🌱 1,800 Providence Nurses On Strike + MAX Red Line Construction

Hello again, friends! It's Saturday in Portland and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in the community.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Cloudy with a few showers. High: 62 Low: 51.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy and warmer. High: 76 Low: 54.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top three stories in Portland today:

1. Approximately 1,800 nurses and clinicians from Providence are on strike after failed negotiations for a new contract, demanding improved pay, health care, staffing, and time off. The Oregon Nurses Association expressed disappointment in Providence's reluctance to address these concerns, prompting the strike. Providence, while confident in maintaining services during the strike, acknowledged longer wait times and the transfer of NICU patients to another hospital. (KATU)
2. TriMet has announced a significant disruption on the MAX Red Line lasting four months, during which the train will not operate between the Gateway Transit Center and Portland International Airport. Commuters will need to rely on shuttle services, which will add approximately 30 minutes to their travel time. The project is part of TriMet's Better Red Improvement Project, which includes station remodeling, the construction of a second track, and various maintenance projects along the transit route. (KOIN.com)
3. Portland has been chosen as one of the top U.S. cities for burgers in a new survey by Home Bay. Rose City ranked No. 13 in the survey, well ahead of Seattle (the only other Pacific Northwest city on the list) at No. 45. The city boasts a high number of burger restaurants per capita, with favorites like Hit the Spot and PDX Sliders standing out. Portland's burgers also received the highest ratings among all cities in the study. (KATU)

Today and tomorrow in and around Portland:

Tuesday, June 20

• StoryWalk® At Tigard Public Library, Fanno Creek Trail, Tigard (All Day)
• Knit Together: A Crafting Community At Mittleman Jewish Community Center (1:00 PM)
• College Night At Native American Youth And Family Center (3:30 PM)
• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At Bethany Public House (7:00 PM)

Wednesday, June 21

• Family Storytime At Garden Home Community Library (10:00 AM)
• Farmers Market At Shemanski Park (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The New Century Players Community Theatre will be back in July after a three-year hiatus! The first play the group will present is "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" by Nora and Delia Ephron. The theatre has a new location at Chapel Theatre on Harrison Street. (New Century Players via Facebook)
• The Summer Reading Game has started at Multnomah County Library. Sign up to win prizes and keep your children involved in reading this summer. You can play on paper or digitally using the Beanstack app; for more details, click here. (Multnomah County Library via Facebook)
• The Native American Youth and Family Center is looking for volunteers for their community garden. The center requests volunteers on Mondays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and all ages and skills are welcome. It is a great opportunity to learn about the land and contribute to growing vegetables for the community. (Native American Youth and Family Center via Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early soon with a new 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.