Crib Sheet

A Quick-and-Easy Guide to Portland’s New City Councilors

The skinny on the city’s new leadership.

02/24/2025 By Nathan Williams

Cold Hard Facts

Breaking Down Portland Winter Weather

Last January’s deadly cold snap closed roads, downed trees, and left thousands without power. How does it compare to past years?

12/10/2024 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Iced Out

Is Oregon Preparing Enough for Winter Weather?

The Oregon Department of Transportation is facing a financial crisis. That’s bad news for our roads.

12/04/2024 By Peter Laufer Illustrations by Martin Gee

Ballot Bonanza

Portland’s Upcoming Election, by the Numbers

Historical turnouts, close calls, and all those new ranked choices.

09/04/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Our 20th Anniversary

Fixing Portland? They’re on It.

Here's the comeback story you've been awaiting. The city’s busiest minds are on it.

12/06/2023 By Arianne Cohen Illustrations by Tara Jacoby

Urban Life

How to Actually Interact with Houseless Neighbors

Be respectful, practice kindness, and say ‘knock-knock.’

09/21/2023 By Hannah Wallace

Serve Yo' Self

Pumping Your Own Gas: Coming to Oregon in August

Guess what’s not on Gov. Tina Kotek’s list of bills to veto? The legislation introducing self-serve gas.

07/28/2023 By Sam Stites

Charter Barter

What the Heck Happened in Portland's City Council This Week?

Sparks flew as city councilors tried to alter already-voted-on government reforms. Here's your easy summary.

07/21/2023 By Sam Stites

Partisan Divide

Who Won the Walkout in the Oregon Legislature?

Republicans in the Oregon Senate missed 43 days in a protest of several bills, on topics including abortion access, gender-affirming care, and gun control.

06/20/2023 By Sam Stites

Swimming

Portland's Regional Government Wants to Give You a Life Jacket

Metro’s Jason Ligons helps BIPOC kids have fun in the water, and has advice for everyone on staying safe.

04/21/2023 By Sam Stites

Camping

Camping in the Era of Fire Bans

Here’s how to plan for camping trips without campfires.

04/04/2023 By Matt Wastradowski

State Parks

After Marking a Century, What’s Next for Oregon State Parks?

One of the nation’s best state parks systems is busy updating facilities, studying climate change, and becoming a more welcoming environment for all types of visitors.

03/09/2023 By Sam Stites

Real Estate

Property Watch: A Modern Townhouse in North Tabor

Designed by a powerhouse local firm and built in 2017, this townhouse is rife with stylish details.

02/28/2023 By Melissa Dalton

Air Travel

Deadline to Comply with Real ID Standards Pushed Again

But don’t put off that trip to the DMV forever—only 18 percent of Oregonians have made the switch so far.

12/13/2022 By Sam Stites

Justice System

Mike Schmidt Doesn’t Want to Be the Next Chesa Boudin

But after a rocky first half to his tenure, the Multnomah County DA has a lot of ground to make up.

12/08/2022 By Julia Silverman Photography by Thomas Teal

Insider’s Guide to Mount Hood

Inside Government Camp’s Growth Spurt

A new gondola, more housing, and so, so much traffic

11/30/2022 By Sam Stites

Urban Forestry

What Will Become of Portland’s Tree Canopy?

Friends of Trees, the nonprofit that has been greening the city for years, has been released from its city contract. We wondered what was next.

11/30/2022 By Matthew Trueherz

Election 2022

Portland’s City Charter Reform Measure Gets a Celebrity Endorsement from Jennifer Lawrence

The Oscar-winning megastar has worked for years on pro-democracy causes.

10/28/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Analysis

Portlanders Seem to Want One Thing This Election Day: Change

A red wave isn't coming for the city (where offices are nonpartisan, anyway), but all signs point to a restless electorate looking for a new direction.

10/24/2022 By Julia Silverman

Analysis

Is the Red Wave Finally Coming for Oregon?

With just over three weeks until Election Day, the President is coming to Stumptown to stump for Democratic candidates.

10/13/2022 By Julia Silverman