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GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! Our first story is a rough one, so let's ease into it with some WEATHER. Expect rain tonight, showers tomorrow, and thanks to a cold blast sweeping through the region, possible snow (!) on Saturday night and sunny skies Sunday. And now, grit your teeth for some NEWS.

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

• Police in Memphis, as well as the family of the victim, have been repeatedly pleading for peace (i.e. no riots, please) ahead of this afternoon's release of video that shows the absolutely brutal beating death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of cops. (WARNING, EXTREMELY GRAPHIC VIDEO LINKED AHEAD.) And it's just as horrifying and gut churning as we were told. Despite their pleas, protests across the nation are already planned... yes, including right here in Portland. Mayor Wheeler (along with Chief Lovell, members of City Council, and others) held a press conference at the very moment the video was released to denounce police violence and try to quell any potential public outbursts. Good luck with that. 

The City of Portland and Multnomah County are united in denouncing the horrific events that led to the heartbreaking death of Tyre Nichols. pic.twitter.com/FCoIPs7K82

— Commissioner Carmen Rubio (@CommRubio) January 28, 2023

In one video, Tyre Nichols is shown on the ground with officers around him, and he can be heard repeatedly screaming: “Mom, Mom, Mom.” Lawyers have said that his mother’s home was about 100 yards away from where he was beaten. https://t.co/tMdwnrV2Nh

— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 28, 2023

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Following frantic cries from Salt & Straw businesses in Portland’s Central Eastside, Mayor Wheeler announced the city will be rushing to their rescue! (Because... you know, squeaky wheel businesses are much more important than people.) Anyway, the plan is to increase police presence in the area, clean up trash, and... oh, here it comes... remove homeless people—something even the mayor admits will only push them to some other neighborhood in the city... maybe yours! (Hope your neighbors are nicer than Salt & Straw.) Our Isabella Garcia has the story.

I found that more than 20,000 students currently have their transcripts withheld by just three Oregon universities because they owe past debt. Thousands more students are likely affected by the practice, which can keep them from applying for jobs, school & scholarships. https://t.co/JG7dogk3mU

— Sami Edge (@sami_edge) January 28, 2023

• Cops in Grants Pass, Oregon, are warning women to be on the lookout for an alleged male kidnapper who captures and tortures his victims, and... *checks notes, rubs eyes in disbelief*... “is actively using online dating applications to contact unsuspecting individuals who may be lured into assisting with the suspect’s escape or potentially as additional victims." 🤯 As if online dating isn't stressful enough already!

• As previously mentioned, it's gonna be cold and possibly snowy this weekend into Monday, and Multnomah County is already planning to open up warming shelters for those who can't escape the frigid temps. Stand by for those locations.

• If the weather isn't too crappy/cloudy this weekend, cast your gaze to the skies for a chance at spotting a rare green comet which is passing close (not TOO close, thankfully) to earth over the next few days.

Hello, smarty brains! Time to prove your brilliance with this week's POP QUIZ PDX! Sassy-ass trivia Qs include local dognappers, a ban on kangaroo skin (!), and YOUR choice for what your naughty custom license plate will say! LET'S DOOOOOO THIS.https://t.co/MIXrQv8aJr pic.twitter.com/YriQ8Qd61y

— Wm. Steven Humphrey (@WmSteveHumphrey) January 27, 2023

• In NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW: "BAES Fried Chicken adds a new location, chicken and waffles, and – for one day only – free cinnamon rolls."

Get into this weekend's events for free or an otherwise small chunk of change, from Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade and Celebration to the PDX Motorcycle Film Festival. https://t.co/TrWRMfRRSJ

— EverOut Portland (@EverOutPortland) January 27, 2023

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Look, the video of Memphis police beating Tyre Nichols to death is very hard to watch, and you certainly don't have to view it, as it can be triggering and traumatic to look at even small parts of it. If you do decide to watch and need help managing your feelings afterward, here's a list of resources you can turn to. 

#TyreNichols family asked this be the video we share of him.

Watch it & know Tyre, like all our loved ones, deserved to live a long beautiful life free from state sanctioned murder. For Black & brown folks around the US, police violence is the greatest threat to that future. https://t.co/hT15Emss8T

— Tiffany Cabán (@tiffany_caban) January 27, 2023

• In other horrifying video news (as if there hasn't been enough of that today already), a court has released surveillance video of the October hammer attack on Paul Pelosi—the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—as well as the 9-1-1 call made to police after the intruder entered their home. 

• A January 6 domestic terrorist who pepper-sprayed Officer Brian Sicknick—who died the next day due to his injuries—has been sentenced to more than 6 years in prison. A second man, also involved in the same attack, was sentenced to time served having already spent five months behind bars.

• Former Veep Mike Pence—after first claiming there's NO WAY anyone would find classified docs in his home... that is until classified docs were found in his home—was forced to today that oopsy-doodle, "mistakes were made."  

• And finally... tough day. At least there's this:

pic.twitter.com/QSFq3WsJKV

— ladies and gentlemen, the weekend 😌 (@CraigWeekend) January 28, 2023