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Good morning, Portland! The weather may just be our October (more like Hotober) surprise. Today’s high is 69. Nice. Expect clouds through the morning and early afternoon.

Election Day is four weeks away. 

In Local News: 

• Portland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a fire at the Owens Corning roofing plant around 12:30 Tuesday morning in the NW industrial district. Crews on scene used a large amount of foam fire retardant rather than water initially, noting employees at the plant advised not to use water on the fire or there would be "a large and volatile steam reaction of the water onto the hot tar product." Eventually fire crews found an effective way to use water on the blaze and noted all water from the fire goes into catch basins. Unclear what kind of toxic mess is left in the aftermath. PF&R reports all plant personnel made it out of the building safely.

Portland Fire & Rescue engines at the scene of a roof manufacturing plant in
NW Portland early Tuesday morning.  portland fire & rescue

• Amid mounting pressure from the city of Portland and the general public, Multnomah County announced Monday that its new deflection center will open next Monday. The Coordinated Care Pathway Center on SE Pine will serve as a drop-off point for police to take people with small amounts of drugs on them who are eligible to complete drug treatment in lieu of jail. For now, it will operate 7 am to 11 pm weekdays and 7 am to 3 pm weekends. According to the county, the center will offer those who want drug treatment with available resources. It will expand to include up to 16 sobering beds by next April and will eventually operate 24 hours a day.

• Speaking of police, they’re freaking out about Election Day (aren’t we all?) Portland’s police chief asked the city for up to $2.3 million to cover staff overtime costs during anticipated protests on and around Election Day. Officers are being told to cancel planned time off. Those aren’t the only unexpected expenses involving the Portland Police Bureau. City Council is also slated to vote on approving a $500,000 settlement with a couple who were mauled by a PPB K-9 in 2021 while out for a walk. The dog was being kept in its handler’s home and escaped, allegedly attacking the passersby unprovoked. 

That’s in addition to more than $46,000 in property damage claims related to three different vehicle collisions involving police. The city notes the payouts will come from an insurance and claims fund and won’t impact the budget. Somebody call the traffic police on … the police. 

• If you're sick of eating tater tots at your nearest bar (no disrespect) or you've grown bored of Netflix, venture out to one of the dozens of events happening around the city this week. From live music to film, theater, comedy, and dance parties, we made you a tidy yet comprehensive list. 

 

In National/World News:

• A large swath of the South is either still recovering from a hurricane or bracing for one. A category 5 hurricane is headed for Florida tomorrow and Thursday, with predicted winds up to 165 miles per hour. Forecasters are warning Hurricane Milton could be “one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.” The catastrophic storm comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which hit two weeks ago. Evacuation orders have been issued for three counties so far. Florida residents report long lines at gas stations and bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeways as residents try to flee to safer ground.

• Monday marked the 1-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that triggered a genocidal response from Israel. While Americans took to the streets to protest–some denouncing Israeli’s military actions and others defending Israel–what’s now been a year of brutal war in the Middle East. The latest reports count 77 dead after Israel bombed areas along the Gaza Strip Monday.

• The US Supreme Court is slated to hear a case today to determine whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can require regulations for ghost guns. Ghost guns are typically assembled at home from a kit or combination of parts that aren’t registered or tracked the way traditional guns are. The weapons have reportedly been linked to thousands of crimes and at least 700 homicides.

In 2022, the ATF added regulations for ghost guns sold by licensed retailers, deeming certain portions of the assembled weapons need serial numbers before being sold. A Texas court struck down the federal government’s rules as an overreach, thus landing the case at the Supreme Court.

 
 
 
 
 
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