How bad are Portland’s overdosing rates?

Keep Your Amputated Body Parts

Beginning in September, patients who undergo an amputation in Oregon can keep their body parts for religious, spiritual, or cultural reasons. Leaders of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs led the push for the legislation, noting that keeping a body fully intact is key to a smooth transition into the spirit world. [OPB]

How Portland Overdose Rates Compare

We all know that fentanyl addiction and overdoses have skyrocketed in recent years, but new data from the San Francisco Chronicle shows that Multnomah County’s fatal overdose rate is nowhere near the worst in the country. It’s still well above the national average, but we rank 16th, behind places like Dayton, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Most chillingly, Baltimore’s per capita overdose rate is nearly three times higher than Portland’s. [Willamette Week]

• 🎧 Dig deeper: What you need to know about fentanyl addiction in Portland. [City Cast Portland]

Calling in the State Troopers

Mayor Ted Wheeler is proposing the deployment of nearly 100 Oregon state troopers, constituting a fifth of the statewide total, to address escalating crime in the city. This idea, among several others, was presented at a task force meeting led by Gov. Tina Kotek, aimed at revitalizing Portland's central city. The proposals also include over $250 million in direct funding requests from the state, focusing on initiatives such as combating graffiti, transforming vacant office spaces into housing, and launching an ad campaign to enhance Portland's reputation. [OPB]

A Very Portland Take

When we recently had Portland-based certified holistic sex educator, sex worker, and “They Talk Sex” podcast host Elle Stanger on City Cast Portland, we also asked about what makes Portland feel like home. Their answer was on point.

• "I like walking through the neighborhoods all over Portland, but especially in southeast and northeast and seeing all the wacky ways that people decorate their homes and their yards. I like the eccentricities of so many of the locals. When I first moved here 15 years ago, I saw a young man in a footed pajama onesie riding a bicycle and eating a burrito, and I was like, ‘Yes, this is where I want to be’”

Updated Backpacking Links

Yesterday I told you about the best backpacking trips around Portland, but mistakenly included dead links for several of the selections. The links have been updated on our website. Happy backpacking!

Timber!

The Portland Timbers fired their winningest coach and the internet has opinions. Is the team a soul-sucking mess?

🥬 Kenton Farmers Market | Wednesdays | 3 - 7 p.m.

Take a break from the work week to shop locally. [Kenton; Free]

🐕 Doggie Fashion Show | Wednesday | 5 p.m.

Dress up your pup and bring them to this fundraiser for Portland Animal Welfare. [Mt. Scott-Arletta; Free to attend, $10 for pet entry]

🎸 Wilcone Wednesday | Wednesday | 6 p.m.

Calling all Wilco lovers! The tribute band is playing a free show at LaurelThirst Public House. [Buckman; Free]

🛼 Retro Roll | Wednesday | 7 - 9 p.m.

Pull out the clothes from your favorite decade and strap on some skates. They’ll be spinning hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. [Sellwood-Moreland; $12]

Eating Our Way Through Burger Week 2023

Every year, dozens of local restaurants create a specialty burger, and then offer it at a ridiculously low price: All for the love of burgers. And this year there are nearly 80 restaurants taking part! Yes: That’s an impossible number of burgers to eat in a week. So, Brooke Jackson-Glidden, editor of Eater Portland, is helping narrow down which burgers should make your list.