Portland Business Alliance fined for repeatedly violating city lobbying rules
Updated 6:08 PM;
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One of the Portland area’s most influential business organizations repeatedly violated city lobbying rules last year, resulting in a rare fine by the city auditor’s office.
The Portland Business Alliance failed to disclose at least 25 times it had contacted city officials in 2020 to request access, funding or action, primarily by email, an investigation by the auditor’s office found.
Those unreported emails, text messages and other interactions with officials did not appear in quarterly statements the alliance is required to file with the city of Portland as an organization that routinely lobbies City Hall.
Portland police investigate veiled death threat against Mayor Ted Wheeler following calls to crack down on destructive demonstrators
Updated Apr 29, 2021;
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Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler’s latest call for police and fellow Portlanders to aggressively crack down on a small group of destructive demonstrators has angered left-leaning critics, rankled civil rights groups and now led to at least one veiled public death threat.
Police are investigating a video published to Twitter on Wednesday night that claims militant activists in the city will continue to destroy property and riot until Wheeler resigns and also includes the mayor’s home address along with a menacing warning.
Oregon State professor tapped by Biden to lead National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration
Updated 5:21 PM;
Today 5:09 PM
President Joe Biden picked Rick Spinrad, a professor at Oregon State University, to run the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Oregon State University)
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An Oregon State University professor is poised to become the head of the U.S. government’s leading agency for weather, climate and ocean science.
President Joe Biden picked Rick Spinrad to run the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a role that could prove pivotal as the White House seeks to make climate action a top priority.
An internationally recognized oceanographer with decades of policy experience, Spinrad previously served as the agency’s chief scientist under President Barack Obama as well as the U.S. representative to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission.
Portland pitches in for repairs to businesses damaged during riots, demonstrations
Updated 6:08 PM;
Today 6:07 PM
Protesters smashed windows in downtown Portland on April 16, 2021. The demonstration was declared a riot by police shortly after windows were smashed.Dave Killen/The Oregonian
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Small businesses trashed or smashed by destructive demonstrators in Portland over the last year can receive up to $10,000 from the city to help cover repairs.
The Portland City Council on Wednesday approved $250,000 in new grants geared toward fixing broken doors, shattered storefronts and graffiti-scarred buildings left by those who’ve chosen to rampage or riot during months of protests, according to Mayor Ted Wheeler’s office.
Portland leaders kickstart new citywide cleanup effort with $750K
Updated 1:52 PM;
Today 1:52 PM
A selection of trash picked up from an embankment along I-405 in Portland. March 10, 2021 Beth Nakamura/StaffThe Oregonian
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The Portland City Council on Wednesday agreed to spend $750,000 to help kickstart a new initiative aimed at picking up litter, garbage and debris citywide.
Mayor Ted Wheeler launched the so-called Clean and Green project last month in response to Portland’s trash problem, which has spiraled out of control in the last year. The council unanimously agreed to provide the hefty dose of one-time funding to accelerate its work in May through June.