🫶 Advice on Trump deployments from LA, DC, and Chicago

Advice From Other Cities With Troop Deployments

Today on the Friday news roundup, Los Angeles and D.C. have already experienced troop deployments, and Chicago has been living under the threat of their arrival for longer than Portland has. So what wisdom can be gleaned from those experiences? The City Cast Portland podcast found some advice for us. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

• Listen to wisdom from our City Cast colleagues in:
  • Los Angeles
  • Chicago
  • Washington, D.C.

A Judge’s Possible Conflict of Interest

The federal court judge who was assigned to the deployment case has recused himself over potential conflicts. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon is married to U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, who opposes Trump’s deployment. This morning’s scheduled hearing will proceed — with Judge Karin J. Immergut presiding. [Oregonian]

Test Scores Rise

Oregon’s student test scores improved slightly last school year, but are still below pre-pandemic levels: 42.4% of elementary and middle schoolers attained a “proficient” score on Smarter Balanced reading and writing tests — down about 9 percentage points from 2019. Portland Public Schools' elementary and middle school students' math scores now exceed pre-pandemic levels, and reading and writing scores are close. [Oregonian]

This mural, with its Martin Luther King Jr quote, is from 2020. It’s painted at Northwest Irving and 21st on the restaurant Bhuna and was a collaboration between a few different artists — @campographic, @atliouxart, @jamjamart, and @flatrabbitstudio.

It stumped all you readers.

This week’s scavenger hunt comes from reader Chris in Portland. It also may be challenging, because it’s new:

Where have you seen it?

Please click here to send me the location — and, for unofficial bonus points, anything you know about it.

If you’re new to the newsletter, there’s a scavenger hunt (almost) every Friday. In next week’s newsletter, I’ll shout out the first 10 readers who respond correctly and reveal the answer.

📸 Want to submit a photo? Please email me a snapshot of somewhere in the Portland metro area, and we’ll consider it for an upcoming “Where Is It?” segment!

Each week, we’re hearing about favorite local spots and organizations from City Cast Portland Neighbors. It’s a member benefit, but it’s also a great way to get to know our city:

• The People’s Yoga | Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard & Northeast Killingsworth Street | “For an accessible, affordable community with lots of great workshops/events.” — Rachel H.
• The Flea Zorkus | Northwest Saltzman Road | "Artist Ken Zell has transformed part of Forest Park into an incredible surrealist art installation. It’s a joy to drive or bike through on your way up lower Saltzman into the park. Ken is keeping Portland weird and I’m here for it.” — Kendra P.
• Boom Boom Balloons | "Boom Boom Balloons is a beloved, immigrant-owned piñata shop on Lombard. Recently, a fire destroyed it. Please help rebuild it!” — Brian B.

Become a City Cast Portland Neighbor today to share your own shoutout in this newsletter and on the podcast!