News Brief: Week of March 11 – 17

National

Disneyland: Disney parks will officially reopen on April 30, 2021 after a year of not admitting guests. 

Disneyland President Ken Potrock said in a news release everyone was going back to work soon. 

“The day all of us have long been waiting for is almost here,” Potrock said. “We’re excited to have more than 10,000 cast members returning to work as we get ready to welcome our guests back to this happy place.”

There will be restrictions, such as limited capacity in the parks and phased re-openings of hotels, according to California’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” for reopening businesses.

Tickets are limited to California residents and must be purchased in advance.

Tiger Woods Update: On Tuesday, March 16, Tiger Woods tweeted he was finally home from the hospital.

“Happy to report that I am back home and continuing my recovery,” Woods said in a statement. “I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that I have received over the past few weeks.”

Woods was seriously injured in a car crash on Tuesday, Feb. 23, while leaving his home. Since authorities say there was evidence of impairment after treating him, Woods will not face charges.

Biden COVID-19 Update: The Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday, March 17 they will help schools reopen safely through a $10 billion fund towards COVID-19 screening tests and other COVID-19 related costs.

“COVID-19 testing is critical to saving lives and restoring economic activity,” HHS acting Secretary Norris Cochran said in a press release. “As part of the Biden Administration’s National Strategy, HHS will continue to expand our capacity to get testing to the individuals and the places that need it most, so we can prevent transmission of the virus and defeat the pandemic.”

The American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed last week, will give a total of $122 billion to individual states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia to help students get back into the classroom.

State education agencies will receive the money later this month.

Gamestop Gorillas: The subreddit r/WallStreetBets is at it again, only this time, they’re adopting endangered gorillas.

On Saturday, March 13, a Redditor adopted a baby gorilla named Urungano for Gamestop. More Redditors followed until more than $338,000 was donated to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the world’s largest and longest-running organization for protecting gorillas.

The president and CEO of the fund, Tara Stoinski, found out only recently.

“I was just made aware that you have been adopting gorillas through our website,” Stoinski said. “I just wanted to say thank you so much for this incredible support.”

State

Weather: On Tuesday, March 16, a storm travelled across Oklahoma, bringing rain and some snow. 

Areas in the Panhandle of Oklahoma had high wind speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour on Wednesday. Other areas are currently experiencing thunderstorms and heavy downpours. 

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for the following counties: Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Ellis and Woodward.

However, weekend weather is looking to be warmer and sunny.

Keystone Pipeline: Attorney Generals from 21 states, including Oklahoma, have sued to overturn the cancellation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

President Biden revoked the permit for the pipeline on his first day in office, but the lawsuit argues the line runs through several states, so Congress should decide if it is built or not.

The pipe would run from Canada to Steele City, Nebraska, transporting over 35 million gallons of oil daily.

According to the lawsuit, “The U.S. government has studied the safety, environmental impact and economic benefits of Keystone XL for years. It repeatedly concluded that the pipeline would have a negligible impact on the climate but a significant impact on the economy and American energy independence.”