Lucas Wright

Last Friday morning, a pedestrian, Glenn Curtis Watkins, 28, of Bend, was fatally struck by a vehicle on Highway 97 near milepost 128 in Deschutes County, Oregon. The incident happened just after 4:12 a.m., and Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene, as reported by the Oregon State Police.

Portland is preparing for winter in a fun way by letting the public help name five of its 56 snowplows. The Portland Bureau of Transportation is accepting name submissions starting on Monday until January 5, according to the City of Portland.

As the holiday season unfolds, a recent post by the Oregon Department of Human Services highlights the importance of tapping into the festive spirit to warmly engage with loved ones on topics that go beyond the surface cheer. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, the holidays can serve as a prime time to check in on people we care about—potentially setting in motion a support system that could extend well into the new year.

Last Thursday, Multnomah County commissioners approved the creation of the Harrison Community Village, a 38-unit tiny home village in Southeast Portland to provide shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness. The village is part of a larger effort that also adds 200 overnight winter beds, bringing the total number of shelter beds in the county to 2,934. This project is part of the Homelessness Response System’s plan to add 1,000 more shelter units by the end of 2025. Chair Jessica Vega Pederson emphasized the importance of increasing shelter and permanent housing options, "along with wraparound services that help them achieve long-term stability," according to the Multnomah County.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office held an active shooter training at Glencoe High School. The morning session covered response strategies and medical aid, and in the afternoon, participants took part in drills simulating an active shooter situation, as reported by KPTV.

A teenage boy has been taken into custody following a stabbing incident that occurred in the early hours of Christmas Eve in Lake Oswego. The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, alongside Lake Oswego police officers, responded to a distress call at approximately 2:30 a.m. in the area of South Collina Street.

Portland residents have a reason to keep an eye on their tap water, as recent tests have turned up traces of Cryptosporidium at the Bull Run Watershed, the city’s primary source for drinking water. Tests conducted between December 15 and December 18 revealed the presence of this microscopic parasite, known to potentially cause illness. According to results posted on the