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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! And happy New Year's Eve-Eve. It's tough work to have to use your brain during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, huh? Please accept this news roundup for what it is and not what it isn't.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Want recaps of the biggest news in Portland this year? The Mercury's got you covered with our 2024 Wrapped lists, so you can check out the most important news about elections, the environment, and more. Also, see which of our news articles were the MOST POPULAR. Yay for year-end retrospectives, if you're into that kind of thing. There WILL be a quiz, so make sure to get caught up before 2025.
• What's the move for New Year's Eve? If you don't have plans yet, we have some recommendations for you, courtesy of the always-in-the-know Jenni Moore. Find out more HERE.
• Close out 2024 with three NYE live music picks from Hear in Portland
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.bsky.social) December 27, 2024 at 12:17 PM
• Kye Alive and Nonbinary Girlfriend co-create a New Year's Eve experience!
• Black Belt Eagle Scout's January show feels like a perfect kickoff to 2025
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• The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is trying to change the public narrative about beavers, who are actually really good and cool and shouldn't be seen as nuisances. (Or, god forbid, trapped for fur, which I guess is still happening sometimes!) ODFW's effort to improve beavers' PR is accompanied by the first-of-its-kind survey of beavers and their activity, which involves sending staffers around the Beaver State to spot dams, trails, beaver teeth marks, and other signs of beaver activity that have sadly been dwindling as the creatures have been wiped out across the region. Seeing as we have the freaking animal on our state flag, this initiative seems long-overdue. I, for one, love beavers and respect their intrinsic desire to BUILD.
• In other Oregon animal news, Oregon State Parks' Whale Watch Week will last until tomorrow, so head west to try and see some Gray Whales as they migrate south for the winter. About 19,000 Pacific Gray whales are migrating this year—a comeback compared to dwindling numbers in past years. The whales will be visible from the shoreline, so no boats needed, but you should probably bring binoculars or a long lens camera for the best views. During Whale Watch Week, you can get some extra help from Oregon State Parks ranges and volunteers, but the whales aren't just going to stop migrating tomorrow. So you can probably see them for a few more days. (Please don't hold me liable if you go to the coast and fail to spot whales. I don't really know much.)
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Jimmy Carter, former peanut farmer and 39th President of the United States, died yesterday at the age of 100. I mention Carter's time as a peanut farmer first not to subtly disparage him—I actually think being a peanut farmer is a more noble career choice than being the POTUS—but because it illustrates the unique background he brought to the White House and the humility many people appreciated about him after he left office. Carter's one-term presidency, which lasted from 1977-1981, had its ups and downs. I'm not one to glorify a US President, but Carter did some good things in office, like pardoning Vietnam War draft evaders on his second day in office and pioneering renewable energy and conservationism efforts (in a distinctly 1970s way). He also supported cannabis decriminalization, was seemingly pro-gay rights (his administration was the first to invite gay and lesbian rights activists to the White House), and built the US Department of Education.
Then there was the Iran Hostage Crisis, where 53 US diplomats and citizens were held hostage in Iran by supporters of the Iranian Revolution, which many people felt Carter bungled. The crisis lasted the entire last year of his presidency, and was a major contributor to his devastating loss to current ninth circle of hell resident Ronald Reagan in 1980. I'm now tempted to say more about how much I despite Reagan—go ahead and look up the 1980 October Surprise Theory for one of the hundreds of reasons why—but I'm getting a little off-topic here.
IMO, Jimmy Carter will go down in history as one of the most decent people to be President of the United States, particularly for what he did with his life after leaving office. (Considering his competition, this isn't a huge bar to clear, but still.) He was well-known for his post-White House charity work, notably with Habitat for Humanity. He also opined critically on the Iraq War, Obama's civilian drone strikes, and Israel's apartheid treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Carter is the longest-lived former president of the United States in history (so far).
• Nearly all 181 passengers of a Boeing 737-800 plane were killed after a horrible crash in South Korea on Sunday, marking one of the country's worst aviation disasters in history. The plane was operated by Jeju Air and was en route from Bangkok, crashing and bursting into flames while attempting to land in the town of Muan, south of Seoul. 179 people died in the crash, as two crew members were pulled to safety by emergency workers. This is, first and foremost, absolutely devastating for the victims and their families and loved ones. But it's also the cherry on top of a terrible year for Boeing. It's unclear exactly how this crash occurred, but Boeing (especially its 737 planes) already has a poor reputation given recent events, and this awful incident will do nothing to make passengers feel safer.
• Excellent (and very disturbing) long read from ProPublica:
The hospital’s CEO held a staff meeting about Dr. Weiner. “Don’t be surprised if black suits show up,” he said, according to court records.
One nurse said, “You walked out of there feeling like, ‘Was I killing people?’”
By @davidmcswane.bsky.social
— ProPublica (@propublica.org) December 29, 2024 at 7:00 PM
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• Beware of the horrible stomach bug norovirus, which is surging in parts of the US this winter (compared to previous years). It's unclear why cases of the virus are higher this year, but I will tell you from first-hand experience that this infection really SUCKS...and it can be hard to avoid. But you're more likely to get it in congregate living situations like college dorms or cruise ships, so beware of those locations, I guess? (I kinda assume those reading this post already avoid those particular places.)
• There's a new pygmy hippo in the world :) And this time, she's right here in the United States—so if you find yourself in Virginia, be sure to head to the Metro Richmond Zoo to see ____. That's right, this pygmy hippo is currently nameless, but you can help name her! The zoo is holding an online poll to name the new little baby, so you can decide between names Poppy, Juniper, Hammie Mae and Omi. I think the obvious choice is Hammie Mae, but that's just me. Also, this NPR article about the naming contest contains some really cute and funny turns of phrase, including the lede: "It looks like production at the viral baby pygmy hippo factory is at an all-time high." That's just great stuff.
• Happy New Year. Try not to be like this guy. BYE!
