RACIAL INJUSTICE-PORTLAND

Tear gas fired again; Portland protest standoff continues

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal agents again repeatedly fired tear gas to break up rowdy protests in Portland, Oregon, that continued into the early morning Saturday as demonstrations that have happened every night for two months showed no signs of letting up. Thousands of people gathered in front of the downtown federal courthouse beginning Friday evening. Demonstrations have happened in Oregon’s largest city nightly since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in May. President Donald Trump said he sent federal agents to Portland to halt the unrest but local officials say they are making the situation worse.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-SEATTLE

Chief: Seattle police carrying pepper spray after ruling

SEATTLE (AP) — As Seattle prepares for more protests, the city’s police chief said Saturday that officers are carrying pepper spray and blast balls in accordance with a contested department protocol that was cleared by a last-minute emergency court hearing. Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best disclosed the information in a statement Saturday morning ahead of a rally and march over racial injustices. Best promised officers would not use tear gas and urged demonstrators to remain peaceful. A federal judge late Friday blocked Seattle’s new law prohibiting police from using such weapons.

AP-US-RACIAL-INJUSTICE-PORTLAND-SPOTLIGHT

Portland struggles with liberal identity under nation’s gaze

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Images of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler getting tear-gassed alongside protesters made him an overnight standard-bearer for the movement against President Donald Trump’s use of federal agents to quell violence in U.S. cities. But for many Portland residents, the moment felt hypocritical. That’s because Wheeler is also head of the local police bureau, which used tear gas multiple times before federal agents arrived. The contradiction underscores Portland’s unfolding struggle with its identity under the nation’s gaze. Long hailed as one of the most progressive cities in the U.S., Portland is now being challenged in new ways as the nation grapples with racism.

AP-US-NUCLEAR-POWER-MARS

US eyes building nuclear power plants for moon and Mars

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. wants to build nuclear power plants that will work on the moon and Mars. The U.S. Department of Energy put out a request on Friday for ideas from the private sector on how to build what it calls a fission surface power system that could allow humans to live for long periods in harsh space environments. The Idaho National Laboratory, a nuclear research facility in eastern Idaho, the Energy Department and NASA will evaluate ideas for developing the reactor. The lab has been working on advanced reactors that can operate without water for cooling. Water-cooled nuclear reactors are the vast majority of reactors on Earth.

OUTDOOR CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY

Rare outdoor ceremonies for new US citizens held in Idaho

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho federal judge has held a pair of rare outdoor court proceedings to swear in new U.S. citizens amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Idaho Press reports that U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale swore in 20 people last week and 37 people Thursday on a patio outside the James D. McClure U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in Boise. Without the ceremonies, the people approved for citizenship would have to wait months to become U.S. citizens because in-person court gatherings have been halted to limit the spread of COVID-19. Clerk Steve Kenyon proposed the idea after seeing a photo of an outdoor proceeding during the Spanish flu pandemic.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-IDAHO

Idaho restrictions to remain as coronavirus infections rise

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. Brad Little says there are too many coronavirus infections, and Idaho will remain in the fourth and final stage of his plan to reopen during the pandemic for at least another two weeks. The Republican governor on Thursday also reemphasized his plan for state-local collaborations in dealing with the pandemic, allowing local leaders to determine restrictions. That continues letting the state’s seven health districts and local officials evaluate conditions in their areas and decide on restrictions with Little’s oversight. Little says local officials will best know how to respond. Johns Hopkins University says that through Wednesday, Idaho had 16,322 cases and 135 deaths.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

×