Jussie Smollett awaits sentencing
Famed Empire actor Jussie Smollett was found guilty on Dec. 9 of staging and falsely reporting to police that he was the victim of a homophobic and racist attack in Chicago in 2018. His sentence will take place in the near future. Smollett has not been taken into custody.
Vincente Fernández dies
Mexican musical icon Vincente Fernández died on Sunday after a months-long battle with poor health. Fernández was considered to be the king of traditional Mexican ranchera, and was often referred to as “El Rey.” The singer– marked by his powerful tenor and flamboyant sense of style – was 81.
Kentucky storms expected to have killed over 70 people
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Sunday that at least 70 people might have been killed by the tornadoes that ravaged the state (along with five others) on Dec. 10. He added that the death toll is increasing and expects the number to shoot over 100 people. Kentucky was hit by a twister that covered more than 200 miles. The storms hit a candle factory in the state, an Amazon facility in Illinois, and a nursing home in Arkansas.
NYC City Council approves noncitizen voting
New York City became the largest American city on Dec. 9 to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections after the City Council greenlit the legislation to more than 800,000 documented residents. They could begin voting in local elections as of Jan. 9, 2023.
Gothic writer Anne Rice dies
Anne Rice, the prolific Gothic writer most famous for her work Interview With the Vampire, which was made into a star-studded movie, died on Saturday at a hospital in Rancho Mirage, California. She was 80.
Buffalo Starbucks store unionizes
Starbucks workers at an outlet in Buffalo, New York, voted to unionize on Dec. 9. The move made it the only company-owned store in the country with a union.
FDA approves Pfizer booster for 16- and 17-year-olds
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 boosters for 16- and 17-year-olds, making millions of teenagers eligible for added protection. The announcement came at a time when Pfizer declared its booster dose to show significant protection against the new Omicron variant.
