It's a classic February Saturday out there — high of 46, a 45% chance of rain by afternoon, and skies that can't quite commit to anything. Today's edition is packed — we've got water that keeps getting more expensive, a city council meeting that turned into a rugby match, and a MAX platform killing that finally has a verdict. Read on.

Portland's Bull Run water filtration project — the one that started as a tidy $500 million plan back in 2017 — is now priced at $2.56 billion, after city officials announced another $450 million cost increase this week. Permitting delays, a seven-month construction pause due to legal challenges, and the relentless grind of inflation have all pushed the tab higher. The city is also asking the Oregon Health Authority for a two-year extension on the September 2027 operational deadline. What does this mean for you personally? The five-year plan calls for water rate increases of just over 8% annually, with roughly a third of that tied directly to the filtration facility. Portland is one of the last major U.S. cities to filter its drinking water, which sounds like a fun fact until you're staring at your utility bill. Mayor Keith Wilson says the city is planning for the future. Your wallet is planning for the future too — just differently.

Wednesday night, roughly 40 members of the "Revoke the ICE Permit PDX" group descended on a Portland City Council meeting, occupied the council chambers, blocked the lobby entrance, and sent elected officials scrambling to safety. Portland police were called in — over 20 officers — and four people were ultimately arrested for trespassing after they linked arms and refused to leave. The council, rattled, reconvened remotely and then punted on a $21 million unspent housing funds decision entirely. In the aftermath, Councilor Loretta Smith floated a proposal to allow city councilors to openly carry firearms while conducting city business. Smith, who has never carried a firearm, described it as a defensive mechanism: "If people know that you're a serious person and you're going to protect yourself they're not going to be as quick to mess with you." Meanwhile, the underlying demand — revoking ICE's land use permit — remains legally complicated, politically fraught, and nowhere near resolved.

Thursday morning, Multnomah County District Court Judge Bryan Francesconi sentenced Felix Juarez-Perez to 23 years in prison for the death of Taysean Nash. The charges stem from the September 19, 2024 killing of 24-year-old Nash on a TriMet platform at Southeast 148th Avenue and Burnside Street. Surveillance video captured the shooting, and when investigators caught up with Juarez-Perez, he told police he had been supplying Nash with drugs and went to confront him over an unpaid debt — then shot him and struck him with the firearm. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. Prosecuting attorney Kristen Kyle-Castelli said Nash's murder "left a void in the lives of his family and friends," and that his family has shown incredible resilience. A brutal story with a measure of closure — the kind Portland's transit riders deserve more of.

On February 21, 1887, Oregon passed the country's first Labor Day legislation — beating the federal government to the holiday by seven years.

That's your Saturday, Portland. The rain's coming this afternoon, so if you're heading to one of the free events this morning, go early and go dry. Tuck an umbrella in your bag and call yourself a tourist. We'll be back in your inbox tomorrow.