East Portland put in the spotlight during KATU mayoral debate

PORTLAND, Ore. – It was back to school for the top-three Portland mayoral candidates who squared off Sunday night in a live televised debate on KATU.

Click here to watch the debate

Businesswoman Eileen Brady, former City Commissioner Charlie Hales and state Rep. Jefferson Smith debated some of Portland's most pressing issues in a high school auditorium on a stage complete with chalkboards and school desks.

The Mayoral Debate Club, organized by KATU and Willamette Week, was held at David Douglas High School in front of about 200 audience members, many of whom were there to support their respective candidate.

And since the site for the debate was in East Portland, the candidates zeroed in on that as a debate topic. The debate rules allowed them to engage each other, and on the issue of economic development in the east side, the candidates did just that.

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Still need to drop off your ballot?

Still need to drop off your ballot?

Election Day is Tuesday and if you haven't dropped off your ballot yet, you have until 8 p.m. that day to do so. No need to panic, though. There are plenty of locations that serve as drop-off points.

Portland politics are as quirky as the city itself

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland is famously weird and fiercely proud of it, so things can get a little bizarre when it comes time to pick a mayor.

In one local tradition, candidates try to outdo each other in an eating contest at a doughnut shop known nationally for oddities such as oversized, maple-frosted doughnuts topped with strips of crispy bacon.

That's politics in a city where the main attraction is culture as opposed to commerce or landmarks.

Food carts, fixed-gear bicycles, pot shops and craft beer make Portland a magnet for the young, hip and liberal. But it's still a major city with all the attendant dilemmas.

Leaders have to contend with tight budgets, high unemployment and crumbling roads. Minorities face economic and social disenfranchisement and are being pushed to the outskirts of town.

Voters will weigh in Tuesday on which brand of liberal is best equipped to run the city while obeying the command posted in bright yellow letters on brick walls, car bumpers, T-shirts and concert fliers, "Keep Portland weird!"

'Stamp Out Hunger' today

PORTLAND, Ore. – If you’re feeling charitable, you can help "stamp out hunger" on Saturday.

“Stamp Out Hunger” is the annual food drive by the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers. Postal carriers in Oregon and southwest Washington delivered 1.5 million yellow, biodegradable bags to homes this week.

If you would like to donate, simply fill the bag with non-perishable food – like canned soups, cereal and pasta – and leave it outside for your mail carrier. Items like peanut butter and tuna fish are in high demand for kids, since schools and food pantries need help with their summer lunch programs.

“Nobody raises more food in one day than letter carriers do across the country  by l,” said Kevin Card, the president of the Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers. “It's that one time we can work with our customers to do something really incredible.”

The drive can bring in two million pounds of food for Oregon and southwest Washington; however, donations were down by 18 percent last year. Organizers do not know the reason.

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Bring on color. Bring on fresh. Bring on Scentsy.

Mother's Day is Sunday... time to make mom feel extra special

Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 13th this year. Here's a look at some of the events going on around town and some shopping ideas. If you know of a Mother's Day event or sale that's not on the list,  send us an e-mail and we'll put it up.

What makes your mom special? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment at the bottom of the story. If your mom has passed away, tell us a little about who she was and what she meant to you.


Saturday, May 12

Portlanders march to protest school budget cuts

PORTLAND, Ore. - Thousands of people took to the streets of Portland on Friday afternoon to rally against school budget cuts.

The "UPSET March to Stop Budget Cuts" started at the Rose Quarter at 3:30 p.m. Marchers made their way across the Broadway Bridge to Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Students, parents, teachers and other community members held the march and rally to demand an end to ongoing school budget cuts. Some of the participants say they have been directly affected by the cuts.

Portland Public Schools official Matt Shelby commented on the march: "We understand that people are frustrated. Certainly, we're frustrated. At the end of day, school funding goes downhill, decisions made at the state level translate into a budget gap at the district level and that translates to the building level. Decisions made in Salem have a real impact on teachers and parents."

Shelby said that the district is working to try to curb cuts. The district is facing a $27 million shortfall in next year's budget.

How to help Portlanders (close to you) suffering from hunger

How to help Portlanders (close to you) suffering from hunger

Portlanders are a generous people, constantly seeking opportunities to volunteer, help others, and improve their community.