PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Six patients were taken to the hospital after what authorities said was a hazardous materials incident in Albany Tuesday night.
According to the Albany Fire Department, firefighters responded around 8:30 p.m. at the ATI Millersburg Operations.
Eleven patients were evaluated, with six taken to the hospital so far. Officials said additional patients are being evaluated for transport and that family members are being notified.
Officials said there are no exposures to the surrounding area.
“Regional Hazmat Team 5 is working the scene with ATI Incident Commanders and will remain on scene through the night,” the Albany Fire Department said.
This comes as the district announced earlier in the evening that a tentative agreement had been reached in the ongoing negotiations, a claim that was later redacted — the district claimed that the email sent to media organizations had an “incorrect subject line.”
The backtracking by the district comes after the support staff union immediately shut down the idea that an agreement had been reached.
The Public-School Employees of Washington, Evergreen Chapter, Large Group (PSE Large Group) is striking for better pay and working conditions for its 1,400 employees. The union represents support staff, including paraeducators, bus drivers and service workers.
The union said in a press release that its bargaining team would negotiate as long as it takes to reach a fair agreement, claiming the district has refused to allow bargaining into the evening.
“Our bargaining team remains ready and committed to good-faith negotiations until we secure a contract that provides stability for students and dignity for staff,” said Evergreen PSE Chapter President Mindy Troffer-Cooper in a statement. “We are close to a deal, but the District must stay at the table to finish the work.”
Meanwhile, Evergreen Public Schools held a virtual board meeting Tuesday night, with hours of testimony pouring in, mostly in support of the striking workers.
Heather Wilson said her two Evergreen children missing school again feels like reliving the pandemic.
“It’s reminiscent of those things that we just saw happen where you just kind of watch ’em wither a little bit each day and withdraw and it’s triggering. It’s hard to watch,” she said. “I think overall, the plan is just to figure out ways to get us out and get their stimulation going so that they’re seeing things and not just…because genuinely they just want to regress back to staying in bed and it reminds me of pandemic times and I’m not very happy about it.”
In a press release Tuesday evening, the district said that while there would be no class on Wednesday, negotiators have reached a tentative agreement and expect students and staff to return on Thursday, pending ratification by the union. That statement was then redacted minutes later, saying the bargaining process is continuing until further notice.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help after it seized dozens of dogs from a home on Elk Lane in Alfalfa, Oregon.
Lorinda Maxwell, 62, was arrested on 49 felony counts of second-degree animal neglect on Sept. 5 after a search warrant led officers to discover she had kept a total of 46 dogs and 3 cats in filthy, unhealthy living conditions, officials said.
Dog crates stacked inside a home where a puppy mill was discovered by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 5, 2025. Courtesy Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
“In this case, we believe Maxwell prioritized quantity over quality with profit as the main goal,” said Jason Carr, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
“Given how long she’s been breeding and the unhealthy conditions in the home, we’re considering this a puppy mill.”
Two litters of puppies were found living in filthy conditions inside a home where a puppy mill was discovered by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 5, 2025. Courtesy Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office received a tip from a woman who purchased a dog through rescueme.org from the business Kameo Poodles. The woman had concerns about the dog’s health, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies arrived, they found a mix of standard, miniature and toy poodles, including two litters of puppies. Many of the animals were living in dirty crates and on soiled blankets, and were in need of medical care, according to Deschutes County Animal Control Technician Maryia Leufven.
Dogs were found ungroomed inside a puppy mill discovered by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 5, 2025. Courtesy Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
The poodles had severe tangles and painful matting in their fur as a result of not being groomed and properly cared for, officials said.
The animals are currently receiving treatment at the Humane Society of Central Oregon. They will remain there throughout the investigation and are not available for adoption at this time.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 541-693-6911.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The three suspects accused in August’s stabbing attack near Downtown Portland’s Central Library made their first appearance in court Tuesday, just one day after Chair Jessica Vega Pederson released video of the incident.
Anthony Nicholas, Ja’Riyah Williams, and Daviana Anderson are each charged with eleven counts, including felonies like assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Anderson is facing two more charges, for a total of 13. Each entered a not guilty plea at their arraignment on Tuesday morning.
The newly released video shows what led up to the August 25 incident, where Zebulin Hannon said three people attacked and stabbed him. That stabbing prompted a back-and-forth between county leaders as calls for more security ramped up.
KOIN 6 talked with Dessmen Pooler, a former Central Library security guard. He said he left the role because violence was an all too frequent occurrence.
“I feel like there’s always things happening,” he said. “I don’t feel that anybody’s actually, like, moving forward with, with the sought-after plan. I feel like everything’s predictable when you go in each day. You know, you see the same thing occur, same individuals in the same situations.”
On top of violence, Pooler said drugs are a recurring problem. He said he wants to see leaders above the county level get involved.
“I do feel like the state can do a better job of being more assertive on the measures that should be taken by the county,” he said. “I feel that the county has a lot of leniency, a lot of open ends, that they’re allowed to do what it is they want to do, rather than doing what is needed to be done.”
Pooler said if the county wants the problems to go away, they need more strict policies for people in the area.
“Individuals are very comfortable to come there and do what they do because they feel that, you know, there’s no real consequences to their actions ultimately,” he said. “It should be an area free to all as a state. But, you know, there definitely should be some conditions into what that means, as it’s a library and it’s open to the public.”
People who live in and around the area also said the problem is beyond the one-block radius that surrounds the library at Southwest 10th Avenue and Southwest Yamhill Street.
Sandeep Divekar lives in downtown Portland. He told KOIN 6 News he knows the streets well.
“You see people slumped over during, you know, the fentanyl slump,” Divekar said.
He said the blocks surrounding his apartment are filled with drug use and people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.
“It makes me sad because this is such a beautiful place. And what is happening here is self-inflicted,” Divekar said.
During a Portland City Council Public Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday, Portland City Councilor Sameer Kanal and his colleagues talked about the drug crisis in downtown. Divekar has also taken Kanal and other city councilors on walking tours in the area to see the problem unfolding in real time.
“To see that live, super helpful in terms of, what I saw on that tour. I think we’re seeing a, a place where we’re providing services in terms of shelters and some of the adjacent services around it, but not all the wraparound has fully come online yet,” Kanal said.
Members of the public made their voices heard during the city council meeting, including from business owners near the Central Library who said it’s become a hub for deadly shootings and drug use.
“Just two days ago, I had to bang on the window to stop a drug deal from happening in front of my guests and customers,” said Amber Jobe, owner of The Skeleton Key Odditorium.
KOIN 6 News Reporter Ariel Iacobazzi also went on a tour with Divekar and ran into a man who said he’s been homeless and addicted to drugs for more than six years.
“There’s too many addicts and not enough places to go,” said Jon Carlo Gianni. “There’s not enough housing. There’s not enough budget. There’s just not enough for people to get help right now.”
During the city council meeting, Portland police said even though they’re cracking down on drug-related crimes, they’re still investigating 40 active drug-related death cases.
Another Public Safety Committee meeting is scheduled at City Hall later this month.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A Portland man who posted videos of himself engaging in dangerous driving stunts on social media was found guilty of only three of 11 charges this week, prompting criticism from prosecutors.
Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge on Monday convicted 33-year-old Oscar Lee Burrell Jr. of three misdemeanor charges: two counts of reckless driving and one count of recklessly endangering another person. The verdict followed a bench trial, in which the judge, not a jury, determines the outcome.
The charges stem from a series of incidents in March 2025, in which Burrell filmed himself performing illegal stunts while driving through public parks and on Interstate 5. Videos posted to social media showed Burrell steering with his knee, hanging out of his car window, and driving through pedestrian areas and playgrounds.
Despite the video evidence, Judge von Ter Stegge found Burrell not guilty on eight other charges, including multiple counts of recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, and disorderly conduct.
Social Media Videos Showed Risky Stunts
On March 25, Burrell was seen in a video veering into oncoming traffic on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard before entering Peninsula Park via a pedestrian path. He then performed doughnuts on the grass near park facilities while filming himself.
He was convicted of reckless driving for the March 25 incident, but acquitted on charges of recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief.
Two days later, on March 27, another video showed Burrell driving through Farragut Park, laughing and making gestures while steering with his body halfway out the window. He was acquitted of reckless driving for this incident.
On March 28, Burrell was filmed driving along Interstate 5, passing vehicles while steering with his knees and hanging out of his car. He was convicted of reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person in connection with that event.
You can view the video that was played in court here.
Prosecutors Blast Verdict
Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez expressed strong disagreement with the outcome.
“The evidence in this case clearly showed that Mr. Burrell was engaged in wildly reckless behavior,” Vasquez said in a statement. “He was driving through city parks with children present and hanging out of his vehicle on the freeway. That he was not found guilty of more charges is bewildering.”
Deputy District Attorney Alex Garcia, who prosecuted the case, said Burrell’s actions pose an ongoing threat to public safety.
“Mr. Burrell’s conduct is 100% criminal, and he will continue to do it for the ‘likes’,” Garcia said, referring to Burrell’s apparent motivation to gain attention on social media.
No Jail Time in Sentencing
Despite the guilty verdicts, Burrell was sentenced to no jail time. His sentence includes:
18 months of bench probation
80 hours of community service
Attendance at a victim impact panel
A high-risk driver course
A 90-day license suspension
Mental health and substance abuse evaluations with treatment if needed
The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office thanked Portland Police Officer Zachary Nell for his work on the case.
PORTLAND, Ore. – A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for portions of central and eastern Oregon as heavy rainfall increases the risk of landslides and debris flows, particularly in areas with steep terrain and recent wildfire burns.
The National Weather Service issued the alert Tuesday afternoon, warning that conditions are favorable for flash flooding from 1:50 p.m. PDT today through 11 p.m. Thursday. Affected areas include central Oregon, the east slopes of the Oregon Cascades, the John Day Basin, the Ochoco-John Day Highlands, and the Southern Blue Mountains.
State geologists caution that debris flows — fast-moving landslides that can carry boulders, logs, and water-saturated soil — pose a serious threat to people, property and roads located below steep slopes or near canyon mouths.
Residents and travelers in the watch area are urged to stay alert and take the following precautions:
Monitor weather reports via radio, TV or online. Evacuate immediately if advised.
Be aware of unusual sounds like cracking trees or knocking boulders, which may signal a landslide.
Watch for sudden changes in stream flow — water turning muddy or flowing irregularly may indicate upstream activity.
Travel with caution and assume roads may be unsafe, particularly at night.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is granting an unusually quick hearing on whether President Donald Trump has the power under federal law to impose sweeping tariffs.
The justices agreed Tuesday to hear the case in November, lightning fast by the usual standards of the nation’s highest court.
The small businesses and states that challenged the tariffs in court also agreed to the fast timetable.
They say Trump illegally used emergency powers to set import taxes on nearly every country in the world, nearly driving their businesses to bankruptcy.
Two lower courts have found most of the tariffs were illegally imposed, though a 7-4 appeals court has left them in place for now.
VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is investigating two separate incidents involving women who reported being followed or assaulted while walking or running on the popular Salmon Creek Trail near Klineline Park.
First Incident: Sept. 3 — Woman Assaulted While Walking Dog:
On the afternoon of September 3, 2025, a woman reported being assaulted while walking her dog eastbound on the Salmon Creek Trail near 800 NE 117th Street.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the woman told 911 dispatchers that around 3:42 p.m., a man ran up behind her and forcefully grabbed her buttocks before continuing along the trail without speaking. The suspect reportedly looked back at the victim but did not make contact again.
The man is described as:
White male, in his 20s
5’9” to 5’10” tall
Muscular or athletic build, slightly tan
Brown, bushy or shaggy hair
Shirtless, wearing knee-length black shorts
Wearing black athletic gloves with grip fingertips
This incident is being investigated as Assault IV with sexual motivation.
Second Incident: Sept. 8 — Woman Followed, Possibly Recorded:
A second incident was reported on September 8, 2025, involving a woman who said she felt unsafe while running on a trail in the same area.
She described seeing a white male, very tan, with a muscular build and approximately the same height as the previous suspect. This man was wearing a tan long-sleeve shirt and a mask or face covering pulled over his nose. It is unclear if he had facial hair.
The woman told deputies the man appeared to be filming her with his phone, holding it with both arms extended. She saw him again sitting on a bench, still pointing the phone in her direction. Feeling uncomfortable, she moved to a more populated area of the park.
She later filed a report after seeing a social media post referencing a similar encounter.
Investigation Ongoing
CCSO has not confirmed whether the two incidents are connected but says both cases remain under investigation. Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed these events or experienced something similar in the area to come forward.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A small cluster of earthquakes have been recorded off the Oregon Coast since Monday, with three more recorded early Tuesday afternoon after the first quakes were reported Monday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quakes — a 4.9 magnitude just after 12:02 p.m., a 4.4 magnitude just after 12:31 p.m. and a 5.1 magnitude earthquake at 12:31 p.m. at a different location — all are occurring in the Blanco Fracture Zone off the Oregon Coast.
The Blanco Fracture Zone is more than 100 miles west of Port Orford, Oregon. So far, USGS is reporting at least 12 earthquakes in this region.
The iPhone 17 is displayed during an announcement of new products at Apple Park on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Cupertino, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)
Apple has unveiled its new iPhones 17 lineup, along with updates to its digital watches and AirPod products at its annual September product launch.
The new iPhones are the first to be released since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and unleashed a barrage of tariffs, in what his administration says is an attempt to bring overseas manufacturing back to the U.S. — a crusade that has thrust Apple CEO Tim Cook into the hot seat.
The new devices come with a larger, 6.3-inch display and is powered by a new a A19 chip to help power Apple’s AI features. The iPhone 17’s front camera has also been upgraded to have a wider field of view and new sensor, allowing you to take landscape photos without having to rotate your phone
The new devices are still expected to be made in Apple’s manufacturing hubs in China and India, much to the Trump administration’s consternation.
Both Trump and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have repeatedly insisted that iPhones be made in the U.S. instead of overseas. It’s an unrealistic demand that analysts say would take years to pull off and would result in a doubling, or even a tripling, of the iPhone’s current average price of about $1,000.
Cook tried to placate Trump by initially pledging that Apple would invest $500 billion i n the U.S. over the next four years, and then upped the ante last month by adding another $100 billion to the commitment. He also gifted Trump a statue featuring a 24-karat gold base.
That kind of diplomacy has helped insulate Apple from Trump’s most severe tariffs. However, the iPhones being brought into the U.S. still face duties of about 25%, stoking speculation that the company will reveal its first across-the-board price increase in five years in an effort to preserve its hefty profit margins.
Since 2020, Apple has charged $800 for its basic iPhone and $1,200 for its top offering, but analysts now believe the company may raise prices by $50 to $100 on some of the new models. If Apple does announce price increases, it will come just weeks after Google held steady on prices for its new Pixel smartphones.
Although Apple’s stock price is still down by 4% so far this year, the shares have been bouncing back in recent months amid signs it won’t be as hard hit by the tariffs as once feared, and a highly anticipated court ruling cleared the way for the company to continue receiving $20 billion annually to lock in Google’s search engine as the default option on iPhones.
This image provided by Pierce County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 shows weapons seized from the home of a 13-year-old boy in Pierce County, Wa., who authorities said had appeared to idolize school shooters. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A 13-year-old boy described by police as obsessed with school shooters was arrested on multiple firearms possession charges and causing a threat after they say they found social media posts about intentions to kill and seized 23 guns and ammunition from his home.
The boy pleaded not guilty to a total of five charges, four of them felonies, in juvenile court on Monday. He was arrested over the weekend in Washington’s Pierce County.
The boy’s name has not been released. It was not immediately known if he had a lawyer. Juvenile court records are generally confidential.
Firearms were mounted on walls and handguns were found unsecured throughout the home, sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto said in a news release Monday.
“Several pieces of evidence from the suspect’s bedroom indicated he was obsessed with past school shooters and imitated similar behaviors with photos and inscriptions throughout his room,” she said. Loaded magazines with school shooter writings on them were removed.
“It appeared the suspect had everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident. It is unknown who or what the intended target was going to be, but it’s clear it was a matter of time before a tragic incident occurred,” Cappetto said.
The boy’s parents said their son had no intention of harming anyone. His mother, who attended the court hearing, suggested in an interview afterward that the social media posts were an attempt to “be cool” among peers, KOMO-TV reported.
Cappetto said the boy was last enrolled in the Franklin Pierce School District in 2021. He was currently unenrolled and was not currently an active student in any school district.
Writing about topics outside of music, and music-adjacent happenin’s isn’t really in my wheelhouse, but good god damn was Drama Tops’ show Dads one of the most beautifully unhinged things I’ve ever seen! Their Time Based Arts festival appearances are now in the past, but if you EVER have the chance to see them here or in Seattle—their homebase—do it. You won’t know exactly what’s going on, but you’ll be delighted.
It feels like the great cooling is finally upon us, folks. But you know what’s not cooling off? The hot, hot heat of shows coming through Portland this season. We’ve still got festivals and club shows to look forward to, and I know y’all do be lookin’ good in leggings and a light sweater.
Lastly, before we get to the good stuff, I’d like to say that the Mercury has divested from Spotify. We no longer pay for their services, though we will keep our account up and updated. Use it as a tool for discovery, not the end of your interaction with music. Listen to one of our playlists (fall playlist drops soon), head to some gigs, buy records and merch directly from artists, tell them how much their music means to you. Rinse and repeat.
Tuesday, September 9
WITCH / Sonny & the Sunsets
For fans of Fela Kuti, Ebo Taylor, The Lijadu Sisters
Which Witch is this Witch? Why, it’s WITCH of course! We Intend To Cause Havoc, formed in 1970s Zambia, are punk through and through—don’t conflate their sometimes laidback music for music less intentional: They bring a political mindset to their lyricism not seen outside of punk and protest music. Non-Euro-centric, using Zambian dialects including Bemba, and their mix of traditional and Western instrumentation culminate, giving WITCH their distinct sound. Opening are longtime indie darlings, Sonny & The Sunsets. (Aladdin Theater, 8pm, more info here, all ages)
Wednesday, September 10
NxWorries
For fans of D’Angelo, André 3000, Prince
Led by hip-hop heavy-hitters Knxwledge and Anderson .Paak, NxWorries compose music to make love by. For real, I bet if we look at population data nine months after their two incredible albums—2016’s Yes Lawd! and 2024’s Why Lawd?—we’d see a spike. The sex appeal oozing from everything NxWorries does is actually irresponsible… the planet can’t handle baby-making music of this caliber anymore! THINK OF THE CHILDREN. (Crystal Ballroom, 8pm, more info here, all ages)
Wednesday, September 10 & Thursday, September 11
Modest Mouse / Flamming Lips / Dehd
For fans of Ugly Cassanova, Pixies, Grandaddy
It feels like there was a couple decades there that you couldn’t go to a festival in the PNW without seeing Modest Mouse or the Flaming Lips (or the Shins, or Death Cab) and thank god for that. From their earliest days, Modest Mouse have put on an incredible live show, and no matter what you think about the man himself, Isaac Brock is an incredible songwriter. I’m also guessing most of us are aware of the Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test that is a Flaming Lips show. It’s pretty wild watching Wayne Coyne sing the indie-psych anthem “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” while crowd surfing in a giant bubble. Young up-and-comers Dehd do us the honor of opening both nights with their chiller post-punk tunes. (Edgefield, 6pm, more info here, all ages)
Friday, September 12 & Saturday, September 13
Lose Yr Mind Fest
For fans of psych music in all its many forms
Celebrating 10 years, spread between three of Central Eastside’s crown jewels, Lose Yr Mind Fest is one of the most rockin’ times that can be had in Portland, Oregon. Running between Lollipop Shoppe, Swan Dive, and the Get Down to see party music, dancing music, boogie music, et al. only adds to the energy. LYM 2025 includes appearances by Italians Do It Better label mates Desire and Johnny Jewel, the outsider hip-hop of Billy Woods, Seattle’s J.R.C.G. (if you saw one of their Pickathon sets, you know not to miss them), and local hunnies the Shivas, Sun Atoms, Ogre, Family Worship Center, Rayon, Shaylee, and more. (Lollipop Shop, Swan Dive, The Get Down, 6pm, more info here, 21+)
Friday, September 12–Sunday, September 14
PDX Pop Now!
For fans of Portland music, beer gardens, family-friendly activities
The most honorable Snoop Dogg once said: “Pop it like it’s hot,” and every year PDX Pop Now! does just that, with a line-up of the city’s best local music heaters. The 2025 festival lineup is stuffed to the gills with the likes of Alien Boy, Rango, Franklin Gothic, Friends Friends, the Prids, the Apricots, Femme Cell, Spiderling, Swiss Army Wife, and more. In past years, sets crawled the alleys of SE industrial, but this year’s location is legit: Westside Portland favorite Midtown Beer Garden. That means the food and family-friendly activities are on lock; all we have to do is rock. (Midtown Beer Garden, FREE, more info, all ages)
As you travel along a mossy path alone, in search of a sacred rune that—legend has it—is able to heal the sick, and rid the world of evil, suddenly, the air of the dark forest grows heavy with mist. As you approach the glen your quest has led you to, an ancient well reveals itself. Peering into the holy waters below, you ask your question to the void, “What is the meaning of life?” The void answers: “Fief.” (Old Church, 7:30pm, more info here, all ages)
RIP to LU2K’s band Jesus Piece, one of the best hardcore outfits on the circuit for years. Luckily, we’ve got his solo output to keep dance floors filled. His hard-hitting Fuck Real Life EP has remained in heavy rotation for DJs spinning hard tech, jungle, and DnB sets at Barn Radio and Process. Parisian DJ Miley Serious pulls up from her homebase in NYC with her vast music knowledge, wrapping any room around her fingers. Filling out the night is Portland’s Plus along with Barn Radio DJs. (Barn Radio, 10pm, more info here, 21+)
Also very worth it…
Extradition presents Piano Aktivitys as a Disciplind Destruktshun (a piano work’t) at Leaven Community – Sept. 12, more info here
Bleakfest Preshow feat. Youth Code, Street Sects, Insula Iscario, Possible Jumper at High Limit Room – Sept. 12, more info here
Kenji Bunch and Monica Ohuchi at Pacific Center – Sept. 14, more info here
Have you heard? The Mercury is teaming with floral design baddies Fresh Cut Flowers to launch a new workshop series, Fresh Cuts! The events combine floral design workshops with intimate live music performances in cool and unusual spaces. The inaugural Fresh Cuts, taking place September 24 on the ballroom floor of the Crystal, features a performance by Rico Nasty and a 1.5 hour floral design workshop led by Cody Shulund of Fresh Cut Flowers. More info and tickets here.
Very cool, breaking news: Local booking and promoters Guerilla Joy are linking with Central Eastside favorites Bunk Bar to bring you SYLM—Support Your Local Music. The new series launches with Menopalooza #1, headlined by queercore icons Team Dresch on September 18. Another couple SYLM shows to add to your already packed concert calendar are Sun Blood Stories on 9/26, and Missionary Girls and House of Warmth on 10/25.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Multnomah County is participating in World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th by rolling out their own initiative for zero deaths by suicide. Health Officer Dr. Richard Bruno says they recognize that any effort, even the smallest can save a life.
World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day always observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003. This year’s theme is creating hope through positive action..
Dr. Bruno says Multnomah County has tragically, already lost 22 youth to suicide in fiscal year 2025. He reminds the smallest effort can save a life.
I’m an early 40s lesbian in the Vegas area and I’m sorry to report that not all lesbians have gotten the memo that oral comes standard. I have faced this issue since I began dating. I’ve met many women who require creativity and persistence to come — and you know what? It’s my pleasure. I’m not just willing, I’m enthusiastic about doing whatever they need to get off. But when it comes time to reciprocate, there are too many women who don’t rise to the challenge.
I was with my last ex for seven years. She was hot but not generous in bed. She was emotionally distant. I just didn’t feel wanted. It was a frustrating seven years, but much of that happened over the pandemic when it was hard to separate. And then when we did, she said it was because she’d realized she wasn’t attracted to women after all, and in fact had fallen for a man. Well, that explained a few things. I was devastated and didn’t date again for three years.
But recently, I stepped back into the dating game and met a wonderful woman. We share a love of horror movies, she’s easy to talk to, we have the same sense of humor, and she does things that make me feel cherished. It’s honestly refreshing. We were dating around a month when things got physical. But I’m sad — no, angry — to report that it’s the same problem all over again. This woman needs persistent effort, and it’s my pleasure to provide it, but when it comes time for her to return the favor, she isn’t up to the task. After a few minutes, she is done. We’ve had several discussions about preferences and what our bodies need for an orgasm to happen. She knows that manual stimulation takes forever to get me off, but oral sex has always been a reliable and efficient way to get me off. Except it’s just not happening. And I don’t just mean oral. I mean she was not enthusiastic about making me come once after I’d gotten her off multiple times. She begins cuddling me and seems to not give it a thought.
Despite everything else that’s so wonderful about this woman, after the same thing happened again tonight, I suddenly feel ready to kick her to the curb. Would she do it if I asked? Probably! But this is not something I should have to ask for. It defeats the purpose of minimum standards. When we say oral comes standard, that means it comes standard. We shouldn’t have to ask for it. We can say how we want it or whether we don’t want it, but otherwise it should be offered as a matter of course. If they can’t do so, then they should at least be enthusiastic about playing as strong a role as possible in making the other person come through other means. Because it’s not just oral that should come standard. Orgasms should come standard.
Am I overreacting, Dan? If a partner brings everything else but doesn’t bring the orgasms, are they disqualified? I am too old to waste time on partners who do not come to the bedroom enthusiastic about making me come. I’d rather stay home and take care of myself. I’m honestly crying a little bit. I’m just so disappointed.
Serious About Partner Having Orgasms
You’re not overreacting.
Oral has always come standard in lesbian relationships — the orgasm gap supposedly doesn’t exist in lesbian relationships (but you somehow keep pulling the short straw) — and, like power windows, oral has come standard in all relationships since the 1980s. A model that arrives without oral should be returned to the lot.
But here’s the thing: you say your new girlfriend would “probably” get you off if you asked, which means… you haven’t asked. Now, your new girlfriend should be offering to get you off — she should return every favor, climb every mountain, ford every stream, etc. — without prompting. But if you wanna give this otherwise promising relationship a chance, you might wanna advocate for your own pleasure at least once. I mean, it’s crazy that I know oral is the quickest and most reliable way to make you come but your girlfriend doesn’t, SAPHO, considering I’m never gonna eat your pussy and eating your pussy is literally her job.
From the sound of things, SAPHO, your girlfriend has a pretty mannish/masc-coded refractory period — she crashes out after she comes — so along with telling her that oral is the fastest and most reliable way to get you off, you might wanna tell her you’re gonna go first: from here on out, she’s gets you off before you get her off. She fords your stream, then you ford hers.
Now, if you tell her all that and she still can’t be bothered to make you come… back to the lot she goes. You wasted seven years on a partner who didn’t think your pleasure was important, SAPHO, and you can and should tell your girlfriend you’re not making that mistake again.
P.S. Re: “A model that arrives without oral should be returned to the lot.” This is a comedic overstatement. Some people can’t do oral for reasons, some people don’t care whether they’re getting oral, some people dislike giving and/or receiving. I see you, you’re valid. But if you’re receiving oral and not giving oral in return, you have some explaining to do — not to me, to your partner(s).
The background: I’m 65, my “partner” is 73. We met twenty years ago and divorced our wives to be together. Early on in the relationship I discovered that he uses meth. He assured me he didn’t have a problem. We went to couples counseling a few years back and the therapist told me during a private session that I’m better off leaving my partner because he was never going to give up meth. Then he contracted HIV, and I’m pretty sure he got it shooting up. He says no but I’ve seen needles in the house. I travel for work, and I know he has parties in my house when I’m gone — I’ve seen a parade of guys on my security camera — but we don’t have an open relationship (his rule, not mine). I have asked him to seek help, I’ve tried to support him, I’ve attempted to involve his family, and they’ve ignored me. I can’t bring myself to sleep with him anymore.
I’ve asked him to leave and find somewhere else to live. However, he is on limited income. He was a smart man, but he squandered his money and now relies on Social Security (and me) to cover his living expenses. He has lied to me, and his double life is dragging on me and I’m unsure what to do. I have a great job, travel all over the world for work, and could retire if I so desired. I’m not ready to retire, nor do I have a desire to live with this person. I know I should have kicked him out years ago, but now I feel like I’m stuck with him. I’m not sure what advice you can give to someone who feels stuck, used, and abused by a drug-addicted liar that I nonetheless don’t want to make homeless.
Despondent In Philly
Toss your “partner” out on his ass — just say go — but if you can’t bear the thought of your live-in ex-boyfriend (it’s already over) winding up on the street…
What would it be worth to you — financially— to have him out of your life? It sounds like you have resources. Your lying, cheating, drug-abusing “partner,” on the other hand, does not; it seems pretty clear that he’s only “with you” because he needs a place and a meal ticket. So, if you got him his own place — let’s say you bought a nice studio apartment on the other side of town and offered him enough money to live on for a year or two — do you think he’d leave? Would it be worth it to have him gone? If the answer to both those questions is yes, DIP, you could buy him and apartment of his own and pay him to go. But if you don’t wanna buy him out and you can’t bear the thought of tossing him out… you could choose to wait him out. The average male in the US lives to 75, DIP, and I can’t imagine a 73-year-old man who shoots meth is gonna beat the actuarial odds.
Read the rest of this week’s column here! And this week on the Lovecast: A married mother did some sex work in her younger, wilder days. She’s turned on by money, so it seems obvious that she should be a findom. But the typical clientele prefer a younger woman to take their money. How can she get her middle-aged kink on?
Sometimes you get questions that can only be answered by a porn star. Fortunately, Dan knows some! We are delighted to welcome John Thomas to the show. (You may know him as “Best Bottom of 2021”) The extremely charming and visually compelling Thomas, helps answer questions about ethical porn production, the supply and demand differential between tops & bottoms, and the dark art of douching. Listen here!
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Good morning, Portland! We’ve entered that phase of late summer where the grass might be dead, but the weather is blissful. Today, we can expect a partly sunny day with a high of 76 degrees.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Library and violence aren’t typically words you expect to see in the same sentence, but in the wake of recent attacks near Multnomah County’s Central Library, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson is pushing back on speculation about the circumstances.
What happened: The Portland Police Bureau said a man was stabbed multiple times on August 25 shortly after leaving the Central Library downtown. Court documents from police reports indicate the man and his partner tried to intervene and break up a “disturbance” among a small group, when one was stabbed by one person in the group, and beaten with skateboards by two others. Three suspects were arrested at a park after fleeing the scene, PPB said. Video of that arrest captured by a bystander and posted by Don’t Shoot PDX shows multiple officers at a MAX station near the park with weapons drawn, pointed at what appears to be a group of young people on the ground with their hands over their heads. Then yesterday, Vega Pederson released a statement suggesting the facts surrounding the incident may have been misreported or not yet fully pieced together.
“I recently saw security footage from the Central Library capturing one angle of the incident and had a similar reaction to the one shared previously by my colleague Commissioner Shannon Singleton: There seems to be a serious discrepancy between the video I saw, reports from library and security staff, and how this incident was reported by PPB and subsequently some of the media. To date, what has been shared publicly appears to rush to judgment around a serious incident involving young Black people despite the existence of video footage and statements that are more complicated.” Vega Pederson called on the Multnomah County DA’s Office to release the security footage. The DA’s Office essentially told the commissioner she could just release it herself, with some other choice words about the chair’s public callout of the DA. Here’s the latest reporting from KGW, including video footage of the incident in question.
The public deserves transparency. I’m calling on District Attorney Nathan Vasquez to release security footage from the Central Library regarding the August 25 incident so everyone can have a better understanding of this incident.
• An Oregon City couple will serve 30 days in jail for refusing to seek medical treatment for their newborn baby who died in 2023. Blair and Taylor Edwards, who both belong to a religious sect called the Followers of Christ Church, sought prayer and anointment of their newborn baby with olive oil, rather than medical care, when he stopped eating and displayed labored breathing two days after he was born in June 2023. The baby died hours later. The Clackamas County Medical Examiner determined the infant died of hyperbilirubinemia, better known as newborn jaundice. The light sentence was likely due to the medical examiner’s note that it’s unclear whether immediate medical treatment would’ve saved the baby’s life. An excessive buildup of bilirubin in the blood can cause tissue damage, seizures, and even brain damage.
• Portland police are investigating what they believe is a grisly murder-suicide in Southeast Portland’s Brentwood-Darlingtoon neighborhood last weekend. According to PPB, officers responded to the 7000 block of SE 64th Avenue, where they found a woman, a man, and a 10-year-old girl dead from gunshot wounds. Investigators said Monday that they believe a 22-year-old man killed his 46-year-old mother and 10-year-old sister before taking his own life. The victims’ names haven’t been released yet.
• On a brighter note, the latest edition of Do This; Do That is up, with deets on events including a free art exhibit tonight at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, a symphony performance with drag sensation and Broadway start Jinkx Monsoon, and a free(!) installment of this year’s PDX Pop Now showcase. Consider it your weekly reminder of why you choose to live in hell.
OH, MARY star Jinkx Monsoon heads to town this week, HUMP! Film Festival unveils the second half of its sexy program, and you can swap duds at Crystal Ballroom to walk away with a whole new wardrobe. Read on.
A House committee released several documents in the Epstein sex trafficking case yesterday, including a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein signed by Donald Trump, with a rudimentary drawing of a naked woman. Trump denies any involvement in that birthday card/book/message/whatever we’re calling it.
what a humiliating way for don jr. to find out his dad sends birthday cards.
ICYMI: A US Department of Justice employee was surreptitiously filmed while discussing details of the Epstein files, including plans to remove the names of all republicans from the Epstein client list, and also claimed the US government moved Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower-security prison to get her to “shut up” about the teen sex trafficking case. The DOJ employee, Joseph Schnitt, is a deputy chief of staff at the Office of Enforcement Operations. Schnitt thought he was on a date with a woman he met on Hinge, but the woman made up a fake identity so she could record him for a media company run by James O’Keefe, the founder of right-wing Project Veritas. The DOJ–which seemingly has worse security than your local Target store– has responded by saying Schnitt doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about and isn’t clued in on DOJ operations surrounding the Epstein files.
France’s prime minister was ousted yesterday, apparently leaving the country’s government in shambles. Prime Minister François Bayrou received a vote of no confidence by an overwhelming majority Monday, after just nine months in office. Bayrou is considered a centrist who’s long presided over the European Democratic Party. President Emmanuel Macron will now have to appoint a new prime minister, but as CNN reports, the country is currently in a bitter political divide between far-right and far-left members of parliament, meaning any nominee Macron appoints that the opposing party dislikes will likely be rejected.
And lastly, the all-too-influential podcaster Joe Rogan is known for peddling pseudo science and half truths that often go unchallenged, but recently, the author of a scientific study of climate change spoke out about how badly Rogan misinterpreted the study and its data. In January, Rogan had Mel Gibson as a guest on his show and the two dug in on their disbelief of climate change. Side note: Gibson says his Malibu home burned down in the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year, but also insists climate change isn’t real. Rogan cited an article in the Washington Post, which referenced a study of historic climate models that showed Earth has experienced periods of warming in the past. Rogan took that as proof that climate change is a hoax. One of the authors of the climate modeling study recently told The Guardian she finds it laughable, but also disheartening that Rogan misinterpreted the data. She’s encouraged Rogan to have her on his show, so she can set the record straight.
BRB, gonna sail into the sunset and forget the world exists…
Credit: Amber Cross & Probie
Sublimity Fire District
Oregon’s only representative for the First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award is located just outside Salem. Probie, member of the Sublimity Fire District for the last two years, is one of 35 canines who is up for the honor.
Sublimity’s dog therapy program was started by firefighter Amber Cross, who is also Probie’s handler. In six years of growth, Probie and his younger brother Barney have aided in critical situations that the district has gone through, especially during wildfire season.
Folks can go vote for Probie to take home the national award, which also comes with a $4,000 grant to help train more therapy dogs to help first responders.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Isolated thunderstorms remain in the forecast across western Oregon and southwest Washington on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Afternoon highs will stay cool in the mid-70s on Tuesday afternoon. Oregon’s thunderstorm potential remains greatest over the Cascades through central Oregon. Mostly cloudy skies will remain across the Pacific Northwest, but one or two of those clouds could produce brief rain showers and potentially some lightning and thunder.
Rain accumulation through Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning will remain isolated. Those who do see rain could rack up at least a quarter of an inch.
Improving air quality from Oregon’s wildfires as rain and thunderstorms continue to wash Pacific Northwest skies this week
Air quality improvements continue as rain showers ramp up over some of Oregon’s worst wildfires. Some lingering wildfire smoke will remain, but air quality across the Pacific Northwest will move east of the valley.
KOIN 6 Senior Meteorologist Kelley Bayern shares Portland’s mild week of weather for the middle of September 2025
Temperatures will remain near average as a drying trend takes shape late in the week through Saturday. Models remain uncertain on the return of rainfall. Sunday may see scattered showers or continue dry. The KOIN 6 Weather will keep track of any pattern changes in the coming days.
A Magnitude 5.8 earthquake is strong enough to cause damage and could lead to aftershocks nearby, with a 47% chance of smaller Magnitude 3 earthquakes in the area within the next week, according to USGS.
“Magnitude 3 and higher aftershocks are large enough to be felt nearby,” the USGS reports. “The number of aftershocks will decrease over time, but a large aftershock can temporarily increase the number of aftershocks.”
