It's been exactly one year since an Amtrak derailment in Washington killed three people. Credit: STEPHEN BRASHEAR/GETTY IMAGES

Stay up to date on Portland news and politics. Looking for fun? Here are the best Things to Do in Portland today.

Its been exactly one year since an Amtrak derailment in Washington killed three people.
It’s been exactly one year since an Amtrak derailment in Washington killed three people. STEPHEN BRASHEAR/GETTY IMAGES

Good morning, Portland! There’s a lot of weather today, more than usual. In fact, Portland is officially on flood watch—check here to keep tabs on the situation. Regardless, you’ll want to bundle up in a raincoat and rain pants, if you’re smart enough to have those.

Here are the headlines.

Off-Track: It has been exactly one year since an Amtrak Cascades train derailed in Washington, killing three and injuring dozens. OPB caught up with some of the survivors to see how they’re coping—and detailed what Amtrak is doing to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

A Meme By Any Other Name: The New York Times has more information on the specific memes Russians used to derail the 2016 election. You can click this link here to see them, or you can visit your least favorite relative’s and most woke friend’s respective Facebook pages for basically the same stuff.

That’s Quite a Participation Trophy: If the name Martha McSally rings a bell for you, it’s probably because she lost to Democratic Senator-elect Kyrsten Sinema in the Arizona senate race last month. But McSally isn’t going to let a little thing like losing get in her way, because Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is appointing her to the other Arizona senate seat. Inspirational, I guess? Motivational, perhaps?

PPB Needs Help: The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) is accepting applications for a new position: Homeless Community Liaison. The liaison will not be a sworn officer, but they will train officers on how to work with people experiencing homelessness, and represent PPB on homeless issues.

Vape Life?: A new report released yesterday shows that America’s teens are vaping at unprecedented rates. This information comes just as a Portland vape shop owner is suing the Oregon Health Authority for placing labeling restrictions on vape products that he sees as violating his free speech. On a related note: Do you understand why teens used to like Joe Camel? Please share any enlightening information you may have in the comments.

One Billboard in Portland, Oregon: Curious what that “Yes, There Are Black People in Portland” billboard on MLK is all about? Rapper Aminé, who’s responsible for the billboard, doesn’t like to talk to the press—but here’s what The Stranger’s new art critic has to say about it.

Honey, We Shrunk Some Cancer Drugs: MIT has! created! a! shrinking! machine! Researchers recently announced that they have a method to shrink any “simple structure” down to one 1,000th of its original size. The invention could have big implications for treating diseases like cancer.

Oregon: Good At Weather! Bad At Drama!

Blair Stenvick is a former news reporter and culture writer for the Portland Mercury.