Why Portland roads won’t be repaved

No Snow Plowing on Secondary Roads?

The Portland Bureau of Transportation may have to halt some paving projects and not plow the snow on secondary roads, among other cuts to services. Gas taxes that fund the bureau have fallen, and its leadership is warning City Council of the impending fiscal crisis. They also plan to lay off 88 employees and leave another 39 vacant positions unfilled. [OPB/Oregonian]

Misdirected Blame for Decriminalization?

Drug decriminalization did not correlate to a rise in overdoses, according to new research commissioned by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Researchers compared Oregon with other states where drugs are still very much illegal and found that “fatal overdoses increased in multiple states, likely due to an influx of fentanyl,” the Portland Mercury reports. [Portland Mercury]

• Related: A simple explanation for Portland’s homelessness crisis. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

3 Target Stores to Close

Target is closing three Portland stores — the downtown Galleria, Southeast Powell, and Hollywood locations. The company says there is too much theft at those locations. All three are smaller stores than the typical Target. The East Portland and Hayden Island locations will stay open. Will bowling make a comeback? [Oregonian/YouTube]

🍺 Portland Fresh Hops Festival | Friday - Saturday | Various

The Oregon Brewers Guild brings their freshly-harvested hops concoctions. Five different tastings included with the cost of admission. Proceeds from the event go to promoting craft beer. [$28.92, Sellwood]

🌕 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival | Saturday | 3 - 10 p.m.

Celebrate with mooncakes, lantern processions, moon gazing, and storytelling, as well as dance and music performances. [Free but reserve your spot, Foster-Powell]

🍏 The World's Largest CharFruitTree Board | Oct. 26 | 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.

It’s a punny name and a good cause. Celebrate the harvest season, with proceeds going to the nonprofit Portland Fruit Tree Project. [$39.26+, Buckman]

How Oregon Will Turn $200 Million Into Housing

Andrea Bell is the executive director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, the state agency in charge of funding affordable housing projects for Oregon. She’s telling us how the $200 million that the Legislature approved to spend on housing actually turns into homes.