Good morning, Northwest.
Recent protests in Portland have taken an unexpected turn after several demonstrators arrested by federal officers were reportedly booked not in Oregon, but across the river in Washington. The move has sparked confusion among local officials in Clark County, who are now questioning why federal authorities transported the detainees across state lines.
Portland Protesters Held in Vancouver Jail
Earlier this month, three protesters — including a clarinet player — were detained during a demonstration outside Portland’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Instead of being booked into a local Oregon jail, they were taken to the Clark County Jail in Vancouver, Washington.
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The decision has puzzled Clark County leaders, who say they were unaware of any formal arrangement allowing federal officers to house detainees there. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reporter Erik Neumann, local officials are now reviewing the legal and logistical reasons behind the transfer.
Under Washington state law, county jails are required to hold individuals arrested by federal authorities if space is available. However, Clark County currently does not maintain a contract with the U.S. Marshals Service — the federal agency typically responsible for handling such detainees. Without such a contract, the county cannot receive reimbursement for housing federal arrestees.
This has left county leaders wondering why federal officials chose their facility and how often similar cross-state detentions have occurred. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between federal and local jurisdictions when it comes to protests, immigration enforcement, and detention procedures.
Chauncey Billups Appears in Court After FBI Arrest
In a separate development, Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups made his first court appearance Thursday after being arrested by the FBI in connection with an alleged illegal gambling ring.
Billups was one of more than 30 individuals taken into custody as part of the wide-ranging federal investigation. Following his arrest, the Trail Blazers announced that assistant coach Tiago Splitter will serve as interim head coach.
Despite the turmoil, the Blazers plan to continue their regular season tonight, facing off against the Golden State Warriors. The organization has not yet commented publicly on how long Splitter will remain in the interim role or whether Billups will be allowed to return pending legal proceedings.
Broader Political and Economic Updates
Here are three key developments to watch this Friday morning:
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Trail Blazers Turmoil – The arrest of head coach Chauncey Billups and others has shocked fans and the sports community. The FBI investigation centers on alleged illegal betting activity that may have involved both professional and amateur sporting events.
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Oregon’s Closed Primaries Debate – Advocates in Oregon are once again pushing to open the state’s primary elections to unaffiliated voters. Currently, only registered Democrats and Republicans can participate in their respective party primaries. Reform supporters believe the change would make elections more inclusive and better reflect the state’s growing number of independent voters.
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Federal Shutdown Impacts Oregon Workers – Roughly 10,000 federal employees in Oregon are expected to miss their first full paycheck today due to the ongoing government shutdown. Economists warn that the financial strain could be particularly severe in rural areas, where federal jobs play a larger role in local economies.
