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Good morning, Portland! Did you know you can get free flu shots through most insurers at Fred Meyer and other pharmacies? Get your gosh darn flu shot!
Here are the headlines!
See You in Court: The US Supreme Court is set to hear several cases concerning LGBTQ+ employment rights todayâthough a suspicious package found outside the courthouse has prompted an evacuation, so it's not clear right now whether the cases will proceed today.
About half of all LGBTQ+ Americans live in states where it is perfectly legal to fire someone for being queer or transâthough thankfully, Oregon isn't one of them. The court will hear cases from gay men and a trans woman who were fired for their identitiesâbut for Out writer Masen Davis, this moment is particularly important for trans Americans:
For me, and for many trans folks, the implications are even more profound than the Obergefell decision. A ruling in the Stephens case will determine if itâs perfectly legal to fire someone, refuse to hire someone, or pass someone up from a promotion merely because we are transgender. For a population thatâs already economically marginalized, these are high stakes, indeed.
Silencing Sondland: By now you probably know that Gordon Sondlandâthe Trump crony, Portland hotelier, and generous donor to Mayor Ted Wheelerâis tied up in the Ukraine impeachment scandal. But the Trump administration is blocking Sondland from speaking to Congress for the impeachment inquiry, which he was scheduled to do today.
Who Watches the Watchmen? Three Portlanders have filed a joint lawsuit against the city and the Portland Police Bureau for "militarized force" used against them during a 2018 anti-Patriot Prayer protest. "When force is used, PPB makes no effort to limit its force to individuals who actually pose a threat of violence, instead using force indiscriminately at anyone who happens to be in the crowd," reads the lawsuit.
Tiny Problems: An avowed Proud Boy and former Patriot Prayer member has pleaded "not guilty" of a 2018 assault against a Portlander. Here's Alex with the color commentary form the courtroom:
Tusitala âTinyâ Toeseâa member of Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boysâappeared in court today after his Friday arrest. After reciting the Proud Boy screed (proud western chauvinist yadda yadda), a supporter reminds us to âstop fake news.â
â Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) October 7, 2019
Splitting Up With Split Juries: In Oregon, you can be convicted of a felony if only 10 out of 12 jurors think you're guilty. We're the only state in the nation to still have a split-jury policy, but a case the Supreme Court heard yesterday could change that.
It's Up to Us Now: Despite having a Democratic supermajority, Oregon lawmakers failed to pass a law this year that would have regulated the state's greenhouse gas emissions. Three proposed ballot measures for the 2020 election would give voters the power to do it themselves insteadâand also commit the state to having a carbon-free economy by 2050.
Bape Van (it's just fun to say, okay?): Governor Kate Brown is barreling full-steam ahead with her ban on all flavored cannabis and nicotine vape products, and it could go into effect as early as this Friday. Oregon, lock up your teens:
This weekend Joker hits theaters and Oregon's juuling youth hit mass nicotine withdrawal.
â Suzette âteen vapeâ Smith (@suzettesmith) October 4, 2019
ARE YOU HUNGRY? Then may I interest you in the Portland Mercury's upcoming Nacho Week? OH! AND YES, YOU DO LOOK SEXY! Tickets for HUMP! 2019 are right here. (Oh, and psst! Check out the new, very sexy, and decidedly NSFW HUMP! trailer here.)
Carry This Energy:
That feeling when those fall temperatures finally arrive đđđ pic.twitter.com/AlZMm1Nrte
â Reba (@reba) October 4, 2019