Cascadia today: PDX city workers on strike + Seattle schools will sue over trans sports ban + 56 years after Oregon's "exploding whale"

Portland city workers go on strike

Portland Mercury reports that about 800 workers for the city of Portland are on strike after mediation failed to result in an agreement between the city and City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW). The union includes revenue collection and payroll, and represents about 10 percent of the city's 8,000 workers. In other labor news, 1,200 miners with the Highland Valley Copper Mine in central British Columbia have been on strike for several weeks, the Tyee reports. They're seeking better pay and safer working conditions.

Seattle schools authorizes lawsuit against trans sports ban

KUOW reports that the Seattle school board voted yesterday to authorize a lawsuit challenging initiative 638, which bans trans girls from playing girls sports and requires girls as young as 11 prove they have a vagina before playing.

“It raises serious questions about equal protection, student privacy, and whether we’re creating additional barriers for female student athletes to participate in school activities.” --Joe Mizrahi, Seattle school board

One year into Portland's camping ban

OPB has a detailed report on Portland's ban on homeless encampments one year later and looks into whether it has helped reduce homelessness. Results are mixed depending on who you ask. Mayor Keith Wilson says the ban has resulted in a 93% decrease in tents across the city since 2022, but homeless advocates say shelter beds are still inadequate. Many people have been charged but none convicted under the ban, and about 600 people have found shelter during the sweeps. ProPublica reported last year that Multnomah county has a high mortality rate among those living unsheltered, and evidence by researchers shows sweeps tend to increase the death rate rather than improve it.

In related news, the Stranger reports that King County Regional Homeless Authority director Kelly Kinnison has resigned. KCRHA has been plagued with financial problems, including spending $17 million over its budget, PubliCola reported.

Peltola leads & Baumgartner wins WA 5th district

Alaska Beacon reports that after the latest round of ballots counted, Democrat Mary Peltola leads incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan for a US senate seat in Alask by about 2,500 votes. In Washington's 5th Congressional district, which covers eastern Washington and Spokane, the AP reports that Republican Michael Baumgartner has won a close race with Democrat Carmela Conroy, 51.7% to 47.9%.

And Washington State Standard reports that Pierce county, Washington defeated a ballot measure that would have made the sheriff position appointed rather than elected – leaving controversial right-wing sheriff Keith Swank in office. Swank attempted to organize an anti-trans protest at a recent Seattle Reign women's soccer match in Seattle and is a frequent guest on right wing influencer shows.

Journalist who reported on dynamited whale speaks out

Oregon Arts Watch talks with Paul Linnman, a longtime television journalist who is most remembered as the 23-year-old reporter for KATU who documented the time Oregon transportation officials blew up a dead whale on a beach near Florence with a half-ton of dynamite. Linnman, who had a distinguished career after the incident and who for many years downplayed the November 1970 news report (which is reportedly the most watched TV news segment in history) will now be at event this weekend marking the 56th anniversary of the exploding whale. If you've never seen the video do watch the 3-minute segment, it's brilliant and hilarious.

Thanks for reading! Keep loving and keep fighting. -Andy