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Good morning, Portland! Looks like it's going to be another beautiful summer-ish fall day, so here is some beautiful (subjective) news to match.
In local news:
⢠An Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) rules interpreter released an apology last week after making sexist comments in a memo to state coaches. In the memo, the rules interpreter wrote that boys and girls soccer games should be treated differently because boys can play through physical contact better than girls, and indicated that girls should get carded for physical contact during game play. The interpreter is being required to take a bias training course, but some coaches want him removed from his position of leadership.
⢠And the union wave continues: Burgerville workers at the fast-food chainâs inner SE Powell location announced their intent to unionize following allegations that a manager sexually harassed underage employees. The lack of support workers said they felt from HR led to interest in joining a larger union.
Calling all trash pandas! đŚ It's time to root through some gossip with THE TRASH REPORT from @ElinorJoneser. This week: horny Adam Levine, hard workin' Betty White, and wow, Bill Maher is an absolute turd. DIG IN!đď¸https://t.co/XPGu9Goudx
â Portland Mercury đ (@portlandmercury) September 26, 2022
⢠In Washington, King County officials have proposed a new property tax to raise $1.25 billion to address the regionâs behavioral health crisis. The county would use the money build five new care centers, preserve existing treatment beds, recruit staff, and develop a mobile response program.
You have a right to an attorney
â Zane Sparling (@PDXzane) September 26, 2022
But 1,300 defendants are stuck in legal limbo â their cases stalled because there arenât enough public defenders
Prosecutors routinely fight to keep these cases open
The unrepresented say they feel âno sense of justiceâhttps://t.co/GvcNPS3itM
In national and international news:
⢠Home prices nationwide dropped for the seventh month straight in August now that mortgage rates have increased. The number of monthly home sales has also decreased about 20 percent compared to one year ago.Â
⢠Pfizer is looking to expand eligibility for its updated booster shot to youth ages 5 to 11. The FDA said a decision on the youth booster could be made âsoon.âÂ
BREAKING: Hurricane Ian strengthens into a major Category 3 storm as it heads toward Cuba on track to hit Floridaâs west coast. https://t.co/0sgTq8uCiP
â The Associated Press (@AP) September 27, 2022
⢠The massive floods in Pakistan this summer wiped out many farmersâ crops and left lasting damage on agricultural land, making a significant cut to the countryâs food supply. The floodingâwhich was estimated three times more powerful than years pastâwiped out 4 million acres of crops and killed nearly 1,600 people. While the government has food stock to meet immediate need, the country will have to rely more heavily on imports and farmers are facing significant financial losses.
⢠Pop singer Shakira is going to trial over tax fraud charges. Shakira is accused by Spanish prosecutors of failing to pay 14.5 million euros in taxes on income earned from 2012 to 2014. Spanish prosecutors argue that the singer spent more than half her time in Spain (which means she needs to pay taxes there) while Shakira maintains that her home is in the Bahamas, where she already paid taxes. It sounds like the trial will hinge on âWhenever, Whereverâ Shakira was when she paid her taxes (This story may be updated with a better joke when the coffee kicks in).