City Cast Portland
🐦 Where to find the Portland swifts now
September 16, 2025 · — Rachel Monahan
Good morning, Portland! 🍂 Summer is coming to an end all too soon, but there are outdoor adventures to look forward to even with the rainy weather: fish-viewing at the Bonneville Dam, mushroom foraging, and pumpkin patches, to name a few 🎧
What's DC Talking About
Layoffs To Match Great Recession
Oregon employers have laid off 11,000 workers since the beginning of 2024. That rate is in line with what happened during the Great Recession, though the unemployment rate remains at 5% (far lower than 2008-09’s peak of 11%). [Oregonian]
Nuclear Waste Fight
The federal government is on track to open a crucial facility next month that will aid in cleaning up radioactive waste at the Hanford nuclear site. But U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said he wants to possibly eliminate the facility, even though it's already been built — to the alarm of Washington State elected officials. [Washington State Standard via OPB]
Studying the Tufted Puffins’ Dramatic Decline
Tufted puffin populations along the West Coast have started disappearing in recent decades, and scientists are racing to discover why, including by studying another puffin species — rhinoceros auklets, which have thrived. [Oregonian]
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What To Do
Tuesday, Sep. 16
- 🎨 dance apron | Elizabeth Leach Gallery (Pearl District)
- 🎵 The Psychedelic Furs | Crystal Ballroom
- 🎵 Symphony X | Dante’s
- 🎵 TWRP | Aladdin Theater
Wednesday, Sep. 17
- 🍚 Behind the Wok: Preserving the Legacy of Chinese American Restaurants in Portland’s Jade District | Oregon Historical Society
- ✒️ Handwriting the Constitution | Midland Library
- 📚 Author Talk: Tilt by Emma Pattee | Hillsdale Library
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Walla Walla: What are you waiting for?
Washington’s Walla Walla Valley is one of the prettiest and tastiest vacation meccas in the West, full of wineries, tasting rooms, great restaurants, shops and open roads. If you’re thinking about a romantic escape, a friend’s long weekend or a family reunion, great thinking. Come! And experience it for yourself!
Today on City Cast Portland
Portland’s Guide to Fall Colors and Outdoor Adventures
Fall does mean rain, but the season offers plenty of great opportunities for outdoor adventures, from fish-viewing at the Bonneville Dam to pumpkin patches. Karrie Carnes, a local adventurer and the Portland ambassador for Women Who Explore, has ideas for some seasonal activities everyone can enjoy.
I live by the mantra ‘There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.’
🥳A big thank you to Sam W. for joining City Cast Portland Neighbors. Welcome!
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