🌱 Bill For Higher Education Options + Affordable Housing Incentives

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Breezy in the afternoon. High: 60 Low: 37.
• Friday: Some sun, then turning cloudy. High: 59 Low: 39.

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Here are the top three stories in Portland today:

1. On Tuesday, the Oregon Senate Committee on Education held the first public hearing for a new bill that would expand postsecondary education for students with disabilities. Senate Bill 572 would provide funding and incentive to the state's Higher Education Coordinating Commission to work with university and community colleges in Oregon to develop two-year programs for students with disabilities. Currently, there is only one postsecondary education program in the state at Portland State University called the Career and Community Studies program. (KLCC FM Public Radio)
2. The Portland City Council voted on Wednesday (Mar. 15) to approve two incentives that aim to convert offices into residential buildings in downtown Portland. One of the new policies would exempt projects that convert offices to residential buildings from paying certain fees called system development charges until 2027. The second incentive reduces the amount developers would have to pay to convert these types of buildings in terms of seismic improvements by lowering the standards for those buildings. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
3. On Wednesday, Portland Fire & Rescue shared photos of a weekend success story where the crew rescued a dog after it fell into a 10-foot-deep sinkhole in its own backyard. Firefighters were able to pull the pup out using a rescue rope in the same way they would to rescue a human and were able to successfully and safely lift the dog out. (Fox 12 Oregon)

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Today and tomorrow in Portland:

Thursday, March 16

• Coffee With Co-Founders At Insomnia Coffee Co. - Cedar Mill (9:00 AM)
• Book Babies At Woodstock Library (10:15 AM)
• Vanessa Collier At Alberta Rose Theatre (8:00 PM)

Friday, March 17

• St. Patrick's Day Weekend Bar Crawl At Twenty First Ave Kitchen & Bar (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Are you on the hunt for a new place to call home? Check out these upcoming open houses in and around the Portland area, including a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house for $390,000 on Sunday, Mar. 19. (Portland Patch)
• Come learn the ukulele! Portland Parks & Recreation will be hosting two group ukulele classes on Saturday, Apr. 1 at the Rosewood Initiative. The lessons will take place over 11 weeks, and there are still spots left for interested youth and adults. (Portland Parks & Recreation via Facebook)
• You can register now for Birdathon 2023! Portland Audubon is hosting the event for its 43rd year and has a goal of raising $175,000 as it hopes to inspire people to protect and enjoy our environment. (Portland Audubon via Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday! See you all soon for your next update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.