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5 Things You Should Know Today

There’s a lot going on in the world – let’s face it, at all times. We bet it gets difficult to keep track of everything while balancing school, extra-curriculars, and friends. Look no farther. We’ve put together a list of 5 happenings from the week that you should be aware of.

1. Obama reveals comprehensive gun control plan. A month after the Sandy Hook shooting President Obama has outlined a series of 23 executive actions he can take without congressional approval to reduce gun violence. It includes:

a ban on assault weapons and armor-piercing ammunition
capping ammunition magazines to a 10-round limit
creating serious punishments for gun trafficking
providing schools with resource officers and school counselors
ensuring that health insurance plans cover mental health benefits

2. Lance Armstrong Admits to doping…in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. The cycling champ was stripped of his seven Tour titles last year, following an extensive report by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. USADA chief said Armstrong pulled off “the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen.” The interview will air on OWN Thursday and Friday night.

3. School renamed for heroic Sandy Hook teacher. The Newtown elementary school shooting is a day that as a nation we won’t ever forget. Nor will we forget Victoria Soto, who gave her life to save her first-grade class. Now a month later, she is being honored by a Stratford school. Honeyspot Elementary will be renamed for the 27-year-old.

4. January brings err spring flowers. We’ve had the warmest springs on record. The result: flowers are bloomin’ SUPER early at two historic sites. Ecosystems throughout the temperate areas of the U.S. are changing and we’ve got climate change to thank. Flowering times recorded in Henry David Thoreau’s notebooks and data from famous naturalist Aldo Leopold show that times or temperatures are changing.

5. Lady Gaga Born Brave Bus hits the road. Gaga kicked off her Born This Way Ball tour with the unveiling of her Born Brave Bus, which is part of a larger movement to “build a sense of community and promote self-acceptance among fans.” Covered in artwork by her Little Monsters, the bus offers teens a place to learn about anti-bullying, suicide prevention, and mental health services.