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Always, always, always film the cops.
Always, always, always film the cops. Suzette Smith

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! With bombs and the devil, and the kids keep comin', no way to breathe easy, no time to be young. LET'S GO TO PRESS.

• The Oregon Health Authority is investigating whether a woman who died from blood clots after taking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine perished because of the dose. At this point it's still unknown whether there is any connection, and even then, blood clots are EXTREMELY rare in those who receive the J&J shot—less than one in a million in the US—and the FDA is considering putting it back on the market (with a warning) saying the chance of getting blood clots after taking the vaccine is like finding "needles in a haystack."

• In the meantime, Oregon has witnessed two days in a row of new, reported COVID cases nearly reaching the 1,000 mark. STAY VIGILANT, PEOPLE.

• Today in "That's some bullshit, right there": A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Oregon Department of Corrections, due to prisons charging inmates with disabilities for prosthetics and other necessary medical devices.

• Thanks to a sudden influx of federal funding, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury released the biggest budget the county has ever seen, money which is proposed to go to COVID relief and houseless services, which includes rental assistance, job training, addiction treatment, and mental health care.

• If your brain is already overwhelmed this morning, give it the refreshment it needs from our Jenni Moore's "Refresh Playlist"—the newest and best music from local and national acts!

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• Ever so slowly, more and more Americans are no longer buying the cops' bullshit: "Most Americans support greater scrutiny of police as discrimination concerns persist, Post-ABC poll finds."

• Related headline: "You have the right to film police. Here’s how to do it effectively — and safely."

• Now that the ultra-protective N95 mask supply is plentiful, the FDA is recommending that hospitals and health providers return to disposing of the mask after treating each patient.

• NEVER FORGET:

• After country-wide protests demanding his release, Russian government critic Alexei Navalny has announced he'll end his weeks-long hunger strike today following demands to be attended by a personal doctor after the Kremlin allegedly poisoned him with a nerve agent.

• The movement to approve Washington, DC as the country's 51st state took another big leap after the House voted to approve the measure—even though all the Republican reps voted against it, since DC is chock-full of voters of color. It now moves on to the Senate, where there's sure to be a big battle from even more racist/frightened Republicans.

• In a surprising twist, most Senate Republicans actually voted IN FAVOR of a bill that would fight hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders—and the only member of the GOP who voted against it? Completely terrible shit-heel and domestic terrorist sympathizer, Sen. Josh Hawley, who as usual can go fuck himself.

• Reality star/transgender activist and Republican Caitlyn Jenner announced that she will be running for governor of California.

• After Capitol rioter bragged about his domestic terrorism on Bumble, his very unimpressed potential match turned his dumb-ass in to the cops. HA-ha-HA-HA-ha-ha.

• SCIENCE IS COOL news: Using a recycled rocket and capsule, SpaceX has launched four astronauts into orbit where they will be dropped off for a gig at the International Space Station.

• RIP Shock G (AKA Gregory Edward Jacobs, front man for the hip-hop group Digital Underground), who has died at the age of 57.

• HELLO, STONERS! You will be pleased to know that SPLIFF—the short flick film festival about cannabis and all things "stoned"—has kicked off and is currently running through April 24, so get your tickets NOW.

• Let’s celebrate! The Portland Mercury’s PIZZA WEEK is back and running through Sunday, April 25! Check out all the slices you can score for a measly $2 each RIGHT NOW! (Whole pies are available, too!)

• And now... THE WEATHER REPORT: Expect a cloudy day with a chilly high of 55, before showers roll in on Saturday.

• And finally, I know he looks guilty... but I'm still on TEAM STEVE.