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Supreme Court Shocker, Walmart's Mega Move, Eagles Hotel California Trial
Just reporting the facts.
Centrist Chronicle
February 22, 2024
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Yesterday, the US Supreme Court opted not to review a lawsuit against the admissions policy of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, a policy that incorporates socioeconomic factors. This decision was challenged by a group of parents alleging it unfairly discriminates against Asian Americans.
Thomas Jefferson, frequently cited as one of the top high schools in the United States, revised its admissions approach in 2020 to foster greater diversity without directly considering racial backgrounds. The updated admissions strategy eliminated a standardized entrance exam and implemented a system that selects the top 1.5% of students from each middle school in the district based on performance.
Following these adjustments, the composition of the freshman class in 2021 saw a shift to 54% Asian American students (a decrease from 73%), alongside increases in Black students to 7% (previously 1%) and Hispanic students to 11% (previously 3%). In the most recent admissions cycle, the demographics of those admitted include 61.6% Asian American students, 6.7% Black students, and 6% Hispanic students.
With the Supreme Court's decision to not intervene, the ruling of an appeals court, which concluded that the new admissions policy did not disproportionately impact Asian American students, remains effective.
In a strategic move to bolster its advertising capabilities, Walmart has announced its acquisition of television manufacturer Vizio for $2.3 billion. This step positions the retail behemoth, with its global presence of 11,000 stores, to more effectively rival the advertising ventures of tech giants like Amazon and Google.
This development emerges as other retailers such as Target and Kroger are also exploring the potential of digital advertising to diversify income streams and capitalize on the lucrative margins that digital ads offer, averaging around 70%. Walmart has notably increased its advertising efforts, engaging the 139 million customers who visit its stores weekly with over 170,000 screens across the United States, alongside in-store radio promotions and product sampling initiatives. Furthermore, Walmart intends to introduce advertising opportunities within Vizio's SmartCast operating system, a complimentary ad-supported platform on Vizio TVs, which boasts 18 million active users.
The announcement coincided with Walmart's release of an earnings report that surpassed expectations, showcasing a 6% revenue increase in the last quarter, leading to a 3% rise in Walmart's stock prices.
Today in New York, a criminal trial commences for three individuals implicated in an alleged scheme to sell original handwritten lyrics from the Eagles' iconic album, "Hotel California." The defendants, rare book dealer Glenn Horowitz, ex-Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and memorabilia merchant Edward Kosinski are charged with conspiracy and possession of stolen property, with Horowitz facing additional accusations of obstructing justice.
At the heart of this nonjury trial are over 80 manuscript pages, valued at more than $1 million, including lyrics for the tracks "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane." Prosecutors assert that these items were illicitly obtained by a band biographer in the 1970s, who then sold them to Horowitz in 2005. Horowitz is alleged to have subsequently sold these pieces to Inciardi and Kosinski.
The prosecution accuses the trio of misrepresenting the provenance of the manuscripts to officials and attempting to sell them without the consent of Eagles co-founder Don Henley. While the charges do not extend to the actual theft of the documents, the prosecution must prove the lyrics were indeed stolen. Henley has asserted his right to the return of the manuscripts, whereas the defendants maintain their acquisition was lawful.
"Hotel California" is celebrated as one of the greatest albums of all time, boasting over 26 million sales in the United States alone.