While American athletes continue to compete for Olympic medals in Pyeongchang, the U.S. endured another tragic school shooting — the 18th so far in 2018. Here’s more information on the week’s top headlines:
Florida school shooting deadliest since Sandy Hook, shooter had troubled past
A fatal shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida left 17 students and faculty dead and 14 others wounded — the deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012.
According to authorities, Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old former student, pulled a fire alarm to draw students into the school’s hallway before opening fire. He donned a gas mask and tossed smoke grenades to add to the chaos.
Cruz was apprehended by authorities shortly after the shooting, and is being charged with premeditated murder.
Prior to the shooting, Cruz was expelled from school for fighting and banned from campus by administration. Other students recognized him for his erratic and violent behavior.
Florida Governor Rick Scott, who has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, fielded questions about the tragedy during a news conference.
"There's a time to continue to have these conversations about how through law enforcement, how through mental illness funding that we make sure that people are safe," Scott said.
President Donald Trump also offered his condolences on Twitter.
U.S. snowboarders dominate first week of 2018 Winter Olympics
U.S. snowboarders have shredded the first week of competition at the Winter Olympics, with men and women taking gold in four separate events.
Red Gerard, a 17-year-old from Breckenridge, Colorado, became the first U.S. athlete to capture a gold medal in Pyeongchang after winning the men’s slopestyle competition Sunday. The following day, Jamie Anderson won the women’s slopestyle event, defending her gold medal from Sochi.
On Tuesday, 17-year-old Chloe Kim and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White continued the U.S.’ snowboarding domination with victories in women’s halfpipe and men’s halfpipe, respectively.
Additionally, skier Mikaela Shiffrin won the women’s giant slalom competition Thursday, bringing the U.S.’ gold medal total to five.
Obama portraits unveiled in Washington, D.C.
Portraits of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama were unveiled Monday at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
The artists, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, are the first African-Americans commissioned by the Smithsonian institute to create portraits of a former president and first lady.
"The ability to be first African-American painter to paint the first African-American president ... it doesn't get any better than that," Wiley said during the reveal.
The portrait of Obama features the former president sitting in a chair against a lush, green background. Obama joked that he tried to negotiate for smaller ears and fewer gray hairs.
In Michelle Obama’s portrait, the former first lady is wearing a geometric pattern dress and sitting against a light blue background.
"Let's just start by saying, 'Wow,' again," she said after seeing the finished portrait.
McDonald’s pledges healthier options, nixes cheeseburgers from Happy Meal menu
McDonald’s is dropping cheeseburgers from Happy Meals in an effort to make its menu healthier amid rising child obesity rates.
The fast-food mogul pledged that all advertised Happy Meals in the U.S. will be 600 calories or less by June.
Additionally, McDonald’s will use less sugar in its chocolate milk and offer bottled water as a Happy Meal option.
“We hope these actions will bring more choices to consumers and uniquely benefit millions of families, which are important steps as we build a better McDonald’s,” Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook said in a statement.
