1. Company issues statement after 14-year-old falls to his death on amusement ride

A Statement from ICON Park: pic.twitter.com/ubFxoSmGdz

— ICON Park (@iconparkorlando) March 26, 2022

On Tuesday, March 29, SlingShot Group issued a statement following the death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson who fell from one of their rides last week.

“We continue to grieve the passing of Tyre Sampson and our thoughts are with his family and friends. This was the saddest day in the history of ICON Park and we’re working hard to make sure this never happens again,” said the statement.

Sampson fell to his death while riding the SlingShot Group’s FreeFall drop tower at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, March 24.

According to CNN, Sampson had already been turned away from two other rides at the park due to weight restrictions. It is unclear whether Sampson’s size was the cause of the ride malfunction. 

“Sampson came out of the seat when the magnets engaged to slow the ride during the descent, according to the report, which was based on ride employee witnesses,” reports CNN. 

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Tyre Sampson and absolutely devastated for his family and loved ones,” said SlingShot Group. “We have suspended the operations of the FreeFall ride and the Slingshot ride at Icon Park. We are fully cooperating with the authorities at the state and local levels who are investigating this tragic incident. We plan on providing additional information in the coming days, as we learn more.”

2. Taylor Swift to receive honorary doctorate from NYU

For the first time since 2019, we'll be back at @yankeestadium on May 18 for TWO Commencement ceremonies to celebrate #NYU2020, #NYU2021, and #NYU2022. Thrilled to announce our honorary degree recipients, including speakers @taylorswift13 & @judithheumann: https://t.co/CJPRr4yATw

— New York University (@nyuniversity) March 28, 2022

Taylor Swift will be awarded an honorary doctorate from New York University during the school’s commencement ceremony for the class of 2022. Swift is also set to deliver an address during the ceremony. 

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, “The ceremony will be held on May 18 at Yankee Stadium, where Swift will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, and speak to the graduates. The event will also celebrate the classes of 2020 and 2021 — whose graduations were affected by the pandemic — at a ceremony later that evening.”

Swift’s honorary degree follows the spring semester during which NYU offered an entire course on Swift and her discography. 

According to The Hill, “the course is being taught by Rolling Stone journalist and NYU alumna Brittany Spanos, and will educate students on Swift’s evolution as a musician, businesswoman, entrepreneur, country singer and pop sensation.”

“Since 2019, we have been deprived of Commencement’s festive, communal joy, and its absence has been keenly felt,” said NYU President Andrew Hamilton. “We reconvene at Yankee Stadium with a renewed sense of appreciation for the act of celebrating together in person, a recognition of our graduates’ enormous achievements, and a respect for their character and perseverance.”

3. Shooting in central Israel leaves 5 dead

On Tuesday, a motorcyclist opened fire on a city in central Israel, methodically killing five people.

“The shooting appeared to be the latest in a string of attacks by Arab assailants ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the anniversary of last year’s Gaza war. Israeli media said the attacker was a Palestinian from the West Bank. The previous two attacks, carried out by Arab citizens of Israel inspired by the Islamic State extremist group, have raised concerns of further violence,” reports AP News.

The gunman, dressed in black and armed with an assault rifle, was killed by local police.

“Israel ‘stands before a wave of murderous Arab terrorism,’ declared Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. He pledged to combat it ‘with perseverance, stubbornness and an iron fist.’ He held an emergency meeting of top security officials and planned a meeting of his Security Cabinet on Wednesday,” reports AP News.