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! Protesters outside of the Russian embassy in Ukraine. Chris McGrath / Getty […]
Isabella Garcia
Isabella Garcia is the former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She covered City Hall, transportation, the environment, breaking news, and more.
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UPDATE: Portland Police Fatally Shoot One Person in Southwest Portland
MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND Update 2/21, 9:30 am: The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has identified Acting Sergeant Zachary Kenney and Officer Reynaldo Guevara as the two officers who shot and killed a member of the public in Southwest Portland Saturday night. Kenney, a 17-year PPB veteran, and Guevara, who joined the PPB in 2020, were responding to […]
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Portland Politicians Overwhelmingly Endorse Activist-Led Transportation Funding Plan
Portland Bureau of Transportation Oregon legislators are urging the state’s transportation leaders to spend an influx of one-time federal funding on walking, biking, and transportation safety infrastructure in an effort to meet Oregon’s climate goals. “Our state has been clear on all governing levels on the need to center our policy making on equity and […]
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Community Split on Need to Relocate Harriet Tubman Middle School Due to Pollution Concerns
Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty speaking at a Youth vs ODOT rally Wednesday evening. Isabella Garcia As the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) moves forward with a plan to expand the Interstate 5 corridor towards Harriet Tubman Middle School, local officials, school representatives, and community members differ on whether the student body should be forced to […]
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Good Morning, News: Kristof Can’t Run for Governor, Enrollment Projections Decline for Portland Schools, and Oregon’s Lithium Rush
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! Nick Kristof gets denied from the race for Oregon governor race… AGAIN! […]
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Good Morning, News: City Sued for Wrongful Death, the Megadrought Got Worse, and Oregon Officials are Hopeful For a Maskless Future
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! The West’s “megadrought” is getting worse. Alan Majchrowicz / Getty Images Good […]
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Portland Water Officials Expect Upcoming Treatment Facility to Lower Lead Levels in At-Risk Homes
Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images When asked whether Portland’s water is safe to drink, Portland Water Bureau (PWB) officials respond with a resounding “Yes.” However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t issues. “Lead is a persistent problem [in Portland’s water] and it’s something that we take very seriously,” said PWB Director Gabe Solmer during a […]
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Good Morning, News: More Money for Oregon, Preserving Language, and the CDC Says Don’t Take Your Mask Off Yet
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! Oregon legislators have more money to spend during the legislative session than […]
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Portland City Workers Agree to New Labor Contract, Averting a Major Strike
Portland Water Bureau is one of the many city bureaus staffed by members of DCTU. Portland Water Bureau A union representing more than one thousand city of Portland workers reached a contract agreement with the city Wednesday, narrowly avoiding a strike that was set to begin Thursday morning. The union approved a contract that they […]
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Good Morning, News: Oregon’s Psilocybin Program Takes Shape, Overburdened Rural Pharmacies, and It’s Oscars Season
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! The Oregon Health Authority is expected to release draft rules for its […]
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Oregon Will End Indoor Mask Requirement No Later Than March 31
Oregon will end its indoor mask mandate by March 31 at the latest. Motoya Nakamura / Multnomah County The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) will lift Oregon’s indoor mask requirement no later than March 31, the agency announced Monday. The OHA expects hospitalizations will be low enough by the end of March that eliminating the mask […]
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Cleaning Up Portland’s Anticipated Oil Spill Could Cost $2.6 Billion, Report Finds
Tanks in the CEI Hub along the Willamette River. Motoya Nakamura / Multnomah County A massive, earthquake-induced oil spill in Portland’s Northwest industrial zone could cost upwards of $2 billion in damages and clean up costs, a county and city report found. Regional officials are using this new data to build a case for why […]