Weekend Traffic + COVID Outlook + Justice Integrity Unit

It's the weekend my friends, and not just any weekend, but Labor Day weekend. If you're one of the lucky one's for whom that means an extra day off, then awesome! Actually, it's going to be awesome whoever you are, because this is Portland and the weekend means fun. I have so much to tell you!

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First, today's weather:

It's a perfect summer's day today with partly cloudy skies and a high of 85. See, what did I tell you? Awesome!

Here are the top stories in Portland today:

1. Labor Day weekend plans are going to be more complex than normal as several factors conspire to make it a high traffic holiday. Worries about COVID, particularly the delta variant, have fewer people flying and shifting wildfires throughout the state are closing down roads and creating evacuation zones. The Oregon Department of Transportation is reminding people to plan ahead for delays and pack some patience. (KATU)
2. OHSU will be opening a free, drive-up COVID testing site starting Wednesday, Sept. 8th. It will be located at the Portland Expo Center in North Portland. Information about its hours of operation are not available at this time. (KOIN)
3. Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury will have to vacate her position due to term limits and Jessica Vega Pederson wants to take her seat. A second-term Multnomah County commissioner and former state lawmaker, she has already gained the endorsement of Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. (Oregon Live)
4. Dr. Peter Graven, OHSU's director of advanced analytics, released his latest projections regarding the future of COVID in Oregon. The outlook is predictably grim, but there is hope. He said the protocol changes, like mask wearing indoors and outdoors, is contributing to a slow but positive change in trends. (KATU)
5. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt is forming a new division, the Justice Integrity Unit. The purpose of this unit will be to examine wrongful convictions and review prison sentences. Multnomah County joins a half-dozen other large city prosecutors’ offices in creating a sentencing review unit and another 90 that have conviction integrity units, said Aliza Kaplan, a professor at Lewis & Clark Law School and a criminal justice reform advocate who advised Schmidt on the plan. (The Columbian)

Today in Portland:

• Violinist Bitch, AKA Capital B, will be playing at The Old Church Concert Hall in downtown Portland this evening. She describes her music as Poet Pop and has opened for the Indigo Girls and Ani Difranco. She'll be joined by Myshkin Warbler presenting her multimedia performance Warning Signs, an eclectic anti-fascist entertainment. Proof of vaccination required for entry. Get your tickets online. Doors at 6:30 PM.
• The Waterfront Concert and Festival is happening today at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. This free festival starts at 1:00 PM and features performances from acclaimed local artists and community partners such as Darrell Grant's PDX Jazz Masters Trio, Portland Taiko, singer songwriter Saeeda Wright, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Chris Pureka, Joaquin Lopez with harpist Antonio Centurion, and more. The Oregon Symphony will preform at 7:00 PM. If you can't make it, there will be a live broadcast of the event on All Classical Portland, KQAC 89.9 FM. 1:00 - 9:30 PM.
• Shady Pines Radio has teamed up with Fire on the Mountain Brewery to create Shady Pines IPA. The release party is today at FOTM's Fremont location in NE Portland. brewer Ben Nehrling will be playing his show live, followed by live music from The Wules, comedy by Zane Thomas, and then another show dj’d by Jahkey B. Noon - 5:00 PM.
• Looking for an artistic and creative Saturday night? Head on down to Heroes Cafe in downtown Portland for an art class in the Galaxy Technique. Guided instruction with artist Brecken Rivara. All materials provided when you buy your ticket, which you can get online. 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
• Local jazz musicians the Little Big Band will be playing at Toast in SE Portland. They'll be premiering several new songs at this performance. There will be delicious food and a full bar. 6:30 - 8:30 PM.

Portland Patch Notebook

• Portland Trail Blazers: "Tickets are on sale NOW! What games are you most looking forward to?" (Instagram)
• Portland Audubon: " It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the annual public viewing of Vaux’s Swifts at Chapman Elementary School is cancelled again this year due to COVID-19. There will not be resources in place to deal with parking, crowd ma..." (Instagram)
• Nonprofit Association Oregon: "National Preparedness Month (NPM) is an observance each September to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. As nonprofits, we often serve as the “first responders” t..." (Instagram)
• As if there weren't enough happening this weekend, the 25th annual Art In The Pearl will be happening in downtown Portland. The Festival is FREE and requires NO TICKETS for entry. Art In The Pearl has been named one of the top 10 Arts and Crafts Festivals in the country. This festival fills the Northwest Portland Park blocks with art, theater, music, and hands-on activities for people of all ages. (Art In The Pearl)
• In some previous newsletters, I've talked about Portlanders Storm Large and Jimmie Herrod and their performances on the NBC show America's Got Talent. The Oregonian has just published an update as to how they are faring. I don't want to say much more about it, lest I give away some spoilers, but if you don't care about that, check out this piece. (Oregon Live)
• Food writer Katherine Chew Hamilton loves shopping at Bui Natural Tofu in NE Portland and she wants the world to know. In this piece she waxes poetic about this little family business that started out of a garage in 1998. Her description of the various goods they sell, a far wider range than just tofu, will leave you hungry. You've been warned. (Portland Monthly)
• A Portland artist is getting national recognition as she brings her message of gun violence awareness to Washington D.C. As part of The Soul Box Project, a non-profit raising awareness of America's gunfire epidemic, she will be installing 200,000 origami boxes at the National Mall. (KOIN)

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Wow, that's a lot! Even for the weekend, there's more stuff going on than one person could do on their own. But that's how we roll here in the Pacific Northwest paradise that is Portland. If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. 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? Reach out anytime to portland@patch.com.