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Biden visits Portland to talk about fixing/replacing roads, while across town teens fight against I-5 expansion and for the earth.
Biden visits Portland to talk about fixing/replacing roads, while across town teens fight against I-5 expansion and for the earth. Mathieu Lewis-Rolland

GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! It’s Earth Day! And while Portland may be known for our big plans to battle climate change, the actual results are… shall we say… “mixed.” FOR EXAMPLE….

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• President Biden made his first ever stop in Portland as president yesterday, shaking the hands of local politicos, and spreading the gospel of his administration’s infrastructure plan, which would touch Portland as well—fixing and replacing bridges and roads.

• Meanwhile teen activists with Portland’s Sunrise Movement PDX took Biden’s visit as an opportunity to protest against the expansion of I-5 in the Rose Quarter, and pressure the president into taking more of an aggressive stance to combat climate change.

• Speaking of transportation/climate stuff, the new, replacement I-5 bridge will probably also include light rail crossing the Columbia River—an idea that snuffed out the previous I-5 bridge plan by legislators who balked at the price tag. Naturally some Washington Republicans are worried if their Ford F150-driving constituents will be willing to give up their precious gas guzzlers.

• If you ever wonder, “What exactly is being done with all that weed tax revenue?”, well, a LOT of organizations are fighting over it. Josh Jardine explains it all for you in this fascinating article from our Cannabis Guide.

• Reminder to all vinyl collectors: the annual Record Store Day is TOMORROW (Saturday, April 23), so get out there and support your local record shop, and if you need some great vinyl recommendations, check out our list of the 10 essential Record Store Day releases!

IN NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

• As Russia continues their barrage against eastern Ukraine, one of Russia’s high commanders is already talking about taking control over the southern part of the country as well. Meanwhile, satellite imagery is picking up what could very well be mass graves near the besieged city of Mariupol.

• Maybe Trump was right about his claims of voter fraud… particularly since its been revealed that his own former chief of staff Mark Meadows was registered to vote IN THREE STATES.

• Speaking of utterly corrupt Republicans, the detestable Marjorie Taylor Greene is set to defend herself in court today about her participation in the January 6 domestic terrorist attack on the nation’s capitol, in a case that could kick her off the ballot and ruin her chances of reelection in Georgia.

• RELATED: Though he previously strongly denied it, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy has been stone-cold BUSTED talking shit about former President Trump and saying he should resign—and it’s all caught on tape.

• Today in “NOT SURPRISED”: “In a first, firearms were leading cause of death for U.S. children and teens in 2020.”

• CALLING ALL PIZZA LOVERS! Your favorite week of the year is here: It’s the Mercury’s PIZZA WEEK featuring $3 specialty slices at 28 locations across the Portland area, happening NOW through Sunday, April 24! Eat ’em up!

• And finally, hoping you get out and enjoy some nature this weekend… maybe some fishing?

Bang bang, choo-choo train, let me see you shake that thang. Wm. Steven Humphrey is the editor-in-chief of the Portland Mercury and has held the job since 2000. (So don’t get any funny ideas.)