Rolling out the news you want

Welcome to the BLUNT Newsletter, your direct access to pop culture that is short and to the point.

Today:

Early on Saturday morning, police, including Massachusetts State Police officers, dismantled a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Northeastern University in Boston, resulting in the arrest of approximately 100 individuals. This action is part of a broader trend of similar encampments being removed across university campuses nationwide. Students who presented a valid Northeastern ID at the scene were released and will undergo disciplinary actions by the university rather than face legal consequences. The protesters maintained that their demonstration was peaceful and historically justified, which has ignited additional conversations on social media and in the news.

CANNABIS

Did you know? Decriminalizing vs. Legalizing marijuana.

Decriminalizing marijuana involves removing criminal penalties for possession of small amounts, typically resulting in fines or civil penalties instead of arrest and imprisonment. Legalizing marijuana entails permitting its possession, sale, and use under specific regulations and laws, establishing a legal framework for production, distribution, and sale, and implementing regulations regarding age limits, taxation, quality control, and advertising.

New York's budget significantly increases efforts to clamp down on unlicensed marijuana dispensaries.

Massachusetts experienced record-breaking marijuana sales on April 20, pushing the state's recreational purchases over the $6 billion mark. This significant milestone underscores the robust growth of the legal cannabis industry in the state, reflecting a strong demand for recreational marijuana products among consumers.

NEWS

Thursday, a 4-3 decision by a New York appeals court panel overturned the 2020 rape conviction of Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein, mandating a new trial. The 72-year-old Weinstein, who was also convicted of sex crimes in California in 2022 and received a 16-year sentence, will be transferred to a prison in California.

US Army engineers have commenced construction of a floating pier off Gaza's coast to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Scheduled for completion by early May, the pier is designed to enable the unloading of up to 2 million meals daily from Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

King Charles is set to return to his public duties next week following his cancer diagnosis. Diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer in February, the 75-year-old monarch has since made few public appearances. Buckingham Palace announced on Friday that his medical team is satisfied with the progress he has made under the ongoing treatments.

Poll finds 73% of Americans say protecting the US from terrorism is a top priority.

Southwest Airlines is withdrawing from several airports and slashing expenses due to poor financial performance and delays in receiving new Boeing aircraft.

Bird flu is extending its reach across U.S. farms, with recent Food and Drug Administration tests revealing strains of H5N1 in commercially purchased milk.

SPORTS

Russell Westbrook, P.J. Washington ejected in Mavs win.

NFL Draft:

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the University of Michigan made history by having seven of its players selected in the first three rounds, a first in the common draft era. The SEC maintained its dominance with several of its teams contributing to the overall count, while other schools like Washington, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida State also made significant contributions. The Wolverines' achievement was highlighted by three of their players being selected consecutively in the third round.

Bill Belichick joins Pat McAfee—and doesn’t hold back on his concerns about the incoming talent “Drake compares himself a lot to Josh Allen,” Belichick said, referring to the Bills All-Pro. “He’s been doing that for quite a while. We’ll see about that.”

POP CULTURE

Kraven The Hunter will now release December 13, 2024.

The hip-hop world is on edge, eagerly anticipating Kendrick Lamar's response to Drake's diss track after two weeks of fervent debate. Fans are split, with some seeing Kendrick's silence as tactical and others as weakness. The feud highlights the role of social media in intensifying such rivalries, with anticipation for Kendrick's comeback reaching its peak.

The unveiling of the previously classified Calvine UFO photo has reignited debates, intensified by Elon Musk's claim that SpaceX found no extraterrestrial evidence. Historical UFO incidents and a spike in U.S. sightings fuel further discussions, with sensational media like the YouTube video 'Our Alien Overlords | How We Secretly Serve The Tall Whites' adding to the controversy.

Prime Video has renewed the "Fallout" series for a second season, a week after its debut, due to its faithful adaptation and fan acclaim, spurring renewed interest in Fallout games.

BUSINESS

US regulators have initiated a fresh investigation into Tesla following the recall of 2 million vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is scrutinizing a December recall related to Tesla's autopilot feature to determine if the electric vehicle manufacturer sufficiently addressed the problem. This investigation follows reports of at least 20 crashes involving vehicles that had received Tesla's autopilot software update.

Honda and Toyota are channeling billions of dollars into expanding their electric car production in North America. These Japanese car manufacturers are seeking to tap into the growing demand for environmentally friendly vehicles, as electric cars are expected to make up one-fifth of global car sales this year.

Thursday, technology giants like Microsoft, Alphabet (Google's parent company), Intel, and Snap surpassed investor expectations with their earnings reports. Despite exceeding forecasts, Intel and Snap experienced losses.

That's all for now! We hope you enjoyed this edition of the BLUNT Newsletter. Have a fantastic rest of your day!