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Posted inNews

High Turnover, Low Pay: Staff at Prominent Legal Aid and Advocacy Group Call For Ouster of CEO

Disability Rights Oregon workers fight for livable wages despite sizable annual raises for the organization’s top executive.
Avatar photo by Anna Del Savio

Workers at Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) are urging the nonprofit law firm’s board to fire executive director Jake Cornett. Low pay is the main frustration for employees—a resentment aggravated by their boss receiving big raises in recent years. The nonprofit advocacy organization “cannot move forward in its current state, and [Cornett] seems to be uniquely […]

Posted inNews

After Months of “Political Football,” Council Funds Housing for Black Portlanders

The individual projects enjoy broad support, but conflicts over funding sources, process, and transparency could be a recurring issue.
Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

Two Portland housing development projects that have become a “political football” in recent months crossed into the end zone after city councilors finally approved their funding. In a 10-2 vote Wednesday, June 3, Portland City Council allocated $2.5 million in city funds to two homeownership development projects: one at the corner of Northeast Williams and […]

Posted inNews

Portland City Council Adopts New Law Enforcement Mask Ban, ID Requirements

The city ordinance won’t give local police the authority to unmask ICE, but its supporters say it will help verify and prevent law enforcement impersonators.
Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

When federal immigration agents started showing up for duty last year in plain clothes with their faces half covered, it stoked fear in immigrants. It also sparked concerns about accountability and transparency within the broader community. Still, an ordinance aimed at requiring police to display agency ID and keep their faces visible at all times […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News! Centrist Dems Seem To Have Lost; Oregonians Cool With Taxes, Actually; Ebola; And Stephen Colbert Signs Off

Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

If you believe Portland benefits from smart, local journalism and arts coverage, please consider making a small monthly contribution to the Mercury, because without you, there is no us. Thanks for your support! Good Morning, Portland! It’s gorgeous out! Here’s hoping you have some time to enjoy the sun and see some friends this long weekend if you’re […]

Posted inNews

Cop Union Alleges City Councilor Interference in New Police Oversight System

Councilor Sameer Kanal was invited to present at a meeting of the Community Board for Police Accountability. The Portland Police Association is crying foul.
Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

City officials say they’re evaluating complaints made by Portland’s largest police union against a city councilor.  On March 19, Aaron Schmautz, president of the Portland Police Association, fired off a memo to Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, City Administrator Raymond Lee III, and other top city administrative staff, alleging District 2 City Councilor Sameer Kanal had […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

Justin Townes Earle’s Portland Years

The late singer-songwriter’s time in town was pivotal and painful.
Avatar photo by Jonathan Bernstein

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. On November 6, 2016, Justin Townes Earle made an important proclamation: He was moving […]

Posted inMusic Issue 2026

Get Into the Groove

How Discogs evolved from a Portland vinyl collector’s dream to a worldwide phenomenon.
Avatar photo by Ryan J. Prado

What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s 2026 Music Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Like many dot-com era ideas ushered into use just below the radar in the […]

Posted inGood Morning, News!

Good Morning, News: The Latest Moda Center Funding Fight, Trump’s Laughable Plan To Lower Gas Prices, and the Video Game You Didn’t Know You Needed

Avatar photo by Courtney Vaughn

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! Hopefully you got outside and frolicked in the sunshine […]

Posted inMercury Music Picks

Mercury Music Picks: Cabaret Voltaire’s Portland Debut, Yuvees Back in Town, and Texas Is—in Fact—the Reason

Plus, Ashanti plays the Portland Fire’s franchise opener, and Portland Music News.
Avatar photo by Nolan Parker

You miss Mercury Music Picks the last few weeks? Well, I missed you too! But the absence was for a good reason—next week sees the launch of the Mercury’s first Music Issue since pre-pandemic. Editing a print issue takes an incredible amount of time and effort by a huge crew of hard working people—and we’re […]

Posted inNews

Protesters Push City To Investigate Firm That Appears To Supply Drone Tech to Israel

Sightline Intelligence sent AI-supported tool to company that provides drones to Israeli military, research group says
Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

This story was co-published with the Guardian. Anti-war activists in Portland, Oregon, are pushing city authorities to ensure no local resources, tax breaks or investments support a local company that appears to be supplying artificial intelligence software to the Israeli military. The company, Sightline Intelligence, manufactures AI-supported video technology that is used in drones to interpret target movements and […]

Posted inNews

Home Forward CEO Resigns Amid Scrutiny Over Travel

The housing authority announced Ivory Matthews’ departure Wednesday morning.
Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

The CEO of Multnomah County’s housing authority, Home Forward, is resigning effective May 1. Home Forward announced Ivory Matthews’ departure via a press release Wednesday morning. Matthews’ resignation comes amid questions about travel she made on the public’s dime, first reported by Willamette Week earlier this month. Home Forward offers program vouchers and rent assistance […]

Posted inNews

Mayor Wilson’s Economic Development Budget Is a Balancing Act of Cuts and Cash Infusion

Climate programs, Prosper Portland, and tree permitting slated for cutbacks while graffiti abatement and Metro Chamber marketing could see a boost
Avatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden

“Tough choices” is public officials’ shorthand for this year’s budget cycle. In Portland’s Community and Economic Development service area, the mayor and his administrators have turned to cutting social programs and staff to balance a proposed $1.24 billion budget for the service area’s bureaus. This service area—which could see a 7 percent budget cut this […]

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