What A Week

What A Week   (9/27- 10/3)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2021/09/downtown-portland-clean-safe-contract-renewed-for-5-years.html
  • Portland city commissioners voted this past Wednesday to allow the Downtown and Old Town enhanced service district to continue to exist with a new five-year, $25 million Clean & Safe contract to provide extra security and trash removal within the district. The deal means the city will collect fees from downtown property owners to pay for armed and unarmed security guards, additional Portland Police Bureau officers, sidewalk cleaning, holiday lights, a staff position at the district attorney’s office, economic development, lobbying, and administration costs. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said in a statement that he believes the new contract is a step in the right direction, paving the way for continued conversation. Some changes made from the previous contract include new uniforms for security guards that will make them distinguishable from police officers, a 25% limit on the number of guards who can be armed, and a three-person mental health team that will join the guards. Additional transparency measures will also be required including increased reporting of Clean & Safe activities and spending to the city.

In-state news:

• 
  https://katu.com/news/local/decrease-in-oregon-covid-hospitalizations-promising-news-gov-brown-says
  • It looks like COVID-19 hospitalizations are declining across Oregon, a trend Governor Kate Brown called "promising news" during a press conference discussing the virus this past Tuesday. As of this past Tuesday, there were 822 Oregonians in the hospital with COVID-19, which is 44 less than there were on Monday. That number is also down from a total of 944 one week ago (Sept. 21), and more than 1,100 were hospitalized a month ago. Health officials say there are 237 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit, and there’s an 8% availability of open ICU beds statewide. The Oregon Health Authority reported 1,658 new confirmed and presumptive cases of the virus this past Tuesday, bringing the statewide total to 326,191 since the pandemic began. As of Tuesday, 2,731,271 people have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 2,501,554 have completed a vaccine series.

In National News:

• https://www.npr.org/2021/10/03/1042846846/a-massive-oil-spill-in-the-pacific-ocean-has-reached-the-southern-california-coa
  • More than 120,000 gallons of oil that spilled into the Pacific Ocean has reached the Southern California coastline, closing parts of the beach as officials warn residents to stay away from the slick. Federal, state, and local agencies are still racing to determine the cause of the spill, which is at least 13 square miles in size. They are also working on developing ways to mitigate the spill’s ecological impact.  Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said in a statement on Saturday quote,  "The ramifications will extend further than the visible oil and odor that our residents are dealing with at the moment. The impact to the environment is irreversible. We must identify the cause of the spill, and for the greater good of our cities, beaches, and coastal ecological habitat we need to understand how to prevent these incidences moving forward” end quote. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, as of this past Saturday, the cause of the spill remains under investigation. 

In International News: 

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-58729781
  • Australia's Daintree - the world's oldest tropical rainforest - has been returned to its Aboriginal owners in a historic deal. The Eastern Kuku Yalanji people will now manage the national park with Queensland's state government. The Daintree borders the Great Barrier Reef and is one of Australia's top tourism drawcards. It is famed for its ancient ecosystem and rugged, natural beauty which includes forest vistas, wild rivers, waterfalls, gorges, and white sandy beaches. The deal also includes other Queensland national parks including Cedar Bay (Ngalba Bulal), Black Mountain (Kalkajaka), and Hope Islands, a combined area of over 160,000 hectares.
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58780258
  • Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said on Saturday night, that it reported a record number of incursions by Chinese warplanes into its air defense identification zone (ADIZ) for the second day in a row. The US Federal Aviation Administration defines an ADIZ as "a designated area of airspace over land or water within which a country requires the immediate and positive identification, location and air traffic control of aircraft in the interest of the country's national security." 

 The self-governing island said a total of 39 Chinese military aircraft entered the ADIZ on Saturday, one more than the 38 planes it spotted this past Friday. The 38 and 39 planes respectively are the highest number of incursions Taiwan has reported in a day since it began publicly reporting such activities last year. The incursions do not violate Taiwan's airspace, which extends 12 nautical miles from its coast but does pose a concern for the future of the already unstable diplomatic relations between China and Taiwan. 

The US state department responded to this in a statement saying quote, "The United States is very concerned by... China's provocative military activity near Taiwan, which is destabilizing, risks miscalculations and undermines regional peace and stability," end quote. 

Lastly let’s take a look into the world of sports:

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/national-women-s-soccer-league-calls-upcoming-weekend-games-amid-n1280590
  • This past Friday, the  National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) postponed all of its upcoming weekend matches and its commissioner resigned, following allegations of sexual misconduct against a former coach. North Carolina Courage Coach Paul Riley was fired Thursday after a report in The Athletic publication detailed allegations made by players on teams that Riley has coached since 2010. The news also comes after the players’ union

What A Week   (8/16- 8/22)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/08/demonstrators-congregate-at-portland-waterfront.html
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/23/portland-oregon-clashes-protests-proud-boys-antifascist
  • This past sunday, a rightwing protest in Portland turned into a gunfight, when antifascist demonstrators returned fire at a man who shot at them with a handgun in a downtown street. The firefight took place in the heart of downtown Portland, soon after 6pm on Sunday night. Portland police bureau confirmed that a man had been arrested over the shooting but did not have any information on any injuries. The incident came after a day of protest descended into running clashes involving hundreds of protesters and counterprotesters. This past Sunday’s planned gatherings were spurred by a similar event one year ago where right-wing demonstrators, including some affiliated with the Proud Boys, faced off against anti-fascist counter-demonstrators in downtown Portland. The two groups pelted each other with paintballs, mace and rocks as Portland police stayed mainly out of the way.

In-state news:

• https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/oregon-surpasses-sad-milestone-of-3000-covid-19-deaths/
  • Last Friday, the Oregon Health Authority reported 19 new COVID-related deaths, raising the state’s death toll to 3,012. OHA Director Patrick Allen in a statement said, “Today, we mark another sad milestone in the pandemic: Our 3,000th COVID-19 related death. Our sadness is deepened by the realization that these deaths are increasingly preventable. We know that the available vaccines provide a reliable protective shield against serious illness and death from COVID-19. These vaccines are saving lives every day and I urge every Oregonian who has not yet received the vaccine to please make a plan to be vaccinated.” end quote.
• https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-reports-4700-new-coronavirus-cases-24-more-covid-deaths-over-the-weekend
  • Oregon health officials reported more than 4,700 new coronavirus cases and 24 COVID-19 related deaths over the span of this past weekend as the delta variant and hospitalizations continue to surge across the state. The Oregon Health Authority has identified 257,644 presumptive and confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic started. 

In National News:

• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/08/23/1030251410/pfizer-covid-vaccine-fda-approval
  • Last week, The Food and Drug Administration formally approved Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. The widely anticipated decision replaces the emergency use authorization granted by the agency last December. The vaccine, developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech, is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be subject to a full review by the U.S. regulator and to get an approval that puts the vaccine on par with other marketed vaccines. The full approval could make it easier for employers, the military and universities to mandate vaccination and may reassure some people who are still undecided about getting the vaccine. 
• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/08/18/1028798003/covid-19-booster-shots-roll-out-september-moderna-pfizer
  • The country’s top health officials announced last Wednesday that COVID-19 booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are set to become available for all U.S. adults beginning next month. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general, spoke on this announcement at a White House briefing saying quote,  "We know that even highly effective vaccines become less effective over time. It is now our clinical judgment that the time to lay out a plan for COVID boosters is now.”  

In International News: 

• 
  ​​https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/23/china/china-zero-case-delta-intl-hnk/index.html
  • Last week China reported no new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases for the first time since July, according to its National Health Commission (NHC), as authorities double down on the country's stringent zero-Covid approach. China has been grappling with the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant since July 20, when a cluster of Covid-19 infections were detected among airport cleaning staff in the eastern city of Nanjing. Since then, it has catapulted into the worst outbreak China has seen since 2020, spreading to more than half of the country's 31 provinces and infecting more than 1,200 people. The surging cases driven by Delta were seen as the biggest challenge yet,  to China's uncompromising zero tolerance virus policy. Local authorities responded by placing tens of millions of residents under strict lockdown, rolling out massive testing and tracing campaigns and restricting domestic travels. The strict measures appear to be working as  daily infections have fallen steadily over the past week into single digits, down from more than 100 from its peak two weeks ago.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

• https://www.npr.org/2021/08/20/1029633740/rain-fall-peak-of-greenland-ice-sheet-first-climate-change
  • Greenland saw rain at the highest point of its ice sheet for the first time since scientists have been making observations there. According to the U.S. National Snow & Ice Data Center, rain fell for several hours on an area 10,551 feet in elevation on Aug. 14, an unprecedented occurrence for a location that rarely sees temperatures above freezing. It was also the latest date in the year scientists had ever recorded above-freezing temperatures at the National Science Foundation's Summit Station. The rainfall coincided with the ice sheet's most recent "melt event," in which temperatures get high enough that the thick ice begins to melt.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

What A Week   (8/9- 8/15)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/08/oregon-leaders-condemn-resurgence-of-right-wing-groups-political-clashes-in-portland.html
  • Last week, Oregon elected leaders condemned a resurgence of right-wing groups demonstrating in Portland and the often violent confrontations they provoke among the community. The statement comes days after out-of-town far-right activists and self-described anti-fascist counter-protesters fought with bear spray, air soft rifles and paintball guns in downtown Portland over the past weekend. The tense situation, which did not draw a response from police, garnered national headlines after video captured one right-wing militant wandering through city streets with a replica assault rifle, at one point leveling the weapon at a journalist.

In-state news:

• https://news.yahoo.com/oregon-governor-lays-face-mask-153000982.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFc1WofBsYi4TYcuLa4T0Xw8SH2hdoc6kvoCvq_5Cx1S3QhFlBMyglvB0tY0xYwpafVEjwRkcYt9flOBDlhnaqXqGJwC0oUTABi8PpU0jhoCzU4boojTZbMRMihM-CaEHNR96NXsQVPMDLGNuhwbJfcG6zD6iwYHBZ870pZUMdgQ
  • Last week, Governor Kate Brown announced Oregonians ages five and up would have to wear masks indoors at almost all times. This new guideline took effect as of last Friday. The new  conditions are part of two new health mandates issued by the governor last Wednesday, including new masking rules and required vaccinations for state executive branch staff. The new rules follow a steady surge in new cases and hospitalizations statewide as COVID-19 and its more infectious delta variant spread among primarily unvaccinated individuals.

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-governor-orders-national-guard-help-frontline-workers-covid-19-n1276817
  • This past Friday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ordered 500 National Guard members to help frontline workers in their battle against the expanding Covid-19 Delta variant. Brown said the deployment would begin Aug. 20th, when National Guard members will be sent to more than 20 hospitals statewide to help provide logistical support, materials handling, equipment deliveries, and Covid-19 testing. Up to 1,500 National Guard members could ultimately be deployed, she said. In a statement regarding the news, Brown stated, quote "The harsh, and frustrating reality is that the Delta variant has changed everything. Delta is highly contagious, and we must take action now."

In National News:

• https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/new-york-gov-andrew-cuomo-resigns-n1260310
  • Last Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he will resign after a disdainful report from the state’s attorney general documented multiple accusations of sexual harassment against women. The decision heads off his almost certain impeachment and conviction in the state Legislature. Lieutenant governor Kathy  (Hokol) Hochul , a fellow Democrat, will serve the rest of his term when the resignation becomes effective in 14 days. She will become the state's first ever female governor. Although Governor Cuomo apologized to his accusers, he made it clear that he did not believe he stepped over a red line requiring removal from office. Instead, he framed his decision as one necessary to avoid protracted argument and divisiveness that would bring the state's government to a halt.

• https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/14/health/covid-19-vaccine-boosters-explainer-fda-wellness/index.html
  • This past Thursday, The US Food and Drug Administration authorized third doses of both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines for certain immunocompromised people such as solid organ transplant recipients or quote "those who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise." The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on the authorization and now recommends an additional dose of vaccine for these certain people.

In International News: 

• 
  ​​https://www.npr.org/2021/08/15/1027860324/the-taliban-win-control-of-afghanistan-as-the-u-s-backed-government-collapses\
  • Last weekend, Taliban leaders took over the presidential palace in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and said that they plan to soon declare a new quote “ Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan '', just two decades after they were removed by the U.S. military. The Taliban swept through Afghanistan in a matter of weeks, taking advantage of a vacuum left by the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces working against President Joe Biden’s August 31st deadline to end America’s longest war. 

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

• 
  https://www.npr.org/2021/08/12/1027223521/jamie-spears-steps-down-britney-spears-conservatorship
  • After 13 years of controlling pop star Britney Spears' finances, Jamie Spears, Britney’s father,  has filed a document in Los Angeles Superior Court agreeing to step down as the conservator of his daughter's estate. The move comes weeks after the singer filed a petition asking that her father be removed from his position, and that he be charged with conservatorshi...

What A Week   (8/2- 8/8)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/08/toxic-algae-found-in-willamette-river-harmful-to-pets-officials-warns.html
  • Last week, the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Environmental Quality warned Oregonians about an algal bloom developing on the Willamette River that is harmful to pets. The agencies sent a notice to the Multnomah County Health Department last week about the algae stretching from Sauvie Island to Ross Island. Lab results from samples show the toxin levels are too low to affect humans but can be harmful to pets — especially dogs — if ingested. Blooms develop in rivers when the water becomes slack and warm and may last until weather and rains cool the water levels to a point where the blooms can no longer propagate.

In-state news:

• https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/08/oregons-coronavirus-icu-record-shattered-once-again-as-all-signs-point-to-out-of-control-5th-surge.html
• https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/08/07/1025753258/the-u-s-is-now-averaging-100-000-new-covid-19-infections-a-day
  • The number of newly identified coronavirus cases climbed in Oregon for a fifth consecutive week, according to state data released this past Monday, reaching the highest levels since December. Oregon recorded 8,304 new confirmed or suspected coronavirus infections, up 40% from the previous week. That number includes 1,032 new known cases recorded this past Friday, 964 Saturday and 1,233 Sunday. As of this past Monday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown has taken no action to  re-institute a statewide mask mandate. After a month of rising COVID-19 numbers, Multnomah County, however, became the first county in the state to announce that it is reinstating an indoor public mask mandate starting this Friday.

In National News:

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/06/us-covid-coronavirus-delta-variant
  • Last week, daily Covid-19 cases in the US moved above 100,000 a day for the first time since February, higher than the levels of last summer when vaccines were not available. This news comes as health officials are sounding alarms over lagging rates of vaccination driving the surge of the infectious Delta variant. The seven-day average of hospital admissions has also increased more than 40% from the week before, with health workers describing frustration and exhaustion as hospitals in Covid hotspots are once again overwhelmed with patients, almost 20 months into the pandemic in the US.

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/biden-offers-temporary-safe-haven-hong-kong-residents-u-s-n1276041
  • Last Thursday, President Joe Biden offered temporary "safe haven" to Hong Kong residents in the United States, allowing potentially thousands of people to extend their stay in the country in response to Beijing's crackdown on democracy in the Chinese territory. In a signed memo, Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security to implement a "deferral of removal" for up to 18 months for HongKong residents currently in the United States, citing "compelling foreign policy reasons." Biden said in his memo, "Over the last year, the People’s Republic of China has continued its assault on Hong Kong's autonomy, undermining its remaining democratic processes and institutions, imposing limits on academic freedom, and cracking down on freedom of the press.”

In International News: 

• 
  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/greece-wildfires-rip-through-towns-residents-watch-horror-n1276290
  • Last week, raging wildfires ripped through parts of Greece,  forcing thousands of people to flee as the blazes threatened entire towns and burned down homes, shops and vast areas of land in their path.  An unprecedented heat wave — Greece's worst in three decades — sent temperatures soaring over the past week as firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish the uncontrollable flames. Greece has also deployed the army to battle the fires, and several countries, including France, Egypt, Switzerland and Spain, have sent help. Greece’s prime minister has blamed climate change for the devastating fires, urging people who had reservations to "come and see the intensity of the phenomena." Greek and other European officials have blamed climate change for the large number of fires that burned through southern Europe in recent days, from Italy to the Balkans, Greece and Turkey. 

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

• 
  https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dixie-fire-explodes-largest-blaze-u-s-third-largest-california-n1276202
  •   The Dixie Fire in Northern California became the largest blaze in the country last Friday and the third largest in the state's history. Seven of the largest wildfires in California history, including the Dixie Fire, have occurred within the last three years.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

What A Week   (7/12- 7/18)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• 
  https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/here-are-the-sites-being-considered-for-portlands-city-run-homeless-villages/283-5ae50725-66c0-47b8-bf5a-4e1688fd52c1
  • Portland city officials approved a plan last month to build "safe rest villages" throughout the city in an attempt to address Portland’s growing homelessness crisis.  These villages will contain outdoor shelters to provide people with a place to sleep, basic hygiene, access to case management and behavioral health services and, "most importantly, dignity and stability that will lead to permanent housing," a news release from the city of Portland said. Last Friday, Commissioner Dan Ryan shared on the city's website a list of about 70 city-owned sites being considered for safe rest villages. The goal is to have six villages open throughout the city by the end of the year. According to Ryan, they will be covered by $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief money. 

In-state news:

• 
  https://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/2021/07/southern-oregons-bootleg-fire-grows-to-nearly-300000-acres.html
• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bootleg-fire-smoke-length-of-oregon/
  • Last Saturday, critical fire conditions pushed the Bootleg fire in southern Oregon east and north, burning nearly 300,000 acres as of this past Sunday. The wildfire was 22% contained as of Sunday, rising from 7% containment since last Friday. The fire is currently growing to the east according to reports. Fire crews established a fire line with bulldozers, as well as burnout. The fire started July 6 northeast of Klamath Falls and threatened more than 5,000 structures, fire officials said.

In National News:

• https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-07-16/federal-judge-rules-daca-unlawful-orders-government-to-block-new-applicants
  • A federal judge in Texas ruled last Friday that the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was illegally created, and he ordered the government to stop approving new applications for the program, which grants children brought to the U.S. illegally work permits and protection from deportation. 

• U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, however, stayed his order for those already in the program, known as DACA, stopping short of shutting the program down entirely and seizing protections from the more than 600,000 young immigrants who are part of it. The government may continue to process DACA renewals, the judge said, as it tries to "remedy the legal defects" of the program. 

• The Biden administration is expected to immediately appeal Friday's decision. The ruling comes as President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress press for a legislative solution for so-called Dreamers in the DACA program, including pathways to permanent residency and citizenship. 
• DACA was created by the Department of Homeland Security in 2012. DACA recipients must meet strict qualifications, and they are in turn granted protections to live and work in the U.S. without threat of deportation.

• https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nicolefallert/la-county-reinstates-mask-mandate
  • Officials announced last Thursday that Los Angeles County will once again require people to wear masks indoors as the number of new COVID cases continues to rise at an alarming rate. 
  • Dr. Muntu Davis, the county's health officer, said at a news conference that the move was largely driven by unvaccinated people and that universal masking makes it easier to implement the mandate while offering additional protection to all residents, no matter their vaccine status. Davis warned that more strict enforcement measures may be put in place if COVID numbers don't decrease. The more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus has driven the county's concern and has been the most commonly reported variant of the virus identified by health experts since June, prompting warnings from officials at the time to voluntarily wear masks in public indoor spaces. 

In International News: 

• https://www.cbsnews.com/video/germany-hardest-hit-by-worst-flooding-in-europes-history/#x
  • Last week, Germany was one of the hardest hit countries by the worst flooding in Europe's history due to record amounts of rainfall.  Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have also seen devastation. 
  • Germany's government has hit back at criticism over its warning systems after the worst flooding in decades left at least 160 people dead. The severe floods caught many off guard, sweeping away houses and leaving residents trapped in rising waters. More than 170 people are still missing. Flood warning systems sent out alerts a few days before the heavy rain. However, they failed to reach many residents or officials in time.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

• https://www.npr.org/2021/07/18/1017606827/two-athletes-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19-inside-the-olympic-village
• https://www.npr.org/2021/07/18/1017661844/u-s-tennis-star-coco-gauff-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-will-miss-tokyo-olympi
  • Over the past few weeks, there have been lots of disapproval and lack of support for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics due to the fact that we’re all still in a global pandemic. There has been a rising tally of covid-19 infections surrounding this year’s Tokyo games with less than a week before the opening ceremonies begin.  At least two players on the South African soccer team have tested positive for COVID-19 inside the Olympic Village. The two players are the first athletes to test positive for the coronavirus at the site of the Olympic Village in the Japanese capital. A video analyst for the team...

What A Week   (7/5- 7/11)

Intro: (Cue intro music) 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• 
  https://www.kgw.com/article/news/crime/mailbox-explosions-northeast-portland-oregon/283-db5e6692-41e5-4bc2-a2a5-29586d0c622f
  • Portland police are investigating explosions of a neighborhood library exchange box and a mailbox in Northeast Portland over the weekend. The explosions happened this past Saturday and early this past Monday, about 5 miles from each other. There was debris of wood and books spread around the scene. Flying debris appeared to have caused minor damage to at least two residences, but nobody was injured. Police said at this time they have no suspect information or evidence that indicates the two explosions are related.

In-state news:

• 
  https://katu.com/news/local/oregon-reports-more-than-500-new-coronavirus-cases-over-the-weekend
  • Oregon recorded 506 new confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases over the last three days, the state's health authority reported this past Monday. The latest report brings the statewide total cases to 210,729 since the pandemic first began. The Oregon Health Authority also reported five new fatalities related to the virus. The latest update brings the state's COVID-19 death toll to 2,797. More than 2.2 million Oregonians have completed their vaccination series. Since the state hit the governor's 70% vaccination goal and the economy has fully reopened as of June 30th, the OHA will no longer report new cases over the weekend.

In National News:

• https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-11/record-breaking-temperatures-set-as-heat-wave-continues-across-california
  • After a major record breaking heat wave swept through the Pacific Northwest a few weeks ago, the wrath of the sun is now setting new heat records throughout the state of California. The rapidly rising temperatures have made it difficult for forecasters to keep up with new record setting temperatures. Death Valley, California was expected to reach record-breaking temperatures this past Sunday with a high of 130 degrees, which equals the hottest temperature recorded on Earth in nearly a century, but that record came two days early, this past Friday afternoon.  
  • More than 30 million people in the West are under excessive heat alerts. The heat alerts stretch from northern Washington state down to the Arizona/Mexico border. Forecasters said a noticeable cooling will likely happen this coming Wednesday as temperatures decline across the region throughout the week.

• CDC fully vaccinated students and teachers don’t need masks

In International News: 

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/italy-wins-european-soccer-championship-3-2-penalty-shootout-n1273643
• https://www.wsj.com/articles/italy-england-european-championship-shootout-11626040786
•  
  • This past Sunday night, Italy’s men’s soccer team earned its first major title in 15 years with a penalty shootout win over England in the Euro 2020 final. The winner was determined by a penalty-kick shootout after extra time that kept the score even at 1-1. Italy won the shootout 3-2 after England's final shot was blocked. In a highly anticipated lead up to the game hosted by England in Wembley stadium, English fans were seen chanting the phrase “It’s Coming Home” all over live television as well as on social media.  For the vast majority of English fans in attendance, this was something they had never experienced in their lifetimes. The incredible representation of national pride seen throughout the country leading up to the finals is partially due to the fact that it has been 55 long years since England was last in a major international final and fans to have known only heartache and disappointment since that World Cup triumph in 1966. 

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

• 
  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-57773472
• https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/09/asia/china-giant-pandas-endangered-scli-intl-scn/index.html
  • As of last week, Chinese officials announced that Giant pandas are no longer classified as endangered but are still vulnerable species. The classification was downgraded as their number in the wild has reached 1,800.
  •  China has spent half a century attempting to boost the population of its famous animals, creating sprawling panda reserves across several mountain ranges in an effort to save them from extinction. China considers pandas a national treasure, but has also loaned them to other countries as diplomatic tools. The new classification comes years after the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had already removed the animal from its endangered species list and re-labelled it as "vulnerable" in 2016. At the time, however, Chinese officials had disputed the decision, saying that it could mislead people into believing that conservation efforts could be relaxed. Last week's announcement by China's environmental ministry is the first time the animal's status was changed on its own endangered species list, which uses similar standards as the Swiss-based IUCN.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Intro: (Cue intro music) 
Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 
https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/27/us/northwest-heatwave-record-high-temperatures/index.html
https://www.oregonlive.com/weather/2021/06/portland-expected-to-hit-114-degrees-monday-in-3rd-consecutive-record-setting-day-of-oregon-heat-wave.html
It is one scorching hot week for Portland residents. The Pacific Northwest is currently experiencing a record-breaking heat wave, with an all-time high of 112 degrees Fahrenheit reported as of this past Sunday in Portland, Oregon. The National Weather Service in Portland predicts that on Monday, it will hit 114 degrees in the afternoon, breaking this past Sunday’s record-setting 112 degrees. Sunday’s high had broken the 108 degree record set Saturday, which broke the previous high of 107, first set in 1965. Along the West Coast, more than 20 million people are under a heat warning or advisory, from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.
https://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/2021/06/trimet-suspends-max-wes-lines-until-tuesday-citing-heat-related-mechanical-issues.html
The TriMet this past Sunday shut down all MAX lines until Tuesday after record-high temperatures began disrupting the light rail service.  Portland’s record setting temperatures strained the power grid and overhead wires delivering electricity to the MAX, a system built to run in conditions as high as 110 degrees. TriMet said mechanical issues caused by the heat wave disrupted MAX Blue, Green, Red and Yellow lines earlier Sunday, and high temperatures forecasted through Tuesday morning would put MAX trains at risk of more disruptions. 
In-state news:
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/gov-brown-announces-oregon-will-reopen-by-june-30/283-34eb091e-2475-4ad4-895e-a6d8b48e1fcf
Last Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that the state will reopen by no later than Wednesday, June 30th. Brown’s new executive order will lift all state COVID-19 health and safety restrictions -- including the statewide mask mandate, physical distancing requirements and capacity limits -- when Oregon reaches a 70% first-dose vaccination rate for adults, or by June 30th, whichever comes sooner. Under the new recovery order, masks will no longer be required statewide but they will still be required in some places under federal guidance, including airports, public transportation and health care settings. 
In National News:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/25/us/derek-chauvin-sentencing-george-floyd/index.html
Derek Chauvin, the former police officer who killed George Floyd on a Minneapolis street last year, was sentenced last Friday to 22 and half years in prison. Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will have to serve two-thirds of his sentence, or 15 years -- and he will be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years. The sentence exceeds the Minnesota sentencing guideline range of 10 years and eight months to 15 years for the crime. Floyd's death last year has since sparked massive protests across the nation over police brutality. Chauvin, 45, was convicted in April on charges of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for his role in Floyd's death.
In International News: 
https://news.yahoo.com/outbreaks-emerge-across-australia-phase-010359598.html
https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/27/australia/sydney-lockdown-australia-covid-pandemic-intl-cmd/index.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/sydney-australia-s-largest-city-enters-hard-two-week-covid-n1272444
Last week, Sydney, Australia’s largest city entered a hard two-week Covid-19 lockdown along with some other surrounding areas.. as authorities are struggling to control a fast-spreading outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant that has grown to 80 cases. More than 1 million people in downtown Sydney and eastern suburbs of Australia's biggest city were already under lockdown due to the outbreak, but health authorities said they needed to expand the curbs after more infections were recorded, with exposure sites increasing beyond the initial areas of concern. New Zealand has since suspended the travel bubble between the two countries. 
Australia has been more successful in managing the pandemic compared to many other advanced economies. Through the application of swift border closures, social distancing rules and high compliance, Australia reports just over 30,400 cases and 910 Covid-19 deaths, but the country has struggled with its vaccination rollout, and states have been plagued in recent months by small outbreaks. These outbreaks have been contained through speedy contact tracing, isolation of thousands of people at a time or snap hard lockdowns. 
Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
Despite the historic heatwave that wiped through the Pacific Northwest last weekend, there were a number of records set at the track and field Olympic trials held in Eugene, Oregon. Ryan Crouser, a 28-year-old from Oregon, heaved a 16-pound iron ball farther than any other man in history . The shot splashed into the dirt 23.37 meters away, making it the new shot put world record by a quarter of a meter. Sydney Mclaughlin, set a new world record for the fastest time by a woman on the 400m hurdles by crossing the finish line at 51.9 seconds. 

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/dual-plans-to-house-portlands-homeless-promise-to-get-1000-off-the-streets-in-the-next-year/283-43194cf0-f1fe-4495-ba50-699d96949912

• The city of Portland and Multnomah County announced in a joint press release last Thursday stating officials are working on two separate, coordinating plans that would allocate historic amounts of funding towards housing services. Multnomah County is planning to spend up to $1 billion over the next ten years. The city of Portland is adding an additional $20 million to create multiple outdoor camps that would provide those experiencing homelessness with shelter and services. The officials stated that the goal is to have six up and running designated outdoor camps by this September. The city's $20 million would come from money received from the federal government for COVID-19 relief. The county's $1 billion dollars could come from homeless services tax measure voters passed in May of last year. 

In-state news:
https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/declines-continues-as-oregon-covid-cases-hospitalizations-again-fall/

• The Oregon Health Authority reported just 257 cases this past Sunday, continuing a downward trend of positive cases of the coronavirus around the state. The latest infections brought Oregon’s total number of cases to 201,260. Two more Oregonians died from the virus–two men from Marion County, a 44-year-old and 57-year-old. OHA said the older man had underlying medical conditions. Week-to-week hospital data showed COVID-19 hospitalizations were down 11.3% from two weeks ago. The OHA issued a statement this past Sunday saying quote“As of today, 1,843,416 people have completed a COVID-19 vaccine series…. There are 2,237,342 people who have had at least one dose.” The seven-day running average of doses being administered throughout the state is about 26,000 per day.

In National News:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/24/health/us-coronavirus-monday/index.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/05/25/1000171685/half-of-all-u-s-adults-will-be-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19-as-of-tuesday

• The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program has gone from zero to 50% in less than six months.  As of last Tuesday afternoon, the Biden administration stated that half of the country's adults are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Andy Slavitt, a White House senior adviser on the COVID-19 response, said during a briefing quote "This is a major milestone in our country's vaccination efforts… The number was 1% when we entered office Jan. 20th. End quote. As of present, nearly 130 million people age 18 and older have completed their vaccine regimens since the first doses were administered to the public in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Another 70 million vaccine doses are currently in the distribution pipeline, according to the agency. Vaccinations have risen sharply in children 12 years and older, weeks after the Food and Drug Administration said that these cohorts are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. Nearly 5 million adolescents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC's latest data.

In International News:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57291530
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/28/canada-remains-indigenous-children-mass-graves

• Last week, a mass grave containing the remains of 215 children was found in Canada at a former residential school set up to assimilate indigenous people. The children were students at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. The Kamloops Indian residential school was established in 1890 under the leadership of the Roman Catholic church, and closed in 1978. It was part of a cross-Canada network of residential schools created to forcibly assimilate Indigenous children by removing them from their homes and communities, and forbidding them from speaking their native languages or performing cultural practices. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse were widespread within these institutions, and so was forced labour. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was a quote "painful reminder" of a "shameful chapter of our country's history." The First Nation is working with museum specialists and the coroner's office to establish the causes and timings of the deaths, which are not currently known. Rosanne Casimir, the chief of the community in British Columbia's city of Kamloops, said the preliminary finding represented an unthinkable loss that was never documented by the school's administrators.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/28/world/spain-stamps-skin-color-trnd/index.html

• Last week, Spain's postal service ended a widely criticized stamp campaign inspired by different skin tones, just three days after its launch, following criticism that it perpetuated racism. The government-run postal service earlier last week debuted "Equality Stamps," a collection of four stamps meant to represent different skin colors. The palest of the stamps cost 90 cents more than the darkest stamp -- a price difference meant to reflect the value Spaniards place on people based on their skin color, according to an ad campaign for the stamps. The online response to this new campaign was extremely negative. Thousands of Twitter users criticized the campaign upon its launch, calling it tone-deaf or "accidentally racist." Many users expressed shock that a government-run service would approve such a product. Sales of the stamps ended last Friday morning, a spokesman for Spain’s postal service told CNN. He said the postal service quote  "will not make comments" about the criticism the campaign received.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Intro: Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News:
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/city-to-remove-homeless-encampments-more-aggressively-following-covid-19-pause/283-4bd805d1-3af4-476f-9238-0bdd3be1c825

• Last Wednesday, the city of Portland announced that it will get more aggressive in removing what it deems the most problematic homeless encampments in the city. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has scaled back how many camps officials can remove, and how quickly the removal process happens. The scale-back was an effort to limit COVID-19 transmission among people living on the streets and was in line with recommendations from the CDC. The city stopped all camp removals between March and July  of 2020, and since then has removed fewer camps than typical and given campers more time to move after an eviction notice was posted. Under the new guidance effective as of Monday, May 24, city officials can prioritize removing campsites that meet certain criteria.

In-state news:

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/20/998660102/oregone-7-oregon-counties-vote-to-back-seceding-so-citizens-can-vote-gop-in-idah
https://www.forbes.com/sites/palashghosh/2021/05/21/heres-why-5-oregon-counties-that-voted-to-move-to-idaho-probably-cant/?sh=26218e0f6c9d
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/20/oregon-liberal-greater-idaho-conservative-vote/

• Last week, five conservative rural counties in eastern Oregon passed ballot initiatives  to ask county commissioners to consider changing borders to allow them to join Idaho—though the odds are heavily against that ever happening. This is just the latest illustration of a persistent  deep blue-red divide in many parts of the United States. Mike McCarter, president of the advocacy group Citizens for Greater Idaho stated, "This election proves that rural Oregon wants out of Oregon...If we're allowed to vote for which government officials we want, we should be allowed to vote for which government we want as well." All seven counties voted heavily for former President Donald Trump — whose name appears 17 times in the advocacy group's 41-page proposal to shift the borders. In the movement led by McCarter, conservative voters want to reshuffle counties in eastern and southern Oregon, making them part of Idaho. The plan's backers want to get ballot initiatives placed on the ballot in more of Oregon's 36 counties. Despite seven counties now backing it, the push to secede is not likely to succeed. As Oregon Public Broadcasting notes, "the Oregon and Idaho legislatures and the U.S. Congress would need to sign off" on the plan.

In National News:

• New coronavirus cases across the United States have tumbled to rates not seen in more than 11 months, sparking optimism that vaccination campaigns are effectively controlling both severe COVID-19 cases and the spread of the virus. As cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily dropped last week, pre-pandemic life in America has largely resumed. As the seven-day average for new cases dropped below 30,000 per day last week, Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pointed out cases have not been this low since June 18, 2020. The average number of deaths over the last seven days also dropped to 552—a rate not seen since July last year. Despite the good news, health experts still caution that not enough Americans have been vaccinated to completely extinguish the virus, leaving the potential for new variants that could extend the pandemic.

In International News:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57195537
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/22/un-security-council-calls-for-full-adherence-to-gaza-cease-fire.html

• This past Saturday, the  U.N. Security Council called for a “full adherence” to the cease-fire in Gaza and urged immediate humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in its first statement on the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas. The cease-fire, which took effect last Friday, has held so far despite clashes in Jerusalem outside Al Aqsa mosque between Israeli police and Palestinians just hours after the truce officially began. Al Aqsa mosque is one of the most sacred places in Islam and sits in a site known in Judaism as the Temple Mount, the religion’s holiest site. Clashes at the complex were one of the factors that sparked the war. The security council urged a “restoration of calm in full” and emphasized “achieving a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders."

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/worlds-largest-iceberg-just-broke-off-an-antarctic-ice-shelf/3069724/

• Last week, it was reported that an  enormous chunk of ice bigger than Rhode Island broke off an Antarctic ice shelf, according to the European Space Agency. The floating mass covers more than 1,600 square miles, making it the largest iceberg in the world, agency officials said. The iceberg, named A-76, calved off the Ronne Ice Shelf into the Weddell Sea. The European Space Agency's twin Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites spotted the giant slab of ice breaking away on May 13. The U.S. National Ice Center—which is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Navy and the Coast Guard—confirmed the calving event the following day and recorded the position of A-76 in the Weddell Sea.

Closing:  Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week. 

Hey everyone, welcome back to What a week!, I’m your host, Olivia Lee, here to deliver your weekly dose of the news. Let’s get started!

In Local News: 

• Last weekend the city of Portland put out more officers on the street to respond to an increase in shootings while city leaders continued to call for an end to gun violence. Despite these efforts, there were two shootings this past Sunday which left a woman dead and a man seriously injured. While it’s unclear if the two shootings are connected, they come amid an acknowledged gun violence problem in Portland. Last Sunday’s shootings represented the fifth shooting homicide that police responded to this month and at least the 15th injury shooting.

In-state news:

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/05/gov-kate-brown-outlines-path-to-reopening-when-70-of-oregon-gets-partially-vaccinated-shell-lift-most-covid-19-restrictions.html
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/oregon-governor-kate-brown-covid-vaccinations-reopen-economy/283-1052dde7-0285-4bb6-86a8-509c1e8528b7

• Last Tuesday Gov. Kate Brown laid out a specific roadmap for fully reopening Oregon’s economy and making a big step toward normalcy: When 70% of the state’s residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, she’ll eliminate most statewide restrictions meant to reduce the spread of the disease. That includes the lifting of capacity limits on restaurants, bars, stores, gyms, sporting venues, movie theaters and limitations on the number of people who can gather indoors or out for events such as road races and festivals. No counties will remain under the current “risk level” tiers based on their rates of infections.The statewide mask mandates on indoor public spaces and physical distancing requirements could, however, remain for some time. The governor said she’d continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in determining when to lift mask rules.

In National News:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasneemnashrulla/cdc-masks-covid-guidance-vaccinated-people
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/health/cdc-mask-guidance-vaccinated/index.html

• Last Thursday, the CDC announced new guidelines stating  that fully vaccinated people in the US can go without a mask and stop socially distancing in almost all indoor and outdoor settings.  This marks a milestone in the coronavirus pandemic that has been ongoing in the country for more than a year now.  CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House Covid-19 briefing"If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic...We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy."

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/10/health/pfizer-vaccine-children-kids.html

• Last Monday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds in the United States a crucial step in the nation’s steady recovery from the pandemic and a boon to millions of American families eager for a return to normalcy. The authorization caps weeks of anticipation among parents, who have been grappling with how to conduct their lives when only the adults in a household are immunized. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is already available to anyone ages 16 and older.

In International News:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/16/middleeast/israel-palestinian-conflict-intl/index.html
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/janelytvynenko/photos-pro-palestinian-protests-global

• Last week, media outlets captured thousands of people across the world showing their support for Palestinians in protests amid some of the worst fighting between Israelis and Palestinians since the 2014 Gaza War, with demonstrators from Canada to Japan waving flags and chanting quote "Free Palestine". The violence first began when Israeli security forces raided Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan two weeks ago, injuring many worshippers and causing Hamas to retaliate with rocket fire. Israeli police also violently clamped down on protesters demonstrating against the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Most recently, Israel bombed the house of Hamas' Gaza leader and obliterated a family's home in Gaza as Hamas launched more than 100 rockets toward Israel this past Sunday, marking the deadliest day of the week-long conflict so far, according to data from the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza and Israeli authorities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said this past Sunday morning that it had bombed the house of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader since 2017. IDF spokesperson told local media that Sinwar had been unhurt in the airstrike. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 43 Palestinians this past Sunday. With the latest casualties, the death toll in Gaza has climbed to a total of 197, including at least 58 children and 34 women, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza last week, at least 1,235 Palestinians have been injured, with the number expected to rise, the health ministry said, as paramedics continue to carry out search operations. Ten Israelis have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza, according to the IDF.

Lastly here is the wildcard news for the week:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/10/media/golden-globes-nbc-diversity/index.html

• Last week, NBC will not be airing the Golden Globes next year temporarily ending a decades-long relationship between the network and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the nonprofit responsible for the awards. The network announced that it would not carry the show in 2022 after controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's lack of diversity and ethical questions related to financial benefits given to some members along with forms of bribery. 

Well that wraps up What a Week! Stay safe and see you guys next week.