Here's your daily roundup of all the latest local and national news. (Like our coverage? Please consider making a recurring contribution to the Mercury to keep it comin'!)
• Last night a small group of protesters broke windows and set fires in the Multnomah County Building, home to the county government and the office of Sheriff Mike Reese. Various local officials spoke out about the fires—including County Chair Deborah Kafoury and new DA Mike Schmidt—though not much was mentioned about the police violence perpetrated on uninvolved protesters that followed. Our Alex Zielinski has more on the story.
Here's how county leaders have responded to last night's fire/smashing at the Multnomah Building: https://t.co/cSjoEniLnu
— Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) August 19, 2020
• Meanwhile the city's Independent Police Review board are opening up 40 investigations into violence and misconduct committed by Portland Police during the past months of protests.
• Related: Even as the coronavirus rages, police shootings across the nation remain constant and people of color continue to be disproportionately affected, according to a report from the ACLU.
• A Black trans woman, Aja Rhone-Spears, was stabbed and killed at a vigil in late July—and her mother is rightly concerned by a perceived lack of follow-up from Portland Police.
• Speaking of policing, TriMet wants opinions FROM YOU regarding what will make you feel safer while riding their trains and busses, now that PPB officers have been removed from the transit division. Our Blair Stenvick has more!
• Exciting "bubble" sports news: Last night our beloved Blazers took down top-seeded blowhards, the LA Lakers, with a score of 100-93, led by the estimable Dame Lillard who drained 34 points. Game two of the best-of-seven series starts Thursday night at 6 pm on ESPN.
Perspective: Why play sports in a pandemic? Damian Lillard is showing us. https://t.co/zgenRdNNUM
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 19, 2020
IN NATIONAL NEWS:
• The all-online Democratic National Convention continues dishing up big-name political wattage tonight, with Kamala Harris accepting the Vice Presidential nomination, along with drop-ins from Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, and super special guest star, Barack Obama. Oh yeah... also featured? A LOT of Trump shit-talking.
• Just like most of us predicted, Trump's corrupt Postmaster General has no plans to repair the damage he's already done (such as pulling mail boxes and postal sorting machines) in time for the election.
"New images obtained by ABC News appear to show mail sorting machines — critical pieces of equipment used to speed up the mail delivery process — sitting in parts in a postal facility in Portland, Ore." https://t.co/CAdlPzZyfz
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 19, 2020
• And just so you know, Trump is already laying out the groundwork—with help from ventriloquist puppet/Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany—that he will not accept the results of the upcoming election... unless, of course, he wins.
• Because he is an insecure, corrupt crybaby, Trump has called for a boycott of the Goodyear tire company for reportedly telling their employees not to wear MAGA and Blue Lives Matter attire.
Does “Roots” count as a home invasion movie? https://t.co/Pxyiw1KHkL
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) August 19, 2020
• Facebook—your grandma's favorite method of digesting unreliable news—is taking baby steps to block some (but not all) conspiracy spouting QAnon groups on their site, but is still allowing followers to spread disinformation and hate... so forgive me if we don't give Facebook a cookie.
• Want to support the Mercury AND look like a million bucks? Buy our newest "RESIST" T-shirt created by local artist Sloane Leong that comes in black, white, yellow, and teal and is perfect for anyone who wants to protest in style! BUT HURRY: The last day to buy one is Sunday, August 23!
• THE WEATHER REPORT: Mostly sunny skies tomorrow with a comfortable high of 85.
• And finally, "THAT'S it... THAT'S the tweet."
just a couple of blue check liberals having fun online pic.twitter.com/q7qyfq0y1o
— kylie brakeman (@deadeyebrakeman) August 18, 2020