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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Boy, it sure was nice out yesterday, huh? Well, don’t get used to it. It’s back to chilly April showers today. Ok, that’s all I have to say about the weather. Time for the news now!
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Last Friday, a man named Michael Brady was stabbed to death on a MAX train near the 82nd Avenue transit center. The suspected attacker, who reportedly killed Brady with no provocation, is a man named Shondel Larkin. Larkin reported to the police that he hears voices and hasn’t taken his mental health medication since January. He has now been arrested on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. This tragic story is still developing, but the Mercury has the details of the situation here.
• At the end of last year, Oregon stopped funding a state-funded welcome center near the airport, intended to help people seeking asylum from other countries. Since then, community organizations have stepped in to help, but now they’re running out of funds. This means at least 20 families who have come to Oregon for asylum may be homeless soon, as they wait for the government to grant them asylum and the authority to work. Kevin Foster has the details in the Mercury.
• Portland is updating its Urban Forest Management Plan (read: handbook for trees) for the first time since 2004—and as the climate crisis worsens, a good plan for the city’s trees is more important now than ever. Read the Mercury‘s story about the new plan, and then give YOUR input to the city via a survey or at an open house this month!
• We can always rely on Portland’s National Weather Service social media people to keep us informed on all the latest odd cloud formations…
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No… it’s jellyfish!?! While a “Jellyfish” cloud isn’t an official cloud type, it’s a great way to describe the neat looking altocumulus with virga drifting over the Portland area this morning! Enjoy our last day of mild temperatures. #wawx #orwx pic.twitter.com/RfpQfsx9Y0
— NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) April 2, 2024
• Even though the sunny days are over for now, they’ll be back soon, and the Oregonian‘s Lizzy Acker has some advice for people exiting their homes into the sun for the first time in months. One tip I appreciated: You don’t need to call the cops (or otherwise freak out) if you see some kids hanging out outdoors without adult supervision. In fact, maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself about many things (Acker’s article touches on this, too), but it’s particularly important to encourage kids to run around outdoors instead of sitting inside on their phones. (Sorry, I know I sound like a boomer, but seriously.) The other evening, I was walking around and was overjoyed to see tons of chalk hopscotches drawn by the neighborhood kids. I hopped across each one, happy that kids are still making hopscotches for others to enjoy. Anyway, let’s endorse this positive behavior and make our cities safer for kids to roam around on their own.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Nine people were killed and more than 1,000 injured when the strongest earthquake in about 25 years hit Taiwan during Wednesday’s morning rush hour. (Taiwan is 15 hours ahead from us here in Portland.) Taiwan is no stranger to earthquakes, but those who experienced this one (which had a magnitude of about 7.4) said it was particularly bad and frightening. Search efforts are underway in the area hit hardest by the quake, as some people are potentially trapped under fallen debris or in buildings.
• In yet another state primary election, voters indicated their dissatisfaction with President Biden’s response to Israel’s war in Gaza by voting “uninstructed” (similar to “uncommitted” votes in other state primaries). With most of the votes counted, almost 50,000 voters in Wisconsin opted for the uninstructed option, hoping to send a message to the president and his administration that if he wants their votes in the general election, he needs to make some serious changes.
•.After a recent Israeli strike killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers, the aid organization announced it will pause its efforts to feed Palestinians in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are experiencing famine-level starvation. WCK’s CEO called the attack “targeted,” saying it was an “attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war.” Leaders, including President Biden, have spoken out against the attack, but Palestinian advocates say the condemnation means little when Biden is still endorsing support for Israel as they carry out such attacks.
“These are the heroes of WCK. These 7 beautiful souls were killed by the IDF in a strike as they were returning from a full day’s mission. Their smiles, laughter, and voices are forever embedded in our memories.” – Erin Gore, CEO. Read more: https://t.co/4f38RQ1l4I pic.twitter.com/neAsSzKVP5
— World Central Kitchen (@WCKitchen) April 2, 2024
• Oh, GOD! The largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S. (Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.) has halted production at a facility in Texas after bird flu was detected there. The company says it will minimize disruption to egg-seeking Americans by stepping up production at other facilities, but I’m more worried about the bird flu, which has infected two people in the U.S. so far. The CDC says the likelihood of humans contracting bird flu is low, and that people won’t get it from eggs if they’re cooked and stored properly, but I’m personally considering veganism now.
• Finally, check out these posts from someone who apparently just heard of Fleetwood Mac (and all their lore) while tipsy on margaritas. Happy hump day!! We’re almost through another week.
Two margaritas deep, I heard a song playing called you can go your own way, and I was like wow they are really singing their ass off. Looked it up it’s two band members breaking up I am in TEARS! YOU CAN GO YOUR OWN WAY 😭😭 watched the live performance. he can’t even look at her
— Dr. Raven the Science Maven (@ravenscimaven) April 3, 2024
Taylor Griggs
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