by Courtney Vaughn If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. 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! Soak up that vitamin D while you still can. Today might be the last sunny day we get until next week. Must be the season of the witch. 🎃🧙‍♀️ In Local News:  • After police and county officials in Multnomah County and Clark County, Washington reported three cases of arson at ballot drop boxes, Portland police say the suspect likely attached an incendiary device to the side of a Southeast Portland ballot box, rather than throwing it in, as initially thought. Police have also released images of a black or dark gray Volvo they think is the suspect’s vehicle, and say they believe the same person hit all three ballot boxes. A black or dark gray Volvo S-60 at aMultnomah County ballot box. • Halloween is Thursday, but you don’t have to wait till then to have a good time. Everout has the rundown of what to do, eat, and watch in Portland this week.  Looking for fun this week? Then check out our lineup of cool events from Maggie Rogers to Sofi Tukker, and from the Portland Book Festival to PLUS PLUS: PAM CUT's New Annual Festival. It's our top picks of the week! https://t.co/g40F2Aws7v — Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) October 29, 2024 • KATU reports that despite funding a detailed look at Portland’s police staffing three years ago, the City Council scrapped the report in favor of one that delves into the workloads of police and first responders. Mike Myers, who oversees Portland’s public safety service area, says the study was nixed to instead look at how the city deploys alternative responders like Portland Street Response, and what impact that has on police workloads. • It didn’t take long for a mysterious statue of Donald Trump to be destroyed Downtown. Residents reported seeing a large gold parody rendering of Trump atop a platform with a plaque recognizing “a lifetime of sexual assault” Sunday morning. The statue was finely crafted to include Trump’s left hand with his fingers pinched together in a pervy gesture. By late Monday, the statue was beheaded and the plaque ripped from its base. Video circulating on social media shows right-wing videographer Brandon Farley filming himself  ripping the placard from the statue. Farley is currently running for City Council in District 4 to “Make Portland Great Again.” By the end of the day, the entire Trump figure was gone, with only the base left affixed to the ground.  • Finally, if you're perplexed about who to rank (or not) for Portland mayor, we have a handy election endorsement guide AND a nifty candidate tracker to help you out. Curious about some of the unknown candidates on your ballot? Voter beware: at least one (Martin Ward) is a blatant homophobe who wants a special tax on gay marriage. Another–Sharon Nasset– is a woman with a real estate background who thinks all these new apartment complexes and increased housing density are really junking up the neighborhoods. And yet another candidate, Alexander Landry Neely, is a self-employed winemaker who proposes reasonable approaches to increasing Portland’s revenue streams, while bolstering Portland Street Response. Among the lesser-known mayoral candidates are Alexander Landry Neely, a winemaker who says the city should get its fair share in taxes from out-of-state corporations, and Sharon Nasset, who's no fan of increased housing density or new apartment complexes. https://t.co/cOQc9aAuJv — Portland Mercury 🗞 (@portlandmercury) October 29, 2024 In National/World News: • North Korea appears poised to help Russia attack Ukraine. The Pentagon says North Korea deployed about 10,000 troops to Russia, likely to help Russia in its war on Ukraine. The AP reports the move is part of a larger effort from Vladimir Putin to “reshape global power dynamics.” • Daylight saving ends this Sunday, Nov. 3. Despite prior efforts from Oregon lawmakers to kill the longstanding practices of setting clocks back each fall, and jumping them an hour ahead each spring, we still observe this tradition. Good, because how is anyone supposed to be able to pick up dog poop in the dark every morning? Give us all a (day)break. I can’t stand Daylight Saving, I think we should always be on real time, and I’m not the only one. There’s like five other people. — Burning Mom ⚡️ (@MomOnFire) October 28, 2024 • Remember Elon Musk’s little scheme to run an election lottery that pays voters in swing states who pledge to support the US Constitution? The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office does and it’s suing to stop the Trump-supporting billionaire  from running what it says is an illegal election lottery. Philly DA sues to halt Elon Musk’s $1 million voter giveaway in Pennsylvania https://t.co/0zjjLwLm8o — Philadelphia Inquirer Politics (@PoliticsINQ) October 28, 2024   While it’s still election season, let us revel in the “Trump was born to be a teenage girl” TikToks a little while longer. @kiera.ln Replying to @Meggie #trump #politics #kamala2024 ♬ original sound  - David Pakman