💰 Why your water bill may increase

Kotek Supports Statewide Cellphone Policies

Gov. Tina Kotek said she would support a state-level policy for cellphone use in classrooms to “help students get off their phones and focus.” Democratic and Republican lawmakers are working on a bill to address this in the next legislative session. [OPB]

Former MultCo Chair Named PPS Chief of Staff

Deborah Kafoury, the former county chair for Multnomah County, is now the chief of staff for the superintendent of Portland Public Schools. Kafoury previously oversaw $1 billion worth of projects for the county and was also a House Democratic Leader for two years. [KOIN]

You May See a 30% Water Bill Increase

Thousands of Portlanders may soon see a major hike in their water and sewer bills. That’s because the city is changing how it will charge residents for stormwater services. [KATU2]

Will Keller Auditorium be Updated or Replaced?

To make the theater earthquake-safe and in line with modern standards, Keller Auditorium will need to be replaced, or drastically remodeled. But a remodeling project could shut it down for years, affecting jobs and a major stream of revenue for the city. Portland City Council has now heard three proposals and could be discussing Keller’s future as soon as Aug. 14. [Oregonian]

Why Portland’s Car Culture is Different

Despite Portland’s efforts to reduce reliance on cars and to make the city more walkable, the city has one of the most unique car subcultures. Today on the podcast, hear from two members of Car Krush on why Portland’s car culture is more inclusive than most. [City Cast Portland 🎧]