The Mercury provides news and fun every single dayâbut 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!
In local news:
â˘Â Booster shots for Oregonians who received the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines were approved Friday. According to the Oregon Health Authority, eligible Oregonians should schedule a booster shot with their healthcare provider or a local pharmacy. More details on who is eligible for the boosters can be found here.
â˘Â The city of Portland doesnât believe the campaign to recall Mayor Ted Wheeler should be granted an extension to collect more signatures, saying the groupâs last minute lawsuit against the cityâs recall laws âundermines our democracy.â The campaign launched a federal lawsuit against the city in early October, claiming the pandemic interfered with its ability to collect enough signatures to place the recall effort on the ballot within the given 90-day period. Alex Zielinski has more details on the cityâs response.
How to check onions to see if they are subject to recall after salmonella cases in Oregon, elsewhere https://t.co/IW6tcH9LzU pic.twitter.com/VLqjQGerkQ
â The Oregonian (@Oregonian) October 22, 2021
â˘Â The Portland Clean Energy Fund, which raises money for climate-conscious initiatives through a one percent business tax, is planning to distribute 12,000 to 15,000 portable heat pumps and cooling units to low-income people and Portlanders of color over the next five years. The new Heat Response Program aims to mitigate the impacts of future heatwaves, like the June heatwave that killed 60 people in Multnomah County, most of whom did not have access to air conditioning.
â˘Â Frank Herbertâs Dune has made itâs way to the silver screenâbut the sci-fi fantasy novel has strong roots in Oregonâs landscape. Chase Hutchinson has a look at how the Oregon Dunes near Florence inspired the famed novel.
Two Bend police officers reported a fellow officer for excessive force during an arrest of an intoxicated man. That third officer now faces two misdemeanor charges. https://t.co/IX3UThvhCv
â Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) October 22, 2021
In national news:
â˘Â GOOD NEWS ALERT: A recent study shows that kid-size doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are nearly 91 percent effective at preventing symptomatic infections in kids ages 5 to 11. Advisors to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will debate the evidence next week. If the FDA authorizes the shots and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determines who is eligible in quick succession, kids could be receiving vaccines by early November.
â˘Â Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died Thursday after actor Alec Baldwin shot a prop firearm on set of Rust. While details are scant as police investigate the incident, crew members allege that the prop gun had already been misfired at least three times in days prior to the incident. Union crew members were also forced off the set and replaced with a nonunion crew the morning of the accident after they voiced opposition to âa serious lack of safety meetingsâ during production.
Breaking News: Peter Scolari, a familiar face on television and Broadway who starred in shows including âNewhart,â âGirlsâ and âBosom Buddies,â died at 66. https://t.co/yDZRshWQg6
â The New York Times (@nytimes) October 22, 2021
â˘Â The Supreme Court will start to hear arguments on the Texas law that functionally bans abortions on November 1. The ban will remain in place while people argue whether or not people who can get pregnant should have access to BASIC HEALTH SERVICES.
â˘Â Aaaaand itâs time for my favorite AP series: NOT REAL NEWS. Take a look at all of the things that misinformation trolls on social media claim happened this week but really didnât.
Biden's synthetic opioid plan could widen racial disparities, activists say : NPR https://t.co/YbtHSFDcNz
â Carrie Johnson (@johnson_carrie) October 22, 2021
â˘Â Plus, if youâlike meâare shocked that we are already so far into October and you have not done anything remotely spooky or scary, might I suggest SLAYâthe Mercury's short horror film fest? Online screenings are starting TONIGHT as well as IN-PERSON at the Clinton Street Theater on Oct 29 & 30! GET THOSE TICKETS NOW.