The BulleTin • SaTurday, May 22, 2021 A3 TODAY It’s Saturday, May 22, the 142nd day of 2021. There are 223 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: In 2017, a suicide bomber set off an improvised explosive device that killed 22 people at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. In 1813, composer Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, Germany. In 1915, the Lassen Peak volcano in Northern California exploded, devastating nearby areas but causing no deaths. In 1939, the foreign ministers of Germany and Italy, Joachim von Ribbentrop and Galeazzo Ciano, signed a “Pact of Steel” committing the two countries to a military alliance. In 1960, an earthquake of mag- nitude 9.5, the strongest ever measured, struck southern Chile, claiming some 1,655 lives. In 1962, Continental Airlines Flight 11, en route from Chi- cago to Kansas City, Missouri, crashed after a bomb apparently brought on board by a passen- ger exploded, killing all 45 occu- pants of the Boeing 707. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaking at the Uni- versity of Michigan, outlined the goals of his “Great Society,” saying that it “rests on abun- dance and liberty for all” and “demands an end to poverty and racial injustice.” In 1967, a fire at the L’Innovation department store in Brussels killed 322 people. Poet and play- wright Langston Hughes died in New York at 65. In 1969, the lunar module of Apollo 10, with Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene Cernan aboard, flew to within nine miles of the moon’s surface in a dress rehearsal for the first lunar landing. In 1992, after a reign lasting nearly 30 years, Johnny Carson hosted NBC’s “Tonight Show” for the final time (Jay Leno took over as host three days later). In 2011, a tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, with winds up to 250 mph, claiming at least 159 lives and destroying about 8,000 homes and businesses. In 2018, Stacey Abrams won Georgia’s Democratic guber- natorial primary, making her the first woman nominee for Georgia governor from either major party. Abrams, seeking to become the nation’s first Black female governor, was defeated in November by Republican Brian Kemp. Ten years ago: A tornado dev- astated Joplin, Missouri, with winds up to 250 mph, claiming at least 159 lives and destroying about 8,000 homes and busi- nesses. Five years ago: President Barack Obama arrived in Viet- nam, making him the third sit- ting president to visit the coun- try since the end of the war. One year ago: President Donald Trump labeled houses of worship as “essential” and called on governors to let them reopen; he threatened to “over- ride” governors who defied him. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Mi- chael Constantine is 94. Conduc- tor Peter Nero is 87. Actor-direc- tor Richard Benjamin is 83. Actor Frank Converse is 83. Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw is 81. Actor Barbara Parkins is 79. Re- tired MLB All-Star pitcher Tommy John is 78. Songwriter Bernie Taupin is 71. Actor-producer Al Corley is 66. Sen. Lisa Murkow- ski, R-Alaska, is 64. Singer Mor- rissey is 62. Actor Ann Cusack is 60. R&B singer Johnny Gill (New Edition) is 55. Actor Michael Kelly is 52. Model Naomi Campbell is 51. Actor Anna Belknap is 49. Ac- tor Alison Eastwood is 49. Singer Donell Jones is 48. Actor Sean Gunn is 47. Actor A.J. Langer is 47. Actor Ginnifer Goodwin is 43. Actor Maggie Q is 42. Olympic gold medal speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno is 39. Tennis player Novak Djokovic is 34. LOCAL, STATE & REGION COVID-19 in Oregon PORTLAND Oregon Zoo, art museum, State reports surge other attractions unite of pediatric cases to continue mask policy BY CAITLYN M. MAY Albany Democrat-Herald Oregon is in the middle of a third surge of pediatric COVID-19 cases, according to the Oregon Health Au- thority. The news came Thursday as part of the agency’s daily virus report. Pediatric cases, defined as cases of COVID-19 in in- dividuals under the age of 18, account for 11.9% of the 193,014 cases of the disease reported as of May 12. “Oregon witnessed two surges in pediatric COVID-19 cases in 2020 and is currently experiencing a third in 2021. Similar to cases in adults, pediatric cases be- gan to rise again at the begin- ning of April,” the OHA re- port stated. Additionally, there have been 35 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. The syndrome is linked to COVID-19. OHA noted that while pe- diatric cases are on the rise, children remain less likely to develop serious cases of COVID-19. To date, 1% of pediatric cases have been hospitalized compared to 6.1% of adult cases. Commission approves blackouts for fire season The Associated Press Bulletin file Children wave at a sleeping hippopotamus in the Africa portion of the Oregon Zoo in 2015. The zoo and other museums and cultural institutions around the state have joined together on a mask-wearing policy to protect against COVID-19. BY ARON YOHANNES The Oregonian A group of the 14 leading Portland-area museums and cultural attractions released a unified statement Thursday that masks would continue to be required for visitors and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations united in the policy include the Ar- chitectural Heritage Center, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Five Oaks Museum, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Oregon Coast Aquar- ium, Oregon Historical Soci- ety, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Ed- ucation, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Oregon Zoo, Portland Art Museum, Portland Chinatown Museum, Pittock Mansion, and Rice Museum of Rocks and Min- erals. “While our organizations have different missions, we share much in common,” read the statement, which was pre- pared by the Oregon Historical Society. “We are all commu- nity spaces where everyone can come together to learn and to deepen our understanding of the world we share. We all welcome visitors of all ages. And we all understand that the health and safety of our visitors, staffs, and volunteers must remain our top priority. For now, we agree that means continuing to require our visi- tors to wear masks.” The Center for Disease Con- trol and Prevention released new masking guidance last week, which has caused confu- sion for many across the coun- try. In some states, rules have changed masking rules com- pletely, while others still have policies in place. In Oregon, that confusion has only intensified. The state said businesses could decide their own mask rules, but would have to check proof of vaccination if they wanted cus- tomers and visitors to go with- out masks. To minimize the confusion, the statement from the 14 or- ganizations keeps mask poli- — Associated Press Check Out Our Cottages! All the Amenities & Conveniences of Home & So Much More. Call today to schedule a tour! 541-312-9690 2920 NE Conners Ave. Bend, OR 97701 www.whisperingwinds.com cies the same as it has been for all visitors, regardless of vacci- nation status. PORTLAND — The Ore- gon Public Utility Commis- sion has approved temporary rules for the upcoming 2021 wildfire season including controlled blackouts, other- wise referred to as “public safety power shutoffs.” The rules cover the use of shut-offs, as well as utility re- porting requirements. While common measure in California during fire season, the use of power shut-offs is relatively new in Oregon. One of the first known in the state was in September 2020 when thousands of resi- dents near Mount Hood had their power cut by Portland General Electric. Officials said fire risk became high with hot and windy conditions and that branches and debris coming into contact with power lines could spark a blaze. The PUC said the power shut-off measure will be a last resort, but one that could be used until “more expansive permanent rules are further developed.” The temporary rules for wildfire season will be in ef- fect through mid-November. They establish rules for how utility companies communi- cate and coordinate a shutoff and require that notifications are issued before, during and after a potential outage.