🛢️ The Pacific Northwest pipeline shutdown

Pacific NW’s Main Oil Pipeline Shut Down Again

BP has shut down the Pacific Northwest’s main pipeline for a second time in a week. The company has found a leak at a blueberry farm near Everett, Wash. That’s a potential problem for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where jet fuel was running low. [OPB]

Oregon’s Ongoing Chronic Absenteeism

A third of Oregon schoolchildren were chronically absent during the 2024-25 school year, making for one of the worst absenteeism rates in the country. Still, that represents an improvement for Oregon. Grant High School, for example, has increased attendance by having teachers meet individually with students and parents to address obstacles to attendance. [Oregonian]

Good News, Bad News for State Budget

The state’s forecasted budget deficit is now $63 million — down from more than $370 million. That’s good news, but legislators still plan to make some cuts to state agencies. That’s to address the impact of federal tax cuts on future state budgets. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

The Oregon Holocaust Memorial in Washington Park includes a traditional memorial with the names of those who were killed, along with their surviving relatives in Oregon. Buried beneath it are ashes from concentration camps — Chelmno, Treblinka, Sobibor, Belzec, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau.

But the memorial also includes a cobblestone walkway, designed to look like a town squares where Jewish victims of the Nazis were gathered. It’s strewn with metal sculptures like a suitcase, toys, and a shoe, and pair of eyeglasses — some of which are pictured above.

“There are everyday items scattered throughout to represent how life was interrupted,” wrote reader James Bolo.

“I still vividly remember the first time I went there and how powerful of a memorial this is,” wrote reader Collin Semb.

“Neighbors originally didn't want the memorial citing ‘traffic,’” wrote reader Andrew G.

A shoutout to the first 10 readers to identify the location correctly: Michelle L., Tory B., Brian Finlayson, Mary Pags, James Bolo, Sido Surkis, K. Hancock, Michelle Mathews, Gail K., Arleen R., and Peter O.

This week’s scavenger hunt is for a Portland landmark, courtesy of photographer Mark E. McClure:

Where have you seen these bicycles?

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 on Fridays. 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 include favorite local spots and organizations picked by City Cast Portland Neighbors. It’s a member benefit, but it’s also a great way to get to know our city:

• Fun House Lounge | Hosford-Abernethy | “Home of ‘Die Hard The Musical,’ ‘Domprov,’ and the funniest people in Portland. Never seen a bad show there!” — Will H.
• The Rose and Thistle Pub | Northeast Broadway | It has “great burgers, weekly trivia nights, and good vibes.” — Andrew G.
• Bing Mi Dumpling and Noodle Bar | Northwest | “Run by the kind and dedicated Jacky. His delicious unique northern Chinese jian bing crepes saved me during the pandemic, and I keep going back.” — Maya P.

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