News Roundup 4/18/18

By: Astrid Cortez

1. Former First Lady Barbara Bush Dies

On Tuesday April 17, according to a statement put out by her husband’s office, former first lady Barbara Bush, died at the age of 92. Bush was wife to the 41st president of the United States George H.W Bush, and mother to 43rd president George W. Bush, making her the second woman in American history to have both her husband and son elected into the presidency, behind Abigail Adams. Bush had her share of health problems tracing back to 1988 when she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease, she went through a perforated ulcer surgery in 2008 and an open heart surgery in 2009. Although not officially confirmed, it is believed Bush’ Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) played a part at the time of her death.

Source: CNN Politics

2. Kendrick Lamar Wins Pulitzer Prize

On Monday April 16, the winners for the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes were announced. Among the winners was rapper Kendrick Lamar, who was awarded the prize for music for his 2017 album ‘DAMN.’ This makes Lamar the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize and his album the first honored that is not a Classical or Jazz composition.

Source: The New York Times

3. Starbucks To Close All Stories For Racial-bias Training

On Tuesday April 17, Starbucks Coffee announced they will be closing all U.S company owned stores on May 29, 2018 to hold a racial-bias training that will address implicit bias and help prevent discrimination. According to Starbucks, the training will apply to nearly 175,000 partners throughout 8,000 stores nationwide and will be designed by a nationally recognized expert. The curriculum will be available to other companies for their use as well. The big decision comes after two African-American men were arrested for trespassing at a Starbucks in Philadelphia on April 12, 2018 after the store manager called 911 claiming the two refused to make a purchase or leave.

Source: Starbucks Newsroom

4. From Walmart To Coachella: Yodeling Boy Mason Ramsey

Eleven-year-old Mason Ramsey, also known as ‘The Walmart Yodeling Boy,’ was flown out to California by electronic dance artist, Whethan. Ramsey performed Friday afternoon at the Sahara Tent at this year’s Coachella Festival in Indio, California. His performance caught even more attention when festival goers noticed Justin Bieber was a member of the audience who had gone to see him perform and cheer him on as he performed the rendition of Hank Williams ‘Lovesick Blues.’ This shot him to fame overnight after being recorded earlier this month preforming at his local Walmart near his hometown of Golconda, Illinois.

Source: TIME

5. ‘Killer Nanny’ Yoselyn Ortega Convicted

Yoselyn Ortega, 55, also known as ‘The Killer Nanny,’ was convicted in a New York courthouse on April 18, 2018, after a two-month trial for the murders of two Upper West Side children, Lulu, 6, and Leo Krim, 2, whom were under her care back in October of 2012. She sat motionless as a judge read out her conviction on four counts of murder, while the father of the two victims Kevin Krim, broke out in tears as the verdict was announced.

Source: NY Daily News

Astrid Cortez April 18, 2018