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Good Morning, Portland! Welcome back to the constantly churning news cycle. It's far more news than a single body could be asked to take in, and it also ensures that none of us ever gets the same news. Discord reigns! Let's hit the briefs!

IN LOCAL NEWS:
• We already know the four main viruses currently overwhelming Portland's hospital capacity. COVID, RSV, mpox, and the flu are nothing new to us. But while treatments are ready for all of the illnesses named, the sheer numbers of sick and spread could pose a real danger right now. “This is not a crisis of disease," Wendy Hasson with Randall Children’s Hospital, told Mercury reporter Isabella Garcia. "This is a crisis of resources.”

• While everyone has been screaming about the flirty glance Mayor Wheeler threw over to civil commitment last week—in response to complaints from businesses in SE Industrial that they can no longer operate in an area where their employees fear for their safety—Willamette Week's Lucas Manfield actually looked into where civilly committed people might go. He writes: "The legal issues may be complicated, but the problem is simple: The state hospital is full."

• AND A FINE GOOD MORNING TO A NEWS ITEM THAT IS DEFINITELY UNRELATED TO THE MAYOR WANTING TO INCREASE CIVIL COMMITMENTS:

The Ritz-Carlton Portland is now accepting reservations for July 6th on, with room rates starting at $518/night. pic.twitter.com/15SbJYgoUz

— Iain is also at @maccoinnich@mastodon.online (@maccoinnich) December 7, 2022

• Oregon and Washington continue to see a surge in traffic fatalities—512 this year for Oregon and Washington likely to surpass 700 deaths any day. “That’ll be the highest numbers that we’ve seen since the ‘90s. It’s a distressing place to find ourselves,” she told members of the state House Transportation Committee during a briefing Thursday. Northwest News Network's Tom Banse has the report.

• Did you get a chance to check on the Mercury's Free Ticket Tuesday? It says "Tuesday" in the name, but you actually have until Thursday to enter! This week, we're giving away tickets to Digable Planets and Rome Streetz!

IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL  NEWS:

• Last night Senator Raphael Warnock defeated his opponent Herschel Walker, securing a 51-49 split of the Congressional Senate.

Don't want to many any premature "calls" but I thought you might enjoy the following word puzzle (unscramble the anagram).

WANROCK WNIS

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) December 7, 2022

"I will walk with you even as I work for you," Senator Raphael Warnock said after defeating his Republican challenger, Herschel Walker, in a Georgia runoff election and securing Democrats a 51-seat majority in the Senate. https://t.co/rtpZdGcHi2 pic.twitter.com/MY3Ldyf9AZ

— The New York Times (@nytimes) December 7, 2022

• Even the rise of the fantastically popular Pilk couldn't save the hundreds of corporate employees PepsiCo announced it will lay off in North America. As it is, only 40 percent of the company's workforce is even in located in the US.

• A suit filed by the fiancée of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was dismissed by a US federal court yesterday. The case's main defendant Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—who the CIA say likely orchestrated the murder and dismemberment of Khashoggi, after the Saudi journalist criticized him in print—carries the immunity granted to heads of state. The State Department said Prince Mohammed should be “immune while in office.”

• • The first season of Terrace House was so innocuous, so pleasant, so gentle—it was practically boring! But as the show continued, it became what all reality shows are: A place for up and coming celebrities to launch a fanbase. One of those up and comers was Hana Kimura, a professional wrestler who faced severe online bullying from fans of the show. In May 2020, she committed suicide. Now her mother is suing the show, alleging that the producers' treatment of her daughter led to her death.

This suicide helpline info is not meant to bore you, it's meant to say that anyone can have these feelings. If you’re struggling with mental health concerns, especially serious depression, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts, please reach out and speak with a professional. Dialing 988 connects you to the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline—which launched over the summer. And the old numbers still work: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For information on mental health and to locate treatment services in your area, contact the SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727).

• BACK TO THE SNARK. As a section editor, I want to introduce that these ten best photos could have been three best photos.

• AND two women in California allege that they were stalked with the help of AirTags! Ah. Ahhhhhhhh.

• Now, here's your energy for today. 

@soosseli But what did he mean? 🤨 #animals #nature #finland #cuteanimals ♬ original sound - Ossi Saarinen