Campus Life | Focusing on next semester

Choosing classes has always been very difficult for me. As a sophomore business information systems major, there are a lot of classes I have to take so I can finish my major and graduate as soon as possible. However, there are many other classes I’m interested in taking that sometimes don’t fit into my schedule. 

For example, since I am in the business field, my advisers expect me to take classes related to business. But recently I’ve been interested in astronomy and think taking classes in that subject would be fascinating. 

For the past year, I have tried to find the perfect balance in taking classes that will both help me with my major and finding others that interest me and I could potentially pick up a minor in. I prioritize my business classes, such as financial accounting and statistics, over my philosophy class, because those are more important to me since they will help me graduate on time. Over the course of the year, I think I have finally mastered how to balance both types of classes.

I’ve given a lot of thought about what I should minor in and to be honest, I’m still unsure. My first idea was nonfiction writing, which is something I’m still interested in but am unsure if I want to pursue. I’ve also considered marketing and astronomy. I haven’t taken an astronomy class yet, but I’m also hesitant to add it to my course load because I’m not sure how well it would tie in with business. I enjoyed the marketing class I took in high school and the material can help in my business courses, so that is something I might be willing to go after.

I’m not the only Pitt student who is struggling with choosing classes for next semester. Two of my friends transferred into Pitt’s College of Business Administration this semester after realizing the medical field and the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences wasn’t for them. They realized the workload was a bit too much and that they were simply not interested in the subject anymore. 

Transitioning into a different school — especially as sophomores — can be stressful since a lot of the other business students are already almost halfway done with their required classes. 

My friends now have to work extra hard to take as many credits as possible to finish on time.

I know that a lot of people right now are stressed with back-to-back meetings, whether it is with their advisers or with the Career Center. Some friends that are in Dietrich informed me that they are currently in the process of declaring their major. I think this is exciting because now they can devote their time to classes that reflect their career path. 

Throughout all these struggles, I’ve learned to seek help and advice from others. I’m not usually the type to ask for help, but after talking to my adviser multiple times about the major and potential minors I would like to pursue, I had a clear understanding about the classes I have to take throughout the next few semesters. 

Without talking to some of my upperclassmen friends, I wouldn’t have been able to make as many connections or get recommendations for certain classes to take. Reaching out to people can help a lot, they’ve been there too.

Shriya writes about everyday things that happen on campus at the University of Pittsburgh. Talk to them at SHY76@pitt.edu. 

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Pitt wrestling opens 2021 season with Blue and Gold Meet

Coming off its best finish at the NCAA National Championship since 1970, Pitt wrestling kicked off its 2021-22 campaign with the Blue and Gold exhibition dual meet Thursday night at the Fitzgerald Field House. The dual pitted teammate against teammate ahead of the Panthers’ regular season opener next Sunday at the Clarion Open. 

Redshirt sophomore Colton Camacho commenced the action on Thursday night with a 6-1 victory over redshirt sophomore Gage Curry at 125 pounds. Camacho, who posted a 13-5 record last season, comes into this year with lofty goals. 

“Ultimately, I want to be an All-American this year, but to do that I need to make it to the national tournament this year,” Camacho said. “I feel like, once I get there, I can do some damage.”

Redshirt senior Jake Wentzel posted the only pin of the night over first year Collin McCorkle at 165 pounds. Wentzel took the lead early with a thunderous takedown over his opponent. This match marks Wentzel’s first return to the Fitzgerald Field House since his second place finish at the NCAA national tournament last season. The redshirt senior expressed high hopes for his team in his final season with the Panthers. 

“It would be cool to compete for an ACC title,” Wentzel said. “I think we also have the guys to come away with an NCAA tournament team trophy.” 

Wentzel also said he’s raised his own personal goals for the season, after a narrow loss in the national tournament made for a sour ending to his 2021 season.

“Obviously, I want to do better than last year because that was a tough pill to swallow, being second place,” Wentzel said. “So I want to go out and win this year.” 

At 157 pounds, redshirt senior Elijah Cleary turned heads with a dominant victory over sophomore Tyler Badgett. Cleary racked up several takedowns to defeat his opponent 11-5. The match marks Cleary’s first appearance for the Panthers after transferring to Pitt from Ohio State this season.

The meet also featured two exciting overtime matches. At 174 pounds, first year Luca Augustine grappled his way to a sudden victory over redshirt junior Hunter Kernan. Neither wrestler could gain the upper hand before regulation expired, but Augustine overpowered Kernan in overtime to take home the victory.

At 197 pounds, first year Ethan Finch edged out redshirt first year Geoff Magin in overtime in the final match of the night. Each wrestler fought to score points in regulation and Finch ultimately won the match 6-4. 

Head coach Keith Gavin said his team performed well Thursday night. But the fifth-year head coach will continue to look for ways to improve. 

“Up and down the lineup, we saw several guys do things well,” Gavin said. “But I also saw a few things we need to work on.” 

Missing from the action was redshirt senior Nino Bonaccorsi. Bonaccorsi, who competed in the NCAA tournament finals last season, will travel to Serbia next week to represent Team USA at the U23 Freestyle World Wrestling Championships. Bonaccorsi is currently ranked second in the country at 197 pounds.   

Looking ahead to the regular season, the Panthers will face nationally ranked programs, as well as ACC foes. The Panthers currently stand as the 16th ranked team in the nation. 

The program will travel to Buffalo for the first dual meet of the season on Nov. 12. The Panthers will make their home debut against Maryland at the Fitzgerald Field House on Nov. 21. However, the season’s marquee matchup will come on Feb. 11 when the fifth-ranked NC State Wolfpack travels to Pittsburgh for a dual with the Panthers. The Wolfpack won the ACC title last season.

Pitt will open the regular season with an all-day meet at the Clarion Open next Sunday. 

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University of Fitsburgh | Looks that caught our eye

GQ named Pittsburgh the third “worst-dressed city in America” in 2011. In the 10 years that have passed since this article hit the net, this City has undergone a multitude of changes. Fellow first year Sophia Chen and I, armed with an iPhone and lack of plans, set out to investigate the veracity of this claim over the past week.

When I asked my close friend Sophia Chen, a psychology major, how she felt about the style choices made by Pitt’s undergraduate population throughout the week, Sophia was proud of her fellow Panthers.

“It was really good to see people expressing themselves in different ways,” Chen said.

Read on to see what Pitt’s best-dressed students wore this week, hear our thoughts and decide for yourself how fashion-forward our campus is.

Anna Bella, first-year architecture major

Anna Bella is a first-year architecture major. (Colin Kennedy, For The Pitt News)

Sophia — This look is really pulled together with the monochromatism. There was clearly thought that went into putting this look together and the distinctiveness of the patchwork pants sets it apart from the others.

Colin — This fit is toeing the line of monochromatism, and I like that. The sweater is what initially pulled us in, and the rest of the outfit carried as well. The orange necklace is a nice fall-themed pop of color to tie it all together. 

Dan Uhranowsky, senior health informatics major

Dan Uhranowsky is a senior health informatics major. (Colin Kennedy, For The Pitt News)

Sophia — I love the laid back feel of this look, it’s casual but still remains trendy, especially with the cuffed jeans. Also, accessorizing with the hat just adds the cherry on top.

Colin — This is a great look. Trucker hats are super in right now, which I see as kind of a convergence of the Y2K revival and the rising popularity of workwear. The red corduroy jacket’s gingham patterned lining is a fantastic accent piece in this outfit.

Stella Han, first-year psychology major

Stella Han is a first-year psychology major. (Colin Kennedy, For The Pitt News)

Sophia — This is one of my favorite looks so far. The layering is done so well — adding the blue pop of color under the leather jacket really makes this one. I’ve also seen leg warmers making a comeback, and I love them with this outfit. 

Colin — This outfit is so well constructed. When I think of weekday dressing at its peak, this is the kind of outfit that comes to mind. I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for a good green and brown color combination, but this is a great outfit regardless.

Colin writes about student life and youth culture at Pitt. Reach out to him at CMK172@pitt.edu

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Pitt’s Office of Facilities Management offers new apprenticeship program for engineers

After working as a mechanic at the Heinz Ketchup Corporation for 10 years, Lemel Alexander was searching for a career change. He ultimately found a Pitt program where he wasn’t simply sitting in a classroom or reading textbooks. 

A new apprenticeship program through Pitt’s Office of Facilities Management began this fall for individuals from the Hill District interested in becoming licensed engineers. The program, which lasts four years, places apprentices in a rotating schedule where they are partnered with a licensed engineer for on the job and classroom training. 

The Office of Facilities Management along with community members from the Hill District who are involved in the Community Engagement Center interviewed six candidates over the summer for the program, and eventually hired two people.

Dan Fisher, assistant vice chancellor for operations and maintenance, said the program came from a request from the Hill District Development Review Panel. Fisher said the program is the first of its kind because it includes community partners.

“We readily agreed [to the program] and were really excited to have the opportunity to work with the Hill District community,” Fisher said.

Kirk Holbrook, the director for the CEC in the Hill District, said he felt similar to Fisher, adding that the program “was a great win.” He said the victory came at a great time for the center’s evolution in the Hill District. 

“It is our job [at the CEC] to liaise between the community and the University,” Holbrook said. “This program does just that — by creating a new partnership through the Hill District with the institution that meets the needs of those in the community.”

Alexander joined this apprenticeship program to better support himself and his family in the future. He heard about the opportunity through the CEC’s website. He said the classes include heating, ventilation and air conditioning levels one to three, electrical and safety, which are applicable for a variety of career paths. 

“For example, plumbing classes are included in our course load,” Alexander said. “Apprentices could take this program in a different career direction if they wanted.”

Alexander said the interview process included a Zoom call with people from both Pitt and CEC. He said while Pitt is a large campus, everyone has been so kind to him. Alexander said he feels that in this position he can “strive” on Pitt’s campus.

Holbrook said after completing the four-year program, there are many opportunities for career growth, not only in the City, but also across the country.

“I want people to understand that those in the apprenticeship program come out after four years earning family supporting wages,” Holbrook said. “These are life changing opportunities.”

Fisher said the engineering job market has increased substantially in recent years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in architecture and engineering will grow 6% from 2020 to 2030. 

While the program benefits future engineers like Alexander who plan to enter the job market upon program completion, Holbrook said it was important that they included community members in the interview process in order to “bring this idea to fruition.” 

“This gave us a real and authentic feel to what we are doing,” Holbrook said. “I want to see the involvement of community voices alongside the institution continue in the future.”

Fisher said members of the program can also share experiences and events with the University on campus, which makes it a “double win.” He said he is hopeful the program will expand into other departments.

“We want to strengthen the connection between the University and the community. This has been something we have always worked at, along with increasing diversity,” Fisher said.

The apprentices connect the University and the surrounding community through projects, such as the chilled water plant project  on the northern part of Pitt’s campus. The area is under construction now, but Fisher said once adjustments are made, apprentices will be learning how to operate the plant and work at the location. Fisher said the chilled water plant project had 39% project participation from women and women-owned businesses during its development phases. He said they are offering work opportunities to bring more minorities on campus in the future.

Holbrook said meeting needs across the community and having economic success helps the CEC feel like they are doing the right thing.

“Showcasing what the University can do when we work collectively to change efforts in economic engagement is a step forward along a journey that we hope will introduce transformative processes across campus,” Holbrook said.

Those interested in the facilities apprenticeship program can apply through the University’s Talent Center. Pitt hires apprentices directly online when positions are available. The International Union of Operating Engineers website also has classes online related to the apprenticeship, along with continuing education for licensed engineers.

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Pitt police issues crime alert after oven explosion in Irvis Hall

Pitt police issued a crime alert Saturday morning detailing an oven explosion in Irvis Hall. 

Pitt police and the City of Pittsburgh Fire Department responded to Irvis Hall at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Saturday following a report of an oven explosion in the ground floor’s common kitchen area. 

According to the alert, the complainant heard a bang and smelled something burning. Officers and arson investigators determined that someone placed a fire extinguisher in the hot oven, causing it to explode. No injuries were reported. 

The alert did not have a description of the suspect. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the University of Pittsburgh Police at 412-624-2121, (Reference Report #21-02217) or the City of Pittsburgh Police Department (Zone 4) at 412-422-6520 (Reference CCR #21-198311).

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Editorial | The top 10 scariest things we saw this Halloween

Despite the unusually warm weather and midterm burnout, Halloween still arrived. Whether you were out at an uncomfortably crowded party or at home watching Halloweentown for the 42nd time, there was definitely some spookiness in the air this weekend. 

Halloween in 2021 can be a scary time. The COVID-19 pandemic has no clear end in sight and our country gets more and more polarized each day. The most terrifying part of Halloween this year, though, was Mitt Romney and ​​Kyrsten Sinema’s Ted Lasso costumes — those send a shiver down the spine. Besides that, here are the scariest things we saw this Halloween weekend.

The ACC referees

This weekend’s devastating loss against Miami has to be one of the scariest things we saw this Halloween. These refs must have been possessed by the ghosts of bad referees past to make such unfair calls.

The surge pricing on Uber

There is nothing scarier than trying to get an Uber to go to a Halloween party five minutes away and seeing an $80 price tag. At least getting frostbite from walking in a skimpy costume is free!

People not getting your Halloween costume

Whether it’s a really obscure character or a half-assed costume, the scariest part of Halloween is having to explain your costume over and over to drunk people who just don’t get it. 

Going to Spirit Halloween on Oct. 30

With the line around the block and the costumes picked clean, the Halloween store the day before Halloween resembles a zombie apocalypse. The prices for a cheap piece of fabric that you wear for one night have got to be the scariest part.

Being broken up with after buying a couples costume

There is nothing more haunting than seeing a Jim without his Pam or a crying peanut butter without her jelly. The ghost of relationships past would be a more apt costume for anyone heartbroken this Halloween.

The large groups of people party hunting in South O

The looming shadows that appear on the street as people walk down Semple looking for parties are truly spooky. They are like vampires out for blood — or maybe they’re just college students looking for free alcohol. 

Bodily fluids in the street

The lack of social awareness people have on Halloween is astounding. People will puke in a bush or pee in someone’s yard like monsters. Truly haunting.

The lines at Antoon’s and Frenchi’s

After a Halloween party, it seems like everyone and their mother wants some greasy food, but the long lines wrapping around the block send a shiver down our spines. Is a sandwich at 2 a.m. even worth it?

The hangover

Halloween being on a Sunday means the potential for four hangovers this weekend, something that is truly bone-chilling. Having your head leaning over the toilet at a Halloween party while “Monster Mash” plays faintly in the background is definitely a cursed memory that many had this weekend.

All the homework to be done after Halloween

Halloween really puts the “scary” in Sunday scaries. That pile of homework that you haven’t touched since Wednesday haunts all Pitt students. 

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CLAS celebrates Día De los Muertos in Global Hub

Vibrantly colored and intricately designed “papeles picados” swayed in the air above an ornately decorated table — adorned with yellow and orange marigolds, string lights, photos and monarch butterflies — in Posvar Hall’s Global Hub on Friday. 

These papeles picados, or intricate paper cutouts, hung above an “ofrenda,” a Mexican altar that honors the dead in celebration of the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos. Pitt’s Center for Latin American Studies set up the ofrenda, which will stay up until this Wednesday.

The ofrenda is part of CLAS’s Día de los Muertos y Día de los Santos Festivities, a five-day long event for Pitt students to learn about and participate in these two Mexican holidays. 

Día de los Santos takes place this Monday and is celebrated in many Latin American countries to honor Christian saints. Día de los Muertos is most commonly celebrated in Mexico to celebrate and honor the dead, and spans multiple days from Sunday to Tuesday. 

All members of the Pitt community can place photos, artificial flowers, dry food and personal items on the ofrenda in honor of a loved one who has passed away. 

According to Luz Hank, the assistant director for partnerships and programming at CLAS, the goal of this event is to educate Pitt students about Día de los Muertos and Día de los Santos while celebrating the holidays as a community. 

“We want to show students different celebrations around the world, and how each of us approach things differently,” Hank said. “At the same time, Pitt is a community, so we all can come here and be together to celebrate people that have passed away in a positive way.” 

Hank said this event has taken place for the past three years. In the past, CLAS staff built the ofrenda themselves, but this year they collaborated with Lisa DiGioia Nutini, a Pittsburgh artist and Mexican fine art dealer. 

Nutini has worked with CLAS in the past by lending them some of her traditional Día de los Muertos decorations such as sugar skulls and papeles picados from her personal collection. However, according to Nutini, this was the first time she was in charge of designing and creating the altar herself. 

Along with building Pitt’s ofrenda, Nutini also worked with CLAS to build another ofrenda, give a lecture and record a podcast about the holiday at Shaler High School. For Nutini, educating people about the holiday is important, especially with its increasing popularity in the U.S. 

“I really feel that more effort should be made for the education, understanding and respect of the costumes and traditions, and this event is a step towards that,” Nutini said. 

According to Nutini, her ofrenda includes many symbolic features, such as yellow and orange marigolds and rainbow-colored papeles picados. These paper cutouts symbolize the transience of life, Nutini said. 

“The beautifully cut paper is to represent the impermanence of life,” Nutini said. “We’re not using plastic ones, which you can get anywhere, we’re using actual paper that was made by a great artist in Mexico.” 

In addition to these decorations, Nutini’s signature accent to the ofrenda is monarch butterflies, which hang on the wall behind the altar. 

“Monarchs arrive in Mexico generally right on or before the Day of the Dead,” Nutini said. “The thought is that they represent the souls returning home, so I began incorporating them.” 

When she built the ofrenda, Nutini also showed a special gratitude for the deceased loved ones in her life — a tradition for every altar she builds. 

“No matter how many ofrendas I make, I always put something out for my late husband,” Nutini said. “He loves Skittles, so I left Skittles there for him, and a cookie for my father-in-law.” 

Along with including the butterflies as decorations, CLAS provided butterfly printouts that students can design themselves in remembrance of a deceased loved one. 

“Anybody’s invited to come make a butterfly,” Hank said. “Cut it, color it and write the person’s name on it, and then they can place it on the table or hang it up.”

Cassie Anderson, a junior communication sciences and disorders major, attended the event and colored in one of the butterflies herself. According to Anderson, celebrating Día de los Muertos with her friends is a relatively new tradition. 

“A really good friend of mine makes an altar every year and invites us all to leave photos and personal items,” Anderson said. “My grandmother passed away around this time a couple years ago, so doing that with her helped me learn a lot about the tradition and connect with my own family.” 

For Anderson, the ofrenda gave her time to reflect on her own mourning process and also provided an educational experience about the holiday. 

“It was nice to sit there and reflect on just how far I’ve come since freshman year when my grandmother passed away,” Anderson said. “It was really cool, taking the time to learn about other cultures and also having that moment of reflection for myself.”

For Hank, who is Colombian, celebrating the holiday offers a different perspective on death than what she was raised with. 

“A lot of people take it as a joke if they don’t see the meaning behind it,” Hank said. “Being from Colombia, it’s a beautiful way to see death, because it’s a nice, not so sad way to lovingly remember people and pets and everyone around you.” 

And, according to Nutini, it’s especially important to celebrate Día de los Muertos this year due to the tragic death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This is a year of mourning for more people than ever,” Nutini said. “Even though it would take us months to say all of their names, it doesn’t stop us from reflecting on them, thinking of their families and keeping thoughts of love towards all the people who are suffering right now.”

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A comprehensive summary of Netflix’s current ‘Top 10’

Have you been caught in the “Squid Game” craze? Or maybe you’re feeling the “love” from Netflix’s “You.” Netflix’s current “Top 10 in the US” has a lot to offer right now. 

I will be ranking these Top 10 from lowest to highest in order of quality. I’ll also list their current position on the Netflix Top 10 List, but there are some shows and movies on here that you definitely should check out before the others. There’s good TV, there’s bad TV and then there’s just plain “why does this even still exist” TV. Netflix’s current “most popular” run the gamut between all of these.

10. Cocomelon

Being a parent is hard. I swear this show is trending every week, and I don’t understand why. But then I remember that people have children and that parents want a break. They want five minutes to wash Cheerios, spit-up and other innocuous fluids off their hands.

It’s rather hard to describe “Cocomelon.” There’s really no plot or characters for me to describe. It’s pretty much just hours upon hours of nursery rhymes or other kinds of kid’s music set to vibrant visuals. There’s really nothing here for adult viewers. Unless you’re feeling a little “buzzed” — it might be funny then. 

Ranking: Number 9 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 2/10 — Skip, unless you are 5 years old. 

9. Locke and Key

Creepy houses, blood, murder and demons — what’s not to like? “Locke and Key,” based on the comic series of the same name, certainly won’t be winning any awards for originality or wrack-up statues come awards season, but it’s a decent show to binge. It follows Nina Locke, who moves her three children into a house in New England following the murder of her husband. Already you can probably tell there are some issues here — traumatized families in a spooky misty England never fare well. It’s all very Lovecraftian. 

Ranking: Number 8 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 6/10 — Three cheers for trauma. 

8. Maid

Netflix does serious dramas! And this one is not for the faint of heart. Based on a memoir, “Maid” is a miniseries that follows the story of a woman named Alex, who leaves her abusive boyfriend and finds a job as a maid. Life, of course, does not immediately go back to normal following her relationship and there’s more to deal with at her new job. You’ll be feeling heavy after this one. 

Ranking: Number 5 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 7.5/10 — Save this for after finals are done, too much stress at the moment. 

7. Hypnotic

Netflix sure does love pumping out original movies every week or so. But hey, the more they give us the more we have to pick from, and if it gives more directors and writers film opportunities, I’m not going to complain. “Hypnotic” is a thriller movie, released just this weekend starring Kate Siegel and Jason O’Hara. It very aptly involves a hypnotist and his various unethical shenanigans. 

Ranking: Number 4 Ranking Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 8/10 — Very seasonally appropriate. 

6. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

It’s always interesting to see when a movie has a resurgence in popularity years after its release. “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” which came out in 2017, is a very typical Guy Ritchie movie full of action, crazy stunt sequences and some shaky camera sequences. It didn’t do well critically or financially, and to my knowledge, faded away in a sea of Arthurian adaptations. But it’s trending on Netflix now — perhaps Charlie Hunnam’s handsome grizzled face has a hand in that. 

Ranking: Number 7 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 8.5/10 — As a Medieval and Renaissance Studies student, I can never say no to King Arthur. 

5. Army of Thieves

Zack Snyder has made his full departure from Warner Bros. and is taking full advantage of his deal with Netflix. His latest film, “Army of the Dead,” came out this summer to mixed reception from critics and audiences, but Netflix must have been satisfied with its performance because they’re giving this universe spinoff after spinoff. This week, Snyder has taken the role of producer with “Army of Thieves.”

“Army of Thieves” is a heist film that serves as a prequel to “Army of the Dead.” You don’t run into heist films all too often, but it seems that this one has gained a bit of popularity. It’s definitely not a bad movie to watch with a bowl of popcorn and friends — something chill for a Friday night.

Ranking: Number 2 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 9/10 — Just to see Nathalie Emmanuel’s stunning and stylish hairstyles. 

4. Colin in Black and White

Colin Kaepernick has been through a lot, so he deserves a TV show at the very least. Kaepernick is a former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers who is known for kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality. This new Netflix series is a dramatic retelling of Colin Kaepernick’s childhood through his high school years, and his encounters with race, class and culture that inspired his activism. Kaepernick narrates parts of the series himself. I very much hope he’s getting paid well.

Ranking: Number 10 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 10/10 — If you’re looking for something good and serious, tackle this. 

3. You

As a society, we seem to have an unhealthy obsession with serial killers. Seriously, why do we like them so much? I’m no one to judge, I’m a Hannibal fan first and the Culture Editor second, but it’s still interesting to see how much stock we put in these very dangerous people. 

“You” is Netflix’s serial killer cash cow. Based on the book series of the same name, we have now followed Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), your friendly local serial killer who falls obsessively in love with every attractive woman that passes him.

Season 3, which was released a couple of weeks ago, follows Joe and his wife Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) as they settle in the suburbs with their newborn son. Serial killers and domesticity? It’s more entertaining than you’d think. 

Ranking: Number 1 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 15/10 — Came for the intrigue, staying for marital disputes. 

2. Maya and the Three

We need indigenous representation in every medium we can get, and that includes animation. “Maya and the Three” is Netflix’s new hot miniseries, set in a fantastical “Mesoamerican” world with the warrior princess “Maya.” Not only does the show fully embrace Mesoamerican culture, but many of the characters’ voice actors are Latinx as well. I’ve got no complaints here.

Ranking: Number 6 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 25/10 — Zoe Saldana steals the show and my heart. 

1. Squid Game

If you’ve had any sort of internet connection for the past month or so, I do not need to tell you to watch this. It’s so good, and it’s about time that we see some international shows gain more widespread recognition in the U.S.

“Squid Game” takes place in South Korea, where various citizens find themselves drawn into a deadly “Battle Royale”-like game show and play various children’s games to win a multi-million dollar jackpot. Sounds innocent enough, but losing one of these games comes with quite literally permanent consequences. These players all also happen to be in some serious debt, and there is really no one more desperate on earth than a man in need of quick money.

Ranking: Number 3 on Netflix’s “Top 10 in the US Today”

Rating: 1000/10 — Gong Yoo, please slap me.

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Takeaways | Panthers still in position to have a historic season

Any hopes of a trip to the College Football Playoff or redshirt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett hoisting the Heisman trophy evaporated when Pickett’s late fourth quarter pass sailed into the Miami defense’s arms.

One of the best parts about being a fan is it gives you that euphoric delusion that your team is better than every team in the nation. When that perception of reality is stripped away, the reality may hurt.

A striking and disappointing reality struck Pitt fans Saturday when the Hurricanes took down the Panthers — this team is not, and never was, a team destined for the College Football Playoff. What Panther fans need to realize is, that’s okay.

At the beginning of the season, if you told Panther fans that they’d be 6-2 and have a win over Clemson, they’d be happy with it. The important thing to remember is, the Panthers still have a very good chance to make history.

Pitt still has a 42.5% chance to win its first ACC Championship, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Winning a conference championship may not be the crown jewel that fans want, but it’s a step in the right direction for a program on the upswing.

Here are some observations and takeaways going forward with the Panthers.

Despite big game, Pickett’s Heisman chances take significant hit

Pickett’s chances at making his way to Manhattan for the Heisman ceremony took a big hit when the clock hit double zeroes yesterday. Fans have rallied around the phrase “Kenny Heisman” for weeks now, but this trend may come to a screeching halt after the loss.

Heisman voters have a pattern of voting for players with a near perfect team record. Since 2000, only five players have won the Heisman while playing for a team with two or more losses. While Pickett continues to put up numbers as good as anyone in the country, it will be difficult to overcome the fact that he lost two games as a favorite at home.

Whether the losses are his fault or not is another issue. But the voting committee will look at Pitt’s record and see two upset losses and hold that against him.

Meanwhile, Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young continues to dominate in the SEC — against objectively tougher competition. Alabama has one loss but it’s one that the committee may overlook given it was on the road and against a conference opponent.

Never say never, but Pickett has an uphill battle moving forward.

The defense is vulnerable against competent quarterbacks

Head coach Pat Narduzzi’s defensive scheme is pretty consistent from week to week — bring pressure and force the quarterback to make decisions quickly. This works against quarterbacks who don’t have good pocket awareness and can’t make throws in the pocket. But when the defense has matched up against pure passers, they’ve been exposed.

Western Michigan’s redshirt sophomore quarterback Kaleb Eleby picked apart the Panthers in week three. He kept poise in the pocket and fit passes into tight windows with a strong arm. The Broncos also used bubble screens, forcing the Panther defensive backs to make open field tackles and fight through blocks.

Eleby provided a blueprint for how to expose the Panthers. Miami followed suit and ran a very similar offense to WMU’s.

First-year quarterback Tyler Van Dyke didn’t need too much time to throw, simply checking the ball down in the flats or hitting guys in gaps in the Panthers’ zone defense. 

Narduzzi has been able to exacerbate inexperienced and less versatile quarterbacks with his defense. Pitt lost both games when playing competent quarterbacks. Pitt has a few more very talented quarterbacks on its schedule in UNC junior Sam Howell and University of Virginia junior Brennan Armstrong — two ACC matchups.

If Pitt does want to make a run at the ACC Championship, Narduzzi is going to have to adjust to playing pure passers.

Special teams has improved the last few weeks

One bright spot from the Miami game is the special teams units’ performance. For the first quarter of the season, the punt and kick returns were dreadful and the punts from senior punter Kirk Christodoulou were underwhelming.

But it seemed they turned the corner the last couple of weeks and looked especially good this weekend.

Narduzzi has shifted his returners, going from senior wide receiver Melquise Stovall to sophomore wide receiver Jaylon Barden as the primary punt returner. Barden broke a return yesterday deep into Miami territory to set up the offense with good starting field position — something Stovall hadn’t done nearly all year.

Punt coverage has also been much better the past few weeks. Christodoulou’s punts have been hanging in the air long enough to allow the punt coverage unit to force the returner to call for a fair catch or corral the punt.

The Panthers will look to bounce back next weekend on the road against the Duke Blue Devils. The game will kick off at noon and air on ACC Network.

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Will Smith Breaks Fans’ Hearts – He Once Considered Taking His Own Life; See The Video

Will Smith is making headlines a lot these days in relation to Jada Pinkett Smith. But what more outlets revealed recently is breaking his fans' hearts. Check out the latest news from The Shade Room below. Will shared a shirtless photo of himself and shared that he was in the worst shape of his life. 'However, the moment sparked a new journey that he documented for an upcoming YouTube docuseries. On Friday, Will shared the trailer for his new series 'Will Smith: The Best Shape of My Life,' which is scheduled to premiere on November 8th. TSR notes that In the trailer, it shows Will physically getting in shape as he aims to lose 20lbs in 20 weeks.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) On the other hand, he said this: 'When I started this show, I thought I was getting into the best shape of my life physically, but mentally I was somewhere else. And I ended up discovering a whole lot of hidden things about myself.' It's also important to note the fact that as the trailer proceeds, Will talks about writing his memoir, and 'there is a moment where he is seen sitting down with his family and shares there was one point within his life he actually considered suicide,' TSR notes. Someone said: 'This is sad… mental health is real, depression is real,' and one other follower posted this message: 'Man Will deserves literally the best life of all time.' A commenter posted this: 'Nah cause if that happened we woulda been fucked up,' and a follower said: 'Tell Jada come outside we ain’t goin jump her.' One other follower said: 'It’s about to start … at least we can now hear his side of the story and I’m the first to comment,' and another follwoer posetd this: 'Jada ruined this guy. He was doing fine before all the entanglement BS! You never know what ppl battle everyday. Even the strongest have their thoughts.' Jada Pinkett Smith recently addressed her love life with Will Smith . Check out the post that she shared on her social media account that managed to trigger a lot of comments in the celebrity world. 50 cent hopped online and had something to say about all this. take a look at his comment below. 'Why she keep doing shit like this? it makes the relationship appear weak. first a entanglement now this, come on! WTF @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi,' he said. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

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Man dressed as the Joker stabs 17 on Tokyo train, sets train on fire

While millions of people around the world celebrated Halloween, many Tokyo train riders had a real-life scare on Sunday when a man dressed as the Joker went on a stabbing spree before starting a fire, injuring 17 (three of them seriously).

The attacker, a 24-year-old man, was wearing the Joker’s trademark bright outfit of a green shirt, blue suit, and purple coat when he boarded the Keio train near the Kokuryo station. Since the attack happened as many were celebrating Halloween events, it did not initially arouse much suspicion.

However, according to NHK (Japan’s public news agency), the suspect began stabbing passengers before pouring a liquid resembling oil from a plastic bottle onto seats and then lighting them on fire.

Video footage from the subway station shows passengers scrambling to escape a many were helped out of subway car windows. Witnesses said this was because the car doors were not open.

京王線火災で逃げる人々 pic.twitter.com/ZfN1pD0C2V

— しずくβ (@siz33) October 31, 2021

Image courtesy of Twitter user @siz33

According to the Tokyo Fire Department, 17 passengers were injured, including three seriously. Not all of the injuries were from stabbings although they did not provide many further details.

The suspect, identified as a 24-year-old man, was immediately arrested and is currently being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder.

Japanese media reported to ABC that the suspect “told police that he wanted to kill and get a death penalty, and that he used an earlier train stabbing case as an example.”

This is the second knife attack on a Tokyo train in two months. During the Tokyo Olympics, a 36-year-old man stabbed 10 passengers on another Tokyo commuter train, later telling police that he “wanted to attack women who looked happy.” This is at least the second major act of mass violence involving someone dressed as the Joker. In 2012, James Holmes, dressed as the Joker, shot and killed 12 people and wounded 70 others inside a Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colorado during a midnight screening of The Joker.

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Winter is Coming: Nike Air Huarache unveils icy blue colorway

Snow is starting to fall in some parts of the country which means winter is just around the corner. Nike appears to be getting into the winter wonderland vibe as they recently unveiled the icy blue colorway for the iconic Nike Air Huarache.

The shoe features a light blue “ice” color dressing the leather overlays along the side as well as the shoe’s toe. The midsole, tongue/collar, and heel piece feature a complimentary snowy white color. A black accent gives the shoe a little bit of pop on the logos and insole insignia as well as along the tread.

The newest colorway still features many of the Huarache’s best-known benefits including a comfortable fit, super-breathable neoprene-like fabric, and a low-cut collar and bootie-like construction as well as the 90’s-retro iconic heel clip and Air branding.

The sneaker is expected to retail for about $130 USD. Nike has not announced a release date yet. Some photos are shown below.

Image courtesy of Nike

Image courtesy of Nike

Image courtesy of Nike

Image courtesy of Nike

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Notorious Drug Dealer Alberto ‘Alpo’ Martinez Murdered in Harlem

The notorious former drug dealer 55-year-old  Alberto ‘Alpo’ Martinez was shot and killed in Harlem. The shooting took place early Sunday morning, in a drive-by fashion. Police noted that Alpo was hit multiple times in the chest, with shots coming from the vehicle passing by on West 147th Street near Frederick Douglass Blvd, around 3:20 am.

Alpo was often reviled as a snitch who allegedly betrayed the street code to save himself, tarnishing his legacy in the streets.

The EMS attempted to rush him to the Harlem Hospital, but Alpo did not make it.
More news as it develops.

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[WATCH] Graphic Footage of Kyle Rittenhouse Shooting Released Before Trial Begins Tomorrow

Recently released graphic video of the Kyle Rittenhouse shooting shows how tensions grew the night he shot and murdered two men. Footage of the Wisconsin riot. which started out as a Black Lives Protest, shows how armed men from other towns came to ‘protect their community’. Adding aggression while armed, many white men were seen joining the protest that led to gun fire.

Last week, the judge presiding over Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial declared the men that were murdered by Rittenhouse can not be labeled as victims. Rittenhouse shot three men during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin. The judge said the men who were shot can be labeled rioters, looters or arsonists if the teenager’s defense team has evidence to support the characterizations.

The decision was among the ground rules Kenosha County Judge Bruce E. Schroeder set Monday for the trial, which begins Nov. 1.

Rittenhouse, 18, was charged with homicide and attempted homicide after he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in Kenosha during protests that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer.
Watch the graphic video below.

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Erica Mena Advertises An Amazing New Skin Care Line

Erica Mena just advertises a new skincare line and fans are impressed by the video that she shared. Check out the post that she dropped on her social media account. 'Ladies not only does Juvia produce fabulous makeup, but now they have an amazing skin care line! juviasskin For clear healthy hydrated skin. Melt it off Gel cleanser Vitamin C Serum After Glow Serumn Shop:www.JuviasSkin.com #juviasskin #juviasskinpartner,' she captioned her post. Somoene said: 'ell yo baby daddy handle his business before somebody make you and them kids really really really happy,' and a commenter posted this message: 'Erica lol I love you girl but you have ALWAYS HAD GREAT SKIN! Okay lol due to the kiwis or whatever lol.'   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Erica Mena 🌹🧿 (@iamerica_mena) A fan said: 'But how well does it work is the question? Is it fragranced? So many skin cares are so expensive and they aren’t even good.' One other follower said: 'She looks bomb but it’s given reading from a script lol.' A fan posted this: 'Erica lol I love you girl but you have ALWAYS HAD GREAT SKIN! Okay lol due to the kiwis or whatever lol,' and a commenter said: 'But how well does it work is the question? Is it fragranced? So many skin cares are so expensive and they aren’t even good.' In other recent news, Erica Mena posted a photo in which she is together with her kids and fans are drooling over the little ones. Check out the sweet message that she shared on her social media account, along with the pics. 'Life is so unpredictable but together we will always be Incredible no matter what. My costume @fashionnova FashionnovaPartner,' Erica captioned her post. Also, not too long ago, Erica just praised an important lady. Check out the message she shared on her social media account below. 'Check out the trailer for @MonamiProductions #NewShow #EverybodyLovesNatti, premiering on @AmazonPrimeVideo November 19th. For the FIRST TIME EVER Latin Reggaeton superstar @NattiNatasha shares intimate details of her career and relationship w/@raphypina - including never before seen footage of the birth of @queenvidaisablle! Featuring @daddyyankee @princeroyce @iambeckyg @guiterrezary (Ariadna Gutierrez) @yoventura and so much more! #TheMonamiMovementContinues…' Erica captioned her post. A follower said: 'So you and Safaree still parenting like y’all not together y’all literally posted pics on same balcony he took your and you took his.' Stay tuned for more news about your favorite celebs. https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

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Cassidy vs Freeway Rap Battle Rematch Set for 2022

First and foremost, battle rap is on the verge of obtaining the regard it deserves when it comes to surface-level exposure. On Saturday, October 30, battle rap history was made as a stacked card featuring twelve of battle rap culture’s most voluminous contenders sparred for Drake’s “Til Death Do Us Part” event. The “Way 2 Sexy” rapper teamed up with URLTV and live streaming platform Caffeine and curated six matchups for what is likely to be considered the biggest card of the year. The event featured appearances by notable guests including Babs Bunny and Remy Ma. However, the founder of the Ultimate Rap League, Smack White had something up his sleeve.

Prior to the main, Geechi Gotti vs Loaded Lux, Smack brought out Philly rap icon Cassidy and announced that he will be returning back to the ring in 2022.

“We about to get back to work top of the year. Y’all wanna know who he gonna battle? Who you think he gonna battle?”

Smack made it clear that this battle was not going to be an ordinary one. He hinted at Cassidy’s opponent alluding he is picking up from the Smack DVD era.

“Yo Drake. This one? This one different. They ain’t even ready for this one yet,” said Smack. “I went all the way back with this one. I went way back with this one. We going back to the Smack DVD era. URL is a baby. We going back to the Smack era. We going back to the streets.”

Once that was expressed, it was only clear that there only could be one possible opponent. That opponent could only be Philly hip-hop legend, Freeway. And, it was.

“He’s going up against my other brother, representing Philly, it’s my brother, Freeway!”

Stepping out to hit classic featuring Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z “What We Do,” Freeway took to the stage showing love to his notable verse.

This will be their second battle, with their first stemming from 2001, twenty years ago. The battle took place in their stomping grounds at a local Philly club called “Dances,” where they sparred in six rounds. According to what is deemed as a classic battle, by the sixth round, despite spitting hard hitters and showcasing his charismatic flow, Freeway ceased out of rhymes. Cassidy, by many, is deemed the victor of the battle as he was lyrically inclined with rhymes that were infused with his signature cunning wordplay.

“All I want to let y’all know is bars is back,” said Cassidy. “2022 we gonna get something big popping. This not just for my city Philadelphia, but it’s for the fucking culture.”

The “I’m A Hustla” rapper went on to remind the masses of his and Freeway’s pioneering influence on modern-day battle rap alluding that the “Til Death Do Us Part” event would not even have taken place if it were not for their classic battle.

“You know we started this shit. Before y’all seen any of these niggas battle, before y’all seen any these niggas hit the stage and do any of this shit, y’all seen me and this nigga [Freeway] going at it,” he said. “Y’all about to see it all over again. The futuristic version of this shit, and I can’t wait.”

Cassidy continued on to salute Freeway and send his condolences due to the recent loss of his daughter, Harmony, who passed away after a long battle with cancer. Cassidy also highlighted the recent loss of his mother-in-law.

Freeway took to the mic, immediately honoring his late daughter.

“First and foremost, I want to say rest in peace to my daughter. I lost my daughter this month after a long hard fight with cancer. She fought the whole time. She kept a smile on her face the whole time and I truly believe that she’s going to make it to heaven so I am content with that.”

He went on to make the masses aware that he has been in tune with the modern culture of battle rap and declared that his upcoming battle with Cassidy will serve as a necessary dose of authenticity that hip-hop will appreciate.

“Top of the year 2022. All ima say is, I’ve been studying the culture,” said Freeway. “Like Cas said, me and Cas started this shit and I am motherfucking ready!”

“Y’all not gonna get what y’all think y’all gonna get. Y’all gonna get what y’all need. Believe that. 2022, me and Cassidy are going to make history again. Get ready for it.”

Surprisingly, social media battle rap fans did not seem ecstatic about the rematch with most of them expressing their exhaustion and disinterest in seeing Cassidy come back to battle rap. There is an assumption that there is no room for veterans.

However, what modern battle rap fans should consider is the cultural impact a rematch of this caliber can contribute to the notoriety of the sport. This is the same mentality that was displayed during the Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One Verzuz. The rematch between Cassidy and Freeway is a result of how far battle rap has come from the establishment of leagues such as URL, Queen of the Ring, Rarebreed, to the steaming platform Caffeine, which now serves as the hosts of battles, to the official backing of hip-hop’s most revered artist, the Champagne Papi himself, Drake. As hip-hop culture matures, for the sake of preservation, it is key to allow active legends, icons, and veterans to be showcased on the grandest scale.

The matchups featured on Drake’s “Til Death Do Us Part” card include:

Loaded Lux vs. Geechi Gotti
Tay Roc vs. Nu Jerzey Twork
Tsu Surf vs. Calicoe
T-Rex vs. Rum Nitty
Jaz The Rapper vs. Gattas
Pat Stay vs. Real Sikh

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ICYMI: Woman Claiming To Be DMX’s Child Enters The Late Rapper’s Estate Battle

DMX’s alleged 15th child is looking for money from the late rapper’s estate.

A woman claiming to be the child of the legendary late Hip-Hop artist DMX came forward in the rapper’s estate battle. Reportedly bringing the total of children he allegedly fathered to 15.

Page Six reported over the weekend that Raven Barmer-Simmons is hoping to get her share of the estate after coming forward earlier this month and claiming she was X’s daughter.

Trusts and estates attorney Herbert Nass says before Barmer-Simmons receives any funds, she must first submit a DNA test to determine if her claims are legitimate.

DMX, real name Earl Simmons, died from a cocaine-induced heart attack, which prevented circulation to his brain. He was 50 years old.

DMX mural in hometown is paying tribute to the late rapper.

Last week Judge Blackwood appointed DMX’s three sons Xavier, Tacoma and Sean Simmons as the temporary administrators of the estate of their late father. All three of his sons are from X’s 16-year marriage to Tashera Simmons.

DMX’s fiancée Desiree Lindstrom, who is the mother to his 5-year-old son, Exodus, also applied to the court to be legally declared his “common-law wife,” but the judge denied.

Despite being in debt at the time of his death, DMX’s estate is worth an estimated one-million-dollars.

Share your thoughts with us on social media.

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ICYMI: Biden Admin Rejects More Trump Executive Privilege Claims

The Biden admin is rejecting more claims of executive privilege former President Trump wants to make on documents being sought by the House select committee.

The action means the National Archives will turn the documents over to the committee investigating the riot at the Capitol on January 6th.

The Hill cites a letter written by White House Counsel Dana Remus, which says President Biden consulted the Justice Department and they determined Trump’s request for executive privilege is “not justified.”

Biden has already given the National Archives the green-light to turn over the first round of documents the committee requested, but Trump is now suing in a last ditch attempt to keep the documents under wraps.

Speaking on CBS’ Face the Nation, House Representative Bennie Thompson and Mississippi Democrat revealed that they would subpoena former President Trump if the evidence leads them to him. Rep. Thompson said there were elements linked to white supremacy during the events of that day based on the display of confederate flags and anti-semitic symbols.

Adding that that Facebook is also “working with” the Jan. 6 select committee to turn over requested information relevant to its probe.

“At this point, Facebook is working with us to provide the necessary information we requested,” Thompson told “Face the Nation.”

Share your thoughts on the Biden admin with us on social media.

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ICYMI: Relatives Didn’t Know Kids Lived Alone In Apartment With Brother’s Deceased Body

Relatives of the woman accused of abandoning her three kids and leaving another child dead in her apartment for a year, is now speaking out.

Gloria Williams’s cousins Christie Smith and Yasmin Creag say she was constantly moving from place to place and always gave vague answers to questions about the children.

Over the weekend three siblings age 15, 10 and 7 were rescued in Houston and told police their brother had been deceased about a year.

The oldest child, a 15-year-old boy, called 911 on Sunday and said he and his two younger siblings, ages 10 and 7, had been living alone for months. He said his 9-year-old brother died about a year earlier and his body was still inside their West Houston apartment.

Deputies found the teenager and his two siblings living alone in the apartment. Harris County Sheriff, Ed Gonzalez, confirmed that the other child’s skeletal remains were located.

According to KPRC Houston:

“I have seen the news article about the kids. You know, when you see things like that, you think like ‘wow,’ you know. But I never thought it was her,” said Christie Smith, a cousin of the mother.

Harris County deputies said the 8-year-old boy was beaten and his corpse was left to decompose for 11 months inside the apartment.

Family members said Gloria had a total of six children ranging in age from 7 to 17. Two of the four boys living in the abandoned apartment, including Kendrick, who was killed had autism. Gloria no longer had parental rights over her two girls, according to the relatives.

“My momma has been asking for Kendrick since the day he was born and she kept telling her no. We knew that with all of these kids, eventually, she was not going to be able to be the best parent she could be,” Creag said.

The mother of the children, 35-year-old Gloria Williams, has been charged with injury to a child and tampering with evidence. Williams’ 31-year-old boyfriend Brian Coulter is facing a murder charge for the death of the 8-year-old boy whose body was found inside the abandoned apartment.

Children’s Protective Services is seeking emergency custody of all three siblings found abandoned. They said there was no prior investigation of the family.

Update to scene on Green Crest; a teen (15) adviser that his 9-yr-old brother had been dead for a year and his body was in the room next to his. Deputies found skeletal remains of a small child. Deputies also found two other male children in the apt unit under the age of 10. Both https://t.co/GTDcKeM03K

— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 25, 2021

late last night. HCSO Homicide Unit, Child Abuse Unit, and Crime Scene Unit are conducting the investigation. CPS also responded to the scene. This remains an active investigation. #HouNews

— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 25, 2021

Gonzalez also shared the children had been “living in pretty deplorable conditions.” Adding that is it “very disturbing.”

“It appears that the remains had been there for an extended period of time,” Gonzalez stated to reporters. “And I emphasise extended.”

“We definitely want some answers for these children,” Gonzalez said. “It appears that they were caring, basically fending for each other, which is very sad … I think the older sibling was basically doing the best he could to take care of the others.”

The grandmother and cousins said Gloria was estranged from the family, very closed off, and only reached out for money.

“The last time I have physically seen her is when we had Christmas over here in 2019. (It was him (Coulter) and all the kids,” said Gladys Smith, Gloria’s aunt.

“Every three to six months she has a new phone number,” said Creag. “Every three to six months she’s moving apartments, so we never have a solid address for her.”

The relatives said they think Gloria was paying for the rent at the abandoned apartment with money she was receiving from the government.

“We factor she paid the rent with the disability checks that she gained from the kids, and that’s all we can figure,” Creag said.

Creag and all the relatives said they will fight for custody of Gloria’s surviving three boys.

Right now, they want to see the children heal from the trauma they’ve endured for months.

“They may never get over this,” Robinson said. “They need the therapy to get them through it.”

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