Good Morning, News: Councilor Wants a Gun at City Hall, No Consequences for Zenith Energy, New Dame D.O.L.L.A. (Sunglasses), and Dude, Where's My Tariffs?

"If you appreciate the Mercury's interesting and useful news & culture reporting, consider making a small monthly contribution to support our editorial team. Your donation is tax-deductible. You can also subscribe and have our papers delivered! Good Morning, Portland: There's too much news to read this morning. It's cold out. Grab a coffee, put your feet up, and check this out. (Tell your boss I said it's cool for you to start late.)"

"After a group of protestors disrupted a City Council meeting on Wednesday, District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith told OPB she drafted a city ordinance to allow councilors to open carry (yeah, a gun) while they're conducting city business. Ahem, what!? Protestors had disrupted the meeting to demand the Council revoke a permit for the local Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. (That whole thing gets a little complicated because it is land use law, but, there isn't exactly a specific permit that just allows ICE to gestapo out of that building; even if there was, the Council wouldn't be the place for that action; there is a way a trial of sorts could end up at the Council, but that would be a later part of the process; and the city is currently doing an investigation as part of that process; and the Council does in fact work on policy that is in their control, like trying to allocate millions of dollars in rent assistance for immigrants, refugees, and homeless Portlanders). All that aside, the idea that bringing a biscuit to City Hall would be helpful is quite dangerous, even as a hypothetical. Read more at OPB here."

Tax-deductible monthly contributions and subscriptions are available. Morning note notes abundant news and cold weather. District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith drafted an ordinance to allow councilors to open carry firearms during city business after protestors disrupted a City Council meeting demanding revocation of an ICE facility permit. Land-use law complicates immediate council action, and the city is conducting an investigation while the Council focuses on policy measures such as allocating rent assistance for immigrants, refugees, and homeless Portlanders. The police union reacted angrily and appeared ineffective at de-escalation. The Waterfront Blues Festival returns July 2–4, 2026, with national and local performers.

Read at Portland Mercury