The season’s final two shows at the Reser Center have been cancelled.
Portland Chamber Orchestra Announces Sudden Dissolution
Andrew Jankowski
www.wweek.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:17 AM
The season’s final two shows at the Reser Center have been cancelled.
Animal rights activists celebrate the move, but the plan allows primate-based research to continue for now.
OHSU to Negotiate with Feds to Turn Primate Center Into Sanctuary
Andrew Schwartz
www.wweek.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:48 AM
Animal rights activists celebrate the move, but the plan allows primate-based research to continue for now.
Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards today declared her candidacy for county chair, taking on fellow Commissioner Shannon Singleton in a contest to succeed Jessica Vega Pederson, who decided late last year not to seek a second term.
Julia Brim-Edwards Declares Candidacy for Multnomah County Chair
Anthony Effinger
www.wweek.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards today declared her candidacy for county chair, taking on fellow Commissioner Shannon Singleton in a contest to succeed Jessica Vega Pederson, who decided late last year not to seek a second term.
“Harry Potter,” “The Outsiders” and “Clue” are also among the eight productions swinging through town starting in July.
Broadway in Portland’s Season to Feature Alicia Keys’ “Hell’s Kitchen”
Rachel Saslow
www.wweek.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:55 PM
“Harry Potter,” “The Outsiders” and “Clue” are also among the eight productions swinging through town starting in July.
You have two months to read the 2026 Oregon Book Award nominees before awards are announced.
The 2026 Oregon Book Award Nominations Are Here
Christen McCurdy
www.wweek.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:34 PM
You have two months to read the 2026 Oregon Book Award nominees before awards are announced.
See Charli smoke, pout, stomp and stress over the Brat tour, but not actually.
Film Review: Charli XCX Mockumentary “The Moment”
Rachel Saslow
www.wweek.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 PM
See Charli smoke, pout, stomp and stress over the Brat tour, but not actually.
In 2024, Gov. Tina Kotek asked lawmakers for a “moratorium on any substantive benefit changes to PERS for the foreseeable future.” That foreseeable future is now.
Lawmakers Consider Raising Retirement Benefits for Some Public Safety Workers
Nigel Jaquiss
www.wweek.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:06 PM
In 2024, Gov. Tina Kotek asked lawmakers for a “moratorium on any substantive benefit changes to PERS for the foreseeable future.” That foreseeable future is now.
It might be the first issue in recent memory that unites the commenters on wweek.com with the posters on Bluesky: Thanks, they hate it.
Readers Respond to a Proposed Ban on Killing Oregon Animals
WW Staff
www.wweek.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:03 PM
It might be the first issue in recent memory that unites the commenters on wweek.com with the posters on Bluesky: Thanks, they hate it.
Plenty of turkey has been smothered in gravy—and the lucky in kisses. Why not try it with a hearty winter green?
What We’re Cooking This Week: Smothered Cabbage
Jim Dixon
www.wweek.com
February 8, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Plenty of turkey has been smothered in gravy—and the lucky in kisses. Why not try it with a hearty winter green?
As Multnomah County tries to map out Preschool for All’s financial future, it will spend $200,000 on a computer model that can calculate how much operating a preschool will cost in the coming decades.
Multnomah County Invests in New Model to Determine Operating Costs for Preschool for All
Joanna Hou
www.wweek.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:10 AM
As Multnomah County tries to map out Preschool for All’s financial future, it will spend $200,000 on a computer model that can calculate how much operating a preschool will cost in the coming decades.
If decision makers look at where staff growth took place since 2020–21, they will find increases in instructional assistants, administrative staff, special education and student support roles. The number of teachers during that period barely budged.
Oregon’s Education Workforce Climbed While Student Enrollment Slid
Khushboo Rathore
www.wweek.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:20 AM
If decision makers look at where staff growth took place since 2020–21, they will find increases in instructional assistants, administrative staff, special education and student support roles. The number of teachers during that period barely budged.
Reposted by Willamette Week
coming up with a new idea called "driving like shit olympics". no more bland, unprovable statements like "california drivers are the WORST" allowed. whichever state wins every 4 years gets a moonshot-sized public transit investment to get those fuckers off the road
February 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
coming up with a new idea called "driving like shit olympics". no more bland, unprovable statements like "california drivers are the WORST" allowed. whichever state wins every 4 years gets a moonshot-sized public transit investment to get those fuckers off the road
Golf science is like early Christianity, with competing sects all disagreeing on obscure points of doctrine and perennially accusing each other of heresy.
Do Warm Golf Balls Go Farther Than Cold Ones?
Marty Smith
www.wweek.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Golf science is like early Christianity, with competing sects all disagreeing on obscure points of doctrine and perennially accusing each other of heresy.
A campaign seeking to enshrine abortion, same-sex marriage and transgender rights in the Oregon Constitution abruptly pulled the plug Feb. 6 on its effort to qualify for the November ballot.
Equal Rights for All Measure Abandons Effort to Qualify for 2026 Ballot
Nigel Jaquiss
www.wweek.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:12 PM
A campaign seeking to enshrine abortion, same-sex marriage and transgender rights in the Oregon Constitution abruptly pulled the plug Feb. 6 on its effort to qualify for the November ballot.
The number of unspent dollars in Portland Housing Bureau coffers, for months believed to be $21 million, has grown fivefold in a week. As business closed Friday afternoon, City Administrator Raymond Lee disclosed that the surplus now totals a whopping $106 million.
Somehow, Portland Is Sitting on $106 Million in Unspent Housing Dollars
Aaron Mesh
www.wweek.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:58 AM
The number of unspent dollars in Portland Housing Bureau coffers, for months believed to be $21 million, has grown fivefold in a week. As business closed Friday afternoon, City Administrator Raymond Lee disclosed that the surplus now totals a whopping $106 million.
A nascent research workers union at Oregon Health & Science University says it will strike Feb. 18 if it doesn’t reach a labor deal by then with management.
OHSU Research Union Threatens to Strike
Andrew Schwartz
www.wweek.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM
A nascent research workers union at Oregon Health & Science University says it will strike Feb. 18 if it doesn’t reach a labor deal by then with management.
The call for more money comes during a delicate short session in the Oregon Legislature.
Portland Public Schools Calls on Legislature to Prevent Cuts Amid a Heated Spending Debate
Joanna Hou
www.wweek.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:48 AM
The call for more money comes during a delicate short session in the Oregon Legislature.
The mall will be demolished by winter, to the dismay of the independent businesses who lease there.
Lloyd Center Has Celebrated its Last Christmas
Rachel Saslow
www.wweek.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:26 PM
The mall will be demolished by winter, to the dismay of the independent businesses who lease there.
Paul Conti responds: “I met a woman in high levels of distress through Mr. Epstein. I became her doctor in 2015, approaching her through the lens of trauma and empowerment. Mr. Epstein stopped paying for her care, and I have treated her pro bono across the years.”
Documents released by the federal government show that the notorious sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein was in correspondence from 2015 to 2017 with a Portlander: Dr. Paul Conti, a nationally prominent psychiatrist and consultant with a private practice in Southwest Portland.
Prominent Portland Psychiatrist Corresponded with Jeffrey Epstein, Emails Show
Andrew Schwartz
www.wweek.com
February 5, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Paul Conti responds: “I met a woman in high levels of distress through Mr. Epstein. I became her doctor in 2015, approaching her through the lens of trauma and empowerment. Mr. Epstein stopped paying for her care, and I have treated her pro bono across the years.”
Reposted by Willamette Week
I am of course hoping for the best for this Portland institution but I was pretty excited to have an excuse to link to @stevenhyden.bsky.social’s wonderful review of the Garth Brooks Box Set You Could Only Buy At Bass Pro Shops: www.wweek.com/music/2026/0...
Terry Currier Announces Plans to Sell Music Millennium
The owner of the storied East Burnside retailer says he’ll work with the new owner during a transitional period.
www.wweek.com
February 4, 2026 at 5:04 AM
I am of course hoping for the best for this Portland institution but I was pretty excited to have an excuse to link to @stevenhyden.bsky.social’s wonderful review of the Garth Brooks Box Set You Could Only Buy At Bass Pro Shops: www.wweek.com/music/2026/0...
Reposted by Willamette Week
It was a quiet end for The Skanner, which once served a Black readership across Portland and Seattle as a prominent, trusted voice in civic life
After 50 years, co-founder/publisher Bernie Foster said "the paper speaks for itself"
After 50 years, co-founder/publisher Bernie Foster said "the paper speaks for itself"
The Skanner, a pioneering Black-owned newspaper in Portland, has ceased operation.
The Skanner Ceases Operation After 50 Years
Garrett Andrews
www.wweek.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:04 PM
It was a quiet end for The Skanner, which once served a Black readership across Portland and Seattle as a prominent, trusted voice in civic life
After 50 years, co-founder/publisher Bernie Foster said "the paper speaks for itself"
After 50 years, co-founder/publisher Bernie Foster said "the paper speaks for itself"
The move, even toward talks, is a victory for animal rights activists who have the Trump administration on their side.
OHSU Board to Consider Turning Hillsboro Primate Research Center into Sanctuary with Help from NIH
Anthony Effinger
www.wweek.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:04 PM
The move, even toward talks, is a victory for animal rights activists who have the Trump administration on their side.
The District 2 commissioner aims to succeed Jessica Vega Pederson, who has chosen not to run for a second term.
Shannon Singleton Announces Candidacy for Multnomah County Chair
Anthony Effinger
www.wweek.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:10 PM
The District 2 commissioner aims to succeed Jessica Vega Pederson, who has chosen not to run for a second term.
More than 100 comedians were nominated as Portland’s funniest people.
Here’s Every Comedian Who Received a Vote in the 2026 Funniest Five Poll
Andrew Jankowski
www.wweek.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:37 PM
More than 100 comedians were nominated as Portland’s funniest people.
The same 1929 building that poses safety concerns to students also, in Alex Krach’s view, poses immense historical significance and merits preservation.
A Last-Minute Effort to Prevent Cleveland High School’s Demolition Stokes Anxiety
Joanna Hou
www.wweek.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:54 PM
The same 1929 building that poses safety concerns to students also, in Alex Krach’s view, poses immense historical significance and merits preservation.