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by Wm. Steven Humphrey

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’!)

• The Trump administration and Gov. Kate Brown have agreed to phase out and remove most federal officers from the downtown federal courthouse, the scene of nightly protests and violent retaliation from the feds. According to Brown, starting Thursday the Oregon State Patrol will “provide protection for free speech and the security of the exterior of the courthouse with the Federal Protective Service.” A small contingent of feds will guard the inside of the building—but how will this affect the policing of protests going forward? Our Blair Stenvick asks the experts and provides the analysis.

Chad Wolf, acting Homeland Security secretary, says there will be a “robust presence of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland,” and that they will coordinate with the Federal Protective Service. Gives no indication Portland officials were part of talkshttps://t.co/VoM2qflY7F
— Everton Bailey Jr. (@EvertonBailey) July 29, 2020

• GOOD NEWS: Black leaders have convinced Gov. Kate Brown and other state officials to add a slate of racial justice bills to the upcoming special legislative session that will call for anti-racist reform in housing, health care, policing, and eliminate legalized slavery from the state’s constitution, which—YEP!—is still in there.

• Don’t miss this fascinating and scary report on the effects that the feds’ tear gas is having on the menstrual cycles on some Portlanders.

• The ACLU has filed another lawsuit against the Portland Police, this time for livestreaming protests and allegedly gathering information on citizens who haven’t been accused of a crime.

Nearly half of all Oregonians don’t approve of the job local police are doing overall. A huge majority don’t approve of how they have responded to protests. But there’s less consensus from the public on what is to be done, @CelinaTebor
reports. https://t.co/eNOQt1GyNJ
— Molly Harbarger (@MollyHarbarger) July 29, 2020

• A former Portland cop, who resigned after brutally beating a man thereby costing the city $500,00, is now accused of sexually harassing a co-worker.

• Portland City Council is voting today on whether to send a measure that would overhaul police oversight to the ballot in November. By most measures, the current system is ineffective and, as many have called it, “toothless.”

• Oregon racked up another 8 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, which is the second highest single-day reporting thus far. 304 new positive cases were also reported. The US death toll has now reached 150,000 and unless things drastically change, we can expect hundreds of thousands more.

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• The relief stimulus plan that should’ve been finalized quite awhile ago has hit the skids again after Republicans are unable to get on the same page. This includes Trump who is now pushing back against “big bailout money” for cities, adding “It’s a shame to reward badly run radical left Democrats with all of this money they’re looking for.” Just another impeachable moment for this utterly corrupt president.

• More racist dog-whistling from Trump who after rescinding the Fair Housing Act had this to say on Twitter: “I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood.” We hear you loud and clear!

This is your reminder that low income housing doesn’t affect property values or crime. In fact, studies show that new low income housing actually can increase property values. This trope is based completely on stereotypes about affordable housing and the people who live in it. https://t.co/xNa0c5tq3J
— J. Rosie Tighe (@jrosietighe) July 29, 2020

• Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai of Google, and Tim Cook of Apple all faced the scrutiny of a congressional panel today over alleged antitrust shenanigans. Naturally Republicans are more concerned with “perceived bias” against them on the platforms, and want to continue being corrupt without being publicly mocked for it. Good luck with that!

• Congrats, Wall of Moms! Your movement that started in Portland is now going national, including California, New Mexico, Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Chicago, and Maryland.

• Trump has admitted he did not bring up the subject of paid bounties on the heads of American soldiers while on a recent call with Vladimir Putin… because why would he?

• According to Minneapolis police, the “Umbrella Man” who was seen smashing windows during the city’s Black Lives Matter protests has been identified as a white supremacist who was trying to incite a race riot.

Rep. Louie Gohmert thinks that it’s possible that wearing a mask gave him COVID. pic.twitter.com/kucy119Pcv
— Charlie Gile (@CharlieGileNBC) July 29, 2020

U.S. Attorney General to be tested for COVID-19 after being in contact with Congressman Gohmert https://t.co/DJlxkZW3nf pic.twitter.com/63ZYQmFXTC
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 29, 2020

• Place yer bets! Joe Biden’s campaign says that the candidate will be announcing his VP running mate sometime next week.

• THE WEATHER REPORT: Expect another warm day tomorrow with a high of 93—but the weekend will cool down to the low/mid 80s.

• You need some laughs, right? Then get your tickets now for the I, Anonymous livestream show featuring funny-as-all-get-out comedians including Arlo Weierhauser, Sean Jordan, and David Gborie coming at you TONIGHT Wednesday, July 29!

• And finally, I know I just gave you the weather report… but here is a better weather report.

WEATHER REPORT! ☔️ pic.twitter.com/J4cm8ed2Wf
— ANGRY GRANDMA (@Breathecarolan) July 8, 2020

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