by Taylor Griggs The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!  Good morning, Portland! It's going to be a somewhat chilly fall day, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 50s. Expect rain this weekend. Now, let's get to the news.  Chances for frost increase over the next two nights, especially early Thursday morning when the coldest temps are expected. Now is a great time to bring any sensitive potted plants you may have outdoors indoors until the threat for frost is over. If you have outdoor plants... pic.twitter.com/WiETlPEoVy — NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) October 23, 2024 IN LOCAL NEWS: • Within the span of a few hours on Monday morning, two people riding their bikes in Portland were killed by drivers. Both of the crashes occurred in East Portland, which is disproportionately impacted by traffic violence. One of the drivers fled the scene, while the other one stayed.  In response to these horrible tragedies, KPTV Fox 12 Oregon went to East Portland to do a segment about bike safety. The reporting centered on one interview with one cyclist who KPTV deemed the spokesperson of the "Portland biking community," and focused almost solely on what people riding bikes can do to ensure their safety on the streets. Look, bike safety tips are fine, but they aren't going to stop a driver from plowing into you from behind at 60 miles per hour. It's very disappointing to see the media continue to victim blame vulnerable road users for their own deaths. There's an inherent power imbalance between different modes of transportation, and that reality needs to be reflected in the news coverage.   • The estate of Michael Brady, who was stabbed to death earlier this year while riding the MAX from downtown Portland to Gresham, is suing TriMet for allegedly failing to provide security sufficient to keep riders safe. The lawsuit is for $1.66 million, and states that "had TriMet provided adequate security measures and personnel on the MAX train Michael Brady boarded on March 29, 2024, Michael Brady would have safely arrived at home to have dinner with his wife and son."  • Charli XCX and Troye Sivan were in Portland last night, and the Portland Bureau of Transportation formatted their pro-public transit PSA appropriately. Driving to the Moda Center is NOT brat.  As you plan your travel to the Moda Center for the sweat tour tonight, remember that on-street parking in surrounding neighborhoods will be limited. pic.twitter.com/bkgC7qZyeD — Portland Bureau of Transportation (@PBOTinfo) October 22, 2024 •.Supporters of state Measure 118, a proposal to increase taxes on large businesses to give $1,600 annual payments to Oregon residents, are increasing their messaging as opponents are outspending them significantly. Meanwhile, several progressive organizations across the state— the Oregon Working Families Party, the farmworkers union PCUN, Democratic Socialists of Eugene and LIUNA (Laborers Local 483)—have withdrawn their support for the measure. Economists say the tax hike would result in increased prices and hurt the state's budget, which would end up negatively impacting residents more than the payments would help.  • Need plans for Halloweekend? (By the way, is Halloweekend this weekend or next?? Having Halloween on a Thursday messes everything up.) Either way, I highly recommend EverOut’s fabulous list of things to do this weekend to get you in the Halloween spirit. Some highlights include Sharktober Fest at OMSI and a Monster Mash dance party at Gigantic Brewery.  IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS: • An NPR investigation found that, since he began his reelection campaign in 2022, Donald Trump has issued more than 100 threats to punish his perceived opponents. Most recently, Trump said in a Fox News interview that “radical left lunatics” should be “handled” by the National Guard or the military if they “disrupt” the upcoming election. Luckily, he has no official power with which to make this happen, and let’s keep it that way!! The breadth of this man’s paranoia and destructive plans are endless.  • On a related note, Gen. John Kelly, who was Trump‘s longest-serving chief of staff while he was POTUS, said in a New York Times interview that Trump's leadership style is "dictatorial" and "fascist." I mean, obviously, but is it possible Kelly's warning could influence any of Trump's die-hard fans?? Probably not, but I am still glad to see his former allies come out against him. That being said, the Harris-Walz campaign doesn't have to be so enamored with Dick Cheney, who is still a war criminal even though he apparently doesn't like Donald Trump. (And thanks, Jon Stewart, for questioning Tim Walz about this tactic.) The U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday announced a $50 million fine against American Airlines for mistreating disabled air travelers who use wheelchairs. https://t.co/vGmcmQKvyO — The New York Times (@nytimes) October 23, 2024 • Stay away from McDonald’s hamburgers for the foreseeable future—and especially avoid the quarter pounder. At least 49 people in 10 states have been made sick by E. coli food poisoning linked to McDonald’s quarter pounders, with one reported death and several hospitalizations. It’s unclear what ingredient is causing the bacteria, but I'd recommend staying away from all of it for now.  • It’s not just Shari’s diner that has been struggling (or failing) to stay afloat. Denny’s is planning to close 150 locations across the country by the end of next year, in an effort to help with lagging sales. Why aren’t people going to diners anymore???! I am personally not a huge Denny’s fan, but would love more local 24-hour spots to drink coffee and eat pancakes and people watch. I fear for our diner-less future.  • Hope this gets you in the Halloween spirit. What's better than a rhino playing with a pumpkin??? BYE!!            View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Oregon Zoo (@oregonzoo)