Take 2: Omicron COVID-19 mutation, Winter 2021 power grid

Marisa Green and Mathias Alling • December 3, 2021

The Take 2 series features brief weekly updates on the state or nation’s relevant news for the community.

Omicron: Scientists identified a new strand of COVID-19 in Africa Thursday. Since then, 19 other countries confirmed cases with this new variant. “CDC is working to modify the current global testing order for travel as we learn more about the Omicron variant,” said CDC spokesperson Jason McDonald. On Friday, the World Health Organization marked the Omicron COVID-19 mutation as potentially dangerous.

Significance: Biden is planning to enforce stricter international travel restrictions starting Nov. 29. “As a precautionary measure until we have more information, I am ordering additional air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven oth]’er countries,” Biden said in response to the Omicron variant. In addition, all incoming travelers to the United States must take a COVID test no more than one day prior to travel. Five states reported cases of the Omicron Variant today.

Governor Greg Abbott claims: Gov. Abbott claimed “the lights will stay on” in preparations for an upcoming Texas freeze. During the February, 2021 storm leaving millions of homes without heat, clean water, and electricity, the Texas power grid was unable to withstand the freezing temperatures. “We promised not to leave session until we fixed these problems, and I am proud to say that we kept that promise. These laws will improve the reliability of the electric grid and help ensure these problems never happen again,” said Governor Abbott. Governor Abbott signed multiple laws which require the winterization of the power grid and better prediction of energy demand.

Significance: The Texas power grid failure directly caused a decline in the economy, damage to infrastructure, and hypothermia deaths. The previous storm cost between 80 to 130 million dollars based on “a result of power loss, physical infrastructure damage and forgone economic opportunities,” according to comptroller Glen Hegar. In February, 210 people died because of complications with the power grid. If Texans experience below freezing temperatures this coming winter, the grid may not be able to provide adequate heat and electricity. This issue is a priority for many Texans.

About the Contributors

Marisa Green, Section Editor

Entering her fourth and final year in TRL as the community section editor, senior Marisa Green is thrilled to get back to writing. Outside of TRL, Green spends her time on boba runs with friends, working in the art room, listening to music at an unhealthy volume, curating the art gallery exhibitions at the school and playing with her two dogs, Lulu and Mozart. Green can’t wait for her last and best year on TRL and hopes to ward off her senioritis in the meantime!

Mathias Alling, LJP Staff

Junior Mathias Alling is entering his third year on The Red Ledger as a section editor. He can often be found riding his bike at six in the morning, at school or learning more about cycling. If it has two wheels, handlebars and pedals, Alling is probably going to love it. He currently has 7,000 miles recorded in since he started riding and is currently going broke trying to buy more and more cycling computers and gear. Alling also enjoys cooking, watching TV shows and movies and spending time with his family. He is looking forward to the new school year and is ready to start writing and editing.

Hannah Gonzalez, Graphics Editor

Mama Mia, here we go again. As she takes her last ride in the TRL classroom, Hannah Gonzalez is ready to end this year with a bang. Gonzalez serves as a Co-Graphics editor for the third year in a row and this is her fourth year on staff. When she’s not making killer graphics, you can most likely find Gonzalez on the volleyball court, at FCA meetings, in school or going for a joy ride in the Jeep that she named “Beep.” Although TRL is life, Gonzalez also enjoys going for late-night ice cream runs, watching early morning sunrises, going to church every Sunday morning and going on an occasional lake trip. To add to her list of accomplishments, Gonzalez has won three state championships and is looking for a fourth. With her happy planner by her side, Gonzalez is looking forward to kicking procrastination to the curb as she conquers her final year as a high school student.