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GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! If you're one of those annoying "I love clouds!" people, well I hope you're happy! We're gonna keep getting a lot of them (mixed in with the much more preferable sun) throughout the week with highs in the 70s. Now let's dip in to some partially sunny NEWS!
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• It's been six months since the wildly successful Portland Street Response program—which responds to certain mental health crises instead of woefully untrained cops—has expanded citywide. So why are they still not able to respond to a few very important types of calls? Our Alex Zielinski digs into it for you.
Oregon landlords can raise rents by as much as 14.6% next year under a statewide rent control policy. That’s a nearly 5 percentage point jump from 9.9% this year. (1/6) pic.twitter.com/QSSmFMShw1
— The Oregonian (@Oregonian) September 14, 2022
• For you Portland old-timers: Remember waaaaay back in 2008 when the city trotted out their Skatepark Master Plan to build a lot more skateparks, aaaaaaand not much happened? Well, there's a glimmer of hope for the previously promised Steel Bridge Skatepark—a 30,000 square foot covered skatepark at the west side base of the Steel Bridge. Will it FINALLY become a reality? Our Isabella Garcia has the deets.
• A national Republican organization is simply salivating over Oregon gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan and has dropped another million into her campaign coffers. They're desperately hoping this will be the GOP's year thanks to the addition of "shadow Republican/potential spoiler" Betsy Johnson's entry into the race.
• I am kicking myself for missing out on performance artist Adrienne Truscott's show THIS at TBA this year—which involved a LOT of thoughtful nudity and comedy—but at least you can read the Mercury's delightful review of the night, written by McKinzie Smith!
Mercury music columnist @JenniferKayMo wants you to get in on the post-smoke, pre-rain fall zone HEAR IN PORTLAND with a Sheer Mag show, a new monthly R&B Night series, and Milc's brand new Bandcamp exclusive.https://t.co/BwaCHm8H5U
— Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) September 14, 2022
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• The looming national railway strike has Congress very worried as it could not only cancel passenger trains, but the much-needed transportation of grains and other necessary goods as well.
SCOOP: The billionaire founder of Patagonia has given away his $3 billion company to a trust and a non-profit that will work on climate action. Its unheard of in corporate circles, and the amazing @dgelles has the inside story: https://t.co/mz7BgCGlsd
— Lyndsey Layton (@LyndseyLayton) September 14, 2022
• Following a June conviction in New York, a Chicago jury has also convicted singer R. Kelly of several child pornography and sex abuse charges. Whatever the judge decides for prison time will be on top of the 30 years for which he's already been sentenced.
• A judge in Ohio has temporarily blocked the state's draconian near-total ban on abortion, and for now the situation reverts back to Ohio's previous law, which banned abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. (However, this ruling comes too late for the 10-year-old rape victim who had to travel out of state to get an abortion.)
The state of California is suing Amazon, accusing the retail giant of inflating its prices by signing restrictive deals with companies that sell on its platform. https://t.co/pWuxOyIcfb
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 14, 2022
• Today in HEE-HEE-HEE: Pillow salesman and traitor/insurrectionist Mike Lindell has reportedly had his cellphone yoinked by the FBI in their investigation of an alleged breach of voting machines in Colorado.
• And finally... HEY, ONE OF THOSE DOGS CAME BACK FOR CAULIFLOWER TWICE!
Just some good bois eating their veggies pic.twitter.com/FDU30KaBzU
— The Woof World (@TheWoofWorld) September 14, 2022