As we wind down 2024 and look to 2025, it’s important to take a moment and reflect on the last 12 months, to remember where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Join us in a review of some of the most interesting and most impactful events of the year.
Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
Donald Trump was elected for a second term as president of the United States, and the campaign was the craziest, most eventful in living memory.
Of all the things that happened, perhaps the most outrageous event was the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, PA on July 13, 2024. A 20-year old man shot several rounds at the former president, hitting him once and killing an unfortunate bystander before being taken out by Secret Service agents on the scene.
Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses
Early on the morning of March 26, a massive container ship lost control and crashed into a pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. What seemed like an unfortunate accident quickly turned into a tragedy, as the center portion of the bridge collapsed into the water below, killing six construction workers who were unable to evacuate the bridge in time.
The bridge was the second-largest truss bridge in the US, and spanned the entry into the Port of Baltimore, which is one of the largest and busiest ports in the United States. Shipped into and out of the port was brought to a near standstill for several weeks. It will take at least four years to rebuild the bridge, at a cost of nearly $2 billion!
Hurricane Helene Devastates North Carolina
There were two major hurricanes to hit the eastern seaboard of the United States in 2024, and both caused significant destruction in their wake. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida on September 27, and moved inland through Georgia, South Carolina, and into North Carolina and Tennessee, where it dumped up to two feet of rain on already-saturated ground.
Rains overwhelmed creeks and rivers, creating floods, mudslides, and washouts as the water covered the entire region. At least 225 people were killed, more than $125 billion in damages were sustained, and countless lives were changed completely.
Asheville’s beautiful Biltmore Estate, was not spared flood damage, and its iconic gate showed a water line of at least 15 feet above ground! The property, built by the wealthy Vanderbilt family as a “little summer retreat” is now a major tourist attraction. After much effort, the residence is now open for visitors again.
The town of Chimney Rock was one of many small enclaves in the Appalachian mountains that suffered near-total destruction when the nearby river flooded catastrophically. To this day, much of the damage is still visible. The area will never be the same, but the people of western North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are resilient and will find a way forward.
Princess Kate’s Health Concerns
Royal watchers started the year with sad news, when Princess Kate of the UK stepped away from public life for a few weeks for “abdominal surgery.” After weeks without any update, the public grew suspicious, and the situation quickly got out of control. Eventually, the Palace announced she was getting treatment for cancer, and was recovering in private with William and the children at their home, Adalaide Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The four-bedroom residence was once a royal retreat for Queen Victoria, and is now where the future king and queen work to raise their kids in a predictable and stable environment.
At the same time, King Charles too had a battle with cancer. But both stories have happy endings, as both royals have made a healthy recovery. They were seen participating in their usual Christmas procession at the Sandringham estate, where the royals have spent Christmas for decades. Kate mingled among the crowd of well-wishers for so long, she actually had to rush to catch up with her family. What a wonderful way to end a turbulent year for the family!
The Sandringham estate has been part of the royal property since the late 1800s, and quickly become a most beloved retreat for the family. Elizabeth II spent at least two months there every year, and when she died, the property was passed directly to her son Charles.
Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg Host the 2024 Summer Olympics
Perhaps the coolest news story of the year was the summer Olympics hosted in Paris, France, and the media buzz surrounding the Games.
The first city to host the Games three times, Paris went all out to ensure the competition was memorable, safe, and enjoyable. Many of the outdoor events were held at the Stade de France, the country’s national stadium and site of the national soccer team’s victory over Brazil to win the 1998 World Cup! It was also one of the sites of coordinated terrorist attacks in 2015, where 130 people were killed in attacks across metropolitan Paris.
One of the most entertaining aspects of the Games was the inclusion of two celebrity hosts, Snoop Dogg, and Martha Stewart. The two are fast friends in spite of their remarkable differences in backgrounds, personalities, and paths to success. Neither has any experience with competitive sport, but their banter and ability to explain events to viewers in a fun and engaging way quickly made them a highlight of the whole event.
Snoop lives in sunny California in a house he bought nearly 30 years ago for $720,000! The man worth more than $160 million seems to prefer spending his money on luxury threads, cars, and activities, rather than on a massive and expensive home.
Martha lives on the other side of the country in the historic and classy town of Katonah, in Westchester County, NY. The entertainment mogul worth $400 million lives on an estate with several houses, multiple gardens, farm animals, and everything America’s number one hostess could require. There’s even a house just for her basket collection!
These days, things move so fast, it’s hard to remember what happened last month, let alone in the last year. It’s good to have a refresher and catch up on the year’s events as we say farewell to 2024, and look forward to whatever 2025 has in store!