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! Buckle up for a week of gloomy weather. Today we’ll see an […]
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
Dan Ryan Rules Out Running for Portland Mayor
The city commissioner will decide whether to run for a council district by late January, as speculation swirls over who might challenge Mingus Mapps in 2024 race.
Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan has ruled out a run for mayor in 2024. Ryan’s office made the announcement Monday, as filings for the 2024 City Council race have already surpassed 40 candidates. None of the current city commissioners have announced plans to run, with the exception of Commissioner Mingus Mapps, who is running for […]
Posted inNews
Officers Who Shot Legacy Hospital Suspect Cleared By Grand Jury
Three Portland officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man suspected of killing a Legacy Good Samaritan security guard in July won’t face criminal charges.
A grand jury found three Portland police officers who were involved in the fatal shooting of the Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital gunman in July, shouldn’t face criminal charges. The decision was announced Thursday by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers searched for PoniaX Kane Calles, 33, for hours on […]
Posted inNews
A Decade After Federal Directives, Portland Police Will Start Using Body Cameras Full-Time
Axon lobbied city staff years before City Council approved a $10 million contract with the company
December 27: This story has been updated to include a modified contract amount for the purchase of body cameras. December 3: This story has been updated to clarify the delay in implementation. A long-delayed plan to outfit the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) with body cameras may soon come to fruition. The city initially approved spending […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: City Eyes $2.6 Million in Body Cameras For Police, House Cooks Up Plan to Oust Santos, and a Boon for Portland’s Music Scene
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 Tuesday, November 28, which is now Giving Tuesday, for those of […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Protesters Picket Boeing, Teachers Want Classroom Size Committees, and Why F1 Racing Lost Its Bet on Vegas
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 Tuesday, November 21, which means we’re 48 hours […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: No School Till Late November, Police Oversight Gets a Bad Makeover, and SCOTUS Says No To Drag Show Bans
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 some sun and no rain today on this gorgeous, […]
Posted inNews
City Council Watered Down Police Oversight Approved by Voters, Advisory Group Says
Members of Portland’s Police Accountability Commission lambast city’s proposed code revisions, which now call for police to help shape oversight board.
A police oversight measure approved by Portland voters was supposed to help restore police accountability and public trust, but some say a move by Portland City Council only threatens to erode public confidence. In 2020, 82 percent of Portland voters approved Measure 26-217, which called for a new, independent, community-led oversight board to investigate, recommend […]
Posted inNews
Portland City Council Says Au Revoir to Meetings at City Hall Until 2025
Amid remodel of council chambers, councilors will meet virtually until January, when in-person meetings resume at city’s 1900 Building.
Wednesday, November 15 marks the last time the Portland City Council will meet in the current council chambers at City Hall until January 2025. Following a Thanksgiving week break, the council will meet virtually, until in-person meetings resume at an alternate location in mid-January. By then, the council is slated to hold meetings at the […]
Posted inHoliday Guide 2023
Clocking In for Christmas
Dispatches from job sites that don’t shut down for the holidays.
Whether it’s the dedicated souls working the projector at a local movie theater, front desk staff at a hotel, back of house staff at any number of restaurants, or the seasoned barkeep making small talk while pouring liquor, for many workers, Christmas is “just a normal day” as one hotel employee put it. So who […]
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.
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.
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 […]