After only 16 years of neighborhood activism, Northwest Portland steel parts manufacturer ESCO has agreed to spend roughly $5 million to reduce its annual pollution by 20 percent. Groups like Neighbors for Clean Air have pressed ESCO for years to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals it releases into the neighborhood near Chapman Elementary, even though the plant's current emission levels are legal under state and federal laws. This week, the plant finally signed a deal with the neighbors, pledging to voluntarily reduce emissions. SARAH MIRK

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A large chunk of downtown Portland will soon be known as the "Pioneer District." The rebranding, first reported by blogger Byron Beck, is part of the Downtown Marketing Initiative—a joint effort of the Portland Development Commission and Travel Portland. The Pioneer District, given the name because it includes Pioneer Courthouse Square, will cover the blocks bound by SW Morrison, Yamhill, 3rd, and 10th. SM

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Last weekend, a mysterious animal rights group struck fear into the hearts of rabbit owners all across Portland, plucking a pair of bunnies from their hutches outside an unlucky rabbit owner's home. The only trace left behind? A terse note from "Helping Animals Living Outside [HALO] League," informing owner Fiona Petra that her rabbits were taken to a warm, indoor home. Insulted and upset, Petra called around to other local animal-rights groups to see if they knew anything about HALO. No one did. "It's about as revolutionary as tagging a bathroom stall," says Petra. "It really gives animal activists a bad name." One of the bunnies, Truly, was found Tuesday, November 29, "dazed and exhausted" on a street corner in Milwaukie. ALEX ZIELINSKI