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IN LOCAL NEWS:
• On Saturday night, Portland Police caused a driver to crash during a pursuit, and then shot him. While the person will recover, the cops are being verrrrrrry slow about releasing information to the press, which is never a good look when they shoot a member of the public. Our Alex Zielinski shares what she knows.
Portland police shot a man Saturday night after causing his vehicle to crash in Southeast Portland. https://t.co/UMVCyr03In
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) December 12, 2021
• A possible strike could start as soon as Friday for thousands of grocery store employees at Fred Meyer and QFC... unless, of course, management decides to remedy what workers are calling "unfair labor practices."
• Apparently a large enough majority of people from Newberg have had enough of the conservative, shit-throwing school board president Brian Shannon, and have gathered more than enough signatures to recall him. Of course he could save the embarrassment and trouble of a recall vote by doing the right thing... and resign.
• For those heartbroken by the Timbers' loss at this weekend's MLS Cup, Abe Asher has an excellent (and sweet) essay recap of not only what happened, but how the Timbers and their fans continue to "show up" for Portland. Check it out!
NEW: Testing indicates that Omicron is already surging in Washington State.
— Mike Baker (@ByMikeBaker) December 13, 2021
UW researchers found a signature Omicron mutation in:
• 3% of positive coronavirus samples from 12/6
• 7% from 12/7
• 13% from 12/8
w/ insights from @pavitrarc and @trvrb https://t.co/sPjWedMHvK
• If you're a fan of Hallmark/Lifetime romantic holiday movies, do not miss this heee-larious piece by our Blair Stenvick, in which they imagine what these movies would look like if they were set in Portland! SO GOOD.
• Oh and by the way, in case you haven't noticed, it's MERCURY PLEDGE DRIVE WEEK! Please support your friendly, local journalists and all the great stories they produce on a daily basis by making a one-time or monthly contribution! WE APPRECIATE YOU!
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• The Supreme Court have put a stop to a group of New York doctors who wanted to put an end to the state's vaccine mandate because it didn't include a (bullshit, sorry) religious exemption. This ruling made conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch fah-urious enough to pen a 14-page dissent saying that the majority had "betrayed" the court’s commitment to religious liberty. HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA! Poor baby!
• Wow... this is... a lot.
Former US Senate candidate and first Maine resident to catch COVID Max Linn found dead in hot tub after being sued for pulling gun on former aide during cryptocurrency disagreement https://t.co/Q238V2UFwU
— Nathan Bernard (@nathanTbernard) December 13, 2021
• Seventy-four are dead and 100 are missing in Kentucky following an onslaught of tornados that tore a path through six states. And very much related: "December tornadoes are part of ‘new normal’ caused by climate change, FEMA chief says."
• Also related: The country and Biden continue to bend over backward to appease Chief Senate Obstructionist Joe Manchin as Democrats are desperately trying to vote on and pass a $2 billion social safety net bill (that includes tackling climate change!) and will make SO many peoples lives SO much better. But... god forbid, we upset poor Joe Manchin.
• The US Gymnastics organization has reached a $380 million settlement with the sexual abuse survivors of former national team doctor/convicted sex offender Larry Nassar. The settlement also includes forcing the organization to put practices in place to (hopefully) stop this from ever happening again.
Attorneys in the Boy Scouts of America bankruptcy case have reached a tentative settlement under which one of the organization’s largest insurers would contribute $800 million into a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. https://t.co/i5l6pobeAr
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 13, 2021
• Today in "GROSS!": "Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is Time's 'Person of the Year'."
• You want to find the perfect gift while also supporting local businesses, yes? YES! Then don't miss the Mercury's Holiday Gift Guide, featuring only the coolest gifts and where to find them... locally!
• And now... THE WEATHER REPORT: Light showers tomorrow with a high of 44—but look out! Possible rain/snow mix on Wednesday!
• And finally, to celebrate actor Dick Van Dyke's 96th (!!) birthday, do not miss the following banger.
U Can’t Touch This/Dick Van Dyke Show pic.twitter.com/W2bPQNMWr1
— New York Mammoths (@NYMammoths) December 7, 2021