Happy Friday, unicorns! Let’s see you into the weekend with some science, entertainment news, and more.
Police in Copenhagen shot and killed a gunman after he opened fire during a stand-off. This came shortly after the man had killed two people and injured five police officers in two separate incidents involving a free speech event and a synagogue.
In eastern France, a group of teenagers were arrested for desecrating Jewish gravesites. Hundreds of tombstones were damaged in the rural cemetery.
Several museums, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, have imposed a selfie stick ban. Museum directors say this both limits distractions and helps protect the art from accidental damage.
North Carolina State Senator Jeff Jackson had an interesting day at work when everyone else took a snow day.
I think I'm the only legislator in the building. Let me take care of a few things. Medicaid = expanded. Teachers = paid. Film = jobs. #NCGA
— Sen. Jeff Jackson (@JeffJacksonNC) February 17, 2015
This headline sums up this story perfectly: “A 26-year-old single mom won the Powerball because sometimes the universe is fair.”
LGBTQ News:
Exactly one same-sex couple is now legally married in Texas. Sarah Goodfriend and Suzanne Bryant were granted the right to marry after the couple petitioned their case. Goodfriend has ovarian cancer, and the couple said that their unmarried status was causing them significant harm.
Kate Brown becomes the first (known) bisexual to be Head of State as she takes office as Oregon Governor. Previously, she served as the state senate majority leader.
22-year-old transwoman Bri Golec was stabbed to death by her father in Akron. Golec is the sixth (reported) transgender person to die violently in the U.S. since the start of the year.
And in other obituaries…
R.I.P.
Louis Jourdan, actor in films including Octopussy and Gigi, died on February 14. He was 93.
Poet Philip Levine also died on Saturday, aged 87. He served as U.S. poet laureate from 2011 to 2012.
Singer Leslie Gore died on Monday from cancer. Perhaps best known for her song “It’s My Party,” she was 68.
Also losing her battle to cancer, actress Lorena Rojas died this week at age 44.
SCIENCE!
Apparently there’s a strain of human DNA that has made mice brains bigger. One step closer to X-Men?
Scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have developed a compound that “has blocked H.I.V. infection so well in monkeys that it may be able to function as a vaccine against AIDS.” Progress!
We’re getting closer to a male birth control pill. Two different possibilities are currently in the testing phases.
Entertainment News:
Lady Gaga is engaged to actor Taylor Kinney. That rock is something else.
Patty Hearst (yes, that one) is the owner of the winning shih tzu in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show’s toy category this week. However, a beagle named Miss P won Best in Show.
A new Dr. Seuss book is coming out this July. Read more about What Pet Should I Get? here.
And finally, guess who’s coming back to Doctor Who?
Yes, Michelle Gomez is due back as Ms. Bananas-Villain herself, and I’m excited.
See you next time, friends.
