Beyonce Bowl Wins an Emmy
By Tatum Trammell
Award-winning singer-songwriter Beyonce is halfway to an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) after winning her first Emmy Award on August 12, 2025. Beyonce won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for “Beyonce Bowl,” her groundbreaking N.F.L. halftime performance during the Christmas Day game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens, which streamed live on Netflix. Not only did this performance accumulate an Emmy, but it broke viewership records for the Christmas game since 2001 and its appearance on streaming service Netflix. Her latest album, Cowboy Carter, was featured throughout the performance, and it is now the first top-charted country album created by a black woman.
Club Fair
By Brett Schlossberg
The Upper School Club Fair was held yesterday Aug. 21 outside the Lounge during lunch. Students browsed a multiple of club options for the 2025-2026 school year. For those overwhelmed by the Club Fair scene, there is also the co-curricular guide, which gives information on and contact information for all the clubs the Upper School has to offer. Students can also check out the Club Calendar or the Morning Show’s announcements on the butterknife’s homepage.
National Guard Deployed in Washington D.C.
By Alex Piazza
On Aug. 9, President Trump took control of police in Washington and sent in National Guard forces, saying that the city was “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people.” This statement was made following an attempted carjacking of a former DOGE employee.
In response to Trump’s claim, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser shared a post on Facebook stating that violent crime in the city has been the lowest in the past 30 years. The United States Department of Justice is now investigating these statistics, out of suspicion that DC’s metropolitan police department manipulated the data.
Since the initial deployment, six republican-led states have agreed to send National Guard Troops to Washington, which will total to around 1,100 new soldiers present in the area. The states sending soldiers are Tennessee, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and Ohio, all of which have Republican governors.
The Emory University Shooting
By Trey Voegtlin
33-year-old Georgia police officer David Rose was fatally shot on Aug. 8 around the Emory Campus, and off Clifton Road, when gunman Patrick Joseph White opened fire on the CDC from a neighboring CVS adjacent to the Emory Campus. Nearly 500 shots were fired by the gunman, now identified as Patrick Joseph White, at the CDC buildings, and there were no other injuries or casualties other than Rose, and the gunman himself. The gunman’s motive has slowly become clear: frustration with the COVID-19 vaccine. Reportedly, White was mentally unstable and was even considered suicidal, and the fixation with the vaccine may have been linked to his on-going health problems. Officers quickly located White on the second floor of a CVS, where he fatally shot himself.
First Home Football Game
By Shaw Gordon
Woodward Academy’s first home football game falls tonight, Friday, Aug. 22, at 8:00 p.m. The War Eagles play Collins Hill, the alma mater of the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, Travis Hunter. Before the game, students can come to the firepit outside the Lounge for a SGA Cookout serving hamburgers and hot dogs. Woodward is looking for a win Friday night after an unfortunate loss of 48-21 to Carrollton last weekend. Go War Eagles!
Hurricane Erin
By Sabenah Abudu-Abrams
Hurricane Erin formed near Cape Verde on Aug. 11, where it caused major flooding and killed at least 9 people, including children. The tropical storm continued to intensify and move towards the Bahamas with winds of around 140 mph. Although a direct hit on the U.S. is not expected, heavy rainfall is likely to occur in South Florida, accompanied by extreme rip currents along the coast. The once category 4 cyclone has been downgraded to a category 2 and will continue its journey along the East Coast, threatening states like New York and New Jersey with intense rip tides and beach waves. Meanwhile, the governor of North Carolina, Josh Stein, is taking precautionary measures by declaring a state of emergency due to the expected dangers on the coast and urging residents that “now is the time to prepare.” Residents in the state’s Outer Banks have already experienced flooding and extreme weather conditions.
The Spiel on the SR 400 Express Lanes Project
By Daniela Palatchi
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) reached a commercial close agreement regarding the State Route 400 Express Lanes project on Nov. 13, 2024. The project will build express lanes in both directions on the highway, starting at Exit 5C (North Springs Marta Station) and ending approximately one mile north of Exit 12 (McFarland Parkway). The project spans from Fulton County to Forsyth County. These express lanes would be an addition to the larger Georgia Express Lanes Network. The Contract Agreement was signed under a P3 deal, also called a public-private partnership. The public partners were GDOT and SRTA. The private partner (the partner providing the majority of funding) was the SR 400 Peach Partners, a group of companies that specialize in “delivering complex transportation projects.” The goal of the project is to ease congestion by giving drivers a choice of which lane to take through toll booths. The project also includes a $100 million state bond investment for expanding MARTA’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line. The route will connect to the North Springs Station to the Windward Parkway Park and Ride. The buses would ride for free in the express lanes.
Texas Floods: Camp Mystic
By Riley Jones
Twenty-seven counselors and campers at Camp Mystic, a well-known girls’ camp among Texas citizens, tragically lost their lives in the July 4 flooding in the Texas Hill Country Area when the nearby Guadalupe River overflowed its banks.
What started as a gentle rain soon escalated into a dangerous flood overnight that left half of the camp in ruins and resulted in the tragic loss of many lives. Founded in 1926 in the Texas Hill Country, Camp Mystic was known for its scenery and long-standing programming. It has also had historical trouble with flooding; however, the flood on July 4 was one of the region’s most intense.
Including the campers and counselors, over 130 individuals also died as a result of the floods. At the Aug. 20 hearing at the Texas State Capitol, parents of those lost in the flood challenged the safety guidelines of Camp Mystic and advocated for stricter safety protocols at summer camps. Currently, Texas Lawmakers are discussing the passage of the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, which, if passed, would create new safety protocols for camps during emergencies.
Trump brings back Presidential Fitness Test
By Akiva Bryant
On Thursday, July 31, President Donald Trump signed an executive order bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test, first introduced by President Lyndon B. Johnson and subsequently replaced by the FitnessGram test created by President Barack Obama after the 2012-2013 school year. According to the order, childhood obesity, chronic illnesses and sedentary lifestyles are on the rise, concerning the president with future impacts. The Presidential Fitness Test featured various exercises, such as sit-ups, push-ups, a mile run and more. Students who were able to complete their exercises at the top amongst their peers were recognized by an award. However, the Presidential Fitness Test continued to face controversy. Opponents of the test argued that the Presidential Fitness Test was harmful, as it evoked anxiety and humiliation for those who did not perform as well.
Peace in Our Time Auditions
By Joy Ferguson
The Upper School theater program held auditions for the fall play, “Peace in Our Time,” on Aug. 19 and 20 in the Ben F. Johnson Theater in Richardson Hall from 3:45-6:00 p.m. on both days. “Peace in Our Time, written by Noël Coward, explores big themes like suspense, horror, and humor. “Peace in Our Time” is set in an alternative history about the Battle of Britain. It imagines a world where Nazi Germany won the Battle of Britain and occupies England. The play is set in a London pub and shows citizens adapting to a new reality. Students broke out their best British accents in order to audition. Woodward Community members can come see the performance on Sept. 25-27.
