Hello Portland! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Now Booking Moves For November and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do some birds fly south for the winter? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Portland weighs zoning overhaul to unlock more central city housing and taller buildings (kptv.com) — Portland's City Council will vote Wednesday on a sweeping Central City zoning overhaul that could allow more housing, taller buildings, and easier reuse of vacant offices downtown and in the Central Eastside. The plan aims to boost housing and economic activity while raising concerns about industrial jobs, infrastructure capacity, and skyline impacts, with changes potentially taking effect March 1, 2027.
2. Designers Are Making Dated Honey-Toned Wood Cabinets Look Totally Fresh for 2026 Kitchens (thespruce.com) — A Portland renter shows how to embrace dated honey-toned kitchen cabinets using peel-and-stick wood film, matching wooden pulls, and cohesive colors instead of costly replacements. Her approach, paired with another renter's budget-friendly ideas, offers practical inspiration for local tenants and homeowners who want fresher-looking kitchens without painting or major renovations.
3. Oregon's tiny pygmy owls are adorable little murder machines (oregonlive.com) — Researchers working in Portland's Forest Park have been uncovering how northern pygmy owls' diets and breeding success shift from year to year, revealing a surprisingly fierce predator living right on the city's doorstep. The story follows local scientists, agencies, and birdwatchers across Oregon, explaining how habitat, prey, and even backyard snags around Portland can shape the fortunes of these tiny daytime hunters.
4. Elder's Jack Donovan Recovering After Open-Heart Surgery (themosh.net) — Elder bassist Jack Donovan is recovering after emergency open-heart surgery that followed a pneumonia-related collapse and ICU stay in Portland, where he was treated at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. The band credits quick action by friends and local doctors with saving his life and plans to announce rescheduled North American tour dates once logistics are finalized.
5. Ethics Commission Launches Probe of State Rep. Lamar Wise (wweek.com) — An Oregon ethics investigation is examining whether state Rep. Lamar Wise, who represents parts of Southeast Portland and nearby suburbs, properly disclosed income from Portland-based nonprofit Seeding Justice and listed lobbyist contacts tied to Oregon AFSCME. Wise says the omissions were an honest mistake, has amended his disclosure forms, and expects the matter to be resolved with an educational letter.
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Ok Portland! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why do some birds fly south for the winter?" — Because it's too far to walk..! (Thank you Theresia F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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