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GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! Who's up for some more fucking hail, mixed with sunshine, heat, freezing weather, and god knows what else? That's what's known as "strong April energy!" Now let's dip into some NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• What's it like to work in Portland City Hall for six years, particularly under the divisive rule of Mayor Ted Wheeler? Find out in this Alex Zielinski exit interview with Wheeler's most veteran staffer, Seraphie Allen. (Which occasionally gets VERY spicy!)
"If I have any advice for Portlanders, it's vote for people that you think will take action and are willing to be in conflict with someone, but will be able to maintain a relationship with that person for the next day's battle." https://t.co/d1AsUAUc2G
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) April 14, 2022
• Thanks to Idaho's recent bullshit anti-abortion legislation—that bans the medical procedure after six weeks of pregnancy and allows family members to sue abortion providers—a new Planned Parenthood will be located on the Oregon-Idaho border... about an hour's drive from Boise. Check and mate, buttholes.
• Portland transportation officials want to get control of traffic in the Lloyd neighborhood during big events at the Moda Center and other locations, while also incentivizing public transit use. So how are they gonna do that? By raising parking prices—like by a lot. Our Isabella Garcia has more.
Washington has reached a settlement with e-cigarette giant Juul Labs, which will pay the state $22.5 million. https://t.co/FvkcSGv4b2
— OPB (@OPB) April 14, 2022
• I'm with Multnomah County on this one: "Multnomah County moves to ban for-profit displays of human remains after body dissection at Portland hotel."
Hello from the FUTURE! It's time for another super fun POP QUIZ PDX, this week featuring quizzy Qs about Portland news, the worst karaoke songs, and futuristic cars (from the past)! BEEP! BEEP! 🤖https://t.co/WD8e37CJsD
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) April 14, 2022
IN NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
• Ukraine is claiming responsibility for the sinking of a major Russian warship in the Black Sea, while Russia is saying it was an onboard accident (which no one really believes).
U.S. to train Ukrainian troops, confirms attack sank Russian warship https://t.co/f1kSiISKga
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 14, 2022
• Twitter brass and employees alike are worried about a possible hostile corporate takeover by billionaire Elon Musk—and for good reason, because nobody quite knows what mischief he would cause.
NASA's latest attempt to fuel its huge moon rocket for a countdown test has been thwarted by a hazardous hydrogen leak.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 14, 2022
This was NASA's third attempt at a dress rehearsal, a required step ahead of a test flight to the moon.https://t.co/9mXKLsgoLb
• One of the domestic terrorists who helped attack the nation's capitol on January 6 was found guilty of all six charges leveled against him... even though he tried to blame his actions on Trump. (Hee-hee-hee.)
• Crybaby Republicans are crying again: The Republican National Committee has voted unanimously to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates—which organizes all presidential debates before general elections—because, "WAHHHH! Them am mean and unfair to us!"
• The FDA has approved the first-ever COVID breath test machine which can be used by medical providers to get results in three minutes.
Prepare your Pizza Week battle plan with our handy-dandy Mercury PIZZA WEEK MAP! 😍🍕https://t.co/y6zZcR8rSk pic.twitter.com/SBgvTABoSM
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) April 14, 2022
• AHOY THERE, STONERS! The SPLIFF Film Festival—featuring short, hilarious, trippy, and thoughtful mini-movies about cannabis and made by stoners just like YOU—is coming to Revolution Hall for one night only on Saturday, April 16! GET THOSE TICKETS NOW! (And speaking of the munchies, your favorite week of the year is almost here: It's the Mercury's PIZZA WEEK featuring $3 specialty slices at 28 locations across the Portland area, starting Monday, April 18-24. Eat 'em up!)
• And finally... don't do it... don't do it... DON'T... he did it.
A tentação foi muito grande. pic.twitter.com/CdMG5ZsJJc
— Paulo RJ (@hospicio_brasil) April 13, 2022