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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.
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
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.
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
“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 […]
Posted inNews
Women’s Treatment Center Announces Permanent Closure After Abruptly Halting Services
Amid mounting operating expenses and a sudden closure that triggered complaints to the state, Volunteers of America Oregon says it will shut down the women’s inpatient facility and lay off all staff.
Almost two weeks after abruptly discharging nearly 50 patients from a women’s inpatient substance use treatment center in Northeast Portland, Volunteers of America Oregon (VOA) announced it will permanently close the site and lay off all staff, effectively immediately. Staff were laid off Thursday, April 16. VOA Oregon did not confirm how many employees were […]
Posted inNews
Should Portlanders Pay Hundreds of Millions for a Refurbished Moda Center? City Councilors Say “Not So Fast”
With local budget cuts looming and Trail Blazers ownership committing to stay in Portland, some city leaders aren’t ready to pull out the checkbook.
On the heels of an intense lobbying campaign by the Portland Trail Blazers, the Oregon Legislature last month passed a $365 million funding package to renovate the Moda Center contingent on the Blazers remaining in Portland under new majority owner Tom Dundon. State leaders trumpeted the passage of the funding package as an economic boon […]
Posted inNews
Ethics Commission Fines Homelessness Influencer Over State Violations
Kevin Dahlgren used his position as a city employee for personal gain. The state penalty stems from a previous felony plea.
Likely very few people think it is lucrative to take advantage of homeless people, but one former outreach worker is still paying the consequences for trying. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) approved a final settlement April 10 for claims against the local social media influencer Kevin Dahlgren for violating state law when he worked […]
Posted inNews
Advocates Reject Zenith Energy Investigation in Letter Delivered to Mayor’s Office
An “artificially narrowed scope” predetermined the outcome of city-led investigation, letter says.
Local environmental advocates remain frustrated with Mayor Keith Wilson over his handling of Zenith Energy, saying he has not kept his promise to revoke the Houston-based fossil fuel company’s land use credentials if the city found it violated the law. A small group of environmental advocates gathered at Portland City Hall Monday to deliver a […]
Posted inThe Trail Blazers
Blazers Sink the Clippers Battleship for All the 8th Seed Marbles
Matisse Thybulle and Donovan Clingan now sharpen their guillotine for Sunday against the Sacramento Kings.
With the 8th seed in the Western Conference on the line, the Portland Trail Blazers bested their Los Angeles Clippers conference rivals for a second time in two weeks, beating them 116-97. The Blazer win brings their record to 41-40 on the season, tied with the Clippers with only one game remaining in the regular […]
Posted inMercury Music Picks
Mercury Music Picks: Mix Master Mike Chops It Up and Forty Feet Tall Get Higher at High Limit Room
Plus Portland Music News and New Music Portland!
Last weekend was kooky-beautiful outside. Or at least it looked that way while convalescing in my sickbed… That means that Darkswoon, FKA twigs, Only Fire, Six Sex, and more were missed by this lowly music editor. The absolute pits! But I suppose sickness can be framed as a reminder to be proactive about seeking joy. […]
Posted inNews
Deal Or No Deal?
If local money goes into the Moda Center renovation, labor advocates want a smooth employee unionization in return.
The state of Oregon and the city of Portland may be gearing up to give hundreds of millions of dollars of public money to help finance renovations to the 31-year-old Moda Center—and organized labor wants something in return. “About a year ago, we had outreach from workers at the Moda Center in a number of […]