🤢 Powell's sells AI-written books?

Wildfire Risks Worsen Across the Region

This year's wildfire season has started earlier than usual and is expected to last longer because of the warm winter. Research shows that not all Northwest communities are equally equipped to withstand the impacts — and recent reporting flags federal wildfire prevention funding delays at a critical moment.

• Vulnerable communities: Researchers from Oregon State University and The Nature Conservancy reviewed wildfire risks in over 1,000 communities across the Northwest, using a "social vulnerability index" which factors in "household demographics, neighborhood structural density, housing types, and local transportation," according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle. The analysis shows roughly half of the communities are at greater wildfire risk than in other estimates because of socioeconomic factors that leave people less able to defend against wildfires and recover from damage quickly. [Oregon Capital Chronicle]
• Meanwhile: A Washington state land manager for nonprofit Columbia Land Trust is sounding the alarms about the slow rollout of federal dollars related to wildfire prevention across the country. Federal money granted through the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program is being held up because of changes related to the Trump administration's "America First" initiatives, like "restrictions related to immigration, [and] diversity hiring." [NPR]
• Conditions and predictions: Dry vegetation across Oregon could lead to fires spreading more rapidly — there was already a 2,500-acre fire just outside of Bend earlier this month. AccuWeather predicts 65,000 to 80,000 wildfires burning between 5.5 and 8 million acres across the country this season. This amounts to fewer individual wildfires than last year, but more acres burned — meaning larger fires. [Axios / AccuWeather]

Amtrak's Shiny New Trains

Amtrak has started onboarding its new fleet of Airo passenger trains. There are 83 trainsets in the Airo fleet — including eight planned for the Cascades route — that are faster and more fuel efficient, have twice as much seating, and offer USB-C charging ports for every passenger. The first Airo trainset arrived in Seattle last week to replace rail cars that have been in service for decades. [KGW]

'Own a Piece of The Bra'

The Sports Bra — Portland's watering hole that exclusively celebrates women's sports — announced a new crowdfunding campaign this week. Founder and CEO Jenny Nguyen aims to raise $1.2 million by this August to open a second location in Portland and expand to other cities nationwide. By investing just $250 in the campaign, anyone can become part-owner of the growing business. [KGW]

PCC President Resigns

Portland Community College President Adrien Bennings resigned last week after a series of ethics complaints and financial obstacles related to millions of dollars in cuts over the next three years. More than one Oregon Government Ethics Commission complaint was filed against Bennings for a conflict of interest involving her personal business. PCC’s executive vice president, Katy Ho, will fill the leadership gap for now. [Portland Mercury]

AI-Written Books at Powell's?

Today on the podcast, we’re talking about the backlash against AI-written books, including some for sale by Powell’s Books, a gap in vetting the new interim Portland Housing Bureau director, and a shooting at a Pearl District bar. Joining host Claudia Meza are Stumptown Savings founder Bryan M. Vance and executive producer John Notarianni. [City Cast Portland 🎧]