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! Let’s start with the obvious: the weather. Much like Beyoncé, […]
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
Multnomah County Set to Distribute Cooling Supplies Amid Weekend Heat Wave
Multnomah County’s health department will distribute supplies and “share resources” over the weekend to unhoused residents, as temperatures are expected to reach the low 90s Saturday and Sunday. The county stopped short of announcing any cooling centers set to open during the unseasonably warm weekend of May 13 and 14, noting forecasted temperatures have been […]
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Prism Health Center Closes Temporarily After Threat to Clinic
Staff said the clinic closed out of catution after a patient in mental distress made verbal threats.
A message to patients on Prism Health’s website Prism Health Center in Southeast Portland closed its doors for three days, citing a threat to the clinic. Prism is part of the Cascade AIDS Project, and specializes in health services for LGBTQ+ patients. On Wednesday, May 10, the clinic informed its patients that it would close […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Peterson is Officially Out of the Portland School Board Race, Why Homeless Shelters Turn Away People With Disabilities, and How to Survive on Wine and Candy
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! Shake off that seasonal depression and embrace this week’s […]
Posted inNews
Peterson Says He’s Officially Out of the Portland School Board Race—Again
After radio silence, the candidate reiterated his withdrawal from the Portland Public Schools race for Zone 3.
After a week of mixed messages, Derrick Peterson said Wednesday, May 10 that he is officially withdrawing from the race for the Portland Public Schools Board of Education. Peterson updated his campaign website Wednesday, after posting a statement the week prior about his decision to withdraw from the race, then telling a current board member […]
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Portland School Board Candidate Waffles on Withdrawal Statement, Confusing Voters a Week Before Election
Derrick Peterson’s campaign manager resigned last week, amid reports of candidate’s ties to Christian Nationalist groups.
After previously announcing he would vacate the seat if elected to serve Zone 3 on the Portland Public Schools Board of Education, former candidate Derrick Peterson may be walking back his plans to quit the race. Last week Peterson made a public statement on his website saying he had withdrawn from the race, noting recent […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Portland School Board Candidate Drops Out of Race, a Chick-fil-A Could Replace a Strip Club, and McDonald’s Violates Child Labor Laws
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! If last week’s weather had you breaking out the […]
Posted inNews
Portland School Board Candidate Withdraws From Race
Derrick Peterson drops out of PPS race two weeks before election, after alleged ties with Christian nationalist groups surface.
UPDATE: Monday, May 8: Peterson’s statement about withdrawing from the race for Portland Public Schools Board of Education has now vanished, stirring questions about whether he has changed his mind about pulling out of the race eight days before the election. Peterson did not respond to phone calls from the Mercury seeking confirmation. A candidate […]
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Oregon Secretary of State Resigns Amid Ethics Questions About Cannabis Consulting Work
Shemia Fagan announced her resignation Tuesday, May 2 after reports of a private consulting job with a company under audit by the state
Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan will resign from office, following ethics questions into her private consulting work. Fagan announced her resignation Tuesday morning, May 2. Her resignation will take effect Monday, May 9. The day prior, Fagan announced she had terminated her contract with Veriede Holdings– a company affiliated with the La Mota chain […]
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Civic Life Office Turns Down Portland Neighborhood Group’s Bid for City Funds
Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. asked for a reinstated contract. The city cited charter reform as grounds for denial.
A Southwest Portland district coalition that sought to reinstate its public funding was denied last month. Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI) was notified by the Office of Community and Civic Life on April 13 that its request for city funds was not included in the latest budget. The organization previously served as the city’s designated coalition […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Portlanders Question Claims Made by Gunshot Detection Companies, a Homicide in Cully Caused by Chips, and Ducks at School!
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 good news, Portland! If you’ve been stalking the meteorologists, […]
Posted inNews
Gunshot Detection Companies Vie for Portland Contract and a Skeptical Public’s Approval
ShotSpotter and EAGL, both finalists for gunfire detection pilot program, presented their technology during a community forum—and drew a significant number of questions and concern.
Before Portland’s elected leaders decide on a vendor for a gunshot detection pilot program, the public heard from two companies vying for a city contract. The city plans to launch a year-long pilot program in neighborhoods with frequent gun violence. During an April 25 community meeting held on Zoom, representatives with SoundThinking, the company formerly […]