The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Portlands own Storm Large knocks Americas Got Talent judges on their asses. (No surprise there!)
Portland's own Storm Large knocks America's Got Talent judges on their asses. (No surprise there!) Trae Patton/NBC

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! I want to do just what you want me to. I got a dream and you can make it good. LET'S GO TO PRESS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• A Multnomah County grand jury has accused Portland Police officer Corey Budworth of fourth-degree assault for striking a photojournalist in the head twice with his baton during a demonstration last summer. Shockingly, the Portland Police Union thinks beating someone with a club is no big deal and calls it all a "politicized" decision. Our Alex Zielinski has the details!

• BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! The state Department of Justice is investigating infamous Portland Police detective Erik Kammerer for possible criminal charges for his alleged abusive behavior toward citizens during last summer's protests. There are currently no less than three (!) pending lawsuits against him.

• Some welcome local climate news: TriMet is reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent by transitioning its MAX trains, electric busses, and facilities to renewable energy. Our Isabella Garcia explains it all for you!

• The state's plan to offer $100 gift cards to vaccine skeptics is working with loads of people lining up to get their shot. But get this: There are still MORE gift cards to be given out today at the Oregon Convention Center... so if you're unvaccinated, go get that free money!

• Portland's own beloved chanteuse, Storm Large, blew away the judges on last night's America's Got Talent (or at least Portland does). Watch her performance here!

• Our Pride Guide series, Queer Beginnings, continues with a delightful and informative comic from Sarah Mirk on how the pandemic made her think more deeply about her gender performance.

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• Busy Bee Biden is meeting with former puppet master Putin today at the Geneva summit, where the topics will most likely be Russia-adjacent cyberattacks, election interference, and aggression toward Ukraine. (And somewhere in Florida, Trump sits in a dark, lonely room pining for his lost buddy. SAD.)

• The Senate has unanimously passed a bill to make Juneteenth—a celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States—a federal holiday.

• Meanwhile a whopping 21 Republicans in Congress voted against awarding medals to Capitol police who risked their lives trying to hold back domestic terrorists during the January 6 attack from killing many of these same lawmakers.

• Israel's military is at it again, firing missiles at Gaza in the middle of a truce with Hamas after the group reportedly launched "arson balloons" into the country.

• In a blow to right-wing religious creeps, the Southern Baptist convention narrowly elected a moderate as their next president as the religion grapples with racial reconciliation, gender roles within the clergy, and how to handle sex abuse cases.

• From the makers of HUMP! and SPLIFF comes a new film fest that features short documentaries made by YOU! It's called SCOOP! and you can find out more about it here.

• And now... THE WEATHER REPORT: The sun is back today and ready to shine with a high of 81!

• And finally, aaaaaand this is exactly why people can't have nice things (like comment sections).