OR court rules charges must be dismissed for those without public defender According to OPB, the Oregon supreme court ruled today that criminal charges against defendants must be dropped if the defendant cannot be provided with a public defender. This is a critical ruling in a state that faces a
One of the most common questions I'm asked when talking about Cascadia independence is: what exactly is included in Cascadia? I find there are two answers to that question. The first involves what we mean when we're talking about the Cascadia bioregion. This vast, interconnected web
Judge limits ICE use of force in Portland Several days after officers at Portland's ICE facility fired flashbangs, tear gas, and rubber bullets at a peaceful demonstration that included children, a federal judge placed limits on ICE use of crowd control munitions unless there is an imminent threat
One of the most common questions I'm asked when talking about Cascadia independence is: what exactly is included in Cascadia? I find there are two answers to that question. The first involves what we mean when we're talking about the Cascadia bioregion. This vast, interconnected web
It's been another terrible week in the United States as ICE continued its assault – no milder term seems adequate – on the city of Minneapolis. There are glimmers of hope after a general strike shut down the Twin Cities, Trump demoted Greg Bovino, the cos-playing CBP fascist, and national
As Washington and Oregon face numerous economic threats, including the real possibility of recession, disastrous flooding, continued wildfires, and massive cuts to the federal budget by the Trump administration, it's time to consider an idea that's been gaining traction in blue states hit hard by Trump&
Those who've been reading Cascadia Journal know that I support discussions about independence for Oregon and Washington as an escape plan from the US descent into fascism. Is this the best solution? I don't know. Would it be easy? Certainly not. Support Cascadia Journal But with
Sign up for the free newsletter One day after a crowd of protesters defied a raid by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in a Latino neighborhood of Minneapolis, and several days after another crowd shouting "Shame!" surrounded ICE agents attempting to detain people at two restaurants
Sign up for the free Cascadia Journal e-newsletter by Andrew Engelson, Drew Alcosser, and Brandon Letsinger Earlier this month, there was a pivotal moment in Donald Trump’s four-month attack on democracy and the rule of law in the United States. When asked by Meet The Press interviewer Kristen Welker
Observations on news, politics, and the arts in the Pacific Northwest.
DHS lied about Venezuelans shot by officers in Portland An investigative story today at the Guardian today reports that although the Department of Homeland Security initially tried to characterize two Venezuelans DHS officers shot in Portland – the day after the killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis – as "vicious"
ICE gasses children, elderly in Portland A peaceful, well-organized family-friendly march outside the ICE facility in Portland on Saturday turned to chaos as federal agents unleashed tear gas on the march, causing children and elderly people extreme pain and distress, the Portland Mercury reports. Local official quickly condemned the excessive
OR bill seeks to limit ICE access to hospitals In response to hospitals in the Portland area granting ICE access to patients in order to make arrests, Oregon state senator Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha) will introduce a bill in the legislature to regulate immigration operations in medical centers, Willamette Week reports.
It's been another terrible week in the United States as ICE continued its assault – no milder term seems adequate – on the city of Minneapolis. There are glimmers of hope after a general strike shut down the Twin Cities, Trump demoted Greg Bovino, the cos-playing CBP fascist, and national
WA senate passes mask ban & ICE still eyes Newport Washington State Standard reports that the Washington state senate passed a bill banning local, state, and federal police officer from obscuring their faces. No Republicans voted for the bill, which is expected to face legal challenges from the Trump administration.
Good morning! If you appreciate the feisty coverage of the Pacific Northwest you find in Cascadia Journal, please recommend this newsletter to a friend. And if you can, please consider a paid subscription of just $5 per month. It helps me continue to do this work. Thanks! --Andrew Support Cascadia
OR and WA move toward limits on ICE after another killing After the domestic terrorist squads known as ICE and CBP last week shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti– yet another peaceful monitor in Minneapolis– Washington governor Bob Ferguson and Oregon governor Tina Kotek denounced the feds' rampage
A bill pre-filed in the Oregon legislature would allow the governor to hold back money owed to the federal government if federal funds appropriated to Oregon are withheld by the US government in "contravention of a valid court order." The measure, whose primary sponsor is Rep Willy Chotzen
Dems seek to move OR gas tax vote to May Oregon's contentious transportation plan is again in limbo, with Democrats in the legislature seeking to move a ballot referendum on gas tax increases to the primary election in May, Oregon Capitol Chronicle reports. The hope is that they
OR bill would withhold payments to feds Cascadia Journal has received the text of a bill to be introduced in the Oregon legislature by Rep. Willy Chotzen (D-Portland) that would allow the state to not pay money due to the feds if the US government withholds funds "in contravention
WA Dems introduce bill to withhold federal payments A group of progressive Democrats in the Washington legislature this week, including Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-Redmond), introduced SB 6218, a bill "Directing the withholding of state payments to the federal government if federal funding is withheld due to the existence of
Many speak out against Ferguson's austerity budget Washington State Standard reports on hearings in the Washington state legislature last week over governor Bob Ferguson's proposed budget, which attempts to avoid raising taxes and cut services in order to deal with a $2.3 billion deficit. The
