January 1, Volatile Market Returns: Dow Jones Plummets 400 Points

Good morning Americans,

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 400 points on Friday. Wall Street is concerned about inflation, but investors are also worried about the Fed taking away the stimulus it had injected into the market at the height of the pandemic. “There is more future volatility ahead,” said Bruce Monrad, portfolio manager of Northeast Investors Trust. “It should increase as the Fed starts to think about raising rates and once it starts tapering.”

If you’re in the West, you’ve likely noticed the unbearable heat wave. Hundreds of temperature records are being broken and experts are worried about the current state of things. “This current drought is potentially on track to become the worst that we’ve seen in at least 1,200 years,” said Kathleen Johnson, an associate professor at USC Irvine. “And the reason is linked directly to human caused climate change.”

The website PornHub, and its parent company Mindgeek, has been hit with a lawsuit that claims the company profited off of countless videos that depicted rape and videos that were published without consent. Thirty-four women allege that they unwillingly appeared on the site in videos that included sexual assault, revenge-porn, or footage of underage minors. PornHub has vehemently rejected these claims. “We stand resolutely with all victims of internet-related abuse,” the company said in a statement.

In Phoenix, investigators are trying to figure out why a gunman opened fire on vehicles and pedestrians on during a lenghty drive-by shooting spree. The suspect shot seemingly at random for about 90 minutes in the suburban Phoenix area on Thursday, killing one person and injuring dozens of others. One victim, Richard Valencia, was shot in the shoulder and fired back thrice with his own weapon. “I don’t even know the guy,” Valencia said. “It was completely random.”

Pizza delivery driver Isaac Sanchez was gifted a new car after losing his old one in an attempted theft. A group of thieves futilely tried to steal the car’s catalytic converter, which resulted in the car catching fire the next day. Papa John’s president Keith Sullins caught wind of the story and decided to surprise Sanchez with a new car.

Lastly, the St. Louis couple who went viral last year for waving guns at BLM protestors pleaded guilty to misdemeanors. Patricia McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was ordered to pay a fine of $2,000. Mark McCloskey pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree assault for threatening the passersby with an AR-15 rifle and was ordered to pay a fine of $750. They also agreed to forfeit their guns that were seized during the investigation.

Be well,

Fraser Dixon

Sources

• Dow plummets nearly 400 points as volatility returns to stock market
• ‘Potentially the worst drought in 1,200 years’: scientists on the scorching US heatwave
• Lawsuit bashes Pornhub for profiting off illegal activity, unconsented sex
• Motive sought for fatal string of Arizona freeway shootings
• Pizza delivery driver gifted new car after losing old one to fire during attempted theft
• The Couple Who Waved Guns At BLM Protesters Plead Guilty To Misdemeanors