City Cast Portland
Trump’s impact in all 36 Oregon counties
May 12, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning! How will the Trump administration’s cuts and tariffs impact Oregon’s economy? There’s a story from each of the state’s 36 counties, including:
- Steelport Knife Co. in Portland, which has seen higher steel costs already — along with canceled orders from international customers.
- Astoria’s Columbia Memorial Hospital, which has lost a FEMA grant for its work on a tsunami- and earthquake-readiness upgrade.
What's CITY Talking About?
New $2B Price Tag for Rose Quarter Project
The state may still need to secure upwards of $1 billion in funding to complete the I-5 Rose Quarter project. The state plans to begin the project this summer, even as costs have risen by up to half a billion since the last cost estimate. [Oregonian]
Pickles Sue Disney
The Portland Pickles filed suit against Disney last week alleging trademark violations after the launch of a new Pixar cartoon series featuring a softball team named the Pickles — with green-and-white jerseys. [KOIN]
Oregon State’s Portland Forest
Oregon State has acquired 3,110 acres of forest, just five miles from Forest Park, for research and recreation. A logging company sold the property to the nonprofit Trust For Public Land, which donated it to Oregon State. [OPB]
Fagan Finally Apologizes for Ethical Lapses
The state’s Ethics Commission voted to fine Secretary of State Shemia Fagan $3,600 (double the original proposal), finding that she’d traded on her state position for her own benefit in working as a $10,000-a-month contractor for a cannabis company. The commission also found she received state reimbursements for travel expenses she wasn’t entitled to. [Willamette Week]
I know that my actions were indefensible. Embarrassing mistakes, bad judgment, and I’m sorry.
What To Do
Monday, May 12
- 🌮 Food Cart Week at various locations
- 🌲 Forest Pub: Stories of the PNW Told by Tree Rings at McMenamins Mission Theater (Northwest district)
- 🎵 Weather Station at Mississippi Studios (Boise)
- 🎵 Too Many Zooz at Revolution Hall (Buckman)
Tuesday, May 13
- 📖 Silent Reading Party at BOLD Coffee & Books (Goose Hollow)
- 🎶 2025 Lullaby Project Concert at Alberta Rose Theatre (Concordia)
- 🪇 Latin Rock Exchange at Aztec Willies (Irvington)
- 🎷 Tuesday Night Jazz: Tracy Kim Trio ft. Keilemei at Négociant (Northwest District)
- 🪢 Macrame Plant Hanger Workshops at Origin Story (Boise)
- 😂 The Bechdel Set at Haymaker Bar (Overlook)
- 🌸 Spring Awakening Sound Bath at Nalu Kava Lounge Tea House (Humboldt)
🎼 Oregon Symphony is working with parents who’ve experienced homelessness to write lullabies for their own children. They’ll be performed tomorrow.
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