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CentralMass
CentralMass's Journal
CentralMass's Journal
January 30, 2021
"The majority of downtown Portland businesses owners believe that the citys core is no longer safe, according to a survey conducted by Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, a nonprofit and affiliate partner of the Portland Business Alliance.
In a survey conducted between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2020, 62% of downtown businesses owners said that the central city was no longer safe, a nearly threefold increase from when the survey was last conducted in 2018.
The merchants surveyed also expressed increased concerns about vandalism and graffiti, a lack of cleanliness and rising homelessness in downtown.
While public safety was a big concern, though, 41% of the merchants surveyed said the coronavirus pandemic was the biggest issue impacting their businesses. Thats twice as many as cited homelessness, crime and protests combined.
Fifty-seven percent of downtown merchants reported a decline in revenue in 2020 amid the pandemic with 34% of those businesses saying it would take more than three years for their businesses to recover."
Majority of downtown Portland merchants say city core is unsafe
https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2021/01/majority-of-downtown-portland-merchants-say-city-core-is-unsafe.html"The majority of downtown Portland businesses owners believe that the citys core is no longer safe, according to a survey conducted by Downtown Portland Clean & Safe, a nonprofit and affiliate partner of the Portland Business Alliance.
In a survey conducted between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2020, 62% of downtown businesses owners said that the central city was no longer safe, a nearly threefold increase from when the survey was last conducted in 2018.
The merchants surveyed also expressed increased concerns about vandalism and graffiti, a lack of cleanliness and rising homelessness in downtown.
While public safety was a big concern, though, 41% of the merchants surveyed said the coronavirus pandemic was the biggest issue impacting their businesses. Thats twice as many as cited homelessness, crime and protests combined.
Fifty-seven percent of downtown merchants reported a decline in revenue in 2020 amid the pandemic with 34% of those businesses saying it would take more than three years for their businesses to recover."
January 27, 2021
"The far-reaching investigation into the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol siege continues to grow, as more than 400 suspects have been identified by federal authorities who expect to bring sedition charges against some of those linked to the insurrection.
"We are working on those (sedition) cases," said Michael Sherwin, the chief federal prosecutor overseeing the inquiry, adding that officials expected the investigations to "bear fruit very soon."
The charges, which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years, would be among the most serious for those in the armed attack to disrupt Congress' counting of President Joe Biden's state-certified electoral victory."
"Nearly three weeks after the assault, which left five dead, at least 138 people have been arrested, and Sherwin said the numbers are "growing by the hour."
"These cases are moving at a very rapid clip," the prosecutor said, referring to a flurry of 500 subpoenas and search warrants issued in support of the inquiry. "There is no manpower issue here ... Everyone is all-in on these cases."
The criminal inquiry has been playing out across the country, while the Senate is preparing to host the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, accused of inciting the rioters to storm the Capitol complex. The Senate trial is expected to open Feb. 9."
Capitol riot inquiry grows to 400 suspects; feds expect to bring sedition charges 'very soon'
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/26/capitol-riots-inquiry-grows-400-suspects-feds-eye-sedition-charges/4265825001/"The far-reaching investigation into the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol siege continues to grow, as more than 400 suspects have been identified by federal authorities who expect to bring sedition charges against some of those linked to the insurrection.
"We are working on those (sedition) cases," said Michael Sherwin, the chief federal prosecutor overseeing the inquiry, adding that officials expected the investigations to "bear fruit very soon."
The charges, which carry a maximum punishment of 20 years, would be among the most serious for those in the armed attack to disrupt Congress' counting of President Joe Biden's state-certified electoral victory."
"Nearly three weeks after the assault, which left five dead, at least 138 people have been arrested, and Sherwin said the numbers are "growing by the hour."
"These cases are moving at a very rapid clip," the prosecutor said, referring to a flurry of 500 subpoenas and search warrants issued in support of the inquiry. "There is no manpower issue here ... Everyone is all-in on these cases."
The criminal inquiry has been playing out across the country, while the Senate is preparing to host the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, accused of inciting the rioters to storm the Capitol complex. The Senate trial is expected to open Feb. 9."
January 21, 2021
Video link
https://kgw.com/embeds/video/283-4986f6d3-f757-4bdc-a95a-00e1922ccd1a/iframe?jwsource=cl
"PORTLAND, Ore. -- Far-left, anti-police demonstrators smashed windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon building in Northeast Portland Wednesday afternoon. The vandalism took place just hours following President Joe Biden's inauguration.
The group responsible for the damage marched through parts of Southeast and Northeast Portland. They first gathered at 2 p.m. at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland, where they were met by police officers on bikes.
The crowd took to the streets about an hour later. There were at least 100 people, many dressed in all black. Marchers held banners that had various messages including "We are ungovernable" and "A new world from the ashes." "
"Eight people were arrested in connection with the demonstration, according to Portland police. Their charges ranged from criminal mischief, to possession of a destructive device, to riot, to reckless burning. While making the arrests, officers recovered batons, irritant spray, Molotov cocktails, knives and a crowbar, police said.
The crowd splintered following the police response to the vandalism at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters.
Police released the following information on the people who were arrested:
22-year-old Kyle Romstad of Portland, Criminal Mischief II
22-year-old Kaiave Douvia, of Portland, Criminal Mischief I
18-year-old Jean V. Paris, of Albany, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Criminal Mischief III, Resist Arrest
18-year-old Alyssa Hartley Davis, of Albany, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II
25-year-old Austin N. Nuchraska, of McMinnville, Possession of a Destructive Device, Criminal Mischief I
25-year-old Nicole Aria Rose, of Portland, Criminal Mischief I
31-year-old Darnell Kimberlin, of Portland, Reckless Burning, Criminal Mischief II
38-year-old Davis Alan Beeman, of Vancouver, WA, Riot, Disorderly Conduct II"
8 arrested after windows smashed at Democratic Party of Oregon building in Northeast Portland
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/protests/protests-planned-in-portland-on-inauguration-day/283-50a33cdc-a636-4d5e-acdc-5d33a7cb4635Video link
https://kgw.com/embeds/video/283-4986f6d3-f757-4bdc-a95a-00e1922ccd1a/iframe?jwsource=cl
"PORTLAND, Ore. -- Far-left, anti-police demonstrators smashed windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon building in Northeast Portland Wednesday afternoon. The vandalism took place just hours following President Joe Biden's inauguration.
The group responsible for the damage marched through parts of Southeast and Northeast Portland. They first gathered at 2 p.m. at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland, where they were met by police officers on bikes.
The crowd took to the streets about an hour later. There were at least 100 people, many dressed in all black. Marchers held banners that had various messages including "We are ungovernable" and "A new world from the ashes." "
"Eight people were arrested in connection with the demonstration, according to Portland police. Their charges ranged from criminal mischief, to possession of a destructive device, to riot, to reckless burning. While making the arrests, officers recovered batons, irritant spray, Molotov cocktails, knives and a crowbar, police said.
The crowd splintered following the police response to the vandalism at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters.
Police released the following information on the people who were arrested:
22-year-old Kyle Romstad of Portland, Criminal Mischief II
22-year-old Kaiave Douvia, of Portland, Criminal Mischief I
18-year-old Jean V. Paris, of Albany, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Criminal Mischief III, Resist Arrest
18-year-old Alyssa Hartley Davis, of Albany, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct II
25-year-old Austin N. Nuchraska, of McMinnville, Possession of a Destructive Device, Criminal Mischief I
25-year-old Nicole Aria Rose, of Portland, Criminal Mischief I
31-year-old Darnell Kimberlin, of Portland, Reckless Burning, Criminal Mischief II
38-year-old Davis Alan Beeman, of Vancouver, WA, Riot, Disorderly Conduct II"
January 19, 2021
"
AMERICAN OLIGARCHS The three ultra-rich families battling for control of the Republican party
https://qz.com/1085077/mercers-vs-kochs-vs-adelsons-the-three-ultra-rich-families-battling-for-control-of-the-republican-party/"
January 16, 2021
" (CNN)Justice Department prosecutors have formally walked back their assertion in a court filing that said Capitol rioters sought to "capture and assassinate elected officials."
"A federal prosecutor in Arizona asked a magistrate judge in a hearing on Friday to strike the line in a recent court filing about defendant Jacob Anthony Chansley, a man who is alleged to have led some in the crowd in the first wave into the Capitol with a bullhorn while carrying a spear and wearing a fur headdress.
The entire line the prosecutors want to omit from their court filing is: "Strong evidence, including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government."
US takes back its assertion that Capitol rioters wanted to 'capture and assassinate' officials
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/politics/capitol-capture-assassinate-elected-officials/index.html" (CNN)Justice Department prosecutors have formally walked back their assertion in a court filing that said Capitol rioters sought to "capture and assassinate elected officials."
"A federal prosecutor in Arizona asked a magistrate judge in a hearing on Friday to strike the line in a recent court filing about defendant Jacob Anthony Chansley, a man who is alleged to have led some in the crowd in the first wave into the Capitol with a bullhorn while carrying a spear and wearing a fur headdress.
The entire line the prosecutors want to omit from their court filing is: "Strong evidence, including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government."
January 5, 2021
"Actress Tanya Roberts is still alive, her representative said Monday, saying the information that she had died Sunday was not correct.
Roberts, 65, has been hospitalized since Dec. 24 after collapsing while walking her dogs, according to her publicist, Mike Pingel."
Tanya Roberts still alive, rep says day after reporting her death
https://abc7.com/entertainment/tanya-roberts-still-alive-after-mistaken-belief-she-had-died-rep-says/9354423/"Actress Tanya Roberts is still alive, her representative said Monday, saying the information that she had died Sunday was not correct.
Roberts, 65, has been hospitalized since Dec. 24 after collapsing while walking her dogs, according to her publicist, Mike Pingel."
January 4, 2021
"The actress reportedly took her dogs for a walk on Christmas Eve, and collapsed upon returning home, according to TMZ. She was put on a ventilator after being hospitalized, but never recovered.
The outlet reports that the actress did not appear to be ill in the days leading up to her collapse, and that her death is not related to COVID-19. However, additional information was not available."
Tanya Roberts, Bond Girl & 'That 70's Show' Star, Dead at 65
https://www.newsbreakapp.com/n/0YCDhb7u?share_id=eyJ1c2VyaWQiOjkwODAwMzQyLCJkb2NfaWQiOiIwWUNEaGI3dSIsInRpbWVzdGFtcCI6MTYwOTc0NjA5NjE5Nn0=&s=a99&pd=068zJeSl&hl=en_US"The actress reportedly took her dogs for a walk on Christmas Eve, and collapsed upon returning home, according to TMZ. She was put on a ventilator after being hospitalized, but never recovered.
The outlet reports that the actress did not appear to be ill in the days leading up to her collapse, and that her death is not related to COVID-19. However, additional information was not available."
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