💰 Portland judge (likely) kills the Kroger merger

Pause on Renovating 3 PPS High Schools

Portland Public Schools has gone back-and-forth about whether to renovate the last three high schools in the district that haven’t had an upgrade. Now board members are saying the cost of around half a billion dollars per school is too high, and have paused plans to go to voters in May. [KOIN]

Oregon Judge Rules Against Kroger-Albertsons Merger

A federal judge in Oregon has ruled against Kroger’s potential merger with Albertsons, issuing a preliminary injunction yesterday. Though technically temporary, the judge’s decision is expected to kill what would have been the largest grocery merger in U.S. history — one that state and federal regulators said would raise prices for consumers. [Oregonian 🔒]

An Experienced Portland Administrator Will Stay On

Portland Mayor-elect Keith Wilson may have no background in politics, but he’s keeping an experienced hand on staff to serve as the Portland’s first official city administrator. Currently serving in that powerful post on an interim basis, Michael Jordan has previously led the state’s Department of Administrative Services as well as the city’s environmental services bureau. [Oregonian 🔒]

Return to the Office at City Hall

On the midweek news roundup, Mayor-elect Keith Wilson said he wants city workers back in the office four days a week. Plus, there’s other updates on the transition to a new form of government. [City Cast Portland 🎧]