GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.)


• New Research Finds No Link Between Measure 110 and Overdose Deaths

A study published this week found no evidence of a correlation between Oregon's Measure 110 and overdose deaths. Researchers note that fatal overdoses are on the rise nationally, due to fentanyl, but not because of public policy changes.

JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES

• POP QUIZ PDX!

See if you can correctly answer this week's sassy-ass trivia Qs about Dame's exit, sketchy police chiefs, and co-worker robots (stealing your sandwich out of the break room fridge).

KOYA79 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

• Facing a $32 Million Shortfall, PBOT Leaders Issue Grim Forecast for Portland’s Transportation Future

Budget issues that have long plagued Portland’s transportation bureau (PBOT) are catching up to it. Without immediate help from City Council, hundreds of jobs are at stake, as well as beloved community programming and basic maintenance operations.

Taylor Griggs

• THE TRASH REPORT

Let's go, trash pandas! 🦝 It's time to dig into the hottest gossip. This week: Striking strikers, missing jets, and Chris Pine doing hot yoga (pant, pant, pant)!

GERALD MATZKA / GETTY IMAGES

• Eight Fascinating Things We Learned in Poison Waters’ Drag History Class

The PCC class taught by Darcelle XV Showplace co-host Poison Waters goes back far further than her 35 years of drag performance—we took the class to give you a taste.

Suzette Smith

• Portland Police Union Settles False Information Lawsuit Brought By Former Commissioner Hardesty

Hardesty's lawsuit stemmed from 2021 leak of false information by police and the police union that erroneously implicated her in a hit-and-run crash. A settlement was reached after a judge ruled the union president's actions were not protected speech.

City of Portland

• HEAR IN PORTLAND

NYC rap duo Armand Hammer heat up Polaris Hall. Plus, PDX Pop Now! for fall, and Dame D.O.L.L.A shot a video in Portland's Rose Test Garden with Rexx Life Raj. Get your hot music news here!

ALEXANDER RICHTER

• Oregon Cartoonist Breena Bard Draws a Climate Change Story From a Middle-School View

A new graphic novel from Oregon Book Award-winning cartoonist Breena Bard takes on climate change and shows practical ways kids can participate in activism—even if they don't want to march.

COURTESY LITTLE, BROWN INK, BREENA BARD

• Red Door's Streamlined Evolve Experience Is Ready for the Road

This hot button theatrical production about police (and the public they interact with) is not trying to entertain. That doesn't mean it's not engrossing.

RED DOOR PROJECT

• Don't Miss the Next Hilarious TWO EVILS Comedy Game Show

Get your tickets NOW for the next (and hilarious) edition of TWO EVILS—the live comedy game show! Hosted by Arlo Weierhauser and Kate Murphy... plus super special guest KYLE KINANE! 😍😈

• SAVAGE LOVE

Should one warn their sex partner before doing poppers? Dan Savage sniffs out the truth.

Joe Newton

WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!