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Good Morning, Portland! We can expect a drizzly day, with a high of 53 degrees, and a sunny afternoon. Tomorrow will be even sunnier.
We need a 10-day forecast for the federal government. 🫠
Let’s catch up!
In Local News:
• This week, the Portland City Council will consider a $938,330 settlement agreement between the city and multiple journalists who were assaulted, injured and/or deprived of their rights to film and photograph while covering the 2020 protests. The city has paid out numerous settlements to people with bodily injury claims against the Portland Police Bureau, stemming from the protests following the murder of George Floyd. The latest stems from a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and the law firm Braunhagey & Borden LLP on behalf of legal observers and journalists, including those working for the Portland Mercury at the time.
From the original complaint: “This case seeks to stop the Portland police from assaulting news reporters, photographers, legal observers, and other neutrals who are documenting the police’s violent response to protests over the murder of George Floyd. The police’s efforts to intimidate the press and suppress reporting on the police’s own misconduct offends fundamental constitutional protections and strikes at the core of our democracy.”
• Following in the footsteps of Sheryl Crow, Elvira star Cassandra Peterson recently ditched her Tesla in protest of Elon Musk's government takeover and recent far-right antics. Peterson, who lives in Portland, filmed herself with a chainsaw next to her car, which sports a big “Elon Sux” decal, then posted a video to her more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram. As Crow recently did, the Mistress of the Dark said she’s selling it and donating the proceeds to NPR. The national broadcast radio program removed all its content from Musk’s X (the site we will forever call Twitter) after the social media platform falsely marked NPR’s account as state-run media.
• Price of groceries got you down? Well cheer up, because it’s the Mercury’s Sandwich Week! All week until Sunday, nearly 75 restaurants around Portland are offering specially crafted sandwiches concocted just for this week! Get yourself a sammich for just $10.
Hungry, much? Then you'll be delighted to know that the Mercury's wildly popular (and delicious) SANDWICH WEEK is happening right now and through Sunday! Picture it: 74 delish, creative sammies just waiting to fill your grateful tummy! GO GET 'EM. 😋
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) March 3, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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In National/World News:
• Dolly Parton’s longtime husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, died Monday. He was 82. Dean largely stayed out of the spotlight, despite Parton’s multi-decade music career. Parton, 79, posted about her husband’s death on her Instagram page. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” her statement reads. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
• Donald Trump announced last weekend that the United States is creating a crypto currency strategic reserve. Trump said via his social media site Truth Social, that he aims to make America the “Crypto Capital of the World.” Unclear why he felt the need to capitalize any of those words, and truly dumbfounded as to why he thinks the country should be stockpiling a currency with no real value, that only stands to potentially undermine the value of the US dollar. Some argue the US should get on board with and support crypto, while more financially savvy folks are shaking their heads, noting inherent risks with safeguarding digital currency, volatility, and the simple unsavory notion of government influence in the market. The move gave Trump’s crypto-loving tech cronies a major boost, by causing the price of several digital currencies to surge.
BREAKING: Trump delivered on his threat to hit Canada and Mexico with sweeping import levies, imposing one of the largest increases in US tariffs since the 1930s in a dramatic escalation of a trade war that stands to upend ties with major economic partners.
— Bloomberg News (@bloomberg.com) March 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
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• Shifting gears, last weekend also marked a notable event in the pro wrestling world. Actor and former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star John Cena made a return to the ring, beating out several opponents to win a spot at the upcoming Wrestlemania event. Cena returned to his roots, wearing the same jorts he did 20 years ago, and up until the very end of the event, it seemed he brought his signature good guy demeanor and perpetual sportsmanship along, too. BUT in a twist fans haven’t seen in roughly 20 years, Cena turned heel (that’s wrestling lingo for “he’s a bad guy now.”) The change happened at the end of an Elimination Chamber match in Toronto, when Cena leaned in to hug his upcoming Wrestlemania opponent, Cody Rhodes, and then pulled away to kick Rhodes in the groin. The spectacle happened alongside fellow WWE veteran The Rock, accompanied by rapper Travis Scott. For a good explanation of the allure and theatrics of pro wrestling, this column from another local journalist (and former colleague) is worth a read.
JOHN CENA TURNED HEEL
— Fightful Wrestling (@fightful.com) March 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
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• Speaking of WWE, Linda McMahon was confirmed Monday as the new secretary of the US Department of Education. McMahon co-founded WWE with her former husband, Vince McMahon. She previously oversaw the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. McMahon might be a nice, business savvy lady, but she has no background in education, and as the AP notes, Trump wants to dismantle the whole damn department.
Ummm...What?!
Trump: American students will be ‘permanently expelled’ or arrested for campus protests
— Politico (@politico.com) March 4, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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• As promised, Trump’s hefty import tariffs went into effect for Canada, Mexico, and China. China is already hitting back with their own tariffs of up to 15 percent on US imports. Now we all just wait to see how long it takes for the economy to crater.
@noras.iphone mcdonald’s always #fries ♬ deep in it - berlioz & Ted Jasper
