Congratulations to our spring sports teams for advancing closer to the finals. After cheering on our baseball, soccer, and lacrosse teams, make sure to check out this week’s KICs. This week includes the Israeli military chief retiring after Hamas-led attack, NYPD requesting to gain control of anti-Israel protests, Kemp signing the Promise Scholarships bill, a middle school recovering after receiving a bomb threat, and China warning the U.S. of a downward spiral between the two countries.
World – Israeli Military chief retires after previous Hamas-led attack
Israel’s chief Maj. Gen Aharon Haliva military intelligence has resigned his leadership responsibility over the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. This strike on southern Israel left 1,200 people killed and 250 kidnapped.
Haliva is the first to step down as a senior military figure over the attacks. These hits were seen as a huge Israeli intelligence failure with lots of defense and security officials coming forward to take responsibility. In October he admitted “intelligence failure” by not altering the attacks on Israel from his unit.
It has been decided that Haliva will step down and retire from the IDF after 31 years of service. This can be done once his successor is appointed in an orderly and professional way.
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National – NYPD requested to gain control of anti-Israel protests
NYU experienced an anti-Israel protest, which ended with police involvement on Monday night. Crowds of people gathering near Gould Plaza refused to leave the area.
Mass arrests and barriers were put in place to stop the protest around 8:30 p.m. The protestors did not cease their outcry. People of the disagreement yelled anti-Semitic and disrespectful chants on the streets of Manhattan.
The protests are considered a disruption to the students, professors, and college as a whole. The whole event came to a close around 9:30 p.m.
State – Kemp signs Promise Scholarships bill
After killing the bill last year, lawmakers have passed the “Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.” The bill will allow students attending a public school that is performing in the bottom 25% academically eligibility for a $6,500 scholarship.
By taking a portion of tax money, Georgia citizens will be able to use the money on “approved educational expenses.” The act would prioritize families making less than 400% of the federal poverty line, which would be around $120,000 for a four-person household. The remainder or the funds would be allotted to families in more stable situations.
Once the Bill is in effect in the 2025-26 school year, 21,500 scholarships are said to be allocated by the Georgia Center for Opportunity. With this bill being signed, it “is a great step in the right direction,” Lt. Governor Burt Jones, a Republican, said in a statement, though he admits that there is still need for improvement.
Local – Middle school recovers after receiving bomb threat
On April 25, 2024, Sylvan Middle School students were placed on lockdown due to suspicion of a bomb threat. Students and staff were safely relocated to Peterson Park for their safety.
According to a spokesperson for the school, the bomb threat was sent via text and action was immediately taken. Parents were notified and shortly after a plan to pick the students up was made.
Atlanta Police and Atlanta Public Schools are conducting an investigation into the threat.
Politics – China warns U.S. of downward spiral between the two countries
Secretary of state Antony Blinken visited China for three days. There he met with China’s President Xi Jinping and was continuously warned of a downward spiral America could be facing.
The two met in the afternoon on Friday and Jinping mentioned the 45-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He also mentioned how the two countries should be partners rather than adversaries. Both countries agree that they should not hold back the other from development and that the world is big enough for the two superpowers. This is the second visit with Jinping as the U.S. and China work on rebuilding ties and creating trust between the two countries even with the differing political views.
Blinken also made a note to visit many other political leaders while in China, and discussed the up and down relationship that China and America have been going through over the years. As of right now China and America are working on repairing their relationship and will hopefully be peaceful in the future.