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GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! As mayor of the Portland Mercury, I'm making an emergency declaration that you need to beat this oppressive heat with a delicious $6 boozy frozen cocktail, served up during the Mercury's SUMMER OF SLUSHIES! So shall it be written, so shall it be law! And now I declare... the NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• HEADS UP, HOT FRIENDS: Portland has been placed under an excessive heat warning through Sunday evening, and as such, the county will be keeping four cooling shelters open to the public at least through Sunday morning. Our Isabella Garcia has the latest details.

• Well that took long enough: Nine months after receiving the largest environmental fine in Oregon history, Malarkey Roofing has reached an agreement with state officials to reduce and monitor emissions at its North Portland facility in the Kenton neighborhood, after it had been spewing 10 tons of formaldehyde per year into the area for nearly a decade. SHEESH! Our Isabella Garcia has more.

• Welp, Portland Police have come up with a new method of withholding public information from the public. The bureau has announced that because of "doxxing concerns" and "possible threats" they will not be releasing the name of the officer who shot and killed an armed man in Southeast Portland on Wednesday. (Since I've been dealing with "doxxing" and "actual threats" for years, should I stop putting my name on my articles? And poor me, I don't even own a gun. Saaaaad trommmmboooooone.)

• RELATED: A grand jury has once again exonerated two Portland police officers for the February killing of Joel Arevalo in Southwest Portland. The officers had responded to multiple calls of gunfire in the area, though it's still unclear why they fired on Arevalo. Here's the take home sentence from OPB: "Few additional details have been provided about why officers perceived Arevalo as a threat or why they took aim at him." 

• For those who live for the drama behind closed doors at city hall (me! me! me!), here's your must read of the day from Portland Monthly: "Is Sam Adams Portland’s Shadow Mayor?"

• If you're a fan of one of the greatest comic shops in town, Floating World in Old Town, our Suzette Smith has some exciting news: Floating World is moving out of its long time home, and into... the mall? No really, it's good news.

• More good news: There's a butt-load of great shows coming up soon, including a sneak peek at the upcoming Lose Yr Mind fest, a showcase of AAPI artists at Kelly's, plus great new music from Milc and Zyah Belle! Jenni Moore has the scoop for what's HEAR IN PORTLAND.

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• The New York Times is putting a spotlight on Pacific Northwest restaurants and how the heat wave is ridiculously baaaaad for business. Portland and Oregon faves Erica's Soul Food, Nostrana, and Double Mountain Brewery are prominently featured.

• A new, updated booster vaccine that is expected to perform better against the now-dominant COVID subvariant BA.5 is set to arrive in September, and the feds are pushing for those under 50 to wait until then before getting their dose to fend off an expected new wave predicted for the fall/winter.

• The US and Russia are reportedly in talks to bring home WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan in exchange for a convicted Russian arms dealer—because I guess Russia feels like they don't have enough of those?

• Still waiting for that Chris Rock "Sorry I was a misogynist shit-head" apology: "Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock and his mother for Oscars slap in emotional video."

• And finally, be like this groundhog and live your best life this weekend.