The Portland City Council has backed away from a somewhat controversial plan to levy a 5 percent sales tax on medical marijuana alongside a hoped-for 10 percent levy on sales of recreational pot—assuming Measure 91 passes this fall and no other legal hurdles arise. The seemingly unanimous decision came during this morning’s city council meeting, […]
Denis C. Theriault
Denis C. Theriault is the Portland Mercury's News Editor. He writes stories about City Hall and the Portland Police Bureau, focusing on issues like homelessness, police oversight, insider politics, and civil liberties. Before arriving in Portland, Denis wrote and edited for the San Jose Mercury News, covering the California Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as the city of San Jose—a real-live million-person town.
Posted inNewsblast!
Good Morning, News: Incremental Headlines on the Road to Apocalypse!
It’s NOT Columbus Day, for Portland schoolkids (who don’t have the day off anyway, no matter what it’s called). It’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day, thanks to a vote by the Portland Public Schools board last week that puts PPS in line with a bunch of other places who’ve decided the risk of offending Italians wasn’t worth […]
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Letter Sheds Light on Police Chief’s Compromise Offer in Pepper-Spray Case
As you may recall, police officials announced earlier this month that Chief Mike Reese had offered to meet a citizen appeal panel halfway in a discipline case involving an officer who pepper-sprayed homeless campers during a chaotic confrontation last year beneath the Morrison Bridge. That panel, the Citizen Review Committee (CRC), had voted 6-1 in […]
Posted inNewsblast!
Good Morning, News: Crushing Your Cars, Crushing Your Health, Crushing Your Dreams
“Accused car-crushing kingpin” is a helluva title to earn in life, even if it means you and 30 other people have been indicted on racketeering charges in connection with dozens of snatched cars. It says you’ve become interesting. It might also indicate, according to a nice and deep O investigation, that you benefited from a […]
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Governor’s Fiancé Apologizes for Formerly Secret Illegal Marriage
Oregon first lady Cylvia Hayes, engaged to marry Governor John Kitzhaber since the summer, has confirmed a Willamette Week report about her formerly secret third marriage to an immigrant teenager almost 20 years ago, admitting she broke federal immigration laws banning “green card” marriages and accepting $5,000 as payment during a low moment in her […]
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Help with Baggage
Mayor’s Office Smooths Bumps in Airbnb Expansion to Apartments, Condos
Mayor’s office pitching rules for Airbnb’s expansion to apartments and condos.
Posted inMovies & TV
Dark Alliance
Kill the Messenger: How the CIA Helped Journalists Destroy One of Their Own
Kill the Messenger: How the CIA helped journalists destroy one of their own.
Posted inNews
Hall Monitor
Charlie’s Finally Got His Chief
The mayor can finally prove how much he cares about police accountability.
Posted inNews
Advocates Hopeful About New Police Chief, Still Wish They’d Been Consulted First
photographs by denis c. theriault Incoming police chief Larry O’Dea is known for his engagement with minority communities. Most people who follow police issues in Portland had a pretty good sense Police Chief Mike Reese would be ready to hand over the reins once a federal judge approved a long-awaited police reform settlement between the […]
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Coming Tomorrow! Mayor’s Office Sets Proposed Rules for Airbnb’s Expansion to Apartments, Condos
Enjoy the following sneak preview from tomorrow’s Mercury—an abridged version of our lead news story. Read the whole shebang once we hit newsstands tomorrow! illustration by ryan alexander-tanner Mayor Charlie Hales’ office plans to release proposed rules for a controversial expansion by Airbnb to multifamily buildings by the end of the month, the Mercury has […]
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Police Union President Praises Reese’s “Personal Touch,” Says Retiring Chief Helped Move Bureau in “Positive Direction”
Police Chief Mike Reese, who announced his retirement today, has earned some kind words this afternoon from a frequent sparring partner on management, discipline, and labor issues: Officer Daryl Turner, president of the Portland Police Association. Turner, in a note sent to his rank-and-file members—sergeants, officers, and detectives—praised Reese for leading the police bureau in […]
Posted inNews
BREAKING: Mike Reese Retiring as Police Chief; Hales Names Larry O’Dea as Successor
Police Chief Mike Reese has announced his impending retirement from the Portland Police Bureau this morning—an unsurprising development for city hall watchers who’d been waiting for such a decision after a federal judge this summer finally approved a package of police reforms between the city and the US Department of Justice. Reese, who’s led the […]