🐔 The Portland Chicken has his day in court

Local Recycling Company Threw Out 17 Tons of Plastic

A local recycling company brought 17 tons of plastic to a local landfill, despite being under contract to recycle the materials it collects from the Oregon Convention Center. The regional government Metro levied a $10,690 fine against City of Roses, a Black-owned business with deep community ties. City of Roses CEO Alando Simpson says the company couldn’t find a buyer for the plastics, but agreed to pay the fine and provided an improvement plan. Metro is conducting a further investigation of the company’s practices. [Oregonian]

Major Cuts to State Budget Averted (For Now)

Democratic lawmakers initially warned that the state faced a $650 million to $750 million budget hole after President Trump’s tax cuts. But now they have a plan that involves not hiring for vacant state positions and reallocating unused funding. Democrats also passed a bill to change Oregon’s tax code so it doesn't also adopt some of the Trump tax cuts at a state level, so that the state didn’t lose as much revenue. [Oregonian]

Rainy Weather Returns for the Week

After a warm sunny start to March, Portland returns to more traditional spring weather: rain’s in the forecast for the rest of the week. [NOAA]

$1,000 To Rent a Room

Under a new pilot program, the city is hoping to expand the available supply of affordable housing by encouraging homeowners to rent out a room in their own home. Homeowners can’t charge more than $200 a week — including fees and utilities — among other requirements to qualify for $1,000 from the city. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

• Related: Learn more about the city’s requirements for the Home Sharing Pilot Program. [Portland Housing Bureau]

Pushing back on tear-gassing and federal force: Protesters alleging excessive use of force at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building will get their day in court as part of a federal lawsuit. Agents have used tear gas and crowd control devices, and occasionally struck nonviolent protesters. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon has already limited federal agents’ use of chemical munitions. Protesters are pushing to expand those limitations. [OPB]

• Back in October, Portland's famous protest chicken declared “We’re winning this,” referring to protesters’ successful efforts to mock Trump’s overblown rhetoric about Portland. Jack Dickinson, who wears the chicken suit, will be among those testifying this week. [Willamette Week]

Portland Frog update: During their visit to Washington, D.C., to protest the State of the Union, the Portland Frog Brigade went door-to-door on Capitol Hill, offering members of Congress a copy of the Constitution. [Portland Frog Brigade / Instagram]

• Sen. Ron Wyden was among those to embrace the hometown heroes (literally). [Sen. Wyden / Instagram]

Commitment to Portland’s ICE Facility: The Portland Mercury obtained a recording of Portland city administrator Raymond Lee telling staff on Feb. 24: “I will tell everyone we are committed to that facility staying open.” [Portland Mercury]

• That’s notable because it comes at a time when the city has found that the facility violated its land use agreements, by detaining people at the facility for longer than allowed. And protesters are pushing for the facility to close. [Portland Mercury]
• Whether to push the ICE facility out is a complicated policy issue. Some immigration lawyers say keeping the facility open makes it easier for them to access their clients than if they were held elsewhere. [Portland Mercury]
• It also comes at a time when City Councilors and local groups are pushing Mayor Keith Wilson to implement an ordinance requiring landlords to pay fees if they rent to detention centers. Sixteen education, labor, and environmental groups signed onto a letter Thursday, asking the mayor to implement strong rules around the ordinance — rulemaking is a necessary step for enacting the fees. (There is now movement on the issue: Temporary rules were released on Friday.) [Portland Mercury]