Kick off your week smartly: Tornadoes in Tennessee, Penn president, Michigan school shooting, Trump's gag order, sickle cell anemia remedies
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Weekend roundup
Tornadoes in Tennessee
Emergency responders search for survivors and assess damage after tornadoes and severe storms swept through Tennessee, sending cars tumbling, leveling buildings, and leaving at least six people dead. The mayor declared a state of emergency, while Clarksville conducted searches for survivors and potential further victims.
Pennsylvania University President Resigns
Liz Magill, president of the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, resigned as head of one of the world's top Ivy League schools. Magill was dismissed due to harsh criticism over her remarks about anti-Semitism on the Capitol Hill. Board Chair Scott Bok also stepped down.
Oxford High School Shooter Verdict
Teenager Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole as a result of the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Michigan, where he killed four classmates and injured six others and a teacher. Judge Kwame Rowe commented that Crumbley himself, in his own words, admitted it was his fault alone.
Trump's Gag Order Affirmation and Negation
An appellate court, for the most part, upheld the gag order against Donald Trump in the case of alleged election interference, but clarified that this did not apply to comments from Special Prosecutor Jack Smith.
Sickle Cell Anemia Treatment Approved
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two CRISPR-based gene therapies for sickle cell anemia treatment; the first using gene-editing technology, marking a new era in genetically-based disease treatment.
Upcoming week
Monday
The week is expected to see former President Donald Trump appearing as the last defense witness in his New York civil trial over alleged fraud. This high-risk trial will center on Trump's real estate empire, with New York State Attorney General Letitia James suing Trump for $250 million and seeking to restrict his business operations in the state to recover the lawsuit award (if successful).
Tuesday
Rudy Giuliani's defamation trial will begin, concluding a case investigating how much Giuliani – ex-presidential attorney and strong supporter of Trump's false election claims – must pay two Georgia election workers he wrongfully accused. A judge has already declared Giuliani liable for defamation, and a jury will decide on financial compensation.
One Thing: Young Thug's RICO Trial
On this week's "One Thing" CNN podcast, Ryan Young explains why Yung Thug's RICO case will likely have widespread impacts in the music industry and beyond. Tune in!
Statement of 2023: Year of Pictures
2023: Year of Pictures is an interactive CNN Digital gallery, updated weekly throughout the month, so don't miss your chance to check out the latest photos.
Entertainment Highlights
TV & Streaming
10 Ordinary People Making the World Better will be featured at 8 PM ET on CNN. Tune in to find out who will be named CNN's Hero of the Year 2023 based on your votes.
Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour merchandise is to be released on her 34th birthday and concert tickets will be available for purchase or streaming.
Netflix will release the second part of "The Crown" Season 5, covering the events leading up to 2005, including William and Kate's wedding preparations and Prince Charles' and Camilla Parker Bowles' marriage celebration.
Cinema
"Wonka" starring Timothée Chalamet will debut in cinemas. Brian Lowry of CNN has described it as "a weird, unnerving experience full of charisma." Chalamet excels in his performance, delivering a delightful singing voice.
In sports news...
ATP Rankings
Astonishing surprise in golf: Jon Rahm overtakes Tiger Woods at the top of the ATP rankings. The past Masters champion, currently ranking 3rd in the world, leaves the PGA Tour and joins the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series. Rahm will debut with the new team in the 2023 season.
Baseball
Historic deal for Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers: The 2-time American League MVP agrees to become the highest-paid player in the history of professional sports with a 10-year contract worth 700 million US dollars.
LSU Quarterback Wins Heisman Trophy
Jayden Daniels, LSU Quarterback, receives the prestigious Heisman Trophy 2023, making him the third LSU player to win the award and the first since 2007.
Army Defeats Navy
Army scored its second consecutive victory against Navy with a 17-11 win, marking their 6th victory in the past 8 games.
Tennis Legend Battles Cancer
Chris Evert, tennis legend, has announced that she has been diagnosed with cancer for a second time. As a result, she will not be participating in ESPN's news coverage for the 2024 Australian Open.
Quiz Time!
Engage in a challenge to start your week: test your knowledge with the weekly CNN trivia quiz!
Let's play...
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Whenever you step into a store during the holiday season, you'll probably be greeted by this classic Christmas carol. Despite its age, Brenda Lee, the original singer, just became the oldest artist ever to land at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Enrichment insights:
[^1]: Source:
[^_ftnref1]: The Oxford High School shooter, Ethan Crumbley, is currently undergoing a Miller Hearing, where Judge Kwame Rowe will determine if he should receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The hearing began on February 17, 2025, and is expected to continue over two days, with the possibility of extending into a third day. The prosecution presented various pieces of evidence, including text messages, photos, videos, social media posts, and surveillance video from inside the school during the shooting. Lt. Timothy Willis from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office testified about the evidence collected during the investigation. An audio recording from a video made by Ethan the night before the shooting was also played in court. Law enforcement officials and a teacher who was injured in the shooting spoke during the hearing, highlighting the emotional impact of the event on those involved ().
