So that oil train that turned partway into a fireball a few weeks back? It was caused by track defects that state officials now say there's no preparing for. Which is a massive problem. Union Pacific, the railroad that operated the derailed train, has said it'll step up track inspections after the crash. According to the Oregon Dept. of Transportation, that doesn't remotely matter. ODOT has now joined the call for a stop to oil trains traveling through the gorge and elsewhere—at least until this gets sorted out.
ICYMI, there's going to be a new tax on construction in Portland, and it's going to pull in millions of dollars to pay for affordable housing. But the final package Portland City Council puts together is worth watching. Depending on how it classifies projects, it could be sending millions to the state that might be better used in Portland.
You can pretty much count on any public building that's even remotely underutilized is being looked at as a potential homeless shelter, these days. The latest? An old police precinct near E Burnside and 47th. Officials working to ease the homeless crisis dropped by unannounced to give the former Safeway a look-see recently, and cops were not pleased.
Portland held another vigil for the victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando, Thursday evening. Once again, there was massive turnout. Thanks for showing up.
Multnomah County passed new strictures on selling tobacco products yesterday. The $580-per-year license the county put into effect appears to be among the steepest in the country.
"The battle of Falluja will be over in no time.” Iraqi military forces are trying to take the city back from ISIS, and so far, it's going swimmingly.
A member of the British Parliament was gunned down yesterday, apparently by a 52-year-old man with more than a passing interest in neo-Nazi politics. A lot's still very unclear, but this sort of thing doesn't happen much over there.
Bernie Sanders stayed home while his senatorial colleagues were burning the midnight oil in a filibuster over gun control, because he had a VERY IMPORTANT announcement to prepare for. What was it? He's still in the race. Got it!
This NBA Finals thing is getting interesting. Down 3 games to 1 at one point , the Cleveland Cavaliers just forced a crucial game 7 against the Golden State Warriors—winner take all. Mercury news reporter and erstwhile Clevelander Doug Brown is peeing all over himself in spasmodic glee, to borrow a phrase.
DON'T YOU DIE ON US, MEAT LOAF!
Sixty-nine is a fine temp, as these things go.
