Regional politicians proposed a far better idea than an all-robocar lane on I-5: hi-speed rail from here to Vancouver. Additional subjects in our e-missive include the state’s still-unreformed foster care system; blame placed for the Greenwood gas explosion; a hope to one day “re-program” cancer cells; a coming exhibit on Seattle’s food history; and whales vs. whales off Vancouver Island.

That fancy new police building folks have rallied against? Sent back for further review. Among other topics this day: Loving portraits of GLBT Mormons; whether the police really needed to shoot Che Taylor; still more Chinese speculation money in Seattle real estate; the usual many, many weekend event listings; and a weird idea to give homeless folks “non-monetary donations” online.

We note a quarter century of a pioneering pan-genre, pan-gender performance/dance space (and the site of a memorable Cobain hissyfit). Also of note today: a famous 9/11 flag found in Everett (probably); a specialty clinic for trans teens; a drop in local greenhouse gases (that still isn’t enough); a call for a lot more bus service; and the loss of a legendary Capitol Hill pizza hawker.

A pair of rancid, reeking spectacles have come to the area. One of them is a blooming “corpse flower.” Other headlines this day concern a Heart hubby’s allegedly jerky behavior backstage; the dumbest suggestion for the homeless crisis to date; Idaho survivalist cults unimpressed by civilization’s failure to collapse; and memories of a pioneering black judge.

I’d mentioned it here on the site (see below), but today I get to tell my newsletter all about my LOSER book reissue finally coming out. Our regular headline fodder features tribal protests against fossil-fuel trains; the Asian Art Museum’s expansion plans; GOP candidates who don’t like that their Presidential nominee’s coming to the area; the loss of an International District activist; and a bad local sports day.

There’s more rancor over the “Bunker” police precinct. Additionally, the judge in the police-reform case takes a stand; Councilmember Sawant makes a life change; City Light’s new boss was accused of sexist behavior at his previous job; a great indie grocery’s threatened; and Jacob Lawrence’s magnum opus’s coming here next year.

It’s a sad day for fans of “ghost singer” and KOMO kids’ host Marni Nixon. We also think about a victory for a police whistleblower; a potential new name for Alaskan Way; the STILL unending road work on 23rd Avenue; attempts to pump up the local arts scene; and what the Seattle U sit-in protesters still want.

We have many issues to discuss. Chief among them: the continued reaction to shocking brutality. Also: alleged retaliation against Hanford worker-safety demands; the continuing Western State Hospital crisis; a great artist/musician faces a horrid death; and at least one lighter bit.

As I’d promised in Monday morning’s MISCmedia MAIL newsletter, here are some images from Sunday evening’s celebration/vigil in Cal Anderson Park, following the hate-crime massacre at a gay bar in Orlando FL.

As I wrote then:

The worst single civilian mass shooting on U.S. soil (if you don’t count old massacres against Blacks and Native Americans) took place in a once-minor town that for 46 years has been one of the globe’s top tourist destinations. It’s a place where the particular set of weirdnesses that is Florida co-mingles with every other culture from everywhere.

Specifically, the disaster occurred at a gay nightclub, a type of place where violence has been threatened in many cities (including at Seattle’s Neighbours). There was also an attempted shooting at an L.A. pride parade by a man who was caught just in time.

(As a HuffPo essay said, the massacre is an extreme example of “the dangers LGBT people live with every day.”)

Violent homophobes can be of any race or religion. They only have to believe they’re so Perfectly Good that they can do horrible things.

As the UK Guardian said after the Umpqua College shooting in Oregon last fall, “Thoughts and prayers are not enough” to stop all the mass shootings—not as long as the Gun Lobby keeps Congress, and us all, in its grip.

Among the speakers at the event: Mayor Ed Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee. Murray finished his short remarks with a paraphrased passage from Romeo and Juliet:

“And when they shall die,

Take them and cut them out in little stars,

And they will make the face of heaven so fine

That all the world will be in love with night

And pay no worship to the garish sun.”

The potential last day of the current hot spell includes stuff about an all-gender, anti-“rape culture” march; another govt. whistleblower harassed; a local visit by “the inventor of the World Wide Web;” charter schools that are more “diverse” than nearby public schools; and a remembrance of the father of whale-capturing (and, indirectly, of whale awareness/protection).

The holiday all about dead people is here, and we “celebrate” with KPLU saved (maybe); Sound Transit promising more rail (a little) sooner; Tim Eyman’s “starve the state” scheme KO’d for good; easier crowdfunding rules for startups; and massive weekend event listings.

Let’s deal this day with a huge “green” building that’ll probably never get built; attempts to salvage a salmon fishing season; police (allegedly) behaving badly (but at least non-fatally); an attempted compromise to the HALA legislation; a late original Northwest Rock musician; and the silliest beer-marketing shtick we’ve seen in a long while.

Sheila E. won’t let personal tragedy interfere with work for Seattle’s young musicians. Also noteworthy today: Big tech fails in SR520 tolling; coal and oil export-terminal plans proceed despite industry upheavals; tacky, potentially racist Cinco de Mayo apparel; Seattle (er, Kent) is posed for a hockey championship; and Paul Allen’s new twist on “cross-marketing synergy.”

It’s (a potentially four-day) Cinco de Mayo, just as America’s most prominent Hispanophobe inches closer to the highest office in the land. In other subjects, sales of a tech-office staple take a dive; the Lynnwood lawyer with the sexist Tweets® against the City Council is already in trouble; the City contracts out homeless-removal to a private company; and Seattle’s biggest obsolete piece of office equipment’s moving.

Now that would-be arena builder Chris Hansen can’t buy two blocks of a little-used city street, he says his plan will go forward, but how? Also for your Tuesday perusal: The Lusty Lady space won’t host the Punk Rock Flea Market after all; the big housing levy’s going to the ballot; a little music/art space closes; an old-school local rock promoter dies;  and more May Day anarchist aftermath.