EPA officials have turned up concentrations of a potentially deadly gas, hydrogen sulfide, on Hayden Island, but it’s not like they’re going to tell residents that. The feds won’t say how much of the gas they’ve found, or where, or how long the exposures might have occurred. The state’s Dept. of Environmental Quality knows some of those details, but apparently forgot to ask the EPA how much of the gas it’s turned up. DEQ’s director says he’ll ask, though (after an Oregonian reporter asked).
Also: The DEQ is going to inspect 100 companies that emit toxic heavy metals—because it has no idea how much of those metals are being emitted. Damn it.
Check out Multnomah County’s sweet lawsuit tactics! After a judgment the county must pay $415,000 for a deputy’s bad driving, its attorneys are saying the trial wasn’t fair because an opposing attorney made a “calculated decision to play to juror emotion and prejudice.” You know, exactly what trial attorneys are supposed to do. Also? The county hired a private detective to follow the plaintiff around, and threw shade at her because of her weight. Your tax dollars and all that.
Meanwhile, another Multnomah County Deputy just ran down a pedestrian who might die.
Mayor Charlie Hales is working up a proposed budget for release Monday, and he’s suddenly got $5 million more to play with than expected.
If Trail Blazers radio personality Antonio Harvey were starting a distillery, no one would bat an eye. Instead, he’s on the verge of getting one of the OLCC’s first recreational marijuana grow licenses, which apparently means the Blazers organization needs to be asked for comment. Baby steps.
Speaking of the Blazers: BIG GAME TONIGHT. One more win at Moda and the team’s headed to the second round of the playoffs, where they’ll face the juggernaut Warriors, who just set a record for most regular-season wins.
The game’s a big enough draw that Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey is skipping a mayoral candidate forum to attend. Probably a good call, though the Bus Project/Know Your City’s “America’s Next Top Candidate” event should be a lot of fun. Go, people!
Also: Take this poll about who mayoral candidate Ted Wheeler most resembles. Wheeler’s got his own take on the answer, and I’ve got a sense he’s worked up a covert get-out-the-vote strategy to tip the scales. Wrong answer is currently winning.
You need to read this beautiful piece from our sister paper, The Stranger. It’s about one woman’s experience with miscarriage, and it’s valuable.
John Kasich was in town last night, explaining that it’d be “pretty easy to fix” the intractable issues of economy, education, national security, and drug abuse if only he could get a shot at the White House. Yeah, John. Thanks.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s crushing the Oregon polls. And some of those supporters may be the folks unleashing antisemitic slurs against a journalist who profiled Trump’s wife for GQ. This country is broken.
Russian debt collectors have taken to breaking pinkies and hurling firebombs.
Friday should aspire for more, but at least the weekend will be pleasant.
Money “to play with,” eh Dirk? If it’s play money, or even real money “to play with,” maybe I can have some of it back? My water/sewer bills are awfully high…