Good morning, Portland! After a gray start, the skies should clear this afternoon with sunshine and highs near 75. A fine day, unless you’re the sun itself—forever destined to be a glowing plasma ball rather than the cowboy it secretly dreams of becoming. Now, let’s get to the news.
Local News
Fall Arts Guide Is Here
First, some shameless celebration: the Mercury’s Fall Arts Guide drops today! Edited by Suzette Smith, this guide features everything from an oral history of the legendary Satyricon nightclub to interviews with Stacey Abrams and Linda Austin, plus the season’s best films, food, and even a comedy-meets-wrestling show. Pick it up at more than 500 spots around Portland.
Flags Lowered for 9/11 Victims—and for Charlie Kirk
Today, Oregon’s flags fly at half-staff in memory of the 2,996 lives lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. But on Sunday, flags will be lowered again—not for a national tragedy, but for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, killed by a sniper while speaking at Utah Valley University.
President Trump ordered the honor, while Governor Tina Kotek condemned the shooting: “This attack is inexcusable. Violence has absolutely no place in our democracy. America is better than this.”
Critics, however, point out the imbalance: no flags are being lowered for the victims of Thursday’s Colorado school shooting.
COVID-19 Returns Early
COVID is back—earlier than expected. Cases are climbing just weeks into the school year, especially among children. At the same time, the CDC under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued confusing new vaccine protocols. CVS, once promising wide access, now requires a prescription for boosters.
More than 1.2 million Americans have died from COVID-19 so far, but unlike Charlie Kirk, their passing has not inspired national mourning or lowered flags.
Broadway Bridge Closure
Heads up: the Broadway Bridge will close to cars for six months starting October 13. The closure, lasting until April 11, 2026, will allow crews to replace the bridge deck, which has been retaining water and damaging beams.
The good news? Pedestrians, cyclists, and Portland Streetcar riders will still have access, albeit with modified schedules.
Hear in Portland
For music fans, Jenni Moore’s latest Hear in Portland column covers the Black and Loud Fest, a new release from Alana Rich, and queer pop star Reneé Rapp (also of Mean Girls: The Musical). Don’t miss it.
National & World News
Colorado School Shooting
Tragedy struck again at Evergreen High School in Colorado. A teen gunman opened fire, killing one student and critically injuring another before taking his own life. A third victim is recovering in stable condition.
The community is haunted by echoes of Columbine, which took place just miles away in 1999. Since 2000, at least 515 people have died and more than 1,100 have been injured in U.S. school shootings.
Charlie Kirk Assassinated
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed yesterday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities say the gunman, described as “college-aged,” fired from a rooftop 140 yards away. A high-powered rifle was recovered nearby, though the suspect remains at large.
Kirk was a polarizing figure—beloved by Trump supporters for mobilizing young voters, but criticized for spreading racist, homophobic, antisemitic, and transphobic rhetoric. He once said some gun deaths were “worth it” to preserve Second Amendment rights.
Trump has ordered flags lowered nationwide and expressed outrage. Republicans quickly blamed Democrats for fueling political violence, while largely ignoring the Colorado school shooting that happened the same day.
Inflation Worsens
The U.S. inflation rate rose 2.9% in August compared to a year earlier. Prices for groceries, gas, clothing, and airfare all climbed, while the job market weakened.
This puts policymakers in a bind: interest rates are usually lowered to help when unemployment rises, but raised to control inflation. With both problems hitting at once, the Federal Reserve faces tough choices in the days ahead.
Epstein Files Blocked
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to force the Trump administration to release sealed Jeffrey Epstein files. The vote was 51–49, with two GOP senators breaking ranks.
The move followed revelations about a birthday card given to Epstein containing a crude drawing of a naked woman, allegedly signed by President Trump. Despite public interest, the files remain sealed.
And Finally… A Red Panda Cleanse
After all that, here’s your reward: an adorable red panda enjoying its day. Because sometimes, the only thing that can balance out political turmoil and grim headlines is a fuzzy face with tiny paws.
The Takeaway
Portland enters the weekend with a mixed bag of news: arts and culture thriving, pandemic anxieties resurfacing, infrastructure in need of repair, and politics once again mired in tragedy and division. Whether it’s debates over flags, shootings in schools, or spiraling inflation, the tension is unmistakable.
But amid all of this, local journalism and community stories remain vital. From covering hip-hop and arts festivals to examining policies that affect daily life, the Mercury and other outlets keep Portland connected—and grounded.
So take a breath, enjoy the sunshine when it arrives, and maybe spare a thought for the red panda.
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