- The Oregon Zoo has apologized to a family whose 9-month-old son needed emergency medical attention after getting sick following a meal at the zooâs Cascade Grill. Mitali Kulkarni says she and her husband also got sick in what they suspect was part of a Dec. 5-7 norovirus outbreak linked to food served at zoo restaurants. State officials believe as many as 135 people got sick from the virus, which causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. WW reported Dec. 26 that the zoo hasnât had a county health inspection since 2006âthanks to an exemption in state law for government-owned restaurants. County officials told WW the zoo had earlier turned down offers of voluntary inspections. Kulkarni emailed the zoo after hearing that news to express her disappointment. The reply she got back read in part: âThe zoo is fully in compliance with all health regulations and contrary to what has been reported or implied, the zoo has not refused inspections.â It was signed: âSincerely, Oregon Zoo.â Zoo officials argue thereâs no link between the outbreak and a lack of inspections, and a spokeswoman says only two people contacted the zoo about getting sick. Kulkarniâwhose son had to go to an ER because of dehydrationâsays the experience was very traumatic. âThey should be warning peopleâor somethingâyou canât take chances with kids,â she tells WW. âThey basically shunned their responsibility.â
- New City Commissioner Steve Novick has wasted no time publicizing his ambitious agenda, including items over which City Hall has little say. On his official blog, Novick suggests reform ideas he talked about on the campaign trail. Included on the list: He wants prosecutors to ask for shorter sentences and use money saved from lower prison costs to fund crime prevention. Novick also wants more Portland houses bolted to their foundations to prepare for a Cascadian earthquakeâand makes a tongue-in-cheek plea to Oregonâs Daddy Warbucks to help pay for it. âPhil Knight gave $100 million to Oregon Health & Science University,â Novick writes. âIf he would pay the same amount to bolt down 29,411 houses, hereâs one vote for putting a swoosh on the entrance to City Hall.â
- Textile and gravel magnate Bob Pamplin Jr. is investing even more in newspapers. Pamplin Media Group, which publishes the Portland Tribune, announced Jan. 8 it has bought six Oregon newspapers from Salem-based Eagle Newspapers Inc., a company owned by former Republican congressman Denny Smith: the Canby Herald, Newberg Graphic, Molalla Pioneer, Wilsonville Spokesman, Woodburn Independent and Madras Pioneer. Pamplin has been locked in a decadelong newspaper war with The Oregonian. âIt puts us on an equal footing with anybody,â says Pamplin newspaper division director Mark Garber. âWeâre right up there with anybody else.â
WWeek 2015