In the final week of February, another White House official announced her resignation, and retailers took action on gun sale policies after the Parkland shooting. Here’s more of the week’s top headlines:
Hope Hicks to resign from White House
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks will resign in the coming weeks, according to the New York Times.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after Hicks testified before the House Intelligence Committee, where she admitted to telling occasional “white lies” to President Donald Trump.
Hicks was also a central figure in the Rob Porter domestic abuse scandal. Hicks had dated the former White House staff secretary before he resigned in February over allegations of domestic abuse against two of his former wives.
Trump praised Hicks after learning about her intentions to depart the White House.
“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,” Trump said. “She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person. I will miss having her by my side, but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.”
Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods to alter gun sale policies after Parkland shooting
In the wake of the Parkland high school shooting, two retailers are altering their gun sales policy.
Walmart announced in a statement Wednesday that it will restrict the sale of firearms and ammunition to individuals 21 years of age or older.
Additionally, the company will remove items “resembling assault-style rifles, including non-lethal airsoft guns and toys” from its website.
Dick’s Sporting Goods will also raise its minimum firearms purchase age to 21 and stop the sale of high-capacity magazines.
"The hunt business is an important part of the business, no doubt about it. And we know there will be some backlash," Dick’s CEO Edward Stack said on CNN’s New Day.
Pizza Hut is NFL’s new pizza sponsor
Pizza Hut will replace Papa John’s as the official pizza of the National Football League.
The company signed an agreement with the NFL less than 24 hours after Papa John’s announced the end of its sponsorship.
The new sponsorship deal with Pizza Hut will run through the 2021 season. Financial terms have not been revealed.
"The NFL and pizza appeal to the same demographic, which is everyone," said Renie Anderson, the NFL's senior vice president of partnership and sponsorship management. "Fans watch our game and they do it around a pizza box. That's why it's one of the most important categories in sports sponsorship."
