🌱Multnomah Poised For First Female Sheriff + Old Town's Reset Plan

Hey, Portland, it's another Thursday and I can't wait to tell you about today. There's lots going on so I'll get right to it.

First, today's weather:

Showers early that should clear up in the afternoon and leave us with a high of 58.

Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell is leading by a wide margin in the race to become the next Multnomah County sheriff, according to early returns. “I’m just honored and encouraged that our community have the trust in me to lead this organization at the highest levels, especially as we’re really navigating really challenging times where people don’t feel safe in our community,” Morrisey O’Donnell said. A 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, she most recently served as undersheriff, appointed by retiring Sheriff Mike Reese. She was endorsed by the Multnomah County Deputy Sheriffs Association, several local news organizations and two former governors. You can also see other outcomes of the primary vote here. (OPB)
2. Hawthorne Asylum, located at Southeast 10th Avenue and Madison Street, just blocks from Ladd’s Addition, is one of Portland’s better-known food cart pods. When it opened in 2019, the collection of 20 food carts was described by WW as “what might happen if Tim Burton were commissioned to design a Portland-themed section of Disneyland,” adding that “there may not be a more crowd-pleasing al fresco dining option this summer.” But there have been problems at Hawthorne Asylum. WW spoke with nine food cart owners who rented space at Hawthorne Asylum in the past three years—five of whom agreed to go on the record. Some described overflowing dumpsters, portable toilets that were smeared with human waste, and broken promises. (Willamette Week)
3. Oregon gas prices have reached record highs, soaring past $5 per gallon for the first time. On Tuesday, the state average rose to $5.06 per gallon, a 21-cent jump over last week’s average. Portland-area prices are even higher, with Tuesday’s average reaching $5.13 per gallon, also up 21 cents from last week. And national gas prices also broke records, rising 15 cents to $4.52. Crude oil prices have been rising for months, largely due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The United States and other countries imposed strict sanctions on Russia, one of the world’s largest oil producers, driving costs up. According to AAA, a barrel of crude cost $66 a year ago, compared to $112 today. (The Oregonian)
4. There have been 483 shootings reported in Portland through the first four months of the year, police officials said Tuesday. That compares to 359 shootings in January through April of last year. The Portland Police Bureau released new data Tuesday that shows 90 shootings in April of this year. That's a big drop from March, when there were 147 shootings. Still, March marked the single highest number of any month for at least the last three years. Police tell KATU News they are putting a heavier focus on areas they call "hotspots" places where they are seeing an uptick in shootings. (KATU)
5. It’s been about a month since the city unveiled its 90-day reset plan to "repair, rebuild and reopen the Old Town corridor.” The city is doing this primarily through homeless camp cleanups and removals. Through this process, dozens of people lose their belongings and are left searching for the next corner to call home. “I was the only tent there. There was nothing posted saying that it was going to be swept,” said Douglas Marcks, who sat at a picnic table Tuesday morning. Marcks has been living on the streets for about 10 years. On Monday night, the city removed his camp. (KGW.com)

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Today in Portland:

• Welcome to the world of culinary hemp! Be the first to experience East Fork Cultivars’ NEW hemp tinctures and game-changing beverage enhancers at Hemp Bar in SE Portland. Enjoy hemp infused mocktails & paired bites crafted by farm-to-table pioneer, Chef Sebastian Carosi, and mingle with the founding circle of the most respected organic hemp farm in the industry. Get your tickets online. 3 - 6 p.m.
• Come to Weird Portland Creatives with Spencer Sprocket at Gigantic Brewing in SE Portland. Weird Portland Creatives is a series of lectures and networking events designed to be a unique gathering point for freethinkers in the Portland area. Our goal is to help our members connect with other like-minded artists and creatives interested in Keeping Portland Weird. This month it presents the recipient of WPU's very first 'Keep Weird Alive' grant, Spencer Sprocket! Register online for this free event. 6 - 8 p.m.
• Three members of Kim Field and the Perfect Gentlemen come together in a special trio performance at Artichoke Music. Alan Hager, who also works regularly with Curtis Salgado, is one of the best guitarists anywhere, and Albert Reda is the number one, go-to choice whenever anyone in Portland needs a top bass player. Alan and Albert are both talented vocalists as well, and they both have been inducted in the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame. This trio has a deep catalogue of great material that runs the gamut of American roots music. Tickets available online. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
• The movie Tampopo will be showing at the Hollywood Theater. It's the tale of an eccentric band of culinary ronin who guide the widow of a noodle-shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe. This rapturous “ramen western” by Japanese director Juzo Itami is a wildly entertaining, genre-bending adventure. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
• The Portland State University School of Music & Theater presents “No Exit,” Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist drama in which three deceased characters find themselves locked together in a room, forced to confront their life choices and each other’s judgment for eternity. "In life," Sartre wrote, "we are condemned to be free, but in death these three are just condemned." Get your tickets online. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.

From my notebook:

• Portland Trail Blazers: "We’ll be selecting 7th in the 2022 NBA Draft. #RipCity" (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: "Who else has seen one of these “flames with wings” around town of late? Western Tanagers seem to be everywhere right now and are such fun to spot!🔥 During the breeding season, they are commonly found in western conifer forests. Some ma..." (Instagram)
• After a two-year hiatus, the city’s signature summer kickoff is back in full bloom. Turning 115 this year, the Portland Rose Festival has a colorful history, from the early days of chariot-and-harness races to 1950s-era drama between would-be Rose Festival Queens to the great duct tape showdown of 2008, after the long-standing practice of claiming parade route “seats” the night before with tape was outlawed, much to the disgust of many a suburbanite. The first COVID year, 2020, marked only the third time the festival has been completely suspended, following cancellations during the Great War and when Multnomah Stadium (now Providence Park) was under construction. (Portland Monthly)
• A growing group of climate activists is calling on Portland leaders to pledge stronger action against climate change with a planned school and work walkout and march this Friday. The march will specifically call out four “climate villains” in Portland that activists say are hindering the city’s climate goals. The strike—organized by the Portland Youth Climate Strike, 350PDX, Sunrise Movement PDX, Breach Collective, Extinction Rebellion, and more local environmental organizations—intends to underscore ongoing calls for environmental action from various climate campaigns that have still not been met by leaders, like the demands for rapid decarbonization delivered at last year's Global Climate Strike. The strike is also naming four local climate villains: Zenith Energy, NW Natural, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the Portland Business Alliance (PBA). (Portland Mercury)
• Wednesday marked the 42nd anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. The volcano lay dormant for more than a century, however there was an increase in seismic activity in March of 1980. A cluster of earthquakes were followed by newly formed cracks in the snow and ice at the top of the mountain. At 8:32 a.m. on May 18, 1980, a 5.1 earthquake hit Mount St. Helens. The mountain didn't erupt up; it erupted out to the side. (KATU)
• Beer isn't for you? Trying to find the best seltzer in Portland? Good news! The Pine Street Taproom is hosting a hard seltzer fest May 20 through the 22! The Pine Street Taproom is located in the Pine Street Market. Within the Pine Street Market there are several delicious food options from Pleasure Burger, Shanghai's Best and Teote. (Eventbrite)

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That's your day, my friends. Have fun and I'll be back tomorrow to talk more about 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