Julia is a former news editor for Portland Monthly.

Feature

25 Big Ideas That Could Change Portland

Here are 25 ideas—some already in progress, some still pipe dreams—that could shape our city’s next act.

07/03/2021 Edited by Julia Silverman

Tourism

About That Travel Portland Ad...

What do the people in the "This Is Portland" video campaign really think about it?

07/02/2021 By Julia Silverman

Big Ideas

7 Locals Dream Big

Today's elevator pitches, tomorrow's world-beating initiatives. You're welcome, Portland.

07/02/2021 Edited by Julia Silverman

Coronavirus

COVID-19 Restrictions Are Officially Done in Oregon

To celebrate, rides on TriMet will be free all weekend long.

06/30/2021 By Julia Silverman

Politics

Oregon Lawmakers Promised Radical Change on Racial Justice in 2021. Did They Deliver?

The founders of Reimagine Oregon say change was incremental rather than transformative.

06/29/2021 By Julia Silverman

July Fourth

Fireworks Bans Are in Effect All Over Oregon Right Now

After our record-breaking heat wave, officials say they don't want to take any chances

06/29/2021 By Julia Silverman

Big Ideas

7 Ideas to Steal from the World

As the past year has made painfully evident, Portland doesn't have all the answers.

06/29/2021 By Julia Silverman

Heat Wave 2021

Here's How to Stay Cool in Portland Today

Ways to beat the heat as Oregon broils under record-breaking temps

06/28/2021 By Julia Silverman

Big Ideas

12 Radical Oregon Plans to Watch

From inclusive playgrounds to Oregon mushroom leather

06/27/2021 Edited by Julia Silverman

Coronavirus

After 16 Months, Oregon Sets a Date for Ending Its COVID-19 Restrictions

Mask mandates and capacity limits will sunset on June 30.

06/25/2021 By Julia Silverman

Analysis

Traffic Stops Are About to Change in Portland

It's just the latest shift in a seismic year of back-and-forths with the Portland Police Bureau.

06/22/2021 By Julia Silverman

Pride

The Six Weeks that Changed the Trajectory of Oregon’s Gay Rights Movement

For a brief moment in 2004, Multnomah County issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples. We caught up with a few of them.

06/22/2021 By Julia Silverman

Immigration

After Months of Almost No New Arrivals, Refugees Will Be Settling in Oregon Again in 2021

Aid organizations, decimated by Trump-era cuts and the pandemic, are scrambling to beef up operations to be ready to welcome them.

06/18/2021 By Julia Silverman

Coronavirus

Does Natural Immunity Have a Role to Play in Oregon's Reopening Goal?

Yes, the pace of vaccination is agonizingly slow. But vaccine-conferred immunity is the gold standard.

06/16/2021 By Julia Silverman

Top Chef

'Top Chef' Season 18, Episode 11 Recap: Home Stretch

Thursday’s installment brought us a Gabe Rucker cameo, a trip past the urban growth boundary, and a gesture worthy of Katniss Everdeen.

06/11/2021 By Julia Silverman

Politics

The 2021 Legislative Session Is Almost Complete. Let's Review.

Here's what you need to know as lawmakers prepare to wrap things up in Salem

06/09/2021 By Julia Silverman

Transportation

The Traffic’s Back, and, Yes, It's Getting Worse than Before

At least on a holiday weekend, according to new data from the Oregon Department of Transportation

06/04/2021 By Julia Silverman

Technology

Asked to Provide Proof of Vaccination in Oregon? There's No App for That.

Despite asking businesses to check vaccination status of their customers, Oregon has no plans for a verification app.

06/02/2021 By Julia Silverman

Coronavirus

At the Tail End of the Pandemic, OHSU Weathers Its Largest Workplace Outbreak

17 people were affected, including staff—but those who had been vaccinated were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

05/27/2021 By Julia Silverman

News

Got Shut Out from Summer Swim Lessons in Portland? All Is Not Lost.

Slots are pandemic-era limited, and lifeguards are in short supply, but another round of lessons opens in June.

05/26/2021 By Julia Silverman and Fiona McCann