Let er buck? COVID-19 spike at Pendleton Round-Up causes public health emergency.
Let 'er buck? COVID-19 spike at Pendleton Round-Up causes public health emergency. Natalie Behring / Getty Images News

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IN LOCAL NEWS:

• After refusing to show up and do their jobs this weekend, Oregon GOP legislators agreed to actually work today and vote on the Democrats' proposed redistricting maps, which the Republicans have the gall to claim have been (gasp!) "gerrymandered." (A tactic Republicans have enjoyed exploiting for years.)

• The mostly conservative Newberg School board plans to hold a vote tomorrow on their nationally derided plan to ban from district schools any “political, quasi-political, or controversial topic”—which for them means Black Lives Matter and Pride symbols. Their policy has already inspired racist incidents at their schools, and if passed, will surely lead to many more.

• A Clackamas County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a person during a traffic stop early this morning, but much like our own Portland Police are being frustratingly quiet about who they shot, why they shot the person, what the traffic stop was about, and... oh, right... the name of the officer that shot them.

• Our Isabella Garcia attended Friday's high school walkout, march, and speeches to demonstrate against the city's inaction on climate change, which included thousands of lively, passionate participants. (Kinda gives you hope for the future!)

• According to officials, the famed Pendleton Round-Up rodeo is behind an explosion of COVID-19 cases in Eastern Oregon, leading the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Board of Trustees to declare a public health state of emergency.

• The Mercury interviewed verrrrrry funny comedian and former Portlander Alex Falcone on his triumphant return to town this weekend to record his debut comedy album, his recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and his objectively great wife. (Disclaimer: We may have focused too much on his wife.)

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• Despite what many "Portland is DEAD" proponents may lead you to believe, the murder rate across the nation has also skyrocketed over the last year, according to the FBI, and the spike is the largest seen since record-keeping began in 1960. However, during the same time period, the number of major crimes have dropped.

• Singer R. Kelly may be facing life in federal prison after a jury convicted him today of eight counts of sex trafficking and one count of racketeering.

• It's CRUNCH TIME, and Democrats are furiously trimming and touching up President Biden's $3.5 trillion plan to reshape healthcare, education, and climate change which they hope to settle on this week. In the way are the usual suspects: obstructive Senate Republicans and obstructive Democrats Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

• Because Republicans love America so much....

• Both Biden and Senate Minority Turtle Mitch McConnell got their booster vaccine shots today, encouraging those who are eligible to get their extra dose as well.

• Bad news for kids born this year: According to a new climate report, children born in 2021 will live on average through "seven times as many heat waves, twice as many wildfires and nearly three times as many droughts, crop failures and river floods as their grandparents."

• John Hinckley, the man who shot President Ronald Reagan and three others in 1981, has been granted an "unconditional release" from a mental health facility after officials concluded he posed "low risk for future violence."

• Are you ready for some sexy fun? Then don't miss HUMP! 2021—featuring tons of hotsy-totsy five-minute filthy flicks—coming at ya LIVE AND IN-PERSON at Revolution Hall for two screenings only THIS WEEKEND on October 1! (You can stream it online, too!) GET THOSE TIX QUICK, it's heading toward a sell-out!

• Get ready for one of the most delicious weeks of the year! The Mercury’s WING WEEK returns Oct 4-10 with 24 creative wing dishes from your fave restaurants and bars—and they’re only $6 per plate! YES, PLEASE!

• And now... THE WEATHER REPORT: More showers tomorrow (thank you, yes please!) with a cool high of 63!

• And finally... me, trying to work and eat lunch at the same time.