dailykos--2020-08-12--Good News Roundup for August 12, 2020 — What a difference a day made!

Joe is excited about having Kamala on the ticket Here ’ s what Biden said in the email he sent his supporters : You make a lot of important decisions as president .
But the first one is who you select to be your Vice President .
I ’ ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021 .
These aren ’ t normal times .
For the first time in our history , we ’ re facing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same time .
We ’ re facing the worst pandemic in 100 years .
The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression .
The most powerful calls for racial justice in a generation .
And we have a president who has both failed to lead on the virus -- costing lives and decimating our economy -- and fanned the flames of hate and division .
I need someone working alongside me who is smart , tough , and ready to lead .
Kamala is that person .
I need someone who understands the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation are suffering .
Whether they ’ ve lost their job , their business , a loved one to this virus .
This president says he “ doesn ’ t want to be distracted by it.
” He doesn ’ t understand that taking care of the people of this nation -- all the people -- isn ’ t a distraction -- it ’ s the job .
Kamala understands that .
I need someone who understands that we are in a battle for the soul of this nation .
And that if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these crises -- we need to come together and unite for a better America .
Kamala gets that .
If I ’ m President , I ’ m committed to making things better -- not just in the short term , but sustainably , structurally , and permanently .
We won ’ t have time to delay .
I need a partner who can help deliver on those promises , and quickly .
Other people are excited , too By the time this roundup goes live , there will be hundreds of articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s campaign .
There ’ s no way I can get ahead of that , so I ’ ll just share an early take that struck me as a good one , from CNN .
Here are some snippets I liked : Aware that his age could be a concern to some voters , Biden , 77 , has said that he is `` a bridge '' to a new slate of Democratic leaders , and by selecting Harris , more than 20 years his junior , he has elevated a leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party .
With her multi-racial background as the child of two immigrants to the United States , her allies believed she could complement Biden as a symbol of a changing America .
She also proved to be a hardworking surrogate for Biden in recent months , taking part in everything from virtual policy events with voters in swing districts to a live DJ dance party fundraiser with Diplo and D-Nice online .
also benefited from being a running mate who could match this turbulent moment in American history .
also benefited from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turbulent moment in American history .
Harris also benefited from being a running mate who could match this turbulent moment in American history .
Many of the issues at the center of her life 's work -- including criminal justice reform , improving health care for Black Americans and tackling income inequality -- have come to the forefront in the three-pronged crisis America is now facing : the coronavirus pandemic ( which has disproportionately affected communities of color ) , the fight against systemic racism and an economic recession .
The protests against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake of George Floyd 's death also gave Harris an opening to more succinctly explain her decision to become a prosecutor as a young lawyer , despite the deep mistrust of that profession among Black Americans who have been wronged by the criminal justice system .
One of her proudest achievements was her work as California attorney general pursuing predatory lenders after the financial crash of 2008 and her decision to hold out for a larger settlement from the big banks for Californians after the foreclosure crisis .
The banks initially offered what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the table , she held out for what become a $ 20 billion settlement , relishing the chance to take on the top officials at the big banks who `` seemed to be under the misimpression that I could be bullied into submission.
” Yup , that last quote pretty much encapsulates what I love about Kamala .
Anyone who remains under that “ misimpression ” had better watch their sorry ass .
Democrats laud Harris as Biden ’ s VP pick ( DKos diary by Joan McCarter with great quotes from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Historic announcement of Kamala Harris as VP pick brings praise from around the web ( DKos diary by Walter Einenkel with lots more great quotes ) Wonkette ’ s take : Kamala Harris is Your New Vice President , Now Let ’ s Go Win This Motherf*cker ( includes some fun videos of Kamala ) On to more good political news !
The Democratic convention will be great Indivisible is excited , and I ’ m excited , too !
What a terrific line-up of powerful speakers !
!
( It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tRump convention will be an intolerable snooze . )
Via an email on Monday from Indivisible : It ’ s finally time for the 2020 Democratic National Convention !
The pandemic doesn ’ t allow for the standard programming of Convention ’ s past ( thousands of people packing a venue and kicking around balloons ) but we ’ re seeing this as an opportunity for all of us to be part of the process .
...
The theme for this convention is “ unity ” -- and the DNC really means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former Republican governor John Kasich are all expected to speak on the first night ( we know , right ?
! )
.
This DNC is a major moment for us to come together to rally behind Joe Biden , remember what it ’ s like to build bridges and get stuff done .
In keeping with our goal to reach 20 million voters before November , we ’ re launching our second Windivisible week of action during the Democratic National Convention !
Just like last time , Indivisible groups will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach the key voters all over the country .
Throughout the week , Indivisibles everywhere will be coming together to stream watch parties to keep up with all the exciting speakers and entertainment .
And to add to an already star-studded DNC , we ’ ll be joined by Representative Ayanna Pressley for a livestream to close out the week and keep us all fired up on August 21 at 8pm ET !
And here ’ s the full day-by-day preview of speakers : Vowing to Defend Retirees , Biden Denounces 'New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump Biden now speaks up strongly in response to each vicious , bone-headed move by tRump .
No more wishy-washy Dem messaging !
!
... Joe Biden has hit back against President Donald Trump 's open threat on Saturday to permanently cut the payroll tax which funds both Social Security and Medicare ...
Even as White House officials on Sunday did their best to walk back Trump 's clear-as-day pronouncement that he permanently `` terminate '' the payroll tax if reelected in November , Biden in a statement Saturday evening said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said today that if he is re-elected , he will defund Social Security . ''
Biden accused Trump of `` putting Social Security at grave risk at a time when seniors are suffering the overwhelming impact of a pandemic he has failed to get under control , '' and denounced the president 's failed leadership from day the first day of the pandemic through to the present .
`` For months , Trump has golfed rather than negotiated , and sown division rather than pull people together to get a package passed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of staying in Washington and working with Republicans and Democrats to reach a bipartisan deal , President Trump is at his golf club in New Jersey signing a series of dubious executive orders . ''
Biden added : `` This is no art of the deal .
This is not presidential leadership .
These orders are not real solutions .
They are just another cynical ploy designed to deflect responsibility ... '' It ’ s unlikely y ’ all missed this , but even if you ’ ve seen it before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The juxtaposition of these two videos is just delicious .
Don ’ t forget that Goodie , our own Founder and Mayor of Gnuville , has committed to giving us one reason a day to get excited about having Joe as our candidate .
Here ’ s the link to her DKos series : www.dailykos.com/ .
Each day ’ s write-up is short enough to read in a few minutes .
And be sure to rec and comment so more people see them !
Multnomah County DA will not prosecute cases where most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected a reform candidate to be DA , and this is his first decision since taking office .
I can ’ t even express what a relief and breath of fresh air this is — and it will be applied retroactively !
!
Multnomah County puts preschool for all on November ballot Two competing campaigns to expand preschool in Multnomah County have merged and are headed to the November ballot .
The Preschool For All plan , led by Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson , passed the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make tuition-free preschool available for all three- and four-year-olds in Multnomah County by expanding programs at schools , homes and through other avenues like Head Start .
But the plan also includes a mechanism to increase wages for preschool teachers and assistants , as well as offer support and training for teachers and providers .
If voters pass the measure , individuals with taxable income over $ 125,000 and households making over $ 200,000 will be charged between 1.5 % and 3 % on any additional income , with a potential rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county leaders estimate the program will add 7,000 new preschool slots , starting with children in “ priority populations.
” That includes children of color , children with developmental delays or disabilities , and children living in foster care .
Universal Preschool Now , a citizen-led campaign endorsed by over 30 groups including several unions , spent the summer collecting signatures for a ballot initiative .
The group submitted more than 30,000 signatures July 6 .
But a month later , the Universal Preschool Now campaign announced a merger with Vega Pederson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , very focused measure that incorporates all the things that both of our coalitions want , which is why we were able to join together in this effort , ” Vega Pederson said .
As of Monday night , the grassroots Black Resilience Fund has raised over $ 1,450,000 to provide direct help to Black Portlanders in need .
And a couple of days ago , they got noticed by the Washington Post !
I ’ m linking to the reprint in the Seattle Times , since I ’ m behind WaPo ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureaucracy , but suddenly $ 1.4 million to help Portland ’ s Black community From The Washington Post , via the Seattle Times : It ’ s a good article .
Please read the whole thing when you have time .
Good news from around the nation Free Internet Coming For 35,000 Low-Income Philly Families in Public-Private Partnership As Classrooms Stay Closed This is a great step in the right direction and should be emulated by other states .
Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer on [ August 5th ] declared racism a public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all state employees , and created a state advisory council to focus on issues affecting Black people in Michigan .
She said Black residents in Michigan are four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white residents because of unequal economic and health care treatment and racism .
`` We have a lot of work to do to eliminate the systemic racism that Black Americans have experienced for generations , '' Whitmer said .
Lt. Gov .
Garlin Gilchrist , who said he has lost 23 people who are close to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leadership Advisory Council that Whitmer announced Wednesday will play a leading role in doing that .
`` It is not enough to simply label an injustice , '' Gilchrist said .
`` We have to formally take steps to replace injustice with justice . ''
Among other tasks , the council will identify state laws or gaps in state law that create or perpetuate inequities , and serve as a resource for community groups .
25 years after returning to Yellowstone , wolves have helped stabilize the ecosystem If you ’ ve ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen the excellent film made of it , this news won ’ t surprise you .
New Mexico Girl Wins $ 250,000 Top Prize in Teen Science Fair For Inventing Tool That Could Prevent Starvation in Africa Teens are doing some amazing work and proving that they see the entire world as their community .
Good news from around the world And Chef José Andrés reported earlier last week that WCK just served its 25 millionth meal !
3D-Printer Completes the Largest 3D-Printed Home in Europe – With 2 Stories and 980 Square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pretty amazing , and the video is fascinating .
Beavers given ‘ right to stay ’ in Devon , paving way for further reintroductions The fact that these beavers are living on the River Otter makes me like this story even more .
😉 Two hands and an aluminum can = art hightowerlowdown.org/… Meet ‘ the crazy lady ’ who battled a marauding corporate polluter–and won .
An inspiring story from Jim Hightower ’ s wonderful newsletter .
BTW , he could use some more subscribers : online.icnfull.com/… www.positive.news/… How a disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story www.oregonlive.com/… Joseph Lewis and the echoes of Kent State .
A man who survived the Kent State massacre reacts to the presence of federal agents on Portland ’ s streets .
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/ ...
The ITER project ’ s nuclear fusion reactor marks a milestone , the announcement of the assembly phase of this 20 billion euro , 35 nation collaborative project .
Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts , your hearts , and your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd .

Welcome
Greetings to all you Gnusies, Gnewbies, occasional drop-ins, silent regulars, and first-timers! Come sit with us to find and share messages of hope and to celebrate all the ways good people are triumphing over the evil-doers in power. The task we have set ourselves here in Gnuville is to search out hope no matter how difficult the situation might be. Fortunately, hope can always be found.
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What a difference a day made!
I’ve been having a tough couple of weeks, as the toxic lunacy from the Squamous Squatter in the WH and his henchtoads continues ramping up at an exponential rate. But as of 2:15 yesterday afternoon, my mood has flipped from dark to sunny. Kamala is Joe’s choice for VP! Glory hallelujah!! She’s got the fierce kick-ass attributes that the Biden team needs to build excitement with young people and people of color who want to be assured that the new administration will tackle the issues they care about, like economic justice and systemic racism. I expect there will be pushback from some Progressives worried that her background as an attorney general will make her unsympathetic to police reform and prison reform. She countered that concern in a recent Facebook live forum. This is how her remarks were reported on CNN:
Harris said she grew up experiencing some of the abuses of the system, noting that every Black man she knows has experienced "some form of profiling, of excessive force, of unreasonable stop or seizure." She noted that she made a very conscious decision to become a prosecutor: "I said why do we only have to be on the outside, trying to knock down doors to change the system? ... Isn't there a role for us to go inside the system and try to change it?" She pointed to aspects of her record as California's attorney general that she said were incremental steps toward police reform: arguing that she "opened up California's data system" to assist activists who were trying to "claw that information out" through public records requests -- making data around deaths, custody and arrest rates by race more accessible. Harris also highlighted her work improving re-entry initiatives for the formerly incarcerated, and a program that required implicit racial bias and procedural justice training for law enforcement officers under her command when she was California's attorney general. "These are just a few of the things that we were able to accomplish, certainly not enough, which is why I keep working on it. It has been my life's work to keep working on this and I'm not going to stop," she said.
Of course, no matter what Kamala says about her background, the cases she prosecuted will be dug through in detail, and inevitably fuel will be found to outrage some Progressives. We just need to keep reminding everyone what’s at stake in this election and how likely it is that we will make progress toward justice in a Biden-Harris administration.
Joe has taken his first big action as our soon-to-be-official nominee. Now it’s our turn to take big actions. If you aren’t already working to Get Out the Vote, now’s the time to find a way to get involved. There’s no better guide than our beloved Kossack Yosef 52, who is absolutely indefatigable in his efforts to get us all up and doing to build the Big Blue Tsunami. Here’s his very latest diary. Click, read, rec and comment, and then follow Yosef’s suggestion to share it with:
A. People on your email list whom you know to be politically sympathetic. B. Allies on Facebook who could disseminate this information. C. Your Twitter followers (if you are on that hellscape regularly, as I am). D. The comments sections of Democratic/liberal/progressive websites, blogs, whatever. Spread it around!! Let’s make it happen!!
It’s on us now. With that in mind, here’s a song from Playing for Change:
x YouTube Video
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Good political news
Joe is excited about having Kamala on the ticket
The moment when Joe told Kamala he’d chosen her. Look at that radiant smile! (H/t to phoenixdreamz for publishing this photo in a diary yesterday.)
Here’s what Biden said in the email he sent his supporters:
You make a lot of important decisions as president. But the first one is who you select to be your Vice President. I’ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021. These aren’t normal times. For the first time in our history, we’re facing three historic crises -- all at the same time. We’re facing the worst pandemic in 100 years. The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The most powerful calls for racial justice in a generation. And we have a president who has both failed to lead on the virus -- costing lives and decimating our economy -- and fanned the flames of hate and division. I need someone working alongside me who is smart, tough, and ready to lead. Kamala is that person. I need someone who understands the pain that so many people in our nation are suffering. Whether they’ve lost their job, their business, a loved one to this virus. This president says he “doesn’t want to be distracted by it.” He doesn’t understand that taking care of the people of this nation -- all the people -- isn’t a distraction -- it’s the job. Kamala understands that. I need someone who understands that we are in a battle for the soul of this nation. And that if we’re going to get through these crises -- we need to come together and unite for a better America. Kamala gets that. If I’m President, I’m committed to making things better -- not just in the short term, but sustainably, structurally, and permanently. We won’t have time to delay. I need a partner who can help deliver on those promises, and quickly.
Other people are excited, too
By the time this roundup goes live, there will be hundreds of articles about Kamala and her effect on Biden’s campaign. There’s no way I can get ahead of that, so I’ll just share an early take that struck me as a good one, from CNN. Here are some snippets I liked:
Aware that his age could be a concern to some voters, Biden, 77, has said that he is "a bridge" to a new slate of Democratic leaders, and by selecting Harris, more than 20 years his junior, he has elevated a leading figure from a younger generation within the party. ✂ With her multi-racial background as the child of two immigrants to the United States, her allies believed she could complement Biden as a symbol of a changing America. She also proved to be a hardworking surrogate for Biden in recent months, taking part in everything from virtual policy events with voters in swing districts to a live DJ dance party fundraiser with Diplo and D-Nice online. ✂ Harris also benefited from being a running mate who could match this turbulent moment in American history. Many of the issues at the center of her life's work -- including criminal justice reform, improving health care for Black Americans and tackling income inequality -- have come to the forefront in the three-pronged crisis America is now facing: the coronavirus pandemic (which has disproportionately affected communities of color), the fight against systemic racism and an economic recession. The protests against police brutality of Black people in the wake of George Floyd's death also gave Harris an opening to more succinctly explain her decision to become a prosecutor as a young lawyer, despite the deep mistrust of that profession among Black Americans who have been wronged by the criminal justice system. ✂ One of her proudest achievements was her work as California attorney general pursuing predatory lenders after the financial crash of 2008 and her decision to hold out for a larger settlement from the big banks for Californians after the foreclosure crisis. The banks initially offered what she has referred to as crumbs on the table, she held out for what become a $20 billion settlement, relishing the chance to take on the top officials at the big banks who "seemed to be under the misimpression that I could be bullied into submission.”
Yup, that last quote pretty much encapsulates what I love about Kamala. Anyone who remains under that “misimpression” had better watch their sorry ass.
More thumbs up:
Democrats laud Harris as Biden’s VP pick (DKos diary by Joan McCarter with great quotes from the VP candidates who weren’t chosen)
Historic announcement of Kamala Harris as VP pick brings praise from around the web (DKos diary by Walter Einenkel with lots more great quotes)
Wonkette’s take: Kamala Harris is Your New Vice President, Now Let’s Go Win This Motherf*cker (includes some fun videos of Kamala)
On to more good political news!
The Democratic convention will be great
Indivisible is excited, and I’m excited, too! What a terrific line-up of powerful speakers!! (It’s probably needless to add here that the tRump convention will be an intolerable snooze.)
Via an email on Monday from Indivisible:
It’s finally time for the 2020 Democratic National Convention! The pandemic doesn’t allow for the standard programming of Convention’s past (thousands of people packing a venue and kicking around balloons) but we’re seeing this as an opportunity for all of us to be part of the process. ... The theme for this convention is “unity” -- and the DNC really means it: Michelle Obama, Bernie Sanders and former Republican governor John Kasich are all expected to speak on the first night (we know, right?!). This DNC is a major moment for us to come together to rally behind Joe Biden, remember what it’s like to build bridges and get stuff done. ✂ In keeping with our goal to reach 20 million voters before November, we’re launching our second Windivisible week of action during the Democratic National Convention! Just like last time, Indivisible groups will be phonebanking, textbanking, and writing letters to reach the key voters all over the country. Throughout the week, Indivisibles everywhere will be coming together to stream watch parties to keep up with all the exciting speakers and entertainment. And to add to an already star-studded DNC, we’ll be joined by Representative Ayanna Pressley for a livestream to close out the week and keep us all fired up on August 21 at 8pm ET!
And here’s the full day-by-day preview of speakers:
From Vox:
From Monday, August 17, to Thursday, August 20...starting at 9 pm ET each night, the Democratic convention will be broadcast on all major television networks, social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and streaming services like Apple TV and Roku. The convention will also be streamed live from the DNC’s website. ✂ The themes for each day include: Monday: We the People
Tuesday: Leadership Matters
Wednesday: A More Perfect Union
Thursday: America’s Promise Monday: Former first lady Michelle Obama
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn
Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a 2016 Republican presidential candidate
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security
Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL)
Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) Tuesday: Dr. Jill Biden
Former President Bill Clinton
Former Secretary of State John Kerry
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Former US Attorney General Sally Yates
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) Wednesday: Former President Barack Obama
Joe Biden’s yet-to-be-announced vice presidential candidate
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee for president
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a prominent gun control advocate
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers Thursday: Former Vice President Joe Biden accepts the Democratic nomination
Members of the Biden family
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
Vowing to Defend Retirees, Biden Denounces 'New, Reckless War on Social Security' by Trump
Biden now speaks up strongly in response to each vicious, bone-headed move by tRump. No more wishy-washy Dem messaging!!
From Common Dreams:
... Joe Biden has hit back against President Donald Trump's open threat on Saturday to permanently cut the payroll tax which funds both Social Security and Medicare... Even as White House officials on Sunday did their best to walk back Trump's clear-as-day pronouncement that he permanently "terminate" the payroll tax if reelected in November, Biden in a statement Saturday evening said: "Make no mistake: Donald Trump said today that if he is re-elected, he will defund Social Security." ✂ Biden accused Trump of "putting Social Security at grave risk at a time when seniors are suffering the overwhelming impact of a pandemic he has failed to get under control," and denounced the president's failed leadership from day the first day of the pandemic through to the present. "For months, Trump has golfed rather than negotiated, and sown division rather than pull people together to get a package passed," Biden said. "Now, instead of staying in Washington and working with Republicans and Democrats to reach a bipartisan deal, President Trump is at his golf club in New Jersey signing a series of dubious executive orders." Biden added: "This is no art of the deal. This is not presidential leadership. These orders are not real solutions. They are just another cynical ploy designed to deflect responsibility..."
Biden’s bike vs. tRump’s ramp
It’s unlikely y’all missed this, but even if you’ve seen it before, it’s worth another viewing. The juxtaposition of these two videos is just delicious.
I00 Days of Loving Joe Biden
Don’t forget that Goodie, our own Founder and Mayor of Gnuville, has committed to giving us one reason a day to get excited about having Joe as our candidate. Here’s the link to her DKos series: www.dailykos.com/. Each day’s write-up is short enough to read in a few minutes. And be sure to rec and comment so more people see them!
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Good news from Portland
Multnomah County DA will not prosecute cases where most serious charge is city ordinance violation
We elected a reform candidate to be DA, and this is his first decision since taking office. I can’t even express what a relief and breath of fresh air this is — and it will be applied retroactively!!
From KGW:
[Multnomah County District Attorney Mike] Schmidt said the district attorney's office won't prosecute protesters arrested for city ordinance violations that don't include property damage, theft or the use or threat of force against another person. Arrest charges for crimes that allege "intentional physical violence against community members and/or law enforcement" will be handled by general office policies, Schmidt said. This includes charges for assault and arson. "If you are out there committing violence or damaging property, you will be prosecuted," Schmidt said. But the district attorney's office won't prosecute charges where the most serious charge is a city ordinance violation, which includes: Interfering with a peace officer or parole and probation officer
Disorderly conduct in the second degree
Criminal trespass in the first and second degree
Escape in the third degree
Harassment
Riot (unless accompanied by a charge outside of this list) Schmidt clarified that if a riot charge is accompanied by a charge for crimes involving physical violence or property damage, the office will prosecute that riot charge. The new policy applies to protests starting May 29 and is specific to these protests, Schmidt said.
Multnomah County puts preschool for all on November ballot
From Oregon Public Broadcasting:
Two competing campaigns to expand preschool in Multnomah County have merged and are headed to the November ballot. The Preschool For All plan, led by Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, passed the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously Thursday. ✂ The goal of the plan is to make tuition-free preschool available for all three- and four-year-olds in Multnomah County by expanding programs at schools, homes and through other avenues like Head Start. But the plan also includes a mechanism to increase wages for preschool teachers and assistants, as well as offer support and training for teachers and providers. If voters pass the measure, individuals with taxable income over $125,000 and households making over $200,000 will be charged between 1.5% and 3% on any additional income, with a potential rate increase in 2026. By 2026, county leaders estimate the program will add 7,000 new preschool slots, starting with children in “priority populations.” That includes children of color, children with developmental delays or disabilities, and children living in foster care. ✂ Universal Preschool Now, a citizen-led campaign endorsed by over 30 groups including several unions, spent the summer collecting signatures for a ballot initiative. The group submitted more than 30,000 signatures July 6. But a month later, the Universal Preschool Now campaign announced a merger with Vega Pederson. … “Now we have a unified, very focused measure that incorporates all the things that both of our coalitions want, which is why we were able to join together in this effort,” Vega Pederson said.
Portland’s Black Resilience Fund continues to grow and make news
As of Monday night, the grassroots Black Resilience Fund has raised over $1,450,000 to provide direct help to Black Portlanders in need. And a couple of days ago, they got noticed by the Washington Post! I’m linking to the reprint in the Seattle Times, since I’m behind WaPo’s paywall.
No strings, no bureaucracy, but suddenly $1.4 million to help Portland’s Black community
From The Washington Post, via the Seattle Times:
Cameron Whitten, founder of the Black Resilience Fund, with food to distribute Local activist Cameron Whitten had joined the thousands of protesters crowding downtown streets in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. He’d seen racism hurt his own community and knew systemic change was needed. But he also knew many Black Portlanders needed something more immediate, especially in the midst of the pandemic: direct cash assistance. His idea, launched just over two months ago, has taken off in a stunning way. As national headlines continue focusing on the city’s protests, the Black Resilience Fund that Whitten started has already raised $1.42 million. Its appeal seems tied to its unique grassroots approach, which hands out checks — no strings attached, no bureaucracy and very few questions asked. “We see this not only as an emergency fund, but as a community effort that’s allowing healing,” he said.
It’s a good article. Please read the whole thing when you have time.
Living statues in Portland push a satirical response to Trump administration actions
From Oregon Public Broadcasting:
They were three life-sized gold figures depicting President Donald Trump and federal officers, all satirizing events that happened in the last month. But the monuments are not permanent. And those life-sized figures? They were actors, painted gold from head-to-toe as part of the Trump Statue Initiative. It’s the brainchild of Bryan Buckley, a filmmaker and Academy Award-nominee… The first statue depicts federal law enforcement officers pulling a Black Lives Matter protester into an unmarked van while the President takes a selfie. The second references President Trump’s ongoing criticism of mail-in voting. Titled “Some Federal Property We Can Attack,” it shows Trump and three armed officers in gas masks surrounding a mailbox. The name of the third piece, “I Just Wish Her Well Frankly,” is a direct quote from President Trump when questioned about Ghislaine Maxwell at a White House coronavirus briefing. … The statue depicts the faux Trump praying over a real-life photo of the president alongside the two accused child sex traffickers.
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Good news from Oregon
Oregon Legislature Strengthens Chokehold and Use of Force Statutes From a press release issued by the Oregon Legislative BIPOC Caucus: The Oregon Legislature voted [Tuesday] to strengthen legislation passed earlier this year to limit the use of chokeholds by law enforcement and strengthen use of force statutes. ✂ House Bill 4301 prohibits the use of chokeholds and other physical force that would impede the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of another person by applying pressure on someone’s throat or neck by police or corrections officers except for instances of self-defense as defined by state law. “It’s long past time we disallowed officers from using chokeholds,” said Sen. James Manning (D-Eugene). “It’s wrong and it can be lethal. It is not a tool to deescalate it’s a tool to take a life. ...” ✂ The legislation also modifies Oregon’s use of force statutes to more closely align with the requirements articulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Tennessee v. Garner. The measure also adds a requirement that a peace officer consider alternatives to deadly physical force if a reasonable opportunity to do so exists. "Aligning Oregon's use of force laws with Supreme Court case law is an effort that was long overdue,” said Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley). “Before, there was no requirement that an officer consider alternatives to deadly force. We now have a clear statewide standard thatofficers are expected to de-escalate conflicts and use only the amount of force necessary. My goal is to end the disproportionate taking of Black lives at the hands of the people we entrust to keep us all safe.”
Stroke survivor sets new record on Pacific Crest Trail run
Thanks to zircon the twisted who pointed out that it’s “Pacific Crest” not “Pacific Coast,” as mistakenly stated in the quoted article.
From News Break:
On [August 5th], Lindsey Ulrich of Florence completed an historical [sic] run along the Pacific Coast Trail covering the 452 mile trail in 9 days, 13 hours and 39 minutes. Ulrich, a stroke survivor, beat the previous fastest time by one hour and 29 minutes. Ulrich posted a photo in tears crossing the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River at the culmination of her record run.
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Good news from around the nation
Free Internet Coming For 35,000 Low-Income Philly Families in Public-Private Partnership As Classrooms Stay Closed
From Good News Network:
Philadelphia wants to ensure that all its K-12 students have internet access, so they have what they need to learn remotely during the pandemic, especially as the city’s schools will remain closed to in-person classes this fall. Since the coronavirus forced the school closures this spring, the city has been working with foundations and partners to mobilize funding that will provide broadband internet access for 35,000 kids—and this week they’ve unveiled a program that will make it happen. PHLConnectED will connect eligible student households with two years of high-speed internet, without any out-of-pocket expenses or installation fees. Using Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, or a high-speed mobile hotspot for families who are housing-insecure, the program will also ensure K-12 public school students have the devices they need (such as a laptop or tablet)—and also tech support to keep it all running smoothly.
Gov. Whitmer declares racism a public health crisis in Michigan
This is a great step in the right direction and should be emulated by other states.
From the Detroit Free Press:
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on [August 5th] declared racism a public health crisis, ordered implicit bias training for all state employees, and created a state advisory council to focus on issues affecting Black people in Michigan. She said Black residents in Michigan are four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white residents because of unequal economic and health care treatment and racism. "We have a lot of work to do to eliminate the systemic racism that Black Americans have experienced for generations," Whitmer said. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, who said he has lost 23 people who are close to him to the coronavirus, said the Black Leadership Advisory Council that Whitmer announced Wednesday will play a leading role in doing that. "It is not enough to simply label an injustice," Gilchrist said. "We have to formally take steps to replace injustice with justice." Among other tasks, the council will identify state laws or gaps in state law that create or perpetuate inequities, and serve as a resource for community groups.
25 years after returning to Yellowstone, wolves have helped stabilize the ecosystem
If you’ve ever read the book Never Cry Wolf or seen the excellent film made of it, this news won’t surprise you.
From National Geographic:
Twenty-five years after gray wolves returned to Yellowstone National Park, the predators that some feared would wipe out elkhave instead proved to be more of a stabilizing force. New research shows that by reducing populations and thinning out weak and sick animals, wolves are helping create more resilient elk herds. For the past 12 years, elk numbers in the park’s largest herd have leveled off between about 6,000 and 8,000, instead of extreme boom-and-bust cycles due to climate fluctuations. “Elk aren’t starving to death anymore,” says Chris Wilmers, a wildlife ecologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
New Mexico Girl Wins $250,000 Top Prize in Teen Science Fair For Inventing Tool That Could Prevent Starvation in Africa
Teens are doing some amazing work and proving that they see the entire world as their community.
From Good News Network:
The nation’s oldest and most prestigious STEM competition for high school seniors just awarded more than $1.8 million to ten finalists who exhibited exceptional problem-solving abilities and scientific leadership. ... Lillian Kay Petersen of Los Alamos, New Mexico won a quarter million dollars. The 17-year-old invented a simple tool for predicting harvests early in the growing season, which helps to improve food distribution planning and offers a promising resource to aid groups working on global food insecurity. Lillian first validated her tool, which analyzes daily satellite imagery using accepted measures of vegetation health, on known domestic crop data. She then tested it for countries in Africa and successfully predicted harvests with terrific accuracy when compared with reported yields. She was motivated to do research in this field after her parents adopted children who faced food insecurity and, later, she read about Ethiopia where a famine had affected millions of people leading to developmental learning problems in children.
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Good news from around the world
World Central Kitchen Activates in Beirut, Lebanon
From WCK.org:
The WCK Relief Team is on the ground to provide support. In the first 24 hours, we worked alongside Kamal Mouzawak and his team at Tawlet to prepare the first 800 fresh meals for people at local hospitals, seniors isolated at home, and first responders. On our first day, the team prepared hummus sandwiches and Molokhia, a traditional Sunday meal that reminds everyone who knows it of home. Molokhia is made with chicken (or other meat) and a leafy green called nalta jute with a healthy amount of garlic! Additionally, the team prepared kefta sandwiches – made with yellow onions, sumac, parsley, and hummus. We now have four restaurants — Tawlet, Gala Catering, Mezyan and Batching — cooking nourishing meals for people in need, and will be activating more in the coming days. By working with restaurants in the community, we can support the local economy, which is especially critical now as small businesses have struggled so much during the pandemic and the financial crisis. The Lebanese lira has lost over 80% of its value and many stores cannot even afford to keep food on the shelves.
And Chef José Andrés reported earlier last week that WCK just served its 25 millionth meal!
3D-Printer Completes the Largest 3D-Printed Home in Europe – With 2 Stories and 980 Square Feet – in Just 3 Weeks
This is pretty amazing, and the video is fascinating.
From Good News Network:
The largest 3D-printed home ever made in Europe—a two story affair with two living rooms, a kitchen, bathroom, and foyer—has recently been completed by the Belgian sustainable construction company Kamp C, hugely advancing the science of 3D-printed housing. Kamp C used a 32 x 32 foot “gantry” printer, the largest of its kind in Europe, to create the shell of the two-story building. Using a special cement mixture ejected from the printer’s nozzle, the on-site work took only 3 weeks, with construction workers adding the roof, foundation, floor, windows, doors, plumbing, and electrical by hand. (See the time-lapse video below.) The 980 square-foot building also featured some unique sustainable touches like underfloor heating and solar panels which were added later. ✂ Marijke Aerts, the project manager, told News Atlas : “The material’s compressive strength is three times greater than that of the conventional quick build brick. Besides the fibers in the concrete, the amount of wire-mesh reinforcement used is extremely limited. As a result of the printing technology used, the formwork was redundant, saving an estimated sixty percent on material, time, and budget.” x YouTube Video
British forests back to “medieval levels”
From The Times UK:
Britain’s woodland cover has returned to medieval levels thanks to 20th-century forestry and the “rewilding” trend. The area of woodland is about 3.19 million hectares, according to the Forestry Commission. This represents 13 per cent of the land area, or 10 per cent in England, 15 per cent in Wales, 8 per cent in Northern Ireland and 19 per cent in Scotland. That is up from 5 per cent nationwide in 1919, when the commission was established, and is equivalent to levels of cover during the Middle Ages, which ranged from 15 per cent of England at the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, to 6-10 per cent by 1300. Cover in Scotland is considerably higher than in medieval times...
Beavers given ‘right to stay’ in Devon, paving way for further reintroductions
The fact that these beavers are living on the River Otter makes me like this story even more. 😉
From Positive News:
It’s a mystery how they got there, but beavers living on the River Otter have won the legal right to stay – a move heralded as “groundbreaking” by campaigners They have been squatting on the River Otter for seven years, their status insecure. Now 15 families of beavers have been granted the legal right to remain on the Devon waterway, after a five-year study revealed that the reintroduced animals had made a positive contribution to fish populations and the local environment. Prized for their pelts and meat, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK some 400 years ago, only to mysteriously reappear on the River Otter in 2013. Animal activists are thought to have released the mammals, but nobody is certain. Despite initial opposition from some farmers, the beavers were granted a temporary right to stay on the River Otter and formed part of a study led by Devon Wildlife Trust and overseen by the University of Exeter. That study concluded this year and found that the mammals had boosted biodiversity, reduced the risk of flooding and improved water quality.
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Two hands and an aluminum can = art
x YouTube Video
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Hot lynx
hightowerlowdown.org/… Meet ‘the crazy lady’ who battled a marauding corporate polluter–and won. An inspiring story from Jim Hightower’s wonderful newsletter. BTW, he could use some more subscribers: online.icnfull.com/…
www.positive.news/… How a disaster zone in Iraq became a conservation success story
www.oregonlive.com/… Joseph Lewis and the echoes of Kent State. A man who survived the Kent State massacre reacts to the presence of federal agents on Portland’s streets.
www.goodnewsnetwork.org/...The ITER project’s nuclear fusion reactor marks a milestone, the announcement of the assembly phase of this 20 billion euro, 35 nation collaborative project.
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Closing music
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Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts, your hearts, and
your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd.
❤💙 RESIST, PERSIST, REBUILD, REJOICE! 💙❤


dailykos--2020-08-12--Look For A Shake Up At The Top Of The GOP Ticket Next Week

The odds just went up for Trump to put a woman on his ticket to replace Mike Pence .
( @ @ @ @ @ ) They need to do something and at this point given the dire polling , @ @ @ @ @ lose ?
Trump must be watching the excitement over Kamala Harris and realizes he has @ @ @ @ @ to win back women ’ s votes in the suburbs .
Whoever he picks , @ @ @ @ @ polar opposite of Senator Harris .
I think this has been in the works for @ @ @ @ @ the first choice som reported back in March .
Watch South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem @ @ @ @ @ .
I predict it will be announced during the Democratic convention for obvious reasons .
@ @ @ @ @ that this was decided before Biden made his choice and negotiations have been in the @ @ @ @ @

The odds just went up for Trump to put a woman on his ticket to replace Mike Pence. (Notice his absence lately?) They need to do something and at this point given the dire polling, what do they have to lose?
Trump must be watching the excitement over Kamala Harris
and realizes he has to do something to try to win back women’s votes in the suburbs. Whoever he picks, they will likely be the polar opposite of Senator Harris. I think this has been in the works for awhile and Nikki Haley was the first choice some reported back in March.
Watch South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, she fits the profile. I predict it will be announced during the Democratic convention for obvious reasons. The GOP narrative will be that this was decided before Biden made his choice and negotiations have been in the works for some time.