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.)
• Oregon Legislature Breaks Longest Walkout in State’s History
Oregon legislative leaders announced a deal to bring Senate Republicans back to the capitol, breaking the longest walkout in the state’s history. Democrats made concessions on bills related to guns and abortion.
• POP QUIZ PDX
Get ready for the most FABULOUS edition yet of POP QUIZ PDX! This week’s sassy-ass trivia includes: assholes on parade, drunken Portland monuments, and it’s time to pick out your DRAG name, doll! 🌈
• Portland School District Considers Bringing Back Cops—At a Distance
Students and the school district’s leaders don’t want police back in schools, but a task force is recommending cops be positioned “near schools to help deter criminal activity.”
• An Oral History of Road House: The Play!
Between the 30 scene changes and unforgettable songs, like “Tai Chi Pants,” Road House: The Play! surrounds you in a cacophony of satire that skewers honor, violence, and what people in the ’80s thought was sex. It both is and is not the 1989 Road House.
• Jumping Onto Portland’s Epic Drag-A-Thon Is the Hottest Celebrity Trend
When we first broke the news of a Portland attempt to break the world record for longest drag artist stage show, many performers were yet unconfirmed. But now we have like 50 more names and they are all hot as heck.
• Four-Month Pause on MAX Red Line Service to PDX Starts This Weekend
If you’re planning to take transit to or from PDX in the next four months, be prepared: TriMet will halt service on the MAX Red Line from the Gateway Transit Center to the airport starting this weekend, temporarily replacing the train with a shuttle.
• THE TRASH REPORT
Let’s go, Trash Pandas! This week: Happy Trump indictment week, pop stars sure love their wildfire Instagram filters, and Ivanka suddenly embarrassed by her last name. 🙄
• Director Celine Song Talks About Her Stunning Debut Film, Past Lives
The Mercury sat down with director Celine Song to talk about her new movie “Past Lives”—one of the best films of the year as well as one of the best debuts in recent memory.
• HEAR IN PORTLAND
In this week’s music news: Nonbinary Girlfriend’s ambitious and lovely “Body,” emcee trio the Pharmacee drop a rowdy club banger, and stay for surprises at Shrista’s Late Lyrics.
• Police Drone Pilot Program to Lift Off
Portland Police is kicking off their new aerial drone program, which they say will be used to investigate crash scenes… and not to spy on those participating in protests.
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!