The $3.5 billion Columbia River Crossing—the long-awaited I-5 bridge over the Columbia River—faces yet another roadblock. As first reported by the Columbian, the US Coast Guard has deemed the bridge too low for some boats to pass under and is refusing to grant a construction permit. In a worst-case scenario, adding extra height to the 95 feet of clearance in current designs could cost up to $150 million—with the risk that the new addition might also interfere with airplane flights. So for now? Transportation officials are pushing the construction start date back to 2014. ALEX ZIELINSKI

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In another election-year departure at city hall, Commissioner Randy Leonard—who's stepping down after his term ends this year—is losing his longtime chief of staff, Ty Kovatch. The 33-year-old, who's the longest tenured (but somehow still the youngest) chief of staff in city hall, is moving over to run the water bureau's maintenance and construction group. (Leonard's office oversees the water bureau.) Kovatch has been Leonard's top aide since 2002, enduring both political and personal ordeals. AZ

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Kernel Loose-Nut, the character behind the ongoing camping-ban vigil at Portland City Hall, was arrested Friday, March 2, after police showed up in the wee hours to roust a group of protesters near the vigil who'd taken to sleeping on wooden pallets. The Kernel (AKA Moses Wrosen) says he was charged with erecting a structure and mischief. He's going to fight the charges and says he's enlisted a constitutional lawyer. Adds the Kernel: "I decided that it was something I was willing to take a stand, or a nap, on." DENIS C. THERIAULT