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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋
After yesterday’s frigid afternoon (comparatively, okay??) and today’s early showers, the temps begin creep, creep, creeping back up thanks to a partly sunny day with a high of 78, and back up to a hotsy-totsy 90 by Wednesday! And now, here’s your hotsy-totsy dose of NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Just when you thought Portland’s transportation budget woes couldn’t get worse—they got worse. And it’s thanks to buffoonish state legislators who were unable to pass their sprawling transpo budget plan before the door slammed shut on their latest session. And now the city is forced to scramble to dig up replacement funds to take care of such important local projects as streetlight repairs, traffic signal upgrades, and fixing potholes. Portland’s new city council is on the case, however, and have adopted a resolution directing city staff to develop a plan for alternative transportation and infrastructure funding—hopefully ready by this December. Our Taylor Griggs lays out the details… and what’s at stake.
With state and federal funding in flux, Portland’s longstanding transportation funding problem is particularly dire right now. Portland City Council took initial action this week to find alternative, sustainable funding streams for the city’s transportation system.
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) July 19, 2025 at 11:16 AM
• Reminiscent of the old days. thousands of people turned out to get loud and proud yesterday at Portland’s annual Pride Parade and waterfront festival. And while Oregon is pleased to have some of the strongest LGBTQ+ protections in the nation, the ugly, orange specter of Trump still hangs over the proceedings, given his hateful stance toward our people. That said, the parade showed that resistance is alive, well, and absolutely fabulous.
Happy Pride to all my fellow socialist bicons out there 💜💙🩷
— pnwpolicyangel aka Angelita 👼 (@pnwpolicyangel.bsky.social) July 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
• Firefighters responded to seven suspicious blazes early yesterday morning in the Irving neighborhood near Northeast 7th and Fremont. While they were extinguished, the fires appeared random, burning a tent trailer, utility shed, a couple of tree stumps, and dumpsters. Police are currently searching for suspects.
• Aaaand in case you missed it:
Councilor Dan Ryan’s office had controversial local podcaster Andy Chandler on staff for 3 days before realizing Chandler’s personal views were “not in alignment” with that of Ryan and his team. Chandler frequently platforms anti-trans guests and lambasts DEI as racial discrimination.
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) July 17, 2025 at 4:29 PM
• RIP to James Kai Louie, the co-owner of the classic Portland eatery Huber’s and the grandnephew of the restaurant’s original chef, who also developed Huber’s world-famous Spanish Coffee recipe. He died at the age of 79, and will absolutely be missed.
• In better restaurant news, the owner of the 32-year-old classic Portland joint, Higgins, announced last week they were going to be forced to close due to lack of business—but! Longtime fans of the restaurant rode to the rescue giving the eatery a jolt of customers, making it currently very hard to get a reservation. A reminder that if you love a local restaurant, don’t take them for granted!
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Today in the ridiculously idiotic world of King Fool: President Donald “Epstein’s pal” Trump continues his reign of racist terror by threatening to torpedo a deal for a new NFL stadium for the Washington Commanders football team—that is unless they change their name back to the racist slur, Redskins. According to a recent poll of fans and residents, the majority of people like the “Commanders” name just fine. Meanwhile the president’s current disapproval rate continues to rise, now at 55 percent. (Perhaps he should change his name to “commander”?)
Jeffrey Epstein’s first accuser says she warned the FBI on two occasions to look into Trump’s conduct as an associate of the disgraced sex offender.
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast.bsky.social) July 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM
• Speaking of polls going down the toilet: “Over half of Americans say ‘big, beautiful bill’ going to raise health care costs,” and “Nearly two-thirds disapprove of Trump’s handling of inflation.”
• Meanwhile Trump’s attempts to cut research funding for Harvard is going before a judge this morning, after the president tried to force the university to make changes to its admissions and programs, after falsely accusing the school of not doing enough to curb antisemitism.
Monday night will be Stephen Colbert’s first new episode since CBS shocked the media sector by announcing “The Late Show” will end next May.
— CNN (@cnn.com) July 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM
• And another one bites the dust: Technology company CEO Andy Byron has announced his resignation after a hilarious “kiss cam” incident where the married man was caught snuggling on camera at a Coldplay concert with the company’s HR chief. (But is it a HR violation when you’re consensually fucking HR? 🤔) In any case… yay! WE GOT ANOTHER ONE! 🙌
• Elsewhere in “privileged people whose employees are surely thrilled”: “Ellen DeGeneres says she moved to Britain because of Trump.”
• And finally… I’m heading off for vacation tomorrow, but like this lady, I’ll also be getting my exercise!
@cristianmarius62
