(PORTLAND, Ore.) Hello Portlanders! It's Monday, Jan. 23 - Here's your daily round up of all the news happening in the City of Roses.
1. Local community mourns victims of Monterey Park mass shooting
Local leaders and leaders in Oregon’s Asian American community mourned the loss of the victims of the Monterey Park mass shooting that occurred on Saturday, while continuing the celebrate the Lunar New Year. According to police, a gunman killed 10 people and injured 10 others at a ballroom dance studio during a Lunar New Year celebration.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler tweeted Saturday, “The mass shooting in Monterey Park is absolutely devastating. I am mourning the lives lost and am keeping close communications with Portland’s Chinese American community as they celebrate the Lunar New Year. We must unite to stop gun violence.”
Hundreds attended North Clackamas Parks and Recreation’s first Lunar New Year festival at the Milwaukie Community Center on Sunday. Attendees watched traditional Chinese performances, including a Dragon dance and a Lion dance. The Oregon Chinese Coalition helped organize the event. In addition to putting on cultural events, the coalition offers support to victims of hate crimes as well.
2. Trail Blazers honor legendary announcer Bill Schonely at Sunday's game
The Moda Center was packed Sunday night for the Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers game, but the game was special for more than one reason. The Blazers honored legendary announcer Bill Schonely, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 93. Schonely was the team’s broadcaster for nearly 30 years and coined the catchphrase “Rip City.”
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Trail Blazers legendary broadcaster Bill Schonely,” Dewayne Hankins, President of Business Operations for the Trail Blazers, said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to his wife, Dottie, and the entire Schonely family during this difficult time. Bill was a warm, engaging and sharp person - always up for a joke, a keen observation or a kind remark. His mark on the organization, the state of Oregon and all of sports broadcasting will be felt for generations. No one loved Rip City more than Bill did and we are all forever grateful for his contributions to the community.”
The tribute at Sunday’s game included a collage of photos from Schonely’s career and a moment of silence before the game.
“It’s sad that he’s gone because I don’t really think there’s anyone that can fill his shoes, especially when it came to Rip City,” fan Shirley McArther told KGW.
3. PDX's new 9-acre roof lifted into place
Portland International Airport’s new nine-acre roof, which has been under construction since last year, has been transported and lifted into place. The roof project is part of a $2 billion terminal upgrade at the airport. Airport employees were some of the first people to see the new roof.
“It’s been really fun to watch folks. You know, these are employees who work at the airport every day, they come they go, they do their job, they hear noise, they feel vibration. And there’s that sense of curiosity, what is happening, what’s happening behind the wall,” Kama Simonds, with the Port of Portland, told KOIN. “And this has been a wonderful opportunity for them to step behind that construction wall, look up and say, ‘Ah, that’s what we’re building.’”
More Portland News:
- Monday brings Portland a slight chance of drizzle, cloudy skies; high 44
- Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard remains positive, deflects questions about his patience: ‘That feels like a lack of respect’
- Victim in Gresham park attack waited 90 minutes to speak with emergency dispatcher
- Portland begins proactively pruning trees in public parks for the first time in its history
- OSU helps Oregon Zoo care for big cat
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