Portland Police Body Cameras + Idaho Merge + Homelessness In OR

What up, my Portland peeps! I’m here to serve you your daily slice of Portland. Let’s see what’s on today’s menu.

Today's Weather

It looks like the rain is gone for the now, with today being partly cloudy with a high of 70. The low is getting down to 48, however, so don’t forget to bundle up.

Here are the top news stories in Portland today

• Portland Police may be getting body cameras! The Portland Police Association is currently in negotiations with the city, actively pushing to get body cameras, but who would have access to the footage is unclear. (Willamette Week)
• Are we losing some of our state to Idaho? Five more counties have voted to leave the "liberal dominated" state of Oregon and merge with Idaho, a state they claim is more in line with their views. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Mayor Ted Wheeler promises to get "more assertive" in the city's handling of the homeless problem. The number of homeless camps has ballooned during the pandemic, but the mayor says eviction notices may be issued as soon as Monday. (The Skanner)
• Oregon looks flush with cash, despite the impact of the pandemic. The latest Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast says that "the outlook for near term economic growth is the strongest in decades". (Fox News 12)

Today in Portland

1. If you’re obsessed with technology, don’t miss Techfest NW 2021. Speakers include cybersecurity expert, Nicole Perlroth and the Managing Director of Black Founders Matter, Marceau Michel. This is a virtual event, but tickets are required. (Techfest NW 2021)
2. Ever dreamed of filming documentaries? Oregon Media Lab has created a day long, online event featuring discussions with professional filmmakers and industry insiders. Break out rooms for networking and socializing will be available for those wishing to connect with others in the field. Tickets are also required. (Oregon Media Labs)
3. Are you longing to see something live and in person? Why not check out the Polka Dot Downtown concert series happening at the Union Bank Building in downtown Portland. Today from 11:30 to 12:30 AM, Jordan Sings will be performing. (Pioneer Courthouse Square)

Patch Notebook

• Interested in how Portland’s city government works? Do you like comics? Oregon Humanities has published a short (6 pages) comic that lays out how our city government works. Fun and educational! (Oregon Humanities)
• I can’t wait for things to get back to normal and for Portland, what’s more normal than the Providence Bridge Pedal? It didn’t happen last summer, but now it’s back and scheduled for Aug. 8th, so put some air in those tires and shine up that bell. We’re going cycling! (KGW 8 News)

Whew, that’s a lot of stuff to pack into a single day! And it’s still only Spring. After a year of isolating, this city is ready to cut loose. Stay safe, people, and have fun.