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 arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support!

GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋

Oh! And if you're an enthusiast of "fun," here's your reminder to pick up the Mercury's latest print issue, "The Fun-Lover's GUIDE TO PORTLAND"! If you've been feeling like, "UGH THE WORLD IS SO STUPID RIGHT NOW AND I HATE IT," then this ish is just the inspiration you need to focus a little more on "fun" and a little less on "planetary destruction." (Of course, if focusing on the latter gets you horny, then have at it, I guess?) And now? Let's have at some NEWS.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

• Students at Portland State University are saying that all code of conduct violations have been dropped against the school's chapter of Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights—and mmmmmaybe the administration's decision had something to with a recent (and controversial) warning issued by Portland City Councilor Mitch Green? The councilor had threatened to vote against city funding for PSU's new performing arts center if the school didn't back off what he felt was a "climate of repression of [the students'] free speech and what felt like overly punitive responses to the protests last spring.” Or maybe the school decided that their actions were just a really baaaaaaad look, and that now more than ever, universities need to be caring more about students and less about a certain blustering, butt-finger sniffer (that would be Trump). Anyway, get all the details from this report by Kevin Foster.

After City Councilor Mitch Green made controversial threats to withhold city funding for Portland State University over its handling of student protesters, students say their penalties were dropped. PSU faced pressure from Green and lawyers representing a pro-Palestine student group on campus.

[image or embed]

— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) April 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM

• In other school news, roughly 4,000 student workers—which includes resident assistants, food workers, and more—at the University of Oregon are going on strike today, after the administration and the University of Oregon Student Workers Union were unable to reach agreement in negotiations. The primary sticking point is (surprise) wages, with the students demanding a minimum pay of at least $18.50 an hour... they are currently making as low as $14.70. “Student workers are disproportionately first-generation college students and from lower-income families,” the union said in a statement, adding, "UO is making it impossible for us to work our way through college."

• More drama for Multnomah County officials as District Attorney Nathan Vasquez has come out swinging at County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson over her proposed budget trims to the DA's office. Despite the county facing a $15.5 million shortfall and 10 percent cuts are being made to nearly every department, Vasquez is nevertheless crying for a raise, calling (yet another) completely unnecessary press conference to say that Pederson's refusal to give his office a nearly $4.5 million increase (!) translates to the county not caring about "public safety." 🙄 Pederson fired back with her own press release saying, "No one jumps the line and gets special treatment because they go on TV and talk loudly." (I'm loving this "shut up, entitled man-baby" energy. 🍿)

Mayor Keith Wilson presents his proposed budget next week, but city employees are already growing anxious as the interim city editor has warned several departments could face 20% cuts. One union official says employee morale "is in the gutter."

[image or embed]

— OPB (@opb.org) April 28, 2025 at 8:30 AM

• A Portland man, Frederick Moore, has been sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for the 2022 intentional killing of a pedestrian near Eastport Plaza with his oversized pickup truck—and then trying to run over a witness as well. It remains unclear why Moore drove his truck onto the sidewalk near 82nd Avenue to run over and then drag the man, but he also attempted to murder a bicyclist who screamed at Moore to stop. The judge imposed the maximum sentence on Moore allowed by law.

How much do YOU know about Portland's most beloved landmarks? Let's find out in this special "Fun Guide" edition of POP QUIZ PDX! You'll find it online and in our print issue all over town! 🧠

[image or embed]

— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) April 24, 2025 at 12:24 PM

IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• One hundred days of FAILURE: We all know President Trump as a serial liar who is physically incapable of telling the truth, but as he hits 100 days in office tomorrow, it should be undeniable to everyone that, when viewed through almost every lens, he has failed miserably at leading the country. The vast majority of his cruel, inhumane proposals have been stymied by the justice system as well as the millions of Americans who have taken to the streets in protest (adding even his former billionaire pals to the anti-Trump list). His polling is in the toilet, and he has first quarter approval ratings that are far below any other president in modern times. So what is he doing in response? Threatening to investigate the pollsters. (This means he and his cult followers are stupid enough to ensure he will continue his overwhelming failures when we reach day 200.)

• Trump's forced deportation plan just got a lot crueler after two U.S. citizen children were kidnapped by ICE and sent to Honduras with their mother—even though one of the kids has cancer and is unable to access their medication. “The speed, brutality, and clandestine manner in which these children were deported is beyond unconscionable, and every official responsible for it should be held accountable,” said the woman's attorney who is trying to get the government to return the family. (Is it time to start referring to ICE as "Trump's Gestapo" yet?)

More than 100 immigrants suspected of being in the United States illegally were taken into custody early Sunday following a federal raid at an illegal after-hours nightclub in Colorado, authorities said.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) April 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM

• Trump continues to double quadruple down on his disastrously racist immigration policy, and is expected to sign an executive order today to crack down on "sanctuary cities" (👋 that's that me espresso 👋) who supposedly fail to assist Trump's Gestapo. Obviously this is just another impotent and unconstitutional attempt at scaring weak-kneed politicians into racist compliance, and will be summarily laughed out of court... so instead of succumbing to fear (which is their entire intent), re-read the top story in our national news section to remember what an utter failure this loser is on just about every conceivable level.

Host of CBS’s 60 Minutes rebukes corporate owners Paramount on-air

[image or embed]

— The Guardian (@theguardian.com) April 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM

• RIP to drag performer Bianca Castro-Arabejo (AKA Jiggly Caliente from RuPaul’s Drag Race) who has died from complications associated with a severe infection. She was 44.

• And finally... I want Bridgette and Paula Powers to be quoted on every news story for the rest of existence.

@thee.2020 I watched the whole thing! #news #twins #fyp ♬ original sound - T Boss Gen Xtra