Eight times Hamilton made international news in 2020
There was no shortage of news in 2020. Some of the biggest Spec stories also made waves across borders and oceans.
Here's a look at some stories from Hamilton that were picked up by international media.
The death of activist Regan Russell outside a slaughterhouse in Burlington sparked a wave of mourning and solidarity among international animal rights groups. Celebrity Joaquin Phoenix boosted the vigils with appearances in California and locally. And a documentary was recently released on Russell's death.
Patient zero displayed no symptoms'
A little fitness studio on James Street North made big headlines after an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19 spread the virus to dozens. The owners of SpinCo told The Spec on Oct. 12 that patient zero displayed no symptoms." The next day, the quote was repeated on CNN.com. One day later, the story crossed an ocean, appearing in U.K.'s Daily Mail.
Locals killed in Iranian airline crash
Several people with ties to Hamilton died when a Ukrainian passenger jet crashed in Iran in January, killing all 176 people on board. McMaster University, who lost two PhD students and a former postdoctorate fellow, said there will be many faculty, staff, colleagues, friends and fellow students who need our support." More than 60 people with ties to communities across Canada were killed, prompting BBC to call the crash a national tragedy" for Canadians.
Hamilton Mob boss Pat Musitano was shot dead in a Burlington parking lot July 10. CNN reported A Canadian man whose family has been linked to convictions for bombings, extortion and murders died in a shooting Friday."
Hamilton Mountain karaoke bar Tracie's Place found a creative way to keep the tunes flowing. Their COVID karaoke setup, with the singer surrounded by a transparent plastic curtain, and catchphrase sing like you're in the shower," caught the attention of The Spec in late September. On Oct. 5, the story was picked up by Reuters.
The United States Congress found that McMaster University professor Paul Alexander committed political interference into the country's pandemic response. Seven instances of interference occurred while Alexander was a senior adviser to Michael Caputo, a top spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and an ally of President Donald Trump.
Tony Award-nominated Hamilton actor Nick Cordero died due to complications of COVID-19 after spending 13 weeks in a Los Angeles hospital's intensive care unit. During his battle with the virus, Cordero's wife Amanda Kloots poured her heart out on social media, asking for support from fans, friends and the acting community.
Researchers at McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton led an international review of existing studies on preventing COVID-19. Their findings, published June 1, suggest that physical distancing likely results in a large reduction of COVID-19," said lead author Holger Schunemann. The research was the largest review to date of studies on coronavirus disease transmission," Reuters reported. The study also supported mask wearing in community settings. But, as Washington Post noted, that conclusion came with an important caveat" - more research was needed.
Jeremy Kemeny is a Hamilton-based web editor at The Spectator. Reach him via email: jkemeny@thespec.com