📈 A sign that Oregon is on the up-and-up

West Coast States Still Recommend Kid Flu Shots, Other Vaccines

The Trump administration stopped recommending several previously standard childhood vaccines — including for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, some forms of meningitis, and RSV. They now suggest those shots only for high-risk patients, though the vaccines will remain available for all children. The West Coast Health Alliance — which is the collaboration between Washington, California, Hawaii, and Oregon — still recommends the vaccines, following the advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics. [KATU]

Oregon Is Top State for People Moving

In an unofficial indicator of population growth, Oregon topped the 2025 list from moving company United Van Lines of states with the highest percentage of moves into the state (rather than away from it) — 64.5% of people were moving into Oregon versus 35.5% who were moving out. Of people responding to the survey, 22% of the people who moved here were from California, followed by Washington and Colorado. [Oregonian]

Another Suit Over the Boeing Door Plug

The Boeing pilot who safely made a high-profile emergency landing after a door plug fell off a plane in 2024 is now suing American Airlines for $10 million. Captain Brandon Fisher says the company improperly blamed him for the problem — instead of “praising [his] bravery.” [KGW]

Foie Gras Ban and More

On the midweek roundup, a Portland city councilor is pushing to ban foie gras. Interurban, a gastropub on North Mississippi Avenue, is closing in mid-January. And a Superfund site in North Portland could become a botanical garden. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Today we have some suggestions from readers and listeners:

Dry January Recommendations

Our guide to January 2025 included a list of places with great nonalcoholic cocktails and wines. We received an additional suggestion:

“I'm writing to say a great place to get a NA cocktail is still your local bar. With Dry January becoming a very popular thing to participate in and the decline in alcohol consumption in general, January has become a very tough month for bars. Plenty of places have great NA options to go along with their boozy offerings. Beermongers comes to mind specifically. We all love our local bars all year long, so let's make sure they don't struggle to start the year!” — Andy

The Best Food of 2025

Over the holidays, the City Cast Portland team shared their favorite foods of the last year. We got one suggestion from a reader:

“My favorite thing that I ate this year was Khao Moo Dang’s house curry noodle. It is savory and rich with perfect pork cooked three ways. There is warmth, depth, and crunch in every bite!”

The Restaurants Portland Needs in 2026

Yesterday we shared a list of five must-try Portland restaurants, and we asked for your suggestions for new dining options this city needs. We got some helpful suggestions from one reader for any aspiring restaurateurs out there:

“A Jersey style diner, sorta like Bannings but with a much more robust Jersey style menu. The ‘diner’ needs to stay open late too; at least to 11 p.m. It should open at 6 or 7 a.m., none of this Portland coffee shop 10 a.m. stuff.

“The other much needed restaurant is an authentic checkered table Italian American manicotti, side salad, and tall neck beer joint. No $25 calcio y pepe lunacy or carbonara with heavy cream. Just a solid tomato sauce, stuffed shells, baked ziti, bar pizza joint. Good food, good prices, and actual Italian American know-how.

“And a hot dog joint with real toppings, not condiment packets. Actual natural casing dirty water, griddled, or deep fried dogs on scooped potato rolls. When Costco appears to fill the regional tube steak void, ya know ya have a problem.” — Jerry C.

📲 Please don’t hesitate to email me your responses to the newsletter today or anytime.