🌱 Portland Man Banned From TriMet + Local Arrested For Fatal Shooting

Welcome back, Portland. I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Partly sunny. High: 49 Low: 44.
• Friday: A couple of showers. High: 49 Low: 41.

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Here are the top five stories in Portland today:

1. TriMet recently issued their second-ever lifetime ban to 25-year-old Koryn Kraemer of Portland. Kraemer was charged for attacking someone on the Cleveland Avenue MAX Station Platform on Jan. 3, where he allegedly bit the victim's ear and chewed his face. Kraemer received the lifetime ban in jail, where he is being held without bail. On Jan. 25, TriMet also handed out two long-term suspensions to 32-year-old Brianna Workman and 22-year-old Dustin Rasmussen. Workman is excluded for five years for allegedly pushing a child onto the MAX tracks on Dec. 26. She is currently in jail on a charge of attempted assault in the first degree and other charges. Rasmussen is also excluded for five years for striking a Transit Security Officer with bike handlebars on Mar. 24. (KATU)
2. Portland police identified 45-year-old Gregory W. Newman as the man who was shot and killed in the Montavilla neighborhood in Portland on Friday, Jan. 20. A medical examiner has ruled Newman's death a homicide and confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound in his chest. Detectives arrested 38-year-old Christopher Grohs as a suspect on charges of murder and unlawful weapon use. (Fox 12 Oregon)
3. On Jan. 25, the Portland City Council appointed the 13-person citizen-led group to create the first-ever council district boundaries. The Independent District Commission group will help shape the city’s new form of government and election system by dividing Portland into four geographic districts that will each elect three members to the City Council in November 2024. (Subscription: OregonLive)
4. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) plans to replace street curb zones with trees to lessen the summer’s urban heat and provide green stormwater management. Dylan Rivera, PBOT’s Public Information Officer, said, “We think this will support the livability of Portland neighborhoods.” Rivera also said there are many potential benefits to expanding the tree canopy while simultaneously alleviating some of the “concerns about climate change and impacts of the lack of canopy.” (Psuvanguard.com)
5. The City of Portland is applying de-icing fluid on the roads due to upcoming frigid temperatures. The forecast for this weekend predicts freezing temperatures and possible snow. According to PBOT Public Information Officer Dylan Rivera, applying the fluid "is one of the best things they can do in advance of snow or icy conditions. The de-icer lasts a number of days in dry conditions." (KATU)

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Today and tomorrow in Portland:

Thursday, January 26

• Noon Concert Series: Lunar New Year - A Celebration At Lincoln Recital Hall (12:00 PM)
• Cabaret At Dolores Winningstad Theatre (7:30 PM)

Friday, January 27

• Cabaret At Dolores Winningstad Theatre (7:30 PM)
• Blossom "On My Own" Tour At 45 East (10:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• According to a new Yelp report, three Portland restaurants ranked among the top 100 in the country! Malka, a Southeast Portland fusion restaurant rated the 29th best restaurant in the country, is closing on Feb. 26. No. 54 on the list was local BBQ joint Botto’s BBQ ranked No. 54, and Northeast Portland’s homemade pasta parlor Gumba ranked No. 98. (KOIN.com)
• The Portland Art Museum is hosting the exhibit “Isaka Shamsud-Din: Rock of Ages.” Don't miss this intimate exhibition celebrating the Portland artist’s paintings. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• There are some great upcoming open houses in the Portland area. Check out a three-bedroom cottage dream on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 12:00 p.m. on NE 34th Avenue! (Portland Patch)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all next week for another update!

— Michelle Paul