1. EARTHQUAKES RAVAGE GLOBE

A trio of large earthquakes shook southwestern Japan last week. More than 40 died and over 2000 were injured. A magnitude 7.8 quake hit Ecuador on Saturday. At least 246 were killed and more than 2500 were injured as of Sunday. Thousands of rescue personnel have been working around the clock searching for survivors in both countries.

2. SPRING SPIRIT WEEK STARTS MONDAY

The first spring spirit week is next week. Festivities will revolve around the school musical, “Footloose”, which opens Thursday. Highlights will include a pep rally, themed days of the week and the four presentations of this year’s musical.

3. RECORDS, GOODBYES HIGHLIGHT END OF NBA SEASON

Eighteen-time All-Star Kobe Bryant played his final game before retiring on Wednesday. Bryant scored 60 points in his farewell. The Golden State Warriors broke the Chicago Bulls’ record for most wins in a season on the same night.

4. PROM 2016 APPROACHES

Nominations for this year’s court of juniors closed last Friday. Tickets will be on sale next Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. Note that students with outstanding fees will not be able to purchase tickets. Students with PBIS tickets may enter them into a raffle in the dean’s office for free tickets.

5. QUADRIPLEGIC REGAINS MOVEMENT IN HAND

Ian Burkhart, who was paralyzed in a freak accident, regained mobility in his hands last week. A chip implanted in his brain has allowed him to relearn basic tasks, such as pouring liquids and playing guitar video games. It is the first recorded instance of limb movement in a quadriplegic.

6. TOM TOM STAFF WINS NATIONAL AWARD

The Tom Tom won the school’s first NSPA Online Pacemaker award last Saturday. The Pacemaker is a national award, the highest honor a student media organization can receive, with just ten schools in each of the two categories (enrollment under 1,500 and enrollment over 1,500) winning the award this year. Students’ work throughout the first quarter of 2016 was judged, and the award was presented at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Los Angeles.

7. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DENIES CANDIDACY REQUESTS

Speaker Paul Ryan has firmly declined requests that he run for president. The requests come as the Republican party races towards an uncertain election season. Ryan previously declined the Speaker of the House position before finally taking it last year. Ryan claims to be content in Congress, even as his party faces turmoil in the primaries.

8. SPRING SPORTS SEASON STARTS UP

Many spring sports have begun their competition seasons in the past weeks. Notable events include girls softball, who have opened the season with just one loss; boys baseball, who blew North Chicago out 30-0 in back-to-back games last week; and boys track and field, who won the Leyden Invite last week.

9. WANTED FUGITIVE SHOT IN ANTIOCH

The man was shot by police after he waved a gun at them during an arrest outside Toppers Pizza early last Saturday. The fugitive had previously spent time in jail. At the time, he was wanted on a warrant for stealing the vehicle he was in and was the primary suspect in a double homicide in Kentucky.

10. RUSSIA BUZZES US MILITARY MULTIPLE TIMES

A pair of Russian fighter jets came within 30 feet of the USS Donald Cook last week. A routine flight was met with hostility later in the week when Russian jets barrel-rolled around the U.S. aircraft. Both events occurred in the Baltic Sea, an area famous for Russian military antics.