🦥Hello Thursday. High of 70 today, and delicious. Fleet Week ship tours start this morning at the waterfront — free, no tickets, just bring your ID and close-toed shoes. Also: the “Mayor” of Sellwood just wants a peaceful retirement at CVS, and Portland's homicide numbers are actually kind of remarkable right now.
🚨 THE NEWS
photo from Paige Wallace on FB
An 18-year-old orange cat has claimed Sellwood's CVS as his retirement home. Corporate is not pleased.
Nutmeg doesn't ask permission. Every evening, the senior cat walks up to the CVS at SE 17th and Tacoma, waits for the automatic doors, and strolls inside, sometimes curling up on the printing kiosk, once tearing into a bag of dog treats, once getting locked in overnight. Willamette Week dubbed him the unofficial mayor of Sellwood. The neighborhood agrees. CVS corporate does not. Someone filed a complaint in May; a petition appeared in the store and was quickly removed, allegedly on corporate orders.
"This is his retirement life," owner Gabi Moore said. "Let's just let him have a happy end of life." Oregonian
Portland's murder rate is down — way down — and the city is trying to figure out what's working
Portland has had eight homicides so far in 2026. That sounds grim until you look at where the city was three years ago. Year-to-date, homicides are down 56% compared to last year, and down 68% from the three-year average. City leaders met Tuesday to discuss how to build on the trend, which they're attributing to community violence intervention programs, the Office of Violence Prevention, and partnerships between Ceasefire and the Portland Police Bureau's focused intervention teams. The city's Hazelwood neighborhood did see its first homicide of the year Tuesday morning. Police have since identified the victim. The bigger question officials are trying to answer: how do you keep something going when you're not entirely sure what's driving it. KATU
PSU wants to build a performing arts center downtown. Portland City Council hasn't said yes yet.
Portland State University unveiled more details this week about its proposal for a new performing arts venue on its downtown campus — a project that would also include a hotel and conference center. PSU says it has a likely development partner lined up and private funding secured for the hotel piece, should the city move forward. The question is whether it will. Portland City Council is weighing three options: renovate the earthquake-vulnerable Keller Auditorium, build a new venue at PSU, or do both. Officials across the city agree Portland needs to be able to host Broadway shows long-term. They just haven't agreed on how, or where, or who's paying. PSU's pitch lands as the university is already mid-cost-cut, having recently eliminated two programs and laid off 52 employees. OPB
FOXTAIL SPOTLIGHT
photo from salisburygreenhouse.com
Foxtails — those dry, barbed grass seed clusters — are peaking right now in the Portland area. They burrow into fur, paws, ears, and noses and can cause serious infections if left untreated. Check your dog after every outdoor walk. If you spot swelling or your pet won't stop licking one spot, call your vet. Thank you to reader Eleanor for suggesting this topic. More info at WebMD
📚 ON THIS DAY
On June 4, 1942, the Battle of Midway began, a turning-point naval engagement in which American forces, aided by codebreakers, crippled the Japanese fleet in the Pacific.
🥳 UPCOMING EVENTS
