The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but 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!

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Everybody all aboard! Anybody want to take this ride? Anybody want to ride? All it takes is a nickel or a dime. LET'S GO TO PRESS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• A case was dismissed by a Multnomah County judge after he determined that the charges were based on an unconstitutional, citywide curfew order made by Mayor Wheeler during the George Floyd protests of 2020. I bet the mayor was like, "Well, if I can't proclaim a completely unreasonable curfew that plainly violates people's first amendment rights... THEN WHAT CAN I DO??" (Our Alex Zielinski has more.)
• Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is calling on the state Supreme Court to uphold her decision and not allow inexperienced, but deep-pocketed governor wanna-be Nick Kristof to run for governor since he doesn't meet state residency requirements. And according to Fagan, letting Kristof have his way would "create irrational results; for example, under the rule Mr. Kristof proposes, a person would be eligible to run for Governor, or serve as Governor, in two different states at the same time.” (But to be honest, I wouldn't mind the same Democrat being governor in Oregon AND Florida.)
The American Bar Association finds Oregon’s public defense system has just 31% of the attorneys necessary to adequately represent criminal defendants.
— Conrad Wilson (@conradjwilson) January 21, 2022
Public defenders ABA says Oregon needs: 1888
Public defenders Oregon has: 592 (fte)
Shortage: 1296https://t.co/CcrOyx3irW
• They're still at it! According to recently released records, the dark money (and in my mind, anti-tourism) group People for Portland have thus far spent $1 million in funds on misleading billboards, TV ads, sketchy polls, and more to convince Portlanders they live in a very shitty place. (Maybe the idea is to get everyone to move so they can snatch up the cheap real estate? )
• The Federal Highway Administration has slammed the brakes on ODOT's environmental assessment for the proposed changes to the I-5 corridor at the Rose Quarter, after advocates filed a lawsuit saying the assessment contained "inaccurate and misleading data." (Embarassing!) Now ODOT's acting like they knew this was the way it was going to go down, and is promising to have a new assessment completed by the end of the year. Our Isabella Garcia has all the details!
Hey brainy pants! It's time for the newest edition of POP QUIZ PDX, this week featuring lots of local bad behavior, tidal wave Qs, and a special "subjective question" about... the Spice Girls! SPICE UP YOUR BRAIN!https://t.co/jZJD0WGjDN
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) January 20, 2022
• Acclaimed barkeep Jeffrey Morgenthaler was tapped by Ninkasi to produce a line of new canned cocktails, and the results are expectedly DELIGHTFUL. Our Janey Wong drank 'em up and has the review.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Tensions continue to rise in Ukraine where Russian forces threaten an invasion, though negotiators from Russia and the US vow to keep talking to avoid a conflict.
Breaking News: Pfizer and Moderna booster shots were extremely effective in preventing those infected with Omicron from being hospitalized, new CDC data shows. https://t.co/unq1FE0oiL
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 21, 2022
• The 18 jurors in the federal case of the three officers involved in the killing of George Floyd have been picked... aaaaaaaaand they appear mostly white.
• Today in "fuck this guy": "Rittenhouse asks for rifle used in Wisconsin killings back, says he will destroy it."
There will be so many pieces on the anniversary of Roe but this is really the only piece you need to read. By @AngryBlackLady of course https://t.co/Iic0AkbAgv
— Jessica Mason Pieklo (@Hegemommy) January 21, 2022
• Adele's upcoming Las Vegas residency is the latest COVID victim, which she tearfully explained must be put on hold due to shipping delays and half of her crew being infected by the virus.
• RIP Meat Loaf, the operatic rock singer, who has died at the age of 74, and is now (hopefully) seeing paradise by the dashboard lights.
• Also RIP: Comedian and former game show host Louie Anderson, who has died at the age of 68.
Texas man charged with threatening Georgia government officials, in first case from Justice Dept.’s election threats task force https://t.co/PsgX0LogRq
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 21, 2022
• It’s back for 2022! America’s sexiest, funnest dirty movie fest, HUMP! Coming at ya starting February 24 at Revolution Hall—GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
• And now... THE WEATHER REPORT: A partly cloudy morning leads to a sunny day (and more sunny days to come) with a high of 52.
• And finally... me, going into this weekend like....
pic.twitter.com/1S9ZEaUfOR
— chaos tiktoks (@chaostiktoks) January 20, 2022