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GOOD AFTERNOON, PORTLAND! Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday! And on this Friday you can expect mostly sunny skies and a very pleasant high of 55âbut showers return this weekend, so get your sunny sun TODAY. Now... LET'S DO SOME NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
⢠If you're a person who thinks Portland needs a lot more cops (and if so, I'd encourage you to read the Mercury more often), you will be very happy to learn that the new contract between the city and the Portland Police contains just thatâbut the city is getting a lot out of the deal, too. Our Alex Zielinski has more.
To get some new accountability measures into Portland's newly proposed police union contract, the city had to hand something over in return. It's a negotiation, after all: https://t.co/eedrekX3PM
â Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) February 17, 2022
⢠As you may have heard, former NYT columnist (and fair weather Oregon resident) Nick Kristof was booted out of the governor's race yesterday after the state Supremes ruled that he didn't meet residency requirements. BUT! Everyone wants to know one thing: What does this decision mean for all the other white, entitled, and unqualified white men of Oregon? Our Wm. Steven Humphrey (hey, that's me) has a smart-assy essay that could answer just that.
⢠The family of Jenoah Donald, a Black Vancouver man who was shot and killed by Clark County deputies during a traffic stop a year ago, are suing the officers, claiming the pull-over was illegal and they unnecessarily escalated the situation.
⢠Oregon's Dept. of Transportation is moving ahead with their plan to expand the I-5 corridor towards Harriet Tubman Middle School, but, but, BUT! So far the community is split on whether or not to force the kids to move to avoid pollutants. Our Isabella Garcia has the latest updates.
With the I-5 freeway set to move even closer to Harriet Tubman Middle School, local leaders and PPS officials are looking to relocate the student body. Not all school community members are on board.https://t.co/F7HOAkGsyL
â Portland Mercury đ (@portlandmercury) February 17, 2022
⢠More woes for Dutch Bros! Co-founder Travis Boersma received more unwelcome news about his proposed "entertainment and gambling" venue in Grants Passâthe governor has put pressure on the Oregon Racing Commission to deny horse racing machines at the casino. The casino idea was already nixed by the DOJ, since such venues are only supposed to be on tribal lands or run by the state. Looks like Travis might be stuck selling super-sugary caffeine bombs like Dutch Bros. "Double Rainbro Rebel Energy Drink." (Try it if you want to see your teeth hop out of your mouth and run for their lives.)
Fairview, Oregon is taking a stab at being home to the worldâs tallest fork.
â HereisOregon (@HereIsOregon) February 18, 2022
On Tuesday, a new 37-foot, 2.5-ton fork sculpture was delivered to the future home of the Fairview Food Plaza. #HereisOregon
Read more here: https://t.co/KE7kwOzdAz pic.twitter.com/vcAQ7PAmhI
⢠The youth of today (also known as the "Now Generation") is flipping ass over teakettle for the Portland-bred indie rock sounds of MAITA, and our Jenni Moore has a profile and review of her new album!
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
⢠Russia, despite their lies about deescalating the situation in Ukraine, are actually escalating the fuck out of the situation, by playing war games, inserting up to 190,000 troops into the area, and testing nuclear-capable missiles. NOT... GOOD.
President Joe Biden will speak at 4:00 p.m. ET Friday to give "an update on our continued efforts to pursue deterrence and diplomacy, and Russia's buildup of military troops on the border of Ukraine," according to the White House https://t.co/3MS6Sx9qBo
â CNN (@CNN) February 18, 2022
⢠As promised, Canadian cops began arresting dingbat anti-vax organizers as well as their fellow dingbats and towing away their vehicles, after refusing to leave the capitol building in Ottawa.
An outsize number of Covid-related deaths are occurring in the U.S. among people who are unvaccinated or unboosted, writes @DLeonhardt. Research shows more Republicans than Democrats or independents have needlessly died of Covid in recent weeks. https://t.co/ocY2yWQ6kH
â The New York Times (@nytimes) February 18, 2022
⢠A judge has ordered Trump and his evil brood (Ivanka and Don Jr.) to answer the New York AG's questions under oath regarding his shady business dealings. (Rest assured, Trump's lawyers are teaching him and the kids how to plead the fifth.)
⢠Former Minnesota officer Kim Potter is scheduled to be sentenced today after being found guilty of manslaughter when she allegedly mistook her handgun for her taser, shooting and killing 20-year-old Black man, Daunte Wright. A first degree manslaughter charge in the state usually results in a 7-year sentence.
Kimberly Potter's sentencing is now underway.
â Star Tribune (@StarTribune) February 18, 2022
Katie Bryant, Daunte Wright's mother, said April 11 of last year was the worst day of her life.
"[Potter] took our baby boy with a single gunshot to his heart, and she shattered mine."https://t.co/Hp4ImhnTfc pic.twitter.com/jPwVexf9WS
⢠Today in "the Mercury has a new nickname": "Melania Trump Calls Media âDream Killersâ for Accurately Reporting Her Murky Fundraising."
⢠If you think you're a smarty-pants (and you probably are), test your knowledge of local scandals, elks, and dance crazes of the '90s with this super fun edition of POP QUIZ PDX!
⢠Itâs back for 2022! Americaâs sexiest, funnest dirty movie fest, HUMP! Coming at ya starting February 24 at Revolution HallâGET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
⢠And finally, look I get the need for safety... but these airport security guys are just a little too nosy for my taste!
Going through airport security pic.twitter.com/SRdiEoEyKn
â Kim Quindlen (@kimquindlen) February 14, 2022