Afternoon News Update, 3/22/21

By Zachary Masters

On campus, thanks to the increasing number of vaccinations available to students, individuals are getting closer to a time when students can return to a normal college experience. According to The Appalachian, students living on campus will become eligible to receive a covid vaccination on campus on April 7th as a part of the Phase Two of Group 4. Many Appalachian State freshman have never experienced the college lifestyle without Covid restrictions. Lillian Schriner, a freshman in Bowie Residence Hall, stated that when she and her fellow classmates receive the vaccine, it would give her peace of mind and “relieve some stress.”

In local news, the Boone Town Council elected to pass a Non-Discrimination ordinance on March 16th with an outcome of 4-1. The Appalachian reports that the bill will prevent discrimination on the grounds of “actual or perceived age, mental or physical disability, sex, religion, creed, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial or marital status, economic status, veteran status or national origin in any aspect of modern life.” Sam Furgiuele, a town council member made it clear that while this bill moves Boone in the right direction to end prejudice in the High Country, it is important to keep the conversation open about implementing more anti-discrimination ordinances.

Nationally, the Wall Street Journal reports that a large influx of spring breakers has caused the City of Miami Beach to implement a strict 8 p.m. curfew. This was done to curve the growing violence and surge in Covid-19 cases because of large gatherings of mask-less crowds all along the Miami Beach strip. In a statement made by Miami Beach Mayor, Dan Gelber “It certainly has felt like our city has been a tinder over the last few weeks.” Over 50 arrests have been made and 85 firearms have been seized by police in this weekend alone, with less than half the arrests being Floridian natives.

This afternoon’s weather comes from BooneWeather.com. Expect to see warmer weather today with clear skies during the day and intermittent clouds rolling into the evening. Prepare for a high of 57 degrees and a low of 38 degrees with winds ranging from 5-15 mph.