10 Things You Need to Know for Monday, February 15

Standoffs, science and the Supreme Court: last week’s news Sequoits must know for this one.

1. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE PASSES AWAY

Justice Antonin Scalia passed away Saturday morning from a sudden heart attack. Scalia was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and served nearly 30 years on the Supreme Court. Congress is debating whether or not to wait for the next president to nominate a new justice.

2. TOUGH LOSSES FOR BASKETBALL TEAMS

The girls basketball team lost 49-46 against Stevenson in the sectional championship on Wednesday. Boys basketball fell 49-38 at Lakes on Friday. The girls hope to bounce back in the regional championship on Wednesday, while the boys will look for their next win at Grant on Friday.

3. SCIENTISTS VERIFY EINSTEIN’S PREDICTION

Researchers at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, found evidence of “gravitational waves” on Thursday. Albert Einstein originally predicted the existence of gravitational waves a century ago.

4. SANDERS, TRUMP TAKE BIG STEPS

Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Donald Trump won the New Hampshire primaries early last week, marking both of their first state wins. CNN hosted another GOP debate on Saturday, in which candidates launched more personal attacks at each other than ever before.

5. POPE, PATRIARCH MAKE HISTORY

Pope Francis met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in the first meeting between a Pope and Patriarch in 1,000 years. The meeting, which took place in Cuba, was not the first headline the Pope made last week; he has been touring Mexico all week.

6. OREGON STANDOFF ENDS AT LAST

After five weeks of tension, the last occupiers left Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon on Thursday. A single man was arrested after the other three surrendered themselves earlier that day. The standoff killed one, cost surrounding cities millions of dollars and left 25 people arrested.

7. DANGEROUS GAS LEAK PLUGGED

The methane leak in Porter Ranch, California, has released 96,000 tons of methane into the air since it was discovered four months ago. Southern California Gas Company has temporarily moved 11,000 people from the town. The leak may have contained dangerous amounts of benzene, which causes cancer.

8. CEASEFIRE CALLED IN SYRIA

International powers called for a ceasefire in Syria as soon as next week. Turkey has resumed shelling rebels Russia has continued their airstrikes in the area, making peace in the near future seem unlikely.

9. MARKETS SENT ON ROLLER COASTER WEEK

Japanese, Korean and Chinese markets all tanked in the middle of the week, dragging their Western counterparts with them. American stocks rebounded at the end of the week as the price of oil began to rise.

10. MASSIVE PRISON RIOT IN MEXICO KILLS DOZENS

A gang fight spiraled into a riot in Mexico’s Topo Chico prison late Wednesday night. The two and a half hour long fight left 49 dead and 12 injured. Flames were seen from outside the prison during the riot.