West
'Endless revolving door': Blue state will recriminalize drugs, but one key official is looking for a loophole
Less than three months before Oregon is set to recriminalize drug possession, a handful of Portland-area leaders are drafting a plan in closed-door meetings that critics argue would largely maintain the status quo in the state’s most populous county.
“I think the assumption by most people was this was actually going to lead to people actually getting access to treatment as an alternative to arrest, but if they didn’t want treatment, they were going to be arrested,” Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards told KOIN 6 News.
Instead, the proposal, which has not yet been shared publicly, includes “an endless revolving door” and little direct access to treatment, Brim-Edwards said.
A man smokes meth on the sidewalk in Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 10, 2024. The city has struggled with open-air drug use and dealing in the wake of Measure 110, which decriminalized drug possession. (Hannah Ray Lambert/Fox News Digital)
BLUE CITY’S EXODUS CONTINUES FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, BUT SLOWER: ‘PEOPLE JUST FEEL TRAPPED’
Oregonians voted to decriminalize possession of all drugs in 2020 and redirected tens of millions in marijuana tax revenue to fund addiction services. People caught with user amounts of substances like meth and fentanyl could only be given a $100 ticket, which could be waived if they called the treatment hotline listed on the back. Data showed the vast majority of individuals ticketed did not call the hotline or pay the fine.
Open-air drug use and overdose deaths soon skyrocketed — although researchers argue there’s no clear connection between decriminalization and overdoses — and numerous polls showed Oregon voters regretted the move and wanted criminal penalties reinstated.
Faced with the overwhelming backlash, lawmakers passed House Bill 4002 in March, creating a new misdemeanor drug possession charge and giving those caught with small amounts of substances like meth and fentanyl a choice: undergo treatment or go to jail for up to six months.
Lawmakers voted to recriminalize drug possession earlier this year, following a dramatic shift in voter attitudes. Numerous surveys showed Oregonians supported re-criminalizing hard drugs and making treatment mandatory, not voluntary, in order to avoid jail time. (Ramiro Vargas/Fox News Digital)
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But the bill leaves it to local governments to decide how to implement the law before it takes effect Sept. 1.
In Multnomah County, where Portland is located, County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson is leading that effort, The Oregonian reported.
People caught with drugs would only need to check in at a drop-off center to avoid arrest under the proposal. They would not be required to go through a screening or treatment program, and there would be no limit to how often someone could choose deflection over arrest, according to the paper.
“The reality is that we know people have a better chance of entering recovery the more often they’re introduced to the recovery system and that jail is not the appropriate way to treat individuals,” Alicia Temple, a policy advisor to the chair, told the paper.
Pederson is working on the plan with local leaders, including progressive Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who recently lost his re-election bid to a more moderate challenger. The Portland police chief, county sheriff, a judge, treatment providers, a defense lawyer, and a representative of Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office are also involved, according to local reports.
A Portland police officer holds a container of suspected fentanyl he found inside a homeless man’s tent. (Hannah Ray Lambert/Fox News Digital)
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At least two county commissioners have criticized the proposal and said they’ve been left in the dark during its development. District attorney-elect Nathan Vasquez shared a similar sentiment, telling KGW he hasn’t been invited to the table, and sees major flaws with the plan.
“It’s a return to that failed formula,” Vasquez said. “And in some cases, you could even say maybe it’s worse. I mean, you’re looking at a situation where, you know, if it’s true that they’re going to do unlimited deflections, what message does that send?”
“This is just shuffling them around,” Joe Bazeghi, director of engagement at a privately run medical and behavioral health center, told The Oregonian. “We’re just kind of going back to maybe a slightly less harmful version of what we’ve been doing all along.”
Portland’s neighboring counties appear to have heavier-handed plans for enforcement. Clackamas and Washington county DAs told local media they expect people to comply with treatment requirements and plan to limit the number of times people can opt for deflection.
“It’s our way as a system to say, you know, we really mean it, we really want you to get help and get treatment,” Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth told The Oregonian.
Multnomah County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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West
Las Vegas first responders conduct seven-hour rescue of injured climber stranded 600 feet up rock face
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First responders in Nevada carried out a dramatic seven-hour rescue after a climber was seriously injured while stranded roughly 600 feet up a steep rock face near Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said search and rescue teams were notified around noon Saturday about an injured climber on the “Dream Safari” route along Dark Shadows Wall in Pine Creek.
Authorities said the climber had fallen an estimated 40 to 50 feet, suffering severe head and back injuries.
The victim’s climbing partner and a guide from another climbing party reached the injured climber and controlled the bleeding while awaiting rescue crews.
Rescuers secured the climber in a titanium litter and lowered the patient in stages down the rock face. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
Four search and rescue officers and a lead climb volunteer were inserted by the department’s AIR3 helicopter several hundred feet above the victim at the top of the route.
Rescuers then rappelled down the rock face, provided medical treatment while suspended mid-face, and secured the patient in a titanium litter.
Crews constructed a lowering system and brought the climber several hundred feet down to the ground through three separate lowering stations, with a rescuer attending to the patient during the descent.
RAFTER VANISHES IN OREGON WILDERNESS, SURVIVES FIVE-DAY ORDEAL BEFORE HELICOPTER RESCUE
Las Vegas police search and rescue teams spent seven hours lowering an injured climber 600 feet to safety. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
Once at the base, additional volunteers carried the litter to an extraction point where the helicopter returned to airlift the victim to a Bureau of Land Management helipad.
The climber was then transferred to a ground ambulance and taken to a local hospital.
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The climber’s helmet was destroyed in the fall but likely saved the person’s life, officials said. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)
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LVMPD wrote on Facebook that the entire operation lasted about seven hours from initial insertion to final extraction.
“Although the victim’s helmet was destroyed during the fall, it likely saved their life,” police said.
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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — ABC7 Eyewitness News got a sneak peak as crews put the finishing touches on the floats you’ll see at Saturday’s San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade.
Since it’s the year of the fire horse, you’ll see a lot of horses and fire symbolism on the floats, housed at Pier 19.
“So Year of the Horse, it’s energy, it’s passion, it’s momentum so a lot of things that we’re really hoping to embody in the new year,” said Stephanie Mufson, owner of San Francisco-based The Parade Guys, which designs and constructs the floats.
She said they’ve been building them for about three months, with the designs starting in November.
MORE: Bay Area artist brings Year of the Horse statue to life for Golden State Warriors
“We’re in the home stretch,” she said. “We’ve got a couple of days left and we’ve got a nice little team that’s cranking out all the finishing work that needs to go into it.”
Derrick Shavers was sanding some wood that will be painted and become cherry blossom trees on a float.
“It’s exciting,” Shavers said. “I look forward to coming every year and just creating and making things shine and sparkle.”
Bon was painting mountains for a float, making sure everything is perfect in time for the parade.
MORE: Meet the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade mascot, Maverick
“It’s one of the few parades that actually happens at night still,” Bon said. “So we got to make sure all the lighting is in check, and people are safe on the float. It’s all in the details, just for it to walk by you for 10 seconds.”
Ten seconds that bring so much joy to those watching the parade.
Here’s how you can watch the parade on ABC7 Eyewitness News on Saturday, March 7.
Coverage starts at 5 p.m. wherever you stream ABC7.
SF Chinese New Year Parade 2026: How to watch ABC7 Eyewitness News live coverage
If you’re on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Class 5A Sweet 16 has arrived, and both Grand Junction and Palisade are still standing with trips to the Great Eight in Denver on the line.
At The Jungle, the No. 2 seed Grand Junction Tigers set the tone early against No. 18 Golden. Defense carried the Tigers from the opening tip as they held the Demons to nine first quarter points while scoring 16 of their own.
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Grand Junction added eight points in the second quarter while Golden managed six, sending the Tigers into halftime with a nine point lead.
Golden responded in the third quarter, outscoring Grand Junction 16 to 11 to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The Tigers answered in the final period, attacking the rim and converting key shots to win the quarter 19 to 10. Grand Junction secured a 54 to 41 victory to protect its home court and advance to the Great Eight in Denver.
Top seeded Palisade also defended its home floor with a trip to Denver at stake. The Bulldogs opened with nine straight points to energize a packed gym, but Frederick settled in and closed the first quarter on a run to tie the game at nine.
Frederick continued to respond in the second quarter and took an eight point lead into halftime.
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Palisade shifted momentum after the break. The Bulldogs tightened defensively, holding Frederick to 21 points in the second half while scoring 39 of their own. Palisade completed the comeback to advance to the Great Eight.
Colorado Mesa University Women Deliver Historic RMAC Tournament Win
In collegiate action, the top seeded Colorado Mesa University women’s basketball team defeated Colorado School of Mines 96 to 51 in the RMAC Tournament, marking the largest margin of victory in the tournament this century.
Olivia Reed-Thyne led the Mavericks with 34 points on 11 of 15 shooting, her third 30 point performance this season. Mason Rowland added 22 points and Hallie Clark contributed 10 as Colorado Mesa matched a program record with its 31st win. The Mavericks will host the semifinals Friday with a berth in the championship game at stake.
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Colorado Mesa University Men Survive Overtime Thriller
The Colorado Mesa University men’s basketball team faced New Mexico Highlands University for the third time this season. The Mavericks scored 36 first half points and led by four at the break.
New Mexico Highlands shot 50 percent in the second half, received 21 bench points and outscored Colorado Mesa 43 to 39 to force a late push. With the season in the balance, Ty Allred hit a game tying 3 pointer to make it 75 and send the game to overtime. Allred scored seven points in the extra period as Colorado Mesa earned a 91 to 90 victory to advance to the next round.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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