PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. For the past two weeks, wildfires have reduced the number of Oregonians who received COVID-19 tests. One result: a higher percentage of tests coming back positive. For the week beginning Sept. 13, 6.2% of tests came back positive, according to initial data....…PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. For the past two weeks, wildfires have reduced the number of Oregonians who received COVID-19 tests. One result: a higher percentage of tests coming back positive. For the week beginning Sept. 13, 6.2% of tests came back positive, according to initial data....WW…

Nursing homes and hospitals have asked Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to use her executive orders to protect them from potential lawsuits resulting from COVID-19 deaths.In a  dated April 3, obtained exclusively by WW, the health care groups and businesses argue the governor has the power without legislative action to shield them from legal liability.“This crisis, involving a pandemic, limited supplies and equipment, and rapidly evolving state and federal guidance, regulations, and law is forcing change in how care is being delivered,” the letter states. “The health care...…Nursing homes and hospitals have asked Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to use her executive orders to protect them from potential lawsuits resulting from COVID-19 deaths.In a  dated April 3, obtained exclusively by WW, the health care groups and businesses argue the governor has the power without legislative action to shield them from legal liability.“This crisis, involving a pandemic, limited supplies and equipment, and rapidly evolving state and federal guidance, regulations, and law is forcing change in how care is being delivered,” the letter states. “The health care...WW…

Oregon Occupational Safety and Health issued a $14,000 fine to Lindsey Graham, owner of Glamor Salon in Salem, for reopening her salon May 5 in defiance of Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order.Aaron Corvin, a spokesman for Oregon OSHA, confirmed the $14,000 fine to WW. The agency says Graham is endangering her workers."She is unquestionably operating in violation of the governor's executive order, designed to protect workers and the public," Corvin told WW. "The penalty reflects both the nature of the violation and the employer's willful decision to violate the law."Graham has...…Oregon Occupational Safety and Health issued a $14,000 fine to Lindsey Graham, owner of Glamor Salon in Salem, for reopening her salon May 5 in defiance of Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home order.Aaron Corvin, a spokesman for Oregon OSHA, confirmed the $14,000 fine to WW. The agency says Graham is endangering her workers."She is unquestionably operating in violation of the governor's executive order, designed to protect workers and the public," Corvin told WW. "The penalty reflects both the nature of the violation and the employer's willful decision to violate the law."Graham has...WW…

PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK, AND WW NEEDS YOU. Our need for strong and independent local journalism is more urgent now than ever.Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 haseliminated most of the revenue that funds our work.Please support the city we love by joining our membership program,Friends of Willamette Week. The right-wing demand to immediately lift all stay-home orders traveled across Oregon today without seeming to gather any momentum. A small group of conservative activists held a sleepy protest in Seaside, Ore., on Saturday called...…PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK, AND WW NEEDS YOU. Our need for strong and independent local journalism is more urgent now than ever.Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 haseliminated most of the revenue that funds our work.Please support the city we love by joining our membership program,Friends of Willamette Week. The right-wing demand to immediately lift all stay-home orders traveled across Oregon today without seeming to gather any momentum. A small group of conservative activists held a sleepy protest in Seaside, Ore., on Saturday called...WW…

In early March, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown faced an outcry from public health experts and her Democratic allies when she hesitated to close schools and order people home in the face of a pandemic.Now she's again moving gingerly in deciding when to reopen the state. But this time, her caution is winning better reviews.Experts who spoke with WW mostly praise Brown's approach—and say she's following best practices while other U.S. governors rush headlong into catastrophe."She has outlined really sensible criteria," says David Bangsberg, dean of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. "Whether we're...…In early March, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown faced an outcry from public health experts and her Democratic allies when she hesitated to close schools and order people home in the face of a pandemic.Now she's again moving gingerly in deciding when to reopen the state. But this time, her caution is winning better reviews.Experts who spoke with WW mostly praise Brown's approach—and say she's following best practices while other U.S. governors rush headlong into catastrophe."She has outlined really sensible criteria," says David Bangsberg, dean of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. "Whether we're...WW…

Approximately 300 protesters gathered at the Oregon Capitol in Salem on Saturday afternoon to protest Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home orders.The event, called the ReOpen Oregon Rally, was hosted by a newly created group called Oregon Uniting for Liberty, which describes itself as a grassroots organization. Few protesters wore masks.The rally reflected other events being held by right-wing protesters in states across the country, who believe that stay-home orders preventing the spread of COVID-19 are wrecking the economy and undermining the White House.In Oregon, Brown has resisted calls from...…Approximately 300 protesters gathered at the Oregon Capitol in Salem on Saturday afternoon to protest Gov. Kate Brown's stay-home orders.The event, called the ReOpen Oregon Rally, was hosted by a newly created group called Oregon Uniting for Liberty, which describes itself as a grassroots organization. Few protesters wore masks.The rally reflected other events being held by right-wing protesters in states across the country, who believe that stay-home orders preventing the spread of COVID-19 are wrecking the economy and undermining the White House.In Oregon, Brown has resisted calls from...WW…

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court reopened dozens of Oregon criminal cases that appeared decided.Justices handed down a ruling in Ramos v. Louisiana on April 20, effectively overturning a provision of the Oregon Constitution that allowed juries to convict on felony charges without a unanimous vote.Oregon was the last state in the union to allow non-unanimous jury verdicts. For the past seven decades, Oregon courts required just 10 of 12 jurors to convict a defendant of all felonies except murder.Now that the provision has been overturned, hundreds of convictions resulting from 10-2 or 11-1...…Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court reopened dozens of Oregon criminal cases that appeared decided.Justices handed down a ruling in Ramos v. Louisiana on April 20, effectively overturning a provision of the Oregon Constitution that allowed juries to convict on felony charges without a unanimous vote.Oregon was the last state in the union to allow non-unanimous jury verdicts. For the past seven decades, Oregon courts required just 10 of 12 jurors to convict a defendant of all felonies except murder.Now that the provision has been overturned, hundreds of convictions resulting from 10-2 or 11-1...WW…

The story you’re about to read is a result of our reporters working hard. They cover the effects of the coronavirus, keep an eye on governments’ response, and look out for the safety and well-being of Portlanders. With every turn of this story, we attempt to bring you the news and information you need to stay safe. We can only do this because of you. As a small, independent news organization, we face new challenges. We rely on advertisers, readers’ support, and event revenue—and those sources of income are changing rapidly. Before you keep reading, we ask you to join our membership program,...…The story you’re about to read is a result of our reporters working hard. They cover the effects of the coronavirus, keep an eye on governments’ response, and look out for the safety and well-being of Portlanders. With every turn of this story, we attempt to bring you the news and information you need to stay safe. We can only do this because of you. As a small, independent news organization, we face new challenges. We rely on advertisers, readers’ support, and event revenue—and those sources of income are changing rapidly. Before you keep reading, we ask you to join our membership program,...WW…

A little more than four years ago, Sarah Iannarone, an unknown Portland State University bureaucrat, launched a long-shot bid for mayor, preaching the value of sustainability and smarter transportation and land-use policies.She finished third, behind Ted Wheeler and former Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey.This year, Iannarone, 47, is back—and running a far more aggressive campaign, pounding Wheeler and the Portland Police Bureau on social media."Goddamn tired of watching reporters, medics, legal observers, peaceful protesters, and, yes, vandals getting targeted, arrested &...…A little more than four years ago, Sarah Iannarone, an unknown Portland State University bureaucrat, launched a long-shot bid for mayor, preaching the value of sustainability and smarter transportation and land-use policies.She finished third, behind Ted Wheeler and former Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey.This year, Iannarone, 47, is back—and running a far more aggressive campaign, pounding Wheeler and the Portland Police Bureau on social media."Goddamn tired of watching reporters, medics, legal observers, peaceful protesters, and, yes, vandals getting targeted, arrested &...WW…

PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. A rioter threw a Molotov cocktail into a group of police officers, police deployed tear gas and made mass arrests, and civil unrest roiled downtown Portland on Wednesday night, hours after a Kentucky grand jury decided not to charge the police officers who killed Breonna...…PORTLAND NEEDS WILLAMETTE WEEK. NOW WW NEEDS YOU. The need for strong, independent local journalism is more urgent than ever. Our readers rely on our comprehensive news reporting. However, COVID-19 has eliminated most of the revenue that funds our work. Please support the city we love by joining Friends of Willamette Week. A rioter threw a Molotov cocktail into a group of police officers, police deployed tear gas and made mass arrests, and civil unrest roiled downtown Portland on Wednesday night, hours after a Kentucky grand jury decided not to charge the police officers who killed Breonna...WW…