Love Our Arts & Culture Coverage?
You can help fund it!

Give now
Avatar photo

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

In a Stealth Move, Portland City Council Signals Intent to Sever Homelessness Agreement With Multnomah County

Without buy-in from Commissioner Carmen Rubio or Mayor Ted Wheeler, three city leaders asked for an ordinance to cancel a recently renewed intergovernmental agreement.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Note: This story has been corrected to fix a typo in the amount of Supportive Housing Services tax revenue taken in. It was supposed to be a routine update with no vote.  A week after a joint meeting between Portland City Council and the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, the City Council met to outline […]

Posted inElection Guide 2024

What to Expect From Portland’s New Government

How will Portland’s new crop of leaders tackle a revamped system and problems that have been building for decades?
Avatar photoAvatar photo Taylor Griggs and Courtney Vaughn

Portland City Council will never be the same. Literally.  You probably already know that voters will soon elect an entirely new legislative body to lead the city. Come January, Portland’s 12 new city councilors will represent four geographic districts, with three people from each district on City Council. A new city administrator will, along with […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Sisters of the Road Faces Setback, America Faces Massive Meat Recall, and RIP Lilly Ledbetter

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

Sisters of the Road Will Resume Property Search After Prior Purchase Falls Through

The organization’s executive director is departing as the nonprofit scraps plans to reopen its cafe in the former House of Louie building.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Board members of Sisters of the Road are trying to pick up the pieces and plot a new path forward after a long-awaited building purchase fell through.  The nonprofit social justice organization had been fundraising to finalize the purchase of the building where former restaurant House of Louie used to serve up dim sum in […]

Posted inNews

Body Camera Footage Shows Officers Firing 30 Rounds Into Suspect’s Car

Portland Police Bureau IDs officers who shot, injured a 24-year-old robbery suspect during a shootout in Woodlawn. One of the officers is no stranger to using force.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Body camera footage released Thursday shows the tense moments when three Portland police officers fired a combined 30 lethal rounds at a man outside a home in the Woodlawn neighborhood last month.  At 6:21 pm Sept. 26, detectives with Portland Police Bureau’s (PPB) Major Crimes Unit and officers from the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) […]

Posted inCity Council Race 2024

Meet the Portland City Council Candidates: District 3

These candidates are running in the district that encompasses most of Southeast Portland east of the river to I-205.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Updated: Oct. 8 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: Florida Braces for Destruction, Ghost Guns Go to Court, and Portland Shells Out Big Money for Police Overtime, Crashes and a Lawsuit

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

Portland Elections Division Issues Warning Letter to Gonzalez Campaign Over Political Sign

A large sign supporting Rene Gonzalez for mayor left out a fine print financial disclosure. A separate investigation into his use of taxpayer funds was recently reopened.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The Portland Auditor’s Office is issuing Rene Gonzalez’s campaign a warning letter after the campaign displayed a campaign sign without disclosing who paid for the political sign. In response to a Sept. 2 complaint submitted to the Elections Division about the non-conforming sign near the Vista Bridge in Southwest Portland, the Auditor’s Office concluded it […]

Posted inNews

Portland Auditor’s Office Will Take Another Look At Gonzalez’s Potential Campaign Finance Violation

Citing new information, auditors will revisit their prior determination of insufficient evidence of illegal activity related to Wikipedia edits
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The Portland Auditor’s Office is reevaluating the circumstances surrounding City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez’s use of taxpayer funds to edit his Wikipedia page. Last month, the Auditor’s Office announced that despite “an exceedingly close call” it didn’t find enough evidence to suggest Gonzalez, who is running for mayor, violated Portland’s campaign finance laws by using taxpayer […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Tonight’s VP Debate, $8 Wings All Week, and the Disappearance of America’s Fireflies

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! It may be October now, but it’s also still […]

Posted inNews

Controversial Dark Money Group, People For Portland, Dissolves Amid State Elections Investigation

The political organization known for its aggressive billboards says its election law violation had ‘nothing to do’ with decision. Another investigation is still active.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Updated: 9:20 am Sept. 30 A short-lived political advocacy organization that ruffled feathers with downtown billboards targeting elected officials is reportedly calling it quits. As first reported by The Oregonian, People For Portland is shuttering its organization and its associated activities. That announcement comes six months after the state deemed the group violated Oregon election […]

Posted inNews

Judge: Portland’s New Police Accountability Board Must Be Operational In a Year

While the new community-led police oversight system is finally on track, some commissioners are furious at a federal judge’s decision to postpone board selection until a new council is in place.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Four years after Portland voters approved a measure for a new community-led police oversight board, the city is finally on track to implement it. A 4-1 vote earlier this month by the Portland City Council paved the way for the new Community Board for Police Accountability to be codified into the city’s charter, but the […]

Gift this article