Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Friday called on Reed College to expel a senior if he’s convicted of smashing downtown windows, including those of the Oregon Historical Society, on April 16.Theodore Matthee-O’Brien, 22, faces seven felony charges—four for rioting and three for first-degree criminal mischief—stemming from property destruction in downtown Portland last Friday night, as black bloc marchers shattered windows in the wake of Portland police fatally shooting a man.Yesterday, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office charged Matthee-O’Brien for allegedly smashing windows at...…Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Friday called on Reed College to expel a senior if he’s convicted of smashing downtown windows, including those of the Oregon Historical Society, on April 16.Theodore Matthee-O’Brien, 22, faces seven felony charges—four for rioting and three for first-degree criminal mischief—stemming from property destruction in downtown Portland last Friday night, as black bloc marchers shattered windows in the wake of Portland police fatally shooting a man.Yesterday, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office charged Matthee-O’Brien for allegedly smashing windows at...WW…

PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WILLAMETTE WEEK NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalismis more urgent than ever. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. Less than 10 weeks into the new year, Portland has witnessed 20 homicides. Fifteen of the killings were committed with guns, says Lt. Greg Pashley of the Portland Police Bureau. The city reached that number with a spate of deadly shootings in Portland parks, killings in public spaces that seemed to mark a new low for a city engulfed in gun violence. Late on Monday, March 1, Jennifer...…PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WILLAMETTE WEEK NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalismis more urgent than ever. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. Less than 10 weeks into the new year, Portland has witnessed 20 homicides. Fifteen of the killings were committed with guns, says Lt. Greg Pashley of the Portland Police Bureau. The city reached that number with a spate of deadly shootings in Portland parks, killings in public spaces that seemed to mark a new low for a city engulfed in gun violence. Late on Monday, March 1, Jennifer...WW…

Nothing says "2021″ like a group of disaster preparedness officials pausing from their discussions of COVID-19 to discuss another deadly virus—this one killing rabbits.That's what happened on a March 29 call among Portland-area officials who manage the Joint Information System, which prepares for various calamities including earthquakes, floods and plagues. The group was alerted by the state to a Milwaukie outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus."It poses no risk to human health," officials wrote in a follow-up email obtained by WW, "but it is highly contagious and has the...…Nothing says "2021″ like a group of disaster preparedness officials pausing from their discussions of COVID-19 to discuss another deadly virus—this one killing rabbits.That's what happened on a March 29 call among Portland-area officials who manage the Joint Information System, which prepares for various calamities including earthquakes, floods and plagues. The group was alerted by the state to a Milwaukie outbreak of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus."It poses no risk to human health," officials wrote in a follow-up email obtained by WW, "but it is highly contagious and has the...WW…

You know the old Western cliché about the hated lawman who walks into an outlaw saloon? The piano player stops the music. Angry eyes stare out over shot glasses. Someone hawks into a spittoon.That's what it felt like when Dr. Dean Sidelinger arrived March 18 at the virtual meeting of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.That panel regulates the sale of alcohol at bars and restaurants. It also is the sounding board for complaints from booze slingers—and often a friendly ear, given that one of the commissioners owns Amalfi's Italian Restaurant in Northeast Portland, and another is a...…You know the old Western cliché about the hated lawman who walks into an outlaw saloon? The piano player stops the music. Angry eyes stare out over shot glasses. Someone hawks into a spittoon.That's what it felt like when Dr. Dean Sidelinger arrived March 18 at the virtual meeting of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.That panel regulates the sale of alcohol at bars and restaurants. It also is the sounding board for complaints from booze slingers—and often a friendly ear, given that one of the commissioners owns Amalfi's Italian Restaurant in Northeast Portland, and another is a...WW…

Multnomah County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to appoint Andrea Valderrama to an Oregon House seat vacated this spring by the resignation of Rep. Diego Hernandez (D-East Portland).Valderrama, the chair of David Douglas School Board and a former staffer to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, will become the first Peruvian-American to serve in the Oregon Legislature. She was one of three finalists that county commissioners considered to represent House District 47, which covers most Portland neighborhoods east of Interstate 205.Commissioners said they were compelled by Valderrama's...…Multnomah County commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to appoint Andrea Valderrama to an Oregon House seat vacated this spring by the resignation of Rep. Diego Hernandez (D-East Portland).Valderrama, the chair of David Douglas School Board and a former staffer to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, will become the first Peruvian-American to serve in the Oregon Legislature. She was one of three finalists that county commissioners considered to represent House District 47, which covers most Portland neighborhoods east of Interstate 205.Commissioners said they were compelled by Valderrama's...WW…

More than half of Oregon seniors have been vaccinated for COVID-19, and state health officials expect to reach an 80% vaccination rate for people over 65 by the month's end.That projection was one of as the state explained how it expects to meet its pledge to make vaccines available to all Oregonians ages 16 and older by May 1.The vaccine rollout for seniors has been marred by widespread confusion and well-documented snafus. Yet nearly two-thirds of Oregonians age 75 and older have now been vaccinated, OHA reports, along with more than 50% of people between the ages of 65 and 75. In total,...…More than half of Oregon seniors have been vaccinated for COVID-19, and state health officials expect to reach an 80% vaccination rate for people over 65 by the month's end.That projection was one of as the state explained how it expects to meet its pledge to make vaccines available to all Oregonians ages 16 and older by May 1.The vaccine rollout for seniors has been marred by widespread confusion and well-documented snafus. Yet nearly two-thirds of Oregonians age 75 and older have now been vaccinated, OHA reports, along with more than 50% of people between the ages of 65 and 75. In total,...WW…

Like many Oregonians, Morgan Bailey looked forward to hiking the Eagle Creek Trail after it reopened from wildfire damage. So he was disappointed to find it last month.But that was far from the low point of his Jan. 19 trip to the woods. Bailey tried the next trail up the Columbia River Scenic Highway, a path he believes was Then he got lost.Bailey, 43, was three miles up the trail when it disappeared on him. He spent the next three days scrambling across cliff faces through half-burnt forest. On Jan. 22, two hikers found him, bleeding and hypothermic.Search and rescue crews described his...…Like many Oregonians, Morgan Bailey looked forward to hiking the Eagle Creek Trail after it reopened from wildfire damage. So he was disappointed to find it last month.But that was far from the low point of his Jan. 19 trip to the woods. Bailey tried the next trail up the Columbia River Scenic Highway, a path he believes was Then he got lost.Bailey, 43, was three miles up the trail when it disappeared on him. He spent the next three days scrambling across cliff faces through half-burnt forest. On Jan. 22, two hikers found him, bleeding and hypothermic.Search and rescue crews described his...WW…

On Feb. 12, Portland protesters held a snowball fight. About 75 people—some dressed in black bloc, others wearing '80s-style ski suits—gathered in Director Park for what was cheekily billed as "Antifa Snow Day." Tamales were served; so was beer. Around 10 pm, a smaller group set out for the Portland Police Bureau's Central Precinct. Not long after, somebody started shattering windows: at a ZoomCare clinic, then a Starbucks.That's when Starbucks received help.John, 42, drove in from his home in Oregon City in a used Toyota 4X4. He bought that rig for $11,000 this summer. He paid cash,...…On Feb. 12, Portland protesters held a snowball fight. About 75 people—some dressed in black bloc, others wearing '80s-style ski suits—gathered in Director Park for what was cheekily billed as "Antifa Snow Day." Tamales were served; so was beer. Around 10 pm, a smaller group set out for the Portland Police Bureau's Central Precinct. Not long after, somebody started shattering windows: at a ZoomCare clinic, then a Starbucks.That's when Starbucks received help.John, 42, drove in from his home in Oregon City in a used Toyota 4X4. He bought that rig for $11,000 this summer. He paid cash,...WW…

Portland General Electric says it expects to restore power by Friday night to 90% of its customers who remain in the dark—but the final 10% could be without electricity through the weekend.As of 5 pm Wednesday, about 142,000 households remained without power statewide after an ice storm toppled trees and severed power lines across the Willamette Valley on Valentine's Day weekend. The vast majority of ongoing outages—137,000 households—are served by PGE, and the remainder are served by Pacific Power.Pacific Power says it will restore service to all its customers by Friday. PGE is telling its...…Portland General Electric says it expects to restore power by Friday night to 90% of its customers who remain in the dark—but the final 10% could be without electricity through the weekend.As of 5 pm Wednesday, about 142,000 households remained without power statewide after an ice storm toppled trees and severed power lines across the Willamette Valley on Valentine's Day weekend. The vast majority of ongoing outages—137,000 households—are served by PGE, and the remainder are served by Pacific Power.Pacific Power says it will restore service to all its customers by Friday. PGE is telling its...WW…

Shortly after midnight on Dec. 31, many Oregonians received a push notification on their phones proclaiming great news to open the year: The Oregon Health Authority had released an app that would warn people if they were exposed to a COVID-19 outbreak."Exposure Notifications Available," the push notification said. "Get notified of possible exposure to COVID-19 by Oregon Health Authority."It was a false alarm. The contact-tracing app isn't ready.And state health officials spent the first day of 2021 apologizing for the accidental launch, 10 months into the pandemic."The OR...…Shortly after midnight on Dec. 31, many Oregonians received a push notification on their phones proclaiming great news to open the year: The Oregon Health Authority had released an app that would warn people if they were exposed to a COVID-19 outbreak."Exposure Notifications Available," the push notification said. "Get notified of possible exposure to COVID-19 by Oregon Health Authority."It was a false alarm. The contact-tracing app isn't ready.And state health officials spent the first day of 2021 apologizing for the accidental launch, 10 months into the pandemic."The OR...WW…