In other news
State
A man drove off the end of the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier Saturday, Jan. 27. The driver was confirmed to be a 57-year-old man from Virginia Beach. According to The Virginian Pilot, the police stated that the man died by suicide. “While we cannot presume to fully know what motivated this individual’s actions, they do appear to have been deliberate,” the release stated. The car was unable to be retrieved until nearly a week later due to weather and ocean complications. Portsmouth-based Crofton Industries recovered the vehicle and driver Friday, Feb. 2. According to WAVY, the Virginia Beach Police reported that the man who drove off the 14th Street Fishing Pier is the same man who had been reported missing by his family members. The police confirmed that they would not release the man’s name due to the nature of the event and for the family’s privacy. “The safety of those involved in this recovery operation, maintaining integrity of evidence, and providing some semblance of closure and peace to the decedent’s family have been the top priorities of this operation,” Virginia Beach Police said.
National
Five U.S. Marines were confirmed dead by authorities on Thursday, Feb. 8, after a military helicopter crashed in the mountains close to San Diego. According to USA Today, the helicopter, a CH-53E Super Stallion, was reported missing on Tuesday, Feb. 6. During the historic downpour in California, the crew of five were on a “routine training flight” from Creech Air Force Base in Las Vegas to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. The crash site was discovered on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 7, around 45 miles east of San Diego. The cause of the crash has not been determined. The “atmospheric river” storm also brought heavy snow across the region’s mountains, causing issues with the recovery process. According to AP News, recovery efforts will continue to take place over the next couple of weeks as an investigation ensues into the crash.
International
Controversy has struck the Formula 1 world with the emergence of the Stake F1 team’s run-in with legal problems. According to Racing News 365, despite assurances that “everything is above board,” the F1 team may be facing issues with the Swiss Federal Casino Commission’s regulations. Switzerland, as well as many other countries across the globe, has outlawed the advertising of online betting and gaming companies. Stake had an unveiling of its new car in London on Monday, Feb. 5, where its new-school, modern car was revealed as well as its rekindled brand. A Swiss broadcasting company, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen said that Stake could face a fine of 500,000 Swiss francs for breaching regulations of unauthorized advertising for gambling. According to TalkSport, Stake is a world-leading betting, entertainment and lifestyle brand that has become the main sponsor of Sauber, a Swiss F1 constructor. The name change from Sauber to Stake is what has brought about the controversy. Stake has already agreed to change its livery at grand prix due to the destination country’s advertising bans with gambling platforms.
Luke Bessire is the special assignments reporter for The Champion