It’s the dark of the moon on the sixth of June….well, actually, it’s a half moon, on this Wednesday, promising sunny skies, highs of 75, with a solar ETA of 5:23 and ETD of 8:56. Sunny tomorrow, too, but the weekend brings an unseasonably cool and wet disturbance, and all the petals and blooms will be freshly rinsed for the Grand Floral Parade. Do floats float? (The parade will be fine. Matt Zaffino on KGW says there might be a break between the ran and the showers, but either way, we’re Oregonians. We handle rain like a boss. Like buying tickets to watch the parade from the comfort of the Coliseum).
America and its allies stormed the beaches of Normandy on this day in 1944, a hallowed date in history, when wise and cooperative leadership, unbreakable alliances, and individual courage, all supported by a unified nation, overpowered the forces of evil incarnate.
Portland takes on a crisp, squared-away naval town look today, as the fleet begins arriving for Rose Festival’s big weekend. I count eight vessels inbound, down one from a year ago, since the USS Independence canceled for Mar-a-lago duty. Kidding! As always during fleet arrival, bridge lifts will be an issue, as will a welcoming delegation from Mary’s or someplace, but you know how to navigate around that. And it’s Junior Parade Day, part of the end-of-school ritual in these parts, and great fun for thousands of kidlets.
Bullets flew but nobody was hit, that we know of, during a shootout between people in a dark sedan and a small SUV. They exchanged gunfire in two Southeast neighborhoods separated by two miles, beginning near Mt. Tabor and winding up on Cesar Chavez, a few blocks off Holgate. Who, why? Dunno.
The family of Quanice Hayes is suing the City of Portland. He was the African-American teen who was shot and killed by police last year, and a fake gun was found nearby. The family lawyer says the 17-year old was trying to obey police commands, but that the officers’ own grand jury testimony indicated contradictory orders were coming from different cops, and that Hayes death resulted from both excessive force and inadequate training. No comment from the city.
The father and son fishermen who got lost near Breitenbush are home safe.
At long last, traffic signals will be put in this year at the ramp from the Sunset eastbound to Cedar Hills Blvd, which locals refer to as the Left Turn of Death. Washington County has an open house on this decades-delayed project tonight at Cedar Park Middle School.
Latest slap between allies: Mexico imposes a 20 percent tariff on Washington State apples. How do you like them trade wars?
The U.N. human rights office is demanding the Trump regime “immediately halt” its policy of separating kids from their parents after crossing U.S. border with Mexico. Border agents, meantime, say they are running out of room to house the (hopefully temporarily orphaned) children. NPR says they have over 10,000 of them.
The Washington Post reports that the White House may grant a presidential pardon to eastern Oregon ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, whose second imprisonment on arson charges inspired the Bundys’ armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. By the way, if that topic interests you, you must hear the Bundyville podcast from OPB.
If you’ve been to the British Museum in London, you’ve marveled at the cultural and archeological treasures from around the world and across the millenia…and then perhaps you’ve wondered why they’re not in their home countries and cultures. Now, a collection of artifacts from Oregon tribes that have languished in storage at the British Museum for over a century have been returned, and are on display at the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde. It’s part of an effort by tribes around the new world to reclaim their heritage.
The newest Pacific Northwest property taxpayer is one Oprah Winfrey, who’s closed on a home on Orcas Island. Forty acres, 10,000 square feet, 8.3 million bucks…the place is beyond gorgeous. The listing photos look like a Thomas Kinkade painting. (Her place in Montecito was a muddy mess this past winter. Wonder if she’s bailing to head north).
Lava from Kilauea has destroyed hundreds more homes, and has now filled an entire bay, creating a new peninsula on the Big Island. And more people are fleeing Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire.
This is the day fifty years ago that RFK died of the bullets he took the night before in Los Angeles. But his words are alive, including these, which he spoke to a devastated crowd in Indianapolis, moments after he announced the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:
“What we need in the US is not division; what we need in the US is not hatred; what we need in the US is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black.”
Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, and eminently quotable fountain of wisdom. A few: “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.” “The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” Brilliant! He should record those, and put them on a 1-800 number. Dial-a-Lama!
Florida State beat the Washington Huskies to win the college softball national title.
NBA Finals Game 3 tonight at 6. Members of both teams say they will skip any White House event.
I admit that I, too, am shaky on the lyrics to “God Bless America.”
Let’s hear from the Dripsters assigned to cover the James Taylor concert last night! Did thee people get showered?
Tony Bennett is at the Schnitz tonight. No spoilers! Well OK if you insist. My research of local reviews and setlists indicates that he puts on a hell of a show, even at 91, for cryin’ out loud, and: He might sing a song about a city in California.
(Tony Bennett seems like a great guy. Painter and sketch artist. Craig and I had him on K103 by phone one morning to plug his stuff. I answered, and this husky voice goes, Yo! John! It’s Tony Benedetto!).
Something good?
–“Boy, 11, prevents 3-year-old girl from drowning in ‘miracle’ rescue
–“India policewoman praised for breastfeeding abandoned baby newborn and possibly saving his life
–“Star Trek actor donates his earnings from Trek conventions to Doctors without Borders
–“High school students surprise ‘lunch lady’ with car
–“Bill Gates is giving Factfulness to everyone who’s getting a degree from a U.S. college or university this spring. (It’s a book that Gates says is packed with advice about how to see the world clearly.
Oh! One more Dalai Lama quote before I go: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Time to buzz into the radio world. Dripsters, take the wheel!
Portland's Daily Drip 