Last month, we reported that Portland was sitting on millions of unspent arts tax dollars. That isn't true. The city did not dispute the characterization of these funds at the time of our reporting. But a month later, they told us the number was misinterpreted. Here's what we know now:

A reminder: While this decision temporary pauses the limits to chemical munitions at Portland protests, it doesn't touch the city policy that sticks the ICE bldg owner with hefty fines whenever officers use munitons on protestors.

As the deal to sell the Trail Blazers to a new owner comes to an expected wrap, my colleagues Conrad Wilson and Tony Schick pull back the curtain on how new owner Dundon used "problematic" practices to run past companies.

Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos wrote on social media today that she would seek to rename César E. Chávez Boulevard after a news report detailing sexual assault allegations against the iconic farmworker union leader.

A buried bit of positive news here: The rate of people paying the arts tax on time has increased over the past decade. In 2015, only 72% of people were paying the tax on time, now that's 82%. (Internal Revenue Service's national compliance average is 85%)

City audit finds Portland arts tax is poorly managed, wasting money (just as the reminders to pay up land in mailboxes).

Cesar Chavez accused of sexually assaulting girls & women for years -- including co-founder of the UFW, Dolores Huerta. "Huerta said she chose not to report the assault to the police because of their hostility toward the movement, and she feared that no one within the union would believe her."

The cost estimate for replacing the Interstate Bridge connecting Oregon and Washington is now between $13.5 billion and $15.2 billion.

More journalism job openings at OPB -- share far/wide: Eastern Oregon Reporter SW Washington Reporter Multimedia Journalist url-media.com/category/cur...

Happy bday to my favorite tiniest park. www.opb.org/article/2026...

A new proposal led by four Portland city councilors to spend unbudgeted housing dollars includes spending on several novel proposals, like a “rent buydown” plan to help erase debt accrued by affordable housing providers & a social housing strategy to purchase property for publicly-owned housing.

Public records obtained by OPB suggest the scope of the Blazers’ campaign for public funds to pay for Moda renovations. From a staff trip to North Carolina, to implicit threats to relocate the team, to nudging from Nike’s CEO, the documents pull back the curtain on months of private talks:

The request comes after the city reported $8.5 million in unallocated arts tax money — all while arts organizations that receive arts tax money saw a 44% dip in city financing.

Severals operators have received fines over $100,000. According to the report, the city's fines are “at least 27 times higher” than any other city with short-term rental rules.

Portland officials say a new developer incentive program is working. But a closer look at the data shows that, since the policy went into place, the pace of new housing construction is even slower.

A mini-trial of sorts begins today that could determine whether a federal judge continues limiting federal law enforcement officers’ uses of chemical munitions at the facility.

Update: The ICE bldg owner has not appealed the Feb. 13 land use ruling. (His deadline to appeal was the 23rd). That means fines will likely begin accruing next month.

The fines went into effect at 3 p.m., two hours before a planned anti-ICE rally at a park near the ICE building. 👀 (For the many who've asked me: The rule will not be enforced retroactively, even though the policy went into effect on Jan. 1.)

An audit released Thursday finds the county’s Election Division needs more funding for voter education programs, is falling short on supporting employees, and may need a new office – among other concerns. The audit comes 8 months before Multnomah County holds its first ranked-choice election.

Portland is poised to be the largest U.S. city to allow polyamorous families to sue over discrimination.

“I need someone here now, or else I’m going to have to shoot this kid,” an ICE officer told a Portland police dispatcher in late October, when he realized his vehicle was being tailed by someone on a motorized bike.

City councils in Seattle, Burien, Renton, and Tukwila are considering temporary bans on issuing permits for detention facilities.

ICYMI: Councilor Smith has reversed course on her proposal to allow city councilors to open carry firearms -- 24 hours after first submitting it.

ICYMI: Councilor Smith has reversed course on her proposal to allow city councilors to open carry firearms -- 24 hours after first submitting it.

This week we learned that Mayor Wilson's shelter plan has plunged Portland deeper into a budget crisis. Meanwhile, at the county level, budget cuts could shutter nearly 700 shelter beds.

Updated after speaking to the woman who Smith says made her feel unsafe. “I didn’t have a weapon, I didn’t hit anyone," she tells me. "Why am I now being threatened with violence?”

After protesters interrupted a Portland council meeting Wednesday, one councilor is looking to loosen the city’s rules around carrying guns in City Hall.

Portland city councilors again punted a months-long debate on how to spend unspent housing dollars. The debate divided the city’s District 1 councilors. "Justice delayed is justice denied. And that’s exactly what we’re doing," said Councilor Smith.

A reliance on one-time funds to prop up shelter, public safety costs has Portland in deeper budget trouble than anticipated.

Portland’s $2.1 billion water filtration project got the go-ahead from a state land use court — another victory for the city in a yearslong legal fight with nearby landowners.

Coming to Portland next week:

Portland isn't changing course on carrying out its land use violation against the ICE building.

City and state officials have vowed to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland, but to do that they need to raise more than a half a billion dollars to renovate the nearly 30-year-old Moda Center. Portland's mayor has suggested a solution: tapping into the city's climate fund.

The 17-acre Leach Botanical Garden in far southeast Portland says it will close if it doesn't get more funding soon. The public park is owned by the city, but managed by a nonprofit. The city hasn't provided funding since last year. www.opb.org/article/2026...

A sprawling park in outer southeast Portland is on the brink of closure if it doesn’t get more funding soon, according to an online plea posted by the Leach Botanical Garden on Tuesday.

Petition to carve "This is not a venue for belligerent behavior" in the marble walls of council chambers.

Portland Council President Dunphy has released a draft plan for new council committees/leadership this year. For those who were closely following the council president’s vote, you may be interested to see this is part of the plan:

This is easily the hardest thing I've ever had to write.

The number of candidates for Multnomah County chair has doubled:

While we're talking about surprise buckets of city funds: The Portland arts tax has been sitting on roughly $9 million in unallocated dollars for years.

What we know for now:

City of Portland now reports $106 MILLION total in unbudgeted housing funds. More soon.

“The incident was a reminder of their past in Yemen, she said. The pair moved from Taiz, the country’s third-largest city, shortly after their home was hit by an airstrike in 2014.”

Multnomah County officials expect to have $87 million less to pay for shelters, rent assistance and eviction prevention in the next fiscal year. (Meanwhile, City of Portland may have $35M+ more?)

The race for the top spot on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners has begun. (Election day is in Nov.)

Federal officers in Portland have been blocked from directing or using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions at protesters outside the ICE facility.

The news of this surprise cache comes two months after the city revealed roughly $21 million in housing dollars sitting unspent in city coffers.

Following a nearly 16-month vacancy, the tribal relations department at the City of Portland has been filled.

Weekend protests in Portland against federal immigration actions were again met with thick clouds of tear gas outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Here's what to know about how the city is reacting to tear gas, ICE’s use of force and other factors tied to the facility.