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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

“Antifa Hellfire”: Amid Local Uncertainty, White House Attempts to Justify National Guard Invasion of Portland

Trump released a new memo setting his intentions to “crush” Portland’s “radical left.” Oregon leaders hope a lawsuit will prevent National Guard troops from deploying.
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It’s been a whirlwind few days since Portlanders found out about President Trump’s plan to send the National Guard into the city, with a lot of unknowns about what’s happening and when. Much of the information about the impending invasion of Portland has been delivered by local elected leaders, not through official White House communication.  […]

Posted inNews

City Leaders Say Trump Administration Has Sent Influx of Federal Agents to Portland

Trump has apparently followed through on his threat to send federal officers to Portland. Local leaders are urging Portlanders to keep their responses cool. 
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Updated: 8:34 am September 27 City and state elected officials say the Trump administration has deployed additional federal agents to Portland’s ICE facility. The news came at an emergency press conference on Friday evening, where Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced that the “rumors about deployment” of national law enforcement “became a reality” today, after a […]

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It’s Been 10 Years Since Portland Adopted Vision Zero. What’s Changed?

Portland has struggled to address the rising traffic fatalities on city streets. Leaders are now hoping for a Vision Zero renaissance. 
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Portland first adopted the Vision Zero approach to ending traffic fatalities and serious injuries on city streets in 2015. In the decade since, hundreds of people have died in traffic crashes in Portland, and many more have been gravely hurt.  But Portland isn’t giving up on Vision Zero. At least, that’s what City Council indicated […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Portland TV Stations Reject Kimmel, Trump Humiliates US in UN Tirade, and Updates on the Troubled Interstate Bridge Replacement Project

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If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury. Without you, there is no us. We are very grateful for your support.  Good morning, Portland. Once again, it was too hot yesterday. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s today (still too […]

Posted inNews

UPDATED: ICE Violated Portland Policies with Detention Practices, City Leaders Say

ICE held detainees longer than allowed by the conditions of its land use permit. Portland plans to issue the agency a land use violation notice this week.
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When Portland gave Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the green light to open a processing and holding facility in the South Waterfront in 2011, the city set conditions for the agency to operate in the space. Among other requirements, the conditional use permit prohibited ICE from holding detainees at its Portland facility overnight, or for […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: ICE Grabs North Portland Dads, Meet the Tree-Killing Beetles, and Trump Wants Oregon Voter Data

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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 […]

Posted inStreet View

Street View: Sundays Are For Open Streets

Inspired by similar events in Latin America, Portland hosted its first Sunday Parkways event in 2008. Nearly 20 years later, the city has yet to fully commit to the open streets concept. 
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In the early 1970s, bike activists in Bogotá, Colombia convinced their city leaders to close two major thoroughfares to car traffic, giving the space to people riding bikes and walking for one day. Thus began the tradition of Bogotá’s world-renowned Ciclovía (cycleway) events, which now occur every Sunday and on most holidays, transforming more than […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: Light Punishment for Super Reckless Local Driver, Thousands of Hollywood Celebs Pledge Support for Gaza, and Portland Wants To Weed Out “Unserious” Political Candidates

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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 […]

Posted inStreet View

Street View: The Band-Aid Bill

Nobody really likes the Democrats’ transportation funding package. But Republicans are wrong when they say it’s not a compromise.
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The Oregon House of Representatives managed to squeak through the latest version of a long-awaited transportation funding package earlier this week. But nobody’s popping champagne yet—and they probably won’t be anytime soon. That’s partially because momentum on the transportation bill, which Governor Tina Kotek and Democratic leaders introduced ahead of the special legislative session, is once […]

Posted inNews

Elected Officials, Advocates Urge Oregon’s Congressional Delegation to “Block the Bombs” to Israel

Local lawmakers want Oregon’s US representatives to support a legislative effort to curtail spending in Israel amid its ongoing siege on Gaza.
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Mohanad, a Palestinian who currently lives in Oregon, says he is proud of his adopted home in the United States. But during the last two years, Mohanad has spent most days worrying about his family in Gaza, including his mother, who lives with multiple chronic health conditions, and mourning those who have been killed by […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: A (Small and Necessary) Fee Increase at Oregon State Parks, Transportation Package on Hold, and Donald Trump is Still Alive

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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 […]

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Update: Oregon Lawmakers Make Another Go at a Transportation Funding Package

The bill, expected to raise roughly $4.5 billion over the next 10 years, was approved by the Oregon House and will now move onto the Senate—after a hiatus. 
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Update 9/3, 8 am: With one Democratic member of the Oregon Senate, Chris Gorsek, out for health reasons, the special session is effectively on hold. Democrats can’t afford to lose a vote, so they’ll need to wait until Gorsek is healthy enough to return to Salem and vote “aye” on the bill. The current plan is […]

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