Currently in Portland — October 17th, 2023: A bit of sun

The weather, currently.

That sunshine I mentioned is going to start showing up on Tuesday, along with some more clouds. Overall we’ll get high temps just in the mid-60s, but it’s expected to stay dry. So it should be a pretty perfect fall day.

And a bit more warmth and sun is coming mid-week too, so we’re getting multiple ‘last-chances’ to finish up outdoor chores and fall planting before the weather gets too rough for that to be enjoyable. And although it’s probably still a few weeks out, I’ve started keeping my eye out for that first fall frost date—because that’ll signal a big shift in garden and outdoor maintenance.

— Stella Harris

What you need to know, currently.

Grist released the latest story in their series — “Uninsured” — which delves into how the climate crisis destabilizes the global insurance market.

The latest installment focuses on how extreme weather and climate change are impacting farmer’s crops and their wallets.

According to reporter Lois Parshley, severe weather cost farmers in the U.S. around $22 billion last year, however only half of that was covered by insurance.

This destabilization impacts farmers, their families, and global food security.

The entire series is worth a read.

In brighter news, last week was Fat Bear Week, the annual competition to find the brown bear at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska who “best exemplifies fatness.”

If you weren't making a bracket and following closely, what were you doing?

Here’s a photo of this year’s winner, Grazer, who was crowned last Tuesday, just in case you missed it:

— Abbie Veitch

What you can do, currently.

Currently Sponsorships are short messages we co-write with you to plug your org, event, or climate-friendly business with Currently subscribers. It’s a chance to boost your visibility with Currently — one of the world’s largest daily climate newsletters — and support independent climate journalism, all at the same time. Starting at just $105.

One of my favorite organizations, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, serves as a hub of mutual aid efforts focused on climate action in emergencies — like hurricane season. Find mutual aid network near you and join, or donate to support existing networks: