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Good morning, Portland! We’re in for a gorgeous, sunny autumn day with a high of 63. That’s weather worth braving the war zone for!

Today’s forecast might help us forget how chaotic the world is. 😵‍💫

In LOCAL NEWS:

• Today marks the first day of what could be a five-day strike for Kaiser health care workers in the Portland area. It’s part of a multi-state Kaiser strike over what workers say is the company’s failure to offer competitive wages and recruit more staff. Read our recent coverage of the local strike here.

• Ever wondered who’s helping those who might be directly impacted by ramped up immigration enforcement? There are a number of aid networks working behind the scenes to help verify ICE sightings, and wrangle an attorney if someone gets arrested on an immigration-related charge. Unsurprisingly, the number of tips and requests for help has skyrocketed in recent months. Abe Asher’s latest piece breaks down how it all works. 

The Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition is connected to a network of rapid response organizations across the state who have trained people on how to verify the veracity of reported ICE activity, support people who are being detained, connect with legal support, and provide legal observation.

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— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com)October 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
  • This Saturday, it's likely that some areas near downtown will be inaccessible, as thousands of Portlanders are expected to take to the streets for another No Kings protest. The rally begins at noon at the Oregon Battlefield Memorial by the waterfront, with a march planned at 1 pm. There are other events planned that day too, including a No Kings post-party hosted by Imperial Bottleshop on SE Division, with a contest for the best protest sign.

  • A local footwear company is the target of a class-action lawsuit over its squeaky sneaks. On Inc., which makes the popular CloudTec sneakers, is accused of causing embarrassment to its customers due to a “noisy and embarrassing squeak” when the shoes are worn. It sounds like a plot to a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, but it’s real. The lawsuit alleges the sneakers, which can sell for up to $200, have a major defect that isn’t covered by a warranty.

  • The chilly, wet weather that fall is ushering in is the perfect excuse to spend time indoors. From captivating local art installations, to can't-miss comedy shows, we bring you a list of some of the best events Portland has to offer. Check out this week's Do This; Do That. You're welcome!

    The leaves are changing, the inflatable frogs are wiggling, and your week is becoming waaaay cooler with our round-up of the best contemporary art, comedy, and community happenings.

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    — Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) October 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM

In NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:

• ICYMI: Saturday Night Live's cold open was the perfect spoof of AG Pam Bondi and Lara Croft cosplayer Kristi Noem. The Department of Homeland Security had ... an interesting response.

 

 • While Palestinians and Israelis are celebrating the return of hostages and prisoners under a newly implemented ceasefire agreement, there are still major challenges for Palestinians in Gaza. For example, BBC reports that “the bodies of 45 Palestinians killed during the war and taken by the Israeli military to Israel were returned to Gaza this afternoon.” But there are no available DNA labs to identify the remains. Another major issue: Israel is still killing people despite an active ceasefire. In one instance, an Israeli drone strike killed five people trying to inspect their homes. Israel’s military says those people crossed a designated line where its troops have retreated. 

• Donald Trump pushed hard for New York Attorney General Letitia James to be indicted over alleged mortgage fraud, for taking out a loan on a second home and later renting it out, in what her critics say is a violation of the terms of her mortgage deal. The problem? Experts say it could be impossible for the Justice Department to prove wrongdoing on James's behalf. Oh, and there was also this ProPublica reporting published last month, which showed three of Trump's top cabinet members also have similar mortgages, including former Oregon representative and current Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer. According to ProPublica, Chavez-DeRemer "entered into two primary-residence mortgages in quick succession, including for a second home near a country club in Arizona, where she’s known to vacation." For those catching up, borrowers generally secure better loan deals on homes that are their primary residences, versus those being bought as an investment property or vacation home, so listing more than one home as a primary residence can pose issues, though this type of thing is rarely prosecuted. 

1/ The documents are clear: Lee Zeldin and his wife have two principal-residence mortgages, for properties in Long Island and Washington, D.C. We’ve got the records 👇 Long Island: legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... D.C.: legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

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— ProPublica (@propublica.org) September 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM

• We’ve reached the first climate tipping point, scientists say. Coral bleaching is cited as a major indicator that earth is headed toward irreversible damage unless we act to reduce global warming. A story published in TIME magazine unpacks the second “Global Tipping Points” report. The second report, published by the University of Exeter, “found that warm-water coral reefs are passing their tipping point. Rising ocean temperatures, acidification, overfishing, and pollution are combining to cause coral bleaching and mortality, meaning that a large number of coral reefs will be lost unless the global temperature returns towards 1°C warming or below.”

Aaaaannnnd, a palate cleanser for today:

"I'm gonna keep on dancin' at the pink bunny club..."🎶 



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— daily bunnies 🐇✨ (@dailybunnies.bsky.social) October 8, 2025 at 9:08 AM