What happened in the Multnomah Athletic Club attack

The Attack on the Multnomah Athletic Club

Early Saturday morning, a disgruntled former bartender carried out an attack on the Multnomah Athletic Club. Bruce Whitman rented a car, filled it with explosives, and drove it into the building's first floor where some of the devices detonated, killing himself in the process. Police have not publicly identified the suspect, but his family members have spoken to the press. No one else was injured or killed. [OPB]

• Mental health diagnosis: His mother told reporters that Whitman, who was 48, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia just recently — in February — after a suicide attempt. But as far as she and his friends knew even last week, his mental health situation appeared stable. [Oregonian]
• What is the MAC? It’s an elite social and athletic club — one of the largest private clubs in the country, with more than 21,000 members, including “Portland’s most prominent movers and shakers,” as the Oregonian puts it. [MAC / Oregonian]
• Damage to the building: The MAC will be closed until at least Monday, May 11. The first floor of the eight-story building has significant damage, mostly from the water used for extinguishing the fire that was set. [Oregonian]

State Gets Access to Troubled Scrapyard

After filing for bankruptcy last month, the owner of a troubled scrapyard has been ordered to hand over control of his property to a court-appointed trustee. That paves the way for state regulators to inspect the NW Metals site for environmental damage. Earlier last month, the state sought an order of contempt against owner Moyata Anotta over alleged violations of environmental rules. [Oregonian]

A 3-Year Bachelor’s Degree Online

George Fox University will be the first Oregon college to offer a bachelor’s degree in three years. The Christian college’s online program is different from traditional accelerated college options that can sometimes condense the timeline while keeping the same number of credits. George Fox Will allow students to get a degree faster by dropping 30 elective credits from a traditional 120-credit program. [OPB]

• Nationally, there are more than 60 institutions that are part of the nonprofit College-in-3 Exchange, advocating for three-year degrees. [OPB / College-in-3 Exchange]

Baby Geese’s First Flight From Highway Ramp

A local couple enjoying the sunny weather at the Duckworth Dock along the Eastbank Esplanade last week caught the dramatic first flight of some fluffy yellow goslings. A pair of Canada geese apparently made their nest under an I-5 offramp, high above the Willamette River. Thankfully, the goslings managed to survive the leap. They may not be the last: Canada geese often return to the site of their previous nests each year. [Oregonian]

• Watch the goslings set sail. [YouTube / Oregonian]