Ripped from the Headlines: September 2023: This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for September 16–September 22, 2023

On September 16, the Texas Senate voted to acquit the state's attorney general on charges of bribery and abuse of office. The historic impeachment trial ended with a verdict in Ken Paxton's favor after a 14-16 vote, with Republican senators supporting the attorney general and Democrats voting to convict him. After being declared not guilty of corruption, Paxton was immediately reinstated to his position. The Latin root of acquit is quietus, "free."

Drew Barrymore announced on September 17 that she would delay the premiere of her talk show until the writers' strike ended. The decision followed intense backlash after an earlier announcement that The Drew Barrymore Show would resume production, breaking the strike. Barrymore faced angry, outspoken criticism from members of the Writers Guild of America, many of whom planned to picket outside her show's studio, and her invitation to host the National Book Awards was rescinded.

For the first time, Lego began selling braille versions of its signature building bricks. The toys, which are compatible with all Lego bricks, were designed to be easily used by kids who have visual impairment. The bumps on the bricks and coordinating base plates correspond with braille letters and numbers. Braille was named after its creator, Louis Braille, a blind teacher and musician who invented the embossed alphabet in 1830.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of orchestrating the murder of a Sikh leader in British Columbia and expelled an Indian diplomat. India immediately retaliated by forcing a Canadian diplomat to leave the country. The senior intelligence officer at Canada's Indian embassy was removed in response to the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India, denying involvement in the killing, expelled the Canadian intelligence service’s New Delhi station chief.

When landlords in Berkeley, California held a party celebrating the end of a pandemic-related eviction moratorium, protesters showed up to register their disapproval. About 100 members of tenants' rights groups heckled the landlords, accusing them of behaving in a callous and insensitive way as they celebrated their ability to force renters out of their homes. Eviction originally meant "recovering lands through judicial means," from a root meaning "overcome or conquer."

On September 17, tens of thousands of climate protesters in New York called for an end to fossil fuels. Their message was directed at world leaders, including President Biden, who was in town for this week's UN General Assembly meeting. Though his administration has prioritized many environmental policies, it has also approved new oil and gas drilling, angering advocates who believe the climate emergency calls for a ban on all fossil fuel production.

Researchers have discovered evidence of a cat-sized koala that lived 25 million years ago. A new study based on fossilized teeth found in the Australian outback suggests that the molars belonged to a Lumakoala blackae. This marsupial ancestor to modern koalas, 25-pound teddy-bear shaped animals, would have weighed no more than six pounds. Scientists say its discovery provides a missing link between two evolutionary branches of marsupials.

After a Vermont couple replaced an expanse of lawn with a wildflower meadow, the acre of native grasses, perennials, and annual flowers has become a popular roadside attraction. Jonathan Yacko and Natalie Gilliard planted the tall field to save time mowing their five and a half-acre property; they plowed and spread 50 pounds of wildflower seed. The meadow, which includes 27 different flower varieties, is an acre of color that inspires neighbors and tourists to stop and admire it.

For nearly 24 hours, the U.S. military was unable to find a stealth F-35 fighter jet that crashed in South Carolina. A day after it disappeared, the plane's wreckage was located in Williamsburg County. The F-35 is one of the world's most expensive and advanced military jets, known for its ability to evade detection by radar during covert operations. The failure of the F-35's transponder apparently made it even more stealthy than usual, and the public's help was needed to track it down.

A 93-year-old California man celebrated his birthday by hiking to the summit of Yosemite's Half-Dome. The towering granite formation, which rises 8,800 feet above sea level, is famously difficult to climb. Everett Kalin tackled the challenge with the help of his son and granddaughter, finally scaling the top on the second day. Park rangers said Kalin was the oldest hiker to reach the summit. The Latin root of summit means "highest."