Grand Jury decision incites riots in Ferguson

On November 24, a St. Louis County grand jury decided not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. Wilson, who is white, shot and killed the 18-year-old Brown on August 9^th, setting off a wave of protests and anger in the predominantly black community of Ferguson, Missouri.

Tensions between police and citizens in Ferguson were reignited following the decision, with dozens arrested during a series of violent nights in the St. Louis suburb. Protestors looted and burned local businesses as police used tear gas and flash-bang canisters in an attempt to control the crowds.

The decision not to indict Wilson also set off protests across the country, with over a hundred protestors arrested on Wednesday night in Los Angeles as demonstrations crossed the city.

In the months following the August shooting, the nation has taken a closer look into police violence, especially violence occurring against young minorities. Protestors have called for better relations between mainly white police forces and young black males across the country.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel steps down amid ISIS controversy

Amid pressure from the White House, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel submitted his resignation from the position on November 24, less than two years after he was appointed by President Obama. The decision came in the weeks after Obama announced more U.S. aid in the Middle East fight against the militant group ISIS.

Hagel, the first enlisted combat veteran to hold the defense secretary position, was appointed to the position by President Obama in February 2013. At the time, Obama said that he chose Hagel for the position because he knew “that sending young Americans to fight and bleed in the dirt and mud, that’s something we only do when it’s absolutely necessary.”

However, while Hagel was more focused on policy than military during his time in office, the Obama administration placed a greater value on boots on the ground in combat zones overseas.

The president’s recent decision to send more U.S. combat troops to the Middle East was only the latest disagreement between the Pentagon and the White House. In October, it was revealed by administration officials that Hagel had criticized the White House’s strategy for Syria in a memo to national security adviser Susan E. Rice.

Hagel’s resignation appears to be somewhat of a mutual decision between him and the White House. He will remain in the position until a predecessor is named by President Obama.

Pope Francis visits Muslim-majority Turkey

In a rare visit, Pope Francis arrived in Turkey on November 28^th, urging tolerance and an end to Islamic fundamentalism in the country that currently harbors 1.6 million refugees from neighboring Syria and Iraq.

At President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s lavish palace, Francis told Turkish officials that “fanaticism and fundamentalism, as well as irrational fears which foster misunderstanding and discrimination, need to be countered by the solidarity of all believers.”

The Pope’s visit comes at a time when the majority Muslim nation has accused the radical militant group ISIS of casting Islam in a negative light. Turkish president Erdogan said to Francis that prejudice against Muslims has helped the growth of such radical organizations. Turkish officials hope that the Pope’s message of tolerance will aid in the fight against ISIS.

Pre-Thanksgiving snowstorm leaves thousands in dark for holiday

On the day before Thanksgiving, a nor’easter raced up the east coast, dumping inches of heavy snow and rain across the eastern seaboard. With temperatures struggling to rise above freezing, the heavy, wet snow caused widespread traffic congestion and power outages in the northeast.

On one of the busiest travel days of the year, hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed as up to 20 inches of heavy snow and wet slush blanketed parts of the northeast.

In northern New England, more than 300,000 people spent Thanksgiving without power, cooking turkeys on outdoor gas grills and eating their holiday meals by candlelight. By Friday morning, nearly 150,000 people were still without power.

Shoppers buy in to Black Friday deals

In what has become a tradition as American as apple pie or a Thanksgiving turkey, hundreds of thousands of holiday shoppers flocked to malls and big box retailers in hopes of snagging Black Friday deals.

With some stores opening as early as 6:00 Thursday night, shoppers braved crowds and freezing temperatures to find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Among the hottest toys this season are LEGOs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and dolls based off of the popular movie Frozen.

Retailers across the country rely on Black Friday to jump start the holiday spending frenzy, hoping for a profitable holiday season amid a poor economy that has left many Americans with little money to spend on holiday merchandise.