Portland teachers finally have a contract, after 19 months without one. Portland Public Schools and the Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) disagreed about things like salary increases and workday hours. Both parties wrote up a tentative agreement after negotiations stalled in early February ["Schoolhouse Block," News, Feb 11]. On Friday, February 26, the district's teachers voted to accept the agreement, and the school board followed suit a day later. "I'm really glad we came to a fair and respectful settlement," PAT President Rebecca Levison told the board after the final vote—though teachers had to forgo a "cost-of-living" salary increase for the current school year. Read Blogtown for updates. STEFAN KAMPH

***

In a controversial vote, the Metro Council approved plans on Thursday, February 25, to lay out what land developers can build on over the next 50 years and what land must stay rural. Drawing up the maps for the urban and rural reserves in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington Counties has consumed two years of public process. "This is the 169th opportunity to testify," Metro President David Bragdon told the crowd at last week's vote, which led to a tug-of-war between developers and environmentalists who fear sprawl. The Washington County map drew particular ire: It slates 900 new acres for development in the farmland around the city of Cornelius, a city currently built on 1,200 acres. The council approved that map 4-3. SARAH MIRK