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Good morning, Portland! We can expect the clouds to stick around today with morning showers and a high of 61 degrees. Be prepared for a brisk overnight low temp of just 43 degrees. Don’t let the gray skies fool you. We could be in for a toasty weekend and Sunday’s high could get up to 86 degrees!
• If you’ve been watching the NBA playoffs, you probably know tonight is a must-win game for the Trail Blazers, as they take on the San Antonio Spurs in game five tonight. San Antonio currently leads 3-1 and the last two games have seen Portland come in hot, and then lose steam in the second half. On Sunday, with home court advantage, the Blazers let the San Antonio Spurs come back from a double digit deficit in the second half to win by double digits—AGAIN. It was the second time in as many home games that the Blazers let the Spurs disrespect them deeply, what’s happening? Sunday’s game at the Moda Center was also marked by a near fight between Deni Avdija and the Spurs’ Stephon Castle after Castle taunted Avdija by pushing a ball into his chest. The back-to-back losses at home sting at a time when Blazers fans are still trying to feel out the team’s new owner, Tom Dundon. Cameron Crowell has the recap for ya.
• An appeals court ruled Monday that police may use crowd control agents like tear gas without restrictions at Portland’s ICE facility. Prior to the appellate court’s ruling, two district court judges in Oregon had each issued preliminary injunctions in separate cases—one stemming from protesters and another filed by residents of an apartment complex across from the ICE building—substantially limiting the use of crowd control weapons by federal police. Federal law enforcement officers have indiscriminately used tear gas, flash bangs and other chemical irritants on large crowds during past anti-ICE demonstrations. OPB reports the rulings came from a panel of three judges, two of whom are Trump appointees. The panel’s dissenting judge was appointed by former President Biden. During a prior court hearing in March, Homeland Security officers—most of them with Federal Protective Service—gave sworn video depositions. “At least eight officers expressed confusion about the actions protected by the First Amendment, proper crowd control tactics and their agency’s own use of force policies,” OPB reports. The appeals court sided with the US Department of Justice, determining federal agents weren’t targeting particular non-violent protesters and hadn’t violated the protesters’ First Amendment rights, as their lawsuit alleged.
• Portland is often hailed as a bike-friendly city (whether or not that’s actually true is a convo for another time) which means those of you who yearn for more than just a casual stroll along the Eastbank Esplanade can find a number of events to suit your need for speed. If you’re ready to pedal hard, but still want an event that’s fun and not overly formal, check out our compilation of races for cyclists around the city and pick your poison.
• The Mercury’s latest Do This, Do That just dropped. Go forth and plan your week!
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• The alleged shooter who made an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner last weekend is 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, who appeared in court Monday. Allen, a teacher and engineer based in Torrance, California, sent a note to family just before he opened fire outside the ballroom where the event took place. “I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done,” Allen reportedly wrote in his note, apologizing to family, students and colleagues for what he was about to do. Allen criticized lax security at the event. He checked into the hotel where the event was being held and approached the area armed with a shotgun, handgun and knives before rushing a security checkpoint. Secret Service agents fired at him but did not hit him. He was taken into custody after falling to the ground right after shots rang out. Allen is charged with attempting to assassinate the president, along with weapons charges.
Which “nonchalantly going about my evening despite hysteria” guest are you? I’m torn between man continuing to finish salad as people flee from the room and lady who never lets an expensive bottle go to waste.
• As if he wasn’t already embarrassing enough, Pete Hegseth is apparently flying around in military helicopters with Kid Rock. The AP reports the two “flew in Army Apache attack helicopters at a base in Virginia on Monday, weeks after military pilotsdrew scrutiny for hovering near the entertainer’s Tennessee home.” The Pentagon is calling it a community relations event (how do you do community outreach in the sky?) as part of the Freedom 250 celebrations for ‘Merica’s 250th birthday.
• After voters in Virginia approved a redistricting plan that could favor Democrats in Congress, Republicans are challenging the process. PBS reports Virginia’s state Supreme Court will review whether the state Legislature followed constitutional requirements when it sent a redistricting plan to voters. The redistricting in Virginia plays a key role in November’s midterm elections, which will determine whether the U.S. House of Representatives maintains a Republican majority.
• The last surviving member of ’60s girl group The Ronettes, Nedra Talley Ross, has died. Ross, 80, died at her home. She was one of three members of the group, marked by their signature beehive hairdos and reverb-heavy “Wall of Sound” approach to pop. The Ronettes were known for hits like “Be My Baby” and “Walking in the Rain.” Talley Ross grew up in New York City and later formed the group with her cousins, Estelle Bennett and Veronica “Ronnie” Bennett. The group was given a record deal by Phil Spector in 1963, releasing their debut album the following year, to large commercial success. The group split up a few years later in 1967. The Ronettes were later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
And finally, a PSA:
