🌱 PCC Launches Cannabis Program + Mom Finds Fentanyl At Local Park

Hey, everybody. It's Thursday in Portland and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the community today.

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Now, your local weather:

• Thursday: Sunny much of the time. High: 85 Low: 58.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 81 Low: 54.

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Here are the top three stories today in Portland:

1. For students looking to pursue a career in the marijuana industry, Portland Community College is officially offering a few different cannabis programs to students. The college will partner with Green Flower, which is a cannabis industry education platform, to develop three specific programs that will focus on teaching students about the marijuana supply chain, indoor and outdoor cultivation, branding, marketing, edible-making and more. Each of the programs will span about nine weeks and feature a variety of the industry's top leaders. (KOIN)
2. Seniors from about 23 different high schools in Oregon received the $2,500 National Merit Scholarship, which highlights students with the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success. Over the last couple of years, winners of this elite scholarship have typically come from within the Portland metro area, but this year, more than a third of recipients are from areas outside the city including Creswell, Salem, and Albany. Additionally, no high schools in Oregon had more than two top winners. (Oregon Live)
3. On Monday, Jun. 19, a mother playing with her two sons at Tanner Springs Park in Portland found 80 grams of fentanyl lying on the ground. According to a recent report, there were multiple bags of powder and pill forms of the drug found out in the open that police ended up confiscating for investigation. Luckily, the mother is a full-time nurse who's on the front lines of the city's drug crisis, so she was able to quickly recognize how dangerous the situation could get. (KAKE)

Today and tomorrow in Portland:

Thursday, June 22

• AWS Community Networking Event At Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery (11:00 AM)
• Pay What You Will At Portland Center Stage (7:30 PM)

Friday, June 23

• Shaking Up Alberta Street At Donnie Vegas (10:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Tuesday, Jun. 20, Portland celebrated World Refugee Day with a walk around the city and a Taiko performance. The walk started at the Salmon Springs Fountain and focused on celebrating how 35 years ago Portland became one of the only cities welcoming refugees. (KPTV)
• Portland's Tigard Balloon Festival is officially making its return this upcoming weekend at Cook Park. The event will feature a variety of carnival rides, games, amazing food, and tons of live music, so make sure you stop by and enjoy the fun. (Travel Portland via Instagram)
• Portland Audubon is currently searching for catios to include in their 11th Annual Catio Tour taking place on Saturday, Sep. 9. Catios of all shapes, sizes, and budgets will be eligible to apply for in-person visits and an online video tour, so visit here for more information. (Portland Audubon via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox soon with 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.