Your trusted source for local Portland, OR news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
Portland will expand its overnight homeless shelters in 2025, emphasizing community engagement and safety. The initiative includes a proactive plan for neighborhood support and accountability from shelter operators. Mayor Keith Wilson stated that the city aims to restore dignity and improve livability for all residents.
Jeff Gianola, a veteran news anchor at KOIN-TV, announced his retirement after 43 years in the industry. He began his career at KATU News in 1983 and has been with KOIN since 1998. Gianola plans to reflect on his career with a series of retrospective pieces.
Damian Lillard returned to the Portland Trail Blazers on July 21, 2025, after spending two years with the Milwaukee Bucks. The nine-time All-Star expressed his joy in coming back home, despite facing rehabilitation from a torn Achilles tendon. Lillard will likely not play next season but aims to mentor younger teammates during his recovery.
Members of the Syrian American community in Portland mourn loved ones lost in violent clashes in Sweida, Syria. The conflict has resulted in mass casualties and threats to Druze and Christian populations, prompting calls for international intervention to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those affected.
A Portland man, Shaun Szwarz, faces 18 new charges, including three counts of first-degree bias crime, related to a four-alarm fire he allegedly started. Prosecutors claim he targeted non-white neighbors, with one victim recounting the terrifying experience of escaping the blaze. Szwarz has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for arraignment on the new charges.
Portland Permitting & Development launched updated dashboards to improve transparency in the permit review process. The new tools provide insights into permit timelines and types since 2020, aiding City leaders in identifying areas for enhancement. Data updates occur weekly, promoting a partnership between the City and customers.
A Chicago woman, Surah Amon, faces charges of first-degree murder after allegedly drowning her 1-year-old son in Lake Michigan. Police found Amon in the water on Friday night, and the boy later died at Comer Children's Hospital. Amon's sister had previously called for a mental health team, citing concerns about her sister's well-being.
Bill Cosby expressed deep sorrow over the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played his son on “The Cosby Show.” Cosby’s representative shared that Warner's passing reminded him of the loss of his own son, Ennis, and emphasized the impact Warner had on young men through his role. Warner, who died at 54 after drowning in Costa Rica, was a beloved figure in television history.
A federal judge sentenced former Kentucky police officer Brett Hankison to nearly three years in prison for excessive force during the 2020 Breonna Taylor raid. Despite a Justice Department recommendation for no prison time, U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings emphasized the seriousness of Hankison's actions, which sparked nationwide protests against police brutality.
Portland's Water Bureau spent approximately $80 million during a construction pause at a $2.1 billion water filtration site due to a legal appeal. The project, which aims to treat water from the Bull Run watershed, has seen costs soar from an estimated $500 million in 2017. City officials express optimism about resuming construction amid ongoing community opposition.