Probably the Most Consequential News of Your Day: The city’s Planning and Sustainability Commission will vote this evening on zoning tweaks that would go a long way toward allowing a massive propane export terminal on the Columbia River in North Portland. It’s going to be a messy hearing, with hours of testimony and advocates arguing the new terminal—proposed by Canadian company Pembina Pipeline—flies in the face of the city’s climate change goals, and could lead to disaster. The Portland Tribune has this helpful primer. The hearing’s at 3 pm, at 1900 SW 4th.
Sort of Related: One advocacy group thinks the Columbia is America’s second most endangered river, because of uncertainty over whether the river’s ecosystems are duly protected.
Also, the National Transportation Safety Board says the train cars that transport oil all over the country are in need of big-time safety upgrades. The Pembina project would involve trains hauling propane, not oil—and in different kinds of cars. But there’s a lot of fear from neighbors, given recent oil train tragedies, that Pembina’s proposal could lead to an explosion.
We have an education budget! And people are sad. After hours of fierce debate and some brief tantrums, the Oregon Senate approved a $7.25 billion schools budget yesterday that now goes to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk (she’ll sign it). It’s a big increase in what Oregon’s spent on schools in the past, but everyone agrees its not enough. Republicans had been pushing their own, larger schools budget, but Democrats sent it packing. The budget passed the Senate in a party-line vote.
Same deal with Democrats’ latest ambitions around stronger gun control. A bill to close loopholes in the state’s background check requirements, among other things, sailed out of a Senate committee yesterday along party lines. Democrats, who’ve been repeatedly stymied in trying to pass this thing over the years, might fast-track it through.
It’s not just California feeling the puckering squeeze of a drought. Five Oregon counties are on emergency status because of the lack of rain.
The city’s mountain bikers are railing for more access on city land again. In Forest Park, this time, after a strong turnout at SW Portland’s River View Natural Area earlier this year.
Now Rand Paul’s running for president. Set your watches for Messrs. Bush and Walker to make their announcements any day.
Big day in Chicago, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel defends his seat in an unprecedented runoff election. Can Jesus “Chuy” Garcia unseat a monied mayor known best for closing down schools and war with the teachers’ union? (And, all right, building useful bike lanes at a faster clip than Portland has lately.)
The Student Has Become the President: An interesting story about how Obama’s old, lefty Harvard law mentor has suddenly taken up with an energy corporation to challenge the President’s global warming agenda.
They’ve been lying to you about salt all this time. Maybe they have, at least.
No droughts for Portland, just now.
CONSIDER YOURSELF ON BLAST, Denver International Airport.