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.)
• Drive-Thru Debacle Threatens to Keep Historic Dairy Queen in a Deep Freeze
A business owner's effort to rebuild a historic Dairy Queen on SE Division and 56th faced problems from the start. Now, the franchisee is duking it out with the city over the inclusion of a drive-thru at the ice cream shop, which he thinks is necessary for the DQ to succeed.
• POP QUIZ PDX
This week features the top questions of 2025! How much do YOU remember about Portland’s robot dogs, Blazer scandals, and that time Kristi “ICE Barbie” Noem came (uninvited) to town? PLUS! Your vote for the most heroic hero of 2025!
• Portland Students Walk Out of Class to Protest ICE Activity
Roughly 80 Lincoln High School students marched from their downtown campus to Portland City Hall, where they gathered to chant, give speeches, and observe a moment of silence for those who’ve died in ICE custody.
• City Council May Investigate Administration Over Hidden Bureau Funds
Councilor Mitch Green filed a resolution December 16 seeking to launch an investigation to determine why nearly $21 million in funding collected by the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) between 2021 and 2024 went undisclosed.
Projected on the theater’s three walls, Everest unfolds through the voices of talented singers, like mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and tenor Nathan Granner. You’ll want to bring a jacket, because the World Trade Center Theatre will be chilly and scattered with fake snow.
• THE TRASH REPORT
Gather round, Trash Pandas! It’s time for the smelliest and most delicious gossip of 2025, lovingly compiled by Elinor Jones. Included: the best celeb couple, conspiracy theory, and basic bitch of the year!
• City Council Staff Form New Labor Union
The unit of eligible employees includes 41 staff members across all City Council offices. Organizers told the Mercury their organizing efforts are intended to stabilize the government system, which has been in a period of transition since voters approved the new city charter in 2022.
• With Marty Supreme Josh Safdie Gives Us Another Movie by and for Insecure Men
A24's big new film, Marty Supreme, is "another movie by and for insecure men," annnnnnnd... will probably win a lot of awards anyway.
• Strike Averted: New Seasons Grocery Workers Secure First Labor Contract
After threatening to strike, unionized New Seasons grocery workers voted to ratify a contract with increased wages and better health insurance protections.
• SAVAGE LOVE
In this week’s edition: a case of the “ex,” a sudden gay awakening, and a very soggy mattress.
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 moolah—so please consider contributing to the Mercury to keep it all coming! Thanks!
