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Chloe Zinda stands next to Kate Brown. They are smiling and holding a large check for $1 million
Chloe Zinda, an OSU arts student, won the $1 million Take Your Shot Oregon lottery. Courtesy of Governor Kate Brown's Office

TGIF, Portland! Let's talk headlines!

In local news:

• Oregon State University student Chloe Zinda won Oregon’s $1 million vaccine lottery! During a press conference Friday, Zinda said she thought the text from the Oregon Health Authority was a scam until she scheduled a phone call with the agency. Zinda is studying fine art and plans to use the money to pay off her student loans and open her own art business.

• A grand jury declined to indict Gresham police officer James Doyle on criminal charge for killing Israel Berry in May 2020. Doyle shot Berry in Southeast Portland while Gresham police were assisting the Portland Police Bureau during last year's racial justice protests.

• We still don’t know much about the people who died during the heatwave, including the name of the Walmart worker in Hermiston, Ore., who died while training at the company’s distribution center. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death.

• Do you love Nike shoes and have a big pile of cash lying around? Then you have a chance to snag track shoes handmade by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman! The auction house hosting the sale predicts the shoes will sell for somewhere between $800,000 and $1.2 million.

• The deadly apartment fire in NE Portland was started by fireworks that were placed in the apartment dumpster. Investigators are using 3D imaging of the scene to recreate a model of how the fire started and spread.

In other news:

• Giant pandas are no longer classified as endangered due to a growth in population—hooray! The species is now classified as “vulnerable” (same).

• People have been flocking to national parks throughout the pandemic, but as COVID restrictions continue to decrease, destinations like Yellowstone and Zion are seeing record-breaking numbers of visitors. Unfortunately, park rangers are also reporting an increase in litter, toilet paper, and human feces on the trails as well. C’mon people, shit in a bag and haul it out with you like a good person!

• Juvenile has reemerged to declare that before you can Back That Thang Up, you must Vax That Thang Up:

• The US House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection will start to hear testimony this month. The committee will begin by hearing accounts from first responders who attempted to secure the building and custodial staff who cleaned up the capitol following the riot. Testimony is expected to start July 19.

• 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.

• Too hot for ya? Get ready for a cool July because the Mercury’s SUMMER OF SLUSHIES is serving up $5 delicious, boozy frozen concoctions from your fave bars all damn month long!

• In case you’re doing any hiking this weekend, here’s a very detailed explanation on how to poop in the woods: