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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋

First let's look at that WEATHER: Expect another cloudy day, with occasional sunbreaks and perhaps even a shower or two later in the afternoon. In other words, a damn-near perfect day to cuddle up with the Mercury's HIGHBALL WEEK! Consider it, won't you: delicious, creative cocktails made by 41 of Portland's best bartenders, and only $10 each! But don't dilly or dally—Highball ends this Sunday! (Now let's check to see if the world is ending with help from today's NEWS.)

IN LOCAL NEWS

• Even though they do not provide enough shelter beds for the estimated 7,000 houseless people to sleep in, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced that the county will no longer hand out tents to the homeless, except in cases of extreme weather. According to the county, “As additional shelter and affordable housing capacity becomes available, the community’s need for tents should diminish”—however, currently the county and city are only providing 3,000 shelter beds for the nearly 7,000 houseless residents... and with extreme weather now happening at any time of year, I would say that we're not exactly at the point where "diminishing need" is taking place.

• RIP to the Oregon Zoo's absolutely adorable (and snack-loving) red panda, Moshu (AKA "Sir Snacks-a-Lot"), who passed away at the very old age (for red pandas) of 13-years-old. 😭 Moshu has reportedly experienced heart problems over the past year, and his caretakers had taken to "softening his favorite biscuits to make snack time easier," and "ramps were added throughout his habitat for easier climbing." 😭  The zoo has lost two other animals to old age in the last month, including Strike the cheetah and Tilly the river otter. 😭 According to Rachel Ritchason, the zoo’s deputy director for animal care, “Moshu inspired millions of people and brightened so many lives.” 😭😭😭 He will be missed. 

• Important announcement: Don't miss next week's debut of "BlackOut: A Five-Year Retrospective of Portland's Racial Justice Movement"—a magazine produced by author/activist/producer Donovan Scribes and the Portland Mercury, and written entirely by Black Portlanders. BlackOut documents the five-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police, and Portland's Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, and attempts to answer the question, "What's changed?" Scribes explains more here:

• Conservative showboat, Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, is up to his attention-hungry antics again, this time disqualifying Circuit Judge Adrian Brown from presiding over any of his office's cases. How come? Apparently this judge hasn't been ruling in favor of the prosecutors' cases as much as Vasquez would like, and so his office will no longer bring serious felonies to Brown, which includes such crimes as murder, first-degree rape, robbery, and assault. Vasquez's office did not provide any evidence of Brown's lack of impartiality, though it should be noted that in the past the judge was a federal prosecutor focusing on civil rights enforcement, and was also a key player in the settlement between the Department of Justice and the Portland Police over the cops' documented use of force against people with mental illness. Maybe that's why he doesn't like her? 🤔 Or maybe this is just another public hissy-fit from an entitled dude who can't stand to lose. 💡

• Hey everybody, just so you know: BILLIONAIRE PHIL KNIGHT DOES NOT WANT TO BUY OUR BLAZERS. (He probably wants to spend all that money bankrolling shit-head Republicans, most of whom couldn't win an election in Oregon to save their lives... which never ceases to entertain me. So keep it up, Phil! 👏) And that means that our music editor Nolan Parker's idea to buy the Blazers as a public-owned co-op is still on the table as far as I'm concerned! LET'S DO THIS THING.

• In other sports news, the Portland Pickles' newest side hustle, the Portland Bangers soccer team, has its very own mascot which was officially unveiled yesterday—a tall, walking wiener named Saucy T. Sausage, who will be amping up the crowd at today's inaugural Bangers match at the UO Portland Stadium. WELCOME TO YOUR WAKING NIGHTMARE. 

You can’t spell team without M E A T. The Portland Bangers welcome Saucy T. Sausage to the pitch.

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— Portland Bangers FC (@portlandbangers.bsky.social) May 14, 2025 at 10:06 AM

• Good news for local music lovers: After 20 looooong years, the soundtrack for Kelly Reichardt's Oregon-made indie film classic Old Joy—featuring the music of beloved Yo La Tengo, featuring session guitarist Smokey Hormel—has finally been released! And according to Mercury reviewer Patrick Riley, it's a certified gem and "the result is an apt blend of the well-worn and the unfamiliar, like an old friend who’s changed with time, and who’s also just as you remember." Check it out!

• Also don't miss this very sweet and fun piece from our Lindsay Costello on the new "Log Lady from Twin Peaks" exhibit at (aptly enough) the World Forestry Center! (Costume contest, ahoy! 🪵)

Twin Peaks fans you are on notice! Portland's World Forestry Center has the Log Lady's log for a limited pop-up exhibition. And they're holding a Log Lady look-alike contest!

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— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) May 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that not only involves birthright citizenship, but also the power wielded by federal judges. As you recall, Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship was immediately slapped down by federal judges, who have consistently been the last blockade between democracy and racist anarchy—so of course the GOP are attempting to take down the judicial system, by challenging the judges who are stopping Trump's ridiculously unconstitutional executive actions. Stay tuned... this one is a nail-biter.

 

As part of the red-carpet treatment, Saudi officials arranged for a fully operational mobile McDonald’s unit to accompany President Trump during his stay.

According to local reports, the unit was set up near the Saudi Royal Court.

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— Olga Nesterova (@onestpress.onestnetwork.com) May 13, 2025 at 6:34 AM

 

• Speaking of the feckless, intellectually dishonest, and utterly-corrupt-to-their-very-marrow GOP: Their proposed tax bill—which would take a chainsaw to Medicaid while giving billionaires even more tax breaks—is estimated to add more than $2.5 trillion (!) to U.S. deficit over the next 10 years. (Jeez! Where is DOGE when you need them?)

 

Wisconsin judge pleads not guilty to federal charges accusing her of helping a man evade immigration agents.

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— CNN (@cnn.com) May 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM

 

• Get ready to hear a lot of MAGA howling after Walmart announced they will be raising their prices significantly in a few weeks, thanks to Trump's self-inflicted tariff war. While the big box recognizes that Trump is now furiously backpedaling on certain tariffs (particularly those inflicted on China), they also warned that it's not nearly enough, and high prices are going to be passed on to Walmart shoppers—which includes a certain group of people who really wanted to "own the libs" by electing Trump. Welp, consider us "owned." 😂

• In the continuing sex trafficking trial of rap impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs, his former girlfriend/victim Cassie Ventura spent much of her time on the stand yesterday recounting the alleged abuse she endured at the hands of Combs, and currently is facing (almost certainly cruel, misogynistic) cross-examination from the defense. Send positive thoughts, and stand up for women every day.

• And finally... if anyone in the WWE could top this move? I'd like to see them try. (Also, if this guy was coming after me? I'd seal myself in a coffin and never come out.)

@espn How many backflips did you count? 🤔 (via njpwworld/X) #wrestling #backflip #creative ♬ original sound - ESPN