Oregon's top public defense official today sent Gov. Kotek a 38-page memo outlining not only the factors shaping Oregon's unrepresented crisis but also his ideas for possible solutions. #orpol

I don’t know Nathan Pliska but enjoyed reading about his life and accomplishments in his Sunday @oregonian.com obit. His family’s loving and generous obit ends w/a poignant message for those struggling w/substance abuse. “The absence left behind by addiction is profoundly painful.”

“What we’re trying to find out is — in the polite way of asking — how fast can we get this booger off our finger?” Rep. Paul Evans. “How can we get these cases done fairly but also swiftly? “The public is a little bit frustrated that we even got here." #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

“Are these your kids?” Nicholson asked, scanning the image on her phone’s screensaver. “Yes,” she said. “You’ll see your kids again,” he said. “Just keep driving.” Nicholson tossed Johnson’s phone out the window, leaving her boyfriend’s texts unanswered.

Former Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt started a new job Monday: general counsel for the Urban League of Portland. Noelle Crombie and I with the scoop. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

The three-day, two-night event at Brasada Ranch follows the agency’s plea last month for millions in emergency funding from the Legislature to help cover costs from fighting last year’s record-breaking wildfires. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Oregon DOC says it plans a review of its beleaguered health care system; the $250K contract signed this month, however, focuses on helping the state defend itself from legal action. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Dominic Genise sought medical care at the Oregon State Penitentiary infirmary for chest pain; records say the prison nurse "misread" an EKG and sent him back to his cell with antacid. Genise, who had a documented history of high blood pressure, died that day. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Nicholas Alexander was a longtime Oregon Department of Corrections officer, state officials confirmed. He's been on leave since October. www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

"The Northwest Regional Education Service District, which contracted with Thomas DeLapp, acknowledged it never did a background check on DeLapp."

Mom of Coos County boy who went missing & died last month had been on radar of the Department of Human Services when the child disappeared, court filings show. The DA says he doesn't expect to file charges; hypothermia contributed to Joshua McCoy's death. www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

Man accused of Gresham killing returned to Alaska to face murder charge in presumed killing of his roommate www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

After reaching a guilty verdict in the Colby Benson murder trial, Juror 35 left behind a note for the judge in the jury room: “The State did not meet their burden of proof. We did it for them.”

“Have I managed 120 people?” she said. “No, but we have 6,000 employees at Multnomah County. I mean, I would say, in a way, I’ve managed thousands of people.” Terrific watchdog reporting by Austin De Dios: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

“I mean, the bylines are just bizarre because they’re on topics a) of which I have no understanding and b) I’ve been to Oregon once in my life for a very, very lovely holiday in Portland,” the United Kingdom-based writer told OPB. A deeply unsettling read by @ryanjhaas.bsky.social:

“We would litigate the same issues,” said one lawyer, “and win again and again and again and again. … This has just been this loop for years under Dr. Roberts.” Our look at longstanding and well-documented complaints about prison medical care in Oregon: #orpol

Two top Dept of Corrections executives overseeing medical care for Oregon’s roughly 12,000 prisoners were placed on paid leave today amid an outside inquiry into prison medical care. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/health/2024/...

DOJ confirms it will review investigation into Melissa Fireside, Clackamas County's newly elected commissioner. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

The search warrant for Melissa Fireside's Lake O home was signed Oct. 30 & cites an ongoing investigation into aggravated identity theft and aggravated first-degree theft. Alleged victim is elderly, source says. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

A top Oregon Department of Forestry manager violated state workplace rules when he was overly familiar with a subordinate, remarked on her appearance & seemed to refer to the size of his genitals over drinks, according to an internal investigation. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/news/2024/11...

New court filing seeks more than $20 mill from Pacific Office Automation & longtime exec Doug Pitassi - and the company is battling age discrimination claims out of its LA satellite run by Pitassi’s son. W/ @rogoway.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/business/202...

Former Proud Boy associate who clashed with antifa at an Oregon City park 3 years ago sentenced Wednesday to 14 days in jail. “It’s been a long journey since I lost my wife and I made a lot of bad decisions trying to not grieve,” Barry Johnson told the court. www.oregonlive.com/clackamascou...

Alonzo Rowell, 52, was investigated previously by DPSST, which found he engaged in “gross misconduct,” records show. Yet the state opted to let Rowell keep his certification & his job at Oregon's maximum security prison. www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

Oregon's prison watchdog told his bosses this yr that the position was stressful & he worried he would be fired for asking for help. On Friday, he was. Gov. Tina Kotek's office said it was his failure to open prison mail that ended his career. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

ICYMI: A juvenile probation/parole officer in Multnomah County is implicated in the killing of a celebrity hairstylist in LA. The details: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

Hello, BlueSky! We have a list of all of our reporters on here as of now. You can give the list a pin to your home feed or find your favorite Oregon journalist to follow 😉 We will see you out there in the skeets! bsky.app/profile/did:...

A suspect in the murder of celebrity hairstylist Fabio Sementilli at his LA mansion 7 years ago worked in the Oregon Youth Authority's Multnomah County field office as a parole and probation officer until his arrest last month, state officials confirmed Sunday. www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

“I shared my concerns from the beginning that without staff, there was not a way to adequately respond to individual complaints,” Adrian Wulff told The Oregonian late Friday. “It’s been a frustrating experience.” #orpol

Ali Quraishi, a former dance manager at Portland nightclubs Silverado PDX and Stag PDX, was found guilty today of sexually assaulting women he met on the job. Nine women were identified as victims; all testified at trial. www.oregonlive.com/washingtonco...

FBI offers $25K reward for tips leading to arrest of serial arsonist who set fire to Pacific NW ballot boxes www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/1...

The lawsuit, filed this week in Clackamas County Circuit Court, seeks $2.4 million in damages for battery and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. www.oregonlive.com/clackamascou...

With nearly all ballots counted as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Melissa Fireside has maintained a lead that Mark Shull will not be able overcome based on an @oregonian.bsky.social analysis of the results. #orpol www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...