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Category: Portland, Oregon Local News

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  • SCAN, CareOregon end plans to combine amid 'questions'

    SCAN, CareOregon end plans to combine amid 'questions'

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    CareOregon is one of Oregon’s largest health care service providers.

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    Elizabeth Hayes

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  • 101 People Now Confirmed Dead In Deadly Lahaina Fire Last August – KXL

    101 People Now Confirmed Dead In Deadly Lahaina Fire Last August – KXL

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    HONOLULU (AP) — The death toll from the wildfire that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, Hawaii, in August rose to 101 on Tuesday after Maui police confirmed the identity of one new victim, a 76-year-old man.

    As of last month, Paul Kasprzycki of Lahaina was one of three people still missing from the Aug. 8 blaze.

    Maui police didn’t explain in a news release where his remains were found or how he was identified.

    The victims of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century ranged in age from 7 to 97, but more than two-thirds were in their 60s or older, according to Maui police’s list of known victims.

    It has taken investigators months to identify some of the remains. Forensic experts and cadaver dogs sifted through ash searching for bodies that may have been cremated. Authorities collected DNA samples from family members to identify remains.

    The DNA testing allowed officials in September to revise the death toll downward, from 115 to at least 97. The toll rose slightly over the next month as some victims succumbed to their injuries or as police found additional remains.

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    Grant McHill

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  • Despite Being Safe From Deep Budget Cuts, Fire Bureau Puts Mental Health Services on Chopping Block

    Despite Being Safe From Deep Budget Cuts, Fire Bureau Puts Mental Health Services on Chopping Block

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    Despite being safe from a citywide 5 percent spending cut, Portland’s fire chief says the fire bureau is still staring down an $11 million budget shortfall. As a result, Portland Street Response could lose a third of its already constrained budget.

    During a budget workshop last Tuesday, Portland Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie said Portland Fire & Rescue (PF&R) expects to overspend its roughly $175 million budget by about $11 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year, unless the city intervenes with a cash infusion. Bureau leaders say most of the budget gap is due to rising overtime costs, impending retirements, and inflation.

    Gillespie says if the city is serious about prioritizing improved emergency response times, it needs to cough up more money for the fire bureau.

    “If we received ($11 million) we would not have to make any cuts to our emergency operations,” Gillespie told Portland City Council.

    The city is trying to avoid a deficit in its 2024-25 budget by asking all bureaus except for public safety services to shave 5 percent from their spending plans.

    Why the fire bureau budget gap?

    Chief Gillespie and other emergency management staff note about $6.2 million of the $11 million budget gap stems from funds allocated for retirees. Another $4 million comes from overtime expenses, and about $2.3 million from other personnel costs represent the largest strain on the budget.

    Portland Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie  courtney vaughn

    Overtime costs at the fire bureau increased in 2022, after contract negotiations led to a change in the structure of firefighters’ work hours. PF&R staff used to work 51.5 hours per week, but now 50.4 hours is considered a standard work week. That means staff are paid for overtime hours if they work more than the standard 50.4 hours. The bureau says the number of firefighters currently funded by the city isn’t enough to cover the needs, amid increased emergency calls, which has led to increased overtime payouts.

    A 2023 staffing sufficiency analysis suggests the city could reduce its overtime expenses by budgeting for an additional 66 firefighter positions over the next two or three years. 

    “Due to the projected number of retirements stemming from a firefighter hiring bubble 25 years ago, PF&R does not have the option to do nothing,” Citygate Associates wrote in its memo to fire bureau leaders last June.

    Those anticipated retirements are now considered the biggest strain on PF&R’s budget.

    As first reported in the Oregonian, in an effort to fill the funding gap, PF&R is proposing slashing $3.1 million from the $10 million budget of Portland Street Response, the city’s non-police, mental health alternative response program. Portland Street Response (PSR) is housed within the fire bureau. The program, which launched in 2021, now operates citywide, but with somewhat limited staffing and hours. PSR is partially funded by city general funds, cannabis tax revenue, and American Rescue Plan Act dollars, which will soon be depleted.

    “The problem with fire is that there is not a lot of fat to cut outside its core mission,” Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who currently oversees PF&R and PSR, told the publication.  

    Fire bureau leaders gave the city three options: find $11 million for PF&R, leaving current service levels at the fire bureau and Portland Street Response intact; find $4 million for PF&R, leaving a $6 million budget gap to be addressed by slashing about $3 million each from PSR and two of the bureau’s two-person rescue apparatus; or do nothing and leave the fire bureau to cut $3 million from one of its fire stations, cut three rescue operations, and cut $3.1 million from PSR. 

    The latest budget proposals show overtime costs contributing to PF&R’s budget gap are mostly generated by firefighters and EMTs, not PSR’s mental health workers. Still, the latest budget proposals show PSR is likely to feel the pinch of the fire bureau’s fiscal woes.

    An audit released by the city earlier this year suggested that PSR and a similar community health program were “caught in a no-win situation” due to an overall lack of clear program guidelines or goals for success. Auditors suggested the fire bureau either find a way to expand the programs and provide the right resources, or “find the appropriate home for them.”

    The audit report noted Chief Gillespie was “reportedly open to sending Portland Street Response to Multnomah County or a nonprofit contractor” even though the program could qualify for Medicaid reimbursement if it expanded to 24/7 service. In response to that audit, Gillespie and Gonzalez indicated their commitment to the long-term success of PSR, but said they’re in no hurry to ramp up the program, either. 

    “The need to ensure these programs are structurally sound, grounded in articulable, actionable goals, and financially cost-effective can no longer be ignored,” Gonzalez wrote in response to auditors last month.

    The proposed cuts to PSR come as the program is already struggling to cover the number of calls for help it receives. The program faced a hiring freeze last year amid budget scrutiny over purchases of essentials like tents, tarps, food and basic clothing that were distributed to unhoused people during response calls. Last summer, Gillespie told the Mercury that PSR grew too fast, too quickly. “The mission for PSR isn’t entirely clear, internally and externally,” Gillespie said shortly after being tapped to lead the fire bureau.

    PSR has yet to meet its initial goal of providing city-wide, round-the-clock, behavioral health support. That’s drawn ire from PSR supporters. Last year, an independent group called Friends of Portland Street Response was formed, largely as a mechanism to pressure city leaders like Gonzalez to expand funding and resources for the program. 

    The group says Gonzalez’s office has repeatedly canceled meetings with them, and shown no interest in helping PSR serve more people in need.

    One option pitched to save PSR from funding cuts? A controversial handout from the Portland Clean Energy Fund. City Commissioner Carmen Rubio is proposing using money from accrued interest dividends in the PCEF program to bail out PSR. That idea has garnered disapproval from climate advocates who note PCEF was created for specific, climate-related purposes, not to be used as a bailout for failing city bureaus.

    It’s also led Gonzalez to suggest PCEF use more of its funds to bail out the fire bureau and pay for all the city’s public safety programs. 

    The idea has yet to be approved.

    The city is expected to revisit bureau budget decisions this spring, with a final budget slated to be voted on this May.

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    Courtney Vaughn

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  • North Portland Jazz Club the 1905 Announces Reopening Plans and New Management

    North Portland Jazz Club the 1905 Announces Reopening Plans and New Management

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    Three months after the venue’s closure, it appears that celebrated jazz club the 1905 may soon reopen under new management.

    Although there isn’t yet a hard date set, a Monday morning press release from the 1905 announced the venue and pizzeria expects to reopen its doors to musicians and patrons “within the next four to six weeks barring any complications.”

    The 1905’s former owner Aaron Barnes shuttered the business this past November, after many years of financial instability—some of which was exacerbated by pandemic shutdown. In interviews with the Mercury, Barnes spoke of hocking his personal musical instruments and missing car payments to keep things afloat. Add to that bounced pay checks to staff and some of the musicians who played there, and it’s a wonder the 1905 survived as long as it did. 

    The Monday release emphasized that Barnes is no longer involved in the space. Instead, the LLC that operated the club—the Bridge PDX—will now be under the leadership of Chris Pfeifer, current managing partner for 404 Entertainment, LLC, an organization that is developing two music venues in the downtown building that once housed the Greek Cusina. 

    Quoted in the release, Pfeifer says, “When you get an opportunity to re-open one of Portland’s best-kept secrets… it’s kind of hard to pass. Not much will change because not much needs to. We found the troubles to be more the prior leadership than financial, as reported.” 

    The release goes on to say that the 1905 is also bringing back two previous employees, Joshua Madrid and Holly Resnick, to serve as bar manager and program director, respectively. “The club also plans to announce kitchen and CFO [roles] shortly,” it continues. 

    Much like Pfeifer’s comments, the announcement paints a hopeful portrait of a now-righted ship: “[Members of the Bridge PDX] were informed of significant mismanagement of the North Portland jazz club late last year,” it explains. “Upon this discovery, [they] immediately moved to remedy the issues. This included paying back wages and tips to employees, as well as squaring up with the musicians.”

    The Mercury has reached out to Pfeifer and the 1905 team, as well as Barnes, for further comment on this news and will update this article with the latest developments. 



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    Robert Ham

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  • Police identify man killed after being struck by car in Southeast Portland

    Police identify man killed after being struck by car in Southeast Portland

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    The collision happened on Southeast Foster Road Sunday evening on Feb. 4.

    PORTLAND, Ore. — A person was struck by a car and killed Sunday, Feb. 4 in Southeast Portland, prompting a closure of the surrounding streets for a few hours while police investigated.

    Portland Police Bureau (PPB) identified the man as 71-year-old Thomas Amato on Tuesday.

    Police responded at about 5:44 p.m. on Feb. 4 to a report of a traffic crash involving a pedestrian on  Woodstock Boulevard, according to a news release from the PPB. 

    According to PPB, officers found the man dead. He will be identified after family has been notified. 

    The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police. No arrests have been made.

    Traffic along Southeast Woodstock Boulevard was shut down between Southeast 97th Avenue and Southeast 101st Avenue for the investigation, police said. 

    This is the fifth fatal crash of the year in Portland and the third involving a pedestrian.

    Anyone who witnessed the collision who has not already spoken to police is asked to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov with the subject line, attn: Traffic Investigations Unit and reference case number 24-28406.

    Follow KGW on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

    Download the KGW News app: Download for iPhone here | Download for Android here

    Stream newscasts for free on KGW+ on Roku and Amazon Fire: How to add app to your device here

    See a typo in this article? Email web@kgw.com for corrections 



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  • Winter storm forecasted to bring major snow to Cascades & Gorge

    Winter storm forecasted to bring major snow to Cascades & Gorge

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    PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A round of heavy snowfall is forecasted to hit the Cascades and Columbia River Gorge on Wednesday & Thursday.

    Expect tough travel over the passes with the potential for feet of new snow on Mt. Hood.

    Timing: Snowfall is expected to pick up throughout the afternoon on Wednesday and continue all day through Thursday. We’ll see a break in the mountain snowfall by Friday, yet snow-packed roadways are still likely across the passes.

    The National Weather Service in Portland has a Winter Storm Watch in effect midweek for the potential of significant snowfall.

    Expect tough travel over the mountain passes, including Hwy-35 through Parkdell and Odell.

    Light snow accumulations and freezing rain is also possible in the Columbia River Gorge through Hood River Wednesday to Thursday morning.

    Be sure to keep your eyes on the forecast. The KOIN 6 Weather team will continue to monitor impacts of snowfall in the mountains and in the Portland metro area this week.

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    Kelley Bayern

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  • PDX main terminal almost ready for big debut in May

    PDX main terminal almost ready for big debut in May

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    Crews are entering the home stretch of work on the new main terminal at the Portland International Airport, which is set to open in May.

    PORTLAND, Ore. — The Port of Portland is getting ready to take the wraps off of the new main terminal at the Portland International Airport, with the big debut set for May. Behind a giant white curtain that runs the length of the terminal behind the public-facing check-in counters, large parts of new terminal have already taken shape.

    The sweeping mass timber roof is in place overhead, providing a sense of the kind of wide open space visitors can expect to encounter in the new terminal. The elevated mezzanine looking out over the tarmac is already there, and wood framing for future stores and restaurants can be spotted throughout. 

    RELATED: Boeing ‘under a microscope’ following door plug blow out, Buttigieg tells KGW

    But there’s still a flurry of construction activity in every corner of the terminal as crews begin to put the finishing touches on the interior. Stairs, seating and carpeting are all still to come, and the array of trees and plants promised in conceptual renderings are set to be delivered in March, according to Brad Harrison, senior manager, construction services.

    The new main terminal is the centerpiece of a broader overhaul that the Port of Portland refers to as PDX Next, which got underway in 2019. The overhaul also includes the new Concourse B — an expanded replacement for the former Concourse A at the southern corner of the airport, a new car rental center and a redesigned transit hub. 


    Most of the other components have already opened; the main terminal is the last piece and is scheduled to open later this year, although construction won’t fully wrap up until 2025. The redesigned B concourse also made room for TriMet to rebuild the airport MAX station and add a second track on the approach to airport as part of the Better Red project.


    From Phase 1 to Phase 2

    The opening of the new terminal in May won’t mark the end of the project, Harrison explained — only the end of what the team refers to as “phase 1.” The project had to be done in two phases in order to keep the terminal operational for air travelers throughout the whole process. 

    Phase 1 left the front counters in place from the former terminal, along with the original east and west security checkpoints at either end, with temporary walkways added along the outside of the building to shuttle passengers around the construction zone to reach the B and C concourses.


    The full new terminal will ultimately be rectangular, Harrison explained, but the phase 1 portion is more like a T-shape, focusing on the central area behind the current check-in counters and new the security areas behind the existing ones.

    In May, check-in and security operations will shift over to the competed phase 1 portion of the new terminal, and then the crews will get to work demolishing the old security checkpoints and filling out the rest of the space, installing the remaining sections of the new roof. The full structure will be complete in 2025.


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  • South Parks blocks residents welcome Portland drug missions

    South Parks blocks residents welcome Portland drug missions

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    Safeway at SW 10th and Jefferson a drug dealing hotspot

    PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — For the people living in the neighborhood between the South Park blocks and I-405, walking around doesn’t feel that safe between the mess, the assaults, the fires and the drug problems.

    “I’ve never seen someone pistol-whipped until I moved to Portland,” resident Daniel Deveau told KOIN 6 News. “There are people who just burn their trash. … The open use of hard drugs and the sale of hard drugs has just been really crazy.”

    Daniel Deveau is a longtime resident in the South Parks blocks in Portland, February 12, 2024 (KOIN)

    Another resident, Rebecca, said there is “urinating and defecating in our public park … I’m very aware of it. You see it on the PSU campus, people shooting up.”

    She added, “I can’t live here much longer like this.”

    Deveau agreed. “I have never seen it like I have the last few months.”

    Both people have lived in the area for about 10 years and both reached out to KOIN 6 News after the neighborhood’s problems were highlighted last Friday.

    That day, KOIN 6 News witnessed an emergency abatement because of problems in the area. On this day, just one block south, rapid response teams were cleaning up more tents.

    “Those weren’t there yesterday,” Deveau said.

    Last week Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office said Portland police and the Oregon State Police have been patrolling the area. PPB officials told KOIN 6 News they’re targeting the area around the Safeway on drug dealing missions, including one from Saturday, because it’s one of the latest hot spots in the city.

    Three people were arrested for distribution of a controlled substance, including fentanyl and meth, authorities said.

    PPB Officer Jerry Cioeta said drug dealers are “continually changing what they’re doing. They’re changing locations, they’re changing how they’re doing their drug deals. So, when they change, we change, too.”

    Deveau hopes more of these drug dealing missions happen.

    “Unfortunately, there needs to be persistent attention to this,” he told KOIN 6 News.

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    Brandon Thompson

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  • $2B-plus Gorge energy storage project takes 'exciting step forward'

    $2B-plus Gorge energy storage project takes 'exciting step forward'

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    Goldendale Energy Storage Project gets Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff endorsement.

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    Pete Danko

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  • Vegetarian cafe chain Harlow moves into new location in Southeast Portland

    Vegetarian cafe chain Harlow moves into new location in Southeast Portland

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    The business purchased the former location of Xico Mexican restaurant.

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    Malia Spencer

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  • Oregon’s Solution To Government Induced Housing Shortages is More Government – KXL

    Oregon’s Solution To Government Induced Housing Shortages is More Government – KXL

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    Oregon desperately needs new housing.  

    Government created this problem so more government seems unlikely to fix it.

    Two things made it happen.

    For more than 50 years, the government artificially and unnecessarily locked up land with Senate Bill 100 and Urban Growth Boundaries.  In other words, Oregon did to land what OPEC did to oil: Create a shortage and drive the price through the roof.

    And why?  After more than 150 years of statehood, humans now occupy less than 4 percent of all the land in the state.  You’d think we could free up a bit more to cut the cost of housing.

    Second, greedy local governments jacked up so-called “system development” fees.  So, before you even turn a shovelful of dirt or pound in a nail…you pay government tens of thousands of dollars.

    You’re paying for sewer and water and roads and schools that literally don’t exist.

    Now, the legislature wants to address the housing shortage by raising a new state property tax.  

    Now Governor Kotek claims half a billion dollars in state subsidies will cut the cost.

    Both are foolish.

    Let’s suspend Urban Growth boundaries.  Slash or suspend system development charges.  

    Make it as easy to get a permit to build a house as it is for Oregon Democrats to take illegal campaign contributions.

    The post Oregon’s Solution To Government Induced Housing Shortages is More Government appeared first on The Lars Larson Show.

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    News Desk

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  • The Top 47 Events in Portland This Week: Feb 12–18, 2024 – EverOut Portland

    The Top 47 Events in Portland This Week: Feb 12–18, 2024 – EverOut Portland

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