Good morning, you! Here’s your personal Daily Drip update for Thursday, June 20, 2019. Summer begins tomorrow! But springtime gives us a slightly wet kiss for a parting gift, with showers today, and highs of just 65–the coolest day of the week. Sunrise arrives at 5:21 AM, with sunset 9:02 pm.
With the last day of spring comes the final day of school in Camas–and that’s the last of the districts where the year has dragged long past its expiration date, whether by strikes or by snow.
Iran has shot down an American Navy surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz, saying that it was above Iranian territorial waters. The US says nope, that’s international airspace, and both countries are racing to recover the wreckage.
Fighting words have no place on the floor of the Oregon Senate, but Senator Brian Boquist–reacting to suggestions that state police might be called to prevent a second walkout by his party’s members–uttered the following to Senate President Peter Courtney, as he elevated a cowboy-booted foot: “If you don’t think these boots are for walking, you’re flat wrong, Mr. President. And if you send the state police to get me, hell is coming to visit you personally.” The Republican Boquist quickly apologized but later told KGW’s Pat Dorris–in a sound bite that’s getting national play this morning–that his message to Oregon State Police, should they try to bring him back to the Capitol during a potential walk-out, is this: “Send bachelors and come heavily armed. I’m not going to be a political prisoner in the state.” That’s potentially violent rhetoric, and though it may play well in some parts of our fractured land, this is still Oregon, as Sen. Lew Frederick rose to say: “I am upset, outraged, to hear an extraordinary comment in public, a threat against members of this chamber, against a member of this body and the body itself,” Frederick said. “What I heard was a threat and the apology is not enough.”
What that’s all about it is primarily the Cap and Trade bill, which is now before the Senate, but also a bill tightening rules on initiative petitions. Courtney along with Gov. Kate Brown have hinted at the possibility of calling on Oregon State Police to compel Republicans to come back to the Capitol if they walk out. “We ask for, and take on responsibility, as elected representatives of the people of Oregon to show up and speak up on their behalf,” Brown said in a statement. “I am prepared to use all resources and tools available to me as governor to ensure that Oregonians are being served by their leaders.”
Strange times we live in, friends, and not strange in a good way.
Did you see that disgusting display by parents at a Little League game in Colorado, who were unhappy with a call made by a 13-year-old umpire, so they stormed the field and started punching each other? Shame on all of them.
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So what else is going on?
The PSU Board of Trustees votes today on a drastically-reduced 4.9% tuition increase–slashed from the 11% proposal, which drew howls from students, especially on the heels of a hefty exit package granted to an ousted president.
It’s NBA draft day. The Blazers hold the 25th overall pick.
The DA in the Dominican Republic says former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was shot and wounded by a hitman who mistook him for the real target, another man who was sitting at the same table.
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Happy birthday to Brian Wilson, born this day in 1942. Also, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richie, Nicole Kidman, and John Goodman.
British singer David Gray’s “Gold in a Brass Age” tour comes to the Keller tonight.
Chelsea Handler brings her “Life Will Be the Death of Me” comedy tour to a sold-out Revolution Hall tonight.
Rocking the Cowlitz Ballroom at Ilani tonight is the band Creedence Clearwater Revisited, which features the original CCR rhythm section of founding members and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo” Clifford.
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We truly need something good!!
–“This Island In Norway Wants To Be World’s First Time-Free Zone. Heading There Already!”
–“At the Raptors parade in Toronto a little boy named Landon got separated from his father. the people around him made signs, and chanted “we found Landon” so his father could meet up and find him. Luckily it worked and they were reunited!”
–“‘All 3 of us unanimously felt compassion’: First responders pay for homeless, disabled woman’s hotel to get her out of the rain”
–“Now you can check out a dog for happy hour”
–“‘They love you for good reasons.’ Tacoma kindergarten teacher to retire after 48 years”
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It’s only a month til the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing! This morning at 7:30, we’ll try to Stump Bruce with a question on just that topic.
Portland's Daily Drip 