The Newsroom Report: Mar. 31 (2025)

By Kate Jackson

Published: Mar. 31, 2025 at 5:08 AM PDT

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Good morning!

We’re still in for some rain this week, but we’re expecting warmer, sunnier days by the weekend.

It’s been a busy few days, so let’s get you up to speed.

On Saturday, a 24-year-old Venezuelan man who allegedly escaped from the Tacoma Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center last week was arrested by Washington County deputies. While Oregon currently restricts law enforcement officers from acting on administrative warrants related to immigration enforcement, they are required to make an arrest when warrants are signed by a judge.

One of the leaders of a burglary ring that targeted over a hundred businesses in the Portland area was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison. Two others are facing felony charges for their involvement at this time, but police are continuing their investigation and are seeking additional suspects.

A man accused of luring unhoused women into his apartment in order to sexually assault them has been arrested and charged by Portland police. Detectives believe that there are additional victims who have not yet come forward, and are asking anyone with information to reach out.

Last October, a 78-year-old woman noticed some fraudulent charges on her credit card. Later that same day, she was found dead in her home. This past Friday, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office announced that deputies had arrested her 31-year-old grandson (and his friend) in connection with her murder.

A man from Tigard has been found guilty for shooting an on-duty postal worker in Milwaukie back in 2022. According to court documents, he drove by the mail carrier twice before he parked his van, kneeled on the street, and fired several shots at the victim. He picked up his shell casings before leaving the scene, then was arrested four days later with multiple rifles, ammunition, a knife, shooting targets, and ballistic gear in his van. He is expected to be sentenced this summer.

A 15-year-old boy has turned himself in to police in connection with the early morning shooting last week that left another teen boy in critical condition. According to the Portland Police Bureau, multiple teens were present at the time of the shooting, and the investigation is not yet closed.

In other news, Mayor Keith Wilson wants city employees back on-site – but some workers, accustomed to their hybrid or remote schedules, are pushing back.

A nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C., has funded an advertising campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of Oregon Health and Science University’s primate research center – and the campaign seems to have gotten our Governor’s attention. Governor Kotek’s office released a statement Friday that urges OHSU to close the center “in a humane and responsible manner.”

In May of last year, Gresham firefighters were called out to a duplex fire that reportedly still had residents inside. Because of their hard work, the fire was contained to a single unit and no residents were injured. But conditions quickly became dangerous for those on scene, and several firefighters were injured – one suffered burns across 45% of his body. Today, Gresham Fire Station 31 celebrates his first day back on the job.

Tonight, Lake Oswego residents are invited to a special City Council meeting. On the agenda? Whether or not their City Attorney should appeal the court decision that resulted in the public being allowed access to Oswego Lake.

Finally, in case you missed it: this weekend was the 17th Annual Northwest Regional Yo-Yo Championship.

Thank you so much for reading (and watching)! You can always find all the latest from us on the FOX 12 app.

Your friendly local assignment editor,

Kate

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