Pulitzer Prizes, Notre Dame fire, “Schaefer’s Splash” and more
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and CapitalGazette win 2019 Pulitzers
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was awarded the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in breaking news reporting for its coverage of the Tree of Life synagogue massacre last October. Eleven people were shot and killed by a gunman during the rampage, which came as congregants at the synagogue complex in Pittsburgh were gathering for Shabbat morning services. The prize, the most prestigious in journalism, was awarded to the daily’s entire reporting staff. Among the 10 stories cited was an investigative profile of the gunman and how he went “from conservative to white nationalist.” The coverage also included a front-page headline containing the first four words of the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer in Hebrew letters. David Shribman, the Post-Gazette’s executive editor, explained the excerpt “from a 10th century prayer might be the appropriate gesture — of respect, of condolence — for a 21st century audience mourning its dead, whether family, friend, congregant, neighbor or, simply, Pittsburgher.”—JTA
The CapitalGazette in Annapolis also won a special Pulitzer Prize citation for itscoverage of a shooting that took place in its own newsroom and left five of itsstaff members dead. Upon the announcement on April 15, the Gazette staff stayedsilent and exchanged hugs.
Also see:
- Coverage of the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting & Other Recent Mass Shootings
- Scenes from the Oct. 27, 2018, Pittsburgh Shooting and its Aftermath
- Towson University Vigil for Victims of Pittsburgh Shooting
- PressBox, Jmore Stand With Our Capital Gazette Colleagues
- Remembering My Fallen Colleague, John McNamara
Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral
The fire atNotre Dame Cathedral was officially put out by Paris firefighters on April 16. TheParis Fire Service announced on Twitter that firefighters “came togrips with” the blaze at 3:30 a.m. April 16, more than 12 hours afternearly 400 firefighters had battled the inferno that altered thecity’s skyline, according to USA Today. Two policemen and one firefighterhad been slightly injured, according to the fire service. The cathedral’siconic twin bell towers were visibly intact. The 18th century organ thatboasts 8,000 pipes also appeared to have survived, along with other treasuresinside the structure, officials said.
Additionally, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan shared his thoughts April 15 about tragic fire at the iconic cathedral.
And The Archbishop of Baltimore William Lori also reacted April 15 to the fire raging at the Gothic cathedral.
Archbishop Lori and the people of the Archdiocese of Baltimore offer heart-felt prayers for the people of France as emergency personnel respond to a devastating fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. (CNS photo/Julie Carriat, Reuters) pic.twitter.com/gpbHgxWje6
— ArchdioceseBaltimore (@archbalt) April 15, 2019
Schaefer makes a ‘Splash’ at National Aquarium
On April 11,National Aquarium Board Chair Marc Bunting and President and CEO JohnRacanelli, benefactors Dorothy and Henry Rosenberg and others celebrated thelegacy of the late Gov. William Donald Schaefer with the unveiling of“Schaefer’s Splash.” Baltimore artist Joseph Sheppard created the mural, a giftof the Dorothy and Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr. Foundation, to commemoratethen-Mayor Schaefer’s iconic 1981 seal pool plunge at the Aquarium. Taken asthe result of a lost bet about the timing of the grand opening of the NationalAquarium, Mayor Schaefer donned an old-fashioned bathing suit,grabbed an inflatable Donald Duck and jumped in. The moment instantlybecame a part of Baltimore lore and was known as the “splash heard ‘round theworld.”
Israeli scientists print 3D heartwith human tissues and vessels
Scientists in Israel made a 3D print of a heart using human tissue and vessels. It is the first time that an entire heart has been successfully printed that includes cells and blood vessels, the AFP news service reported, citing Tal Dvir of Tel Aviv University, who led the project. It will be a long time, however, before such a printed heart will be fully functioning and ready to be transplanted into a human patient, the scientists said. The next step is for researchers to teach the printed hearts to act like real ones.–JTA
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