- City Commissioner Steve Novick is ready to flush Portlandâs toilet-sales department. The newest member of the City Council says the efforts to market the patent sidewalk commode known as the Portland Loo to other cities is failing. Novick says he is responding to our cover story last week (âMoney Bucket,â WW, May 15, 2013) that showed the city has sold only three of the $90,000 loos in three yearsâand would need to quadruple that rate to cover the maintenance costs of six loos the city operates around town. Novick says heâs asking Mayor Charlie Hales to end the loo sales program and instead restore the Bureau of Environmental Servicesâ Clean Rivers Education Program, providing wetlands field trips to students. âIt doesnât seem like loo sales are going to take off,â Novick says. âAnd the rivers education program is very popular.â Halesâ office says it wants to let the loo sales program die a quiet death.
- Dept. of Shameless Self-Promotion, 2013 Edition: WW won 18 first-place awards at the Society of Professional Journalists banquet May 18. Among Pacific Northwest alternative weeklies, WW won first place in 10 of 11 categories. Crime and justice reporting: Andrea Damewood, âThe First 30 Secondsâ (Dec. 12, 2012), police dealing with the mentally ill. Business reporting: Damewood, âRent a Pupâ (Nov. 14, 2012), on the Hannah Pet Society. Government and politics reporting: Aaron Mesh, âWhen Stacks Attackâ (Aug. 1, 2012), on the Multnomah County Library taxing district. Environmental and science reporting: Corey Pein, âFishermanâs Wrathâ (June 13, 2012), on the Oregon gillnet industry. Personalities reporting: Pein, âThe Evolution of Eileen Bradyâ (March 7, 2012), on the then-mayoral candidate. Arts reporting: WW staff, âArt Breakerâ (Sept. 12, 2012), in which fine artists go slumming. Critiques and reviews: Chris Stamm, âAged and Warpedâ (Aug. 1, 2012), in which he listened to every Warped Tour compilation. Lifestyles reporting: Martin Cizmar, âBeer of the Futureâ (Feb. 15, 2012), on revolutionary Oregon-grown hop varieties. Sports reporting: John Locanthi, âChip Kellyâs Secret Offenseâ (Dec. 19, 2012), on University of Oregon boostersâ dislike of the then-football coach. Special section: WW staff, âTake Me to the Riverâ (May 2, 2012), our photo essay about the Willamette. -->>WW also won eight awards among Oregon non-dailies with circulations above 8,000. Comprehensive coverage: WW staff, ongoing investigation into the Columbia River Crossing. Science and health reporting: Ben Waterhouse, âHeretical Healingâ (Jan. 11, 2012), a guide to alternative medicine. Environmental reporting: Pein, âFishermanâs Wrath.â Religion and ethics reporting: Cizmar, âConfessions of a Chubsterâ (Jan. 11, 2012), the moral case for maintaining a healthy weight. Consumer and lifestyle reporting: Pete Cottell, âMagic Kingdomâ (Sept. 5, 2012), on playing Magic: The Gathering as an adult. Arts criticism: Stamm, âAged and Warped.â Business reporting: Damewood, âRent a Pup.â Elections coverage: WW staff, the 2012 Portland mayoral race.
WWeek 2015