🧌 Portland’s billboard trolls call it quits

Goodbye, to the Portland Dark Money Trolls

On the Friday news roundup, the dark money group People for Portland is calling it quits. The group, which represented the establishment, put up high-profile billboards, including one targeting now outgoing Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who lost his reelection bid in May. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Stadium Could Secure the Tilikum for Big One

The Major League Baseball stadium proposed for the west end of the Tilikum Crossing might have an added benefit beyond baseball. It could shore up the bridge against the Big One, by stabilizing the soil there. [KOIN]

Test Scores Show Continued Pandemic Learning Loss

Oregon students’ standardized test scores show continued pandemic learning loss, with only slight improvements in math last spring — but not in reading and writing. Just 42% of third- through eighth-graders tested proficient in reading and writing tests last spring, down 9 percentage points from 2019, which was itself a low-scoring year. [Oregonian 🔒]

The staircase leading down to Lower Macleay Trail in Forest Park from the Northwest Thurman Street bridge is painted with a bright welcoming rainbow.

“A wonderful entry point along Lower Macleay Creek into Forest Park,” wrote reader Mona Reed. “Head that way to get a glimpse of the witch on Halloween! And head up them after your hike to feel the burn. 🔥”

“It is my favorite place to run by with the run clubs out of Portland Running Company,” wrote reader Krystal. “You get hit with that cool air as soon as you get down there and are greeted by people and dogs enjoying the park. Only one time did I see a guy practicing his knife-throwing on a tree across from those stairs. I ran by that area very quick that night.”

A shoutout to them and the rest of the first 10 readers to identify the spot: Mark Pauley, Phoebe Cornelia, Ivy Fredrick Flowers, Sido Surkis, David Sloan, Barbara Sack, Bija, and Brian Kinion.

Where do you find this totem pole? As always, please share the location and how you’d like your name to appear. I also welcome what you know about the spot and any of your stories about being there.