Fetty Wap Released from Prison
By Tatum Trammell
Rapper Fetty Wap has just been released early from a six-year prison sentence. He has been in custody since Aug. 2022, and was later sent to prison in Oct. of that year. The rapper was convicted of trafficking substances such as cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and more. Fetty Wap was a prominent rapper during the central 2010s. With hits like “Trap Queen” and “My Way,” his release has fans reminiscent of his peak stardom, causing them to participate in the viral TikTok trend where users live 2026 like it’s 2016 by listening to music and engaging in popular trends from 2016.
Georgia Woman Sentenced After Stealing $5.4 million From Medicaid
By Akiva Bryant
On Jan. 8, 2026, 63-year-old Elizabeth Sue Ivester was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, with three more years of strict probation, after being convicted of one count of Aggravated Identity Theft and one count of Health Care Fraud. Additionally, the court ordered her to pay $5,437,283.26 in restitution. Ivester, who resides in Warner Robins, Georgia, submitted 77,095 false claims between 2014–2022 for medical products she never sold for her company, Liberty Medical. She used the IDs of thousands of Medicaid recipients to submit claims and collect money. She also falsely impersonated a physician. This case is a part of a larger crackdown on individuals who have defrauded programs designed to help the elderly and disabled people.
Indiana Wins CFB National Championship
By Shaw Gordon
On Monday, Jan. 19, #1 seed Indiana matched up against #10 Miami in the college football National Championship. This game took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. This game featured two electric college football teams led by quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (2025 Heisman winner) and Carson Beck. After a crazy back-and-forth game, Indiana beat Miami by the score of 27-21, resulting in the first-ever national championship for Indiana. Just two years ago, Indiana was one of the worst teams in the Big Ten and in all of college football. During the 2023 CFB season, Indiana made a key hire that changed the history of their program. They hired Curt Cignetti miracle coach, who turned Indiana’s program around in just two years.
Jakarta, Indonesia, Named Largest City in the World
By Alex Piazza
According to a new assessment by the United Nations (UN), Jakarta, Indonesia has taken the top spot for most populated city in the world, surpassing several other densely populated cities. In the UN’s last assessment in 2018, Jakarta ranked #33 as the most populated city in the world. The Indonesian capital has a population of 42 million people, followed by Dhaka, Bangladesh and Tokyo, Japan. Jakarta jumped to the top of the list after the UN changed the way they measure urban populations. Instead of using official census statistics from each country, the UN used a “consistent approach across countries to categorize cities, towns and rural areas.”
New Door Rules At Woodward
By Riley Jones
A new administrative safety policy at Woodward took effect on Thursday, Jan. 22. All exterior doors to Upper School classroom buildings will now be locked during the school day. Additionally, they will remain locked between class periods. Students can use their Woodward Student ID to enter school buildings, but this only applies to the 2025-2026 Student IDs (the IDs with the gold star).
These IDs can be used on the newly installed readers between 7:00 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. These readers are available at: the front doors of Moss Hall, the Atrium Doors in Jane Woodruff Hall, the door nearest to the firepit at Tyler Brown Student Center, the Richardson Hall front doors, the Carlos Science front door, and the Brand/Edwards stairwell doors.
This safety initiative will allow Woodward Academy doors to remain locked during the school day. Students should remember to bring their 2025-26 Student ID to school with them. Lost or missing IDs can be replaced by emailing Dean Underwood; however, there is a charge for replacing the ID.
Snow this weekend?
By Harper Scully
A winter storm is coming to Georgia this weekend. The storm starts on Friday in Texas and is supposed to move east to Georgia over the weekend and continue along the coast to New England. FEMA is calling this a ‘Major winter event” for all of the U.S because of the record breaking temperatures and size of the storm. It is expected to have the greatest impact in southern states especially along the Gulf coast states as temperatures could feel minus 10 degree Fahrenheit. On Thursday, Briant Kemp issued a state of emergency for all counties in Georgia and there have been several weather warnings in the Metro area. Residents in the areas affected are urged to stay up to date on the storm’s progress and prepare in the event of major power outages, pipe bursts, road closures and freezing temperatures by Georgia Emergency Management Agency Director Josh Lamb.
Spain Trains Derail
By Joy Ferguson
On Sunday, Jan. 18, two trains with a total of 400 passengers and staff in Adamuz, Spain, crashed into each other, causing both trains to derail. According to a preliminary report, the back end of the northbound train derailed and crossed over onto the adjacent track. The rear of the northbound train was hit by the southbound train, which was going at a high speed, and caused both trains to overturn. After the collision, the front cars of the second train fell into an embankment. The collision has killed at least 39 people, leaving 122 others injured, but the Spanish Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, stated that the death toll is “not yet final.” The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he promised “to get the truth” and that Sunday was a “day of pain for all of Spain.” Investigators are still trying to figure out the cause of the collision, as it occurred on a recently renovated flat track.
