Support Smart, Local Journalism
Make a Small Monthly Donation

Give now
Avatar photo

Taylor Griggs

Taylor Griggs is a news reporter for the Portland Mercury. She is interested in all of your ideas, comments and concerns, particularly those related to transportation, climate, labor, and Portland city government. Send Taylor an email at tgriggs@portlandmercury.com, and find her on Bluesky @taylorgriggs. 
Posted inNews

Facing Public and Council Opposition, Portland Grants Zenith Key Approval

City staff issued Zenith the land use credential shortly after two city councilors called for an investigation into the company. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

The city of Portland issued Zenith Energy a new Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) on Monday morning, enabling the company to continue its local oil storage and transport operations in compliance with the state. The decision was met with immediate backlash from advocates who are critical of Zenith and the city’s oversight of it, which […]

Posted inNews

“A Dangerous Precedent”: PGE Faces Major Backlash for Forest Park Utility Proposal

The utility company’s Harborton Reliability Project would cut 400 trees in an effort to bolster Portland’s electrical grid. Opponents say it’s not worth the loss of priceless natural resources.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Portland’s Forest Park is one of the city’s most treasured natural features, and among the largest urban forests in the United States. Stretching across more than 5,000 acres in Northwest Portland, from outer West Burnside Road well past the St. Johns Bridge, the park is visible from miles away as a mass of giant Douglas […]

Posted inLove/Sex 2025 ❤️🍆🍑

STREET VIEW: Love and Bicycles

How Portland’s bike scene facilitates romance in the age of dating apps and loneliness. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

[Read all of the articles in our Love/Sex issue HERE! Looking for a print copy? Look at this handy-dandy map!—eds.] When Carey Booth and Jack Coleman met in the spring of 2023, neither of them had any inkling of their future together. Both were in their mid-60s, retired, and single, but they were in different […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: New, Bad Trump Orders (and Impacts for Oregon), New Portland Approach to Shelters, and New Seasons Workers Strike

Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

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! Guess what?? It’s going to rain tomorrow and over […]

Posted inNews

Zenith Permit Decision Raises Questions, Conflicts About City Council Authority

New city councilors realize they don’t have much power over the controversial company’s future—and they want to change that.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Few other industrial activities in Portland have drawn the level of public scrutiny that Zenith Energy’s crude oil storage and transport facility has. The company’s operations have catalyzed climate protests and public backlash. The city of Portland has also been denounced for its oversight of the company, which critics say has been overly permissive.  Environmental […]

Posted inNews

UPDATED: Labor Complaint Against City Council Candidate Alleges Racist Treatment at City’s Community Safety Division

Lisa Freeman is the subject of a BOLI civil rights investigation, but other former city employees say the office has a problem with structural racism much larger than just one staff member.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Updated, January 22, 2025:  In a November 2024 decision, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) dismissed Badon’s case against Freeman. The BOLI decision cited a lack of evidence that Badon was fired in retaliation for her HR complaints, and said any allegations or evidence of racial discrimination on Freeman’s part are “outside the […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Oregon Stands Up To Trump, Snow in New Orleans, and the First Hero of the Second Trump Administration

Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

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! It’s going to be cool and dry again today. […]

Posted inNews

City Council Solidifies New Policy Committees

The eight committees will be the primary conduit for public engagement and policy proposals from councilors. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Among the many changes to Portland’s city government, one of the most consequential—for both councilors and members of the public—is the introduction of council committees. These committees, which City Council members hashed out at a Wednesday evening meeting, will serve as the primary venue for councilors to “consider, develop, and recommend legislation.” They’ll also be […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Dispatches from City Council, Details of the Providence Strike, and a Potential Cease-Fire Between Israel and Hamas

Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and […]

Posted inNews

Federal Transportation Program Eyes Another Albina Reconnection Project at I-405 Ramps

The US Department of Transportation will give Portland $1 million to study alternatives for the “overbuilt” I-405 ramps in North Portland, which have contributed to neighborhood disconnection for more than 50 years. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

North Portland’s Boise and Eliot neighborhoods are some of the most walkable and bikeable in the city, with easy access to cafes, bars, and parks. New residential and commercial developments are popping up regularly in the neighborhoods, especially along North Mississippi Vancouver, and Williams Avenues.  But some neighborhood residents and advocates say the area is […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Trudeau Resigns, Bus and Train Problems in Oregon, and the First (Human) Bird Flu Death in the US

Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

If you’re reading this, you probably know the value of the Mercury’s news reporting, arts and culture coverage, event calendar, and the bevy of events we host throughout the year. The work we do helps our city shine, but we can’t do it without your support. If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and […]

Posted inNews

Earl Blumenauer Reflects on Long Political Career and “Bike-Partisanship”

After 28 years in Congress, Blumenauer will return to Portland as a civilian with big plans for the city and state’s future. 
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Throughout Earl Blumenauer’s 28 years in the US House of Representatives, his constituents back home have taken a certain pride in knowing their congressman brought a distinctly Portland flair to Washington, D.C.  The Democratic congressman, who will officially pass the baton to incoming Congresswoman Maxine Dexter on January 3, is known across the country for […]

Gift this article