Beech Tree News Network

In many ways, 2019 was a very busy year. In time, historians will likely analyze events to determine which ones were most important. However, for me, some issues stand out. 

The CNN story “2019: The year in pictures” (https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/12/specials/year-in-pictures/news.html) provided photos of significant occasions throughout the year. Some of the news photos that I found interesting included the following events:

-The State of the Union Address which occurred a week later than originally planned due to a government shutdown.

-Actresses accused of paying bribes for their children to attend some of the most prestigious universities. Lori Loughlin and her husband were among those parents. Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty and spent 11 days in a California federal prison.

-A picture of three Boeing 737 MAX airplanes parked at the Boeing Factory. Many countries grounded the 737 MAXs due to two fatal crashes.

-Researchers at the National Science Foundation provided a picture of a black hole – the center of M87, a massive galaxy near the Virgo galaxy cluster 55 million light-years from Earth. It has a mass that is 6.5 billion times that of our sun.

-Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke to world leaders during the UN Climate Action Summit, criticizing them for not doing enough to lessen climate change.

-Migrants were photographed outside a U.S. Border Patrol station in Texas. Border Patrol stations have been stressed with overcrowding, and when processing becomes backlogged, indoor holding areas get full, resulting in people waiting outside.

-After immigration raids were carried out in Mississippi, undocumented workers were arrested, leaving their children to be cared for temporarily by friends, neighbors, or strangers.

-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was photographed as she banged the gavel following the House vote to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Each of these photos represent something – the economy, quality control in manufacturing, science and the climate change, immigration and the disintegrating political climate – that is a national concern. In 2019, we were unable to resolve many of our national problems.

On the state level, a significant 2019 change was the November gubernatorial election result. Matt Bevin lost to Andy Beshear by less than 0.5%. Wikipedia explained, “Beshear won thanks to overwhelming support in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky's two main population hubs, and their suburbs, as well as major swings in the Cincinnati suburbs and lackluster performance by Bevin in Republican strongholds, particularly the coal country of Eastern Kentucky, where Beshear won multiple counties that overwhelmingly voted Republican in 2016” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Kentucky_gubernatorial_election).

Closer to home, in Butler County and Morgantown, our elected officials seem to be working hard for our county and city. These officials are often seen around our community and are listening to citizens. I appreciate them doing so.

Eventually, historians will determine the important 2019 events. And as Max Verstappen said, “You always want to do better than last year” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/last-year-quotes). So, perhaps 2020 will indeed be a better year.