YOUR SUNDAY READING LIST: Preschool for All Theory Debunked, the Fate of Lloyd Mall, and Who Wants a "Butter Hole"?

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.)

• New Preschool for All Data Challenges Idea That Wealthy People Are Fleeing County

Skeptics have suggested the universal preschool tax was driving high-income earners out of Multnomah County. The latest data doesn’t support that notion.

Taylor Griggs

• Initiative to Divert Clean Energy Funds to Cops Moves Ahead Under Constrained Timeline

The future of the effort to tap PCEF for police hiring remains unclear, as time runs out for petitioners to collect signatures for the initiative so it can be on November's ballot. People on both sides of the issue celebrated the judge's decision.

Taylor Griggs

• A Bakery Specializing in Viral Korean Salt Bread Is Coming Very Soon

Hailed by many as the next great competitor to the croissant, salt bread consists of a simple yeasted dough wrapped around a log of butter. As it bakes, the butter melts, leaving behind what many call a “butter hole” as the butter creates a crispy, glossy fried bottom.

Ponto

• Portland Design Commission Accepts Master Plan for the Lloyd Center Mall

On March 5, the Portland Design Commission unanimously accepted the Lloyd Mall owners’ Revised Primary Master Plan, pushing the massive project one small step forward. This isn’t a demolition order, but the plan will eventually lead there. Here’s an update on the decision.

URG and ZGF Architects

• The Black Byline

In this edition, Donovan Scribes criticizes the Portland police union for trying to divert Clean Energy Fund money to hire more police. It also shouldn't escape notice, Scribes writes, that this cynical move is the latest in a line of vengeful attempts to dismantle the work of the city's first Black woman council member, Jo Ann Hardesty.

Rob Dobi

• Bruce Campbell on Death, Dying, and the Evil Dead

If you haven’t heard about Bruce Campbell’s (Evil Dead , Burn Notice) latest film, it’s likely because he’s been working to distribute it himself. The Evil Dead star wrote, directed, and stars in Ernie & Emma, a thoughtful, heartwarming story about a man on a quest through grief who finds more than a few laughs along the way. Campbell had planned a summer of screenings and fan conventions to promote the film. Instead, he’s also had to share difficult news with fans: a diagnosis of treatable but incurable cancer.

Eastmoor Media

• Should Portland Try to Save Lloyd Center Mall?

This might be the last year for Lloyd Center Mall. There’s a plan for what’s next, but a community that’s grown in the mall isn’t happy with it or the process of deciding the building’s future.

Suzette Smith

• Legislators Temporarily Cut Data Centers From Oregon Tax Break Bill

Companies building data centers in Oregon already have a pretty good deal—and new economic development legislation pushed by Gov. Tina Kotek was poised to make that deal even better before an intervention of a legislative subcommittee this week.

Getty Images

• Second Run Portland

This month's Second Run Portland answers an unexpected question: What film should you see if you're really into Jules Verne? How about Octavia Butler, or Lidia Yuknavitch, or ghost stories? If you've gathered that this month's repertory film column is themed around literature, you are CORRECT, dear reader.

Criterion Collection

• Mercury Music Picks

Is Portland an international music hub these days? The Mercury thinks so! This week's Mercury Music Picks features Montreal Madman Bloodshot Bill and artists from all over the globe pulling up for Portland Jazz Festival.

Todd Weaver

• Maggie Gyllenhaal's New Frankenstein-Inspired Film Doesn’t Always Make Sense, but It’s a Helluva Movie!

Director Maggie Gyllenhaal’s new Frankenstein-inspired film doesn’t always make sense, but it’s a helluva movie! There are approximately one million James Whale references, and we got every single one of them. Peter Sarsgaard and Penélope Cruz play a detective team, and he’s the Gal Friday. This movie has everything, and HR Smith made sure to note it.

Warner Bros. Pictures

• Savage Love

It's another edition of Savage Love "Quickies" in which Dan answers a multitude of sexual quandaries lickety-split. Including: Questionable circumcisions, X-rated Instagram, and (oh, hello) meet your brand new AI boyfriend!

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!