Source Warmup

Oregon and Washington Join Gas Pipeline Opposition

On Feb. 26, Oregon and Washington filed a petition for review challenging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of TC Energy’s GTN Xpress Project. The GTN Xpress expansion would increase capacity and deliver more natural gas through the pipeline, raising safety and climate concerns for many. Some Bend residents are concerned about the location and the risks associated with the proposal, according to a press release.

“Expanding gas shipments in this aging pipeline system right next to a desperately needed affordable housing project in Bend is like pouring gasoline on a fire. FERC’s decision to rubber-stamp this expansion while ignoring the climate crisis and community safety is simply unacceptable,” read a statement from Riccardo Waites, a local activist and the owner of WBR We Black Radio in Bend.

[page]

Bend Approves Funding for Three Affordable Housing Projects

On Feb. 21, the Bend City Council approved Affordable Housing Fund recommendations from the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, which will put $1.3 million toward three projects, creating 98 affordable housing units.

Projects receiving funding include a Housing Works project developing 59 units of affordable multifamily housing in northwest Bend, a Thistle and Nest downpayment assistance to support 30 families in purchasing townhomes in southeast Bend, and a Bend Redmond Habitat for Humanity downpayment assistance program to support nine families in purchasing townhomes in southeast Bend.

[page]

53%

— percent of U.S. adults in a 2023 Pew Research poll who said medication abortion should be legal in their state.

22%

— percent of adults who said medication abortion should be illegal

24%

— percent of adults who said they weren’t sure whether medication abortion should be legal or not

— From this week’s Feature story, “The State of Abortion Access in 2024.”

[page]

“I came from a league that was mostly BIPOC, to a league where there are probably three of us in the entire league. It’s been different, being a person of color, you’ll get called more by the referees because you’re perceived as being more aggressive.”

— Cheyenne Nieblas, league caption of Lava City Roller Derby, in this week’s feature story, “The Target Zone.”

This article appears in Source Weekly February 29, 2024.