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G'morning, Portland! The weather today is set to be a balmy 75 degrees, and there's some rain on the way this weekend. Also, in case you still didn't know, it's the Mercury's BURGER WEEK, meaning you can get delicious burgers at a bunch of restaurants in Portland for a mere $8. Some of them come with a drink special, too. My thoughts? Brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before (well, at least since last year). Eat up. 

But while you wait for lunchtime, check out this news. 

IN LOCAL NEWS: 

• Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell says that, actually, she will book people charged with violating Portland's camping ban into the county jail. This is a departure from the position Morrisey O’Donnell's held last month, when she said she wouldn't use the jail to punish people arrested for camping in Portland, as people "whose only offense is living unsheltered...[do not] pose a genuine danger to the public." Morrisey O'Donnell also offered a pretty spot-on critique of the Portland camping ban at the time, saying that "arresting and booking our way out of the housing crisis is not a constructive solution."

But it seems that someone (perhaps the little ol' mayor of Portland himself) had a chat with Morrisey O'Donnell, as she has changed her tune—at least, for now. Yesterday, she and Mayor Ted Wheeler released a joint statement saying the sheriff's office will book people who violate the camping ban for the next 120 days, during which time she will determine if the approach is "effective and sustainable." I guess her conclusion will depend on what metrics she's using. If you want an effective and sustainable way to keep cops looking busy and homeless people cycling in and out of the criminal justice system, this policy just might fit the bill! For any other goals, though, I suspect the sheriff will be disappointed. 

• Oregon Democrats might take a supermajority in the state legislature in the November election, according to a national analysis group that has made successful predictions in the past. What could this mean for state policy in the upcoming legislative session? Well, legislators want to pass a major transportation package in 2025, which may require raising taxes, and that would be easier with a very solid Democratic majority. 

• If you visited the Oregon Zoo between December 2023 and June 2024, you might want to check your credit card statements. The zoo reported that, due to a cybersecurity breach of their online ticket service, more than 100,000 visitors may have had their credit card info compromised. So, that's not good! But I won't hold it against the zoo and its adorable seals. 

 
 
 
 
 
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IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• Yesterday was the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. A few highlights that I could find: Bernie Sanders calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Michelle Obama bringing hope back to the nation (the way only she could), and Barack Obama potentially making a "size matters" joke. Outside the convention, pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police, with at least 72 protesters arrested.

• Meanwhile, some leaders of the "uncommitted movement," which urged voters to vote "uncommitted" on primary ballots to protest how President Biden's full-throated support of Israel in the midst of their horrifically deadly war in Gaza, said they feel like Kamala Harris's nomination offers the potential for change on this issue. But until she supports a permanent ceasefire and an arms embargo on Israel, they're not holding their breath. 

• The world's oldest person—a 117-year-old Spanish woman named Maria Branyas—died this week. According to her family, she died "in her sleep, at peace, and without pain." The next oldest person, according to Gerontology Research Group (which apparently verifies this kind of thing), is 116-year-old Timoko Itooka. RIP, Maria Branyas! I hope those 117 years were as good as they could've been. That's a long ass time to be alive. 

• From the archive: 

• Australia may build the world's largest solar farm in a remote part of the country. Yesterday (which is today in our time zone here on the other side of the world), the Australian government granted environmental approvals for the $19 billion plan to build a 12,400 hectare solar farm, which would then transmit energy to Singapore via a 2,672 mile submarine cable. Australian leaders say the plan would turn the country into a green energy superpower. Cool! 

• Sorry, but I just need to go back to Obama's size joke for a second. 

• Finally...it's Wednesday, which means it's time for duck therapy. XOXO, and have a wonderful rest of your week. 

 
 
 
 
 
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