is starting to consider regulations involving how much nicotine cigarettes should be allowed to have. The main point of discussion is to reduce nicotine levels to where cigarettes are no longer active. Another ruling that is being discussed is one to ban cigarettes that possess menthol, which adds a subtle flavor to tobacco to reduce the harshness. This especially appeals to younger prospective customers and is said to be harder to quit by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, the stock of major tobacco companies like Altria Group declined by a total of 8%. These guidelines would not be implemented right away but will have a drastic effect on tobacco companies, as people are less likely to buy cigarettes without menthol. Furthermore, addicts will not be inclined to buy cigarettes if they are no longer addictive. Altira has stated that the FDA “must consider the real-world consequences of these possible mandates. 

 

This last Thursday, there was a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Indiana late at night where eight people were killed. The shooting lasted mere minutes after the perpetrator got out of his car and shot randomly outside the building before going inside for a short amount ofn time.  However, that was not the only one that occured in the past week:

• Another shooting happened in Chicago, where a seven-year-old girl in a McDonalds drive-thru was shot and killed, with her father hospitalized 
• Three people were killed in a shooting in Austin. Texas by a 41-year-old man previously charged with sexual assault of a minor; he was arrested the following day 
• A shooting at a bar in Kenosha, Wisconsin killed three and injured three, after the perpetrator of the shooting was kicked out of the building and returned later; a 24-year-old male suspect has been arrested 
• InColumbus, Ohio, one person was killed and five others were injured during a drive by shooting at a vigil for a victim of murder 
• One person was killed and another injured in a shooting at a mall in Omaha, Nebraska; one teenager and one adult were arrested for the shooting
• One last shooting in LaPlace, Louisiana happened during a 12-year-old’s birthday party after a verbal argument; there are no reported casualties or arrests made 

 

Related: A prosecutor in Indiana has stated that the man who carried out the shooting purchased the two guns used in it after he was investigated for being potentially violent. He was also put on immediate detention mental health temporary hold after a shotgun was seized from his home. However, there was no petition filed for the man to be considered violent or mentally unstable in the 14 day limit after the gun was seized. Therefore, he was still allowed to purchase a firearm since his family also peacefully gave up the shotgun. 

3. Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson say other vaccines cause blood clots as well

After the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was found out to have caused blood clots in six adult women, it was taken out of circulation until the issue was further researched. One man was also found to have experienced a similar thing as well. After this, however, the same company stated that Pfizer and Moderna both had evidence that showed blood clots caused by their vaccine. However, Dr. Eun-Ju Lee, one of the people involved with the study, has stated that this is untrue, and no blood clots were found. The purpose of the study was not to look for blood clots at all. What the study did find was that some people who took the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine developed “low platelet levels”. Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the University of Pennsylvania, has said that Johnson & Johnson spreading this kind of rumor about the other vaccines will keep the people who are wary of vaccines still hesitant to take them. Johnson & Johnson did not respond to the backlash received from their statement and did not mention their claim again in future statements.

 

Another vaccine also speculated to cause blood clots is the AstraZeneca vaccine, as shown in a study included in Johnson & Johnson’s statement on April 9. AstraZeneca is also investigating these reports along with Johnson & Johnson. 

 

Related: In Europe, a medicine regulator has found a probable connection between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and blood clots. The European Medicines agency has said that blood clots are still very rare, and that the “overall benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects.” As a result, Johnson & Johnson are going to start to distribute their vaccine once again to the European Union, Norway, and Iceland. They have also said a warning about the possible side effects of blood clots will be added to their COVID-19 vaccine leaflet. 

 

Editor’s Experience: The Second Dose 

A few weeks ago, I detailed my dad and I’s experience getting our first vaccine dose. The Friday before Spring Break, we received our second dose. We both got Pfizer again, as is standard practice, and left after the 15 minutes. Though people I know experienced fevers, chills and other symptoms after the vaccine for a few to 48 hours, my dad and I had very few side effects. We both felt very tired, and our arms hurt, but that was pretty much it, other than the fact that I had a very slight fever the day after I received the shot (Saturday). My dad and I both drank a lot of water, which he read helped. Overall, I’d say again: do not be too scared. Even if you do have side effects, it is better to have those for a few hours-days than the actual virus for months. 

 

Stay Informed: CNN reports live, bite-sized updates on Coronavirus here.

 

4. Politics: Anti-Asian hate crimes bill, Derek Chauvin trial

This Wednesday the 21st, the Senate will vote whether or not to approve a bill aimed at combatting anti-Asian hate crimes, which have risen since the beginning of the pandemic. The bill, constructed by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) would:

• Instruct the Justice Department to speed up its review of hate crimes related to COVID-19.
• Give local law enforcement increased support to aid in violence against Asian American response.
• Curb the use of discriminatory language, which has risen since the pandemic’s beginning. 
• Make it easier for the federal government to track hate crimes and incidents. 
• Improve both local and state guidances for reporting hate crimes and incidents. 

 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also reported that two bipartisan amendments to the bill have been proposed, including a change in language by Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), as both she and other Republicans were concerned by the bill’s specific linkage of hate crimes and coronavirus. The other amendment, by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Jerry Moran that would establish grants that would aid local and state governments in reporting hate crimes. 

 

Closing arguments for Derek Chauvin’s murder trial began Monday the 19th. Mr. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in relation to the death of George Floyd. The most serious charge alone could cause Mr. Chauvin, 45, to be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. As PBS notes, the jury, which is made up of six white and six Black or multiracial people, must conclude that Mr. Chauvin’s actions were a“substantial causal factor” in Mr. Floyd’s death. The prosecution argued that the nine minutes and 29 seconds Mr. Chauvin knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck resulted in his suffocating, while the defense argued that Mr. Chauvin acted in self defense, repeatedly asking the jury to “consider the totality of the events of the evening,” and claimed drug use and/or heart problems caused Mr. Floyd’s death. In his closing statement, Prosecutor Steve Schleicher said that “This [Chauvin’s actions] was not an accident. He did not trip and fall and find himself on George Floyd’s neck. Believe your eyes. What you saw, you saw.” Defense attorney Eric Nelson urged the jury to take in “the totality of the circumstances.”

 

Breaking: Derek Chauvin convicted of all charges. 

 

Related: After Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) told Minnesota protesters to “get more confrontational” should Chauvin not be convicted,  Derek Chauvin’s lawyer requested the judge to declare a mistrial, arguing that her comments may influence the jury’s decision. While Judge Peter Cahill did not grant the request, he did state: “I’ll give you that Congresswoman Waters may have given you something on appeal that may result in this whole trial being overturned.” Reactions to Rep. Waters’ comments have been fairly split along party lines, with Republicans calling for punishment or removal and Democrats, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, opposing such measures. Pelosi stated Monday the 19th that “I don’t think she [Rep. Waters] should apologize. Maxine talked about ‘confrontation’ in the manner of the civil rights movement.”

 

5. Sports: New “Super League” introduced to the world of soccer

Twelve of the most popular and biggest soccer clubs have announced that they will be forming a “Super League” for the top teams across Europe. During the week, clubs in the Super League will play matches against each other, but in a manner where it doesn’t interfere with their involvement in current tournaments and associations. Florentino Perez, the president of the Spanish soccer club Real Madrid (one of the founding teams of the Super League along with Juventus and Manchester United), has stated that one of the main reasons for the start of this new league is because of “financial loss” from the COIVD-19 pandemic. He also said that the new proposed format for the “Champions League”, the current tier of competition for top European teams, will not provide enough profit to let soccer thrive for years to come. 

 

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) are completely opposed to this idea and has threatened to ban the 12 teams involved with the Super League from UEFA competitions. Mr. Perez has expressed his belief that the 12 teams will not be prohibited from participating and that they will negotiate with the UEFA to solve the issue. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Premier League have also posed a similar stance.

 

The idea of a Super League has been discussed by many of the top teams for years now. Accompanying the 12 teams already part of it, another three are expected to be added, along with five additional slots for five “rotating” teams per season. Each of the twenty teams will be put into one of two divisions, where the top four teams in each one will advance to a playoff setting. Mr. Perez is the chairman of the new league, joined by Andrea Agnelli(chairman of Juventus) and Joel Glazer (owner of Manchester United) as vice-chairman. 

 

6. Entertainment: Music Stars like Selena Gomez and Jennifer Lopez will be in a concert to promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution 

 

Many pop and rock stars are planning a worldwide broadcast to support “equal vaccine distribution”. This event will be hosted by Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin and H.E.R.  This event is a concert dubbed “VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World”, and will happen on May 8. This concert is a part of Global Citizen’s goal to resolve the pandemic and help people recuperate from it, with the main purpose of their movement being to end poverty by 2030. Global citizen has stated that the main goal of the concert is to make sure that vaccines are offered every single person globally and to put a sto[p to any uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 vaccines. Organizations like the World Health Organization wholeheartedly support this concert. On May 8, the event will be streamed on ABC, CBS, YouTube, and iHeart at 8p.m. ET, with it airing on FOX at 11 p.m. ET. 

 

7. Weather

 

Atlas (West Seattle): Highs this week will ultimately start high and end lower with today-Weds’ at 70-71℉, Thurs’ 64℉, Fri 60℉, Sat 54℉ and Sun-Mon back up to 59-60℉. Lows will stick in the 40’s—47-48℉ today-Thurs, 46℉ Fri-Sat, 44℉ Sun and back to 46℉ Mon. Sun levels this week will vary, today and Weds being sunny, Thurs partially cloudy, Fri cloudy, Sat showers, Sun partial showers and Mon partial cloudy again. Enjoy that sun, wear a mask, and have a good week.

Summary: Highs starting in the low 70’s and ending in the low 60’s, lows throughout the 40’s, sun, partial clouds, clouds, showers, partial showers. 

 

Olympus (Tacoma): Highs this week will ultimately fall, today’s being 71℉, Weds’ 73℉, Thurs dropping quickly to 63℉, Fri 60℉, Sat 52℉, Sun 56℉ and Mon 58℉. Lows will stick within a most subdued range, mostly 43-44℉, with the exception of 46℉ Weds and 42℉ Sun. Sun levels will vary throughout this fine week, today and Weds being sunny, Thurs partially cloudy, Fri cloudy, Sat and Sun seeing showers and Mon partially cloudy again. Stay dry, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs starting in the low 70’s and ending in the high 50’s, lows mostly in the 43-44℉ range, sun, partial and full clouds, showers. 

 

Sierra (Seattle): Highs this week will fall overall, starting at 69-70℉ today-Weds, down to 63℉ Thurs, 59℉ Fri, 52℉ Sat, then back up to 57-58℉ Sun-Mon. Lows will range throughout the 40’s, today’s being 45℉, Weds-Thurs’ 46-47℉, Fri-Sat 44-45℉ and 43-44℉ Sun-Mon. Cloud levels this week will vary greatly, with today and Weds being sunny, Thurs partially cloudy, Fri cloudy, Sat seeing showers, Sun partial showers and Mon partially cloudy again. Enjoy that sun, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs starting in the high 60’s and ending in the high 50’s, lows throughout the 40’s, sun, full and partial clouds, showers and partial showers. 

 

Denali (Sunnyvale): Highs this week will rise then fall, today’s starting at 65℉, Weds-Thurs 72-73℉, Fri 70℉, Sat down to 67℉, Sun 59℉ and Mon 62℉. Lows will mostly stay within the 47-48℉ range with the exception of 49℉ today and Sat. The majority of the week will be partially cloudy, though Weds will be sunny, Sun seeing showers and Mon partial showers. Soak up that day of sun, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs starting in the mid 60’s, peaking in the low 70’s, ending in low 60’s, lows in the high 40’s, partial clouds, sun, showers, partial showers.

 

Everest and Prep (Redwood City): Highs this week will peak towards the middle starting at 59℉ today, 68℉ Weds, 63-64℉ Thurs-Fri, 61℉ Sat, 55℉ Sun and 58℉ Mon. Lows will mostly stick in the 46-47℉ range, with the exception of 45℉ Sun. The majority of the week will be partially cloudy, though Weds will be sunny, Sun will see showers and Mon partial showers. Stay dry, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs in the high 60’s-mid 50’s, lows in the mid 40’s, partial clouds, sun, partial and full showers. 

 

K2 (El Cerrito): Highs this week will start in the 60’s at 69℉ today, 65℉ Weds-Fr, down to 62℉ Sat, 58℉ Sun and up to 63℉ Mon. The week’s lows will be 48-49℉ today-Sat, then 47℉ Sun-Mon. The majority of the week will also be partially cloudy, but Sun will see full showers and Mon partial showers. Stay dry, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs in the mid 60’s-high 50’s, lows in the high 40’s, partial clouds and full-partial showers. 

 

Tam (Richmond): Highs this week will mostly remain in the 60’s with today’s being 66℉, Weds-Fri’s 62-63℉, Sat down to 61℉, Sun 58℉ and Mon back up to 61℉. As for lows, Tues-Fri will see 48-49℉, Sat 50℉ and Sun-Mon 47℉. The majority of the week will be partially cloudy with the exception of Sun (showers) and Mon (parital showers). Stay dry, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs throughout the 60’s, lows in the high 40’s, partial clouds and full-partial showers. 

 

Shasta (Daly City): Highs this week will mostly stay in the 54-55℉ range, with the exception of 56℉ Thurs. Lows will stick solely in the 49-50℉ range, making my job of reporting the weather quite easy. Today will be cloudy, Weds-Sat partially cloudy, Sun will see showers and Mon partial showers. Stay dry, wear a mask, and have a good week.

Summary: 54-55℉ highs, 49-50℉ lows, full and partial clouds as well as full and partial showers. 

 

Tahoma (San Jose): Highs will peak midweek starting at 65℉ today, 74℉ Weds, up to 76℉ Thurs, 71℉ Fri, down to 68℉ Sat, 60℉ Sun and back up to 62℉ Mon. ows will mostly remain in the 48-49℉ range, with the exception of 51℉ Sat and 47℉ Mon. Additionally, the majority of the week will be partially cloudy, though Weds will be fully sunny and Sun will see partial showers. Soak up that sun, wear a mask, and have a good week. 

Summary: Highs from the mid 70’s-low 60’s, lows in the high 40’s, partial clouds, showers and full sun. 

 

8. Cooking: 5 ingredient instant pot mac and cheese

Still got that Instant Pot after that craze a few years ago? Me too. Put it to use with this mac and cheese recipe (via Food Network). 

 

Ingredients: 

 

• 1 pound elbow macaroni

 

• Kosher salt 

 

• One 12-ounce can evaporated milk

 

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

 

• 3 cups shredded mild or medium Cheddar  

 

Method:

 

1. Combine the macaroni, 4 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt in a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot® multi-cooker (see Cook’s Note). Follow the manufacturer’s guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
2. After the pressure cook cycle is complete follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release and wait until the cycle is complete. Being careful of any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid and switch to the low saute setting. 
3. Stir in the evaporated milk, butter and 1/4 cup water. Then add the Cheddar, a little at time, while constantly stirring, until the cheese is completely melted. Serve hot.

 

Note: settings may vary on your Instant Pot® depending on the model. Please refer to the manufacturer’s guide.

 

9. Actions: Climate justice online event, 

Editor’s‌ ‌note:‌ ‌The‌ ‌“Actions”‌ ‌section‌ ‌includes‌ ‌petitions‌ ‌to‌ ‌sign,‌ ‌prompts‌ ‌and‌ ‌scripts‌ ‌to‌ ‌write‌ ‌officials‌ ‌with‌ ‌as‌ ‌well‌ ‌as‌ ‌other‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌to‌ ‌engage‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌local,‌ ‌national‌ ‌and‌ ‌global‌ ‌communities.‌ ‌

1. Join The Frontline’s virtual Earth Day Event “On the Frontline: Climate Justice for the People” to discuss climate justice vision and demands as well as how you can help advance the THRIVE Act.
2. Call or email your representative using this script to let them know you support the For the People Act (S1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (HR4).  ‌
3. Sign this petition to support gun control.

 ‌

And,‌ ‌as‌ ‌always:‌ ‌

• Watch‌ ‌or‌ ‌listen‌‌ ‌or‌ ‌listen‌ ‌to‌ ‌this‌ ‌playlist.‌ ‌All‌ ‌advertisement‌ ‌revenue‌ ‌goes‌ ‌to‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Lives‌ ‌ Matter.‌ ‌I‌ ‌currently‌ ‌have‌ ‌it‌ ‌on‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌background‌ ‌as‌ ‌I‌ ‌am‌ ‌writing‌ ‌this‌ ‌brief.‌ ‌Do‌ ‌not‌ ‌skip‌ ‌the‌ ‌ ads,‌ ‌the‌ ‌donations‌ ‌will‌ ‌not‌ ‌go‌ ‌through‌ ‌otherwise.‌ ‌
• Watch‌ ‌or‌ ‌listen‌‌ ‌to‌ ‌this‌ ‌video.‌ ‌All‌ ‌advertisement‌ ‌revenue‌ ‌goes‌ ‌to‌ ‌various‌ ‌aid‌ ‌organizations‌ ‌easing‌ ‌the‌ ‌humanitarian‌ ‌crisis‌ ‌in‌ ‌Yemen.‌ ‌Please‌ ‌note‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌blocked‌ ‌on‌ ‌school‌ ‌Chromebooks‌ ‌due‌ ‌to‌ ‌being‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌“Entertainment”‌ ‌category‌ ‌
  • Learn‌ ‌more‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌ ‌crisis‌ ‌at‌ ‌‌www.monareliefye.org/‌.‌ ‌