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The state’s $450 million proposal to widen I-5 has been called a boondoggle that runs contrary to Portland’s bold emissions goals—but could it also imperil schoolchildren? Portland Public Schools board member Paul Anthony thinks it might, and yesterday he added his voice to the chorus of people telling Portland City Council to slow down before okaying the plan.
Speaking of PPS, the Tribune has drilled down into the case of a troubled teacher who was kept on salary for a bizarre amount of time, despite serious concerns about whether he posed a safety threat in the work place. No good news coming from the school district these days, it seems.
So, the government still might shut down at midnight tonight. The House voted to temporarily extend funding for government functions on Thursday, but the outlook in the Senate is still murky as Democrats push for progress on immigration, disaster relief, and more. Here’s a helpful breakdown of various Senate factions.
By the way: In case you were wondering what a “government shutdown” really entails, the AP dusted off this evergreen explainer (or so I assume). “Social Security checks will still go out. Troops will remain at their posts. Doctors and hospitals will get their Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. In fact, virtually every essential government agency, like the FBI, the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, will remain open.”
Very interesting: Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, whose use of social media has generated controversy, is hiring a social media manager who will be paid $73K a year and I am unquestionably in the wrong line of work.
Danielle Outlaw has been the city’s police chief since early October, but if you’ve really been jonesing to see Portland’s first woman of color to serve in that role fake-sworn in, there’s a “ceremonial” ceremony next Monday.
The Pacific Ocean was angry and treacherous yesterday, spurring warnings to stay away from the shoreline, sweeping a man out to sea in Depoe Bay, and nearly claiming another person in Lincoln City.
This virulently racist University of Alabama sorority girl can’t be bounced hard enough from her school and sorority to satisfy me. Just, bye.
Just days after he stopped being New Jersey’s governor, reports say Chris Christie was denied access to an airport entrance reserved for VIPs and dignitaries. Christie is adamant that this did not occur.
The former Portland scrap yard honcho who oversaw an operation that bought and demolished stolen cars is headed to prison.
Donald Trump has called himself pro-choice, but is actually becoming a champion of the anti-abortion movement, the AP notes.
I’ll just put this here: “A year into Donald Trump’s presidency, records show five of his top staffers still have not secured final approval of their financial reports — disclosures that are required by law to ensure Americans that these senior officials aren’t personally benefiting from their White House jobs.”
