by Wm. Steven Humphrey GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.) •  2024 Wrapped: Top Stories That Emerged From Portland City Hall A City Council's uphill battle to regulate homelessness. A commissioner shrouded in controversy. A city government, transformed. Check out some of the biggest stories out of Portland City Hall in 2024. • POP QUIZ PDX! How much do YOU remember about the many Portland scandals of 2024? Let's find out in this week's super fun special edition of POP QUIZ PDX! See how well YOU score, brainy pants! 🤓🩳 George Marks / Getty Images • Earl Blumenauer Reflects on Long Political Career and “Bike-Partisanship” After 28 years in Congress, Blumenauer will return to Portland as a civilian with big plans for the city and state's future.  Taylor Griggs • The Mercury's Favorite Culture Moments of 2024 Doing something stupid in Ladds, dressing up for the movies, and finding catharsis at live shows, et al. • 2024 Wrapped: The Year's Biggest Election News 2024 saw major shake-ups in local government. It also marked the debut of ranked choice voting, a slew of election investigations, and the ramifications of dark money in a federal race. Here's a recap of the biggest election news of 2024. • THE TRASH REPORT In this week's hot goss: Trump's social media gaffes, the worst royal gift ever, and Mariah Carey signs Rihanna's boob.   Frazer Harrison / Getty Images • Let’s Start Things! Let’s End Things! A witch, an artist, and two mental health
professionals on how to face the New Year. Samantha Buttrick • Submit Your FREE Mercury Reader Valentine! It's time to submit your FREE Mercury Valentine for your lovers and/or friends! The first 800 valentines will be featured in our upcoming Love & Sex issue in print. But hurry, hurry... deadline for print inclusion is January 15! ❤️🏃‍♀️ • HEAR IN PORTLAND Nonbinary Girlfriend and Kye Alive co-create a NYE Experience, and Black Belt Eagle Scout feels like a perfect kickoff to 2025. Lindsay Costello • Our Favorite Chinese Restaurants in Portland Looking to try something new this year? We've gathered our favorite Chinese restaurants in the Portland area for your consideration. Duck House • SAVAGE LOVE After 40 years of marriage, there's only one thing that will get him off, and she's losing interest. What to do? Dan Savage provides the marriage-saving advice in this week's SAVAGE LOVE. Joe Newton WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!