TopFeatured.com

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

Cooling stations are open to protect Portlanders from the coming three-day heatwave. Nathan Howard / Getty News

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! Been around the world and I, I, I… I can’t find my baby. I don’t know when, I don’t know why… why he’s gone away. LET’S GO TO PRESS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• It’s day one of the latest Oregon heatwave, kicking off with a high of 100 today, 106 tomorrow (!!), and 103 on Friday. Cooling centers are already open, and our Isabella Garcia has the deets on where to find them, and how to get free rides to get there. Keep cool, be kind to each other, and check on those neighbors!

The @NWS is forecasting hot weather across much of Oregon this week. 😓 #PNWHeatWave

Keep your friends and neighbors safe by learning more about the signs of heat-related illness and what to do if if you see someone with these symptoms: https://t.co/OwI01vgGKD pic.twitter.com/wfcZSlqUoZ

— OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) August 10, 2021

• On the heels of Multnomah County declaring mask requirements for indoor public spaces, Gov. Kate Brown is expected to announce today that the entire state will be under a similar indoor mask mandate in order to save lives and slow the spread of the Delta variant which is quickly swamping the state’s hospitals. Our Isabella Garcia has more.

• On Tuesday, the Oregon Health Authority announced 2,329 new positive COVID-19 cases in the state—the largest number since the beginning of the pandemic. Hospitalizations have also shot skyward to 635, and there are 164 people currently in intensive care units. NOT… GOOD.

Unless Oregonians take immediate action, there will not be an available hospital bed for many patients who need it for #COVID19 or other urgent issues like heart attacks, trauma accidents and strokes. https://t.co/GjEGG2MUZ6

— OHSU News (@OHSUNews) August 10, 2021

• Here’s why it’s important for people like YOU to vote, or run against conservatives who are taking over our state’s school boards: “Despite calls to hear from students and staff, Newberg school board approves ban on pride and Black Lives Matter flags.”

IN NATIONAL NEWS:

• In a disgusting resignation speech, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would be stepping down from the office in the wake of multiple sexual harassment allegations. Naturally, he didn’t take full responsibility for his actions, and made a last desperate play to preserve his legacy. It didn’t go over so great, but at last we’re rid of him. In much better news, Cuomo will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who will become the first woman to serve as governor of New York.

Breaking: the latest in ⁦@propublica⁩’s Secret Tax Files reveals how ⁦⁦@SenRonJohnson⁩ got hundreds of millions in tax breaks for two contributors who had given him $20 million for his campaign into the Trump tax bill. https://t.co/2bWOlLWegB

— Richard Tofel (@dicktofel) August 11, 2021

• GOOD NEWS: In a big win for President Biden, the Senate has approved the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion infrastructure blueprint which would patch the many holes in the country’s social safety net, funding family services, health, and environmental programs that Republicans hate, because they hate America. THE NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS: Sen. Joe Manchin is squawking that the price is too high, and already wants to slim it down.

• Today in HA-HA-HA: “YouTube suspends Sen. Rand Paul over a video falsely claiming masks are ineffective.”

• After a very suspicious ruling by the Texas Supreme Court, the Republican speaker of the house has signed arrest warrants for all the Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block the GOP’s voter suppression bills. (Can we officially call Texas a banana republic now?)

• Doctors are increasingly concerned about kids who are being hospitalized by the Delta variant of COVID, and the start of school in the middle of a nationwide infectious surge. That means the heat is on for the approval of the COVID vaccine for children 12 and under.

Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some asshole blocks it.

— christina applegate (@1capplegate) August 10, 2021

• REJOICE! Portland’s favorite food event is back! Sample 37 delicious, one-of-a-kind burgers from the greatest local restaurants (and only $6 each). It’s the Mercury’s PORTLAND BURGER WEEK, coming at you August 16-22!

• Look your best (and support local journalism) by purchasing a new Mercury T-shirt! Check out this month’s hot designs here!

• And now… THE WEATHER REPORT: It’s day one of this week’s heatwave with an icky high of 100 degrees. STAY COOL.

• And finally, okay… this is undeniably (and environmentally) catchy.

As a climate reporter I am often asked, what gives you hope? And the answer is, unequivocally, Gen Z climate tik tok pic.twitter.com/HYiC193zVZ

— Emily Atkin (@emorwee) August 10, 2021

[ Comment on this story ]

[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]