Outrage over Stanford sexual-assault sentencing (National)

STANFORD, Cal.

TIME Magazine reports that outrage has erupted over social media since the sentencing of Stanford University star swimmer, Brock Turner. 20-year-old Turner, was convicted on three sexual offense charges, and sentenced to six-months in county jail.  

CNN obtained court documents that say police discovered Turner sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster on January 18^th. He was arrested after trying to flee the scene.

According to TIME, Judge Aaron Persky’s ruling has come under fire on social media, believing it not a severe enough punishment. TIME also reports that online petitions to recall Judge Persky have collected over 500,000 signatures. Hashtags such as “#brockturner” and “#Stanfordrapevictim” have also been trending.

The 23-year-old victim read a 12-page account of how the incident has impacted her life. CNN reports the letter has been viewed over 13 million times on Buzzfeed alone.

Reasoning:

I chose this story because by now it has become ubiquitous, and everyone is aware of it. It is also very newsworthy because of the activism that has erupted for safety on college campuses, which is something that impacts students, parents, professors, alumni etc. The story has also gained prominence due to how many have shared in on social media and has been included in national conversations about racism, feminism, and rape culture. It became even more newsworthy on social media, which sort of showed it’s new found power when it comes to journalism, and how the public is getting their news. It’s also very interesting because it comes soon after semester has ended, and also just before the summer Olympics. The latter is another factor that adds into the public’s intrigue because Turner was a prospective Olympian at one time.

Gorilla Zoo Shooting Sparks National Conversation. (National)

CINCINNATI, Ohio.

            The May 28^th shooting of the Cincinnati Zoo’s 17-year-old silverback gorilla, Harambe, has sparked a national conversation about captivity and whether or not the Zoo’s actions were appropriate.

            According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, a three-year-old boy reportedly crawled through the barrier and fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo over the Memorial Day weekend.

Video footage of the incident obtained by CNN showed the boy being dragged by the silverback, as the crowd panicked. Fearing greater aggression from Harambe, zoo officials decided to shoot and kill the gorilla. Cincinnati Enquirer further reported that the boy was rushed to the hospital where he suffered a concussion and bruising.

CNN reports that controversy over the Zoo’s decision to kill Harambe has sparked a public outcry over the incident as well as conversations about the ethics of captivity. Including the trending topic of “#justiceforHarambe” on social media.

Cincinnati Zoo President, Thane Maynard supported the Dangerous Animal Response Team’s decision in a statement to the press, “It was a tough choice. They made the right choice, because they saved the boy’s life.” (CNN).

The Washington Post reports several prominent zookeepers and primatologists, such as Jack Hanna and Jane Goodall, have commented on the matter both in support and in objection.

According to CNN, local police reportedly launched an investigation into the family of the boy, though charges have not been filed.

Reasoning:

For me, this was the obvious choice for the top national story of the week. Even though the story broke over the Memorial Day weekend, I think it is undeniable how ubiquitous the story has since become over this past week. There’s a lot of elements to decipher based on the rarity of the situation alone, but also from how many legs the story seems to have. The story seems to have branched off into conversations about parenting, entitlement, captivity, conservation, and racism. This was definitely the top story of the week because everyone seems to have an opinion on it, which also shows just how ubiquitous, and newsworthy the story is.

Deadly Flooding in Plains leaves 2 Dead, 3 Missing (National) - UPDATED

Texas. Kan.

            At least two people are dead due to the torrential rains in Texas and Kansas. State Officials say that flash flooding has also left at least three people missing.

           WBAY: Action 2 News reports one individual was found dead in a flooded mobile home on Saturday, and another body was found in a submerged vehicle.

            Rescue officials told CBS News that as many as 50 water related rescues have taken place since evacuations were called.

            11-year-old Devon Cooley from Wichita, Kansas is among those missing. ABC News reports the search is still on-going after he reportedly was swept away in a flooded creek that spills into the Arkansas River.  

          According to WBAY,  3 additional people have been reported missing since the storms began. Rescue officials worry that those missing won't be found until the flooding subsides.

Reasoning:

            This is my selection for the top national story for this week because it is something that has adverse effects on many people in many areas, as well as comes along side of the stories about tropical storm Bonnie. The torrential rains in Texas and Kansas have not only resulted in heavy property damage but also death. Also the storm has left several people unaccounted for. The missing persons angle is also what makes this a top news story because it is still developing at this time, and the horrors of the storm may have not yet been fully realized.