Here Are The Wildest Things That Have Happened In 2023 So Far, And We're Only Two Weeks In

    We're just a few days in, but 2023 is already proving that she will not be dull.

    Angela Andaloro
    by Angela Andaloro

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    2023 has come in with a serious roar. Seriously, there has been no shortage of big news stories since the year kicked off.

    The Roku Channel / Via giphy.com

    Ranging from serious to silly, it's kind of remarkable how many highs and lows the first weeks of the year have brought.

    NBC / Via giphy.com

    In case you haven't been paying attention, this is what 2023 is like so far.

    1. Massachusetts mom Ana Walshe allegedly disappeared on New Year's Day but wasn't reported missing until three days later.

    Police press conference about Ana Walshe, whose photo can be seen in the background
    Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Four days into the investigation into her whereabouts, husband Brian Walshe was arrested for "making misleading statements to the police" in discussing his missing wife.

    Most recently, prosecutors have said that Ana's phone pinged on her home on both Jan. 1 and Jan. 2 — when surveillance video obtained during the police investigation revealed that Brian went to Home Depot and purchased $450 worth of cleaning supplies.

    Police investigators remove a box from the home of Ana Walshe
    Matthew J. Lee / The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    2. Damar Hamlin's injury shook the entire country on the first Monday of the year.

    Buffalo Bills players huddle and pray after teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field
    Dylan Buell / Getty Images

    Monday Night Football saw a terrible injury as Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills came to his feet after a tackle, only to immediately go down once again. The gravity of the situation quickly became evident, with the NFL postponing and eventually canceling the matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

    At the time of the incident, no one would have believed that Damar would be released from the hospital just a week later.

    Buffalo Bills fans hold up signs in support of Damar Hamlin during their regular season finale against the New England Patriots
    Barry Chin / The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    In fact, Damar was well enough to FaceTime his team and cheer them on in their last regular-season game, where they pulled a victory over the New England Patriots, and is now back in Buffalo continuing his recovery.

    3. Jeremy Renner was critically injured by his own snowplow as he tried to help a stranded driver.

    4. California's rotating storm system (aka the bomb cyclone) has been wreaking havoc throughout the state with flooding rains.

    Aerial view shows a damaged pier is split in Capitola, California, on January 9, 2023
    Josh Edelson / AFP via Getty Images

    5. It took 15 votes to pick a speaker of the House.

    Kevin McCarthy raising his hand as speaker of the House
    Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

    I wish I was kidding.

    Oh, and a fight broke out while they were figuring it all out.

    Mike Rogers being restrained after lunging at Matt Gaetz
    The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan was physically restrained during a verbal altercation with Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida over the vote. Very normal stuff — boring, even.

    6. Hailey Bieber came out with a "Nepo Baby" T-shirt.

    Hailey Bieber wearing the T-shirt and jeans on January 6, 2023, in Los Angeles
    Rachpoot / Bauer-Griffin / GC Images

    7. Prince Harry was airing his family out ahead of the release of his memoir.

    Prince Harry in his 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper
    CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

    8. Céline Dion supporters started a protest outside of Rolling Stone's New York City offices for not including her on their list of the 200 greatest singers.

    9. A 6-year-old in Virginia shot his teacher with his mom's gun.

    Police tape hangs from a sign post outside Richneck Elementary School following a shooting on January 7, 2023, in Newport News, Virginia
    Jay Paul / Getty Images

    The incident took place during instruction, and the bullet went through Abigail Zwerner's hand and into her chest.

    10. Jen Shah was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to a telemarketing scam.

    Jen Shah is seen leaving Manhattan federal court after receiving a sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 6, 2023, in New York City
    Gotham / GC Images

    In addition to her prison sentence, Jen will have five years of supervised release. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star was "also ordered to forfeit $6,500,000, 30 luxury items, and 78 counterfeit luxury items, and to pay $6,645,251 in restitution," according to the Department of Justice.

    11. Rap veteran Gangsta Boo, born Lola Mitchell, died at age 43 on Jan. 2.

    Gangsta Boo performs during the 2022 NBA playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies on May 1, 2022, at FedExForum in Memphis
    Joe Murphy / NBAE via Getty Images

    Her cause of death is currently unknown. She was formerly of Three Six Mafia.

    12. Tristan Thompson's mom, Andrea Thompson, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Jan. 6.

    Andrea Thompson smiles at Tristan Thompson at the Amari Thompson Soiree in support of Epilepsy Toronto at the Globe and Mail Centre on August 9, 2018, in Toronto
    George Pimentel / Getty Images

    In addition to Tristan, Andrea was mom to his younger brothers: Dishawn, Daniel, and Amari.

    13. An author named Susan Meachen, who was previously believed to have died by suicide in September 2020, revealed that she's been alive this whole time and did it to boost book sales.

    Rolling Stone @RollingStone

    Author Susan Meachen, who allegedly died by suicide in September 2020, returned to Facebook this week to reveal that she isn't actually dead — she just needed a break from social media. https://t.co/iBekAIkERO

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    Nomi Rki / EyeEm / Getty Images / Via Twitter: @RollingStone

    An anti-bullying anthology was published in her honor after a statement allegedly written by a family member claimed that she was bullied to death by her online community of writers and book industry folks.

    14. New York City nurses at two major hospitals have been on strike since Jan. 9.

    Nurses from Mount Sinai Hospital strike outside the hospital on January 9, 2023, in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan
    Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

    More than 7,000 nurses are negotiating over wages and staffing shortages leading to unfair work conditions, although, thankfully, 10 other area hospitals have reached tentative deals with their nursing staffs to avoid a strike.

    15. Eight Is Enough star Adam Rich died at the age of 54.

    Adam as an adult in a suit and tie
    Steve Granitz / WireImage

    16. The Mega Millions jackpot tipped over $1 billion.

    $1 billion–plus Mega Millions jackpot sign
    Scott Olson / Getty Images

    With a Tuesday night drawing, there will either be a big winner or a big bump in the jackpot coming soon.

    Needless to say, it's been an intense first few days. What do you think has been 2023's most surprising moment so far? Sound off in the comments.