Outgoing City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty has represented the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) since January 2021, when Mayor Ted Wheeler assigned her the bureau despite her campaigning to oversee the Portland police. Hardesty, who was edged out of city hall by political newcomer Rene Gonzalez in the November 8 election, took the assignment in […]
Isabella Garcia
Isabella Garcia is the former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She covered City Hall, transportation, the environment, breaking news, and more.
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Portland Traffic Fatalities Continue to Rise, Oregon Restricts Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars, and Wells Fargo In the Hot Seat
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 jump right in. In local news: • The […]
Posted inHealth
Multnomah County Bans Sale of Flavored Tobacco and Nicotine Products
The ban will go into effect in 2024.
Multnomah County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine in an effort to curb youth smoking and prevent young people from getting addicted to nicotine. “This is going to save peoples’ lives,” said County Chair Deborah Kafoury. “There will be teenagers today who do not start smoking or vaping […]
Posted inTransportation
TriMet Expands Its Ability to Ban Riders from Transit System
TriMet board members voted Wednesday to expand rider penalties for people who commit criminal offenses on the transit system and riders who chronically violate TriMet code. The change allows the agency’s general manager to circumvent the criminal justice system to ban riders who threaten the safety of other riders, as well as riders who repeatedly […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Portland Trees Save Lives, Women Hockey Players Get a Fair Wage, and What Should We Do About Toppled Monuments?
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! Calling all comedy fans: The Mercury’s UNDISPUTABLE GENIUSES OF […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Cleveland Cancels Classes After Shooting, Businesses Refuse to Accept Cans, and SCIENCE
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 officially in FOG SEASON. Visibility is a bit […]
Posted inTransportation
Interstate 5 Bridge Project Cost Estimate Raises to $7.5 Billion
The long-planned replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge connecting Portland and Vancouver is expected to cost between $5 billion and $7.5 billion, new project estimates show. The new estimate—developed by Oregon and Washington’s joint project taskforce, the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR)—is approximately a 56 percent increase over the 2020 cost estimate, which pegged the […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Griner Released, Portland Police Find Citywide Threat Non-Credible, and Astoria Denounces ‘Goonies’ Commercialization
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 jump right in. In local news: • Portland […]
Posted inHealth
An Update on Viruses Currently Plaguing Portland
The latest on COVID, RSV, mpox, and the flu
Overlapping respiratory viruses are currently straining the Portland region’s hospital capacity, triggering recommendations to wear masks indoors and reconsider any social plans. “This is not a crisis of disease, this is a crisis of resources,” said Wendy Hasson with Randall Children’s Hospital. “Meaning, we simply don’t have enough nurses, respiratory therapists, and support staff to […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: Wheeler Sued Over Missing Texts, Swifties Sue Ticketmaster, and REAL ID Deadline Extended
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! Gooooood morning, Portland! No special weather to report today, just good old […]
Posted inNews
Charter Commission Advances Second Round of Amendments to Voters, Council
Update 12/3 2:35 pm: In its final vote Saturday, the Charter Review Commission revoted on multiple amendments, saving proposed amendments from failing, advancing amendments straight to the voters, and bringing a new proposed charter amendment before City Council. Portland voters will see nine proposed charter amendments in the form of five or six ballot measures […]
Posted inGood Morning, News!
Good Morning, News: The City’s Funding Shuffle, Mpox Vaccines Encouraged, and Federal Funding for At-Risk Tribal Nations
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! Do you like festive holiday drinks? Check out the […]