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[In an extremely Nurse Dana Evans voice] Good Morning, Portland! Cold this mornin! Looks like we can have cold and bright or rainy and just a little warmer! Those'r your options! At least in the afternoons we're hittin' mid-50s. Rain's back next Wednesday. Now, let's get to the news!
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• A ragtag group of predominantly business interest representatives has been selected by the city of Portland to weigh in on economic challenges to the city's core. The hotshot team—called the Central City Roundtable—will convene for the first time on Friday, March 6. They'll look at recommendations offered by the infamous task force that Governor Tina Kotek designed in 2023, which proved a predictably contentious practice due to its secrecy and lack of record-keeping. Jeremiah Hayden brings a thoughtful read, compared to my withered bitterness.
• Apropos of nothing, Nevada auto magnate Jeff Swickard is a member of the Central City Roundtable. Last year, he bought Portland's US Bancorp Tower, also known as Big Pink. That building's revitalization has been pretty impressive, right? [crickets] Well, not only is that guy in on this super secret team, but he also recently purchased another downtown building: public records show the purchase of the 267,000-square-foot Five Oak building from an out-of-town investor for just $10.5 million.
• 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 Wildlife (ODFW) for conservation programs. The state has more than 300 threatened species, from amphibians to marine mammals to birds, which are suffering due to habitat loss, invasive species, and climate change, among other issues. ODFW doesn't currently have the funding to help save them, but this bill could bring in more than $37 million a year, much of which would be directed to conservation programs. The bill is notable for its broad base of support, not only from legislators but also from advocates for both wildlife conservation and hunting/livestock ranching. The bill received bipartisan support from Oregon House members Tuesday, and will now move to the Senate, where a hearing is scheduled this afternoon. TAYLOR GRIGGS
• On Wednesday, OPB dropped a shocking story of an October 911 call, made by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Northeast Portland. According to the call, the officer Israel D. Hernandez became frustrated when a "kid" on a motorized bicycle began punching his window, broke his side mirror, and tailed him through slow afternoon traffic. “I need someone here now, or else I’m going to have to shoot this kid,” he told the 911 operator. "Why is he punching your car?" the operator asks on the recording. "Well, because I work for ICE, I guess," the agent replies. An edited version of the call is below, but OPB also uploaded the call in its entirely on their site.
• A new piece from Street Roots examines data from a county Homeless Services Division Adult Shelter Review, which surveyed 31 shelters. The findings support a portrait of centers that are not fully serving Black Portlanders and Portlanders of color—a problem that seems even worse in the six city shelters. “All racial/ethnic groups except white and Asian/Asian American were underserved by all shelter types,” the report found. Read the analysis from K Rambo.
• Who decided to make Saturday, February 28, Portland’s busiest night for music in 2026? Mercury music editor Nolan Parker demands, in this week's music picks column. Rest easy—or don't because the itinerary is slammed—as music-appreciation professional Nolan appraises you of the options: Pileup album party for their new Leave The Light On, Forty Feet Tall burning it down at Mississippi Studios just a few blocks away. There's also a Cosmic Tones Research Trio in-store and Shanea—bassist of Dustbunny—solo debut on the socket. Synchronize yours watches, and get into Mercury Music Picks.
Today in clickbait.
— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas.bsky.social) February 26, 2026 at 7:36 AM
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IN NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
Breaking News: Immigration agents arrested a Columbia University student after misrepresenting themselves to access a building, the school said. nyti.ms/4u2Z0xw
— The New York Times (@nytimes.com) February 26, 2026 at 8:50 AM
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• OHSU dropout Casey Means has been nominated for US surgeon general. Means, who doesn't have an active medical license, was grilled by Senators yesterday during confirmation hearings for the top doc job. She spent the hearing spreading misinformation, including about the hormonal birth control pill, which conservative truthers say is extremely dangerous but is actually a medical marvel that has done wonders to improve women’s lives. No wonder they hate it. (While some people have bad reactions to the pill, lots of people experience no side effects, and there is no evidence it is medically dangerous.) One medical expert, American Public Health Association CEO Dr. Georges Benjamin, said “there’s no question” Means is “less qualified professionally than any other surgeon general in history.” To the Trump administration, that's an endorsement. She’ll fit right in! TAYLOR GRIGGS
Adobe’s artificial intelligence generated sexualized images in response to prompts for a 4th grade book project. The incident coincided with the release of new state guidelines to prevent harmful AI in schools. bit.ly/4sdww2i 📸 Justin Sullivan
— CalMatters (@calmatters.org) February 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM
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• A toucan seen flying around Las Vegas for months has been saved caged. “(The) little stinker decided it was time for help, and he flew into someone’s garage,” said Skye Marsh, the president and co-founder of the SouthWest Exotic Avian Rescue. The whole AP report is here.
• Today in "think about that again, though."
