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Good Morning, Portland: Behold, the sun! It’s looking to be a gorgeous weekend, starting today (look outside, sleepyhead). The birds are out, the Blazers are in the playoffs, what could go wrong? Ah damn. It’s 2026, of course something can go wrong. Still, there’s a lot of good news to cover along with the bad—let’s get to it. 📰
IN LOCAL NEWS:
- City Council grilled the city’s top administrative brass yesterday in a hearing over why millions of housing dollars went unspent, and why councilors were not told of the funds during a budget discussion last Fall. The hearing brought serious questions, and promises that the administration would be more transparent with Council in the future. But new records obtained by the Mercury show an ongoing effort, as recently as March, to keep councilors away from bureau experts amid their budgeting process. Earlier this year, the total housing money ballooned to roughly $145 million, some of which has now been allocated. $21 million of that was available for rent assistance and eviction protection last year when the city faced a massive budget gap. City administrative staff knew about the money as early as July 2025, while Mayor Keith Wilson, CFO Jonas Biery, and the bureau that oversees Wilson’s shelter program all knew about the money in early September but didn’t tell the government branch that is supposed to allocate that money, during last year’s tense budget discussion. The hearing is a first under Portland’s new government, and certainly not the last. Read the full story here.
- Portland City Council is poised to adopt a new funding mechanism for the city’s cash-strapped transportation bureau, in the form of an extra charge on Portlanders’ utility bills. The new fee, expected to go into effect in January 2027, will be tacked onto residential and commercial water bills. Most Portland households can expect to pay an additional $8.40 or $12 a month for the Transportation Utility Fee (TUF), depending on if they live in multi-unit or single-family dwellings. It’s expected to bring in $46 million a year which is desperately needed to fix the city’s crumbling infrastructure. Some Portlanders are upset, saying the fee is not a fee but a tax, since no one can really get out of paying it. Supporters say everyone uses the roads, even if indirectly—like ordering food delivery, receiving mail, biking, etc.—and if the transportation bureau’s $6 billion backlog can’t fill itself; neither can these potholes. Read up on the TUF from Mercury transportation reporter, Taylor Griggs, here.
- The Blazers play tonight at the Rose Garden (we’re manifesting better times), and while we’re not likely to see our beloved point guard and rocker of Oakley sunglasses Damian Lillard, there is a chance he come back if we get a little deeper into the playoffs. Blazers play the Spurs (Wemby is listed as questionable) at 7:30. Looking for a place to watch? Check this out.
- This seems bad.
- Something called the “Portland Mercury” yesterday announced that its music issue will be on the streets in mid-May, the first issue in so long that some veritable genius decided to throw a party about it. Isabeau Waia’u Walker, the Barbaras, Keeks, and La Isla Electronica will play Turn! Turn! Turn! on May 14 to celebrate. Don’t worry, though, it’s not a four-band bill. The show will happen in two parts—the first is all-ages, and the second is 21+ because the OLCC wants us to live our lives separated by generations when we enjoy music. The celebration isn’t all about us though; it’s also a fundraiser for the incredible Ethos Music Center, a cool all-ages music nonprofit right across the street from the venue. Read much, much more about it here from the Mercury‘s Nolan Parker.
- The days are waning to celebrate PIZZA WEEK, but it’s still on! $4 slices, 70 locations, dozens of inventive toppings—don’t say we didn’t warn you!! Plus, alt-country shoegazers Wednesday come through this week, and Independent Bookstore Day collides with Making Earth Cool’s Earth Day celebration on April 25. There are a ton of great arts and culture events going on this weekend, and Lindsay Costello has some fantastic suggestions for you, here.
IN NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS:
- Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi is reportedly headed to Pakistan for peace talks, thought not directly with the United States. Iranian state media IRNA said, “The purpose of this visit is to hold bilateral consultations, and discuss current developments in the region, as well as the latest situation in the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran.” Meanwhile, Department of War Crimes Secretary Pete Hegseth continues his bluster, saying without evidence that the US is “in control” of the Straight of Hormuz. Read more on the current situation in Iran, here.
- Many people are asking if doing war crimes causes cancer.
- Ok, so when US special forces went into Venezuela to capture then-President Nicolás Maduro, one of the soldiers involved reportedly used classified information to place bets on an online market. He made $400,000 on the bet, because he had a pretty good idea of when it might go down since he was, uh, planning to be there. Ok, 2026. Well, now the US Justice Department has brought a list of charges against him for the fraudulent activity. The man’s name is Gannon Ken Van Dyke, and just to be clear, when America sends its people to South America, it is not sending its best. Even FBI Director Kash Patel thinks it’s bad, which is certainly saying something. More here.
- Well friends, its’ been a blast. I hope you have a great weekend. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders and baristas. They deserve it.