News
The whale doesn’t win: how the Navy used fear tactics to gut concerns about marine mammal health
After years as a loner adrift in his own world, Ken (Balcomb) had finally found a peer group and a mission,” writes Joshua Horwitz in his new book. Balcomb was the first to do in-depth studies of the various pods of orca whales that live in Washington’s Puget Sound. “(His) and Michael Bigg’s (of the…
An impenetrable force: Reflecting on the Portland police union, past and present
In the new documentary “Arresting Power,” which premiered at the Northwest Film Center in January, there is a 1981 film clip of Portland police commissioner Charles Jordan in heated dialogue with outraged citizens protesting a blatant act of racial harassment. A group of police officers had left four dead opossums at the door of the…
Underwater: Oregon’s agency responsible for monitoring waterway polluters is the most backlogged in the country
Oregon has the stiffest water pollution regulations of any state in the U.S. Sounds impressive, right? Think again. Oregon is dead last nationwide when it comes to keeping wastewater permits current with state regulations. According to the EPA’s most recent data on the status of each state’s stormwater and wastewater permits, Oregon has the highest…
Essential, common, but so hard to find
Menstruals, monthlies, menses, periods, “that time of the month”: Whatever you want to call it, menstruation is a natural and regular part of life for many women. But for women experiencing homelessness, finding a pad or tampon can be harder than finding a meal or a new pair of socks. “I took a towel and…
Opinion
Oregon’s environmental policies should be more than paper deep
Oregon has a proud history of protecting its wildlife and natural resources. We also have significant environmental problems. The latter is particularly frustrating when the best intentions are left to languish under the weight of an underfunded bureaucracy. We all think we’re doing the right thing, that we’ve done our part, but the problem festers.…
Smart, calculated decisions will solve housing crisis
The landscape of Portland is changing before our eyes. New housing and business developments, apartment buildings and condos are popping up across neighborhoods. It’s a brand new era. There’s money to be made, and lots of it. Saying all of that, we’re proud in Portland for what we have been able to accomplish. Take the…
Additional funding request could fuel new housing strategies
Our city lacks the tools and resources to meet our various affordable housing goals. The shortage of affordable housing coupled with skyrocketing rents continue to strain our low- and middle-income families, leaving some lower-income households on the verge of homelessness. For those seeking a pathway out of homelessness, the low vacancy rate offers few openings…
