The Mercury provides news and fun every single day—but your help is essential. 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! This month has got us checking the weather app daily, because October feels like one big curve ball. Today, we can expect morning clouds followed by afternoon sunshine with a high of 72 degrees and an overnight low of 51.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Portland police say workers hired to clean up encampments of unhoused people discovered human remains downtown Tuesday. According to police, the Central Precinct got a call Tuesday morning about a “suspicious discovery” near SE Harvey Milk and Naito Parkway. Contracted workers removing campsite came upon what they suspected were remains. The Multnomah County Medical Examiner responded to the scene to confirm the discovery was remains. It’s unclear whether the Medical Examiner will be able to make a positive ID. Anyone who might have information about the person or persons found can contact homicidetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 26-298767.
• Tuesday marked the final debate between Gov. Tina Kotek and Oregon state Senator Christine Drazan, both vying to be Oregon’s next governor. The debate took place in Central Oregon, and, according to OPB, didn’t unveil any new points about either candidate’s leadership strategy. Drazan blames Kotek for the state’s failures over the past four years. Kotek insists Drazan would bow to Trump, and infuse a MAGA agenda if she were elected. One interesting takeaway from OPB’s coverage: “On the question of curbing homelessness, Kotek was in somewhat friendly territory. The governor’s efforts to shelter and rehouse Oregonians are one reason why year-over-year homelessness was down 19% in Central Oregon. She touted that success when asked about the issue.
“But Drazan, who often points to less positive stats surrounding Oregon’s homeless crisis, said the state needs to change its direction entirely. She advocates steering people who are homeless into recovery or mental health treatment, if needed.” Worth noting: not every person who’s unhoused has a substance abuse disorder, and Oregon is severely lacking in treatment beds and services. Anyway, the two also traded jabs over whether Kotek can serve the interests of rural Oregonians, while Kotek pointed out that Drazan voted to cut funding for the Oregon Health Plan, which people across the state rely on.
• On that note, we’re just shy of three weeks from Election Day, and the crew at the Mercury has been doing A LOT of research, interviews, pontificating, and group discussion to bring you our general election endorsements! Read through our guide to get recommendations on filling out your ballot, and remember that if you’re mailing your ballot, you should aim to drop it in the mail no later than October 27, to avoid any Postal Service slowdowns that could prevent it from being counted. Reminder: Endorsements are simply recommendations. If you disagree with our advice, you’re welcome to exercise your own free will.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• The Washington DC home of Rep. Ilhan Omar was searched by federal agents Monday in what appears to be a probe into immigration fraud. The democratic lawmaker, who is up for reelection, is a frequent target of the Trump administration. Omar was born in Somalia and became a naturalized US citizen in 2000 when she was 17 after her family was granted asylum. She now represents Minnesota’s 5th District in Congress, which includes Minneapolis. It’s unclear exactly what the feds are looking for, but the fact that they were Homeland Security officials suggests they may be trying to pin Omar or members of her family on immigration fraud charges of some kind.
• Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former Southside Compton Crips gang leader who arranged the fatal shooting of Tupac Shakur in 1995, was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison. Davis is the first and only person to be convicted in Shakur’s death. The conviction came as a result of a 2008 deal Davis made with police on unrelated charges, in which he agreed to divulge information that they said couldn’t be used against him. Years later, Davis wrote a memoir that prosecutors said provided them with enough evidence that he was in Las Vegas at the same time as Shakur and orchestrated for the rapper to be shot after Shakur’s entourage had attacked Davis’s nephew previously. Prosecutors said Davis and his crew went “hunting” for Shakur on the night of September 7, 1995, and found him riding in a car with Death Row Records co-founder and CEO Marion “Suge” Knight. Shakur wasn’t shot by Davis, but likely his nephew. The legendary rapper, who was at the height of his career, died six days later from his injuries.
• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee in the upcoming Senate race, was reportedly ringing in the new year in Dubai in 2025, alongside two US fugitives and a girlfriend or love interest of some sort who definitely wasn’t his wife. Paxton will face Democrat challenger James Talarico in the November election. It’s the latest controversy to swarm the embattled AG, who in 2015 was indicted for securities fraud and later agreed to a settlement in the case against him. Paxton has also faced a slew of other allegations, including whistleblower complaints that he used his official position to benefit a campaign donor and also engaged in bribery. He was also sued by employees in his office after he fired them shortly after they filed whistleblower complaints. Paxton also agreed to settle in that case. Reminder: this man is still Texas’s top attorney. Yikes.
• Pope Leo is said to be recovering after a surgery that removed a portion of his right lung (let me save you time, I checked and no, he’s never been a smoker.) The Vatican confirmed Tuesday that the Pope, 71, was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma during the surgery to remove the nodule. It’s unclear whether he’ll need additional surgeries or what comes next for the beloved religious figure who has somehow managed to fetch respect and admiration of even atheists.
Here’s your reminder that Portland politics will never be as messy or wild as Jaime West, who’s running in Fayette County, Indiana. We’re rooting for her.
