Julia is a former news editor for Portland Monthly.

Oregon Woman 2020

Meet the Portland ER Doctor Who Stood Up to Her Political Allies

Multnomah County Commissioner and ER doctor Sharon Meieran pushed back against her natural allies in government to call for more urgent action and relief statewide.

06/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

Oregon Woman 2020

A Portland-Based Family Doctor on the Catalyst That Got the PPE Ball Rolling

The lack of protective gear for local medical workers terrified Vesna Jovanovic. So she set out to fix it.

06/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

Oregon Woman 2020

Oregon's Oracle on Managing the Coronavirus Pandemic

Back in mid-March, Maxine Dexter wrote the blueprint for how Oregon should manage the crisis ahead.

06/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

Rescue 503

With a Shortage of Protective Gear, Oregon Businesses Pivoted Fast

Repurposed plants and volunteer makers have helped keep essential workers covered.

06/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

The Morning After

Figure Out How To Help, Portland

Here's what you can do to help the Black Lives Matter protesters

05/30/2020 By Julia Silverman

Risky Business

How’s Your COVID-19 Risk Tolerance Looking These Days?

Here's some handy shorthand to help you navigate a post-shelter-at-home world.

05/28/2020 By Julia Silverman

Hell on Wheels

More E-Scooters Are Returning to Portland’s Streets. But Will People Ride Them?

Pondering the future of micro-mobility in a coronavirus-scarred world.

05/24/2020 By Julia Silverman

Cycle City

The Portland Bike Boom Is Real

Even in a pandemic, you can still ride a bike. Problem is, everyone else wants one, too.

05/21/2020 By Julia Silverman

Politics

7 Takeaways from Oregon’s Pandemic Primary

What to know about the biggest races

05/19/2020 By Julia Silverman

Summer Plans

You Can Still Pick Your Own Fruit at Oregon Farms This Summer

Goodbye for a few months, Driscoll's—Oregon strawberries are coming in hot.

05/16/2020 By Julia Silverman

Coronavirus

31 Oregon Counties Have Been Approved for Phase 1 Reopening

Two were denied and three (including Multnomah County) did not apply.

05/14/2020 By Eden Dawn and Julia Silverman

Survey Says

Postcards From Pill Hill: New Study Aims to Pinpoint Coronavirus’s Presence in Oregon

Almost 8 percent of Oregon households will receive an invite to participate in the year-long OHSU research project.

05/12/2020 By Julia Silverman

Politics

Blue State Governors Are Banding Together to Ask for More Federal Aid

But the GOP, led by President Trump, is pushing back hard.

05/11/2020 By Julia Silverman

Dollars and Sense

A Sober Budget Plan for Pandemic-Stricken Portland

Mayor Ted Wheeler's plan would spend $75 million less than the current budget.

05/07/2020 By Julia Silverman

Distance Learning

What Might Oregon Schools Look Like This Fall?

Portland schools are in session through June 10. September could bring a mix of in-person and virtual learning.

05/06/2020 By Julia Silverman

Drop Everything And Read

Demand for E-Books and Audiobooks Has Gone Bonkers at the Multnomah County Library

Tops on Portlander's list of required pandemic reading? Cozy old favorites, how-to and self-help tomes, and wise words from Michelle Obama.

05/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

Follow the Numbers

Coronavirus Takes a Heavy Toll on Minority Communities, Oregon Data Shows

White people make up 69 percent of Multnomah County's population, but only 51 percent of coronavirus cases.

05/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

Take It To The Streets

Reversing Course, Portland to Close Off Some Neighborhood Streets to Through Traffic

The move will create more space for walkers, joggers, and cyclists to safely social distance.

04/28/2020 By Julia Silverman

Voting Time

A Handy, Quick Guide to Local Candidates in the May 19 Primary

Coronavirus hasn't canceled the upcoming vote.

04/24/2020 By Margaret Seiler and Julia Silverman

The Supremes

After 86 Years, Oregon's Non-Unanimous Jury Convictions Rule Struck Down by the US Supreme Court

The verdict is a big win for criminal justice reform advocates.

04/20/2020 By Julia Silverman