The Oregonian

Several national brands are in negotiations to open stores in Hermiston, Oregon, according to the East Oregonian. The reported talks suggest growing retailer interest in the eastern Oregon city, though no specific brands, locations or timelines have been confirmed. Local residents and business watchers are following the news for signs of expanded retail options in the area.

The Eugene Emeralds, a minor league baseball team in Oregon, occasionally rebrand as the Exploding Whales, one of several alternate identities the club uses. The name references the infamous 1970 incident in Florence, Oregon, when officials used dynamite to remove a dead whale from a beach, blasting blubber over the town. Locals immediately get the joke; outsiders often need the backstory explained.