And so it begins. On Tuesday evening, 25-year-old Roland Anderson and an unknown gal went on a first date to Northwest Portland’s Chapman School to watch the swifts spiral into the school’s chimney. Innocent enough, right? Mike Houck Around 9:30 pm, after the birds finished their nightly show and the couple had downed a few […]
Alex Zielinski
Alex Zielinski is a former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She's here to tell stories about economic inequities, cops, civil rights, and weird city politics that you should probably be paying attention to.
Posted inEvents
PDX Clown Update
A surprising amount of clown-related news has already popped up across the region this week. And, like the distinction between most clowns, we have good news and bad news. Q: What’s worse than a creepy bus driver being charged for child sex abuse? A: If the bus driver is a former clown. On Friday, a […]
Posted inReligion
Faith Healing Strikes Again
It’s been a mere three months since the parents of an Oregon City child were convicted for neglecting their infant on the basis of ‘faith healing’ (depending on prayer instead of necessary medical aid). However, another couple from the same church congregation are on trial for not only neglecting their son’s health, but letting him […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
Egypt Lets Loose: In an upset triggered by Israel’s treatment of Palestine, Egyptian protesters rush Cairo’s Israeli embassy, tearing down its protective brick wall and threatening workers. In response, most of Israel’s diplomatic staff, including the ambassador, flee and fly home. Meanwhile, in Space: NASA launches a probe studying the lunar gravity and planetary make-up […]
Posted inCops
Police Bureau Fires Road Raging Scott Westerman
Dave Neeson The Portland Police Bureau has officially fired Sergent Scott Westerman, the former president of the Portland police union who verbally assaulted a Smart car driver twice in January 2010. According to PPB Chief Michael Reese, Westerman was in violation of a heap of Bureau regulations, including truthfulness, courtesy, and professional conduct. “I have […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
He Works Hard for the Money: President Obama urges Congress to “pass this jobs bill” — a $442 billion stimulus package — yesterday afternoon. Calls the current political state a “circus”. Fashion Don’t: A French tribunal fines fashion guru John Galliano 6,000 euros ($8,290) for his October and February anti-Semitic rants in Paris bars. A New […]
Posted inBikes
Wayne’s World Bike-In Movie
Schwing meets Schwinn this Saturday, September 10 at a Wayne’s World bike-in movie shindig! Pedal on over to NE Garfield and Failing around 8 p.m. (or sundown) for the free showing in an empty, grassy lot. Blankets and chairs recommended. Host Nickey Robo promises “skits, air guitar contests, and more” along with a post-movie Wayne’s […]
Posted inTransportation
Streetcar’s Free Fare Zone May Be Derailed
Get your free rides on the Portland Streetcar while you can — come next year, the MAX may be the only free transportation downtown. In a Wednesday meeting with their citizen’s advisory committee, Portland Streetcar Inc. recommended to eliminate streetcars from the once Fareless Square — now Free Rail Zone — in tandem with a […]
Posted inNews
Sizing up the Streetcar
Is the 10-Year-Old Development Tool on the Right Track?
The Portland Streetcar turned 10! Is it on the right track?
Posted inFood and Drink
Oregonians Less Hungry: SNAP to Thank?
Oregonians are pulling out of a deficit in food security — slowly. USDA, Food and Nutrition Service According to a recent United States Department of Agriculture study on national household food security in 2010, Oregon ranked ninth in households with “very low food security” statewide at 6.1 percent, or more than 223,000 individuals. While this […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning News!
Libya Update: Recovered documents from Libya’s spymaster office illustrate the suspiciously close relationship between the CIA and Libyan officials. Wikileaks Gets Wikileaked: The entire collection of Wikileak’s data and documents, chock full of the identities of secret sources and diplomats, has been released on the internet. Vaycay over: Libyan rebels get fed up with their […]
Posted inBikes
Take Bike Sharing on a Test Ride!
Remember the bike sharing plan the city council recently adopted, welcoming 740 rentable bikes to Portland’s streets? But, of course! Sarah Mirk Bike sharing station in Mexico City However, while the council passed the bike sharing plan in August, the program itself isn’t predicted to be up and running until Fall 2013. So to tide […]