It's time to break the news. This time, my news.
It's been an absolute privilege to spend 5.5 years with
@KATUNews
, in the city I call home.
Portland is where I grew up both as a kid & a journalist.
I'll miss telling stories in my hometown, but it's time for a new adventure.
Confirmed: Thomas Jefferson statue at Jefferson High School in Portland torn down. You can see the words “Slave Owner” painted where it once stood.
#statue
#LiveOnK2
#portlandprotest
#BREAKING
OREGON TO LIFT MASK MANDATE 3/19
This INCLUDES in schools. The state previously said it wouldn't make masking optional in schools prior to 3/31.
#LiveOnK2
Journalism means telling the whole story. You can’t accurately tell a story you know nothing about. That’s why we spend so much time interviewing people impacted (just as we did today before this incident). We had every right to be there/record.
Today I was w/
@OregonGovBrown
in person. I was hoping to get to ask her a few quick questions abt the DC incident, since Oregonians want answers/an explanation.
When I approached her, her team told me she wasn't taking questions. I asked one. Here's what happened:
#LiveOnK2
The Falcon 9 second stage from the Mar 4 Starlink launch failed to make a deorbit burn and is now reentering after 22 days in orbit. Its reentry was observed from the Seattle area at about 0400 UTC Mar 26.
This was a powerful moment from Duane Jones, responding to
@JoAnnPDX
: "In response the very intelligent woman who spoke on the people not representing her who violently protested, I would like to say they do represent me because they are overwhelmed."
#LiveOnK2
In today's city council meeting, she cited statistics that show as stark rise in shootings since June 2020. You'll remember, that's when city council voted to defund the police.
Here's some more data that shows the number of shootings for the first 1/2 of the year 2019 thru 2022.
We've called the race for
@RonWyden
. He wins re-election.
I asked him how he's feeling about the governor's race.
"I still feel we're going to prevail."
At
#abolishICEpdx
protest yesterday, KATU reporter
@GenevieveReaume
was viciously harassed & mocked on air by protesters. “Tacky ass heels, those are ugly as fuck...make your face look a little more appealing”
I have asked
@OregonGovBrown
's office repeatedly this month for an interview. No response.
When I showed up in Salem, her press team told me she wasn't taking questions.
Today, during the news conference, neither of the KATU reporters got to ask a question.
Here's our story:
JUST IN:
@PortlandPolice
arrested 29 people overnight during the demonstration outside the Penumbra Kelly Building in NE
#Portland
. Police say two of those arrested had loaded guns, others knives. Police declared it an unlawful assembly.
#PortlandProtest
#LiveOnK2
I know a lot of people have seen the tweets of Governor Brown at an event in DC. The photos of the event show nearly no one in a mask. DC does NOT have a mask mandate, but we know a LOT of Oregonians are upset and confused, as the Governor has been pushing indoor masking here.
Out here here at the so-called autonomous zone in Portland’s Pearl District and I spotted mayor Ted Wheeler out picking up trash. Keep in mind, demonstrators overtook this area because the mayor lives here.
#LiveOnK2
BRB… gotta go to BOSTON! 🤞🏻🥹🤞🏻
A dream 15 years in the making to qualify for the
@bostonmarathon
. Hit the qualifying mark today. Hoping to get that ticket for 2024.
@PDXMarathon
#pdxmarathon
INDOOR MASKING IN OREGON -- It's likely here to STAY.
Today,
@OHAOregon
worked with stakeholders (like those in the restaurant industry, business assoc., etc.) to discuss making the current indoor mask mandate permanent.
#LiveOnK2
BEAVERTON IN-N-OUT?
It's in the works, but neighbors are not pleased. They say it will bring in traffic that will exceed county and state maximums.
They also worry excited burger-seekers will overflow into their neighborhoods.
I’m going to put raw, emotional and, to some, difficult-to-watch video on KATU tonight.
We don’t normally do this, but we feel it’s vitally important we show the gun violence problem for what it is.
We want you to know Katie Guzenko. We want you to know he scar story.
MOLALLA RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTES TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL. This is the latest school district to openly defy the statewide mask mandate. Alsea did this back in January. Redmond voted to drop masks March 2nd. MRSD will make them optional March 3rd.
Anyway, here’s what my camera caught today. When I saw Ric getting surrounded, I took out my phone to record. Within seconds it gets knocked from my hand.
PORTLAND STREET RESPONSE:
@PDXStResponse
is answering a record number of calls. This comes as the program is seeing significant growth.
A year ago, PSR was still piloting in the Lents neighborhood with one 4-person team.
Now, it has 50+ employees and operates citywide.
Unbelievable. I was one of the first reporters to log into
@OregonGovBrown
's press conference, and I was the FIRST reporter to raise my hand for a question, yet I was never called on.
This was honestly hard for me to watch. Too many of us have been targeted for doing our jobs. We are journalists documenting important events. This is not okay.
.
@JoAnnPDX
also coming in very honest: "I have worked with 14 police chiefs and 8 police commissioners, and I can tell you today the culture of
@PortlandPolice
has never changed."
We need this honesty.
Plus, her response to Michael:
#LiveOnK2
It's time to trade high rises for the high desert.
I'll soon be joining
@CODaily
as the new weekday evening anchor.
It's a small market filled w/ incredible talent. I feel lucky to join the team.
Jordan, Oakley & I cannot wait to call Bend home.
Thank you, Portland.💛
Over the weekend, Gov. Brown was pictured at a gala in Washington, D.C. without a mask. Her political advisor says the governor "remained masked during the event except when giving her acceptance speech, eating, or taking pictures"
Here's our story from tonight:
#LiveOnK2
@OregonGovBrown
In fact, the governor's office didn't allow any KATU reporters to ask questions, while allowing other media outlets the time to ask several questions and follow ups.
I am back! Unsurprisingly, story content hasn't changed much since I've been gone. I am covering masking in Oregon.
The temporary indoor mask rule in Oregon expires tomorrow. As far as I can tell, it has yet to be officially adopted "permanently."
THOUGHTS? Want to interview?
Katie told Mayor Wheeler that his goal to cut shootings by 10%, "is an incredibly low target when comparing it to how much it’s increased."
She added: "Mayor, given that you’ve called us a gun violence emergency, I feel like very little as being done."
What hurts most is how little faith ppl have in journalism. I can honestly tell you I’m a fair, passionate journalist.
In tears, while telling my fiancé what happened, I made sure before I hung up the phone to remind him of my passion for journalism. I believe in what I do.
Hitting FIVE years at
@KATUNews
today.
I’ll never forget the opportunities this job has given me - so many within these walls but so many more outside.
Being home is the greatest gift.
Here's a part of her testimony that explains what happened after she was caught in the crossfire of what detectives tell her was likely a gang shooting.
She estimates it took 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. 20 minutes she bled from her face without proper medical help.
I will be on this call with the CDC today. Stay tuned for updates.
I will also be asking this of
@OHAOregon
:
Will OHA follow the CDC guidance, even if it doesn't align with OHA's current guidance?
#LiveOnK2
BREAKING: Some 70% of Americans will be able to remove their masks indoors, including inside schools, under new guidance to be released by the CDC today, two sources tell
@ABC
News.
This interview with
@planet4589
was absolutely FASCINATING! If you want to know what happened last night, and why that re-entry was hard to predict, give this interview a listen.
#LiveOnK2
Today we had a one-on-one interview with Mayor
@tedwheeler
. We discussed his plan to hold the people who've damaged this city accountable plus if Portland riots had any impact on a national level.
Part one of our story is coming up tonight
#LiveOnK2
at 6.
I went into broadcast journalism because I value the importance of video. We can bring scenes into your living room - for you to watch - and we give you the facts. This was our effort to show you what was behind the barricades. We stayed on public property.
EXCLUSIVE: A mom posted to FB, thanking a man who sat next to her son, Landon, on his first solo flight. Landon is 7 y.o. & has autism. Her post went viral bc while some may feel burdened by the situation, this man showed sincere kindness.
#LiveOnK2
#KindisBetter
#viral
I can’t get over this incredible weekend. The love of my life and high school sweetheart got hip deep in the snow to get down on one knee and then asked me for forever. Apparently, I didn’t actually say yes, just tackled him. It’s a yes. 100x over.
We’re happy to announce that Genevieve Reaume will be joining Central Oregon Daily News on the weeknight anchor desk starting in January.
Genevieve is a native Oregonian who has spent most of her career as a journalist in the Beaver State!
Quick break… and maybe even power nap… before I’m back to anchor the 11. It’s been a busy two days. Election Day - aka election week. Hang in there! Election workers are working so hard to tally all the votes! Results are coming.
#vote
@Emily_Pritt
Hi
@Emily_Pritt
- I am so sorry about what happened. I also ran HTC this year. I also happen to be a local reporter in Portland. Would you DM me please?
"It will be disciplined... those people are not going to be around."
What a relief -- Thank you Maggie (not even from my station!) for asking about this. I really appreciated this man's response. Glad to know they are taking action within the group.
Can't stop thinking about what happened to
@GenevieveReaume
&
@RPeavyhouse
yesterday.
No journalist should EVER be injured/intimidated for doing their jobs.
Here's what happened today when I asked an activist at the Red House protest to condemn it. Because there is no excuse.
My heart! Sweet “Pixie” is 2 months old. She was abandoned along with her litter mates. She’s a curious, cuddly, bundle of cuteness 🐈⬛.
Find her and her siblings
@bendhumane
.
In the past 24 hours there have been four shootings (at least) in Portland. Two of those, both in Old Town, have been deadly.
Here are times/places:
8:47pm – N Lombard and Philadelphia
10:05 pm – NW 6th and Burnside
10:43 am – SE 97th and Powell
11:53 am – NW Naito and Burnside
Another heart-sinking video. This is from Dillon Zwicker. He took the video while driving through Mehama. He’s driving by Gene’s Meat Market, which has burned to the ground.
#LiveOnK2
"You have to have leaders who are willing to come out of their homes, come out of hiding, and be in the places where they were elected to be."
As Portland emerges from the pandemic, there's new pressure to get city leaders back into downtown Portland.
#LiveOnK2
This is Kevin McDowell with his niece, who he adored.
Tonight
#LiveOnK2
we are hearing from those who knew Kevin.
He died trying to help a struggling swimmer in the Columbia.
He was a loved member of the
#Portland
community.
I’ve hit my capacity, no more apostrophe catastrophe!!!
Stop adding an ‘
Just stop it!
May your holiday cards be free of possessive casualties…
#grammar
Late this afternoon I did get answers to 3 Qs (see video above) I emailed the governor's office. The answers were from Gov. Brown's staff, though. That's not the same as getting to ask the governor a question and hearing her response.
THOSE ANSWERS:
I am nearly speechless.
@FowlerSarah
, I am having a difficult time expressing my gratitude. Thank you so much.
Sarah took the time (& $) 2 send me 💐. We’ve never met, as she lives in Miss., but I can tell she’s a beyond great person & passionate journalist. We need more of her!
Salt & Straw considers pulling HQ out of PDX:
Me: "
@saltandstraw
right now is considering potentially leaving Portland, removing the headquarters from the downtown area. What led up to this decision?"
Kim Malek, S&S co-founder/CEO, "Yeah, it's hard to even hear those words."
RAW HAPPINESS! Let me tell you why I love
#PDX
(& my bf). Arrived
@flypdx
@ 12. Realized I forgot ID. BF rushed to my apt. He arrived @ PDX @ 12:40. Gate closed at 12:50. Basically EVERYONE let me cut them in security. I made my flight by 2 min! THANK YOU!!
#kindisbetter
#LiveOnK2
JUST IN:
@PPSConnect
says starting March first it'll make *outdoor* masking optional.
The district will also RESUME school dances & overnight fields trips.
The district has yet to make a decision on indoor masking.
#LiveOnK2
Wow. This is truly like nothing I’ve ever seen. You’d think this was a time lapse during sunset.
This was taken around 7:30 this morning driving south on I-5.
I believe I started the video north of Wilsonville and ended it north of Woodburn.
#LiveOnK2
#BeachieCreekFire
From a pandemic to protests, marriage to a puppy, PDX has brought me great challenges & even sweeter rewards.
I'll forever be thankful.
I was 24 (⬇️) when I walked into this market on a temp contract, hoping to prove to PDX I could hang here.
Thanks for believing in me.
There will be video of blood and of Katie in horror shortly after she was shot while driving.
There will be a "Bull Shit" that runs without a beep in our newscasts.
What we will show is real because you deserve to understand the story as reporters see it on the ground.
This is a huge honor.
@kindisbetter
is my heart and soul
@KATUNews
.
I’m so lucky to be on the team.
Major shoutout to KATU for letting us tell these important, challenging, uncomfortable, emotional & real stories.
#LiveOnK2
#NWEmmys
Yes -- that may sound alarming. Here's what you need to know about it:
-The current rule is temporary. It can't be in place more than 180 days.
-Making the rule permanent allows the state to keep the rule.
-The rule can be repealed.
#LiveOnK2
UPDATE (kind of): I just wanted to let you all know that I have emailed both
@OHAOregon
and
@OregonSOS
trying to figure out where all the masking rules stand/what happens tomorrow. I have yet to get a response from either agency.
The memorial for Kevin McDowell, the man who drowned while saving a struggling swimmer in the Columbia River, is finally happening tomorrow.
His family tells me it will be at the Washington Park Amphitheater. They'll start seating people around 5pm.
"I just reached a point in my life and in my political career where I don’t think it’s worth it for us to bullshit people."
Mayor Wheeler was frank in his response to Katie, explaining his goal to cut shootings by 10% in 2 years.