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Oregon lawmakers spent last week preparing for their upcoming February legislative session — holding hearings on topics ranging from drug addiction to grasshopper infestations.

Why it matters: What lawmakers highlight through these public hearings informs laws they may propose during the Legislature's short session — just five weeks long — that alternates annually with their regular six-month session.

Catch up fast: Several committees focused on affordable housing and homelessness — including the interim Senate Committee on Housing and Development, which heard that a lack of housing in Oregon is contributing to homelessness and people leaving the state.

Having "attractive and affordable" housing is a "huge part of recruitment" and retention for industries including health care, public safety and education, Damien Hall, a co-chair of a new governor-created advisory group on housing production, told the committee.

The group is due to share by December specific proposals for lawmakers. In the hearing, senators urged them to look at issues such as rent increase limits and the number of second homes.

Separately, the interim Senate Judiciary Committee explored ways to change the voter-approved Oregon law that decriminalized possession of small amounts of hard drugs.

Between the lines: Legislators are under pressure to cut public drug consumption and increase treatment — potentially requiring rather than encouraging it as the current law does.

A group of wealthy and well-connected leaders are floating two ballot measures with their own changes in case lawmakers' efforts fail.

Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene), the judiciary committee chair, told the Oregon Capital Chronicle it's "too soon to know" what changes lawmakers may consider.

By the numbers: Oregon has the fifth highest effective income tax in the country — for couples earning the median income — and some officials testified that state limits on property tax rates are handcuffing local governments.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler told the House Interim Committee on Economic Development and Small Business that Oregonians' overall tax burden is tied to people leaving the state and leaving Portland.

"While there are many factors at play, we know that taxes do play a key role," Wheeler told the committee.

What they're saying: At a hearing on the impact of the University of Oregon leaving the Pac-12, UO president Karl Scholz said he was "sad that the changing nature of college athletics has disrupted the Pac-12."

But he said that UO's athletic program had "only one choice" to remain self-funded through game revenue.

Oregon State University officials said UO's decision will mean a $40 million loss for OSU, and some students said they hoped the state would help out.

What's next: Interim committees will meet for similar sessions in early November and again in January.

The legislative session runs from Feb. 5 to March 10.

Oregon lawmakers start to set their agenda

Oregon's legislature is setting its agenda for a five-week session starting in February.

Legislation

Oregon lawmakers spent last week preparing for their upcoming February <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="legislative session" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/06/09/oregon-lawmakers-passed-over-100-new-laws-despite-the-walkout" data-vars-content-id="4de5891e-ece4-44b9-b510-9eae7859c7d6" data-vars-headline="Oregon lawmakers start to set their agenda" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/06/09/oregon-lawmakers-passed-over-100-new-laws-despite-the-walkout" target="_self">legislative session</a> — holding hearings on topics ranging from drug addiction to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="grasshopper infestations" data-vars-click-url="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/277210" data-vars-content-id="4de5891e-ece4-44b9-b510-9eae7859c7d6" data-vars-headline="Oregon lawmakers start to set their agenda" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023I1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/277210" target="_blank">grasshopper infestations</a>.Why it matters: What lawmakers highlight through these public hearings informs laws they may propose during the Legislature&#x27;s short session — just five weeks long — that alternates annually with their regular six-month session.

News

A federal government shutdown could start hitting home this weekend.

Driving the news: Congress has until midnight tomorrow to fund the government or see many services shut down, writes Axios' Sareen Habeshian.

Negotiations over a short-term spending measure continue today, but avoiding a shutdown looks increasingly unlikely.

Zoom in: Oregonians could feel the impacts in a variety of ways.

Work: Most of the 40,000 people in Oregon and southwest Washington who work for the federal government would see their paychecks paused.

Some civilian employees of programs that don't need annual Congressional approval could still get paid, but "it's very difficult to know" exactly who that would be, economic analyst Andrew Lautz of the Bipartisan Policy Center tells Axios.

Help: For the 680,000 Oregonians who get federal assistance to buy food, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will continue through October.

However, a federal program that offers food aid and other services to low-income mothers would be reduced immediately.

Social security checks will still arrive.

School: The University of Oregon is warning researchers that grant applications will go unanswered during a shutdown, while Oregon State University, where about three-quarters of research is federally funded, says it can sustain a short-term shutdown but "certain projects will be immediately impacted." 

Student financial aid for this term should not be impacted, according to OSU.

But a shutdown would not halt student loan payments, which are scheduled to restart Sunday after a three-year pandemic pause.

Play: National parks facilities in Oregon and southwest Washington would close.

"Gates will be locked, visitor centers will be closed, and thousands of park rangers will be furloughed," the National Parks Service said in a statement, although areas that are "impossible or impractical" to restrict may stay open.

At the Oregon Caves National Monument, "tours would shut down" without paid staff, George Herring, a program manager there, told Axios.

Crater Lake National Park had already closed its visitor center and part of the rim road for construction, but typically gets tens of thousands of visitors in October.

How a federal shutdown would affect Oregon

From paychecks to research to national parks, impacts will grow with a long shutdown.

Illustration of the Capitol dome disappearing under the hands of a clock

Government shutdown

A federal government shutdown could start hitting home this weekend.Driving the news: Congress has until midnight tomorrow to<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" fund the government" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/government-shutdown-congress-republicans" data-vars-content-id="a6fd8ad0-c385-425b-9ddc-8232f63e6bf5" data-vars-headline="How a federal shutdown would affect Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/20/government-shutdown-congress-republicans" target="_self"> fund the government</a> or see many services shut down, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="writes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/27/government-shutdown-effects-food-stamps-benefits" data-vars-content-id="a6fd8ad0-c385-425b-9ddc-8232f63e6bf5" data-vars-headline="How a federal shutdown would affect Oregon" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/27/government-shutdown-effects-food-stamps-benefits" target="_self">writes</a> Axios&#x27; Sareen Habeshian.

Well. You all certainly have opinions about burgers.

✅ Here's the list — smash burgers, bar burgers, white-napkin burgers, cart burgers and even drive-thru burgers. Fine-tuned and with all the toppings. 

Of note: These are all great. The order is random.

In Portland: 5410 NE 33rd. In Vancouver: 7910 E Mill Plain Blvd

Smash burgers, zucchini pickles and more.

For Casey J., who wrote to praise the burger at now-closed Toro Bravo, maybe give this a try? The owners used to be partners with Toro Bravo.

The other homegrown hamburger drive-thru, brought to us by Micah Camden of Little Big Burger and more.

Meira here: If you're looking for a great veggie burger that isn't just a Beyond or Impossible patty, this is the place. 

But be patient. This shop has a notorious reputation for its wait times.

"By far the best smash burger," Rachel M. writes. 

They've been doing burgers and fries since 1939.

"A really good bar burger," says Chris H.

It's all about the toppings here. Get the homemade chimichurri sauce. 

Emily adds: "I wish they were open later than 8pm because this is a great late-night burger."

5829 SE Milwaukie Ave. & 701 NW 23rd Ave.

House ground short ribs and chuck. Reader Rich H. recommends. 

Of course Papa Haydn's burgers are fancy — just like their desserts. 

"A wonderful happy hour burg that bucks the trend. More traditional, but not one to skip," writes John V., who loves a lot of Portland burgers.

In food cart pods Nob Hill 1845 NW 23rd Place & Breakside Brewery, 12680 SW Farmington Road, Beaverton 

Crispy, on a great bun. One of Emily's favs.

Double patty, American cheese. All vegan options too — two Beyond patties smashed.

"Beautiful crust of charred beef on the edges," — this is another pick of reader John V.

They call themselves farm-to-table fast food. 

Food Fight: Portland's best burger

A hamburger stacked with shredded lettuce on the bottom, then a brown patty, a tan fried onion ring, a red tomato and a thick drip of green sauce falling out from under the top bun.

A Portland Burger special, the Chimi-Chimi Bang-Bang. Photo: Emily Harris/Axios

Hamburger

Well. You all certainly have opinions about burgers.✅ Here&#x27;s the list — smash burgers, bar burgers, white-napkin burgers, cart burgers and even drive-thru burgers. Fine-tuned and with all the toppings. <ul><li>Many thanks to all who contributed.</li></ul>

Food and Drink

Portland's biggest theater, the Keller Auditorium — which hosts traveling Broadway shows, operas and ballets — is facing either a major overhaul or a total replacement, perhaps in a new location.

Why it matters: The Keller is big business, bringing in half the revenue of downtown's five publicly owned theaters. Whether it moves or gets a makeover will impact arts opportunities, public coffers and the future landscape of the city.

Driving the news: On Wednesday, the Portland City Council is scheduled to hear a detailed proposal supporting a complete Keller makeover.

Catch up quick: Five years ago, private business interests around the Keller held a competition for new exterior designs to make it a destination even on nights without performances.

The winner offered a dramatic new facade connecting the auditorium closely to the playful fountain of the same name across the street.

After a 2020 city seismic study raised concerns, Portland and the Metro government each contributed $200,000 to combine that exterior design with upgrades to the interior and the building's structure.

Meanwhile, in July, Portland put out a call for concepts envisioning a replacement auditorium elsewhere, to ensure "a comprehensive assessment of options."

The request said a new building in a different location "would allow continuous operations and may present other opportunities not possible on the current site."

Eight alternative sites and initial concepts were proposed, which city planners have now narrowed down to five.

Of those, two are on the west of the river and three on the east side — with the closest part belonging to Portland State University.

Details: The Keller Auditorium still has a few original 1917 walls, despite a near-complete makeover in 1967.

Owned by Portland and run by Metro, it can seat 3,000 but is out-of-date in terms of accessibility as well as amenities — from bathrooms to restaurants – for performers and audience members alike.

The city's 2020 structural assessment concluded that the Keller is currently "vulnerable to failure in a number of different seismic scenarios."

What they're saying: Scott Andrews, principal at the commercial real estate brokerage Melvin Mark, co-chairs the group that developed the full Keller renovation plan.

"I think people will come to Portland just to see that building," Andrews tells Axios.

By the numbers: Keller backers say they can do the renovation for $236 to $267 million, depending on construction time.

One economic concern is the loss of ticket sales if the Keller were under renovation and not open for shows.

The intrigue: The group promoting the Keller makeover is also dedicated to preserving Portland's iconic series of fountains and walkways.

The fountains were built during the 1960s "urban renewal" push to revive public spaces but to do that cleared out neighborhoods where residents had little political power.

What's next: The city council is not expected to make any decisions on the future of the Keller this week.

They plan to whittle the five alternatives at other locations down to two next month and make a final decision in 2024.

Remaking Portland's stage for Broadway and ballet

The Keller is Portland's biggest theater, the only one with enough seats for Broadway or ballet.

Two photos: A glass faced building with pillars in front and the same building reimagined, with a prow-like glass facade.

The Keller Auditorium today (left) and an artist's rendering of a proposed makeover. Photo: Emily Harris/Axios; rendering courtesy of Hennebery Eddy Architects / Stufish Entertainment Architects

Entertainment

Portland&#x27;s biggest theater, the Keller Auditorium — which hosts traveling Broadway shows, operas and ballets — is facing either a major overhaul or a total replacement, perhaps in a new location.Why it matters: The Keller is big business, bringing in half the revenue of downtown&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="five publicly owned theaters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.portland5.com/" data-vars-content-id="adf5cb52-ee32-452f-b74e-6d48895258b0" data-vars-headline="Remaking Portland&#x27;s stage for Broadway and ballet" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.portland5.com/" target="_blank">five publicly owned theaters</a>. Whether it moves or gets a makeover will impact arts opportunities, public coffers and the future landscape of the city.

Culture

Whaddya know! The sun's coming back for the weekend, but the moon is the real star of the show.

🥮 Eat a mooncake at Portland's second Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, watch lantern processions, martial arts, music and other performances, explore more than 60 local Asian American and Pacific Islander crafts and food vendors. 3pm-10pm Saturday, 5253 SE 82nd. Free.

🌕 The Japanese Garden is also celebrating the full moon — with tea, kyoto music and haiku. This event is sold out but you can get on the wait list ($50-65) for Friday or Saturday evening.

Two other great moon-watching spots around town — no ticket required — include Pittock Mansion (grounds are open until 9pm) and the top of Mt. Tabor Park (officially closes at 10pm).

Friday is expected to be partially cloudy, but Saturday night should be clear for good moon viewing. 

👻 Haunted houses are starting to open, including a couple of big ones this weekend.

Underhill's Season of Screams IV — a fundraiser for Portland's nonprofit Canon Shakespeare Company — opens Friday for a monthlong run on select days. It includes an afternoon monster fest designed for kids under 12. $30 general, $9-12 for the kids' monster fest (plus fees). At the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Fear PDX promises thrills in its abandoned factory, paranormal mansion and murder pit job sites. Opens Friday, slots 6pm to midnight. $30-35. 12219 NE Glisan.

🐕 Another Oktoberfest — with a twist. Bring your pup to the Lucky Lab Brew Pub's SE Hawthorne location for Dogtoberfest, raising money for Dove Lewis' animal blood bank. $35 gets you in, one drink, a beer glass for you and bandana for your dog. $15 more to enter the costume contests. Saturday, 12-4pm.

🍺 There's beer, then there's fresh hop beer — made with within 24 hours of harvesting the hop cones. Raise your glass at the annual Portland festival honoring these special brews from around Oregon. Friday, 4-8pm, and Saturday, noon to 8pm at Oaks Park.

🧀 Then there's cheese. Lots of cheese to try and buy at The Wedge cheese festival. Also wine, cider and spirits. $29 including fees, up to $82 for VIP access. Saturday, 12-5pm, 100 SE Alder. 21+ only.

🐴 Miniature horses, hula hooping, public math fun and more at the St. Johns Fall Fling. Saturday, 11am-3pm on the plaza in N. Portland's St. Johns neighborhood. Free.

🎨 Many Converge 45 exhibitions are still going strong. Get your art on, all over town.

👟Finally, even if you aren't running, remember, the Portland Marathon is happening on Sunday. You can find out where to watch, what the impact might be on traffic that day, or if the race is coming through your neighborhood here.  

What to do this weekend in Portland

Plus Dogtoberfest, miniature horses and public math.

A harvest moon. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Weekend

Whaddya know! The sun&#x27;s coming back for the weekend, but the moon is the real star of the show.<ul><li>Friday is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="full harvest moon" data-vars-click-url="https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/moon/calendar/zipcode/97202/2023-09" data-vars-content-id="f4a928b9-45b5-4ee6-aeb7-550bf20ade1b" data-vars-headline="What to do this weekend in Portland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.almanac.com/astronomy/moon/calendar/zipcode/97202/2023-09" target="_blank">full harvest moon</a>.</li></ul>

Emily Harris

Featured stories

Oregon lawmakers start to set their agenda

How a federal shutdown would affect Oregon

What to do this weekend in Portland

Food Fight: Portland's best burger

Remaking Portland's stage for Broadway and ballet