It’s a bit of a haggard morning in North Portland, where I’ve recently moved. I was honor-bound to explore the watering holes within walking distance of my new home last night—they were several, and solid. The GMN! vibes of this new coffee shop, though? Suspect. Let’s give it a go. SPEAKER’S LOG, Government Shutdown Day […]
Dirk VanderHart
I'm a news reporter for the Mercury. I've spent a lot of the last decade in journalism — covering tragedy and chicanery in the hills of southwest Missouri, politics in Washington, D.C., and other matters elsewhere.
I've been in Portland three years, love it and want to help make it better. Let's keep it amicable!
Posted inNews
It’s Unlikely a Montavilla Crematory is Spewing Mercury
Alex Despain A controversial new crematory in Montavilla isn’t spewing the soil-poisoning mercury neighbors fear, according to a Portland environmental services firm. PBS Engineering and Environmental was hired by Portland Public Schools last month to study soil at Vestal School, which sits about a block from Gable Funeral Home and Cremation Service. As the Mercury’s […]
Posted inNews
Thorny Questions Emerge About Water Measure’s Actual Effects
A ballot measure ratepayers and water activists hope to put before voters in May would take control of Portland’s water and sewer services from city council and put them in the hands of a new seven-person board. Just what the hell else it would do is an open question. Attorneys met in a Multnomah County […]
Posted inNews
Portland Property Managers Come Out in Force For “Water Reform” Bid
A group of water activists and big ratepayers who want to wrest control of water and sewer bills from city council hands continues to haul in big donations. In transactions posted to the Secretary of State’s ORESTAR website earlier today, the group Portlanders for Water Reform reported $42,100 in new money to play with as […]
Posted inNews
A Former Mount Hood Community College Official Says She Saw Discrimination, Malfeasance at the School
A former Mount Hood Community College official is now lobbing serious accusations at the institution, claiming to have witnessed race and gender discrimination, misappropriation of funds and other misdeeds while employed there. Mary-Elizabeth Harper served as director of labor relations at MHCC from October 2011 until July 2012, when she was fired. In a lawsuit […]
Posted inNews
East Portland’s “Gateway Green” Cruises to Crowdfunded Success
People will crowdfund anything—it’s become an ironic joke we play on ourselves to grow smugly poorer. But Gateway Green’s recent success is good news. The proposed mountain bike park and public green space between interstates 84 and 205 easily reached an $100,000 funding goal sometime in the last 18 hours. The tally has shot up […]
Posted inNews
Good Morning, News!
On the one hand, your government is still shut down. In its third day, there are few hopeful signs Republicans’ desperate insanities are abating. Lot of people not working. Lot of web sites that should be more useful than they are not functioning. It’s sour stuff, and unnecessary. On the other hand, I saw Facebook […]
Posted inNews
Portland Cops Might Face a Lawsuit in Legacy Emanuel Molestation Case
Portland cops learned a former Legacy Emanuel nurse might have raped a patient in January of this year, but didn’t follow up for months. Now, a woman who says she was attacked by accused rapist Jeffrey N. McAllister in the interim period is threatening to sue the city. In a tort claim notice filed last […]
Posted inPuppy
Important Dog/Bus News!
Is this of human interest to anyone? A TriMet bus driver saw a woman chasing after her runaway Jack Russell Terrier yesterday. So the driver lured the dog onto the bus. The dog’s name is Sara Lee, unfortunately, and a long-ish narrative supplied by TriMet this morning had this to say: Although Sara Lee didn’t […]
Posted inNews
Out of Whack
There Are Plenty of Signs Cops Target Minorities. But Hope, Too.
There are plenty of signs Portland cops target minorities. There’s hope, too.
Posted inMovies & TV
Indigestion
Bad Milo Is a Movie About a Butt Demon
Bad Milo is a movie about a butt demon.