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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

DOJ Wants Independent Monitor to Watch Over Portland Police

The independent monitor would oversee practices and training for Portland Police following years of bureau missteps.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The US Department of Justice appears ready to ease up on its oversight of Portland police activity.  The Portland City Council is slated to consider and vote on amendments this Wednesday to a 2014 settlement agreement between the city and the Department of Justice (DOJ) over Portland Police Bureau (PPB)’s alleged pattern of using excessive […]

Posted inNews

City Council Won’t Let Go of Bureau Control as Charter Reform Transition Continues

In the race to implement government changes, commissioners break with the mayor over a timeline for bringing in deputy city administrators.
Avatar photoAvatar photo Courtney Vaughn and Taylor Griggs

Portland’s elected leaders are pushing back on a key element of the city’s charter transition. After a lengthy City Council meeting Wednesday, November 1, commissioners voted to approve a new reporting structure for city bureaus and offices, but not before rewriting language to ensure current commissioners will continue overseeing city bureaus through the end of […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Portland’s War On Homelessness, Blumenauer’s Career Finale, and SCOTUS Will Decide Whether POTUS Can Block You on Socials

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! GHOUL MORNING, PORTLAND! Happy Halloween to those who revel in spooky szn. 👻🎃 Today, you’re […]

Posted inNews

Portland Will Begin Enforcing Daytime Homeless Camping Restrictions in Mid-November

As mayor calls for more cops downtown, a controversial camping ban is about to be tested.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Portland’s leaders detailed plans Monday, October 30, to get more police on the streets and fewer people sleeping on them. After delaying the rollout of new restrictions on homeless camping, Portland will start enforcing itstime, place, manner ordinance on November 13. During a downtown press briefing at Director Park Monday afternoon, Mayor Ted Wheeler said […]

Posted inNews

Oregon’s New Fentanyl Law Paves the Way For Increased Drug Arrests

Shortly after the governor ordered state troopers to help patrol downtown Portland, police report multi-agency fentanyl bust.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Roughly two weeks after announcing a new partnership to patrol downtown Portland by bike and crack down on fentanyl, Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and Oregon State Police (OSP) reported eight arrests and the confiscation of 500 grams of powdered fentanyl and three handguns during an October 16 drug bust. Earlier this month, the two agencies […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Attempted Sabotage Lands Plane at PDX, Apple’s Rotten Move, and No, Virginia, There Is No Speaker Yet.

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’s officially T-minus seven days until Halloween. Do you have your adult […]

Posted inNews

Legacy Health Security Guards Tackled, Tased Man While Pointing Weapon at Bystanders

Amid heightened security following the death of a hospital guard, officers at Legacy Emanuel tased and arrested a man, alleging assault.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Just two months after security guards at Legacy Health hospitals were equipped with taser guns, a man was tackled and tased by security guards outside Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in North Portland Tuesday afternoon. Guards also pointed a taser at bystanders who attempted to deescalate the situation. The incident comes less than three months after […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Fraud Victims Get the Shaft, Where To Find Sexy, Spooky Doughnuts, and Fugees Star Says Attorney Botched Trial With AI

Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

We hope you enjoy reading this site as much as we enjoy bringing you our unique blend of news, insights, cultural tidbits and sass! The Mercury is free to all, but we can’t do this work without community support. If you appreciate our work, please consider making a small, monthly contribution.  GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND! After […]

Posted inUncategorized

Update: City Faces Lawsuit Over 2022 Police Killing of Unarmed Man

Immanueal Clark-Johnson was shot by a Portland cop after being mistaken for a robbery suspect. His family is seeking a settlement with the city.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Update: March 28: This story has been updated to note the status of the litigation filed by Clark-Johnson’s family. The family of an unarmed man shot and killed by Portland Police with an AR-15 in 2022 has filed a lawsuit against the city of Portland. If the city settles, it will mark the fourth city […]

Posted inNews

A Low-Income Housing Complex Was Lauded as a Model for Pulling People Out of Homelessness. Three Years Later, Tenants Are Fleeing.

Residents at Argyle Gardens in Portland’s Kenton neighborhood report neglect, rampant theft, and habitability issues. Some are now back in shelters.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a response from Transition Projects Inc. In 2020, the Argyle Gardens apartment complex was lauded as a model for transitional housing. The 72-unit building in Portland’s Kenton neighborhood, opened by Transition Projects Inc. (TPI), contains a mix of efficiency studios and single-room occupancy (SRO) units, all […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: City Faces Lawsuit Over Police Killing, a Convention Center That Kills Birds, and a (not so) Total Eclipse Of the Sun

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! I hope you’re finding ways to pumpkin Spice Up […]

Posted inNews

Oregon State Troopers Will Help Portland Police Patrol Downtown on Bikes

As part of a pilot project focused on fentanyl crackdowns, Oregon State Police have been assigned to assist Portland Police in downtown patrols.
Avatar photo Courtney Vaughn

The presence of bicycle patrol police downtown is about to increase. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) announced Friday, October 6 that Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers have been assigned to a pilot project to help patrol downtown Portland. OSP will primarily join PPB bike cops. OSP was assigned by Gov. Tina Kotek as part of a […]

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