🌱Multnomah Law Enforcement Challenge Coins + Banning Public Autopsies

To the relief of almost everyone, it is Friday once again! Time to put a close to another week and head into a much-deserved weekend. Here's what's going on today.

First, today's weather:

We get a break from the rain on this cloudy day with a high of 52.

Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. An illustration of a burning Multnomah County Justice Center and a secretive abbreviation are among the content of a law enforcement challenge coin now being reviewed by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Professional Standards Unit. Several 2020 Portland protest challenge coins were located in a law enforcement challenge coin Facebook group infiltrated by a group of local activists. The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office-specific coin design can be sourced to Daniel Szarowski, a corrections deputy for MCSO, activists believe. Challenge coins are commemorative medallions popular among law enforcement, often referencing particular events, agencies or units within agencies. (Street Roots News)
2. It's a big project, but it needs to be done. The more than 100-year-old Interstate Bridge spanning the Columbia River needs to be replaced to fit the needs of a growing region, and both Washington and Oregon have promised to share the cost. Not only is the bridge a major connector for freight from Canada to Mexico, but without it, the transport of goods could come to a standstill. Ultimately the bridge replacement could cost $5 billion, and some have said tolls will be needed to supplement. (KATU)
3. Seniors who live at an apartment complex in North Portland where an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease occurred last year will receive financial help to relocate. “While I do appreciate what they're doing to help us relocate, it doesn't change the fact that this has been my home for almost 13 years,” said Marilyn Hasan, who lives at Rosemont Court. On Wednesday, Hasan was packing up and getting prepared to leave her life at the apartment building. She said what was especially difficult is the thought that she’ll be leaving the people she's come to see as family and friends who also live at Rosemont Court. (KGW)
4. In a break with usual practice, the Democrats’ House Majority PAC is spending $1 million to back one candidate in the competitive, open primary for Oregon’s newly created 6th District. That candidate, Carrick Flynn, is a political outsider who grew up in Vernonia and attended Yale Law School (and has rarely voted in Oregon). Traditionally, the PAC supports Democrats against Republicans in the general election, so the committee is now under fire from U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and the Hispanic Caucus campaign arm, Bold PAC, as well as six of the other Democrats running for the seat, including three women of color. “I haven’t endorsed in this race,” Merkley wrote on Twitter, “but it’s flat-out wrong for House Majority PAC to be weighing in when we have multiple strong candidates vying for the nomination.” (Willamette Week)
5. The widow of a man whose autopsy was performed in front of a live audience in downtown Portland spoke at a Multnomah County Board meeting Thursday morning. Commissioners will be considering outlawing autopsies performed for a paying audience, and making each violation of that law punishable by a $1,000 a day. This comes after a public autopsy back in Oct. 2021. The man’s body was donated for medical research, but his family says what happened is not what they intended. The event was put on by a company called Death Science and was billed as a “Cadaver Lab Class” held at the Marriot off Southwest Naito Parkway for a paying audience. (KPTV)

Today in Portland:

• The Urban League of Portland will be presenting a virtual Governor's Race Candidate Forum. This is the first of a series of Virtual Candidate Forums for the 2022 election season. Tonight's forum will feature candidates Julian Bell, George L. Carrillo, Tina Kotek and Tobias Read. Moderated by Marcus Mundy, former President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland. Register online for this free event. 6:00 - 7:30 PM.
• Prestige Wrestling returns to Portland for its massive 5-year anniversary event. Witness the biggest stars in professional wrestling do battle at the Kliever Armory in NE Portland. The event features Athena, Taya Valkyrie, Alex Shelley, Alex Zayne, "Filthy" Tom Lawlor, Clark Connors, Funnybone, C4 and much more. Tickets available online. 7:00 - 10:00 PM.
• Nerf Herder will be at Dante's in downtown Portland. Pioneers of the late 90s Pop-Punk and Geek Rock movements, Nerf Herder are perhaps best known for their powerful theme to the iconic Joss Whedon TV show, Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Joining them will be CHIXDIGGIT, Capgun Heroes, Ninjas With Syringes. Get your tickets online. Doors open at 8:00 PM.
• The Ukeladies will be playing at Mississippi Pizza in North Portland. Ukeladies PDX are a frisky Portland-based gaggle of gals offering a multi-genre, cavalcade of ukuleles, trashcan bass, washboard percussion and lovely lady voices. They cover all the hits and more!! Join them for an evening of songs, silliness and mask-less smiles and come sing your face off! Tickets available online. 8:00 - 11:30 PM.
• It's 90s Hip Hop & RnB Night at The Get Down in SE Portland. Come and get down with Portland's own DJ O.G.ONE for a 90s Hip Hop and RnB dance party! David Jackson, aka O.G.ONE is one of the industries most respected DJs. With over 25+ years of experience, O.G.ONE is considered a legendary Staple in the Pacific Northwest, and his resume speaks for itself. With support from: The Mighty Juggernaut and DJ O.G.TOO, Hosted by Dj Klyph. Tickets available online. Doors open at 8:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Portland Audubon: "📣Want to help protect 826 acres of wildlife habitat in Portland? Please take a few moments and email the Metro Council to let them know you support protecting West Hayden Island as one of the most significant natural resource sites and ..." (Instagram)
• Portland Farmers Market: "How's your spring garden doing after all that crazy April weather? 75 and sunny last week, then 4 inches of snow on Monday, followed by a wild hail storm on Tuesday!?! Oh, Springtime in the PacNW - every year, you surprise us. Looking for some a..." (Facebook)
• COMING SOON! Geometric wizard Xavi has transformed a drab space in SE Portland in to a funkadelic spot to get down! His colorful abstract aesthetic was the perfect fit to bring this new Portland venue to life. The Get Down is a versatile event and music space, equipped with state of the art sound and lighting equipment. (Instagram)
• Many Portlanders have lost trust in the city’s ability to protect them and their communities, making it even more daunting to solve those challenges. Meanwhile, rock-bottom morale among police officers, who will remain the backbone of Portland’s public safety system for the foreseeable future, has helped fuel a record number of vacancies within the bureau. The Oregonian/OregonLive asked the five major candidates running for Portland City Council in May about how they would use their role inside City Hall to help combat these troubling trends. (The Oregonian)
• Does Portland really need 12 city councilors? Answering more questions about the charter commission. How did they land on that number, and how will the city pay for it? A charter commission member explains. (YouTube)
• This is another video from the Oregon Zoo's Tiny Goats series, where they take the cutest of goats to meet other zoo inhabitants. In this one, the tiny goats meet the not-so-tiny mountain goats for a goat-on-goat encounter. (YouTube)

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Ah, Fridays! I feel more relaxed already, now that it's here. I'll be sliding into this glorious weekend shortly, but I'll still be back tomorrow to get you all set for Saturday.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.