Charlie Kirk Killed at University Event in Utah
By Daniela Palatchi and Akiva Bryant
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The event at Utah Valley University was the kickoff for his tour, “The American Comeback Tour,” where he planned to speak at universities from Colorado to Virginia and invite guests to debate him. Kirk was a Christian conservative influencer who led the youth conservative movement through his organization, Turning Point USA. He was also a close ally to President Donald Trump.
As of Friday Sept. 12, the suspect behind Kirk’s assassination is believed to be 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. Suspicion behind Robinson is based on him wearing similar clothes to the shooter on video, Robinson’s father recognizing his son from the video and comments to family members about his disdain for Kirk. Additionally, his roommate has claimed that Robinson sent messages to his discord, a messaging app. However, Discord claims that no messages were sent from Robinson; instead, it was his roommate sending messages to the roommate’s friend.
Robinson, who is in his third year of an electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College, is currently held without bail at Utah County Jail. His initial charges include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice, but he has not yet been formally charged. The Utah County attorney office plans to take him to court on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
The shooter is believed to have fired once at Kirk from a nearby roof in a “targeted attack.” The Utah Department of Public Safety is working with the FBI to co-lead the criminal investigation into Kirk’s killing.
Department of War
By Alex Piazza
On Friday, Sept. 6, President Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War. The department has not held this title since the 1940s during World War II. According to Trump, the renaming of the department will “[ensure] peace through strength, as it demonstrates our ability and willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our Nation at a moment’s notice, not just to defend.” Many government officials are opposed to the renaming, stating that the money needed to change signs and letterheads would be better spent supporting military families.
Erin Patterson Sentenced for Mushroom Murders
By Joy Ferguson
A murder case, known as the Mushroom Murders, which occurred nearly two years ago, went to trial in July 2025 and has now come to a verdict after two months of trial. In 2023, Erin Patterson poisoned her family with death cap mushrooms, sending three family members to the hospital and eventually killing them. Patterson poisoned her former mother-in-law, her former father-in-law and her former mother-in-law’s sister by putting the mushrooms in their Beef Wellington at a family lunch. Erin’s husband barely survived, skipping lunch last minute. While Patterson’s husband survived, he believes and testified that she’s been trying to poison him for years. Erin was found guilty of one count of attempted murder and three counts of murder. Patterson swears she’s innocent, saying that she didn’t mean to add the deadly mushrooms and that it was by pure accident. On Sept. 8, 2025, a jury of 50 sentenced Patterson to three consecutive life sentences. Patterson will be eligible for parole after 31 years of prison, in 2056, when she’s 82.
Lawsuit Against Ozempic
By Akiva Bryant
Ozempic, whose manufacturer is Novo Nordisk, is facing a $2 billion lawsuit, along with other manufacturers of GLP-1, due to side effects that were not properly disclosed to its consumers. Ozempic is a Type 2 diabetes medication that has gained popularity since its use shifted from diabetes treatment to weight loss. Ozempic works as a weight loss drug by tricking your brain into believing you’re full and slowing digestion. However, since Aug. 2023, over 1,800 lawsuits have been filed against Ozempic, all claiming that it did not warn plaintiffs of the side effects such as: NAION (vision loss), gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) and gastrointestinal conditions. Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic, denies these claims, explaining that Ozempic is safe when used as prescribed, and like all medications, contains risks.
New Ice Detention Center in Infamous Louisiana Prison
By Riley Jones
Following recent immigration crackdowns, the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary has opened as a detention center. The Penitentiary, dubbed Angola, has long housed Louisiana’s worst offenders, with most inmates serving life sentences. 51 inmates arrived on or before Sept. 2, and the center expects to hold up to 400.
Governor Jeff Landry of Louisiana states that the penitentiary will house “the worst of the worst” among immigrants detained there. The governor also said that immigrants held there will be isolated from other prisoners, and ICE contractors will manage the detention center. However, immigration and criminal justice advocates have raised concerns about detaining immigrants in a facility meant for violent offenders.
Angola has had a long and violent history as a prison and a plantation. It started as Angola Plantation, a brutal cotton plantation with over 700 enslaved persons. The plantation later became a prison after the Civil War, and convicts were leased to land owners to replace the enslaved. Since then, the prison has continued to have reports of brutality and harsh conditions.
While the Trump Administration has maintained that only violent male criminals will be housed there, immigration activists are also challenging the transfer process of immigrants to these new detention centers. They argue that transfers as far as 100 miles from initial arrest points make it difficult for those detainees to contact loved ones and lawyers.
NFL Week One Recap
By Shaw Gordon
The NFL season started last Thursday, kicking off with the Eagles vs. the Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The game began with a fight, as Eagles player Jalen Carter spat on the Cowboys’ QB, Dak Prescott. He got ejected from the game. Even with that small hiccup, the Eagles took home the win 24-20.
Another game took place on Friday night when the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Justin Herbert, Chargers QB, stole the show, passing for 318 yards with 3 TDs. The Chargers won the game 27-21.
There were 12 games on Sunday. The Dirty Birds played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Atlanta, Georgia. Unfortunately, the Falcons did not win as Younghoe Koo missed a critical 44-yard field goal, which would have sent them to overtime. The Colts shocked the Dolphins in a blowout win, 33-8, and the Packers pulled off the win against the Lions, 27-13. The Sunday night football game featured the Ravens and the Bills. The Bills Mafia were down 40-25 with 4 minutes left to go, but eventually won the game 41-40.
Week 1 concluded with a final game on Monday night, featuring the Bears and the Vikings. The Bears went up early, but the Vikings’ offense heated up in the second half, producing a 27-24 win.
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish Documentary
By Harper Scully
In Beal City, Michigan, a 13-year-old girl named Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend were cyberbullied from 2020 to 2023. Now it has become a Top Ten Netflix Documentary, and it has quickly sparked online discussion. Lauryn Licari received the first text message in Oct. 2020, which quickly turned into two years of aggressive cyberbullying. As the text messages increased in hostility and quantity, the police started an investigation to find the culprit. The documentary, “Unknown number: The High School Catfish,” started its first round of filming in the spring of 2023 and the second round of filming in 2024. It was then released on Aug. 29th, 2025.
RFK Hearing
By Trey Voegtlin
On Sept. 4, 2025, RFK Jr. was ridiculed by several senators from across the political spectrum, as he is under scrutiny for the legitimacy of his work as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. After several family members advised him to step down, he was faced with countless senators criticizing his policies and his credentials. One of the many who scrutinized him was Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who first questioned his authority, given his lack of medical background. She proceeded to discuss measures that he had promised in his confirmation hearings, specifically about the COVID-19 vaccination, which he has personally said he doesn’t recommend. Senator Warren emphasized in her rebuke of Secretary Kennedy that the lack of HHS recommendations for vaccines may limit access to them for the public: “The consequence of that in many states is that you can’t walk into a pharmacy and get one,” she said.
VMA Awards Recap
By Tatum Trammell
The Video Music Awards (VMAs) came back again this year in full effect. The awards were held Sunday, Sept. 7, at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. The show was full of long-awaited celebrity appearances, highlighting new, upcoming icons and astonishing performances. This year, the awards were hosted by LL Cool J, one of hip-hop’s most influential stars. Performances were made by Sabrina Carpenter, Busta Rhymes, Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Doja Cat and more! The 2025 VMAs set some amazing records. Lady Gaga was a nominee for 12 awards, setting the record for the most nominations in a single year, followed by Bruno Mars who was nominated for 11 awards. The biggest awards went to Sabrina Carpenter for the Album of the Year and Lady Gaga for the Best Artist. You can stream the three hour ceremony on CBS, MTV or with a subscription to Paramount+ Premium.
Will the Big Three Make it to the World Cup?
By Sabenah Abudu-Abrams
The argument over the top three soccer players is a controversy that causes many soccer fans to seethe. Despite the debate, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar usually land the top three spots. Despite their years of dedication and passion towards soccer, players still face injuries and natural aging, causing them to consider retiring from their sport. Ronaldo plans to stay in the game until at least 2027, admitting that he doesn’t have a whole lot of years left. However, Ronaldo’s Portuguese national team has not yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup. For Messi, it is not as much of a guarantee as for Ronaldo that he will participate in the 2026 World Cup, but he has hinted that his most recent game on Sept. 4 would be his last in Argentina. Unlike the other two players, Neymar has experienced injury after injury, affecting his performance and mentality. Neymar has not confirmed a retirement date, but has extended his contract with Santos FC, a famous Brazilian football club from São Paulo, to the 2026 World Cup, hinting that it will be his last, though he will play “until he can ‘no longer perform’ as he wants to.”
Woodward Academy vs Shiloh
By Brett Schlossberg
The Woodward Academy football team will play against Shiloh High School on Friday, Sept. 12. The game, hosted by Shiloh, will kick off at 7:30. Woodward has won one of their three games, compared to Shiloh, who have lost all three of their games this season. For any students interested in going, tickets can be purchased on GoFan.
