🌱 Alternative To Charter Reform + 4 Murders In 24 Hours

I'm back, Portland! We've got a new week, a new month and a whole new attitude. We've got:

• Even higher gas prices
• A cocktail contest downtown
• Still the whitest big city in America

Let's bravely confront this week in the City of Roses!

But first, today's weather:

Some clouds move in as the day gives us a high temp of 78.

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Here are the top stories today in Portland:

1. What is going on with these gas prices? The average price of gas in Portland has risen about 50 cents in the last week, hitting about $5.48 a gallon as of yesterday. The cheapest price of the 387 Portland stations surveyed by GasBuddy was $5.04 per gallon Sunday while the most expensive was $5.99, nearly a dollar difference. “Some West Coast states saw prices rise 35 to 55 cents per gallon in the last week as refinery issues continued to impact gasoline supply, which fell to its lowest level in a decade in the region, causing prices to skyrocket,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. (KATU)
2. Mingus Mapps has finished his alternative proposal to the charter reform measure that will be on the November ballot. His package would still overhaul Portland's government structure, but with some key differences from the November package, including single-member districts, a smaller council and a stronger mayor. If voters reject the November package, Mapps and commissioner Dan Ryan have both expressed confidence that the council will send a new proposal to voters next year. (KGW)
3. It was another violent weekend in Portland, as the city saw four murders in a 24-hour period. This includes two deadly stabbings downtown, one near West Burnside and Northwest Third, and 12 hours later, another near Northwest Broadway and Northwest Couch. On Friday morning, a person was shot and killed near the 200th block of Southeast 18th Avenue, and 23 hours later, another person was shot near Northeast 162nd Avenue and Northeast Sandy Boulevard. (KPTV)
4. The opioid crisis is affecting many different aspects of our lives here in Portland, so it's no surprise that schools are starting to stock Narcan as a lifesaving drug. One nonprofit organization, Direct Relief, is helping them out. A Direct Relief representative said they’ve provided 104 doses of Narcan to five districts: Hillsboro, West Linn-Wilsonville, Multnomah Education Service District, Beaverton and Sherwood. They also have applications pending for four more. (KOIN)
5. Several Oregonians are unhappy with Measure 110, the drug decriminalization measure that was voted in a few years ago. Now, some gubernatorial candidates are speaking out against it. Both Christine Drazan and Betsy Johnson want to repeal the state’s pioneering drug decriminalization law, while Tina Kotek is taking a more moderate approach and preaching improved oversight. Rolling back drug decriminalization, however, as Johnson and Drazan are pledging to do, might be easier said than done. (OPB)

Today in Portland:

• Do you want the fun of trivia night without having to leave your house? Check out Nerd Night: Trivia for Adults. "Test your wits at their monthly Trivia Night. Playing with a team (limited to 5 members) is recommended but you can also play solo. See how much you know about the four themed sets of questions, which vary monthly. Register online." 6:30 - 8:00 PM.
• It's laughs galore at the Oaks Bottom Comedy Showcase! Featuring Charles, Jr. and some of Portland's best comics and surprise guests! Hey, it's free, so why not. 7:00 - 9:00 PM.
• If you're looking for music, come to the Big Legrowlski for their Tuesday Night Open Jam. They're all about love and music and fun and the world needs all of that now more than ever. They've got drink and vegan grub, too. 7:00 - 11:59 PM.
• Are you a maker or want to be? Then PDXDF: Figuring it Out Together is the night for you. You'll be using the tools of the trade (wood, lasers, magnets) to create a collaborative "magnetic poetry" installation. What does that mean? You'll figure it out together. Plan for lively conversation, music, snacks, and unexpected outcomes. 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
• If you're into cocktail culture, don't miss ConCocktail - A Bartender Competition. "ConCocktail!! the Crafty Cocktail Competition!!" is a live judged contest showcasing the skills of local bartenders. The "contestants will be put to the test in three timed rounds, facing off against each other and against the curveballs thrown at them by the MC, Dr Xander Gerrymander." Doors open at 8:00 PM.

From my notebook:

• Travel Portland: "@TopazFarm built a legendary sunflower maze and you really need to see it for yourself. Make sure to grab a pic for the gram! #ThisIsPortland 📷: @katrinaemery #PDX #PDXNOW #TravelPortland #TravelOregon #PortlandOregon #HereForPortland" (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Art Museum: "OPENING OCTOBER 29: This month, “Dakota Modern: The Art of Oscar Howe” introduces new generations to one of the twentieth century’s most innovative Native American painters. An icon and trailblazer, Howe (1915–1983) committed his artisti..." (Portland Art Museum via Instagram)
• Is Portland still the whitest big city in America? Short answer: yes. "The latest numbers leave Portland with the highest share of white residents among the nation’s most populous cities. That’s in part because Portland’s demographic changes have not yet outpaced those in other areas. But some demographers think growing Latino and Asian populations mean Portland by 2030 will no longer be the nation’s whitest big city." (The Oregonian)
• But we're still a foodie city, so there's that. The report, from financial website WalletHub, determined the best and cheapest local foodie scenes. The report on 2022’s Best Foodie Cities in America compared 182 of the largest U.S. cities across two key dimensions: 1. affordability and 2. diversity, accessibility and quality. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale and when the scores were added up, Portland came in first. (KOIN)
• The Unipiper: "Look! I got to collaborate with @MikeBennettArt on the latest in the @GiganticBrewing X @WeirdPortlandUnited Weirdtastic series! We literally turned his art into beer! (mmm... fresh piney plywood aroma) 'Mike Bennett's Day Off' releases next week and you're invited!" (Instagram)
• Hey, Sellwood, you've got some new guests! Portland's first zoo and museum dedicated entirely to insects and arachnids! Featuring a live bug zoo, pinned bugs, touchable bugs, microscope, toys, information! (PDX Insectarium)

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That sounds like a great Tuesday to me. I hope your Tuesday is going to be as great as I think it's going to be and I hope you'll come on back tomorrow so I can tell you more about another day in Portland.

— Dominic Anaya

About me: Doctor, educator and now a writer/artist, I'm just chillin' in Portland, OR with my wife, our ferrets, our chickens and our goats.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Portland Daily? Contact me at portland@patch.com