Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses

[Epaminondas]

Does anyone know: what the Hell is that star under the bow of the ship, suppose to represent in this stupid cartoon?

Charitably, I see it as an amateurish way of representing a collision when the artist isn't skilled enough to depict motion.

[emailking]

Federal criminal investigation underway for Baltimore bridge collapse

The ship crash that destroyed the Baltimore Key Bridge and left several people dead is now under federal criminal investigation, according to a US official familiar with the matter.

The FBI and the US Coast Guard are leading the criminal investigation into the disaster and whether the crew failed to report an earlier issue with the vessel that delayed its departure, the official said.

The Washington Post first reported the investigation.

The bridge collapsed around 1:30 a.m. March 26 after a massive cargo ship called the Dali lost power and struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/15/us/francis-scott-key-bridge-investigation

[emailking]

Crews tentatively expected to use explosives today to demolish part of Baltimore’s Key Bridge to free trapped cargo ship

Crews are expected to move forward Sunday with a plan to use small explosives to break apart a massive chunk of the Baltimore bridge that collapsed on a cargo ship six weeks ago, a day after poor weather conditions forced a delay.

Officials are tentatively scheduled to carry out the controlled demolition around 6 p.m., according to the US Coast Guard, which earlier said it would take place at 5 p.m. The operation was originally slated to take place Saturday, but officials on Friday announced it would be postponed due to an adverse weather forecast.

The planned demolition is aimed at helping officials remove debris and ultimately free the 213-million-pound Dali cargo ship, which veered off course March 26 and struck a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to fall into the water below. The collapse killed six construction workers and destroyed a key thoroughfare, threatening the economy at the Port of Baltimore.

Officials last week recovered the sixth and final body, allowing them to proceed with the plan to free the Dali. If the operation succeeds this weekend, the ship could be refloated and returned to the Port of Baltimore as soon as this week...

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/12/us/baltimore-bridge-collapse-demolition-ship/index.html

[President Johnson]

When is congress expected to approve funding for a new construction? I wonder whether some on the fringe right will try to make a political stunt with it. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Obama24]

When is congress expected to approve funding for a new construction? I wonder whether some on the fringe right will try to make a political stunt with it. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

I predict that there will be a highly publicized name change of the bridge, which will provoke a "national discussion", a further "reckoning with our history", and more blathering and anger from the right.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

When is congress expected to approve funding for a new construction? I wonder whether some on the fringe right will try to make a political stunt with it. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

I predict that there will be a highly publicized name change of the bridge, which will provoke a "national discussion", a further "reckoning with our history", and more blathering and anger from the right.

A name change would be ridiculous and rightfully criticized. Key wasn't even a confederate general or leader. If the guy who wrote the national anthem is considered controversial and deemed necessary to change then America is truly in collapse as this has historical significance. I hope the house blocks any funding to the bridge if its getting renamed.

[Obama24]

When is congress expected to approve funding for a new construction? I wonder whether some on the fringe right will try to make a political stunt with it. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

I predict that there will be a highly publicized name change of the bridge, which will provoke a "national discussion", a further "reckoning with our history", and more blathering and anger from the right.

A name change would be ridiculous and rightfully criticized. Key wasn't even a confederate general or leader. If the guy who wrote the national anthem is considered controversial and deemed necessary to change then America is truly in collapse as this has historical significance. I hope the house blocks any funding to the bridge if its getting renamed.

We both know it's going to be renamed dude. Look, you gotta accept reality. Those guys aren't our founders. We have new founders now, you know? Howard Stern called Biden one of the fathers of our country. It's what it is, man. You can roll with it, and keep your job and your home...Or not, and you know, end up on a list and lose all those things in the second term. Elections have consequences. People picking Trump in 2016 is going to continue to have consequences until your party falls in line.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

When is congress expected to approve funding for a new construction? I wonder whether some on the fringe right will try to make a political stunt with it. I wouldn't be surprised at all.

I predict that there will be a highly publicized name change of the bridge, which will provoke a "national discussion", a further "reckoning with our history", and more blathering and anger from the right.

A name change would be ridiculous and rightfully criticized. Key wasn't even a confederate general or leader. If the guy who wrote the national anthem is considered controversial and deemed necessary to change then America is truly in collapse as this has historical significance. I hope the house blocks any funding to the bridge if its getting renamed.

He was a slaveowner. Like, that doesn't mean the bridge needs to be renamed, but talk of America being in collapse over the thought of someone renaming a bridge who's namesake's only contribution to offset the whole "owned slaves" thing was a song is an overreaction.

[MichaelRbn]

You read it here first: the new bridge will be named after Baltimore native Barbara Mikulski.

[Progressive Pessimist]

You read it here first: the new bridge will be named after Baltimore native Barbara Mikulski.

What about John Waters?

[Obama24]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/06/francis-scott-key-bridge-enslaver-name-change/

But in the meantime, activists and historians say it’s time to rethink the name of the 47-year-old bridge near the site where enslaver Francis Scott Key could have witnessed British ships bombing Fort McHenry in 1814, inspiring the lyrics of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Activists say it’s time to acknowledge the harm done by notable figures in U.S. history, including Key, who enslaved at least a dozen people, historians say. They have begun pressuring government officials and holding public meetings lobbying for the bridge’s name to be changed.

……

“I think that the name of the bridge should reflect the community of Baltimore and Maryland’s aspirations for where they want to go in the future,” Clague said. “So, I think it’s a completely reasonable question to ask, what should the name be in 2024?”
Added historian Marc Leepson, author of “What So Proudly We Hailed: Francis Scott Key, a Life”: “I think it’s a good idea to use someone else’s name who is more representative of the people of Maryland.”

The Caucus of African American Leaders is lobbying for the bridge to be renamed in honor of Parren J. Mitchell (D), Maryland’s first Black congressman.

[ꙮ]

The name of the bridge will not be changed. Nobody will remember that anyone even proposed it in a year's time.

The renaming crowd is far more successful when it comes to Confederates (Lee, Davis, etc.) or random nobodies who were later found to be terrible (The guy who had a street named after him in your town who was later found to be a rapist). They never really had much success when it came to renaming things named after notable Americans who did bad things as well (Key, Washington, Jefferson, etc.), and even that small amount peaked years ago now.

[Joe Republic]

You read it here first: the new bridge will be named after Baltimore native Barbara Mikulski.

What about John Waters?

The late, great Hannibal Lecter is a wonderful man, as we were recently reminded.