On this day, May 21, 2001, in Seattle, Wa., members of the Earth Liberation Front torched the Univ. of Washington's Center for Urban Horticulture causing about $6 million in damage. An Oregon tree farm owned by Jefferson Poplar Farms was also burned. four people were later convicted of taking part in the firebombing. One later committed suicide in prison.
Also on this day, May 21, 2002, The George W. Bush administration said it will allow new mining to resume on nearly one million acres of the Siskiyou region.
Also on this day, May 21, 2006, demolition crews destroyed the 499-foot cooling tower of the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant. Demolition of the containment dome was scheduled in 2008.
Also on this day, May 21, 1998, 15 year-old Kipland Kinkel killed one classmate and wounded 19 more at Thurston High School. His parents, William and Faith, were found shot dead at home and a 2nd student died the next day. He had been expelled from school the previous day for bringing a gun to school. Kinkel dropped an insanity plea in 1999 and pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and 26 counts of attempted murder. He was sentenced over 111 years in prison.
Meet at Ike Box for training and updates on legislation. Send testimony, watch hearings, and visit capitol to testify. Legislators and special guests. Every Thursday 8:30am to 3:00pm to June 26
Ike Box, 299 Cottage St NE, Salem (upstairs)
Oregon Citizens Lobby War Room
Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 8:30 am
Meet at Ike Box for training and updates on legislation. Send testimony, watch hearings, and visit capitol to testify. Legislators and special guests. Every Thursday 8:30am to 3:00pm to June 26.
La Nina may weaken this summer but continue through the year
Oregon Department of Forestry Lead Meteorologist Pete Parsons has released the current Seasonal Climate Forecast which documents the El Niño Southern Oscillation and its impacts on Oregon.
The March – May 2022 Oceanic Niño Index cooled slightly, to -1.1°C, which keeps it in the moderate La Niña range.
The ONI is a 3-month running mean and lags real-time sea surface temperatures, which have warmed slightly but still show La Niña.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center thinks La Niña may weaken this summer but continue through the year, which would make three consecutive fall/winters with La Niña (last occurrence 1998-2001).
Parsons notes that this forecast is not associated with NOAA’s CPC nor the official CPC “Three-Month Outlooks.â€
The analogs (1955, 1971, & 1975) are unchanged from last month and are continuing to track current SST patterns well. However, they are
rather aged (47-67 years ago) and generated inconsistent weather patterns, which lowers forecast confidence.
Unusually cool and damp conditions from April through early June slowed the annual melt-off of maintain mountain snowpacks and
brought some improvement to the drought conditions.
The July – September period should be markedly cooler than last year with near or above-average precipitation. However, since this is typically the driest time of year, don’t expect much additional improvement in drought conditions.
