This has been the longest year and the world has experienced a global pandemic, an economic downturn, job loss, wildfires, and every month of this year seemed to bring more shock and unfortunately grief. As we look back here are some (but not all) major events of 2020.
Worldwide over 75 million people have tested positive for coronavirus. The pandemic caused major disruptions for individuals of all ages and families, and the virus led to historic job loss, traumatic grief, business closure and much more tragedy.
Just before the pandemic hit, sadly basketball fans mourned the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, along with 7 other passengers who died in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles. The passengers included some from the Houston area.
While known for playing Black Panther in the Marvel superhero hit, Chadwick Boseman was privately undergoing treatments for cancer. Tributes flooded social media from actors, athletes, musicians, Hollywood titans, politicians and fans expressing Boseman’s talent, kindness, compassion and beautiful smile. He passed away on August 28, 2020, he was 43 years old.
Houston native George Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis police custody this year, his tragic death has sparked months of protests against police brutality, and tens of thousands of people in the Bayou City marched in peaceful protest in the months after his death.
In January President Trump faced an impeachment trial based on charges that he had pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden. However, Trump was acquitted by the Senate in early February.
If a pandemic wasn’t enough, then came Murder Hornets arriving in the U.S., the Asian giant hornets put the honeybee population at risk with their toxic venom. RA News interviewed Dr. David Ragsdale, chief scientific officer, associate director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, who said. “The thing to understand about these hornets is that they can deliver up to seven times the venom as a regular bee or stinging insect…they’ll sting to protect their young.”
Wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, but this year the destruction was devastating, with four million acres burned by wildfires in 2020 with more than 8,000 fires.
Americans mourned the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September. Ginsburg was an associate justice of the Supreme Court until her death. This week Rutgers University announced naming a residence hall in her memory. Ginsburg is being remembered for perseverance, passion, and her pursuit for equality and justice.
A press release from the university states, “While at Rutgers, Ginsburg pioneered teaching women’s rights with a seminar on the law and gender equality.”
Kamala Harris made history in 2020 as the first woman and woman of color as Vice President. No one will forget when Harris told Mike Pence “I’m speaking,” as he interrupted her during the vice presidential debate.
The second richest man in the world, and founder of SpaceX and Tesla announced this year he is ditching Silicon Valley and making the Lone Star State home. He hasn’t revealed which Texas city will be his hub, but all tech eyes are watching. Texas Monthly reported that one city may be ideal, as Musk relocated the Musk Foundation, to Austin.
While we look back to remember one of the toughest years yet for many people and families, there are more events, some that feel like 100 years ago, but happened in 2020.
Nvidia, a major player in the global…
Every Tuesday night, a downtown Austin dance…
In the spring of 2023, a high-stakes…
On Monday, the Texas House Subcommittee on County & Regional Government heard testimony on House…
Following its passage by the Texas House last Friday, the $337 billion biennial budget, Senate…
John Bash, former U.S. attorney and current…
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