Morning, pilgrims! Here we are on Friday, November 22, 2019, a frosty cold morning with predawn temps in the 20s and low 30s, but sunshine in store and highs in the 50s. We’ll get a helping of rain starting Saturday night. Sunrise 7:19 AM, sunset 4:34 PM. We’re a month away from the December Solstice, with still half an hour of daylight to lose, and then we start the swing back toward the bright side.
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No words…but many questions…about the drowning death of a Liberty High swim team member in the Shute Park Aquatic Center in Hillsboro. Fourteen-year-old Nabila Maazouz, who attended Oregon Episcopal, was found in the water under a pool cover after a swim team practice Wednesday evening.
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From CNN: With the impeachment hearings over, all eyes are on the Supreme Court showdowns over President Trump’s financial records.
From NBC: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted on Thursday on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Today, there are calls for his immediate resignation.
We seem to be having our first minor snow scare of the season! If you see snowflakes on your weather app late next week, or if you read the PBOT News Release headlined: “Commissioner Eudaly, transportation agencies share winter plans, advise the public to get ready for winter travel,” be comforted by the prediction from weather models that the snow level should stay above 1000 feet. The NWS this morning predicts “possibly even a few flurries reaching down to the lowest elevations.” But snow in the mountains is a sure bet next week, with perhaps a foot at Government Camp, and a wintry ride over the Siskiyous as well. And since low-elevation snowy surprises are a Northwest tradition, I’ll be warming my hands over the vacation days that I’m burning next week, but ready to fire up the Daily Drip Storm Team if conditions warrant.
It took over a year, but cops arrested a man accused of “beating the living daylights” out of a Lexus, in the words of the car’s owner, during a street protest in downtown Portland. The suspect, was had a stun gun with an “Antifa” sticker when arrested, allegedly used a metal rod to pound the car, which was pushing through a group of demonstrators at SW 4th and Salmon. Video went viral, and became part of the national impression that Portland is a haven for radical street mobs.
Somebody stole a car in Forest Grove and crashed it into a home in Aloha, then fled on foot to another home where he barricaded himself until police fired in a Mace-like substance, “using a chemical to encourage him to come out.” The homeowner’s OK but her kitten is missing.
Portland’s City Council has greenlighted the Portland Street Response pilot program, which will send an EMT and crisis worker–instead of cops–to some mental health and homelessness-related calls. Good idea.
KGW’s Kyle Iboshi reports that the cash-strapped Portland Bureau of Parks and Rec has been dumping hundreds of printed color catalogs into recycling. The city explains that catalogs were outdated extras, and are recyclable, and made from recycled products.
Like today, November 22, 1963 was also a Friday. Will we ever know, absolutely and for real, why John F. Kennedy was taken from us? I fervently hope so. Suspicions have dogged our national conscience for all of the 56 years since that shocking day.
The Blazers, who.lost to the Milwaukee Bucks last night, continue their road trip tomorrow at 5 at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Big football weekend! The Oregon Ducks (9-1) play on the road at Arizona State (5-5, and itching for an upset) Saturday at 4:30 PM. Oregon State (5-5) is at Washington State (5-5) Saturday at 6.
It’s quarterfinal weekend in Oregon 6A high school football…including a rare re-match of the local Civil War between Lakeridge and Lake Oswego! We also have upstart Mountainside at Barlow, West Linn at Central Catholic, and Tualatin at Jesuit. LOVE Friday Night Lights. Loved doing PA for Lakeridge all those years.
If hockey’s your stick, Everett plays the Portland Winterhawks tomorrow night at the Coliseum, and Saskatoon at the VMC Sunday, before hitting the highway for another Canadian road trip.
Portland’s unique and inspiring Singing Christmas Tree has the first of nine performances tonight at the Keller Auditorium.
The Black Keys play at the Moda Center tonight.
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays two shows at the Moda Center tomorrow.
Sunday night is Blues Mania, a benefit concert to celebrate the late Steve Pringle, a beloved blues authority and radio personality on KMHD, KINK, and KGON, at the Roseland Theater.
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Let’s wrap up the week with some good news. The last one’s my favorite. Details in the Cup!
–“Baby Abandoned Near Dumpster After Birth Is Now CEO of Company Valued Over $62 Million”
–“‘Robin Hood of McNuggets’ admits to giving everyone an extra nugget at McDonald’s”
–“Community responds when veteran & family lose home in fire”
–“Coldplay to pause touring until concerts are ‘environmentally beneficial'”
–The Mr. Rogers movie hits the big screens today. Here’s the trailer!”
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Today, November 22nd, is my sister Janice’s birthday. Many of you met her at Dripstock III two weeks ago. Happy day to you, sis! And I’ll be ducking out all of next week plus the following Monday as well–I’m serious about using 100% of my vacation days–but we’ll pop up here on a regular basis and carry on the dialog. Shalom!