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Here's why you might be getting a $90 check from Social Security

Politics & Policy

Exclusive: Anthropic breaches spark White House AI reporting mandate

Delta expects fuel bill to rise $6 billion this year

Business

SpaceX spectrum deal unsettles investors in AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile

Panama rocked by major earthquake

Energy & Climate

Rose Quarter I-5 closure will end early

Southbound lanes will reopen Wednesday night, more than a week early.

News

All lanes of southbound <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Interstate 5" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/09/08/i5-southbound-closure-rose-quarter" data-vars-content-id="8119599d-5f39-4777-82f9-bfae69d57868" data-vars-headline="Rose Quarter I-5 closure will end early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/09/08/i5-southbound-closure-rose-quarter" target="_self">Interstate 5</a> through Portland&#x27;s Rose Quarter will reopen Wednesday night, more than a week ahead of schedule.Why it matters: Reopening will restore a major route through central Portland.<ul><li>The closure was expected to last five weeks. Construction was helped along by good weather and drivers seeking out alternative routes, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per KGW" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kgw.com/article/traffic/odot-interstate-5-rose-quarter-update-reopening-southbound-traffic/283-34dfe1f7-426c-4262-b9c6-70dd46c7bbec" data-vars-content-id="8119599d-5f39-4777-82f9-bfae69d57868" data-vars-headline="Rose Quarter I-5 closure will end early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kgw.com/article/traffic/odot-interstate-5-rose-quarter-update-reopening-southbound-traffic/283-34dfe1f7-426c-4262-b9c6-70dd46c7bbec" target="_blank">per KGW</a>.</li></ul>

Bare Knuckles is having a banner year

The label is winning over fans with its obsessively considered fits and worn-in basics.

Chart-topping country singer Shaboozey, K-pop star J-Hope and &quot;Love Island&quot; winner Bryce Alakai have all been spotted wearing Portland menswear brand Bare Knuckles this year.Why it matters: Nearly a decade in, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bare Knuckles" data-vars-click-url="https://bareknuckles.co/" data-vars-content-id="5ba18251-20cc-4d3a-9e18-8b8e5869a79b" data-vars-headline="Bare Knuckles is having a banner year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bareknuckles.co/" target="_blank">Bare Knuckles</a> has quietly grown from a side project between the two longtime Portland retail pros into a fashion-world favorite.

Oregon flu season gets an early start

Flu activity is rising weeks before its usual winter peak.

Winter may be months away, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="flu season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/12/09/flu-season-oregon-h3n2-2025" data-vars-content-id="3f225dba-112c-4537-8a80-0b5a2e8f6659" data-vars-headline="Oregon flu season gets an early start" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/12/09/flu-season-oregon-h3n2-2025" target="_self">flu season</a> in Oregon doesn&#x27;t seem to be waiting.The big picture: Oregon&#x27;s respiratory illness season appears to be getting an early start, with flu activity rising weeks before its typical winter peak.

New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen

He trades restaurants for filmmaking in a romance filmed at familiar local haunts.

Fall in Portland is romantic. Prolific restaurateur turned independent filmmaker Josh Loeb knows this. Why it matters: His debut feature, &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="In Spite of Ourselves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.inspiteofourselvesfilm.com/" data-vars-content-id="d21d2aa4-0bb0-4928-b1f3-294be312674a" data-vars-headline="New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.inspiteofourselvesfilm.com/" target="_blank">In Spite of Ourselves</a>,&quot; takes place against the backdrop of the city&#x27;s vibrant tree-lined streets, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cozy cafes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/11/14/best-coffee-shops-work-from-home" data-vars-content-id="d21d2aa4-0bb0-4928-b1f3-294be312674a" data-vars-headline="New love story puts Southeast Portland on the big screen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/11/14/best-coffee-shops-work-from-home" target="_self">cozy cafes</a> and acclaimed eateries — capturing Portland at its most rom-com-esque.

Oregon's roadless forests face new threat

Nearly 2 million protected acres could see new roads, logging and development.

Environment

The Trump administration moved this week to eliminate the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Roadless Rule" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/05/trump-roadless-rule-utah-wildfires-logging-national-forests" data-vars-content-id="c99147a2-2045-409a-9857-ea418403eda2" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s roadless forests face new threat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/09/05/trump-roadless-rule-utah-wildfires-logging-national-forests" target="_self">Roadless Rule</a> in national forests, potentially opening vast areas in Oregon to development.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2001 federal policy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless" data-vars-content-id="c99147a2-2045-409a-9857-ea418403eda2" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s roadless forests face new threat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless" target="_blank">2001 federal policy</a> has protected millions of acres of wilderness from new roads and logging — to the delight of conservationists and the ire of the timber industry.

Trump deportations could cost Oregon taxpayers $1,859 each

Estimates show deportations in Oregon could cost up to $2.8 billion.

Politics

Oregon taxpayers would pay about $1,859 each for President Trump&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="mass deportation push" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/07/23/ice-arrests-immigration-noncriminals-oregon" data-vars-content-id="15871bc6-e890-40c3-8127-65021db14119" data-vars-headline="Trump deportations could cost Oregon taxpayers $1,859 each" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/07/23/ice-arrests-immigration-noncriminals-oregon" target="_self">mass deportation push</a>, according to a new calculator from the Economic Policy Institute.Why it matters: The estimate is fueling debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" data-vars-content-id="15871bc6-e890-40c3-8127-65021db14119" data-vars-headline="Trump deportations could cost Oregon taxpayers $1,859 each" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_self">deportations</a> could instead fund other public priorities.

The difference between renting and owning in Portland

The gap between renting and owning now tops $30,000 a year.

Real Estate

The average Portland-area renter pays about $2,540 less a month than someone who owns a home in the region, per a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Zillow report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.zillow.com/research/august-2026-rent-report/" data-vars-content-id="82be056b-595d-43b2-b866-b46456bf74a6" data-vars-headline="The difference between renting and owning in Portland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.zillow.com/research/august-2026-rent-report/" target="_blank">Zillow report</a>.Why it matters: As Portland home prices <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stay stubbornly high" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/09/11/real-estate-homebuyers-negotiating-power" data-vars-content-id="82be056b-595d-43b2-b866-b46456bf74a6" data-vars-headline="The difference between renting and owning in Portland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/09/11/real-estate-homebuyers-negotiating-power" target="_self">stay stubbornly high</a> — have you seen mortgage rates lately? — it&#x27;s more evidence that renting might be the way to go for some people.

Portland homebuyers get pickier

Turnkey homes move fast, while overpriced listings face cuts and tougher deals.

It&#x27;s a picky buyer&#x27;s market in Portland residential <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="real estate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/27/home-down-payment-time-2025" data-vars-content-id="45c0b560-e77a-40bf-a59a-6a013be0653a" data-vars-headline="Portland homebuyers get pickier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/27/home-down-payment-time-2025" target="_self">real estate</a>, but both sides still feel squeezed, experts tell Axios.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="High interest rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/mortgage-rates-bonds" data-vars-content-id="45c0b560-e77a-40bf-a59a-6a013be0653a" data-vars-headline="Portland homebuyers get pickier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/05/mortgage-rates-bonds" target="_self">High interest rates</a> are making buyers more likely to demand concessions and scrutinize every flaw, while sellers with anything short of a turnkey home are facing longer waits, price cuts and tougher negotiations.

Adapting to extreme heat takes more than changing the clock

In some of the hottest parts of the U.S., changing the clock is already part of adapting to extreme heat.

As extreme <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/extreme-weather" data-vars-content-id="3fac89c7-6996-48eb-8849-c42dd58fa29e" data-vars-headline="Adapting to extreme heat takes more than changing the clock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/extreme-weather" target="_self">heat</a> makes afternoons more dangerous, schools, sports teams and outdoor employers are shifting when — and sometimes whether — people can safely be outside.Why it matters: Adapting to hotter conditions could reshape the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="American workday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/worker-heat-protection-osha-regulation" data-vars-content-id="3fac89c7-6996-48eb-8849-c42dd58fa29e" data-vars-headline="Adapting to extreme heat takes more than changing the clock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/07/21/worker-heat-protection-osha-regulation" target="_self">American workday</a> while putting a premium on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the cooling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/cooling-buildings-electricity-demand" data-vars-content-id="3fac89c7-6996-48eb-8849-c42dd58fa29e" data-vars-headline="Adapting to extreme heat takes more than changing the clock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/24/cooling-buildings-electricity-demand" target="_self">the cooling</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="energy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate" data-vars-content-id="3fac89c7-6996-48eb-8849-c42dd58fa29e" data-vars-headline="Adapting to extreme heat takes more than changing the clock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate" target="_self">energy</a> infrastructure people rely on when outdoor conditions become unsafe.

Swan Island businesses brace for I-5 closure

Freight, shipyard and service businesses have little room to dodge the traffic.

A concrete truck leaving Swan Island has about 90 minutes to reach a construction site before its load becomes unusable. <ul><li>That tight timeline is about to collide with the five-week Interstate 5 southbound closure, which Swan Island businesses expect will snarl the industrial district&#x27;s main routes.</li></ul>

Ducks are among college football's biggest spenders

The Ducks' roster is estimated to cost between $48 million and $54 million.

Sports

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oregon Ducks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/08/ducks-hoosiers-peach-bowl-semifinal-cfp" data-vars-content-id="6a68fb39-82e9-4b3f-94df-e18b914a233d" data-vars-headline="Ducks are among college football&#x27;s biggest spenders" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/08/ducks-hoosiers-peach-bowl-semifinal-cfp" target="_self">Oregon Ducks</a> have one of the most expensive rosters in college football, with an estimated 2026 budget of $48 million to $54 million, according to a new analysis by The Athletic.Why it matters: Now that colleges <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="can directly pay athletes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/10/college-football-private-equity" data-vars-content-id="6a68fb39-82e9-4b3f-94df-e18b914a233d" data-vars-headline="Ducks are among college football&#x27;s biggest spenders" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/10/college-football-private-equity" target="_self">can directly pay athletes</a>, money is becoming an even bigger part of building a winning football program.

Thorns to honor Tobin Heath as club icon retires

The Thorns legend will be honored before Friday's match at Providence Park.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Thorns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/03/19/thorns-home-opener-new-coach-roster-questions" data-vars-content-id="92ba2cf4-35e1-4ce5-997f-411f67f848fa" data-vars-headline="Thorns to honor Tobin Heath as club icon retires" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/03/19/thorns-home-opener-new-coach-roster-questions" target="_self">Thorns</a> will honor an icon Friday with a pre-match ceremony to mark the retirement of Tobin Heath, one of the club&#x27;s most impactful players.The big picture: Heath helped Portland win two NWSL championships and was a key part of the U.S. Women&#x27;s National Team during one of its most successful stretches.

Portland weighs tax hike on big businesses

A proposed tax overhaul could benefit 18,000 small businesses while raising taxes on 410.

Portland&#x27;s largest businesses could soon pay significantly more in taxes, while thousands of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smaller companies" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/03/11/small-businesses-rising-costs-reputation-challenges" data-vars-content-id="d83adc6f-8545-4532-8323-d64a6536f222" data-vars-headline="Portland weighs tax hike on big businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/03/11/small-businesses-rising-costs-reputation-challenges" target="_self">smaller companies</a> would get a break under a proposal considered by a City Council committee Thursday.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.portland.gov/council/documents/ordinance/fairsharetax" data-vars-content-id="d83adc6f-8545-4532-8323-d64a6536f222" data-vars-headline="Portland weighs tax hike on big businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.portland.gov/council/documents/ordinance/fairsharetax" target="_blank">plan</a> aims to raise millions for city services while easing the financial burden on small businesses, but it could also make Portland a more expensive place for major employers.

Oregon's talent pipeline can't keep pace

The state isn't producing enough college grads for open roles.

Oregon isn&#x27;t producing enough <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="college graduates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/11/portland-job-market-college-graduates-adp" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/11/portland-job-market-college-graduates-adp" target="_self">college graduates</a> to keep up with the number of jobs here that require higher education, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new state-mandated report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/Documents/Commission/Full-Commission/2026/5-September%2021%20Special/2.0b%20HB%204124%20Preliminary%20Findings%20EY-P.pdf" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregon.gov/highered/public-engagement/Documents/Commission/Full-Commission/2026/5-September%2021%20Special/2.0b%20HB%204124%20Preliminary%20Findings%20EY-P.pdf" target="_blank">a new state-mandated report</a> highlighted by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Oregon Journalism Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregonjournalismproject.org/oregon-graduates-26000-fewer-college-grads-than-needed-to-fill-available-jobs" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregonjournalismproject.org/oregon-graduates-26000-fewer-college-grads-than-needed-to-fill-available-jobs" target="_blank">Oregon Journalism Project</a>.Why it matters: The state has long relied on in-migration — attracting college-educated workers from elsewhere — to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bolster its economy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/29/oregon-s-economy-leans-small-and-supersized" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/29/oregon-s-economy-leans-small-and-supersized" target="_self">bolster its economy</a>, but that strategy has since stalled due to waning <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="population growth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/04/01/portland-population-growth-immigration-decline-census-data" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/04/01/portland-population-growth-immigration-decline-census-data" target="_self">population growth</a> and public universities drawing fewer <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="out-of-state students" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/11/18/oregon-international-student-enrollment-drop" data-vars-content-id="baf9663b-7fe1-48b6-8db7-b66950eeb4b7" data-vars-headline="Oregon&#x27;s talent pipeline can&#x27;t keep pace" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/11/18/oregon-international-student-enrollment-drop" target="_self">out-of-state students</a>.

Gabby's Next Door launches dinner service

Expect shrimp fra diavolo, manicotti and other shareable plates

Food and Drink

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gabby&#x27;s Next Door" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gabbianospdx.com/gabbysnextdoor" data-vars-content-id="c14f2742-752c-4a54-bc18-973726a8c2c6" data-vars-headline="Gabby&#x27;s Next Door launches dinner service" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gabbianospdx.com/gabbysnextdoor" target="_blank">Gabby&#x27;s Next Door</a>, the neighboring sister restaurant to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="red sauce Italian" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/10/29/portland-italian-food-renaissance-restaurant" data-vars-content-id="c14f2742-752c-4a54-bc18-973726a8c2c6" data-vars-headline="Gabby&#x27;s Next Door launches dinner service" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/10/29/portland-italian-food-renaissance-restaurant" target="_self">red sauce Italian</a> eatery Gabbiano&#x27;s, is expanding beyond lunchtime service and will soon offer a selection of small plates throughout the evening.The big picture: The space, located on Northeast 30th Avenue and formerly occupied by Lil&#x27; Dame and Beast, will serve as a dinnertime extension of Gabbiano&#x27;s.

Regional leaders set homelessness reduction goals

Regional leaders set their first firm homelessness targets in a decade.

A committee of regional leaders quietly endorsed new goals to reduce <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/06/homelessness-multnomah-county-shelter-cuts-projected-rise" data-vars-content-id="05b3ccfc-b03a-4d45-9c21-1f13287ccbba" data-vars-headline="Regional leaders set homelessness reduction goals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/05/06/homelessness-multnomah-county-shelter-cuts-projected-rise" target="_self">homelessness</a> last month, giving the region firm targets for the first time in a decade.Why it matters: Some 18,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County as of May, a number that has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="climbed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/22/oregon-homelessness-shelter-growth-2025" data-vars-content-id="05b3ccfc-b03a-4d45-9c21-1f13287ccbba" data-vars-headline="Regional leaders set homelessness reduction goals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/22/oregon-homelessness-shelter-growth-2025" target="_self">climbed</a> in recent years.

PPS names 14 schools that could close

PPS has released its first potential school closure scenarios.

Portland Public Schools on Monday outlined plans that could see as many as 14 schools close as the district shrinks its footprint amid falling enrollment and budget pressure.Why it matters: After months of discussion, the list marks the first concrete details on how the state&#x27;s largest school district could address changing demographic and financial realities.

Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally

A national ranking puts Portland at No. 8, despite recent TriMet service cuts.

Transit

Portland&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="public transportation system" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/08/14/trimet-max-bus-i5-closure" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/08/14/trimet-max-bus-i5-closure" target="_self">public transportation system</a> is among the top 10 in the country, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Consumer Affairs ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/cities-with-the-best-public-transit#full-data" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/cities-with-the-best-public-transit#full-data" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs ranking</a>.Why it matters: That&#x27;s something to be proud of, and it could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="save you some cash " data-vars-click-url="https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/APTA-POLICY-BRIEF-Transit-Savings-09-27-2023.pdf" data-vars-content-id="3b40a9e0-e0fe-4780-943d-8f1fab465166" data-vars-headline="Portland public transit ranks No. 8 nationally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.apta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/APTA-POLICY-BRIEF-Transit-Savings-09-27-2023.pdf" target="_blank">save you some cash </a>if you jump on board.

Davis Graveyard brings Halloween to life in Milwaukie

The elaborate home haunt has been growing since 1996.

Things to Do

If you&#x27;re searching for signs that spooky season is here, look no further than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Davis Graveyard" data-vars-click-url="https://davisgraveyard.com/" data-vars-content-id="e023b470-9eac-42ea-8c28-4f8f19a2f460" data-vars-headline="Davis Graveyard brings Halloween to life in Milwaukie" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://davisgraveyard.com/" target="_blank">Davis Graveyard</a> in Milwaukie.<ul><li>The over-the-top Halloween display comes from homeowners Jeff and Chris Davis, who have grown the graveyard every year since 1996.</li></ul>

Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Portland

Meet fellow locals over dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios Social Club" data-vars-click-url="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" data-vars-content-id="91f5016e-d785-4b5b-9b84-d704ecb8a34e" data-vars-headline="Axios Social Club brings mystery dinners to Portland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axiossocialclub.dnnr.io/" target="_blank">Axios Social Club</a> is bringing readers together for dinner in Portland&#x27;s Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 6.Why it matters: Your city is full of interesting people you haven&#x27;t met yet. We&#x27;re making it easier to change that.

When Oregon fall colors will peak

Much of the state could see its brightest fall foliage starting around Oct. 12.

Leaf peepers, mark your calendars: Peak fall color is expected across most of Oregon in just a few short weeks, according to a map on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Explore Fall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" data-vars-content-id="adf61836-c6a1-423d-baf2-285befbe3532" data-vars-headline="When Oregon fall colors will peak" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" target="_blank">Explore Fall</a>.Zoom in: Leaves of crimson, gold, yellow and scarlet are expected to sweep south over the next several weeks.

Kozha Numbers' Bag Club draws Portland's trendy creatives

Kozha Numbers founder Ilóna Gerasimov is hosting parties at her studio.

Ilóna Gerasimov&#x27;s got the recipe for a good party down to a T.<ul><li>There&#x27;s ample natural wine from the Willamette Valley, vintage Porsches parked outside, a DJ spinning &#x27;80s dance records and dozens of stylish people milling around one Southeast industrial block — enough to make anyone wonder where all of these fashion-forward Portlanders have been hiding.</li></ul>This is Bag Club, a monthly get-together for creatives Gerasimov started hosting this summer inside the studio where she makes every one of her cult-favorite <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kozha Numbers handbags" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/09/15/kozha-numbers-it-bag" data-vars-content-id="2d25a41b-a61c-4dcb-bbc5-3a7b2c85e618" data-vars-headline="Kozha Numbers&#x27; Bag Club draws Portland&#x27;s trendy creatives" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/09/15/kozha-numbers-it-bag" target="_self">Kozha Numbers handbags</a>.

Backpacking Oregon's stunning Wallowa Mountains

This four-day loop delivers alpine lakes, granite peaks and more than 7,000 feet of climbing.

I finally checked off one of my bucket list trips last weekend: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="backpacking" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/08/29/oregon-backpacking-canyon-creek-meadows" data-vars-content-id="81b8de17-1579-44e9-8897-fffb569bbc69" data-vars-headline="Backpacking Oregon&#x27;s stunning Wallowa Mountains" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/08/29/oregon-backpacking-canyon-creek-meadows" target="_self">backpacking</a> in the Wallowas, one of the most pristine landscapes I&#x27;ve seen in Oregon.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="loop" data-vars-click-url="https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/wallowa-backpacking-loop-387757d" data-vars-content-id="81b8de17-1579-44e9-8897-fffb569bbc69" data-vars-headline="Backpacking Oregon&#x27;s stunning Wallowa Mountains" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/wallowa-backpacking-loop-387757d" target="_blank">loop</a> had a little bit of everything — lush forests, high alpine meadows, windswept granite peaks and what felt like a jaw-dropping lake around every corner.

Portland's coolest art shows vanish overnight

If you miss the show, you miss the moment.

Some of the buzziest art shows happening in Portland right now are taking place far outside traditional gallery walls or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="revered institutions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/11/14/art-museum-reopens-expansion-rothko-galleries" data-vars-content-id="ed03155d-ca4b-4d5b-a15a-93f938a1d74a" data-vars-headline="Portland&#x27;s coolest art shows vanish overnight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/11/14/art-museum-reopens-expansion-rothko-galleries" target="_self">revered institutions</a> — and if you don&#x27;t hear about &#x27;em in time, you&#x27;re SOL.The big picture: A growing number of one-night-only, pop-up art exhibitions are tapping into something inherent in this city&#x27;s DNA: supporting local artists, DIY community building and, crucially, throwing a party where people want to show up and show out.

10 new Portland restaurants to try this fall

Now that summer is officially in the books, I&#x27;ll bet you have plenty of free time to try a new slate of restaurants that just opened.Here&#x27;s the latest, including a few we have our eyes on, too:

ModHaus opens cafe and bar on Division

A long-vacant building beside the pod is now a stylish all-day gathering spot.

ModHaus, the popular Richmond neighborhood food cart pod, just opened an adjacent cafe and bar — serving everything from coffee and pastries to cocktails and beers on tap.Zoom in: Located on the corner of Southeast Division at 38th Street, the 10-cart pod opened earlier this year.

Inside Sushi Fukami's intimate omakase experience

Cody Auger serves a 19-course menu from an eight-seat sushi counter.

<figure><img alt="A man in a black shirt leans over a wooden counter, using a handheld blowtorch to heat an orange dish; a blue flame glows as tools, towels, and bowls lie nearby in a restaurant." height="720" id="aa030bc9-2d8f-43c8-bcb2-47a6c2201394" src="https://images.axios.com/pFUJHTS3SMCnvSBsO73cSrLW43s=/2026/09/17/1789623936847.gif" width="1280"/><figcaption>It&#x27;s lit. Image: Meira Gebel/Axios</figcaption></figure>Sushi Fukami, Nimblefish chef Cody Auger&#x27;s new, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eight-seat omakase restaurant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/02/sushi-fukami-omakase-opening" data-vars-content-id="ddd5a3dd-a570-47f8-9ed6-e129f0fa7be2" data-vars-headline="Inside Sushi Fukami&#x27;s intimate omakase experience" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/02/sushi-fukami-omakase-opening" target="_self">eight-seat omakase restaurant</a> downtown, is intimate in every sense of the word.<ul><li>The space is tiny, about 700 square feet. A few stools surround the hinoki cypress countertop and low-hanging slats above create a false ceiling and shattered shadows, forcing focus to the plate in front of you.</li></ul>

Urban Gleaners Summer Supper tackles food waste

More than a dozen local restaurants are cooking for Urban Gleaners' annual benefit.

Some of Portland&#x27;s premier chefs will be putting scraps to work for Urban Gleaners&#x27; third annual Summer Supper this weekend. Zoom in: More than a dozen local purveyors were tasked with &quot;transforming what&#x27;s often discarded into something extraordinary&quot; to promote Urban Gleaners&#x27; mission to reduce food waste and hunger.

For your next noodle craving, seek out Toya Ramen

Go for the shoyu or shio ramen, then save room for crispy dumplings and tonkatsu.

It may still be summer, but the air is starting to feel crisp. So much so that I recently ventured out for one of my favorite cold-weather meals — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ramen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/04/21/portland-s-matsunoki-ramen-opens-second-location-on-n-mississippi" data-vars-content-id="6f0cac6e-2eff-48e4-a00e-44ae97233895" data-vars-headline="For your next noodle craving, seek out Toya Ramen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/04/21/portland-s-matsunoki-ramen-opens-second-location-on-n-mississippi" target="_self">ramen</a>.<ul><li>Toya Ramen, on the corner of Southeast Stark and Eighth Avenue across the street from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Slammer Tavern" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/12/12/slammer-tavern-holiday-dive-bar-portland" data-vars-content-id="6f0cac6e-2eff-48e4-a00e-44ae97233895" data-vars-headline="For your next noodle craving, seek out Toya Ramen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2025/12/12/slammer-tavern-holiday-dive-bar-portland" target="_self">Slammer Tavern</a>, has been on my list since the Oregonian <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="anointed it the city&#x27;s best" data-vars-click-url="https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2025/08/toya-portlands-best-ramen-shop-opened-last-year-so-where-are-the-crowds-review.html" data-vars-content-id="6f0cac6e-2eff-48e4-a00e-44ae97233895" data-vars-headline="For your next noodle craving, seek out Toya Ramen" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.oregonlive.com/dining/2025/08/toya-portlands-best-ramen-shop-opened-last-year-so-where-are-the-crowds-review.html" target="_blank">anointed it the city&#x27;s best</a>.</li></ul>

Pay what you can at Bar Carlo one-night only

Diners decide what to pay for their meals during a one-day event.

Portland has not shortage of great food on the financial spectrum — from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cheap carts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/28/food-cart-pod-peninsula-park-piedmont" data-vars-content-id="4322cfa6-902e-47b4-b058-57befb41ec5b" data-vars-headline="Pay what you can at Bar Carlo one-night only" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/07/28/food-cart-pod-peninsula-park-piedmont" target="_self">cheap carts</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spendy fine dining" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/06/11/kann-restaurant-portland-review" data-vars-content-id="4322cfa6-902e-47b4-b058-57befb41ec5b" data-vars-headline="Pay what you can at Bar Carlo one-night only" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/06/11/kann-restaurant-portland-review" target="_self">spendy fine dining</a> — but on Wednesday one restaurant is leaving the pricing up to you.Why it matters: What began as a community-minded experiment among Mexico City chefs is going global this year — and Mexican-American brunch spot Bar Carlo is joining in.

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