Oskaloosa News Recap For February 26th, 2021
Local News – Local and State News
Local Sports – Local Sports
Indians Network
Statesmen Sports Network
North Mahaska Warhawks
Oskaloosa News Links
Obituaries
Radar and Road Conditions
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National and World News
Officials in Florida want spring breakers to head elsewhere.
New restrictions are being implemented to help slow the spread of COVID as spring-breakers touch down at South Florida destinations.
Miami Beach has several health and safety measures currently in place, such as “no alcohol, coolers, tables, tents or live music at public beaches” and capacity limits at some high-traffic beaches. There will also be a curfew in place in the city’s entertainment district and no booze sold after 10 pm.
In Fort Lauderdale, social-distancing and mask-wearing will be “heavily enforced,” according to Mayor Steve Gellar.
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Mr. Potato Head is no more.
The iconic spud-shaped plastic toy is getting a new, gender-neutral name. The classic toy will now simply be called Potato Head.
Hasbro’s senior vice president of global brands told Fast Company that the “’Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ is limiting when it comes to both gender identity and family structure.”
While some cheered the “woke” change, others questioned how the toy company can take away the “genitals of a spud that never had any to begin with.”
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February is usually the peak of flu season, with clinics and hospitals packed with patients…but not this year.
Experts believe that measures put into place to fend of COVID were a big factor in preventing a “twindemic” of flu and coronavirus.
Another possible explanation is that the coronavirus “muscled” aside the flu and other winter bugs, which is often consistent with patterns seen when certain flu strains predominate over others.
The CDC says this is the lowest flu season on record, according to its surveillance system, which is about 25 years old.
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Markets fell sharply on Thursday as the Dow slid 559 points, the Nasdaq dipped 478 points and the S&P lost 96 points.
Rising interest rates continue to weigh on investors. The 10-year Treasury yield rose again to 1.55 percent. Rising rates can make riskier stocks less attractive to buy and also indicate rising inflation.
First time jobless data was positive as only 730,000 individuals claimed benefits last week. Analysts expected 845,000.
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Several arrests were made Wednesday night during a protest in Brooklyn in the wake of the decision not to charge New York officers in the death of 41-year-old Daniel Prude.
Dozens of people marched through McCarren Park on Wednesday evening, with several attacking pedestrians and spray-painting vehicles along the way. Over 300 officers were on scene to control the chaos and a police chopper hovered overhead.
Earlier this week, a grand jury voted not to indict the officers who were involved in the death of Prude — a black man who was suffocated during his arrest after suffering a mental health breakdown last March. He died a week after the arrest.
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A 10-year-old boy in Michigan had to have his hands and legs amputated after developing a serious coronavirus inflammatory condition.
Dae’Shun Johnson was diagnosed with multi system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and had his right leg amputated in early February. Earlier this week, he had to have both hands and his left leg amputated.
Patients with this rare condition often experience limb loss due to a hyper-inflammatory response affecting the body’s blood clotting capably. It can also lead to organ damage due to the hyper-inflammatory response.
According to the CDC, there have been over 2,000 reported MIS-C cases nationwide as of Feb. 1.
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Last week’s 730,000 initial jobless claims brought the total for the entirety of the pandemic to about 79.6 million — a number equivalent to nearly half of the American workforce.
The latest filings fell from the prior week’s revised total of 841,000 and beat economists expectations of 835,000 filings, according to Thursday’s US Department of Labor report.
New unemployment claims have now remained above the pre-pandemic level of 695,000 for 49 consecutive weeks.
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As of Thursday, 66.5 million COVID vaccines have been administered nationwide.
Over 45.2 million people have received at least their initial dose, while over 20.6 million have received both doses.
The total number of cases in the US hit 28 million this week, with over 500,000 deaths reported.
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An Australian free diver sent social media into a tizzy after posting photos of a bizarre penis-shaped creature on Facebook.
Curious as to its name, Josie Jones, 48, decided to post the photo to a local marine research Facebook group. Biologists quickly pointed out that the marine “manhood” is a priapulida — a type of unsegmented worm that resides at the bottom of the ocean.
The name comes from Priapos — the Greek god of male generative power.
While many comments were scientific based, some users couldn’t help themselves. Two of the cheekier comments were: “Where do you put the batteries?” and “Even nature gets the urge.”
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Tiger Woods has no memory of his horrific car accident.
According to LA Country Sheriff Alex Villanueva, the golf legend was asked about the crash by investigators to which he replied that he had “no recollection of the crash itself.”
At the scene, first responders noted that Woods remained “calm” and appeared unaware of how “gravely he was injured.” The footage from the body camera of one of the responding officers who interacted with Woods will be available in the near future, according to USA Today.
On Thursday, medical experts told The Post that Woods faces a long road to recovery which includes “extensive physical therapy” and “additional operations on his shattered leg.”
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Tube Talk
Here’s what’s new on TV tonight:
Shark Tank / ABC / 7:00 pm
The Blacklist / NBC / 7:00 pm
Friday Night SmackDown / FOX / 7:00 pm
20/20 / ABC / 8:00 pm
Dateline NBC / NBC / 8:00 pm
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Showbiz News
John Mulaney is out of rehab.
The comedian, who entered a treatment facility two months ago, is doing well in outpatient sober care, a source tells Page Six.
The 38-year-old has been open with his previous struggles with substance abuse and his decision to go to rehab was met with a wave of support from fans and fellow comedians.
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Bruce Davison is set for a recurring role on the fourth and final season of Netflix series “Ozark.”
Davison will play Randall Schafer, a powerful retired Illinois US Senator who is accustomed to doing things his way.
The series follows the Byrde family’s journey from their normal, suburban Chicago life to their dangerous criminal enterprise in the Ozarks, Missouri. It stars Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner and Skylar Gaertner.
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These albums are being released today:
Architects, “For Those That Wish to Exist”
Alice Cooper, “Detroit Stories”
Bonnie Tyler, “The Best Is Yet To Come”
Celeste, “Not Your Muse”
Flawes, “Reverie EP”
Josh Groban, “Harmony Deluxe”
Madison Beer, “Life Support”
Sam Dew, “Moonlit Fools
The Wandering Hearts, “The Wandering Hearts”
Willie Nelson, “That’s Life”
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“Dora the Explorer” and “The Fairly Oddparents” are heading to Paramount+ with live-action reboots.
“Dora” ran for eight seasons on Nickelodeon, while “The Fairly OddParents” was one of the longest-running animated series on the network with 10 seasons.
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“Simpsons” creator Matt Groening candidly discussed his personal feelings regarding the show’s recent controversies concerning race representation.
In a rare interview with the BBC, Groening said “Times change, but I actually didn’t have a problem with the way we were doing it. All of our actors play dozens of characters each, it was never designed to exclude anyone.”
The iconic show has been criticized for its decision to cast white actors to voice characters of color. Over the last year, two voice actors, Hank Azaria (Apu) and Harry Shearer (Dr. Sibbert), have stepped away from voicing their non-white characters on the show.
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Netflix is adding to its animated series slate with “Transformers” and “My Little Pony.”
The streamer will roll out “Transformers: BotBots,” a 20-episode comedy based on Hasbro’s popular toy line of the same name.
Meanwhile, “My Little Pony G5” follows the events of Netflix’s “My Little Pony” CGI film, which centers around Sunny Starscout and her friends as they embark on mystical adventures.
Tentatively, the animated series will begin streaming this fall.
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“The Twilight Zone” will not be heading to Paramount+.
The show, which will end with its second season, was not listed among the CBS All Access series set to continue on the service as it transforms into Paramount+.
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Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot in the chest four times in Los Angeles Wednesday night by a gunman who then took off with two of the superstar’s beloved French bulldogs.
Ryan Fischer, the dog walker, was ambushed as he walked along North Sierra Bonita Avenue with Gaga’s dogs, Gustavo, Koji and Miss Asia, according to the LAPD.
The distraught Gaga, who is currently in Italy, is offering a $500,000 reward for the missing pups.
Fischer is “thankfully recovering well,” a source told TMZ.
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Emma Watson is taking a break from the big screen.
The 30-year-old is stepping away from acting, according to her agent, who told the Daily Mail that she is “dormant” from her career and won’t be taking any new projects.
Sources told the outlet that Watson is looking to spend more time with her rumored fiancé Leo Robinton, who she has been with since 2019.
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Following a lawsuit that accused Taylor Swift of swiping her album name “Evermore” from an amusement park in Utah, the singer is hitting back.
Swift is countersuing Evermore Park for spinning “unlicensed” T-Swift tunes.
As previously reported, theme park officials accused Swift of trademark infringement over the Evermore name, claiming her album caused “actual confusion and negatively affected their search engine placement.”
Swift’s attorneys called the suit baseless and ignored the cease-and-desist letter.
Now Swift’s music rights team is alleging the park has been playing the pop star’s music “without authorization.” They are asking the park pay “enhanced statutory damages” for the violations.
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Sports
The Watt brothers will not all suit up together on Heinz Field this upcoming NFL season.
Despite heavy recruitment efforts from the Steelers, JJ Watt will not be joining his brothers in Pittsburgh.
The teams that remain as potential landing spots are, the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN insider John Clayton.
He also mentioned the Las Vegas Raiders as a “dark horse.”
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List of the Week
14 Weird Laws Still in Effect in the US as of 2020
(courtesy of justsomething.com)
Bingo games can’t last more than 5 hours in North Carolina
Chickens can’t cross the road in Quitman, Georgia
In Arizona, if you cut down a cactus, you could be sentenced to 25 years in prison
Policemen are allowed to bite a dog if they think it will calm the dog down in Paulding, Ohio
In Texas, it is illegal to sell your eyeballs
You may not sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on Sunday in Rhode Island
Red cars are not allowed to drive on Lake Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bear wrestling matches are prohibited in Alabama
No taking pictures of rabbits from January to April without an official permit in Wyoming
No buying meat of any kind on Sunday in Washington
In San Antonio, flirting is against the law
A man may not give his fiancé a box of candy that weighs more than 50 lbs in Idaho
If you have a mustache, it is illegal for you to kiss a women in Eureka, Nevada
No harassing Bigfoot in Washington, unless you want to be arrested
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Day of the Year
National Pistachio Day
National Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Skip the Straw Day
For Pete’s Sake Day
Levi Strauss Day
National Personal Chef’s Day
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On This Date
1917 – President Wilson first learns of the Zimmerman Telegram.
The memo between the German Foreign Secretary and the German ambassador to Mexico suggested an alliance between the two countries if the US were to enter into World War I.
When British intelligence intercepted and decoded the note, it was swiftly routed to the president — who was appalled. On March 1st, it appeared on the front pages of newspapers across the country.
By March 3rd, the Germans acknowledge the letter as accurate.
Though Wilson had spent most of his presidency avoiding entering the First World War, he addressed Congress one month later on the need to enter the conflict, which happened on April 6.
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1935 – Hitler organizes Germany’s first air force.
The Luftwaffe would be organized by Hermann Goering, a World War I ace.
Under the Versailles Treaty following World War I, the Germans were prohibited from building up their military, so Hitler ordered its proliferation in secret. But when the Royal Air Force publicly boasted its own expansion, die Fuhrer would not be outdone — and he revealed his expanded air fleet.
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1949 – The “Lucky Lady II” begins a four-day flight around the world.
The B-50 had a crew of 14. It was refueled four times mid-flight, and averaged 249 miles per hour over 23,000 miles.
In 1986, a lightweight propeller plane called Voyager would circumnavigate the earth without refueling.
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1990 – The Sandanistas lose control of Nicaragua for the first time in over a decade.
The far-left regime took control in 1979 after rebel forces overthrew dictator Anastacio Somoza.
With the Cold War still keeping relations between the Free West and Oppressed East icy, the Reagan Administration aggressively opposed leftist politics around the globe, including Nicaragua.
That policy came to a head with the fall of the Sandinistas on this date in 1990.
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1993 – Muslim extremist Mohammed Slameh orchestrates and executes the World Trade Center bombing.
A truck bomb detonated under the North Tower. The bomb was designed to knock the North Tower into the South Tower, bringing the whole complex down — obviously the scheme failed, but not without casualties — 6 died and more than a thousand were injured.
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2012 – George Zimmerman fatally shoots 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Martin was walking back to a relative’s home when Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch coordinator, began following him. After calling the police over his concern about the “unknown male wearing a dark colored hoodie,” Zimmerman tried to confront Martin which led to a physical altercation. It ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting the teen.
Zimmerman claims the shooting was in self-defense.
Protests were staged around the US, with many in attendance donning hoodies in Martin’s honor.
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Birthdays
Slimmy B – rapper – 24
Juliet Simms – pop singer – 35
Teresa Palmer – actress, “Warm Bodies”, “Hacksaw Ridge” – 35
Nate Ruess – pop singer – 39
James Wan – movie director, “The Conjuring”, “Saw” – 44
Erykah Badu – R&B singer – 50
Tim Commerford – American bass player, Rage Against the Machine – 53
DeRay Davis – comedian – 53
Jennifer Grant – actress, “Beverly Hills, 90210”, “The Evening Star” – 55
Michael Bolton – rock singer – 68
Bill Duke – actor, “Predator”, “Commando” – 78
Born On This Date
Johnny Cash – American country singer – 1932 (d. 2003)
Fats Domino – American rhythm & blues star – 1928 (d. 2017)
Levi Strauss – clothing designer, Levi Strauss – 1829 (d. 1902)
Victor Hugo – French author, “Hunchback of Notre Dame”, “Les Miserables” – 1802 (d. 1885)
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Deaths
Ronald Pickup has died.
The UK actor, known best for his roles in “The Crown” and “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” passed away Wednesday after a lengthy battle with an undisclosed illness.
He was 80.
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Happy Hour
BLUEBERRY MARTINI
(Courtesy of the Spruce Eats)
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce orange liqueur
2 ounces fresh blueberry juice
1 ounce fresh mango juice
Garnish: fresh blueberries
DIRECTIONS:
Gather ingredients.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Pour all the ingredients into the shaker. Shake well.
Strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with fresh blueberries.
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