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Good morning, Portland! Repeat after me: April showers bring May flowers. 🌷🌼We’re in for rain throughout the day, with a high of 56 degrees and a low of 45, along with moderate winds up to 15 miles an hour.
Now let's get a temperature check on local and world affairs.
In Local News:
• Nearly five years after voters approved a ballot measure in 2020 to create a new, truly independent police oversight board, the board is finally starting to take shape. The city of Portland is accepting applications for Community Board for Police Accountability members now through April 14. The civilian-led board will review investigative findings from police misconduct cases, deadly uses of force, deaths in custody, and uses of force by police that cause injury. After review, a panel of board members will have the authority to impose discipline, if appropriate, which is something no other civilian-led group has been allowed to do.
You have until April 14 to apply for a position on the new Community Board for Police Accountability. The 21-member civilian-led oversight board will review police conduct and use of force investigations, and has authority to impose discipline, if deemed appropriate.
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) April 8, 2025 at 8:09 AM
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• On Monday, a community review board voted against a merger of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Legacy Health, citing a likely rise in health care costs for patients. Potential conflicts of interest by state-appointed review board members have also played a role in the decision. The two health care organizations have been trying to undergo a merger that would see OHSU acquire Legacy since 2023, but they need approval from the Oregon Health Authority to do so. The Community Board’s decision isn’t binding, and OHA will have the final say, but the narrow decision is a hiccup for the agencies.
• Whether you live in Milwaukie or venture there from time to time, the city has a new perk. Keeper Coffee just opened a Milwaukie location in the former City Hall building. The cafe still maintains a location in Southeast Portland, but its latest expansion is delivering the signature Keeper experience- quality coffee drinks and near-perfect pastries in a welcoming setting– to folks outside city limits. Nolan Parker has all the details here.
Keeper Coffee, one of Portland's best cafes, opened their second location today in Milwaukie! Trust us, it's going to be one of your new favorite destination cafes... ☕️ 🥐
— Portland Mercury ( )
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• Prepare and behold the return of the Mercury’s Pizza Week! Starting Monday, you can grab a specially-crafted slice for just $4 at nearly 70 locations around Portland. Hungry for more? You can pick up a whole pie for $25. You know the drill: Prepare your taste buds, get adventurous, and kindly tip your participating restaurants.
Start prepping your tummy now—the Mercury's PIZZA WEEK is coming April 14! 🍕😋
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) April 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
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In National/World News:
• The Supreme Court on Monday sided with the Trump administration in allowing the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act- an old-timey law that was created in the late 1700s and used by US officials during wartime, including WWII. The SCOTUS decision temporarily gives immigration officials the ability to enact sweeping deportations of people while the legal issue plays out in lower courts. The Alien Enemies Act, which was created to thwart foreign espionage, has historically been abused and used as a tool to remove people from the US, often based solely on their country of birth, even if they have legal status, and regardless of whether they've committed any crimes.
Man Who Bumped Tesla While Parallel Parking Sentenced To Death
— The Onion (@theonion.com) April 8, 2025 at 8:01 AM
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• In a trade war turned pissing match, Trump is threatening to tack on an additional 50 percent tariff on goods imported from China to the United States, after China retaliated against Trump's heavy tariffs with its own 34 percent tariff on American products. Trump's massive and inconsistent tariffs (which laughably included an Arctic region inhabited mostly by polar bears and penguins) went into effect last week, and sent the stock market in a tizzy. More importantly, the tariffs could mean major cost increases for Americans.
• Major chain retailers, including Target, Costco, and Aldi will reportedly close their stores for the day on Easter Sunday, April 20. Some are dubbing the holiday closure a "retail blackout." In late February, American consumers launched a retail boycott of several stores, including Target, over their decision to bend to the demands of Trump and end their DEI initiatives.
@smilingcozy Just randomly has that in his mouth 😂 #dog #dogsoftiktok #funny #foodie #smile #fypシ #funnyvideos #funny ♬ original sound - Smilingcozy
