Oregon Department of Corrections On Tuesday, Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) reported its first positive case of COVID-19 in a prison employee. “We have been preparing for this day for the last several weeks,” wrote ODOC Director Colette Peters in an email announcing the news to staff. ODOC is unable to share any information about […]
Coronavirus
Posted inComedy
The Mercury Cheer Up Club: Brighten Your Wednesday Up with These Funny, Sweet Tweets!
“No… no… actually I really enjoy all of Wm. Steven Humphrey’s posts.” Twitter Screen Shot Bonjour, Wednesday! And WOW, it was kind of a rough rollercoaster ride, wasn’t it? Time to shake off those blues and brew up a better evening with the Mercury‘s daily CHEER UP CLUB, featuring a curated pile of laughs to […]
Posted inNews
Gov. Brown Issues 90-Day Commercial Eviction Ban
MOTOYA NAKAMURA / MULTNOMAH COUNTY Gov. Kate Brown issued a new executive order Wednesday, banning commercial evictions for businesses that can’t pay rent for the next 90 days. The order is meant to deliver relief to businesses who cannot pay rent because of the economic impact of the coronavirus. A business can qualify for the […]
Posted inPortland
Socially Distanced Portlanders Turn to Cat Photo Shoots and Crafting While High
Terrifying and majestic. Photo courtesy of Adolfo Cantú-Villarreal Hello and welcome to Coping While Quarantined, a web column about the projects Portlanders are taking up while staying at home. We’ve got an impressive lineup today, so I’ll get right to it. Our first submission comes from local cat Lucy and her human, filmmaker Adolfo Cantú-Villarreal. […]
Posted inNews
Today’s Coronavirus News Roundup: It’s Pandemic Rent Day, Florida Finally Wakes Up, and Justin Bieber… CANCELED
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis right; his idiot friend left. Joe Raedle / Getty News Here’s your daily roundup of all the local and national news about COVID-19. (Like our coverage? Please consider donating to the Mercury to keep it comin’!) • As of today the confirmed number of COVID-19 cases has jumped from 690 to […]
Posted inTheater & Performance
A Portland Theater Scene Update, and How You Can Help Them Survive the COVID-19 Crisis
Portland Center Stage Courtesy PCS Last Friday, March 27, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced that they were canceling their summer shows and laying off hundreds of staff—a devastating blow to the many artists, technicians, and OSF employees who abruptly found themselves out of work (not to mention the economic impact on Ashland). Soon after, Portland […]
Posted inNewsblast!
Good Morning, News: Portland’s Small Business Crisis, a Scary Warning from the UN, and a Whole Foods Walkout
We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus has threatened our ability to keep producing the Mercury. If you’re able, please consider donating to the Mercury. Whole Foods employees stage “sick out” to protest dangerous working conditions. Bruce Bennett / Staff / Getty Images GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Celebrate and dance so free, music’s […]
Posted inComedy
The Mercury Cheer Up Club: Funny Stuff to Make You Smile After This Loooong Day!
Ummm… Did you know that Jack Black’s in your backyard? Tik Tok Screen Shot Wow wow wow, another day down, and a lot of not-so-great news. HOWEVER! There is still some fun and smiles to be had, my friend, so settle down with another edition of the Mercury‘s CHEER UP CLUB, featuring loads of funny […]
Posted inTV
Meghan McCain Rails Against Jeff Bezos, Says Essential Workers “Should Have Their Pay Doubled”
It would be nice to hear some more actual Democrats say the same thing YouTube Screenshot Following Meghan McCain’s pandemic rendezvous with leftism has become one of my pandemic hobbies. Last week, the heir of Arizona thought we needed to “start easing up” on rents, prevent stock buybacks, and make Jeff Bezos pay. Today, she […]
Posted inNews
Today’s Coronavirus News Roundup: How to Withhold Rent, Bundy is Back, and Gov. Brown Has a Cold (DON’T PANIC)
Gov. Kate Brown has a cold—but cool your jets, it’s probably not coronavirus! Governor’s Office Here’s your daily roundup of all the local and national news about COVID-19. (Like our coverage? Please consider donating to the Mercury to keep it comin’!) • As of yesterday, there were 606 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oregon, and 16 […]
Posted inNews
Oregon Grocery Workers Demand Safer Working Conditions During COVID-19 Pandemic
Noel Hendrickson / Getty images When she’s not at work, Fred Meyer employee Melody Gramley loves spending time with her young grandson. But Gramley, who works at a store in Salem, has been unable to see him for two weeks. That’s because her grandson was born with a weakened immune system, making him particularly susceptible […]
Posted inNews
Malheur Militia’s Ammon Bundy Defies COVID-19 Social Distancing Orders
Ammon Bundy Justin Sullivan / Getty News Like a particularly stubborn case of herpes, Malheur militia member/anti-government zealot Ammon Bundy is back—and this time he’s openly defying the order of Idaho’s governor by holding public meetings during the COVID-19 crisis. According to the Idaho Press, Bundy—who became infamous after staging an almost six-week takeover of […]