Notable News Stories of 2021 — The Lexington Line

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year's, the world celebrates the ending of one year and the beginning of another. Midnight 2020 was no different. The world was living with COVID-19 and was ready for a new year filled with hope and tranquility. Most people thought 2021 would be a reset and fix all the wrongdoings from 2020, but it was more like 2020-2.0. With so many things changing and happening in our world, it only made sense that 2021 was a year of strife mixed in with a bit of hope. It is important to look back on the hardships of this year so that we can move forward.

Here are the most notable news stories from 2021.

The Attack on the Capitol

Things were looking up with the start of the year and a new president. But, on January 6th, 2021, Donal Trump administrated a speech claiming election fraud. After the speech, hundreds of Trump supporters flocked to the U.S. Capitol building in protest. Congressmen and women were securely hidden away as the protest turned into a riot, leading to the killing of five people. That was only the first week into 2021.

The Blockage of the Suez Canal

On March 23rd The Marine Corp. Evergreen container ship got stuck in Egypt's Suez Canal. The ship was 1,312-foot and got blocked due to a sandstorm. More than a billion dollars worth of maritime commerce was halted and caused the loss of millions to these shipping companies. After six days, the tide changed, and the ship was freed.

The U.S. Leaves Afghanistan

On August 15th, the last remaining U.S troops were leaving Afghanistan—ending the longest war in U.S. history. With America disbanding from the country, the Taliban seized control. The Taliban managed to gain control of the capital Kabul and the rest of the country in a matter of days. Images of Afghan citizens trying to hang onto the last of the U.S. plane's wings and falling to their death emerged. With many citizens from both parties questioning the Biden Administration, polls seemed to slip and it is yet to be determined what effect the fallout will cause President Biden.

The Battle of the Billionaires

With many people dreaming of going to space, 2021 saw the first civilian trip to space. Blue Origin: Jeff Bezo's space company completed three successful civilian trips. Virgin Galatic: Sir Richard Branson's space company completed two trips to space and saw Dave Mackay break the record for reaching space twice in one calendar year as a pilot. SpaceX, Elon Musk's space company completed 31 trips to space and has sent astronauts and people to the International Space Station.

Abortion Rights Overturned

The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority that might see the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This fostered the results of Texas passing the "Heartbeat Bill," which only allows an abortion up to six weeks. Read more about it here.

George Floyd Gets Justice

In 2020 George Floyd was mercilessly murdered by Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020. This horrific attack sparked the outrage of the public and helped inspire the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. After Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, Floyd was killed. ON April 20, 2021, after Chauvin's trial, he was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter—nearly a year after Floyd’s death.

The Coronavirus Pandemic

COVID-19 was the pandemic that ruined 2020. We saw lockdown, quarantine, sickness, and vaccines. In 2021, the rise of vaccines grew, and so did those who revised getting the shot. The pandemic serged on with new variants: Delta and Omicron making headlines. COVID doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon, but with the multiple vaccines available, it's important people get their shot to help stop the spread.

With a year of despair, we can only hope that 2022 starts off on a better note, and sees hope and triumph throughout. The Lexington Line team is wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2022, and may this year be better than the last.