🌱 New Homeless Shelter + New Candidate + New Gun Control

Happy Saturday, Peeps! Not only are we getting great weather, but it's also the last weekend before Thanksgiving. You might be enjoying this to the fullest, or using the time to prep for the holidays. Why not make the most of it and do both? While you decide, let me tell you about today.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy today, but no rain and a high of 50. What a great day!

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. The Oregon Transportation Commission took a significant step forward Thursday in its plan to transfer ownership of 82nd Avenue from the state to the city of Portland. The commission unanimously approved a plan presented by Oregon Department of Transportation financiers to fund $185 million in safety and modernization along the urban highway that runs through Portland’s eastside. (OPB)
2. Multnomah County just undertook a large project to address Portland's growing homeless crisis. The Board of County Commissioners on Thursday, Nov. 18, unanimously approved preliminary plans for what’s set to be the first large-scale, services-enriched shelter in North Portland. Thursday’s vote authorizes the Joint Office of Homeless Services to proceed with design development and pre-construction on the permanent version of the Arbor Lodge Shelter, which will take shape in a former Rite Aid that Multnomah County purchased last year with $2.6 million in one-time federal COVID-19 dollars.(Multnomah County)
3. Player 4 has entered the race! Next year's gubernatorial ticket keeps growing and the latest name of the list is conservative Democrat, Sen. Betsy Johnson. Her campaign has just reported raising just over $2 million. That's nearly double what Nick Kristof, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times reported earlier this month. And in a bold move, she's running as an independent. (Portland Patch)
4. In some disappointing news, Oregon COVID-19 numbers are back into triple digits, after several straight days of under 1000 new cases being reported. The Oregon Health Authority reports that unvaccinated people continue to be the driving factor. Nearly 75 percent of the cases that were reported between November 7 and 13 had occurred in people who have not been vaccinated. (Portland Patch)
5. A local grassroots group hoping to reduce gun violence is looking ahead to the 2022 November election. It is trying to get two measures on the ballot. Lift Every Voice Oregon (LEVO) calls IP 17 and 18 "common sense" petitions. It's an effort three years in the making, and the final step to getting a spot on the ballot is signatures. IP 17 and 18 both push for stricter gun laws in Oregon. (KATU)

Today in Portland:

• Who doesn't like karaoke? Although, Phish karaoke may be a bit more challenging. But if you're up for the challenge, check out Tomorrow's Verse Taproom for Forgive Me If I Don't Sing In Your Key - Phish Karaoke with Rob Sipsky. They're super stoked to see you come and be the star. Know all the lyrics to Cavern? Fluff's Travels? Want to impress everyone with your version of Farmhouse? You sing while Rob plays. Sign ups start at 7:00 PM.
• Cerebral Sound Collective presents Aliens Invade Hollywood at Hollywood Mini Golf in NE Portland. Join them for an immersive, psychedelic experience, featuring 2 stages, tea lounge, live art, bar, and vendors, till 4 am! Featuring local DJs and producers representing some of the forefront of futuristic, hi-tech corners of cerebral sound. The fun starts at 9:00 PM.
• If you want tonight's version of time travel, head out to the Crystal Ballroom in downtown Portland for 90's Dance Flashback! 90's Dance Flashback and 2000's Dance Flashback are music video dance nights. They play all the best music videos from the 90s or 2000s on huge projection screens while you enjoy dancing the night away! 9:00 PM to 1:30 AM.
• Looking for a crazy night of improv? Head to downtown Portland to The Siren Theater for Boy Smooches. Boy Smooches is a long-form improv troupe that focuses on storytelling, character-building, and scene-setting! Come on down for a one-of-a-kind, improvised show! All it takes is one suggestion! 8:00 - 10:00 PM.
• For a night of rockin' blues music, go to the Blue Diamond in NE Portland to see Peter Dammann & Friends. Please check the website for the most up-to-date COVID precautions. Tickets available online. Doors open at 5:00 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: [This is] us when we post on Instagram & the comments are all bots. (Instagram)
• Portland Trail Blazers: When we make threes, we help plant trees! 🌲 (Instagram)
• Travel Portland: As you can see, Washington Park is the coolest! Follow our friends at @explorewashingtonpark to learn more about all the adventure you can find in this incredible place. #ThisIsPortland 📷: @madi_k_may #PDX #PDXNOW #TravelPortland #Tra... (Instagram)
• Oregon Humanities invites Oregonians who face barriers to continuing their educations to join HUMANITY IN PERSPECTIVE, a series of free college-level courses for adults and youth living on low incomes. Registration for the 2022 Winter/Spring course is open now. For the second time in the program’s 20-year history, this six-credit online course is open to all Oregon adults, regardless of where they live in the state. (KTVZ)
• I hate to hear it, but our governor is the least popular governor in the nation. Media outlet, the Morning Consult, published a story collecting governors' approval ratings for all 50 states. The ranking showed that Brown’s approval rating from Oregonians is just 43% — the lowest of any governor in the nation. (Willamette Week)
• Holiday dinners are quickly approaching and if you want the best produce for your dishes, make sure you get the freshest and most local bounty at the local harvest markets that will be popping up around Portland. (PDX Food Press)

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There you have it, folks. Have a great weekend. We've got a short week coming up, so have fun with it. I'll still be back next week to tell you what I can about what's going on in our fine city and tell you news of Portland. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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? Email me at portland@patch.com.