PORTLAND DRIZZLE

🧩Friday For You. Fifty-seven degrees and mostly sunny — the kind of Friday that makes you feel like Portland did something right. The county just dropped a brutal budget proposal. The state just told schools to stop cutting class time. But the Blazers are in the playoffs, so.

Chair Jessica Vega Pederson released her proposed budget Thursday, and it's not pretty. To close a $93 million deficit, the plan would cut 166 full-time positions and shutter more than 600 homeless shelter beds. The proposal lands just days before Mayor Keith Wilson is expected to unveil Portland's own plan for a $170 million city shortfall — which also threatens shelter closures. Vega Pederson is not running for reelection. The Board of County Commissioners votes in June. Between now and then, it's going to be a very loud spring in Salem. OPB

Governor Tina Kotek signed an executive order Thursday blocking Oregon school districts from cutting instructional hours to plug budget gaps. Districts that have already reduced class time must submit a restoration plan within 90 days showing how they'll get back to full hours by 2027–28. The order kills most instructional time waivers and redefines "learning hours" to count only actual time students are in a room with a teacher. Several Portland-area districts had been eyeing furlough days as a budget tool. Kotek made clear that's off the table — even as the budgets themselves stay very much on fire. KATU

A new report from Portland's Bureau of Emergency Communications shows 911 wait times have dropped 80% since 2022's nightmare peak. Average answer time is now 15 seconds, down from 77 seconds in July 2022. Nearly 74% of calls get picked up within 15 seconds. BOEC also just earned accreditation from the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch, placing it in the top 10% of more than 4,200 agencies worldwide. Staffing improvements and a big drop in non-emergency call volume — thanks to Portland Street Response and expanded 311 services — get most of the credit. Now if we could just get some more police and public defenders. KATU

Benson Bubblers: While the story is debated, we do know that the first one appeared on SW 5th and Washington St in 1912. It was a gift to the city from Simon Benson, a Norwegian timberman. Some say he was moved by the sight of a thirsty child. Some say he wanted to keep his loggers out of the bars on their lunch breaks. Today there are 54 4-bowl bubblers and 72 single bowls. They are cleaned twice a week. MORE

On April 17, 2008, Timber Jim played his last game at PGE Park. The Timbers won 1–0. His number was retired at halftime.

Who wants to call 911 with a stopwatch and report back?

by Michael Simpson Contact: [email protected]