GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It’s the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being “the last to know,” then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email’s in-box… and then… YOUR HEAD.)
• Portland Trail Blazers Soon to Have New Owner After Years of Uncertainty
After years of uncertainty and months on the market, the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly have a new owner. So who is this guy, anyway? Let’s find out.
In this week’s sassy trivia quiz: Ugly (cute) dogs, athletic hogs, and what food should be declared Portland’s official “signature dish”? See how well YOU score! 🤓
• The Lawsuit that Broke the Council’s Back
Last week, Portland City Council approved nearly $4M to resolve legal claims involving the Police Bureau, including a wrongful death lawsuit. The police chief insists PPB has changed, but the settlements resurfaced questions about PPB’s training, annual budget, and overall accountability.
• The Best of the Worst of I, Anonymous
For 25 years the Mercury‘s I, Anonymous column has spotlighted Portland’s most petty, narcissistic, and hilarious rants and confessions. Check out the best (of the worst?) I, Anonymous submissions in our 25th anniversary issue! (Pick yours up today, babies!)
• The Willamette River is Full of Green Algae
This summer, Portlanders have made their way down to the shores of the Willamette River in droves. Now, a harmful algal bloom is putting the river fun on pause, at least for a while. Advocates are calling on the state to take action to prevent these toxic blooms from happening in the future.
• Nobody 2: Twice the Carnage, but Not Enough
Bob Odenkirk’s dad justice series kicks up the brutality with the help of Indonesian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto.
• Photo Essay: Rage Against the Room
Do you have “feelings” which can only be exorcized by SMASHING things? If so, photo essayist Corbin Smith has the RAGE ROOM for you!
• Portland’s Most Effective Channel For Addressing Community Concerns is a Back Door
Some Portlanders have been meeting frequently with city staff for more than three years through the Problem Solver program, meant to quickly address city livability issues. But the program has not been widely publicized, and basic information about the meetings is hard to come by.
• Album Review: Digging in the DRRT with Lost Lander
It’s a surprise and a relief when revisiting Lost Lander’s 2012 debut DRRT to discover that it’s deeper, darker, more desperate, and more resonant than remembered.
• My Eternity Evening With Francis Ford Coppola
Inside the iconic director’s Portland stop on his Megalopolis Tour—but first, a few tangents!
“My boyfriend masturbates to AI-created images of our friends. Cool or not cool?” Dan Savage issues a ruling in this week’s column!
WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN’. I hope you didn’t have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!
