We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis is threatening our ability to keep producing the quality reporting you’ve come to love. If you’re able, please consider making a monthly contribution to the Mercury. Win McNamee / Getty images Good morning, Portland. As we continue our descent into Hell, please keep your […]
Blair Stenvick
Blair Stenvick is a former news reporter and culture writer for the Portland Mercury.
Posted inNational Politics
Live Blog: Trump Fanatics Attempt a Coup; Breach the US Capitol
Police try to defend US capitol from Trump supporters who have breached the building. Drew Angerer / Getty Images The US Capitol was placed on lockdown today after Trump supporters broke through police barricades and stormed the building—an action that was encouraged yesterday by Trump himself. Congress, who were meeting to certify the electoral college […]
Posted inNews
Kayse Jama Appointed to Represent East Portland in Oregon Senate
A campaign photo from Kayse Jama’s 2018 run. Residents of East Portland have a new representative in the Oregon Senate. Kayse Jama, the executive director of immigrant and refugee advocacy nonprofit Unite Oregon, was appointed Wednesday to fill the seat for Oregon Senate District 24. The seat was vacated by Shemia Fagan after her November […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News: Oregon Needs to Pick Up Vaccine Pace, Proud Boys Leader Arrested, and Georgia on My Mind
We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis is threatening our ability to keep producing the quality reporting you’ve come to love. If you’re able, please consider making a monthly contribution to the Mercury. Very jealous of these Georgia peach voting stickers—especially considering Oregonians don’t get stickers at all! Megan Varner /getty […]
Posted inOpinion
The Year in Review: An Open Letter to the Woman Who Was Buying a Bottle of Watermelon Moscato and Nothing Else at Winco Last Night
MichellePatrickPhotographyLLC / Getty images [This year’s news cycle was a vicious one, and left little time for reflection. As 2020 nears its end, we’re taking the opportunity to look back on the most important Mercury stories written during the past year. This article was originally published on March 13, 2020. We hope you’ll consider making […]
Posted inNews
The Year in Review: Prison Inmates Are Fighting Oregon Wildfires for Under $10 a Day
Oregon Department of Forestry [This year’s news cycle was a vicious one, and left little time for reflection. As 2020 nears its end, we’re taking the opportunity to look back on the most important Mercury stories written during the past year. This article was originally published on August 21, 2020. We hope you’ll consider making […]
Posted inNews
The Year in Review: Stories From Five Portlanders Who’ve Been Waiting On Oregon Unemployment Benefits Since March
Riley Hession holds up a letter from the Oregon Employment Department. She filed for unemployment in mid-March, and still has not received her first payment. COURTESY OF RILEY HESSION [This year’s news cycle was a vicious one, and left little time for reflection. As 2020 nears its end, we’re taking the opportunity to look back […]
Posted inOpinion
Ten Things That Got Me Through 2020
Tired: Sourdough. Wired: Homemade ice cream. Photos by Blair Stenvick When the esteemed Wm. Steven Humphrey, editor-in-chief of the Portland Mercury, first asked me if I wanted to write an opinion piece looking back on my 2020 experiences, I balked. This year was traumatic yet dull in so many general and specific ways that I […]
Posted inNews
The Year in Review: Multnomah County’s Preschool for All Measure Won. Here’s What the Campaigns Are Taking Away From It.
campaign photo [This year’s news cycle was a vicious one, and left little time for reflection. As 2020 nears its end, we’re taking the opportunity to look back on the most important Mercury stories written during the past year. This article was originally published on November 18, 2020. We hope you’ll consider making a monthly […]
Posted inNews
The Year in Review: Portland Voters Pass Progressive Measures, Skip Progressive Candidates
Dirk Vanderhart [This year’s news cycle was a vicious one, and left little time for reflection. As 2020 nears its end, we’re taking the opportunity to look back on the most important Mercury stories written during the past year. This article was originally published on November 4, 2020. We hope you’ll consider making a monthly […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News: To-Go Cocktails Approved, COVID-19 Spikes at Portland Prison, and 600 Whole Dollars Are Coming To You!!!
We need your help. The economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis is threatening our ability to keep producing the quality reporting you’ve come to love. If you’re able, please consider making a monthly contribution to the Mercury. I’ll take that to-go, please! KATHLEEN MARIE Good morning, Portland! This is going to be my last Good […]
Posted inNews
The Year in Review: Nikki Kuhnhausen Was Killed By Transphobia. Now, Her Community Fights for Her Legacy.
Nikki Kuhnhausen was 17 when she was murdered last year, in what police officers believe was an act of anti-trans violence. Now friends, family, and LGBTQ+ people are coming together to honor her and change the legal system. Blair Stenvick [This year’s news cycle was a vicious one, and left little time for reflection. As […]