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Former Sandy Hook student shares heartbreaking story after surviving second school shooting

Experiencing the trauma of one school shooting is one too many. Living through two is utterly incomprehensible.

Jackie Matthews was in the sixth grade in Newtown, Connecticut, when a 20-year-old assailant shot and killed 26 students and faculty members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. As the school district went into lockdown during the chaos, Matthews crouched in place with her classmates for so long that she still experiences back problems from it.

Now, as a senior at Michigan State University, Matthews has survived her second mass shooting at school. On the night of February 13, a 43-year-old gunman shot eight students on the MSU campus, killing three of them, before turning the gun on himself. Matthews posted a video to TikTok while sheltering in place in the middle of the night across the street from where some of the shootings took place.

“I am 21 years old and this is the second mass shooting I have now lived through,” she shared. “Ten years and two months ago I survived the Sandy Hook shooting…I was hunched in the corner with my classmates for so long that I got a PTSD fracture in my L4 and L5 in my right lower back. I now have a full-blown PTSD fracture that flares up any time I’m in a stressful situation.”

“The fact this is now the second shooting I have lived through is incomprehensible,” she continued. “We can no longer just provide love and prayers. It needs to be legislation, it needs to be action. It’s not OK. We can no longer allow this to happen.”

@jmattttt

Enough is Enough. #spartanstrong #sandyhookstrong I hope you stand with me in putting an end to this horrific epidemic of gun violence.

Matthews wasn’t the only MSU student who experienced their second school shooting on February 13. At least two students who had survived the Oxford High School shooting in Michigan in 2021 were also on campus that night.

Emma Riddle wrote on Twitter, “14 months ago I had to evacuate from Oxford High Schol [sic] when a fifteen year old opened fire and killed four of my classmates and injured seven more. Tonight, I am sitting under my desk at Michigan State Univeristy [sic], once again texting everyone ‘I love you.'”

“When will this end?” she asked.

Riddle’s father shared her tweet, writing, “This is my daughter Emma. Her safety and sense of peace has been ripped away twice in 14 months because America continues to choose guns over kids.”

Another Oxford High School survivor was also on campus for the MSU shooting. Andrea Ferguson shared that her Oxford graduate daughter had just started attending MSU this semester.

“I never expected in my lifetime to have to experience two school shootings,” Ferguson told Local News 4 in Detroit as she described hearing from her daughter about the active shooter.

“She had just ended class and hopped on the bus and went across campus and called me, and while we were on the phone, all of the sudden she started getting text messages. It was like reliving Oxford all over again.”

The fact that multiple young people are experiencing multiple school shootings is a sobering reminder that the people who are killed or physically wounded are not the only victims of America’s unique gun violence problem. Countless kids have been traumatized by mass shootings, either witnessing them firsthand or being close enough to them that their sense of safety has been forever affected.

We simply can’t continue to wish and pray our mass shooting problem away away. Hopefully, it won’t take another generation of survivors for us to gather the political will to finally take meaningful action.

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Tame Impala Announced A ‘Lonerism’ 10th Anniversary Box Set Featuring Unreleased Demos And More

Tame Impala is leaving no musically creative opportunity left unexplored. In the last few years alone, the multi-instrumentalist has collaborated with everyone from pop music icon Diana Ross to Gorillaz to The Wiggles. Just last spring, Impala set a new career milestone, earning their first billion-stream hit on Spotify for the song “The Less I Know Better.” Even with so many new avenues still left to explore, Impala is feeling quite nostalgic.

In the fall, Tame Impala’s breakthrough album, Lonerism, celebrated its 10th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the band performed the album in full at Desert Daze. Now, the band has announced a 10-year anniversary box set featuring the 3-LP collection, a 24-page booklet, unreleased Lonerism demos, and never-before-heard demo sessions, all of which will be available on May 26.

In a recent Instagram post, Parker said it’s “difficult to sum up what the album means to me at this point.” He continued, “It was a pretty special time making the music for me. In a way, it’s when I truly discovered myself as an artist. Coming off the back of ‘Innerspeaker’ I had this new sense of purpose…calling…whatever you want to call it. I had finally given myself permission to let music take over my being completely…to become totally immersed in my own world of recording music. So I had this new sense of creative freedom. I felt free to be ambitious, weird, pop, experimental, whatever, and didn’t feel judged because I was finally just doing it for myself and believed in myself. For the most part anyway…”

The Lonerism 10th anniversary box set is out 5/26. Pre-order it here.

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Chris Evans Debuted His New GF On Instagram And Everyone Is Being Really Normal And Nice About It

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they must realize that their fictional boyfriend is not their real boyfriend and is instead a real-life actor who is nothing like said fictional person. Most people make this realization after watching Christian Bale in Little Women at age 10, but sometimes those feelings linger until you’re old enough to sign up for a Twitter account. And sometimes, unfortunately, your fictional boyfriend gets a real-life girlfriend and you have to seem supportive because that’s how this works!!

It seems like Chris Evans has decided to break up with all of his fans at once by posting a Valentine’s Day reel with his rumored girlfriend, Warrior Nun star Alba Baptista. The clip features various photos of the duo, who have allegedly been dating for over a year, sandwiched in between photos of Evans’ beloved dog (this might unintentionally lead to a Pavlovian effect where fans of Chris Evans will now feel sadness every time they see a cute dog, but he probably didn’t think about that).

Of course, all of Evans’ devoted and very intense fans have been sharing their support for the actor, and everyone is really being nice and normal and happy for the lovely couple!

Please take this as a sign to go out and get some fresh air and maybe a dog.

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Donald Trump Jr. Doesn’t Understand Why People Think He’s Blitzed Out Of His Mind On Coke All The Time

Donald Trump Jr. isn’t doing the ol’ nose candy when he squirms, snorts, and sniffs his way through rants. He’s merely impassioned, you see.

The ex-president’s most insecure son complained on his Triggered podcast that the haters and losers (and Stephen Colbert) are too busy criticizing him and suggesting that he’s on cocaine instead of chasing the real story: something something Hunter Biden.

“I’ve been blessed beyond belief in this country,” Trump Jr. told his dad’s advisor Kash Patel. “I got thrown into politics in my late 30s, and all the sudden, it’s like, hey, I just actually believe this stuff. I will more than happily fight for it.” He said it would have been a lot easier for him to “shut the hell up and be a real estate developer from New York,” but then we’d deprive of his New York Times crossword puzzle takes.

Trump Jr. continued, “It’s so important to be in that fight. But I look at what they called me: a traitor. Adam Schiff wanted to try me for treason. You know, a crime punishable by death. But Hunter Biden can take a billion from China, work for Ukraine oligarchs, y’know, work for Russian oligarchs, money launderer…” — he’s somehow not done but we’ll skip the rest of the list — “…and it’s like, he’s an upstanding human being! And then I give an impassioned speech, and they’re like, oh, Don Jr. is on coke!”

Soon, he’ll be complaining, “Oh, but when a bear does cocaine, it’s fine?”

(Via Raw Story)

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Reuben Vincent And Rapsody’s ‘Feb. 13th’ Honors Black Love Day With An Honest Video About Relationships

Lana Del Rey may not be in the Valentine’s Day mood, but RocNation’s budding new talent Reuben Vincent is. His latest single, “February 13th,” produced by legendary hip-hop fixture Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton, is a testament to honoring your partner while you have them.

The track, which features fellow rapper Rapsody, off of his new album Love Is War, is yet another showing off Vincent’s lyrical abilities.

When asked about the track, Vincent replied, “‘Feb. 13th’ is a record that’s full of pure emotion. Ironically, I found out it was celebrated as ‘Black Love Day,’ but this song was made to tackle the ups and downs of relationships and the wrongs that come with it.”

He added, “It was the day before Valentine’s Day, so we wanted to make this the break-up song. Everyone who is a part of this record experienced real emotions to get to this point.”

The video, directed by Patrick Lincoln, is the visual manifestation of that feeling as both Vincent and Rapsody reminisce on their respective former lovers.

As for how the collaboration came to be, Rapsody said, “The making of both the song and video was a very organic experience. Myself and Reuben were staying with Young Guru in LA during the pandemic, waking up talking, learning together, and having life conversations. We all put our experiences in the music, and we all poured into the idea of the visual in the same way.”

“Guru had the initial concept, I was on Pinterest finding inspiration for how to execute it, and Reuben was throwing in scene ideas,” she continued. “It was how creating in a village is supposed to look. That’s how it all came together so well.”

Watch the full video above.

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Patrick Mahomes Said The Chiefs Failed Ring Around The Rosie Play Has A Pokemon-Inspired Name

The Kansas City Chiefs are no strangers to playing Ring Around the Rosie on the football field. The team did it against the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this year en route to a touchdown that got called back due to a holding, and while they did not score on this play, the Chiefs decided to get a little silly in their Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kansas City ran this on second-and-goal while down by a point in the fourth quarter. It ended with Patrick Mahomes throwing the ball out of the end zone, which wasn’t that big of a deal, because Skyy Moore scored on the very next play. But still, it was a fascinating play, in part because a offensive lineman, Andrew Wylie, reported as an eligible receiver.

Jimmy Kimmel peppered Mahomes with questions about the game on his show on Monday night, and he couldn’t resist asking about this. As it turns out, this was supposed to be a throw to Wylie that just fell apart. And as an added bonus, the Super Bowl MVP gave a fun little detail about the play’s name.

“A play like that, is it more embarrassing when you don’t complete the pass after you do the whole thing?” Kimmel asked at the 6:51 mark of the above video.

“Oh yeah, we worked on that play for so long,” Mahomes said. “And then I knew, we tried to disguise it with all that different stuff happening before the snap, and then I saw 22 point directly at the guy I was gonna throw it to. I was like, I don’t know if I like my linemen matched up on a DB. Man, the worst.”

Kimmel then asked what the play is called, which led to Mahomes revealing that one of the big fellas on the Chiefs’ line is a Pokemon fan.

“So Wylie, who was the guy we were trying to get the ball to, is a big Pokemon collection,” Mahomes said. “And so, it was a Pikachu formation and it was called ‘Gotta Catch ‘Em All.’”

Between this and the play in their playbook called “Corn Dog,” I would like to learn the name of literally every other play that the Chiefs call.

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JuJu Smith-Schuster Delivered A Vicious Valentine’s Day Troll Of Eagles DB James Bradberry

The Kansas City Chiefs won their second Super Bowl title in four years on Sunday as they came back from down 10 at the half to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a thriller.

The Chiefs kicked the game-winning field goal in the final ten seconds, after they were able to take another minute-plus off the clock thanks to a critical holding call on James Bradberry, who tugged on JuJu Smith-Schuster’s jersey on a third down pass. While Eagles fans (and others) were upset with the call in that spot, Bradberry said after the game it was a good call and the Eagles themselves wouldn’t place the loss at the feet of the officials.

Still, it was a defining moment in that it kept Philly from having a chance at a game-tying or winning drive with 90 seconds to go, and on Tuesday, JuJu decided to have some Valentine’s Day fun with drawing the biggest flag of the game.

The athlete Valentine’s Day card thing has become big on social media in recent years, but this may be the first time one player has trolled another with one. Smith-Schuster is still riding the high of his first Super Bowl win and clearly this idea popped into his head and he just couldn’t pass up the opportunity for an all-time post.

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Billie Eilish Told Lana Del Rey All About Her Childhood Obsession Over Her, Which Included Lock Screen Photos And Talent Show Covers

It’s a big day for Lana Del Rey today (February 14), as she decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a new song (“A&W“) and a new Interview interview. For that conversation, Del Rey was joined by Billie Eilish, who was clearly thrilled to be there and took the opportunity to tell Del Rey about how long she’s been a major fan on her.

The conversation started with Eilish declaring she’s “absolutely stoked out of [her] f*cking mind” to interview Del Rey. From there, Eilish spilled to a delighted Del Rey about how into her she was as a young girl:

“Eilish: You were my lock screen on the first phone I ever got.

Del Rey: Oh my god.

Eilish: I knew for months before I got my first iPhone that it was going to be that f*cking photo of you with the bee on your lip.

Del Rey: You know what’s funny? That bee picture was for Interview Germany.

Eilish: No way. I remember showing everybody. I grew up homeschooled, but we still had…

Del Rey: I’m so f*cking jealous of that.

Eilish: It was pretty tight, but we still had talent shows even though we didn’t have a school. I was all up in the talent show singing your stuff.

Del Rey: What?!

Eilish: Dude, come on.

Del Rey: Do we have any footage? [laughs]

Eilish: Oh yeah. I sang ‘Brooklyn Baby’ at the last one I did. I’d film myself covering your songs and pretend that I was gonna blow up on YouTube from them, and then they’d get two views.”

The rest of the interview is similarly fun, so check it out here.

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Ye Ali’s Rules Of The Private Lovers’ Suite For Uproxx

If you haven’t checked your calendar, today (February 14) is the annual day of lovers all around the world (unless you are Lana Del Rey). Many musicians have made being a certified lover boy a part of their artistic shtick (hi, Drake), or at least the idea of this imaginary persona has flooded their discography. However, melodic rapper and producer Ye Ali has embodied it on and off the track.

Previously released songs, “Oceans” and “Ring,” were just a peek behind his sensual curtain. Now, the recording artist is ready to give those looking to master the art of romance a few pointers from his own personal player bag or, as he refers to them, the teachings, Rules Of The Private Lovers’ Suite, just before the holiday’s nightfall.

By following Ali’s four simple rules, your Valentine’s Day evening would be one for the record books. Some of the rules require a bit of financial planning in advance. However, the most important of Ali’s rules is the last one, “the private suite is a judge-free zone.”

You can watch Ye Ali’s Rules Of The Private Suite for Uproxx Music above.

Outside of Rules of The Private Suit, catch Ali performing his song “Autumn’s Here” for UPROXX Sessions.

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Kevin Feige Says Bringing Harrison Ford To The MCU Has Been A ‘Dream For Years’

Harrison Ford is looking to have some fun lately after a long career of playing famously unfun roles, like those notoriously serious dudes Indiana Jones and Han Solo. That’s why Ford joined the MCU for next year’s Captain America: New World Order as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. Just for fun!

“This has been a dream for years, ever since Jon Favreau cast Harrison Ford in Cowboys and Aliens,” Feige told Entertainment Weekly. Feige couldn’t ever shake the feeling that he was born to bring Harrison Ford into the MCU, so that’s what he did! “I was always very jealous of that, so to have him finally in the MCU is just incredible. It’s like, I can cross that off the wishlist,” the Marvel Boss said.

Ford will be replacing William Hurt who starred as President Ross in The Incredible Hulk and appeared in Avengers: Endgame before his death last March. Now, Ford’s portrayal will team up with Anthony Mackie’s Captain America. “There’s a dynamic between President Ross and Sam Wilson,” Feige told EW. “They have a history together, but in this film, we’ll be seeing the dynamic between Captain America and the president of the United States in a way that is just incredible.”

As for the veteran actor deciding to dip his toes in the MCU at age 80, Ford says that he felt like he was missing out. Ford told The Hollywood Reporter: “I thought, ‘Everybody else seems to be having a great time.’ I watch all these terrific actors having a good time. I like doing something different from what I’ve ever done and pleasing people with it. So I’ll try a piece of that.” Even though Ford has played a president before, there weren’t superheroes involved, so this is different enough.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)