PORTLAND, Ore. — 2023 proved a challenging year for many. Here are the top headlines that Oregonians and Portlanders kept up with the most, in no particular order:
Deaths of four Oregon women linked
Between February and May, four women — Kristin Smith, Charity Perry, Bridget Webster and Ashley Real — were all found dead in mostly rural locations around Portland.
Portland police previously said in early June that they had no reason to believe the cases were connected. In July, the Associated Press, The Oregonian and Willamette Week all cited law enforcement sources who identified Jesse Calhoun as a person of interest.
Calhoun had a lengthy criminal history, which included physically abusing women, and was released from prison a year early in 2021 when he received clemency from then-Gov. Kate Brown.
Police have not disclosed publicly how the cases may be connected, except to say at least one person of interest is linked to all four of the victims. The Multnomah County District Attorney's office has not officially named a person of interest.
Calhoun has not been charged in any of the deaths. He's currently being held at Snake River Correctional Institution in eastern Oregon on charges unrelated to the women's deaths, but wrote to KGW from jail, claiming he's "no killer."
Oregon GOP lawmakers' Legislature walkout was the longest in state history
Beginning in May, Senate Republicans in Oregon refused to show up for work.
They called the action "a constitutional protest" over what they claimed were violations of Senate rules, while Democrats accused the Republicans of walking out over opposition to two bills that were about to go before the Senate, bills that focused on abortion and gender-affirming care and gun safety.
Although a fairly common occurrence for GOP lawmakers in Oregon, this particular one went on for six weeks, stalling Senate business with hundreds of bills on the line. The standoff ended in June, marking the end of the longest legislative walkout in state history and the second-longest in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press.
Measure 113 came into the mix. An amendment to the state constitution, approved by voters last November, penalized lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences by forbidding them from running for reelection in the following term. During the walkout, Republicans signaled that they intended to challenge the legality of Measure 113, pouncing on ambiguities in the measure's language that were not present in the explanatory statement provided to voters. However, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade determined that the measure should be interpreted as it was intended.
Recently, a Republican state senator, Lynn Findley, who is suing the Oregon Secretary of State after being barred from running for reelection in 2024, announced that he does not plan to run for the office next year. Findley (R-Vale) is one of five GOP senators behind a lawsuit expected to go before the Oregon Supreme Court.
Lawyers for the group of senators and the Secretary of State presented their arguments to the state supreme court in mid-December. Said senators are challenging the Secretary of State’s ruling that they should be barred from the upcoming term after accruing 10 or more unexcused absences during the 2023 walkout.
A federal judge rejected a request from the senators who boycotted the Legislature to be allowed on the ballot after their terms end; however, the federal case is separate from a lawsuit currently before the Oregon Supreme Court.
Winter takes Portland-Vancouver area by storm in February
Record levels of late-season snowfall took Portland by surprise, causing the airport's runways to be gridlocked, along with school closures, power outages and backups on Interstate 5, with drivers even abandoning their vehicles as conditions escalated. Those drivers later found themselves stuck with a hefty towing bill or found their vehicles a target of vandalism and break-ins.
At the time, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) said the agency was operating at a disadvantage due to a staff shortage that slowed down the pace of road clearance. Throughout October, ODOT began claiming it would not have the funds to keep roads up to the standards of prior years, pointing to a decline in fuel tax revenue. But recently, Gov. Kotek announced a $19 million bailout from the Oregon Legislature to fund ODOT winter maintenance.
Mass-sanctioned campsites and RV parks open for those experiencing homelessness
Portland continues to grapple with the housing crisis, with many unable to find a permanent place and remaining on the street, a dangerous circumstance for women in particular. In an effort to combat this, the city decided to launch several projects.
Portland’s first RV park for homeless people opened in August, with another in September.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced two mass-sanctioned campsites. The first campsite opened in late July, but due to the need for a referral to get in, many found it difficult to actually find a space to live. The second location in North Portland is known for its long history of industrial use — and thus, still needs to be tested for toxic chemicals.
A daytime camping ban began in July, and Wheeler later drew fire for unexpectedly proposing its enforcement in November, which was blocked by a judge. Portland crews also removed 1,408 homeless campsites under ADA lawsuit settlement.
Meanwhile, Wheeler and Multnomah County leaders unveiled a concept for a three-year extension of the Joint Office of Homeless Services that they hope will get things on the right track to combat homelessness between the counties.
Legacy Good Samaritan hospital goes on lockdown during shooting
In July, a gunman killed a security officer, Bobby Smallwood, and injured a hospital employee in a shooting at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland. A few hours after fleeing the medical center, he was stopped in a vehicle by police in Gresham, and during the stop, the suspect was shot and killed after officers opened fire.
Gresham police later confirmed the man's identity as PoniaX Kane Calles, previously known as Reginald Kane Jackson; he had reportedly threatened hospital staff in the days before the shooting and had a long history of domestic violence. A friend of Calles told KGW that he agreed to give the man a ride to Gresham on Saturday, saying he didn't realize Calles was a shooting suspect until police caught up with them.
A Multnomah County grand jury later determined that the officers' use of force was not criminal under Oregon law in fatally shooting Calles.
Plane diverted to PDX after off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot attempts to cut engines
A flight bound for San Francisco from Everett, Washington, had to be diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX) after an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, attempted to "disrupt the operation of the engines" on Oct. 22. Emerson had been riding in the cockpit as an Alaska Airlines off-duty pilot. He was subdued by the flight crew, and the plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board.
According to charging documents, Emerson told Port of Portland police following his arrest that he had been struggling with depression, that a friend had recently died and that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he attempted to cut the engines. He also said he had not slept in more than 40 hours, according to the document. The averted disaster renewed attention on cockpit safety and the mental fitness of those allowed in them.
Emerson's defense argues that he didn't intend to hurt anyone, but passengers that were onboard filed a class-action lawsuit against the airlines, claiming that the failure to prevent Emerson from being in the cockpit breached a duty of care to its passengers.
Emerson was released from federal and state custody to await his trial. His charges include state reckless endangerment charges and a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.
Portland teachers launch historic strike
Educators from across the district's 81 schools began their strike on Nov. 1, citing a laundry list of demands that went unresolved in contract negotiations beginning early this year — chief among them teacher salaries, class sizes and planning time. Educators sounded off over poor building conditions and the lack of qualified mental health help for students.
Schools closed, and that, coupled with sporadic updates, left some parents frustrated. Many students and community members came out in support for teachers, including some who went through a similar strike in 2014 who urged teachers to hold the line. Tensions often came to a head. Finally, the district and the teachers union agreed to a deal after nearly four full weeks.
The strike had lasting ripple effects throughout the state, with teachers from other districts sounding off on Oregon's funding system for K-12 public schools and Gov. Kotek vowing to reexamine the process. The missing classroom days will still have to be recouped, with PPS's winter break cut in half and more in 2024.
Downtown Portland businesses and storefronts close amid shoplifting, crime streak
Thieves and vandalism have disheartened many Portland-area business owners, from Washington Square to neighborhoods around the city, leading them to not renew leases or shut down altogether.
REI's only Portland storefront, for instance, cited concerns over safety and an increase in crime over the past few years as reasons for its closure. Nike abandoned its efforts to reopen its long-shuttered community store in Northeast Portland, after offering to directly pay for dedicated police support to reopen. From frequent break-ins to cars being stolen off lots, many were and are still fed up. The pandemic didn't help, either.
An Oregon bill cracking down on retail theft was signed in May, and businesses such as Fred Meyer have upped their security. Meanwhile, leaders are trying to revitalize downtown Portland, from asking workers to come back to the office, increasing police patrols to combat holiday retail theft and creating a new task force. What remains to be seen is if downtown can recover.
Gun control Measure 114 passes — but still has court battles ahead
Narrowly passed by voters in 2022, Measure 114 called for stricter gun laws in Oregon. It required a police-issued, five-year permit and a federal criminal background check on all gun purchases, as well as required gun safety training. It also banned the sale of magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
For months, it had been tied up in state and federal courts.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ruled that Measure 114 is lawful under the U.S. Constitution, finding that large-capacity magazines are not commonly used for self-defense and a permit-to-purchase system is constitutional. That ruling is being appealed.
But much later in the year, a Harney County Circuit Court judge then permanently blocked Oregon from enforcing Measure 114, saying that it infringes on the right to bear arms under the state constitution. The ruling will prevent the gun control measure from taking effect, but the state said it will file an appeal.
Be on the lookout as Measure 114 faces another legal battle in the state Supreme Court.
Portland Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard to Milwaukie Bucks
Right before NBA training camps opened, the Portland Trail Blazers finally granted Damian Lillard's trade request after nearly three months, agreeing to deal him to the Milwaukee Bucks in a blockbuster three-team trade. In return, the Blazers landed Jrue Holiday, DeAndre Ayton, Toumani Camara, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and unprotected first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 from the Bucks.
Days later, the Blazers traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, a 2024 top-four protected pick from the Golden State Warriors (via the Celtics) and a 2029 unprotected first-round pick from Boston.
The flurry of trades marked the end of an era for the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard had played the first 11 seasons of his career in Portland and was the franchise's all-time leading scorer. He was viewed by many as the best player in franchise history.
Cries from the heart emerged: from high schoolers impacted by Lillard's work in the community to the Blazers' ever-loyal fan base. It heralded the start of what looks like a multi-year rebuild for the Blazers, built on the foundation of exciting young players like Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, along with Portland's growing treasure chest of draft picks.
