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Good morning, Portland! The National Weather Service reports “moderate confidence” that the Willamette Valley and Portland area could see a few inches of snow overnight tonight. The current forecast calls for snow flurries, followed by rain, meaning we might be in for more of a slush than a powdery coating. Best to keep on eye on things and judge for yourself whether you need to panic-buy groceries and hunker down.
While you monitor the weather, let’s check in on the news.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• A federal judge just re-upped a temporary restraining order against agents at the ICE facility in Portland. The restraining order is part of an ongoing class-action lawsuit from a handful of protesters and journalists against the Department of Homeland Security. The judge’s order put heavy restrictions on agents’ ability to use tear gas or other crowd control munitions on protesters. The initial restraining order was set to expire Tuesday, before US District Judge Michael Simon extended it another two weeks. As the Mercury recently reported, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield stepped in on Monday to file evidence and a court briefing in support of the lawsuit.
• Portlanders’ dedication to our local sports teams has really been tested these last few years. While the Portland Timbers won their first playoff game in four years last fall, their 2025 season was… less than stellar. Ahead of their season opener this weekend, resident expert Abe Asher poses the five major questions which face the club as it prepares for its 16th MLS season. –STEVE HUMPHREY
While the Portland Timbers won their first playoff game in four years last fall, their 2025 season was… less than stellar. Ahead of their season opener this weekend, resident expert Abe Asher poses the five major questions which face the club as it prepares for its sixteenth MLS season.
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) February 17, 2026 at 5:04 PM
• We recently reported on a unique music program at Portland Community College (PCC) that is facing cuts, leaving students frustrated, confused, and outright bummed. Now, proponents of PCC’s Music and Sonic Arts (MSA) program say they’re planning to rally before a board meeting at the Sylvania campus in Southwest Portland tomorrow, February 19. The board isn’t scheduled to take action on the program, but supporters intend to address the board anyway. Last fall, PCC faculty began turning away students from the MSA program. PCC’s board chair argued the program didn’t meet the criteria for a career and technical education pathway because, as Penson put it, the college needs to consider “whether the degree or certificate itself is something employers actually require to get a job.”
Proponents of Portland Community College’s Music and Sonic Arts (MSA) program tell the Mercury they’re planning to rally before a board meeting at the Sylvania campus in Southwest Portland, on February 19.
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) February 17, 2026 at 1:58 PM
• Reference to the Brooklyn Bridge doesn’t typically conjure up images of Portland, but that could change soon. The city is slated to have its very own Brooklyn Bridge. City councilors are scheduled to consider naming the overpass in Southeast Portland’s Brooklyn neighborhood that spans Holgate Boulevard between SE 17th and 26th Avenues. Biggie Smalls might have had feelings about this if he were still alive.
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Eric Trump has invested an unknown amount into a drone company that recently won a large contract with the US Department of Defense. Let’s say that louder for the people in the back: The president’s son is investing in a company that just won a multi-billion dollar government contract because of his father’s political position, essentially positioning himself to profit off of a government contract. Eric Trump’s investment will support a $1.5 billion merger between Xtend, a drone manufacturer based in Israel, and JFB Construction Holdings, a small Florida-based construction company. The investment should set off alarm bells about a potential conflict of interest. This isn’t the first time members of the Trump family have tried to use the presidency to financially enrich themselves (hello, cryptocurrency). In fact, ‘ol dumpy mouth himself just filed to try to trademark the use of his name on any airports as Florida lawmakers vote on renaming Palm Beach Airport after Trump. Trump’s team claims the president has no intention of charging a fee to use his name on the Florida airport, but the trademark, if approved, would also apply to several items sold in the airport, as well as any equipment or uniforms that bear the airport’s name.
• After news broke yesterday of DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin’s exit from the agency, media outlets are reporting that a new addition to the Trump propaganda machine, Katie Zacharia, is another Trump loyalist who was recently “bullied” at her kickboxing gym for wearing a MAGA hat. So any hope we had that maybe DHS might actually start returning reporters’ emails or refrain from constantly demonizing immigrants arrested should be abandoned now.
• Minnesota has been in the news a lot lately, mostly for news related to the killing of two residents by federal agents earlier this year. Minneapolis residents have shown the world what peaceful resistance looks like and pulled out what I affectionately call the No More “Minnesota Nice” guy attitude. Now, tenants and labor union members in Minneapolis and St. Paul are about to carry out what’s being described as the “largest rent strike” the country has seen in the last 100 years. The unions have pushed for an eviction moratorium and rent relief. They’re calling on Governor Tim Walz to enact both of those things. More than 26,000 people have signed a pledge to withhold rent on March 1if Walz doesn’t come around.
• FEMA grants meant to effectuate climate resiliency are still being held back, despite a judge’s order to release them. Last spring, the Trump administration issued a notice that it was shutting down the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program that has historically helped states and cities enact climate programs and projects. That move was challenged, and a federal judge issued an order in December for the BRIC program to be restored. That hasn’t happened. Grist reports two FEMA officials told the outlet that the agency “has taken no apparent steps to revive BRIC in compliance with the December court order. As a result, state and local governments across the country are holding critical projects in limbo as they await a resolution.”
While we wait for the government to give us back our climate grants, let’s take a moment to celebrate the avian species.
@cleoinstitute The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in North America, standing over five feet tall with a wingspan that can reach nearly seven feet. These herons are found across most of North America and are highly adaptable, living in freshwater and saltwater wetlands, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. In Florida, they commonly nest on mangrove islands and forage along tidal flats. Fun fact: The Great Blue Heron is one of the only herons in its genus that regularly hunts at night. They can also can swallow prey as large as small turtles or frogs whole! #WildlifeWednesday ♬ original sound – The CLEO Institute
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Courtney Vaughn
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