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GOOD MORNING, PORTLAND!👋
After a very stormy weekend, let’s relax into a drier (but still cloudy) start to the work week, with highs in the mid-50s through Tuesday, and popping off to 60 on Wednesday. And now let’s pop off with some NEWS.
IN LOCAL NEWS:
• Early Sunday morning, firefighters rushed to the home of Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos to extinguish a fire that burned her car, carport, and part of her home, in what officials are investigating as suspicious, and possibly arson. Thankfully, Avalos reports she and her cat, Valentino, escaped the blaze safely. Mayor Keith Wilson issued a statement offering support and security to the councilor who, both before and after the election, has been subject to repeated threats and online vitriol from right-wing extremists for her progressive policies. The fire brings to mind a similar incident from January 2024, when a car owned by the parents of then-Commissioner Rene Gonzalez was set ablaze outside his home. Avalos says she is thankful for the outpouring of support she’s received from friends, family, and supporters, as the investigation continues.
UPDATE 4 PM: After further review of the evidence, there seems to be less proof that the fire that engulfed Councilor Avalos’ car and damaged part of her home was due to arson—but it has not been completely ruled out. From a PPB press release:
At this time, investigators cannot definitively determine the exact cause of the fire. However, preliminary findings indicate that the fire did not originate in Councilor Avalos’ vehicle or other property belonging to her. The fire began in a storage shed adjacent to the residence, and Councilor Avalos and other nearby residents were affected by the spread of the fire. Furthermore, no evidence of an accelerant or incendiary device was found, and at this time, there is no evidence to suggest the fire was specifically targeting Councilor Avalos. Investigators are actively working to identify the person responsible and to determine a more specific cause.
We will continue to update this story as we get more information.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out with concern. Late last night, I woke up to my car, car port, and home engulfed in flames. I’m grateful for the quick response from Portland firefighters who prevented the fire from spreading even further.
— Councilor Candace Avalos (@counciloravalos.bsky.social) October 26, 2025 at 12:40 PM
• And the pause that’s keeping National Guard troops out of Portland continues today, after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals hit the brakes on Friday for any deployment of troops to Portland until Tuesday evening, October 28. The decision was made to allow the Ninth Circuit Court time to make a ruling deciding if they will rehear the fate of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Guard previously issued by Judge Karin Immergut. As you recall, that TRO was rudely slapped down by a three-person panel of judges (which included two Trumpers) who think King Fool’s plan is actually okay. (Narrator’s voice: It was not.) On Wednesday, when the emergency two-week TRO runs out, Judge Immergut is expected to hear arguments from the city and state on why Trump’s utterly nonsensical scheme is utter nonsense. That said, the legal finagling is expected to continue no matter what Immergut decides, as the issue will undoubtedly be appealed and inch its way eventually to the Supreme Court.
• Despite the rainy, blustery weather this weekend, more than 100 protesters showed up to Portland’s ICE facility on Saturday evening, where federal agents arrested at least one demonstrator and fired less-lethal munitions at the crowd. This weekend differed from earlier protests in that Portland Police ramped up enforcement of small infractions at the site, ordering demonstrators to remove tents and supplies that they say were blocking the sidewalk, and warning that in the coming days they would be enforcing low-level infractions such as public drinking and jaywalking. Police claim their sudden interest in enforcing such laws is not to aid ICE agents, but to abide by city rules, and Sunday morning a clean-up crew had swept any remaining supplies left by protesters.
THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1974) @ ENCHANTED FOREST. Turner, Oregon. May 2025.
— Louis H Gonzalez (@louishgonzalez.bsky.social) October 27, 2025 at 8:04 AM
• Hey! Is that ballot still sitting in your mail pile on the coffee table? Welp, since there’s only one question on it, you’ll be able to fill it out lickety-split with the Mercury‘s endorsement decision on the upcoming Portland Parks Levy. Sooooo… are we saying yes or no on the levy? Read it and find out! (Hint: It’s the opposite of what the consistently wrong Oregonian Editorial Board said. Surprise!)
• While our Portland Trail Blazers seem to be at least temporarily shook by the arrest of their head coach, Chauncey Billups, losing last night’s first road game against the LA Clippers 114-107, Blazer fans continue to show up and show out. Check out this photo essay from Corbin Smith that spotlights the fans and their hopes and dreams for the upcoming season.
Wake up, brain! 😲 It’s time for another super fun POP QUIZ PDX. In this week’s trivia challenge: a honkin’ HUGE No Kings march, paddling around in moist pumpkins, and look who’s throwing a party in ICE town! (See how well YOU score!) 🤓
— Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury.com) October 23, 2025 at 9:56 AM
IN NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS:
• Today in “well, that doesn’t sound suspicious, like, at all” news: The 79-year-old President Trump has admitted that doctors administered an MRI test (magnetic resonance imaging) earlier this month (after neglecting to mention it earlier), but said in a very unconvincing tone that the results were “perfect.” That diagnosis would seem to go against the bizarre ramblings that pop out of his mouth on a regular basis, but… surrrrrre, whatever you say. In nearly the same breath, the president also indicated that he would “love” to serve a third term, despite the fact that the constitution is like, “oh, hell NAW.” If his consistently swollen cankles and bruised hands are any indication, we’ll see if he can even make it that long.
President Donald Trump demanded on Monday that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) prove her intelligence by taking the “IQ test” he recently passed, seemingly unaware that he was actually describing a cognitive test for dementia.
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) October 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM
• Thanks to the Republicans’ continuing government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that they will not be releasing ANY federal food benefits on November 1, after Trump refused to tap $5 billion in emergency contingency funds that would’ve rescued the SNAP program. (However, construction of the $250 million Epstein Ballroom continues.) The decision is expected to severely impact hundreds of thousands of Oregonians alone—including poverty-stricken seniors, children, and vets—who depend on the benefits to stave off hunger. Once again it’s becoming increasingly clear that our state can no longer count on the federal government, and it’s up to us to help our own. If you are able, support your neighbors by donating to Oregon’s food banks and local mini food pantries.
SNAP, the country’s largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.
— NPR (@npr.org) October 27, 2025 at 6:37 AM
• Evacuations are underway for the citizens of Jamaica, which is in the direct path of the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. The country is expecting up to 30 inches (!!) of rain in the coming days, which will almost certainly leave the island’s residents without power and communications, and is being deemed by officials as “a catastrophic event” that could result in the strongest storm the country has ever seen.
• Two suspects were arrested over the weekend in the tantalizing case of the stolen crown jewels from the Louvre. DNA from the suspects was recovered from the museum after the heist, leading authorities to arrest the two who have a history of jewel thievery. Authorities say that more arrests are on the way, while the jewels have yet to be recovered.
• And finally… I am NOT saying this is how all trick-or-treaters should be greeted at the door, buuuuuuut… I’m not NOT saying it either.
@dazzawilko Happy Halloween 🎃 thoses kids will never do it again after this!! The way she says “Good Boy” 🤣🤣 #trickortreet #halloween2025🎃 ♬ original sound – DAZZA
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Wm. Steven Humphrey
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