Happy Flip Flop Friday, Panthers! Along with the changing weather, some of the sports teams are trying to bring back “Flip Flop Friday,” which is an interesting way to create bonding within the teams. We start off the week with the police bringing Power Rangers to life, officers accused of staging gladiator fights, a suspicious man spotted at two Georgia high schools, a brush fire in Peachtree City, and Trump putting new limits on Musk.
World – Police bringing Power Rangers to life during a carnival in São Paulo
On Saturday, São Paulo police shared footage of them showing up during a carnival dressed up as Power Rangers. Brazilians watched as they walked around and even arrested a man.
During the festivities, it is common to see people dress up and superheroes are common to be seen as a costume of choice. This year is no exception, as authorities arrested a suspected phone thief while those around chanted “Power Rangers!” The governor also commented on it on X, saying how the undercover police recovered four more stolen phones and roughly $2,425 in cash.
This is not the first time police have dressed up for the carnival and even arrested people during the festivities. Their festivities will continue until March 5, leaving more time for people to dress up and have fun.
National – Officers accused of staging gladiator fights
Thirty officers have been charged in their roles for staging gladiator fights between inmates. Jury said Los Padrinos allowed up to 70 fights between July 2023 and December 2023 with more than 140 victims between the ages of 12 and 18.
Footage was shown of a 17-year-old being attacked by other young inmates who came in one-by-one and beat them up while officers watched. Two officers told other staff ahead of time that fights were going to occur, but they told them to not do anything and just sit and watch. The LA County Probation Department is in full support of the indictment of the officers.
Jamal Tooson, who represents the 17-year-old featured in the video, says that this case is just the tip of the iceberg in a problematic system. Twenty-two officers were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at the Los Angeles Superior Court.
State – Suspicious man spotted at two Georgia high schools
Gwinnett and Hall county high schoolers have been advised to be on the lookout for a suspicious man. He was reportedly seen trespassing on Gwinnett school property and has tried to get into contact with several students.
A man matching his description also attempted to enroll into West Hall High School on Tuesday, but was unsuccessful. He was also seen trespassing on Seckinger High School and was issued a criminal trespass warning. Local law enforcement has advised school resource officers to keep watch for the man and notify the police if he is seen again.
The man’s identity and motive have still yet to be released. While the investigation is ongoing, officials have asked students and parents to report any suspicious activity that is seen.
Local – Brush fire in Peachtree City causes evacuations
Last Saturday, a fire ignited near a golf cart path next to the Braelinn Golf course and later spread to the Crescent Oak subdivision. The fire spread rapidly jumping the golf cart path and spread to the neighborhood right next to the golf cart path.
Firefighters from Peachtree City and Fayette County responded swiftly to contain the fire. No homes were burned but there was a shed that caught on fire and later was destroyed.
The cause of the fire is still unknown but the main suspect is a discarded cigarette that caused the fire to start. The incident remains under investigation.
Politics – Trump puts new limits on Musk after recent backlash
President Donald Trump met with his cabinet yesterday and said that staffing decisions will now be left up to them, not Elon Musk and his new department. Elon Musk is a part of the Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump created early in his term.
Trump told sources that he instructed his cabinet members to work alongside DOGE on spending and workforce reductions, but said that final job cuts are at the members’ discretion instead of Musk’s. This comes after backlash about Musk’s job, which was not an official job until Trump’s second term, where he has free reign of federal funds that are coming from the government, as well as hundreds of millions of American bank accounts, tax data, social security numbers, and home addresses. At the same time of the meeting, Trump praised Musk and DOGE and indicated that Musk can step in if the department heads do not make sufficient cuts.
Trump and Musk have sought to drastically cut the size of the federal workforce, firing thousands of employees. The speed and intensity of the cuts have led Republican members of Congress to call for greater transparency into DOGE’s work and what is going on behind the scenes.