🌱Revisiting The Westside Bypass + Catalytic Converter Thief Indicted

Hello all. I'm back in your inbox this warm morning with your fresh copy of the Beaverton Daily, fresh off the presses. Here's what you need to know about what's happening in town.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Beaverton Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

Now, today's weather:

Hot with plenty of sunshine. High: 92 Low: 59.

Here are the top stories in Beaverton today:

1. More than a dozen suspected members of a catalytic converter theft operation were indicted in a Washington County court on Thursday, August 4. Although details regarding the crimes have not yet been released, one suspect, Brennan Doyle, faced 72 charges. The thefts are part of a trend throughout the Metro area: A local exhaust technician said that his business sees at least 10 to 20 vehicles daily because of stolen catalytic converters. (KOIN.com)
2. Have you heard of the Westside Bypass? Legislators and advocates for businesses envisioned the Westside Bypass as a 20-mile beltway connecting Tualatin and Hillsboro from I-5 to Highway 26 way back in the 1980s. The idea was resurrected (and subsequently rejected again) in 2017 and 2019. Contention surrounding the roadway led to new guidelines for creating denser suburbs that make it easier to walk, bike or take transit to get where you need to go. Find out how a rural Beaverton resident, the concept of induced demand and the air quality/land use connection all played a role in the project's life and death in an article by Jeff Mapes. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
3. Bus rides from Beaverton might be a bit more entertaining/educational these days. Mayor Lacey Beaty introduced a new free "grab and go" library at the Beaverton Transit Center this week. Riders can snag a free book and keep it — no library card required. Each book includes directions for donating books to the program. Mayor Beaty says the program is an effort to encourage people to look up from their phones. (KGW.com)
4. To soften the economic blow that the pandemic brought to many families, the USDA provided waivers for free lunches. The Beaverton School District announced earlier this week that those waivers have ended, so many students will have to start paying for lunches once again. Free and reduced lunches will still be available for qualifying applicants in the upcoming school year. (KOIN.com)
5. Find out what former Beaverton High School star football Jesse Levin is up to these days at Scorebook Live. Levin still holds Oregon records for receiving yards and touchdowns from his with the Beavers in the late 1990s. Levin ended up playing college football at Idaho State, San Francisco City College and finally, Portland State University. He now leads an investment team at Standard Insurance.

Today in Beaverton:

• It's Big Truck Day - Take your littles (and other big truck enthusiasts) to the Conestoga Recreation Center parking lot to view `dozers, fire engines, trains and more! Free. (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
• Beaverton Modular Railroad Exhibition - Beaverton City Library (main location) hosts a collection of model trains and their builders. Explore the captivating miniature worlds and ask the experts questions. (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
• There and Back Again Walking Book Club - Walk along the Fanno Creek Trail and discuss "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig during an outing hosted by the Tigard Public Library. (10:30 a.m.)
• Pints for Pugs - Central Station Taps hosts a fundraiser for Pacific Pug Rescue, a Portland-based organization that helps care for unwanted pets. (Noon - 3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Disappointing Parks Poster Contest, hosted by the Tigard Public Library, is still ongoing if you happen to have any snarky teens in your household. Meanwhile, gather inspiration (or apathy?) from @subparparks (a pro at sassy posters) via Instagram.
• It's supposed to be hot this weekend (again). Don't forget to stay safe and take advantage of Beaverton's two cooling centers as needed! They're located in the libraries downtown and in the Murray Scholls area. (Twitter)

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Events:

• Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk (August 6)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday off right. I'll see you soon!

— Ash DeMello

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Beaverton Daily? Contact me at ash.the.copyartist@gmail.com.