1. Michigan governor plans to fix toxic water in Flint

In April of 2014, the state switch of Flint’s water source from Lake Huron to Flint River caused the government to save money for the state and city. However, citizens complained that the water was tasting funny and didn’t look right. Researchers from Virginia Tech found that the water was highly corrosive. The topic was brought up during the Democratic Presidential Debate on Sunday, Jan. 17. For more information click here.

2. Boycotting the Oscars due to lack of diversity

On Monday morning, actress Jada Pinkett Smith posted a video via Facebook stating that she will not be attending the Oscars this February due to lack of color. “Is it time that people of color recognize how much power, influence, that we have amassed, that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere?” she stated in the video. Other actors such as Spike Lee joined her in the cause. For more information click here.

3. Major winter storm to hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast

Many Americans in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast are preparing for what’s considered to be the worst storm of the season yet. The season, which already brought sub-freezing temperatures from the Midwest as far south as northern Florida, will be dropping even more. For more information click here.

4. Banned from MLB’s Hall, Pete Rose to get into Reds’ Hall of Fame

Banned in 1991 from the MLB’s Hall of Fame for a gambling on baseball controversies, the Cincinnati Reds player announced Tuesday that former baseball player, and manager for the Reds’ Pete Rose will be inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. His accomplishments include breaking over five MLB records and winning several World Series For more information click here.

5. Aftermath of Twitter’s widespread shutdown

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, over 300 million Twitter users reported that they had been left without access to their Twitter accounts. In a post that included a link to the Led Zeppelin song “Communication Breakdown,” South African Facebook user commented “Apt song for the #TwitterDown crises we are facing at the moment.” For more information click here.