🪐Thursday and I’m back from vacation. Today eases off the heat, high near 75 with a shot at an early thunderstorm before it clears. Sorry to report that Nutmeg the CVS cat has passed. Also you need to know that Cornelius Pass is fully closed to all traffic between Germantown Road and Kaiser Road from July 15 to September 29, 2026. Portland City Hall has two competing budget plans fighting over last month's cuts, and neither wins without compromise.
photo from portland.gov
Two Portland budget plans, one empty tiebreaker seat
Two competing plans landed at Portland City Hall this week, both trying to undo cuts the council approved last month. The progressive bloc, led by councilors including Angelita Morillo and Mitch Green, wants roughly 12 million dollars for parks maintenance, 311 staffing, and unarmed police support workers, funded mostly by interest off the Portland Clean Energy Fund. The moderate bloc's version spends about the same but leans harder into public safety, restoring police training, desk clerks, and fire rescue units. Councilor Loretta Smith called it unconscionable that 911 calls take 30 minutes to answer. Council is split evenly, so neither plan passes without compromise, and Mayor Wilson could end up breaking the tie. Testimony happens Wednesday. KATU
88 thefts, one arrest, still no word on where the goods went
It's official: Lloyd Center is dead. Portland's Design Commission voted unanimously to approve Urban Renaissance Group's master plan to demolish the 29-acre mall — the first indoor mall in the country with an ice rink — and replace it with a decade-long mixed-use buildout of housing, retail, and open space. Community members fought hard to save the ice rink, the only year-round rink within city limits, collecting nearly 4,500 signatures and marching to Mayor Wilson's office. What they got in return was a vague promise of "seasonal outdoor skating" someday in the future. The mall will close later this year. That sound you hear is a thousand figure skaters quietly crying on their way to find somewhere else to practice triple axels in a city that just eliminated their only option. KGW
Meth, a pointed finger, and one very brave daycare owner
A Portland daycare owner talked a man down from her own front gate this week after he wandered in high on crystal meth, pointed a finger like a gun, and started chanting shoot, shoot, shoot. Claudia Juarez runs the daycare on Southeast Yukon Street and says she thought about her kids first, then walked straight at him yelling stop. The man, identified as 41 year old Ivan Golovin, tried the locked gate and the front door before giving up and wandering off. Police arrested him a few blocks away. He told officers he had just smoked meth and was feeling weird. Juarez is fine. So are the kids. Golovin now faces several charges. KATU
⚾ OREGON HUMANE SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT
Meet Romeo, a 3 year old Jack Russell Terrier mix at the Portland Campus. He came to OHS through the Second Chance Program, and at just under 11 pounds, he is proof big love comes in small packages. Romeo calls himself a full time love bug, part time cuddle bug. Adoption fee is $300. WEBSITE
📚 ON THIS DAY
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy, sending Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins toward humanity's first crewed moon landing. Neil Armstrong spelled backwards is Gnorts Mr Alien.
🥳 UPCOMING EVENTS
