You guys remember that Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupier who was so mad that people had been sending dildos? His name is John Ritzheimer, and he pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge completely unrelated to throwing away perfectly good sex toys (if that indeed was their ultimate fate). He might serve 2.5 years in prison for the rest of the stuff he did.
Of course lead problems aren't limited to the water at Portland Public Schools. The first batch of data released by Beaverton schools shows at least 12 schools have water fixtures that spout elevated lead levels. Still, the ratio of lead-tainted fixtures at Beaverton's relatively new school buildings (which receive less corrosive water than Portland's) appears to be far lower than PPS' situation.
*Sad Price Is Right tuba tune* Google Fiber isn't coming to Portland after all.
That puzzlingly vacant lot just north of the Broadway Bridge's west end isn't going to be vacant for long. Apartments are coming.
It looked like Bahamian springer Shaunae Miller had the women's 400-meter won, to me. But she decided she was better off diving across the finish line than closing out the race upright. It worked, and it was legal.
DID YOU SEE THIS FINISH?!@Hey_ItsShaunae dives to beat out @AllysonFelix in the 400m. https://t.co/LJf9pvPIbVhttps://t.co/o3SIQikYeP
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 16, 2016
The Trib's got a story about how officials are turning their eye on the city's poker clubs—specifically calling them out for not paying dealers an hourly wage (a trick that helps clubs get around state constitutional regulations on non-tribal gambling establishments). The card dens might be on their way out.
There's a new sheriff in town tomorrow. Re-meet Mike Reese.
Polls are lookingworse and worse for Donald Trump, but his campaign is insisting he can turn things around by November 8. The problem? November 8 isn't when many voters vote, the NYT points out. Minnesota and South Dakota start voting already on Sept. 23. In Multnomah County, ballots go out beginning October 19.
By the way, the Oregon Senate's top Republican has told reporters he refuses to talk about Trump for the duration of the election. Smart.
DISASTER NEWS: Here's the latest on the deadly flooding playing out in Louisiana.
And did you read the Oregonian's huge story on the events that helped the largest wildfire in eight decades reach such massive proportions? It's an interesting read.
Let's hope Northern California is absorbing some of the lessons from the piece. It's ablaze, and deputies have now arrested an alleged arsonist in connection with a 4,000-acre fire north of San Francisco.
Speaking of dry conditions: We might see a record-breaking heat wave later in the week. Ugh.
Addendum: THESE DUDES