State Water Restrictions + Racial Equity + Loaded Guns At PDX

Oh, blessed Friday is here and the weekend is calling. What's that? It's not the weekend, but yet another robocall? Well, then let's hang up and I can talk about the day!

First, today's weather: Mostly sunny with a high of 86. Completely tolerable and, after experiencing a high of 116, I don't think I'll be complaining about anything under 90.

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. On June 9th of last year, the Black board members of the Portland Business Alliance formed a new initiative with the goal of improving economic equity, called the Black Economic Prosperity Agenda. Now they are looking to hire someone to serve as executive director of this initiative. Motus Recruiting has partnered with the PBA to conduct a nationwide search. (KOIN.com)
2. With the record breaking heat the state has been experiencing, 19 of Oregon's counties are experiencing drought emergencies. This has prompted Gov. Kate Brown to issue restrictions on water use by state agencies. (KGW)
3. After a year of work by Black leaders and Black organizations, Reimagine Oregon offers mixed reviews on the efforts to improve racial equity. This project is a collaboration between the Coalition of Communities of Color, the Urban League of Portland, Kairos PDX, JOIN and Stand for Children, among others, as they work towards fighting racism and advancing social justice. (The Skanner)
4. The Transportation Security Administration has reported finding a total of 6 loaded guns in carry-on bags at airports over the last 2 weeks. 5 of these handguns were found at Portland International Airport, while the sixth was found at Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford. (KATU)
5. There have been several announcements involving changes to the way the city of Portland does sweeps of homeless camps. Kaia Sand of Street Roots does a great job of pointing out some key details of these changes and discusses what things could be clearer. (Street Roots)

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Today in Portland

1. Tonight Stage 722 presents Sink or Swim, a single release party featuring local hip-hop and pop artists. Join such diverse artists as Roulette Delgato, Chain Taylor, Alana Rich and Kanide-is as they perform their summer party tracks, as well as their own unique sets. Get your tickets online. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
2. Nordic Northwest is featuring an outdoor screening of the Swedish, erotic comedy film, Smiles of a Summer Night. This film in unrated, but only suited for adult audiences with nudity and adult language. Register online. Doors open at 7:30 PM.
3. The bar Barrio at the Portland Mercado presents an opening night event for its featured artist Amber Raquel. Amber is from Portland, with roots in Paraguay, and whose paintings portray powerful female figures. 6:00 - 10:00 PM.
4. Montavilla Station is happy to host live music from Silverhill. Come enjoy some tasty beers while listening to a night of blues, rock and roll, classic rock and original music. 7:00 - 11:00 PM.
5. The Splendorporium in SE Portland invites you to their in-person showing of their Dreams art show. The show is free and they ask attendees to be mindful and wear a mask if able. 7:00 - 9:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Today is the first day of the Oregon Country Fair. It will be a virtual event for the second year in a row. They're calling it Fair in the Clouds and you can tune in for free to enjoy music, vaudeville, art demos and more. There will even be a 3D fair experience to allow you to attend the fair in a virtual environment. Starts at 11:00 AM and goes through the weekend. (Oregon Country Fair)
• Public Service Announcement! The Broadway Bridge will be closing both Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM. This is to allow for a structural inspection of the bridge, so plan accordingly. (KBND)
• Portland, Oregon: "St. Helens is always looming in the distance… Love this shot by @childishgabeeno !! - Photo by: @childishgabeeno" (Instagram)

• Nonprofit Association Oregon: "Can you believe it’s already July? From disaster planning to board fundamentals, we at NAO have a full list of opport..." (Instagram)
• Travel Portland: "Not to brag, but ... Portland is the nation's Best Pizza City, according to the authors of "Modernist Pizza." They ..." (Instagram)

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Events:

• STEAM Nights July 11-Aug 8 (July 11)

For sale:

• Adorable Yorkie need a new home (Details)

What more could you want from a Friday? But you know what the best thing about Fridays are? They're followed by Saturdays and I'll be back tomorrow to tell how awesome the weekend is going to be. If you're loving these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors on board. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Portland Daily? Contact me at portland@patch.com.