GOOD MORNING, SUNDAY! It's the perfect time to catch up on some of the great reporting and stories the Mercury churned out this week! (PRO TIP: If you despise being "the last to know," then be one of the first to know by signing up for Mercury newsletters! All the latest stories shipped directly to your email's in-box... and then... YOUR HEAD.)


β€’ How a California Nonprofit Has Shaped City Council's Homeless Encampment Plan

Email records show that a California-based nonprofit with no experience in Oregon has played a central role in shaping Portland's plan to open outdoor, city-run homeless encampments.

Doug Brown

β€’ POP QUIZ PDX!

Ho-Ho-Hello! It's time for the jolliest trivia quiz of the year, the holiday edition of POP QUIZ PDX! This week: Mayor McGrinch, the classic toy you want under your tree, and GODDAMN... what are we gonna do with all these SANTAS?? πŸŽ… πŸ€”

CSA IMAGES / GETTY

β€’ Portland Street Response Sees 700 Percent Increase In Workload After Citywide Expansion

While the demand following the citywide expansion of Portland Street Response illustrates the city's clear need for the alternative emergency response program, it's also exposed cracks in PSR's quickly-expanding facade.

CITY OF PORTLAND

β€’ THE TRASH REPORT

Hellooooo, trash lovers! It's time for another delicious, garbage-filled edition of THE TRASH REPORT. This week: Kyrsten Sine-UGH, Wheeler's un-common sense, and the joke's on Johnny Knoxville! 🦝

MICHAEL BUCKNER / GETTY IMAGES

β€’ Grand Jury Clears PPB Officer in Fatal July Shooting

A Multnomah County grand jury has declined to file criminal charges against a Portland police officer who killed a man in July.

ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES

β€’ Β PPB Changes Policy On When It Releases Officers' Names After Shootings

After withholding trigger-pulling officers' identities for months, PPB has announced a new policy extending the time allowed before they need to share officers' names.

Mathieu Lewis-Rolland

β€’ Tickets to the "Geniuses of Comedy" Show Make a Great Holiday Gift!

Oh, hi... your friends just called to say they'd LOVE for "someone" to get them GENIUSES OF COMEDY tix for the holidays this year! (And they also want to borrow those cute plaid pants.πŸ‘–)

β€’ HEAR IN PORTLAND

'Tis the season for benefit soirees, and we're grateful that so many local shows for good causes come with great lineups.

INFINITE & INVINCIBLE

β€’ Interstate 5 Bridge Project Cost Estimate Raises to $7.5 Billion

The long-planned replacement of the Interstate 5 bridge connecting Portland and Vancouver is expected to cost between $5 billion and $7.5 billion, new project estimates show.

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

β€’ SAVAGE LOVE

In this week's column: A son wants his mom to go halfsies on a session with sex worker. She's a "cool mom," but... should she be *that* cool?

Joe Newton

WOW, THAT IS A LOT OF GOOD READIN'. I hope you didn't have any other plans this weekend! Dig in, and remember: Producing all this hard work costs moolahβ€”so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!