💪 Rural Oregon hospitals team up

Local Communities United Through Adversity

Whether it's mounting healthcare costs, public education hurdles, or a historic fire season, it can seem like there are more roadblocks than clear paths to building and maintaining essential community resources. This week, I'm highlighting a few examples of progress that restored my faith — reminders that people can come together through hardship and succeed.

Healthcare: To avoid being absorbed into large corporate healthcare systems, eleven rural hospitals in Eastern and Southwest Oregon are teaming up. Under a new nonprofit called Cascades Rural High Value Network, these hospitals will remain independent while gaining access to the benefits of larger health providers, such as negotiating better equipment costs and protecting patient access to local providers. The plan is still awaiting approval from state regulators. [Willamette Week]

Education: Oregon and Washington state leaders are standing firm after the U.S. Department of Justice announced it is suing over their long-standing commitment to providing financial assistance to immigrant students for higher education. Attorneys general for both states say they will protect state laws giving immigrant students in-state tuition — something that has been legal in Oregon since 2013 and in Washington since 2003. [OPB]

• Related: Willamette University is now offering free tuition for all low-income Oregonians.

Disaster relief: The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management is organizing Neighborhood Emergency Team volunteers to be ready if disaster strikes. Over 1,500 active volunteers are not only training for emergencies like earthquakes and fires, but are actively helping with incidents such as managing downed powerlines and operating cooling centers. You too can join your local emergency team through the city's website. [Portland Mercury]

• Related: How Your Neighbors Can Save You in a Major Disaster [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Clarinet Player Who Was Arrested at ICE Protest Sentenced

This week, Southeast Portland resident Oriana Korol was sentenced to time served and a year of supervised release. She was arrested by a federal officer almost a year ago while playing the clarinet at a protest outside of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland. Korol says she feels "bittersweet" about the misdemeanor charge of assaulting a federal officer — which was downgraded from a felony charge. [OPB]

Portland Water Rates Rise Again

Earlier this summer, the City of Gresham moved away from the Portland-run Bull Run Watershed to sourcing water from its own groundwater system, contributing to increased water bills for Portlanders. Soon the Tualatin Valley Water District and the Lusted Water District will also be leaving, which will shrink revenue and further raise utility costs. But some Gresham residents have complained their new water tastes like it came from a swimming pool, so maybe we're still better off? [Willamette Week]

Mayor Wilson Vs. Participatory Budgeting

Today on the podcast, we're talking about the opposition that's gathering against the participatory budgeting initiative on the city's fall ballot, and the latest on potential cuts and school closures at Portland Public Schools and why, despite it, the superintendent is getting a raise. Plus, we're cracking open our listener mailbag. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

Each week, we feature 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:

• "Ronan’s Cutt Parlor in St. John’s — the sweetest best value kids haircut in the city! We found this spot two years ago and my now 4 year old loves it! Ronan is so kind with the kiddos, has an awesome race car hair cutting seat, and the price point is really good compared to other local places for kids haircuts (other than at home, but sometimes you need help fixing a botched home cut)." — Rian J.
• "Wild Solitude Guiding’s Tarot of Oregon Places. Beautiful photographic deck for people who love Tarot and also people like me who love Oregon but know nothing about Tarot." — Sarah D.
• "Villain Coffee and Crepes has the bomb crepes, including buckwheat for the gluten-free and their decaf is great. Good decaf coffee is really hard to find!" — Angela G.

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