ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ●Private eyes. A man who delighted drivers with googly eyes placed surreptitiously on sculptures in the roundabouts of Bend came forward after widespread press attention. Nonprofit director Jeff Keith’s actions inspired copycat pranksters. ●Common practice. The Portland Thorns and the as-yet-unnamed future Portland WNBA team announced the development of a shared practice facility planned for a 12-acre space in Hillsboro formerly occupied by Nike. The $75 million, first-of-itskind project is expected to open for the Thorns in time for their season in fall 2026, and for the WNBA team, in time for its inaugural season in summer 2026. ●Rose Part Tu. The Oregon Zoo welcomed a new face in early February when Asian elephant Rose-Tu gave birth to a daughter, which staff have named Tula-Tu. EDUCATION ●Scholarship athlete. Former Portland Trail Blazer Damian Lillard established a scholarship program at Portland State University for students from his native East Bay, California. More than a dozen have so far been admitted to the program, which covers costs for housing, food, clothes, transportation and books in addition to tuition. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ●Guardin’ octopuses. Oregon could become the third state to ban octopus farming. Supporters of HB 2557, before the state Legislature this session, say the practice is cruel to the famously intelligent animals and bad for the environment. ●Driven to despair. Approximately 30 vehicles were involved in a pileup in whiteout conditions on Interstate 84 near Multnomah Falls during a mid-February snowstorm. FARMS AND FORESTS ●Out of the woods. Oregon Department of Forestry head Cal Mukumoto resigned in January, shortly before the Legislature convened and after months of bad headlines, including a $218 million budget shortfall, increased scrutiny of spending and two workplace investigations. ●Egg drop. Grocery stores are limiting egg purchases due to a nationwide shortage. An outbreak of avian flu has caused farmers around the country to kill millions of chickens, resulting in fewer available eggs and upward-spiking prices. MANUFACTURING ●Wine down. The three West Coast states saw declines in the number of wineries for the second year in a row, the latest sign of a wine-industry slowdown. Oregon led the way with a 5% drop, down to 846 wineries in 2024. to four years in prison for evading $45 million in taxes in what prosecutors called one of the largest tax-evasion conspiracies in Oregon history. Attorneys for the business manager for Check Cash Pacific Inc. say he was merely a dutiful son of parents who own the company. ●Futures market. Revived plans for the James Beard Public Market, Portland’s answer to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, include 38,000 square feet of space and a partial opening in fall. Lawmakers are considering putting $10 million in state lottery funds toward the project. NONPROFITS ●Doghouse plot. Guide Dogs for the Blind announced plans for a $28 million expansion near the group’s Clackamas County headquarters. The organization, which trains canine guides and pairs them with people who are blind or visually impaired, will build a 30,000-square-foot client services and community hub near Boring. TECH ●Critical mass timber. Oregon Institute of Technology plans to build a $35 million residence hall utilizing mass timber on its Klamath Falls campus. The four-story project will house approximately 500 students and demonstrate the latest in renewable construction methods. ●Family patterns. John Bishop, CEO of Pendleton Woolen Mills, announced plans to retire. He represents the fifth generation to run the Portland-based textile manufacturing company. RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS ●About face. An Oregon man sued Jacksons Food Stores for $50,000 for religious discrimination after he says he was rejected for a job due to a prominent face tattoo. The man’s mug is covered with blue “Celtic knot” patterns he says reflect his animist belief system. ●Cereal adapter. Bob’s Red Mill closed its flagship whole-grain store and cafe in Milwaukie, putting 44 people out of work. The organic-oats godfather, still one of the world’s largest whole-grain companies, will sell the iconic red building. ●Check you later. The general manager of a check-cashing business was sentenced ⁄Newsfeed⁄ Tula-Tu is ready to recive visitors at the Oregon Zoo. COURTESY OF OREGON ZOO 6
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==