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The Quality Inn Motel on 82nd is reportedly plagued by numerous crimes. Photo credit: M. Washington According to two Portland media outlets, a local motel is under increased scrutiny by the Portland Police Bureau following three shooting deaths in less than two months.   KOIN-TV reported in early January that the Quality Inn Motel, located near the intersection of Northeast Sandy Blvd. and Northeast 82nd Avenue, has been the site of three separate deadly shootings there, one in November and two in December.   According to KOIN, police said it’s been a challenge to clean up the area and they’re looking to get the motel deemed “a chronic nuisance property” but said it’s a long process.   “Our concern level was raised in the beginning, when the first homicide happened,” said PPB spokesman Sgt. Kevin Allen. “The fact that we’ve had these other two in December has only increased the urgency in that area.”   KOIN reported that people who live near the motel have noticed problems like garbage in the parking lot and broken fences, causing concerns, and one man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he witnessed one of the shootings.   “I feel very unsafe because some of these people look like they might be breaking into my house one of these days,” he said.   According to a January 4 article in the Oregonian, Choice Hotels, which owns the Quality Inn brand, said in an email that the hotel is independently owned. The paper reported that Oregon Secretary of State records show that the Quality Inn is registered to GSS Hospitality of Portland with Jun Hyuk Jo listed as president, who did not return a message left on his phone.   The Oregonian stated that police have said little publicly about the three shootings.   The first death was on Nov. 20 when police found 43-year-old Kimo Henriques, a Vancouver resident, in the parking lot with gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital where he died, according to the newspaper.   The next death was on Dec. 4, when Benjamin Walker, 45, of Hillsboro was shot and killed in the hotel parking lot.   And on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, a third man was killed in the parking lot. Police have made no arrests and have not released his name.   Six other shootings, dating back to 2020, occurred in the same location as the motel, according to the Oregonian, including a shooting in 2022 when it was a Howard Johnson’s when Martre Oliver shot is twin brother, Martese Oliver, who died in the lobby.   According to the Oregonian, police said in court that the brothers had driven to Portland from Renton, Washington, with two women and had rented two rooms for alleged sex trafficking.   The newspaper also reported that the Police Bureau’s Human Trafficking Unit has conducted patrol missions in the area near Northeast 82nd Ave. and Sandy Blvd. to stem human trafficking and that officers had made nine arrests and towed two cars in the latest mission on Dec. 19.   Chrystal O’Day lives just a few blocks from the Quality Inn and another motel, Madison Suites, in the area where four homicides near 82nd Ave. and Milton Street occurred from August 2021 to March 2022, the article stated.   O’Day told the Oregonian that she has been awakened several times in the middle of the night by gunshots, and open drug use is rampant.   “I’d like to see more police presence and I feel like something needs to be done about these motels in these few blocks,” she said.

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Trump admin investigates school district over letting trans student compete in girls’ sports People listen as President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athlete from competing in women’s or girls sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb5, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/ Alex Brandon) (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education said in a news release Tuesday that it has opened an investigation into Portland Public Schools, Oregon’s largest school district, over allowing a transgender athlete to compete on a high school girls’ track-and-field team. The federal agency said it was investigating whether this violated Title IX, a 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education. The Trump administration has been using the law to push against schools that provide accommodations for transgender students. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order last month intended to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports. “We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,” Craig Trainor, the education department’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in the news release. The department said it also sent a letter to the Oregon School Activities Association, or OSAA, notifying it of an investigation into its “gender identity participation” policy. The department said its investigation into the district was based on a complaint filed with its civil rights office. The complaint said the district and OSAA allowed a high school transgender athlete to compete in the girls’ track and field division over the last two seasons, according to the department’s news release. Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said the district is in full compliance with Oregon state law, “which may differ from federal guidance,” and that it was working to “navigate this complex legal landscape.” “I want our community to know that I am aware of the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, and Portland Public Schools is fully cooperating with the investigation,” Armstrong said in a statement. “While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment — and our district’s commitment — to doing what’s right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.” Elsewhere, the federal agency has also opened investigations into Denver public schools after an all-gender restroom replaced a girl’s restroom while leaving another exclusive to boys, as well as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Yolanda Saldívar is serving a life sentence This combination of photos shows Yolanda Saldivar, who is serving a life sentence, left, and Tejano music star Selena posing in Corpus Christi, Texas. (AP photo) (AP) — The woman convicted of killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Perez has been denied parole after spending decades behind bars for fatally shooting the young singer at a Texas motel in 1995, the state’s parole board announced Thursday. Yolanda Saldívar is serving a life sentence at the Patrick L. O’Daniel prison unit in Gatesville, Texas. A three-member panel of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted to not release her. The panel said her case will be eligible to be reviewed again for parole in 2030. The singer known to her fans as simply Selena was one of the first Mexican-Americans to make it into the mainstream music scene and was on the verge of crossing over into the English-language pop market when she was killed. Saldívar founded Selena’s fan club and had been the manager of the singer’s clothing boutiques, Selena Etc., until she was fired in early March 1995 after money was discovered missing. Selena a Corpus Christi native, was 23 years old when she was shot in the back with a .38-caliber revolver at a Days Inn motel in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995. She was able to run to the motel lobby where she collapsed, and she was pronounced dead at a hospital an hour later. Motel employees testified that Selena named “Yolanda” in “room 158” as her attacker. “I didn’t mean to do it. I didn’t mean to kill anybody,” a sobbing Saldívar said during a nine-hour standoff with police. She told police she had bought the .38-caliber revolver to kill herself. More than 50,000 people lined up to view Selena’s body the day before she was laid to rest in Seaside Memorial Park on April 3, 1995, just 13 days before her 24th birthday. Saldívar’s trial was moved to Houston because of the publicity surrounding the case. Saldívar testified that she had intended to kill herself during the confrontation with Selena, but that the gun misfired. On October 23, 1995, a jury in Houston convicted Saldívar of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. While in prison, Saldívar — a former nurse — obtained her paralegal and associate degree in criminal justice and has filed several civil rights complaints alleging mistreatment by the state’s prison system, according to court records. She also helped other inmates to file petitions. In court documents filed in 2016, Saldívar said she was being held in protective custody — meaning she was segregated from other inmates — because prison officials were concerned for her safety due to the “high profile” nature of her case. She filed several appeals of her conviction but all were rejected. Selena — “the Queen of Tejano” — rose to stardom and won a Grammy during a Tejano music boom in the early 1990s. Her hits include “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Como la Flor,” “Amor Prohibido,” “No Me Queda Mas” and “Tu Solo Tu.” “Dreaming of You,” her English-language crossover album released a few months after her death, topped the Billboard 200, and featured hits “I Could Fall in Love” and “Dreaming of You.” Jennifer Lopez played the singer in “Selena,” a 1997 biopic. The Grammys awarded Selena a posthumous lifetime achievement award in 2021.

New way for fans to support Beaver Nation fans have a fun new way to support Oregon State University. An OSU Beaver license plate will be available to the public beginning April 7. OSU Beaver plates cost an additional $40 to purchase the first time and with each renewal or replacement, in addition to regular registration renewal fees. You must pay the surcharge or redeem a pre-paid voucher. After deducting Oregon DMV’s administrative costs, Oregon Department of Transportation will deposit net proceeds from the surcharge into OSU’s account. The funds generated directly benefit Oregon State Athletics. “Your support will help maintain competitive success and scholastic excellence to not only support the holistic development of our student-athletes, but also bring joy to Beaver Nation,” said Director of University Marketing Carson Dunlap. OSU completed pre-sales of more than 3,000 vouchers to make the plate eligible for implementation. The license plate design was approved by ODOT in consultation with OSU, Oregon State Police and testing by the Washington State Tolling Division. The Beaver plate joins DMV’s lineup of other specialty registration plates, including Crater Lake, Cultural Trust, Gray Whale, Oregon Ducks, Pacific Wonderland, Pollinator Paradise, Salmon, Smokey Bear, Trail Blazers, Watch for Wildlife and Wine Country. The Beaver license plate can be obtained through the Oregon DMV by mail, at DMV locations, or through a licensed dealer. While you can apply for a Beaver plate online at DMV2U for renewal or as a stand-alone replacement, pre-paid vouchers cannot be redeemed online. To use a pre-paid voucher, you must apply in person at a DMV office or mail the transaction to DMV headquarters, where staff will verify the voucher using its unique number.

Portland hoop fans go all in with prep finals weekend Jefferson's players and coaches celebrate with their third-place trophy Saturday, the program's best finish at Class 6A. (Photo Credit: Cliff Pfenning) Portland basketball fans showed themselves off as being ready to celebrate story-lines during the weekend at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center.   In the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union Class 6A Boys and Girls Tournaments, not only did two programs win their first title, but the boys final featured a coach celebrating a title after guiding his team for 42 years, while the girls final featured a 19-point, second-half comeback Saturday . Barlow of Gresham had alums on hand from five decades of Tom Johnson’s coaching for the Bruins’ 61-55 victory over Jesuit in the boys final. Among the graduates were Freddie Jones, who helped the program to the ‘96 state final before playing at the University of Oregon and then in the NBA.   Tualatin rallied from behind 54-35 with 2:32 left in the third quarter to beat Clackamas, 63-58, in the girls final - the Timberwolves’ first trip to the championship game. The boys’ program, which played in the fourth-place game Saturday morning, won the title in 2022 and ‘23, and was ranked second in the playoffs this season.     North Portland’s Jefferson High celebrated a 60-48 girls victory over Willamette of Eugene Saturday to finish in third, it’s highest placing at Class 6A, and top finish since winning the 5A title in both 2008 and ‘10. Seniors Chauncey Andersen and Abrianna Lawrence were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Democrats.   Jefferson’s girls program played before numerous large crowds this season thanks to rivalry games with Benson and then the semifinals featuring Clackamas and USC-bound guard Jazzy Davidson. The Cavs won 77-57 Friday thanks in part to attempting 27 more free throws.   Jefferson’s win over Willamette put them at 28-2 with losses to just Clackamas and Tualatin in December.  “We got to end our careers here together on a win, that makes it really special,” said Andersen, one of six seniors on the roster. “Now it’s time to look toward college basketball and the pros. The pro game is becoming so much more exciting, 1,000-times more exciting in just the past couple years.”   Portland will join the WNBA in 2026 with an expansion franchise. Jefferson coach Andre Lawrence said the graduating seniors are leaving the program in fabulous shape after playing into the tournament the past two years, especially after claiming a trophy this year.   “This senior group is such a leadership group - they played their butts off to get here,” Lawrence said, “it’s amazing to see what they’ve accomplished. The sophomores and freshmen we have coming back have a lot to look up to.”   Tualatin has a lot to look up to as well. Timberwolves’ freshman guard Love Lei Best earned a unanimous selection to the all-tournament team, and was the top scorer in the final with 26 points.   The WNBA begins with preseason games on May 2. Regular-season games start on May 16.

Amplifying the Voices of Black Families Impacted by Gun Violence Asianique Savage stands in front of the billboard for her documentary series on MLK Blvd. & Prescott. (Photo Credit: M. Washington) Help Solve a Murder, a powerful six-part d ocuse r i es,  w i ll launch its  Kickstarter campaign on March 1st. Created by As i an i que Savage in partnership with the Alliance for a Safe Oregon and Gal  P a l ,  the  series a m p lifi es the voices o f Black mothers and families in Portland that are fighting for justice after losing  loved ones to gun violence. The docuseries will explore h ow deaths  caused by  gun violence have devastated communities, and how systemic failures across Portland's justice system have left families with nothing but grief. These families' demands for accountability  have  fallen on deaf ears in  a city  grappling with deeply rooted r ac i sm , gentrification, and displacement. ''I'm  not just telling my s t ory - I ' m telling the stories of every family in Portland who has been i g n o r ed by a system that  fails th em ," said Savage, who lost both  her mother  and brother to gun v i o l e n ce . 'This project is a call for just i ce that has been too long d e l ayed. " I n collaboration with  th e Alliance for  a Safe  Or ego n ,  a nonprofit on a  mission  to end g un-r e l ated tr age di es , and with production support from creative sto r yte llin g company Ga l Pal, this Kickstarter campaign will  raise  funds for the pre-production and production phases of the docuseries. With support,  Help Solve a Murder  will shine a light on  the ongoing fight for justice in Portland's communities impacted by gun violence and advocate for change in a broken system. This project is  more than  just a docuseries-it's a call to action! We  need your support to make this vision a r ea l i t y.  By  pledging your support on K i c k s t a rt e r ,  you will help amplify the voices of those who have  been silenced for too  l ong . People in power must listen and take action. The time for change is now, a nd we are asking you to stand with us in demanding j u s ti ce. Learn  more about the project- Help  Solve a Murder

Home Forward taking applications Photo Courtesy of homeforward.org Home Forward is accepting applications for two rent assistance waitlists from Tuesday, April 15, at 9:00 a.m. to Monday, April 21, at 11:59 p.m. PT. These waitlists are for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and 13 Home Forward apartment communities through property-based waitlists. These programs help make rent more affordable, but due to limited resources, a waitlist is necessary. Applications can be submitted online at homeforward.org/waitlists starting Tuesday, April 21, at 9:00 a.m. The application will be available in English, Spanish, Somali, Russian, and Vietnamese, and the website will also provide resources to assist with the application process. If you plan to apply or help someone else apply, keep a few important details in mind. It’s best not to wait until the last minute, but the exact day you apply does not impact your chances, as long as you submit before the deadline on April 21. The website and Applicant Helpline tend to be busiest on the first day, so if you experience issues, try again on another day. Setting up an account before April 15 is recommended, and if you already have a Rent Café account, you may need to reset your password. Since demand exceeds availability, not everyone who applies will be placed on the waitlist; a lottery system will randomly select applicants. You can apply for multiple waitlists using the same application, and there is no need to submit separate forms for different programs. Being placed on a waitlist does not guarantee immediate assistance, as applicants must still meet eligibility requirements when selected. Wait times vary, with HCV spots opening gradually and property-based waitlists depending on housing availability. Home Forward will notify those chosen for the waitlists via email or mail by September 2025. For more details and updates, visit homeforward.org/waitlists in the coming weeks. Mark your calendar to ensure you don’t miss this important opportunity.

A chance to apply for full University of Oregon scholarships All of this year’s EAGLE caddies Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is now accepting applications for the Early Adventures in Golf for a Lifetime of Enjoyment (EAGLE) Caddie Program. This unique program gives current ninth-grade students the chance to gain valuable work experience, earn money over the summer, and potentially qualify for a full Evans Scholarship (including housing) to the University of Oregon. No prior golf experience is needed! Applications are open through May 3, 2025. EAGLE is a collaboration between PP&R’s Portland Parks Golf, the Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation, and high schools across Portland. The program provides hands-on job experience and encourages applications from students who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, female, non-binary, immigrants, or refugees. “The EAGLE program provides valuable work experience and a pathway to higher education for young people in Portland,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long. “Our EAGLE caddies have overcome adversity to reach this point, and we’re proud of their accomplishments. We encourage all eligible ninth-grade students to apply." Through the EAGLE program, students can apply for the highly regarded Evans Scholarship, which covers full college tuition and housing at the University of Oregon. Since 1989, 80 Portland students have received full tuition and housing through the Evans Scholarship. The Evans Scholarship is valued at over $125,000 for four years. The Western Golf Association (WGA) reports that 1,190 caddies are currently enrolled at 24 universities nationwide as Evans Scholars. Since the program began in 1930, over 12,285 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars. Evans Scholars maintain an average GPA of 3.3 and have a 98% graduation rate, with 95% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Applications are open through May 3, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit portland.gov/parks/sports/eagle. Students who attend high schools that are not located within the city of Portland may contact the following golf courses about their area’s respective caddie programs: Oswego Lake Country Club, Portland Golf Club, Riverside Golf and Country Club, Royal Oak Country Club in Vancouver, Tualatin Country Club, Waverley Country Club, and Willamette Valley Country Club.

DMV offers options for customers ahead of federal REAL ID deadline  DMV offers options for customers ahead of federal REAL ID deadline Flying somewhere for spring break? This will be one of the last times you can use your standard Oregon driver’s license, instruction permit or ID card at the Transportation Security Administration airport checkpoint. Starting May 7, the federal government will require every person 18 years and older to present a REAL ID or a federally accepted alternative – like a government-issued passport, passport card or military ID – to board a commercial U.S. flight. REAL ID will also be required to access certain federal facilities like military bases or nuclear plants. As the REAL ID enforcement date approaches, we are seeing greater demand at DMV offices, especially in more populated areas. Oregon DMV has added a significant number of REAL ID appointments to help people looking to update their credential. Additionally, DMV staff from the Salem headquarters have voluntarily deployed to offices to help with tasks to alleviate crowds. Still, customers may experience longer lines and wait times than normal. Here are some things to consider before upgrading to a REAL ID, make sure you don’t already have a REAL ID. An Oregon REAL ID has a star in the upper right corner. You don't need a REAL ID if you have a passport or other federally accepted alternative. If you aren’t flying anytime soon, wait until your credential expires before upgrading. REAL ID appointments are available, but they aren’t required. All DMV offices welcome walk-in traffic. If no appointment is available, check back later, as new appointments are released daily. Please note, REAL ID appointments are strictly for REAL ID. If you book a REAL ID appointment for a different transaction, you could be turned away. Make sure to bring the correct documents, including one proof of identity and two proofs of your home address from two different sources. You also need to provide proof of lawful U.S. status and your Social Security number (or proof you are not eligible for one). We offer a documents guide to help you create a checklist of what to bring. If you have everything you need for your appointment, visit the self-check-in station in the lobby at most offices instead of waiting in line at the front desk. At busier DMV offices, once you have a ticket, ask if you can provide your cell number to receive text notifications, allowing you to leave and return when your number gets closer. It takes up to three weeks to receive your REAL ID card in the mail, so make sure your identification is REAL ID-compliant in advance of your trip. For example, if you will board a U.S. flight on May 7, April 16 would be the last day to be reasonably confident you’ll receive your card. If you have a transaction other than REAL ID, see if you can complete it online at DMV2U. You can also renew your vehicle registration at one of 10 express kiosks. While you can’t get a REAL ID online, wait times in offices are reduced for everyone when more customers use online services and kiosks. “The fact is not everyone needs a REAL ID on May 7 -- and in some cases might not ever need one,” said DMV Administrator Amy Joyce. “May 7 is the day enforcement begins, but we will continue issuing REAL ID well into the future. If you have no intention of boarding a U.S. flight anytime soon, consider holding off on getting a REAL ID until it’s time to renew your credential.” Since Oregon’s REAL ID option became available in July 2020, 35% of the state’s 3.7 million credential holders have upgraded to a REAL ID, while 48% have chosen a standard “Not for REAL ID Purposes” credential. The REAL ID option costs $30 in addition to regular issuance fees every time you apply for an original, renewal or replacement driver’s license, permit or ID card. Learn more at Oregon.gov/REALID

Oregon State women lost most of its team after last year’s Elite 8 Oregon State players celebrate after defeating Portland in a NCAA college basketball game. Oregon State was coming off a 27-win season that ended in the  Elite Eight  of the women’s NCAA Tournament last March when the Beavers lost most of their team and most of their conference. Eight players from last year’s roster who had eligibility remaining, including the top six scorers, left Oregon State after that deep postseason run. And the Pac-12, their conference home for 38 seasons, was down to them and Washington State  because of realignment. But the Beavers (19-15) got back into the NCAA field again this year, with an automatic berth as  West Coast Conference tournament champions . They are a No. 14 seed that has to go to the other side of the country to play at North Carolina (27-7) on Saturday. “I’m ecstatic,” said 15th-season coach Scott Rueck, who took Oregon State to the  Final Four in 2016 . “So happy for the team. ... Believed and stayed positive when things didn’t look quite right, and then things started to look better, and all of a sudden we’ve got a team worth of being in the Big Dance.” While the Pac-12 is being rebuilt, Oregon State and Washington State are playing in the WCC as affiliate members. The Beavers finished fourth in the regular-season standings, then won three games in as many days at the conference tournament. Kelsey Rees hit a game-winning shot to beat San Francisco in the opener before they beat top seed Gonzaga in the semifinals, and overcame Portland in the championship game. “We might have had a little chip on his shoulder, but we just stayed so tight, and so together. And that’s what got us so far,” said sophomore guard Kennedie Shuler, one of the five returning players. Oregon native Tiara Bolden, a senior guard averaging 8.2 points a game, joined the Beavers this season from La Salle, where she played only one season after junior college. “My mind is literally blown away,” Bolden said after the Beavers watched the Selection Show together Sunday night. “I’m still like jittery, still shaking just for us. Like seeing us on the screen, it was definitely incredible.” The Beavers lost five of their first six games to start the season, and after a four-game conference losing streak in January were 9-13 overall. Rueck is sure that there were times when his players doubted what they could do, and probable even wondered if it was worth it. Since that January skid, Oregon State has won 10 of its last 12 games. The losses were in overtime against Gonzaga and a 69-66 setback at Saint Mary’s. “We’re built like a traditional team ... you start the year as an inexperienced power (conference) team, that’s ultimately what we are,” Rueck said. “We didn’t have the experience and we didn’t know who we were yet, and roles had to be defined and people had to step up, and over the course of the year that’s happened.” This is the ninth appearance over the last 11 NCAA Tournaments for the Beavers, who before now hadn’t been a double-digit seed under Rueck. The Beavers were a No. 3 seed hosting a No. 14 seed last year — that has been reversed this season — and were No. 2 seeds in both 2016 and 2017. “I remember first-round games that we had to escape,” Rueck said. “Everybody’s good this time of year.” Including these Beavers. “Here we are, with an opportunity to prove it again, against a really good team on their home floor. And so we’re excited about that,” he said. “But I think the makeup of this group, certainly the experience we have as coaches, the character of this team and the journey that they’ve been on, the way we’ve been playing lately, gives us all some hope.”

Ongoing vandalism since Musk began advising Trump This photo provided by Tigard Police Department shows the boarded-up windows of a Tesla Dealership in Tigard, Ore., Thursday, March 13, 2025, after gunshots were fired for the second time in one week. (Tigard Police Department via AP) AP- Gunshots were fired at a Tesla dealership in Oregon on Thursday for the second time in a week in ongoing vandalism and protests around the country since CEO Elon Musk became a key figure in the Trump administration. Around 4:15 a.m., more than a dozen shots were fired around the electric vehicle dealership in the Portland suburb of Tigard, according to the Tigard Police Department. The shooting caused extensive damage to cars and showroom windows, police said. No one was hurt. A similar shooting happened on March 6 at the same location. Police said they continue to work with federal partners at the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives to thoroughly investigate. An ATF explosive detection dog has been used after both shootings to help search for shell casings, police said. Tesla has been a target for demonstrations and vandalism in the U.S. and elsewhere this year. People have protested Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which has been moving to slash the size of the federal government. Police said over the weekend that six Tesla Cybertrucks at a dealership in the Seattle suburb of Lynnwood were spray painted with swastikas and profanity directed at Musk, KING-TV reported. On Sunday, four Cybertrucks were destroyed in a blaze in Seattle, but investigators have not said if the fire, or fires, were intentionally set. On Tuesday, the Seattle Police Department said it was working with federal partners to investigate the incident. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he was buying a new Tesla to show his support for Musk as the billionaire’s company struggles with sagging sales and declining stock prices.