It’s official (for now): Trump can’t deploy the National Gaurd to Portland.

Staff are picketing in front of City Hall, where their office is located. It’s already made an impact. According to the Council President, enough councilors have refused to cross the picket line (including her) that today’s council meeting has been cancelled due to lack of quorum.

Eleven employees in Portland’s police oversight office are on strike after a breakdown in negotiations.

These number are closer to 54% yes and 46% no after the 10 pm ballot drop.

In partial returns, Portland's parks levy has about 53% support. About 47% of votes counted oppose the measure.

It appears the fire at Councilor Avalos' house may have been started by a man trying to keep warm. “We are learning of this new development and are eager to learn more as this investigation continues,” says Avalos' chief of staff.

Update for those following Portland's ICE land use appeal: The city has given the property owner two more weeks to submit info before meeting/deciding on the appeal. That means a mtg won't happen until after Nov. 14. Background here:

You've got questions, I've got... limited answers.

“I am concerned that police leadership may be jumping to conclusions before the investigation is complete,” Councilor Avalos said in a statement emailed to OPB on Friday.

It’s not clear why Portland's housing director ways placed on leave. But, four city staff who are close with Hisserich and her office told OPB that she and Wilson have often disagreed over her pace and priorities.

Interesting, 11th hour update: Councilor Dan Ryan has come out in opposition to the Parks Levy renewal, splitting from the mayor and his 10 city council colleagues.

Separately, reminded that I started reporting on Portland 14 years ago. 👵🏻

Happy Halloween. Reminded it's been 14 years since Michael Moore showed up dressed as Michael Moore at Occupy Portland.

Days before Portland begins enforcing its public camping ban, those closest to the work — and its impact — are largely in the dark about how penalties will be carried out. “I’m not sure what the mayor’s plan is,” said Judge Greenlick, who oversees the criminal court system.

A real rollercoaster of a story here:

According to Portland Councilor Avalos, she received an email days before her house caught fire reading “hope the entire state burns and your house is the first one to go." www.portland.gov/council/dist...

Days before Portland begins enforcing its public camping ban, those closest to the work — and its impact — are largely in the dark about how penalties will be carried out. “I’m not sure what the mayor’s plan is,” said Judge Greenlick, who oversees the criminal court system.

Oops, I guess?

As the city waits for the result of a land use violation appeal involving the South Portland ICE building, councilors are considering new sanctions that would impact ICE's landlord.

I’m still searching for words for this…

The federal trial over whether Trump can legally deploy National Guard to Portland begins today. Here's what you need to know:

In Hillsboro, which has seen a surge of ICE arrests in the past week, elementary school staff are spending early mornings on neighborhood watch to ensure families/students feel safe coming to school. By @hbarth.bsky.social: www.opb.org/article/2025...

Update on the fire at Councilor Avalos' house.

For those curious, the statue of a pioneer family dubbed "The Promised Land" formerly of Portland's Chapman Square has left town. The statue was taken down after being vandalized in 2020. According to the city, it was returned to the artist who made it in Enterprise, OR earlier this month.

ICYMI: A Sunday morning fire at a city councilor's house is being investigated as arson. It's the second time in less than two years that officials have investigated arson at a city councilor's home.

A breakdown of what Measure 26-260 does – and doesn’t – do, and how it relates to the parks department’s financial crisis.

For those curious, the city has made this letter available to the public at the bottom of this page:

This stood out to me: "Clark County does not currently have a contract with the U.S. Marshals, according to Shook. That means it’s not reimbursed for holding federal arrestees." www.opb.org/article/2025...

The same Portland ICE Landlord also struck a protester with his SUV in 2018 and said he wanted to fight them. www.wweek.com/news/courts/...

The owner of the Portland building that houses ICE says city leaders are unconstitutionally penalizing him for his choice of tenants. “This code enforcement case is a textbook example of unlawful selective enforcement with a clear discriminatory motive and unlawful political retaliation."

280 more shelter beds toward Wilson’s Dec 1 goal. And also:

Mayors Wilson’s overnight shelters have a remarkable vacancy rate — some up to 80% empty on average night. He says that’s a positive. “I’ve told my team I need hundreds of empty beds every night.” That’s because it will allow him to start enforcing the city’s public camping ban next month.

From @theathletic.com: Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been arrested as part of a federal investigation into illegal sports betting activities.

On TriMet, calls for police service fell by almost half from 2021 to 2024. Still, when the agency surveyed thousands of riders and non-riders across the Portland metro area last year, only about half the respondents said they’d feel safe riding TriMet.

The queen is dead, long live the queen.

NEW: The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. We found more than 170 such incidents since the start of the second Trump administration. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes nearly 20 children, two of whom have cancer.

"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today overturned a temporary restraining order put in place by a federal judge in Portland – removing the legal impediment that was preventing the Trump Administration from sending National Guard troops to Portland."

Portland is lucky to have someone with such deep knowledge of this city and its inner-workings covering Portland for the NYT right now. (h/t @agpnw.bsky.social )

As always, Leah is able to find the perfect words to encapsulate the nebulous feeling of loving/living in/reporting on Portland at this weird-ass moment in time:

Follow this page today for live No Kings protest updates:

Records obtained by OPB show that in the week following Trump's Nat'l Guard deployment news, complaints about helicopters over South Portland skyrocketed. “I am a nurse and need sleep. This is ridiculous.” “I have been deployed to Afghanistan, and this is worse.” More:

(Taking off my reporting hat for a sec.) OPB/KMHD's union has been bargaining its first contract with mgmt for 16 mos. It's been... frustrating. Here's a way to support/follow updates as we inch toward gaining some earned respect & support from OPB leadership during a bonkers, endless newscycle:

Judge Immergut extended the restraining order on troops deployment for another two weeks.

Data reviewed by OPB show the DOJ's assertion that Portland's ICE building was out of commission for three weeks this summer is inaccurate.

If you just got a text from Mult Co Elections about your ballot being sent and thought -- "Wait, what are we voting on?" Here's your answer. More to come.

A new city audit highlights how political influence and scant financial planning have kept Portland building new parks it can’t afford while neglecting older parks. (The report drops weeks before Portland voters consider renewing a parks funding levy).

And like the other overnight shelters, families will need to leave in the morning.

With the National Guard poised to descend on Portland, city councilors are using their limited power to take a stand against federal intervention.

Who do I know that lives near the Portland ICE facility and can see, hear and maybe even smell what’s happening there daily? Can I and my microphone come visit? Bonus points if your balcony looks out on it all.

“The administration’s close ties to a small but well-followed group of influencers and conspiracy theorists has amplified their voices, and they in turn have encouraged administration efforts to crack down on demonstrators.”