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Courtney Vaughn

Courtney Vaughn is the news editor at the Portland Mercury. She appreciates your news tips and musings. Reach out at cvaughn@portlandmercury.com or find her on Bluesky @courtneyvaughn.
Posted inNews

City Council Urged to Postpone Vote on Controversial Downtown Service District Contract

Citing ethical issues and potential conflicts of interest, advocates want the city to halt a no-bid contract renewal that would funnel millions to the Portland Metro Chamber.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

For years, Portland has collected fees from property owners in enhanced service districts to pay for added cleaning and security services in designated areas. The districts are typically concentrated around businesses, offering private security, extra policing, janitorial services, and more recently, removal of homeless camps.  Some stakeholders say the city has yet to confront the […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Portland’s Arctic Fox, Harriet Tubman’s New Military Rank, and Pushback Over a Lucrative Contract For a Powerful Local Business Lobby

Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! Take a deep breath. Hold for six seconds. Exhale.  […]

Posted inNews

Friday Election Results: Bynum Flips US House Seat Blue; Close Race in Portland City Council District 4

Portland will have the most racially diverse City Council the city has ever seen, with a progressive majority.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

A fourth round of preliminary election results was released Friday, showing little to no changes in presumptive winners. That means Portlanders now have a clear idea of what the city’s future leadership will be, come January. Portland City Council is likely to have a progressive majority and for the first time, and a roughly 40 […]

Posted inNews

UPDATE: City Commissioners Abandon Plans to Terminate Joint Homeless Response Agreement With Multnomah County

A Portland City Council discussion that could’ve ended a collaborative agreement, without a backup plan in place, has been scrapped a day after the election. The move would’ve cost the city more than $40M.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Update: Nov. 6- This story has been updated to note that this week’s Council discussion has been canceled. A day after an election showing Portland City Commissioners Mingus Mapps and Rene Gonzalez losing their bids for mayor, a plan to revisit an intergovernmental agreement on homelessness between the city and Multnomah County has been canceled.  […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Portland’s Election Hysteria, Toxic Cookware in Your Kitchen, and Trump Fellates a Mic Stand

Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning and happy election day, Portland! Obviously, drop off that ballot […]

Posted inNews

How Portland Became a Roller Derby Mecca

Rose City Rollers commemorates 20 years by hosting the sport’s global championships on their home turf.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Twenty years ago, Kim “Rocket Mean” Stegeman put an ad on the back page of the Portland Mercury. She didn’t have a business to advertise. She had nothing to sell.  “My phone number was on the back of it for three months, and it said ‘Want to play roller derby?’” Stegeman recalls. “I would personally […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Trump Parody Statue Defiled, North Korea Gangs Up on Ukraine, and Daylight Saving Can’t End Soon Enough

Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism […]

Posted inNews

Rubio Campaign Didn’t Violate Election Rules, Auditor’s Office Says

Two complaints involving Carmen Rubio yielded no findings of wrongdoing, but the investigations highlight a rivalry between Rubio’s supporters and those backing Rene Gonzalez
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

In the lead-up to the November general election, Portland auditors have had their hands full with investigations into potential campaign finance violations. But the five investigations that have taken place since September center around just two candidates: Rene Gonzalez and Carmen Rubio, both current city commissioners running for Portland mayor. In the latest round of […]

Posted inCity Council Race 2024

Meet Your Portland 2024 Mayoral Candidates

Here’s who wants to be Portland’s next mayor.
Avatar photoAvatar photo Courtney Vaughn and Taylor Griggs

Updated: October 25 Under Portland’s revised city charter, the mayor will serve in a largely administrative role, overseeing day-to-day operations alongside a city administrator. The mayor will be voted on by all city voters, while the council will be elected by district. The charter change is a shift from Portland’s longstanding form of government, which […]

Posted inCity Council Race 2024

Meet the Portland City Council Candidates: District 4

These candidates are running in the district composed of Portland’s west side and some Southeast neighborhoods.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Updated: Oct. 22 Thanks to a charter reform measure passed by voters in 2022, Portland is getting a new form of government, and it will come with a brand new districting system. In November 2024, Portlanders will vote for City Council members in one of four districts across the city, with three councilors per district. […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Gonzalez Gets Fined, Biden Pitches Free OTC Birth Control, and Your Carb Cravings, Explained.

Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good morning, Portland! We’re in for a mostly sunny day with a […]

Posted inNews

Auditor’s Office: Gonzalez Violated Campaign Finance Rules and Tried to Obstruct Investigation

A re-determination by the Portland Auditor’s Office finds city commissioner used taxpayer funds to benefit his campaign. Investigators say Gonzalez and his staffers lied about key documents and tried to interfere with the investigation.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Updated: 11:18 am Monday, Oct. 22 Rene Gonzalez, one of three Portland city commissioners currently running for mayor, violated campaign finance laws by using taxpayer money for a consulting firm to help edit his Wikipedia page earlier this year, the Auditor’s Office says. The updated determination comes after a Portland Auditor’s Office investigation previously found […]

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