by Linden O’Brien-Williams

WORLD: Jan. 27 marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Holocaust survivors from the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. Auschwitz-Birkenau witnessed the killing of around 1 million Jews before its closing in 1945. Many leaders from around the world flocked to the site for the ceremony. Joining them were around 300 survivors from the concentration camp, now elderly people, among the last survivors.

THE U.S.: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 102 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. already this year, surpassing the normal yearly number of cases. According to the Washington Post, there were more cases of measles in the U.S. in 2014 than in the past 5 years combined. Most of those affected had not been vaccinated. California was hit the hardest, with 91 cases reported this year. However, Arizona also has 1000 people being monitored for potential exposure and is faced with how to prevent children from contracting the illness.

KANSAS: This week, the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty announced their plan to call for Kansas to repeal the Death Penalty. Heading the call for repeal is Kansas City, is Kansas archbishop Joseph Naumann, who has previously expressed his opposition to the death penalty. Governor Sam Brownback, however, is pro-life but supports the death penalty in certain situations, which presents an obstacle for the Kansas City, Kan. archbishop.

KANSAS CITY: The Kansas City Royals secured a 30-second local time slot for a commercial during the the 49th annual Super Bowl Feb. 1. The commercial featured projections of the boys in blue on various Kansas City landmarks such as the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Union Station. The ad revealed the 2015 season slogan, which will be “Forever Royal,” encouraging excitement in Kansas City Royals fans.