Well, hi there! Time to gather the tribe for Portland’s Daily Drip on this back-from-Spring Break Monday, April 2, 2018. April’s name comes from the Latin aperire, “to open,” like a flower, just like the Harry Potter spell “Aparecium,” which reveals hidden writing. Portland’s weather begins with a chance of snow showers above 1000 feet in the morning, followed by sun showers and highs around 50. Sunrise 6:48 AM, sunset 7:40 PM.
While Oregon students are back to the books, it’s spring break time for Washington. Looks like flights at PDX are pretty much on schedule, and unlike last week, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding an airport parking spot.
It’s inconceivable to friends, but a preliminary police finding in the Hart family tragedy is that the car was driven over the cliff intentionally. CHP says the onboard computer shows the SUV stopped at the pullout, and then accelerated at full speed off the cliff. There is no sign of the missing three children, and a search of the family home in Woodland, Washington did not reveal a note or any explanation.
A Coast Guard rescue on the Columbia River took a surprise twist when a man who had been pulled off his sinking motorboat decided to jump back in the water to try to save his craft–and had to be rescued a second time.
The Coast Guard rescued four people after a commercial fishing boat capsized 15 miles off the entrance to Tillamook Bay.
A 25-year old man is in critical condition after a shark bumped him off his paddleboard in Hawaii, off the Big Island, then took a bite out of his “right side extremities.”
A random attack at the Fred Meyer on Walker road, where a 44-year old man walked in and punched a female clerk. Bystanders held him for police, and the woman was taken to a hospital to be checked out for minor injuries.
Calls for justice continue for Stephon Clark, the unarmed black man killed in his grandmother’s backyard by Sacramento police, who say he was advancing toward them with what appeared to be a gun. It turned out that he held only a cell phone, and a private autopsy released by the family showed Clark was shot from behind.
Fighting back against the Trump actions on trade, China today imposed tariffs on 128 products, including the 25 percent charge on pork.
That Chinese space station mostly burned up on re-entry, and anything that was left sizzled in the South Pacific. No reports of damage or injuries.
Ten-time Emmy-winning TV producer Steven Bochco has died at 74. He was the creative force behind some of the great one-hour dramas–Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and NYPD Blue.
Quick sports update, and please add what I’m missing…the NCAA women’s basketball championship was won last night by Notre Dame on a thrilling three-pointer Arike Ogunbowale at the buzzer. She also hit the game-winner against UConn on Friday night. Tonight the men’s title will be decided between the hottest team, Michigan, and the overall best team, Villanova. And the Winterhawks, leading their 1st round WHL playoff series 3-2, play Spokane tonight in Game 6.
Did you encounter any April Foolery? I smirked at the National Weather Service declaration that from now all, all temperatures will be given in metric and that today’s high will be 11, with a low of 1. The Portland FBI tweets that it has a “trained bunny patrol” guarding its facilities. Powell’s Books claims to be narrowing a search for a “second headquarters” (like arch-competitor Amazon). Burger King put out a video saying that a “Chocolate Whopper” was coming out soon, with a chocolate bun and patty with raspberry syrup and vanilla frosting. A UK tabloid reports scientists are creating butterflies with Union Jack designs on their wings – to be released at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Another Brit tabloid reports Coca Cola is to launch three new flavors: avocado, sourdough, and charcoal. Mmm?
Today in history…
This week in 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition explored the future Portland area, trading with natives at a site now covered by Portland International Airport, discovering the Willamette River, which the locals called “Multnomah”, and camping out at what is now Cathedral Park in Portland.
Fifty years ago today, the science-fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey” had its world premiere in Washington, D.C., accurately predicting the insidiousness of technology in our lives, (no offense, Facebook algorithms), and opening our ears to Richard Strauss’ mighty opening fanfare from the symphonic “Also Sprach Zarathustra.”
Forty years ago today, “Dallas” premiered on CBS. Hugely entertaining at the time, it comes across as sexist and dumb today. J.R. deserved to get shot.
Remember when “Antiques Roadshow” came to Portland last summer? Those episodes start airing tonight, and the next few Mondays, on OPB-TV.
And now some headlines to add to the joy of this being a back-to-work Monday…
–“‘Easter miracle’: Aussie three-year-old missing for 18 hours found”
–“Army veteran deported to Mexico can return home, become US citizen”
–“LED Lights Can Now Broadcast Internet That is Faster and More Secure Than WiFi”
–“Scrap metal worker saves four-year-old boy from choking on a marble”
–“36-Year-Old Accountant Gets The Emergency Call To Play Goalie For NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks–and Allows Zero Goals.”
I’ve given my beleaguered voice a three-day timeout, uttering scarcely a syllable since abandoning my radio mates mid-shift on Friday, after I did a newscast that sounded like a truckful of gravel. I also benched myself from being the Easter Sunday reader at the Lake Oswego Methodist Church, which made me sad and grateful for their flexibility. Today I’m better, but I’ll still go heavy on sound bites and other crutches to minimize vocal strain. Thanks for your tolerance, kindly check us out on 103.3 FM, and have a very fine Monday!
Portland's Daily Drip 