Forage for these 3 Oregon mushrooms!

Less Snow Plowing

Expect more snow on the roads this winter, because the Oregon Department of Transportation isn’t planning to plow as often. The agency is facing a funding shortfall, despite cutting maintenance and services by 15%. That’s because ODOT relies on gas tax revenue, which has declined as more Oregonians are driving electric vehicles and more efficient gas-powered cars. The city transportation agency faces a similar problem. [KATU]

Drug Use Outside Drug Treatment Center

People who use drugs are congregating outside the Blackburn drug treatment center in East Portland, sometimes as they wait for drug treatment. Some are also waiting for a spot in the Menlo Park Safe Rest Village across the street. [KGW]

• Related: The Lund Report’s Emily Green explains Portland’s fentanyl addiction crisis. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

16 Amtrak Trains to Seattle a Day

There’s an effort underway to increase passenger train service, both nationally and in the Northwest. It’s currently in the concept phase, but the Washington Department of Transportation is saying that 16 round trips a day between Seattle and Portland could make sense. Currently, there are just four. [Urbanist]

Fall Is Virus Season

What should we expect from this year’s virus season? Freelance science journalist Erin Ross talks COVID-19, flu, and RSV as well as the new vaccines. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

🥒 Portland Fermentation Festival (also known as Stinkfest) | Thursday | 6 - 9 p.m.

There’ll be tastings of pickled vegetables, kraut, cheese, dairy, miso, and more. Kirsten Shockey, co-founder of The Fermentation School and author of "Fermented Vegetables," will give the keynote address. [$17.85+, Pearl]

🖋️ Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki | Thursday | 7 p.m.

The award-winning pair are writers and artists, who are out with a new graphic novel, “Roaming." It’s about a group in their late teens and their few days in the big city. [Free, Pearl]

🖤 Tool | Thursday | 8 p.m.

It’s a stop on a highly anticipated tour from the prog metal band, whose most recent album is 2019’s “Fear Inoculum.” [$112.20+, Lloyd District]

Portland's Flu Season Forecast

Now that fall is here, experts expect that cases of COVID-19, RSV, and flu will rise. How worried should we be about this year’s bugs? And what’s going on with the latest vaccines? Science journalist Erin Ross answers our questions about viruses, vaccines, and masking up.