Courtney Vaughn
@courtneyvaughn.bsky.social
Portland Mercury news editor. 🗞️ Got a tip? cvaughn @ portlandmercury.com
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
Portland is setting up a new, more powerful police accountability office approved by voters in 2020. Whether current staff will be guaranteed jobs under the new structure is central to ongoing labor negotiations, and the dividing lines at City Hall are getting complicated.
City Council Caught in the Middle of Police Oversight Labor Strike
Staff at Portland's Independent Police Review (IPR) typically work out of a ground-level office at City Hall, but on Wednesday afternoon, they were setting up tents just feet from where they normally ...
www.portlandmercury.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Portland is setting up a new, more powerful police accountability office approved by voters in 2020. Whether current staff will be guaranteed jobs under the new structure is central to ongoing labor negotiations, and the dividing lines at City Hall are getting complicated.
Portland Police arrested a suspect who they say started the fire that spread to the home of City Councilor Candace Avalos. PPB says a man was trying to use an electrical outlet in a shed, then started a fire to stay warm when the outlet didn't work.
November 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Portland Police arrested a suspect who they say started the fire that spread to the home of City Councilor Candace Avalos. PPB says a man was trying to use an electrical outlet in a shed, then started a fire to stay warm when the outlet didn't work.
Judge Immergut is essentially buying more time to review all the evidence submitted during the trial. Says she wants to be thorough before issuing a final ruling.
US District Judge Karin Immergut said she is still reviewing all the exhibits and evidence presented during a three-day trial that wrapped up Friday. She issued a preliminary injunction blocking National Guard deployment until a final ruling is issued November 7.
Judge: No National Guard in Oregon, For Now.
A preliminary injunction blocking the federal government from deploying National Guard troops to Oregon will remain in effect until November 7. The injunction was issued Sunday evening, November 2 by ...
www.portlandmercury.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Judge Immergut is essentially buying more time to review all the evidence submitted during the trial. Says she wants to be thorough before issuing a final ruling.
Judges, upon reading US DOJ claims of violence and assaults on fed officers by protesters, while simultaneously watching videos of dancing, inflatable frogs.
October 29, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Judges, upon reading US DOJ claims of violence and assaults on fed officers by protesters, while simultaneously watching videos of dancing, inflatable frogs.
Please no more updates this weekend. We are so tired.
UPDATE: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has paused any deployment of National Guard troops to Portland until Tuesday evening, October 28. The order was issued as a decision was pending from a different court on whether out-of-state troops could deploy to Portland.
UPDATE: National Guard Deployment Paused Again in Oregon, as Appellate Judges Decide How to Proceed
Updated: 5:44 pm October 24. Originally published 2:04 pm October 24. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has paused any deployment of National Guard troops to Portland until Tuesday evening, October 28....
www.portlandmercury.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Please no more updates this weekend. We are so tired.
As Oregonians wait to find out if Monday's 9th Circuit Appeals Court ruling re: National Guard will be re-heard by a full panel of judges, US District Judge Karin Immergut promises a decision on whether she'll dissolve the 2nd TRO, at fed gov't's request, "by Monday, if not before."
October 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
As Oregonians wait to find out if Monday's 9th Circuit Appeals Court ruling re: National Guard will be re-heard by a full panel of judges, US District Judge Karin Immergut promises a decision on whether she'll dissolve the 2nd TRO, at fed gov't's request, "by Monday, if not before."
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
Much of the discussion in court centered on the question of how dangerous recent protests in Portland have been and whether they constitute a “rebellion,” with the state and the federal government taking drastically divergent positions.
Appeals Court Rules National Guard Can Be Deployed to Portland
The US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled Monday that President Donald Trump can deploy the National Guard in Portland, lifting a temporary restraining order blocking the deployment and paving...
www.portlandmercury.com
October 20, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Much of the discussion in court centered on the question of how dangerous recent protests in Portland have been and whether they constitute a “rebellion,” with the state and the federal government taking drastically divergent positions.
Follow Suzette for updates
ICE agents at Portland’s ICE facility just rocked S Bancroft with about ten solid minutes of tear gas, pepper bullets, and flash bang grenades.
October 19, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Follow Suzette for updates
Rain hasn't deterred people gathered at ICE. Sidewalks are full and so are the costumes.
October 19, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Rain hasn't deterred people gathered at ICE. Sidewalks are full and so are the costumes.
Crowd size at the ICE facility in S. Portland is growing. Many people came here from today's No Kings March. About 12-20 federal officers are planted on the roof, surveiling the scene. DHS agents fired off teargas at least twice this afternoon/evening. Things just feel like a chaotic parade now.
October 19, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Crowd size at the ICE facility in S. Portland is growing. Many people came here from today's No Kings March. About 12-20 federal officers are planted on the roof, surveiling the scene. DHS agents fired off teargas at least twice this afternoon/evening. Things just feel like a chaotic parade now.
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
My most recent piece in the Mercury w/ @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social covers what all happened at the ICE facility last Saturday and what to expect going forward.
Shortly before 9 pm, Department of Homeland Security agents were seen shoving a protester to the ground while trying to clear the driveway so vehicles could exit the ICE facility. Another was shoved immediately afterward, and shot with pepper balls. Later, tear gas blanketed the block.
A Night of Terror: Civil Disobedience Met With Extreme Force at Portland ICE Facility
Portland’s protest antics have made national headlines in the past week. The chicken suit; the giant inflatable frog; and the growing flurry of other inflatable animal costumes have put a spotlight on...
www.portlandmercury.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:51 AM
My most recent piece in the Mercury w/ @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social covers what all happened at the ICE facility last Saturday and what to expect going forward.
Sounds like federal agents are targeting press and others trying to film them.
Feds shot a member of the press, John Rudoff, in the arm with a pepper ball. My ears are still ringing.
October 12, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Sounds like federal agents are targeting press and others trying to film them.
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
Massive escalation at the Portland ICE facility. Worst I’ve ever seen. More pepper balls than I can count. Teargas in the middle of crowd. Violent arrests. Some type of either noise or rubber bullet shotgun fired into the air then later aimed at protesters chests/heads at near point blank range.
October 12, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Massive escalation at the Portland ICE facility. Worst I’ve ever seen. More pepper balls than I can count. Teargas in the middle of crowd. Violent arrests. Some type of either noise or rubber bullet shotgun fired into the air then later aimed at protesters chests/heads at near point blank range.
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
LAWSUIT UPDATE RE: NATIONAL GUARD IN PORTLAND: The Ninth Circuit just granted an administrative stay preserving the status quo: the Oregon National Guard remains federalized but the president cannot deploy them.
We'll share more updates as we have them.
We'll share more updates as we have them.
October 8, 2025 at 9:14 PM
LAWSUIT UPDATE RE: NATIONAL GUARD IN PORTLAND: The Ninth Circuit just granted an administrative stay preserving the status quo: the Oregon National Guard remains federalized but the president cannot deploy them.
We'll share more updates as we have them.
We'll share more updates as we have them.
“In Portland ... some of the ICE officers were telling me that as they drove by the rioters that were saying “kill ICE agents” "Molotov cocktails melt ICE," that the Portland Police were cheering them on and had their fists in the air..." Kristi Noem tells Trump.
thehill.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
“In Portland ... some of the ICE officers were telling me that as they drove by the rioters that were saying “kill ICE agents” "Molotov cocktails melt ICE," that the Portland Police were cheering them on and had their fists in the air..." Kristi Noem tells Trump.
It's giving ... Talladega Nights
October 8, 2025 at 5:45 AM
It's giving ... Talladega Nights
Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.
October 8, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.
Just spoke to a family who had an immigration appointment at the ICE facility and were turned away; told to call and reschedule. A volunteer I spoke to is distributing pamphlets w/legal resources. Says dozens of ppl were cleared from the bldg earlier, as streets were being cleared for Noem's visit.
October 7, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Just spoke to a family who had an immigration appointment at the ICE facility and were turned away; told to call and reschedule. A volunteer I spoke to is distributing pamphlets w/legal resources. Says dozens of ppl were cleared from the bldg earlier, as streets were being cleared for Noem's visit.
Residents of apartments surrounding the ICE facility say they can't get vehicles in or out and got no warning that the streets would be closed off.
October 7, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Residents of apartments surrounding the ICE facility say they can't get vehicles in or out and got no warning that the streets would be closed off.
Waiting for more info, but Portland Police Bureau has S Bancroft St blocked off, presumably in anticipation of Kristi Noem's visit to the ICE facility.
October 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Waiting for more info, but Portland Police Bureau has S Bancroft St blocked off, presumably in anticipation of Kristi Noem's visit to the ICE facility.
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Republicans post fake image of Oregon protest – using photos of South America
A federal judge had blocked Trump’s request to deploy California national guard to Portland
www.theguardian.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:25 AM
The Oregon Republican Party tried to help Donald Trump make the case for military intervention in Portland with an image of a fiery protest — but since Portland is calm, they had to fabricate one by merging old photos of police in Ecuador and protesters in Brazil www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Robert Taylor is not f*ckng around.
In response to an investigation launched by the federal government into the Portland Police Bureau’s policing practices at the local ICE facility, the city attorney shot back, laying out a pattern of excessive force used on protesters, and favoritism toward conservative streamers by federal police.
Portland City Attorney to US DOJ: “Please Do Not Fail America”
Portland’s city attorney says federal police are brutalizing protesters, and the government is weaponizing its longstanding settlement agreement with the city. In response to an investigation launched...
www.portlandmercury.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Robert Taylor is not f*ckng around.
The order applies to National Guard troops from any state.
On Sunday evening, US District Judge Karin Immergut issued a second restraining order after Trump sent California National Guard troops to Oregon, in an attempt to circumvent the courts. The day prior, Immergut ruled that deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon was unconstitutional.
Judge Once Again Denies Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard in Oregon
Less than 24 hours after a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order to prevent the deployment of Oregon’s National Guard to Portland, the same judge issued an additional restraining order t...
www.portlandmercury.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:03 AM
The order applies to National Guard troops from any state.
Reposted by Courtney Vaughn
Apparently inspired by yesterday's embarrassing loss in court, Trump has ordered California Gov. Gavin Newsom to send 300 of that state's National Guard members to Portland. Oregon Gov. Kotek says 100 have already arrived, while at the ICE facility, federal agents are growing more violent.
Frustrated by Court Loss, Trump Sends 300 California National Guard Troops to Portland
After a federal judge on Saturday batted down the Trump administration's attempt to deploy 200 Oregon National Guard members to Portland, this morning (Sunday, October 5) California Governor Gavin New...
www.portlandmercury.com
October 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Apparently inspired by yesterday's embarrassing loss in court, Trump has ordered California Gov. Gavin Newsom to send 300 of that state's National Guard members to Portland. Oregon Gov. Kotek says 100 have already arrived, while at the ICE facility, federal agents are growing more violent.
Veterans & supporters gathered at Portland City Hall, urging active-duty service members to disobey any orders to deploy to American cities. "You do not need to follow unlawful orders...you have an obligation to defect from a military that is no longer functioning in the interests of its people."
October 5, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Veterans & supporters gathered at Portland City Hall, urging active-duty service members to disobey any orders to deploy to American cities. "You do not need to follow unlawful orders...you have an obligation to defect from a military that is no longer functioning in the interests of its people."