Support Smart, Local Journalism
Make a Small Monthly Donation

Give now

Environment
Posted inNews

Dozens of Complaints Against Police Funding Petition Prompt State Investigation

The Secretary of State has received more than two dozen complaints alleging campaign canvassers are misleading voters.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

Last month, canvassers began collecting signatures for a Portland ballot initiative seeking to use clean energy funds to hire police. Since then, the Oregon Secretary of State has received 28 complaints alleging campaign petitioners are misleading the public about the proposal. The Secretary of State’s office has opened an investigation into the allegations, many of […]

Posted inNews

Elections Complaint Alleges Canvassers are Intentionally Misleading Public About Police Funding Initiative

Workers gathering signatures for the effort to divert clean energy funds to Portland police are using talking points that don’t line up with the petition’s actual text.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

Two people who were hired to gather signatures for a Portland ballot initiative that would use clean energy funds to hire police say they were trained to mislead the public about the proposal. If true, the conduct would violate state elections rules, and could spell trouble for the petitioners and the company hired to lead […]

Posted inNews

Council Budget Talks Highlight Tension Over Proposed PCEF Moda Center Investment

Mayor Keith Wilson has suggested Portland’s Clean Energy Fund can spare $75 million for Moda Center upgrades, but the details are murky.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

If Mayor Keith Wilson wants to allocate clean energy fund dollars to renovate the Moda Center, he’ll have to go through Portland City Council first. And it’s not clear if they’re going to let him.  Earlier this year, amid a fervor to ensure Portland Trail Blazers’ new owner Tom Dundon keeps the basketball team in […]

Posted inNews

Business as Usual at North Portland Scrapyard, Despite Years of Environmental Violations 

Auto dismantler NW Metals has amassed more than $550K in state fines over the past decade and continues to operate without proper permits. The business has tested the bounds of Oregon’s environmental enforcement.
Avatar photo by Michael Williams

Update: April 6: The Oregon Attorney General’s Office announced Monday that a motion has been filed requesting a contempt hearing for NW Metals, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The motion alleges the scrapyard owner violated a 2021 court injunction requiring the company to comply with Oregon environmental law. NW Metals […]

Posted inNews

Initiative to Divert Clean Energy Funds to Cops Moves Ahead Under Constrained Timeline

A judge ruled largely in favor of the police union-backed initiative, but its future remains unclear.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Last week, a Multnomah County judge ruled largely in favor of the Portlanders backing an initiative petition seeking to divert a portion of the city’s clean energy fund to police. But the future of the effort to tap the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) for police hiring remains unclear, with people on both […]

Posted inNews

Oregon’s Wildlife is at Risk. Increasing the State’s Lodging Tax Could Help

A bill to raise Oregon’s lodging tax by 1.25 percent to benefit threatened animal species passed the House and now awaits a Senate vote.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Oregon lawmakers have advanced a bill to boost funding for wildlife conservation efforts and help protect the state’s most imperiled species.  House Bill 4134, also known as the 1.25 Percent for Wildlife bill, would increase the state’s lodging tax to 2.75 percent, directing most of the additional revenue to the Oregon Department of Fish and […]

Posted inNews

Amid Grim Outlook for National Climate Investments, Portland’s Clean Energy Fund Doles Out Nearly $64 Million

PCEF awarded grants to 59 local nonprofits for climate projects. The news comes as the well-endowed program is at risk of being tapped for other city priorities.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

It’s been a tough year for climate work around the country, with the Trump administration slashing funding for programs intended to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the threats of the climate crisis. But Portland has a secret weapon for local environmental action: The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund, also known as PCEF. To date, […]

Posted inOpinion

An Amphibian Resistance

There’s a movement leaping into action through Portland’s inflatable frog protest mascots. Their real-life amphibian counterparts are resisters, too, but they need our help. 
Avatar photo Suze Wehr

Earlier this month, the image of a courageous inflatable frog standing alone before militarized law enforcement during a protest at Portland’s ICE facility filled the newsfeeds of folks in Oregon (and around the world). Bright green and wide-eyed, the peaceful demonstrator embraced the power of contrast, cartoonishly innocent in the face of weaponized government overreach. […]

Posted inNews

Zenith Energy Legal Fight Highlights Gaps in Portland’s Environmental Guardrails

Climate activists say the city has little authority to enforce restrictions it imposed on a controversial oil transport operation.
Avatar photo Abe Asher

When the city of Portland permitted Zenith Energy to continue operating its fuel transport and storage facility in Northwest Portland three years ago, it did so on several conditions designed to limit potential harms to the environment.  The land use compatibility statement issued by the city requires Zenith to phase out its use of crude […]

Posted inNews

Updated: County Declares Emergency as Portland Faces Dangerous, Extended Heat Wave

Multnomah County will open two daytime cooling centers and extend hours at three libraries. 
Avatar photo Mercury Staff

Update: 11:45, Monday, August 25: Multnomah County announced it won’t reopen cooling centers today, as temperatures have fallen below emergency thresholds. The forecast still predicts hot weather (low 90s) through Tuesday evening, so health officials advise people to maintain heat precautions, especially those particularly susceptible to heat-related illness.  Update: Noon, Sunday, August 24: Multnomah County’s […]

Posted inNews

Updated: The Willamette River is Swimmable Again, Health Officials Say

The Oregon Health Authority has lifted its advisory against recreating on the river, issued last week due to a toxic algae bloom.
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

Update August 19, 2025: The Oregon Health Authority lifted its advisory warning of a harmful algal bloom on the Willamette River, stating “water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Ross Island Lagoon and the Willamette River…are below recreational guideline values for people.” OHA continues to advise people be “alert to signs of […]

Posted inNews

For a Glimpse Into Portland’s Thriving Future, Look to the River

After years of dedicated advocacy, Portland is getting on board with being a “swimmable city.”
Avatar photo Taylor Griggs

“Everything exciting and imaginative that’s happening in Portland right now seems to be touching the river.”  That assessment comes from Willie Levenson, who may be biased, considering he’s spent the better part of two decades working to change Portland’s relationship with the Willamette River through his organization, Human Access Project. But his analysis rings true. […]

Gift this article