The Justice Department takes Texas to court over Republican efforts to suppress the vote.
The Justice Department takes Texas to court over Republican efforts to suppress the vote. BackyardProduction / iStock / Getty Images

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IN LOCAL NEWS:

• While Oregon has given the A-OK for kids 5-11 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, there’s a slight fly in the ointment: Fewer than half of the doses needed will be arriving this week, meaning some kids may not be fully vaccinated in time for the winter holiday break.

• Portland Police have yet to believably explain why they allowed a far-right extremist to wander downtown pointing a realistic-looking rifle at reporters and passers-by on August 8—but OPB has this moment-by-moment breakdown of this infuriating incident that could’ve turned out unbelievably tragic.

• Just going to leave this chilling sentence about climate change right here: “The Pacific Northwest could see little to no annual snowpack by the 2070s, according to a new analysis of scientific research.”

• It’s like a headline dream come true: “Harney County votes for possible move to Idaho.” And please! Allow us to rent you a U-Haul!

• Looking for the must-see shows and must-hear newest music? Look no further than Jenni Moore’s weekly “Hear in Portland” column! This week featuring the latest from Aminé, and upcoming performances from Fountaine and Friends, Moorea Masa, and lots more.

• If you’re hankering for one of the tastiest burritos in town, check out the Mercury review of Saint Burrito by Dalila Thomas Brent!

• It’s time for another hilarious, puzzling POP QUIZ PDX, this week featuring trivia Qs about local scandals, weirdo Portland history, and a subjective question about which is the best defunct mall store EVARRRR!

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• The Justice Department is suing Texas over its shitty, anti-American anti-voting laws that criminalize 24 hour voting and drive-through ballot drops, while allowing whack-job conservatives to observe (and most likely interfere) with ballot counting.

• President Biden’s new workplace vaccine mandate for businesses with over 100 workers will cover 84 million employees across the nation who will either have to get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. The mandate will go into effect on January 4, and if recent history is any indication, many of these anti-vaxxers will scream their heads off… before ultimately saying meekly, “… okay.”

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for a vote on President Biden’s $1.75 trillion social policy/climate plan—even though moderates are still squirming over the price tag (as the rest of us frogs slowly boil to death).

• A federal judge doesn’t appear to be buying Trump’s reasoning for keeping his presidential records regarding his involvement with the January 6 domestic terrorist attack out of the hands of Congress, asking the former president’s lawyers tough questions they didn’t seem prepared to answer.

• Today in “Life comes at ya fast”: “She said she wasn’t going to jail for Jan. 6, citing ‘blonde hair white skin.’ A judge sentenced her to 60 days behind bars.”

• If you need a drink, you won’t want to miss the Mercury‘s “Shot & Beer” week, featuring creative, one-of-a-kind pairings of shots and beers from your fave local drinkeries. It all goes down from November 8 through 14, and you can get a taste of all the offerings here!

• And now… THE WEATHER REPORT: Early rain should settle down to showers tomorrow with a high of 53.

• And finally… FINALLY! A logical, understandable answer for the question, “What the fuck are NFTs?”

Bang bang, choo-choo train, let me see you shake that thang. Wm. Steven Humphrey is the editor-in-chief of the Portland Mercury and has held the job since 2000. (So don’t get any funny ideas.)

2 replies on “Good Afternoon, News: Delay in Kid Vaccines, Harney County Would Rather Be In Idaho, and DOJ Sues Texas Over Anti-Voting Laws”

  1. The Oregonians who don’t like Oregon need to move to Idaho. All of these red states sure do love all of the federal tax dollars that flow their way from blue states and big cities. It would make more sense to allow all people who hate big cities and liberals to secede and create their own nation. It wouldn’t last. They’d have no money and die quickly. The rest of us could get on with our lives. These votes are stupid and just a way to give hope to racists and fucktards who dream of being able to do whatever they want. Even Idaho knows the assholes in Oregon who want to be a part of Idaho won’t like the laws in Idaho that differ from the laws in Oregon. So what then? A third state?

    I will never understand why the intellectually challenged, hate filled minority in this country is allowed to have such a big voice in all things about them. Who fucking cares? Don’t like Oregon? Leave! I mean that’s their line when it comes to people not liking America, right? Enough with the small minds and the racists and the never made it past middle school whine brigade. STFU!!!

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