After two years, Portland Public Schools plans to reopen the majority of water fountains in common areas like hallways and gyms — most fountains in classrooms may take longer to turn on. Most drinking fountains in the district have been off since May 2016, when harmful levels of lead made the water unsafe for consumption. John Burnham, the senior director of environmental health and safety at the district, joins us to discuss the progress and explain what still needs to be done.
After Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler cut funding for transit passes for students earlier this year, Portland Public Schools stepped in to pay for the passes, and TriMet soon followed suit to pay for students in David Douglas and Parkrose school districts. But funding for Youth Pass is uncertain after this school year. Ahead of the school year starting, we talk with two students about what Youth Pass means to them.
It might seem like there’s a new apartment building going up on every corner in Portland, but a new report found that Multnomah County is currently short about 30,000 affordable housing units. Meanwhile, voters will be deciding on a $650 million bond for affordable housing this November. We’ll get insight into the economics of the multifamily housing market with Ed Sloop, chief estimator of Walsh Construction Company.
A 14-year-old Cleveland High School student is the best female accuracy fly caster in the world for the second year in a row. Last week, Maxine McCormick won the women’s world championship in fly casting accuracy at the Flycasting World Championships. She joins us.
Bradley W. Parks
/Oregon lawmakers have advanced a measure to require hazard testing in public schools. This comes after lead in school drinking water hobbled Portland Public Schools in 2016.
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