If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Good morning, Portland! We can expect clear skies and a high of 84 degrees today. 😎 Perfect weather for a cold (boozy) slushie. 

But first, let's drink in the news!

In Local News: 

  • Earlier this year, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek approved $10 million to throw at a multi-billion-dollar company leading the artificial intelligence revolution: Nvidia. The governor’s office says Nvidia will set up ambassador programs in colleges and universities, to help train students on the emerging technology and help them be better prepared to enter the workforce (if their jobs aren’t replaced by AI by the time they graduate).

While the technology is advancing, it’s also got deep flaws. As Abe Asher reports, using AI has been linked to lower literacy levels, not to mention the use of chat bots and other generative AI tools that students use to cheat or write essays for them. Some critics speculate the hype around AI has largely been drummed up by the tech companies who profit from it. Academics say we can’t hide from the technology, but we can be responsible in how we approach it, which is what’s needed in Oregon’s case. Read more here. 

Earlier this year, the governor announced a partnership with Nvidia, a tech company leading the way in AI, to help train college students in the rapidly advancing technology. Academics say it's important we stay competitive in the tech sector, but it's also crucial to use and teach AI responsibly.

[image or embed]

— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com)July 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM

  • The Mall 205 Target store was shut down for hours yesterday as police confronted and negotiated with a man armed with a knife, hiding in an inventory storage area. Police were dispatched to the Southeast Portland retailer around 10:30 am Monday on a report of a man armed with a knife, who confronted a security guard there, leaving them with minor injuries. The suspect, Michael Harper, 41, then ran through the store, where he was found hiding in a second-story shelving area in an inventory storage room. Hours later, with aid from crisis negotiators, Harper reportedly dropped his knife and was taken into custody around 4 pm on charges of second-degree attempted assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and assault in the fourth degree. The store reportedly closed for the remainder of the day and will reopen today.
  • Speaking of local police: tomorrow evening, the Portland Committee on Community Engaged Policing (PCCEP) will host a community forum regarding the death of Damon Lamarr Johnson, who died last month while in police custody. Attendees can join in person or virtually. More info here.
  • We’re in for gorgeous summer weather this week, which is all the reason you need to check one of the myriad events in our weekly ‘Do This, Do That’ roundup. World Naked Bike Ride? Check. Comedy? Check. Live Music? Yep. Let us help you plan your life (or at least your weekly adventures) here.

    Your Mercury Do This Do That itinerary for the week drops now! • comp drop or a sketch fest? • World Naked Bike Ride or a Project Pabst? • Plus, your chance to have a Súper Ultra Tropi-Tóxic Summer!

    [image or embed]

    — Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) July 21, 2025 at 1:49 PM
     

 

Inspo for today:

@zootasticpark No crumbs left behind 😌 #zootasticpark #NOTpets #zootastic #visitnc #zoo #animals #conservation #nc #fyp #ZooDay #tapir #bonnieandclyde ♬ original sound - TuMama

In National/World News:

  • Russia is still launching relentless attacks on Ukraine, despite Donald Trump’s efforts to coax Russia into a ceasefire. The Associated Press reports “swarms of Russian drones” attacking Ukraine. Some are decoys, some aren’t. According to the press outlet, Russia topped its record earlier this month with more than 700 drones launched in one day. Trump has given Russia until early September to enter a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, or face new sanctions like tariffs. Trump has also threatened to funnel more weapons from the US to Ukraine. 
  • In other world news, the residence that houses World Health Organization (WHO) staff in Deir al Balah, Gaza, was ambushed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) three times  Monday, according to the WHO. Staff with the international health agency said members of the IDF “entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint. Two WHO staff and two family members were detained. Three were later released, while one staff member remains in detention.” 
  • The Marines are (finally) leaving Los Angeles.  Last month, the Trump administration deployed US military units to LA following intense public pushback and demonstrations against ICE that saw ICE agents squaring off with protesters. Military units, including National Guard troops and Marines from Southern California bases, were sent to the city, without any real plan or instruction. Now, the Pentagon is ordering them to leave. The move comes after National Guard troops already exited, following a lawsuit from California Governor Gavin Newsom, over the deployment of the National Guard, which was done without consulting the governor. 
  • After last week’s announcement that The Late Show would be canceled, its current host, Stephen Colbert, sounded off  against the sitting president during his monologue, after Trump tweeted: “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings…” 

“How dare you, sir?” Colbert said during a recent The Late Show opening monologue. “Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go f— yourself.” Colbert announced to his audience on live television last week that CBS was cancelling The Late Show, in what seemed like a blatant punishment of the late show host over his criticism of CBS parent company Paramount, for agreeing to pay $16 million to settle a ridiculous and likely frivolous lawsuit from Trump over claims that CBS’s 60 Minutes heavily edited video footage of a pre-election interview with him. 

The lawsuit settlement comes as Paramount is trying to get federal approval for a merger with Skydance Media. The whole thing reeks of bribery, as many have noted, and Democratic senators, including Oregon’s Sen. Ron Wyden, are investigating whether Skydance brokered a secret deal with the Trump team in an effort to help push the merger through. 

Stephen Colbert rips Trump a new asshole.

[image or embed]

— Oliver Markus Malloy (@malloy.rocks) July 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM

Lastly, Amtrak's marketing team deserves a raise for this one. 👏