Alright Panthers (and Panther fans), I’m gonna be real with y’all. This Editor-in-Chief has written the intro for KICs four weeks in a row now and is officially out of clever ideas. But that’s okay because next week is winter break, so I will get time to mentally recover from the first quarter of the semester. Since I’m assuming you will all be doing the same thing, here are some amazing KICs that our staff has been hard at work preparing for you. This week we have Canada’s capital declaring a state of emergency, an Atlanta police officer getting shot, a famous author at the Peachtree City library, the NFL naming this year’s MVP, and a video game that gives you the experience of being a politician.

February 7 – Canada’s capital has declared a state of emergency over recent protests 

Thousands of protesters flooded the city of Ottawa, joining the previous 100 protesters who had persisted throughout last week. The protests began after Canada started enforcing stricter laws revolving around the COVID vaccine, mainly the recent mandate for anyone who wishes to cross over the U.S. border.

Residents of the city are fuming over the non-stop horn blaring, and constant harassment, and they are growing excessively worried after the police chief stated that they could not contain such large numbers.  The “Freedom Truck Convoy” has gained mass support from U.S. citizens, including former President Donald Trump. The mayor of Canada’s capital has declared a state of emergency over the matter, and has stated that the U.S. must stop interfering with the affairs of their northern neighbor.

Some protesters have set off fireworks on the grounds of a war memorial, leaving Canadians outraged over the protesters’ crude actions. Ottowa’s mayor has requested support from other jurisdictions and is pushing for equipment that could support front-liners and first responders in the surrounding area.

February 8 – Atlanta police officer shot six times by known gang member

Monday afternoon, police officer David Rogers was shot six times in the line of duty. The shooting began at around 1:15 p.m. at Colonial Square Apartment homes off Old Hapeville Road. The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Christian Eppinger. The officer was hospitalized and was listed as stable after surgery. 

Police learned that the suspect was a member of the Young Slime Life gang. Eppinger had warrants for robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm back in October 2021. Eppinger had his first court appearance Tuesday, but the judge had denied him bond. 

Eppinger is being held at Fulton County jail on a long list of charges. Some of the charges included armed robbery, aggravated assault, attempted murder, and aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer. 

February 9 – Author Heather Webb sits down with Lynn Cullen at Peachtree City library 

Today’s best selling author in the U.S.A is Heather Webb, who will be releasing her newest book “The Next Ship Home.” Webb will be talking to Lynn Cullen this Thursday at the Peachtree City Library starting at 1 p.m. to discuss the new book and all of Webb’s other novels that she has written. 

Webb’s top voted books by her readers in 2015 is “Rodin’s Lover.” In 2018, “Last Christmas in Paris” got top votes and won the “Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award.” “Meet Me in Monaco” was the best one at the 2019 and 2020 Goldsboro RNA awards in the U.K. 

Lynn Cullen is a historical-novel author. Her all-time best selling novels include “The Sisters of Summit Avenue” and “Twain’s End.” Both Cullen and Webb will discuss their upcoming book releases and their other novels that have been nominated for the best novels throughout the past decade.

February 10 – Aaron Rodgers named NFL MVP for second consecutive year

At Thursday’s NFL Honors Awards, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row and for the fourth time overall out of his 17-year career.

Only one player has been awarded more season MVPs, Peyton Manning with five. Rodgers ended the 2021 season with 4,115 throwing yards, 37 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Rodgers has spent his entire career with the Packers and won Super Bowl XLV in 2011, in which he was named the most valuable player of the game.

Rodgers has been ambiguous about his future with the NFL, but after receiving the award, he commented on how thankful he is for the memories and moments over his 17-year career.

February 11 – New Video game that puts you in a politicians perspective 

Eliot Nelson wants people to see how life is from a politician’s perspective. He decided to make a new video game called “Politicians Arena.” 

The video game is the first in-depth game that really shows Americans what democracy is about.  The game simulates how running for President in the United States works. Players have an electoral map that lets them decide what they want to do in the game. 

Once the online ad was released, interest within the political world grew around this video game. Nelson generated $100,000 from a Kickstarter campaign to assemble a team and make the game possible.