The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!
GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! You've made it to Friday, and now allll you have to do is make it through these NEWS briefs. (And then maybe a few other tiny things.) I know you can do this... LET'S GO!
ā¢ Mayor Ted Wheeler has declared a city-wide state of emergency to combat the rising number of shootings in Portland, setting a goal of reducing gun-related fatalities by 10 percent over the next two years. But will his proposed plan work? Our Alex Zielinski dives into the details.
Exiting Portland Housing Bureau Director Shannon Callahan will receive a severance payment of nearly $90,000 in exchange for a quiet resignation. https://t.co/qmnhWA5CTJ
— OPB (@OPB) July 21, 2022
ā¢ The Oregon Health Authority is urging people across the state to start masking up again to stem the surge of COVID cases, which is starting to severely strain the already beleaguered hospital system.Ā
ā¢ According to a new survey of Portland city employees, the majority of them intend on continuing to work from home at least three days out of the week, and will consider quitting if they aren't allowed to do so.
ā¢ If you're looking for a lot of laughs in a row this weekend, our Suzette Smith has the perfect suggestion: The Siren Theater's annual Portland Sketch Comedy Fest, which brings top-notch funny-makers from around North America, and comes highly recommended from yours truly as well!
Thinking caps on! It's time for another hilarious POP QUIZ PDX! This week's trivia covers Portland's most annoying insects, people who pee in our corn flakes, and YOUR pick for who should replace Biden... if that's something you'd like. š¤https://t.co/pWh24kMVDV
— Portland Mercury š (@portlandmercury) July 21, 2022
ā¢ It's gonna be hitting 100 degrees for at least a couple days next week, so get prepared and take care of yourself and your neighbors. (I'm prepping by drinking $6 boozy, frozen cocktails from our fave bars with the Mercury's SUMMER OF SLUSHIESābut maybe that's just me.)
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
ā¢ It was another humdinger of a hearing last night from the January 6 commission, which focused on Trump's despicable, intentional inaction as domestic terrorists attacked the nation's capitol. Here are the top takeaways: 1) Practically everyone in Trump's sphere begged him to say something to stop the attack, as he sat for hours doing nothing (except for calling senators and asking them to stop the electoral vote counting. 2) The violent throng came within several feet of Vice President Pence, and his security detail was so frantic, some were calling their families to say goodbye. 3) Even on the day after the attack, while taping a response, Trump refused to say the election was over and he lost. āI just want to say Congress has certified the results without saying the election is over,ā he told staff. 4) The hearing room (and my living room) erupted in laughter when fist-pumping Jan 6 supporter Sen. Josh Hawley was shown running away from the mob like a scared little.... well, you know.
Wow these outtakes didnāt disappoint pic.twitter.com/bGVXolI2yV
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 22, 2022
Josh Hawley running away to a variety of soundtracks.
— Mallory Nees (@The_Mal_Gallery) July 22, 2022
Pt. 5: Obligatory Kate Bush pic.twitter.com/GQzDnbJb1r
ā¢ Closing arguments are expected today in the contempt of Congress trial of Trump toady Steve Bannon, who declined to testify yesterday after his defense only called two witnesses.Ā
ā¢ President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19ābut don't panic! He is reportedly only experiencing mild symptoms and is taking Paxlovid (a drug that can lessen the severity of the virus) while he works from the President's residence for the next five days.
The chief of Britainās intelligence service said that Russiaās military campaign in Ukraine was likely to ārun out of steamā in the coming weeks, amid shortages of material and manpower. https://t.co/flCw9ZstQR
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 22, 2022
ā¢ Why do I suspect my cat is somehow responsible for this: "NASA's rover finds spaghetti-like bundle of string on Mars."
ā¢ And finally... here's the perfect recipe for making "low-key terrified" iced tea.
someone called this trend āsuburban sensationalismā and I feel like it all clicked pic.twitter.com/2erFimwfes
— local artisan extraordinaire (@_matthewlawson) July 21, 2022