🚗 A $3.6M pothole in Portland

$3.6M Pothole Settlement

A Portland woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after driving over a pothole will receive a multimillion-dollar settlement. It’s likely the largest payout for a roadway-related lawsuit in Portland history, Oregonian reporter Aimee Green found.

• The injury: After hitting a six-inch deep pothole on Southwest Capitol Hill Highway, Gillian Conroy hit her head on the ceiling of her car, even though she was wearing her seatbelt, according to the lawsuit. She became so disoriented she could not remember how to dial her phone, Conroy said in a deposition. [Oregonian]
• The responsible parties: Though city streets are in poor condition in a lot of places, it’s internet provider Astound Broadband and their contractor, Timber State Drilling & Construction, who are paying for the settlement. The company had cut into the road to access cables before the incident, and the repair job deteriorated quickly. [Oregonian]
• Roadway gripes: On the podcast today, Willamette Week’s Brianna Wheeler and KBOO’s Althea Billings shared their top gripes about our streets, including the lack of street lights on bike lanes and in heavily pedestrian areas of Northwest Portland. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

A Tough Market for New Brewers

Oregon's craft beer industry has recovered from pandemic-related pains, but recent reporting shows numbers remain largely stagnant. After craft beer production peaked roughly a decade ago, the number of breweries in our state is declining alongside the number of barrels produced. [Oregonian]

• Plus: Industry leaders say new brewers need more than just good beer to compete, pointing to excellent cuisine and popular chefs as alternatives. [Oregonian]

Bad News for Seasonal Allergies

A recent report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks Portland as one of the worst cities in the country for grass pollen this year. A combination of "atmospheric rivers, warmer temperatures, and droughts" is to blame — all of which are symptoms of climate change. [Oregonian]

Oregon’s Distinct Gray Whales

Scientists are studying a small group of gray whales who instead of migrating to feeding grounds off Alaska, opt for staying and foraging for food off the Oregon Coast. This distinct population of gray whales are smaller in overall length and can maneuver in shallow waters. [OPB]