🐉💗💡 Your guide to Portland in February

$500 Million Needed for Behavioral Health Care

Oregon needs a $500 million investment over the next five years to have adequate treatment options for people with mental health and drug addiction problems — according to a new Oregon Health Authority analysis. Specifically, the investment would fund 3,000 more residential beds for behavioral health, beyond the 4,800 that already exist. [OPB]

2 Officers Officially Not Credible

The Multnomah County District Attorney has added two Portland police officers to the Brady List, a database of law enforcement officials whose credibility as witnesses is questionable. The two officers added to the list leaked false information in 2021 — that former City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty was a driver in a hit-and-run. [Willamette Week]

No Reelection After Walkout

In a unanimous ruling, the Oregon Supreme Court has decided that the 10 Republican state senators who participated in last year’s walkout cannot run for reelection. Measure 113 aimed to halt walkouts by barring legislators with 10 unexcused absences from running for reelection. Republicans had sought to challenge Measure 113, citing ambiguous wording. [Oregonian]

Fentanyl State of Emergency

On this week’s news round-up, Gov. Tina Kotek officially declared a state of emergency for fentanyl. That means city, county, and state officials will closely coordinate on referring people to addiction services and enforcing the prohibition on drug dealing. But there’s no new funding or measurable goals. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

McMenamins in Hot Water, A 90-Day Fentanyl Crackdown, and MLB in Beaverton?

McMenamins faces a federal investigation into its tip-sharing practices. The new potential site for an MLB ballpark is in the suburbs. And the governor declared a 90-day fentanyl state of emergency. Comedian Julia Corral discusses this week’s news with City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza and executive producer John Notarianni.