What happens if Oregon private eyes stop working

Union Strike Shuts Powell’s

The prominent local chain Powell’s opted to shut stores on Labor Day in the face of a one-day strike. Workers are pressing for higher pay in ongoing contract negotiations. [Willamette Week]

Flood Plan

Environmentalists are criticizing a Portland City Hall plan that would continue to allow development in floodplains —  including preserving an exception for the South Waterfront. They argue it’s a problem as floods could grow more common and be a problem for threatened fish species. [Oregonian]

Jefferson High School Can’t Use Nearby PCC

Jefferson High School students will have to commute 11 miles to the Marshall High School campus while their building is renovated, beginning in a year. Portland Public Schools is citing a zoning problem for why they can’t work out a deal with Portland Community College, which is across the street, for students to attend there. That’s curious because there is already a partnership between the two educational institutions. [Willamette Week]

Justice System Slowdown

Public defenders are underpaid, but so are another key part of the defense system: the private investigators who help make the cases. Dawn Krantz-Watts, a private investigator based in the Portland area, tells us why she’s drawing a line in the sand and what it means for our legal system. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

I enjoyed this response from a reader to our Portland moment 🌹

“I'm 64 and lived in Portland most my life, I've seen the ups, keep it weird (ha ha), and the lows, and I've learned one thing Portland always comes back, with the community help,  and staying on our local government, All of us will make are rose city rosy again!” — Craig Smith

As summer winds to a close I thought I’d share my own personal favorite things about Portland from this summer:

• Jacqueline and its oyster happy hour. The restaurant is not new, but I hadn’t been before this summer.
• Girls Build. It’s a group that helps kids who might not consider a career in the trades get a shot at blacksmithing, circuit building, and solar-panel construction. Check it out their summer camp for the kids in your life.
• Road trips from Portland. I got a chance to visit parts of the state where I’d never been before. I recommend a trip to Fossil and the Painted Hills if you get a chance. (Related: if you’re going, here’s some advice on last-minute road trips.)

How about you? What were your Portland favorites this summer?

🎥 ‘The Witch in Love’ | Wednesday | 7 p.m.

The 1966 Italian horror film is based on a novel by Carlos Fuentes. [$8, Southeast Clinton Street]

🤡 CoHo Clown Festival | Thursday - Oct. 1 | Various

For the second year in the row, the Northwest Portland Theater is convening the clown community for workshops and shows in physical comedy, laughs, and fringe performance. [$6.45+ for single events, Northwest]

⛲ ‘A Sense of Place: The Art Legacy of George Tsutakawa’ Opening | Thursday | 5:30 p.m.

The Seattle-born artist who was educated in Japan is best known in the Pacific Northwest for his public fountains, but he worked in other media as well. [Free, Old Town]

A Big Part of Oregon’s Legal System Is Grinding to a Halt

Oregon’s public defense system relies on court experts to weigh in on cases: people like private investigators and forensic accountants. But a group of local private investigators says they’ve been chronically underpaid, and they’re not taking on certain cases until they get a raise. Today on City Cast Portland, Dawn Krantz-Watts, a private investigator based in the Portland area, tells us why she’s drawing a line in the sand and what it means for our legal system.