Oregon

Oregon county sues fossil fuel companies, alleging they caused deadly 2021 heat wave in Northwest

Published

1 year ago

June 22, 2023

Oregon county sues fossil fuel companies, alleging they caused deadly 2021 heat wave in Northwest

An Oregon county filed a lawsuit Thursday that blames fossil fuel companies and industry boosters for the deadly 2021 heat wave that killed hundreds of people in the Pacific Northwest.

The lawsuit from Multnomah County, which contains Portland and its suburbs, says the heat dome was not a natural event but “a direct and foreseeable consequence” of oil companies’ actions to sell as many fossil fuel products as possible for decades and to “lie” about the harms of those products.

Sixty-nine people died because of the heat dome event, which sent temperatures soaring across the Pacific Northwest for several weeks, according to the suit filed in a circuit court. During the most intense three-day period of heat, temperatures in Multnomah County hit highs of 108, 112, and 116 degrees.

The lawsuit lists 17 defendants, including Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron and the Western States Petroleum Association.

This lawsuit is the 36th time a municipality has sued fossil fuel companies for alleged harms resulting from climate change, according to the Center for Climate Integrity, an advocacy group that supports such lawsuits. This claim is the first tied to the 2021 heat dome and one of the first to sue over a specific event worsened by climate change.

The June 2021 heat wave was “virtually impossible” if not for the impacts of climate change, according to climate experts. A peer-reviewed study found the event was at least 150 times less likely if global temperatures had not warmed so much because of human activity.

The heat wave had dramatic impacts across the Pacific Northwest, where many communities lack air conditioning because of the typically mild climate. Searing temperatures crumbled streets, caused baby birds to jump to their deaths and killed millions of sea creatures along the coastline. Emergency departments were overwhelmed with patients suffering heat-related ailments.

In addition to the fatalities in Oregon, hundreds of people died in Washington state and British Columbia, according to a study led by a University of Washington professor and Canadian officials, respectively.

Multnomah County is seeking $50 million in damages, $1.5 billion in future damages and a $50 billion abatement fund — to “weatherize” the county and plan for future harms as a result of global warming that results from fossil fuel use.

The lawsuit says the record heat wave required emergency care for hundreds of people, provoked an uptick in crime and required the county to spend “taxpayer money to provide people with shelter, cooling centers, fans, food, portable air conditioners, clothes, and water.”

Since the event, the county has spent more money to warehouse supplies, increase shelter space and staff up for future heat waves, among other expenses.

“Still, the County lacks the resources to adequately prepare for comparable or more severe heat extremes,” the lawsuit says.

A spokesperson for defendant Exxon Mobil said suits like the county’s “continue to waste time, resources and do nothing to address climate change.”

“This action has no impact on our intention to invest billions of dollars to leading the way in a thoughtful energy transition that takes the world to net zero carbon emissions,” the spokesperson said in the statement.

The Western States Petroleum Association, one of the primary oil industry trade associations in Oregon, which counts some of the lawsuit’s defendants as members, did not immediately respond to a call or email for comment. Shell also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, counsel for Chevron Corporation said, in part, that lawsuits like these are “counterproductive distractions from advancing international policy solutions.”

Multnomah County’s board of commissioners authorized the lawsuit in a weekly meeting. The county has secured outside lawyers for the case and won’t pay legal fees unless it receives a judgment in its favor, according to meeting documents.

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Oregon

Oregon Football Recruiting: 4-Star LB Target Chooses Texas A&M

Published

3 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Oregon Football Recruiting: 4-Star LB Target Chooses Texas A&M

A full weekend of wins saw Dan Lanning and company finally come up short in a recruiting battle.

Four-star linebacker Noah Mikhail made his college decision Sunday afternoon. The 2025 California prospect had a final three of Oregon, USC, and Texas A&M.

Mikhail visited Eugene in June. He also visited USC (June 7) and Texas A&M (June 21). Ultimately, he decided to go with the Aggies.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning runs during practice with the Ducks Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex in Eugene, Ore. / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

Mikhail plays for Bonita in La Verne, California. According to the 247Sports Composite, the 6-3, 227-pound prospect is the 69th rated player in the country and the No. 8 linebacker.

Lanning and the Ducks coaching staff has had a busy weekend. On Friday, four-star running back Jordon Davison and four-star defensive lineman Josiah Sharma committed to Oregon while Saturday saw five-star cornerback Dorian Brew and four-star tight end Da’Saahn Brame do the same.

The Ducks have 14 commits right now, with a pair of five-stars and 11 four-stars, according to the 247Sports Composite. That’s good for No. 5 in the nation.

Stay up to date on all things Oregon Ducks by visiting Oregon Ducks on SI daily and following Oregon Ducks on SI on Facebook and X.

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Oregon

Oregon State University hosting in-person shark dissection at McMenamins

Published

10 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Oregon State University hosting in-person shark dissection at McMenamins

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon State University’s Big Fish Lab is giving a “grand finale” presentation of its educational “Summer of the Shark” series — which includes an in-person shark dissection — at McMenamins Bagdad Theater and Pub in Southeast Portland on July 23.

The event includes lectures on the types of sharks found on Oregon’s Coast, the lives of mother sharks and the risk of shark attacks. The event also includes trivia, discussions with local shark experts, and, once again, a shark dissection performed live.

“Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to meet Oregon’s shark scientists and learn about the important work they do,” Mcmenamins announced. “And we’ll be projecting the dissection onto the theater screen, so you don’t miss out on any of the details. And just in case you’re wondering, don’t worry: the shark died of natural causes.”

Doors open for the event at 6 p.m. and the show will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets for the event are $12 for adults and $8 kids 17 and younger.

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Oregon

Oregon football: 2 Ducks land in 1st round of PFF’s way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

Published

17 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Oregon football: 2 Ducks land in 1st round of PFF’s way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

Dan Lanning has done a great job of building a talented roster in Eugene as the Oregon Ducks football program is gearing up for what is expected to be a special season in 2024. And right along with that comes a lot of interest in possible draft picks.

So, as Oregon football fans continue to get ready for the upcoming season, they should keep an eye on and start getting excited about the Oregon Ducks’ NFL prospects. In PFF’s recent way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft, two standout Oregon football players are tabbed for getting picked up in the first round of the draft.

While it might seem a little too early for way-too-early NFL draft content, PFF is literally called Pro Football Focus, so, you know, you can’t really blame them for getting excited about things.

Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad is the first Oregon Duck to land on the list. According to the good folks over at PFF, Muhammad is currently projected as the No. 24 overall pick, which would currently have him getting selected by the Green Bay Packers.

At least he’d get to continue to wear yellow and green. That’s a good thing, right?

Over on the opposite side of the ball sits former Texas A&M Aggies transfer Evan Stewart, who appears poised to thrive as a wide receiver for the Oregon Ducks. Stewart missed a few games last year, but he has immense potential and PFF is currently projecting Stewart as the No. 26 pick in the draft, allowing him to go play for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Which, you know, more green. And a bird!

There’s a lot that’s going to happen between now and the actual 2025 NFL Draft, but as it stands right now, this would be a solid job from Lanning and his coaching staff to develop these players and put them on the platform they need to get to the NFL.

As the season gets closer to getting underway, Oregon football fans should keep an eye on the performances made by Stewart and Muhammad, who could improve their standing in the NFL draft thanks to more strong showings this season.

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