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Good Morning, Portland! Don't be alarmed. Keep veepin. Cue up this Michael Hurley playlist from Mississippi Records and let's hit the news.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
ā¢ Though singer-songwriterāpioneer of freak folkāMichael Hurley gained prominence in '60s Greenwich Village, he moved to Oregon and became active in our music scene in the '00s, playing out regularly, treating locals to shows at smaller venues like LaurelThirst Public House and Mississippi Studios. A message from Hurley's family broke the news the Hurley has died at age 83, calling his passing sudden. Hurley had shows on the schedule to come and fans were excited to hear him at this summer's Pickathon. Eric Isaacson at Mississippi Records wrote: "If I had not seen it and suffered under it for 22 years, I could never believe someone lived by their own unique code as hardcore as Michael did. Some would call him stubborn, but I always thought of him as nobly defiant. Michael's will was unbreakable. For better and worse he taught me to stick to my guns, even if they were pointed the wrong way half the time."
ā¢ Two protesters loosely associated with last spring's PSU library occupation were convicted and sentenced to several months of probation yesterday, theĀ Oregonian reports. Both were judged by jury trial to have trespassed in the second degree, for blocking police cars trying to transport other protesters in a parking garage.
ā¢ A new issue of High Country News dropped on Tuesdayāin it you'll find several fascinating stories, but don't sleep on Kori Suzuki's exploration into how "the discovery of a long-lost monument shattered the trust between a Japanese American community and the museum built to preserve their history."
In challenging times, itās good to remember that Westerners remain determined to create a better world. In this issue: š Young Montanans who successfully sued for the right to a clean environment š Four young Alaska Natives fighting for conservation š The bird flu infects wildlife buff.ly/m87YR4w
ā High Country News (@highcountrynews.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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ā¢ Not sure if you've ever cracked an issue of Oregon Humanitiesādepending on the cover, it can look like any ol' bland magazine about the environmentābut the writing and reporting is always top notch and refreshingly engaging. So it's very sad to hear the organization was notified by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) thatĀ the grant given to support the org through 2027 has been rescinded. "NEH funds accounted for 44 percent of Oregon Humanities' budget in 2024" wrote a representative. This is but a local indicator of ongoing government slash and burn efforts by DOGE, with reverberations being felt at theĀ 55 other humanities councils operating around the country.
ā¢ Worth noting for traffic notice, but also for those who want to get out and chant. Tomorrow is a nationwide, multi-org day of protestādubbed "Hands off!āfor folks to gather and show ire about "the most brazen power grab in modern history" the project's website states. "Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rightsāenabled by Congress every step of the way."Ā There's a thing downtown at noon, but there are also protestsĀ on the Eastside, in St. John's, and in Sellwood earlier in the morning where folks are gathering to make signs, and in some cases, travel together to the downtown rally.
ā¢ How're you doing with all this NEWS? Want a refresher? Every week our editor-in-chief writes a funny, fun pop quiz about local news stories. Join us in the laugh n' recap, with irreverent bangers, such as:
ā¢ In the Mercury'sĀ Spring Arts Guide Jenni Moore let us all know about ManiFest, a new Portland art show / installation event with nail-art inspired pieces, an ASMR room of nail videos, and a little intro to the history of nail-art. Now it's here! Read more about it in Moore's profile of the weekend event!
IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
ā¢ Widespread tariffs instated by the Trump administration this week are projected by many to "melt the global economy" or at least anyone who trades with the US. š¬ The New Yorker's Susan B. Glasser writes: "On a chilly Wednesday afternoon, the President announced he would single-handedly blow up a centuryās worth of globalization."
ā¢ And the stock market is dropping. š¬Ā
ā¢ China has already matched US tariffs on imports, and we're probably looking at the beginning of a trade war with other former trading partners as well. š¬
the incredible incoherence of - setting the chips act on fire - abandoning east asia policy and taiwan - punitive anti-immigration policy, including against highly skilled labor - tariffs lol it's like a master class in destroying a country
ā sarah jeong (@sarahjeong.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 5:10 PM
ā¢ If you read the Mercury you know that this shit effects you; I am strangely hopeful that at least the Switch 2 price hike and preorder delay could help gamers dudes realize this effects them. It is a weak hope.Ā
Sigh www.gamespot.com/articles/nin...
ā Avetaš¾šš¹ (@aliafonzy.bsky.social) April 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
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ā¢ OMFGĀ the Senate confirmed celebrity doctor Dr. Oz to be administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services yesterday. So if anyone believed Trump's administration wasn't going to Medicare and Medicaid you may want to take a better look at the self-professed "new sheriff in town." š¬ Worth pointing out that Oz didn't have the votes until Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said Dr. Oz told he was āunequivocally pro-lifeā and didn't support transgender care. So anyway, I think we've all learned that Democrats talk to much LGBTQ+ issues, unlike these civil rights-hating conservative monsters who definitely can be trusted with the economy and government /s. š¬
ā¢ Okay, but also the shit happening with large law firms continues to be really fucked up.
ā¢ We've known for years that global dance sensation Shen Yun is run by a cult organization that has done plenty of side-eye-worthy things, like not paying the show's dancers, creating conservative publications that give the appearance of being news organizations to spread propaganda stories (Epoch Times, Vision Times) etc. WELL, turns out if you liked Shen Yun you liked human trafficking, sorry bout' it. The New York Times reports that a Shen Yun dancer is now suing the show and the organization's founders, alleging that she was coerced to join the troupe at age 13. This adds another damning layer to previous NYT reporting from the fall, which described the company's abusive behavior towards its dancers.
ā¢ Now, here is your Friday FAKING IT TIL I FALL-THE-F-DOWN energy:
