Worth noting that people’s “gang affiliation” is often that they are in danger for trying to leave them.

Worth noting that people’s “gang affiliation” is often that they are in danger for trying to leave them.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield says his office will open a formal investigation into the shooting of two people by federal agents in East Portland Thursday afternoon. Story update >> www.portlandmercury.com/good-morning...

Updated: A DHS spokesperson claims a Portland victim shot by a border patrol agent today "weaponized" their vehicle, leading the agent to fire. The Trump administration made a similar claim following the killing of a woman in Minneapolis yesterday, though video apparently contradicts that assertion.

At the last-minute vigil at Portland City Hall, organized to honor the two people shot this afternoon by federal agents. Several Portland councilors will hold a press conference here starting in 10 min.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers have shot two people in Portland, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The shooting took place at 2:18 pm on Southeast Main street, but the victims, one male and one female, were found at 146th and East Burnside minutes later.

There have been no security threats to staff or anyone reported to security here, according to the security team lead for council protection detail.

Portland city council was abruptly recessed moments ago and councilors are now in a meeting. High tensions but no one is talking in an official capacity at the moment. Will keep you posted.

Oregon Rep. Ricki Ruiz said 3 people in his district were taken by ICE agents who posed as utility workers. NW Natural, PGE have had to issue guidance in 7 languages on how to identify a legitimate employee, @miamaldonado.bsky.social reports: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/01/08/i...

Another day, another meeting to determine city council president (probably?)

Here's something fun that I just figured out: Portland is by far the largest city on the west coast to have an even number of city council members. 🤔

More than 2 hours in to the City Council leadership vote, the Council remains locked in a tie after 2 rounds of voting. Councilors Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Sameer Kanal are the two nominees for council president.

Portland City Council is set to decide who will hold the council president’s gavel for the next year. It’s the first item on Wednesday morning’s agenda, which is scheduled for two hours, but if last year’s election is any indication, you’ll want to bring a snack. 🍿

Mayor Wilson sent an email to city councilors Tuesday saying the city will begin enforcing 120-day stay limits at its alternative shelter sites. The rules are intended to incentivize people into using the emergency shelter system to obtain housing, despite the lack of available affordable housing.

Mayor Wilson sent an email to city councilors Tuesday saying the city will begin enforcing 120-day stay limits at its alternative shelter sites. The rules are intended to incentivize people into using the emergency shelter system to obtain housing, despite the lack of available affordable housing.

“Immediately after the interview finished.” This is wild. Local police arrest demonstrator for… marching in a street.

Easily overlooked facet of this protest is that organized groups from various points of a left-ish spectrum showed up in solidarity against US expansion in Venezuela despite frequent disagreements. From outside w/o knowledge of Portland, you’d think this was one usual bloc. It’s not, but war is war.

Passerby just said “it just keeps growing, they just come out of the woodwork.” Fact check: true. A city block-and-a-half full of demonstrators.

A few hundred people are gathered in downtown portland to protest the Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela. A broad coalition of groups is present. Maybe 350 people here so far.

A few hundred people are gathered in downtown portland to protest the Trump administration’s attack on Venezuela. A broad coalition of groups is present. Maybe 350 people here so far.

Statement from Oregon Senator @wyden.senate.gov on Venezuela attack.

U.S. AG Pam Bondi says Maduro will face charges and a trial in New York for a 2020 narcotics indictment, after U.S. regime kidnapped the president of a sovereign state.

I tend to think my role as a journalist is to seek out the truth, and critical thinking is an integral part of the work. News writing, style, and structure are all elements a bot can do, but I’m interested in the stuff only humans can do. Get behind me, bots!

The latest print issue of @streetroots.bsky.social is a devastating read, even if you won’t read every word. 16 pages of items city contractors took during sweeps in the first half of 2025. Data, presented without comment, tells the real, human-centered story of unsheltered Portland homelessness.

In 2025, new elected leadership in Portland presented a change of course in the city’s approach to housing and homelessness. At times, the mayor’s vision clashed with that of city councilors, with the mayor focused on expanding shelters and the Council focused on reshaping housing policy.

The latest print issue of @streetroots.bsky.social is a devastating read, even if you won’t read every word. 16 pages of items city contractors took during sweeps in the first half of 2025. Data, presented without comment, tells the real, human-centered story of unsheltered Portland homelessness.

🗞 In the new issue of Street Roots: Six months of data showing every instance between January and June 2025 in which workers through the city’s Impact Reduction Program took the homes or belongings of people living outdoors. Purchase this week's issue: streetroots.org/vendors#locate

Yeah, no: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

This year marked a new beginning for Portlanders after 100 years of local government operating at a glacial pace. It was the first under Portland’s new form of government. We asked councilors to reflect on their achievements and give us a sneak peek at what's to come in 2026.

2025 Year in Review 🧵

2025 Year in Review 🧵

Anyone have recommendations on search engines that don’t utilize AI tech? I’ve been so Google-pilled thanks to Gmail/Drive, but I just want to search for like, plant propagation techniques without setting Earth on fire. Does this exist?

Some of these redactions are almost like modern art

When they say “fun,” they mean it. But we still work our asses off.

¡Viva la Rolling Jubilee! debtcollective.org/what-we-do/d...

Aaron Tappley, Antonio Garcia, Brandon Coleman, Carol Horner. Dave Paul Collins, Debbie Johnson, Johnny Boyd, Martin Naugle. Three Brians, two Richards and someone who went by Ocean. The list of people who died while homeless in Portland is 102 names long...so far. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Sorry, suckers! Information wants to be free!

CBS News may not want you to see its CECOT reporting, but I'm happy to share this powerful video that our team produced this year.

TriMet’s Safety Response Team is billed as an unarmed alternative to police on public transit. Now, workers say they need more support themselves and are organizing a union. What’s driving the push—and what it could mean for the future of the program.

At least 372 Multnomah County residents died while homeless in 2024, according to the county’s latest “Domicile Unknown” report. That’s down 18 percent from the 2023 high of 456.

“(Council Alliance of Workers) is not in the business of influencing policy or legislation. CAW’s sole mission is to advocate for workers and the conditions and benefits they need.”

A business owner's effort to rebuild a historic Dairy Queen on SE Division and 56th Ave faced problems from the start. Now, the franchisee is duking it out with the city over the inclusion of a drive-thru at the ice cream shop, which he thinks is necessary for the DQ to succeed.

City Council staff have formed a new labor union. The unit of eligible employees includes 41 staff members across all City Council offices.

Councilor Mitch Green filed a resolution December 16 seeking to launch an investigation to determine why nearly $21 million in funding collected by the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) between 2021 and 2024 went undisclosed.

Cool job alert! The Portland Mercury is currently hiring for a managing editor to support our kick-ass editorial team. Are you a super organized person with newsroom experience and a love for helping reporters do their best work? Then this could be the job for YOU! (Or your very talented friend!)

This gift season buy books! For example! Mobility is about oil & human frailty! It has scenic locations & a polarizing protagonist loved ones can argue about! bookshop.org/p/books/mobi.... The Golden State has scenic rural CA & a frazzled mom they can also argue about! bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

A guest article from Southeast Portland resident, writer, and recent father, Robert Pineda. Like many of us, Robert is trying to process the state of our streets. bikeportland.org/2025/12/16/g...

If you can believe it, January 1, 2026 marks ten years since the armed takeover of Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. For Portland Monthly, I wrote about how the ensuing decade was dominated by anxious men and a culture of lawlessness. www.pdxmonthly.com/news-and-cit...

The Mercury's @jeremiahhayden.bsky.social joined @citycastportland.bsky.social to discuss how the city administration reportedly viewed $21M in unspent housing bureau funds as a “big PR problem,” after the now-ousted director found the money through an audit, Listen ⬇️