If Oregon and Washington don't break ground on the Columbia River Crossing by spring 2014, the federal government may ask for its $178.5 million back.

The news was delivered in a letter (PDF) to Matt Garrett and Lynn Peterson—directors of Oregon and Washington's departments of transportation, respectively—on April 19 and obtained by WW. But Republicans in Washington's Senate—which is vowing to strike down any transportation bill that includes $450 million for the controversial megaproject—are calling the letter a scare tactic.

"We believe it's appropriate to remind you of the longstanding 10-year rule for expenditure of federal-aid funds and the possible need to repay those funds," the letter, signed by Daniel Mathis and Phillip Ditzler, the Washington and Oregon state division administrators for the Federal Highway Administration, reads.

It goes on to say that the first federal funds came through on April 22, 2004. To date, $187.5 million in federal money has been obligated by both states ($108.5 million in Oregon and $79 million in Washington) to the project, of which $113 million has been spent.

"It is these funds which may be subject to repayment should the CRC project, as represented in the December 2011 Record of Decision, fail to materialize," it finishes.

The project, as approved by the feds, includes light rail from Portland to Vancouver, five miles of highway expansion and the replacement of the twin Interstate 5 spans over the Columbia River.

Washington state Sen. Ann Rivers (R-LaCenter) questions the assertions in the letter and says it's a gimmick aimed at  manipulating lawmakers.

"Historically we haven’t seen a claw back of funds," Rivers says. "The funds were used for the (environmental impact statement)—which was their intended purpose. This appears to be additional pressure designed to force the legislature into a false choice."

Even though Portland Parks & Recreation has cancelled plans for a bond measure on this November's ballot, City Commissioner Nick Fish keeps reminding voters the idea will come back soon.

At his opening address for the Pearl District's new dog-oriented Fields Park this afternoon, Fish put in a plug for a future bond—urging the assembled crowd to support the parks system "at budget time, at bond time."

"Let us be there for it," Fish concluded, "because it is what makes Portland a special place in the world."

Fish's continued stumping for the parks bond serves two purposes: It seeds the ground for a bond measure scuttled earlier this year because of insufficient polling numbers, and it keeps Fish associated with parks bureau funding as Mayor Charlie Hales assigns bureaus. (Hales' bureau decisions are set for May 31, and his office isn't tipping its hand on any assignments.)

In the wind-whipped dog park, Fish told WW he's running a one-man PR campaign for the parks bond.

"I want it to be in people's consciousness," he says. "Every time I get a chance, I'm going to salt the discussion with that. Subliminal advertising. I want parks at the front of the line."

Tonight at the Portland Art Museum, local Grateful Dead tribute act Garcia Birthday Band will try to recreate a lost Dead show from 1967 using research done by a Portland State University graduate student.

You can read Brandon Widder's very thorough feature about the "Turn On Your Lovelight" show, named for a Dead song that may well have been played live for the first time that night, right here.

But—and this is a little freaky—that's not the only Turn On Your Lovelight-related news this week. Eugene's Chez Ray, once the Dead's touring chef, just announced a new line of coffees, including Turn On Your Love Lite Roast.

We're not sure about the ground stuff, but all the marketing material is a delight: "With each organic sip lives the authentic story of the 60's San Francisco trip. Feel the family! "Chez Ray's Headliners' Organic Coffee™, It'll Roast Your Bean."

The show starts at 7 pm, with a set from the band that opened the original show, Portland's US Cadenza, which reunited for the occasion. 

Kickstart my Heart is a semi-regular blog series on Portland Kickstarter projects we don't hate.

Kevin Robinson is fed up.

And not just with rising ticket costs and the overall state of the music industry, but society as a whole. As half of indie-rock duo Viva Voce and Electric iLL, his booty-wiggling, Portland electro-funk duo, Robinson says could care less whether people “like” his music on Facebook or buy his donation-based records. He merely wants to give where the need is the greatest: the Stumptown community.

“I want to rock for people who give a shit about the world,” says Robinson. “Not for people who buy overpriced tickets, merch and watered-down drinks at shows. It just doesn’t effect anything and life goes on the way it has. If there's a ticket price in the future, it’s going to go to fixing children’s hospitals and four-way streets.”

Robinson is starting with the latter. On June 1, he’s throwing a little street soiree and mural-painting party as part of his iLLocation Kickstarter campaign, a community project aiming to beautify a potentially deadly intersection located in Northeast Portland's Woodlawn neighborhood. Despite the onslaught of basketball-toting kids playing the street, the four-way patch of asphalt isn’t equipped with stop signs or signposts. Robinson hopes the artwork will slow people down, a sort of subtle cautionary warning for cars who often barrel through the makeshift playground with blatant disregard for the surrounding community.

The proposed psychedelic mural, sketched by local artist Libby Krock, will be a literal paint-by-numbers design: A number “1” on the street corresponds to red, a “2” means green and so on. Robinson and his Electric iLL bandmate Ragen Fykes will DJ the event, and numerous businesses such as Breakside Brewery, Good Neighbor Pizza and Safeway, have donated to the project.

However, crowd-funded campaigns have their crux like anything else. The Kickstarter project has a goal of $750, just enough to cover the cost of purchasing art supplies, renting a PA system and power washing the street. If setback ensue or the goal is not reached before the event’s deadline, then, as Robinson puts it, “we don’t party.” Plain and simple. 

Robinson says painting the intersection is just the first step in his quest for creating iLLocations. He’s been brainstorming other projects with community organizers, peers and others in the area to make his vision a reality. One show might even involve Del the Funky Homosapien.

“Society is not on a sustainable path,” says Robinson, “and the best thing we can do other than curse the darkness is to a light a candle—to blaze a new trail. Maybe it will work, but then again, maybe it won’t.”

The project currently has $210 of its $750 goal. You have 15 days to pledge some your hard-earned cash here. Watch the fundraising video below:

“Canary Island,” the latest single by Portland-based quintet Houndstooth, feels like driving to the beach on a sunny day. The breeze is warm, your windows are down and you wave lazily to some surfers as they cross the street approaching the ocean.

Tagged as “Southern rock” and “psychedelic rock & roll,” the single certainly features elements of both, but also delivers a dreamy surf-rock vibe through twangy guitar riffs and the mellow vocals of Katie Bernstein. An organ line builds in the background as Bernstein croons, “Take me on a drive in your fast machine/Take me into town where the bright lights gleam." Soft questions and commands throughout the song follow a call-and-response format along with the simple, clear guitar.

Houndstooth is set to release their first full-length album, Ride Out The Dark, on July 16 through No Quarter Records. 

SEE IT: Houndstooth plays Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., with Eyelids and Denim Wedding on Friday, June 7. 9 pm. $6. 21+.

After weeks of negotiations, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen has agreed to help pull new Portland Mayor Charlie Hales out of a $21.5 million budget hole. In exchange, Hales has agreed the city will fund a county mental health crisis center police complained they rarely used.

The two officials released a joint statement this afternoon announcing that Multnomah County will fund needle exchange, senior centers and a one-stop domestic violence center. The county, which has comparatively flush finances, will also pick up half the tab for three SUN Schools, while Portland will add back the other half to its budget.

In return, Portland will fund a a 16-bed mental-health crisis center where Portland police can take people in mental distress—but rarely do.

Cogen was irate when Hales released his budget last month and didn't include funding for the county-run Crisis Assessment and Treatment Center, at 55 NE Grand Ave., opened in June 2011 above the Central City Concern Sobering Center as a partnership between the city and the county to help people in mental distress.

"I understand difficult choices, but this is just a poor one," Cogen told WW then.

Today, both men struck a conciliatory tone—less than two hours before a City Hall budget hearing expected to be packed with angry citizens.

"Both of us appreciate the collaborative spirit of our discussions to help the city deal with the budget shortfall it faces this year," Cogen and Hales wrote. "We are optimistic this spirit will be a model for our future discussions. The good news today is that we have reached an agreement that will benefit our entire community."

UPDATE, 8:35 pm: An quick analysis of the numbers provided by Hales' office shows that the deal is not quite an even horse trade: The city will spend an additional $428,653, while the county will spend $623,300.

So Hales is giving Cogen the one big-ticket item the county wants—the mental crisis center—while Cogen is satisfying several lobbies that could have made Hales' life difficult, especially SUN school parents.

In fact, tonight's City Hall budget hearing, expected to be a contentious showdown with SUN school supporters, turned into a lovefest—a small child even sat on Commissioner Nick Fish's lap while her parents testified about North Portland neighborhood programs.

City Hall staffers, who didn't hear about the deal until after it was cut, were elated.

One of them observed that the only two items identified for cuts in the bureau-slashing Hales budget that still have citizen factions fighting for them are "the pool and the ponies"—meaning the Buckman Pool and the Police Bureau's Mounted Patrol Unit.

A rundown of the exchange, provided by the city:

The City:
·         Funds CATC one-time ($634,107 cost)
·         Funds half of the SUN Schools pass-through (adding back 1.5 schools for $136,000 cost)
·         Further reduces senior center pass-through ($141,454 savings)
·         Gets County agreement for additional BIT collection ($200,000 savings)
 
The County:
·         Funds the remaining SUN pass-through ($135,000)
·         Funds the domestic violence cuts ($64,300 plus $77,000 for victim’s advocate position that was previously one-time funded, total of $141,300)
·         Funds needle exchange ($65,000)
·         Funds some of the senior center pass-through that was cut, but not all (about $282k)

Former State Rep. Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley), who lost his seat in a hotly contested 2012 primary battle with now-Rep. Jeff Reardon, has a new gig.

WW has learned that Schaufler—who served in the House from 2003 through last year—is now a corrections officer at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton. AFSCME, the union that represents corrections officers, confirmed Schaufler's hiring.

Schaufler, who formerly worked as a contractor, is not the first Oregon politician to move from lawmaker to jailer. Former U.S. Rep. Jim Bunn (R-Ore.), who represented Oregon's 5th congressional district for one term in the 1990s, went from elected office to serving as guard in the Yamhill County jail.

Schaufler did not return WW's call seeking comment.

With five days left until the May 21 election, polling numbers keep getting worse for fluoride.

Ballot Measure 26-151, which would fluoridate Portlands water supply, trails by 13 percentage points in the newest poll released by WW's news partner KATU, with 53 percent of likely voters saying they'll vote no.

That's a four-point drop from last week's KATU poll showing fluoridation down 9 points.

Fluoride is losing even though the pro-fluoridation campaign, Healthy Kids Healthy Portland, has outspent the anti-fluoridation campaign, Clean Water Portland, by a two-to-one margin. 

The math gets even worse for the fluoridation campaign among people who have already mailed in their ballots. Among those voters, fluoride trails by 24 percent.

You can read the details of the poll, conducted by SurveyUSA of 800 Portlanders, here.

Of course the New New Old Lompoc will never be as good as its predecessor.

The tavern opened at 11 am today in the fancy new mixed-use building that sits where the dilapidated old shack that housed the former brewery used to be.

It may have the same name, but it's not the same bar.

So, yeah, while the New New Old Lompoc (they call it the "Lompoc Tavern") is pretty great, it lacks the mildewed charm of the old bar which, apropos of nothing, was the closest watering hole to Willamette Week's office.

So, after giving the bar a full two-and-a-half hours to get its shit together, WW staffers descended on the very busy new bar and compiled this very thorough list of everything that might possibly be claimed to be wrong with it.

Here is that list...

 

 

 

 

State Rep. Greg Matthews (D-Gresham) says that Mayor Charlie Hales' fight against his pro-union bill is "laughable."

As WW reported this week, the city is lobbying senators to stop House Bill 2418, arguing that the bill would allow even police and fire chiefs into a union. The bill, sponsored by Matthews, has already passed the house.

A letter, signed by the entire City Council, says the bill—which allows anyone who cannot impose economic discipline on employees— would damage the city's efforts to implement the police reforms required by the U.S. Department of Justice.

"HB2418 proposes to define 'supervisory employees' for purposes of public employee collective bargaining law as those who can impose economic discipline," it reads. "Under our form of government only the Mayor or the Commissioner in Charge has actual authority to authorize economic discipline."

But Matthews, a Gresham firefighter, says that interpretation is "flat ridiculous." He got back to WW about the bill after our press deadline.

Matthews says that police and fire chiefs aren't included in the language of the bill, and it's not the intent to include police and fire chiefs in unions. Chiefs certainly have the ability to impose economic discipline, he argues, through hiring, firing and promotions.

"Nobody can hire or fire except the police commissioner," Matthews says. "Is the mayor hiring new police officers? No. It's the chief who is extending his hand, welcoming them to the bureau. It’s just laughable, to pretend they have no authority at the chief level."

Matthews points out Hales is trying to break up the Police Commanders Union, and says the city's stance opposing his bill that would extend union coverage to more public workers is no coincidence. 

"I absolutely think that’s their goal," Matthews says. "It's very apparent."

Former State Sen. Rick Metsger (D-Welches) was nominated yesterday by Pres. Barack Obama to serve on the three-member National Credit Union Administration Board. Metsger, who served in the Senate from 1999 through 2010, concentrated on transportation and financial services issues in Salem. Metsger remains well-known in Portland from the 15 years he spent as a sports and news reporter for KOIN television (Channel 6). He unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state in 2008 and state treasurer in 2010.

Here's yesterday's announcement from the White House:

Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

Rick Metsger, Nominee for Member, National Credit Union Administration Board
Rick Metsger is President of Parakletos Strategic Public Affairs LLC, a position he has held since 2010.  Prior to this, Mr. Metsger served in the Oregon State Senate from 1999 to 2011, and as Senate President Pro Tempore  from 2009 to 2011.  From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Metsger worked as a Principal at Metsger Forbes LLC.  He was Principal of NewsMedia Dynamics Inc. from 1992 to 1999.  Mr. Metsger was a news anchor and reporter for KOIN-TV in Portland, Oregon from 1977 to 1992.  He served on the State Treasury Debt Policy Advisory Commission from 2001 to 2011 and was on the Board of Directors of Portland Teachers Credit Union from 1993 to 2001.  Mr. Metsger received a B.S. and an M.A.T. from Lewis & Clark College.

Metsger declined to comment on his nomination, which would have him serve out the remaining four years of the former board member Gigi Hyland's term. A federal employee compensation database shows that Hyland the post paid Hyland $155,000 last year.

The two remaining members of the Board, Chairman Debbie Matz and Board Member Michael E. Fryzel, welcomed Metsger's nomination in a statement.

“Serving on the NCUA Board is a tremendous honor, and I sincerely congratulate Senator Metsger on his appointment by the Obama Administration,” said Matz. “Rick will bring valuable perspectives to the NCUA Board, having served as a volunteer credit union board member as well as a state legislator. I look forward to welcoming Rick as soon as he is seated on the NCUA Board. We will work collaboratively to fulfill NCUA’s mission:  to protect the safety and soundness of America’s federally insured credit unions and their 94 million members.”

“I extend my sincerest congratulations to Senator Metsger on his nomination by President Obama to the National Credit Union Administration Board,” said Fryzel. “It is an honor and privilege to serve, and I wish him every success in his confirmation process.”

Portland may have found a new market for its toilet exports: Seattle.

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn declared on Tuesday that Seattle is looking at the possibility of buying a $90,000 Portland Loo for its downtown Pioneer Square neighborhood—and may buy more loos later.

Seattle, a city that famously failed in its own public-restroom experiment by installing five $1 million self-cleaning toilets that didn't work, hopes to use a land developer's money to buy a Portland Loo and place it next to a parking garage.

Portland has been selling its patented loo for three years in an effort to raise money for the $87,000 annual cost of cleaning the six it has already installed. Crucially, McGinn says Seattle has identified a private funding source that Portland doesn't have: money to clean the loo.

"Much progress has been made – SDOT traffic has approved the site, Seattle Public Utilities has located water and waste water infrastructure nearby and the Pioneer Square Preservation Board is supportive of the Loo facility and the proposed location," McGinn writes. "Most importantly, we have identified non-City sources of funding for both installation and maintenance of the facility."

McGinn says a real-estate developer will pay those costs in exchange for immunity from Seattle city rules about a nearby building's height.

A sale to Seattle would mean the third loo that Bureau of Environmental Services project coordinator Anne Peterson has sold this year, bringing the total sales since 2010 to four. A two-loo deal with San Diego has been delayed by questions about how the city would clean the commodes, and talks with Cincinnati have broken down over cleaning costs.

As WW reported in this week's cover story about how Portland began a campaign to sell former City Commissioner Randy Leonard's patented street toilet, the city would need to sell eight loos a year to break even on the loo project as it's currently structured. 

If uptight Seattleites want to know about the luxury toilet they might soon be enjoying, WW news intern Sara Sneath has created this comprehensive video tour:

video by Sara Sneath

UPDATE, 6:25 pm: Several procrastinating readers have alerted WW that the arts tax website—the city's preferred method of payment—has crashed. It could not handle the volume of people trying to pay on the last day before a promised $20 penalty.

"At this point the deadline to pay the Arts Tax will be extended until the problem is resolved," the site reads. "We appreciate everyone's patience with this situation."

The city does not say how long it is extending the deadline. —A. Mesh

ORIGINAL POST, 2:05 pm: A surprisingly high number of Portlanders—220,000—have filed returns for the controversial $35 arts tax voters approved last November. Some of those who have filed are exempt from payment but those who have paid have coughed up $6 million, which is 70 percent of the amount originally expected this year.

Considering the tax is brand new and the subject of much confusion and some litigation, that's a strong rate of compliance.

Today is the deadline for payment, according to a press press the city issued this afternoon:

The deadline for Portland residents to file their 2012 Portland Arts Tax returns is today, May 15. Tax returns and payments will be considered timely if postmarked with today’s date, or filed online by midnight tonight. To file and pay online, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/artstax.
 
Taxpayers can also file and pay in person at 111 SW Columbia Street, Suite 600. The Revenue Bureau will keep its doors open to taxpayers until 7:00 tonight and any taxpayer filing in person by then will also be considered timely.
 
The Arts Education and Access Income Tax (“Arts Tax”) was passed by 62% of Portland voters on November 6, 2012. The tax will fund art teachers and access, and is $35 for most adult Portland residents.
 
As of noon today, the Revenue Bureau has received well over $6 million in Arts Tax payments from more than 220,000 taxpayers, and expects over $7 million by Friday, May 17. The Revenue Bureau previously estimated it would collect $8.6 million by June 30, 2013.
 
“I’m pleased that so many Portland citizens have already paid their Arts Tax, and tens of thousands more will pay today,” said Bureau Director Thomas Lannom. “Despite changes and legal challenges, most Portlanders are stepping up and paying the tax on time.”
 
Taxpayers who do not file today may be assessed a $15 penalty. Taxpayers who do not file by October 15 may be assessed an additional $20.
 
All income earning adults in the City of Portland are required to file an Arts Tax form. People and families who earn less than the 2012 federal poverty guidelines must file an exemption form, but are not required to pay any tax. For a family of four, the guideline is $23,050. Exemption details are outlined on the website at www.portlandoregon.gov/artstax.
 
Portland residents can call 503-865-4ART (4278) for more information or to make a payment over the phone. Staff will be available to answer calls until 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 15

White Fang, Colleen Green, Heavy Hawaii, Comaserfs

[PUNK] Spazzy Portland punks White Fang headline this showcase of West Coast basement-party upstarts. Make sure to get there early for San Diego surf-wavers Heavy Hawaii and, especially, L.A.'s Colleen Green, whose dreamy bedroom pop-punk plays like a stonier version of Best Coast. Star Theater, 13 NW 6th Ave. 9 pm. $8. 21+.

Thursday, May 16

Thursday Hip Hop Series: Neighbors

[HIP-HOP] Portland hip-hop hasn’t had a loving home for years, so it’s nice to see the Blue Monk stepping in and showcasing some fine local artists on Thursday nights. Having already hosted TxE and iAME (you kids and your crazy capitalization!), it’s now time for the Monk to put some funk in its crunk-trunk. Neighbors’ strand of full-band hip-hop recalls 311 and A Tribe Called Quest, and it’s a perfect fit for both patchouli-soaked Southeast Portland and the jazz-loving venue. With the Excellent Gentlemen (not really a hip-hop outfit, but pretty awesome) and the Chicharones showing up later this month, Thursdays at the Monk looks poised to become a pretty cool tradition. CASEY JARMAN. Blue Monk, 3341 SE Belmont St., 595-0575. 9 pm. 21+. Call venue for ticket information.

Friday, May 17

Live Undead (Slayer Tribute)

[METAL FACSIMILE] Ex-Everclear bassist Craig Montoya—yes, that guy—heads up this tribute to Satan's heaviest helpers. A few weeks ago, this show may have seemed somewhat innocuous, but given the recent death of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman, the phrase "tribute act" takes on an entirely new meaning. The Analog, 720 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 432-8079. 21+. Call venue for more information.

A Simple Colony

[AMBIENT POP] A collaboration between Lara Mitchell of the Stolen Sweets and Portland Gay Men's Chorus member Michael Dodson, A Simple Colony plays moody, intricately layered pop with jazz and classical accents. Here, the band releases its debut EP, Make It Start. Mission Theater, 1624 NW Glisan St., 223-4527. 8 pm. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+.   

Saturday, May 18

Uncle Bonsai

[A LILT IN THE ATTIC] The absurdly elongated tenures of modern folkies notwithstanding, Uncle Bonsai has enjoyed a remarkable longevity—even passing the Roches for perseverance—despite satirical sensibilities all but guaranteed to age poorly and careerist ambitions half-hearted at best. Collegiate sensations from that moment 'round 1981 when an undergrad trio first wed deceptively angelic harmonies to rather earthier themes, their vocal talents and moments of genuine wit hardly compensate for the self-congratulatory sheen meant to flatter the cleverness of their audience. The subsequent spread of popularity well beyond what should've only ever been the most insufferable elements of liberal arts elites could likely be blamed upon the long media shadow cast by their superfine; Bennington brought us Bret Easton Ellis as well, mind. Still, however immaculate their niche stardom, the Seattleites couldn't have wished to spend their next three decades touring "Cheerleaders On Drugs" and, after a handful of retirements failed to take (for two of the original members, anyway), they're now hawking bedtime stories for grown-ups alongside 2010 collection of choral whimsy The Grim Parade. Publish or perish, we suppose, though the choices needn't be mutually exclusive. JAY HORTON. Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St., 719-6055. 8 pm. $17 advance, $20 day of show. Under 21 permitted with legal guardian.

Mic Crenshaw, Redray Frazier, Fingerpaint Afro Jazz, DJ Deff Ro

[HIP-HOP] The veteran Portland MC celebrates the release of Bionic Metal—a teaser EP for his upcoming full-length—on which Crenshaw delivers his tough street tales over big drums and distorted guitars for a rock-rap fusion that's more Tougher Than Leather than Linkin Park. He'll also premiere the video for the track "Free Your Mind." The Know, 2026 NE Alberta St., 473-8729. 8 pm. 21+. Call venue for ticket information. 

Don & the Quixotes, Fruit of the Legion of Loom, Ghost Train

[OFF-KILTER ROCK] A double album release for two artists on the Portland fringes: Don and the Quixotes, self-described as a "17th century Spanish literature themed surf rock wedding and party band," who are celebrating their second record, Teflon Don; and Fruit of the Legion of Loom, a vaguely Primus-y hard rock act that's been kicking around for about a decade and is just now getting around to releasing its debut, Mandatory Genocide. Kenton Club. 2025 N Kilpatrick St., 285-3718. 9:30 pm. Free. 21+.

Sunday, May 19

The Shivas, the Beets, Awkward Energy

[GARAGE POP] True fans of the Shivas have already heard the songs on their second album a dozen times over, either through seeing the quartet’s sensational live show or by purchasing a copy of Whiteout! on cassette via Burger Records. Now, thanks to the Shivas’ new relationship with Olympia’s K Records and the extensive tour schedule the band always seems to be on, it’s time for the rest of the known universe to get caught up. At times, they feel connected to the thudding swirl of K’s signature band, Beat Happening—check out the low, Link Wray fuzz slathered on “Living and Dying Like Horatio Alger” or the organ-punctuated clamor of “Kissed in the Face.” Of course, given their chosen sound, the bruises of influence are always going to be visible on the Shivas’ collective person. That the band doesn’t sink under the weight into pure pastiche is a testament to its smart songwriting and rascally energy. This show kicks off the Shivas' national tour opening for the Dandy Warhols. ROBERT HAM. Record Room, 8 NE Killingsworth St. 8 pm. $6. 21+.

Alela Diane, Vikesh Kapoor, Barna Howard

[FOLK] For her first hometown show of the year, Alela Diane—Portland's high-priestess of modern folk—is playing the 150-seat church-cum-theater Portland Playhouse. The strikingly intimate gig kicks off Mama Bird Recording Company's quarterly series of concerts held in unorthodox venues. Diane self-releases her new album, About Farewell, on June 25. Portland Playhouse, 602 NE Prescott St., 488-5822. 8 pm. $14 advance, $16 day of show. All ages.

Also this week, Radiation City releases its anticipated second album, Animals in the Median, on Tender Loving Empire. The album comes out Tuesday, but aside from an in-store gig at Music Millennium on May 21, the indie-pop quintet (and Best New Band 2012 winners) don't play Portland until June 28 at Wonder Ballroom for its official release show. Meanwhile, you can stream the album below, and check out a track from the upcoming RadCity remix album, A Different Animal, here.

Former Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul De Muniz issued a written mea culpa to lawmakers today in the wake of a story that appeared in the current print edition of WW.

At issue is the role that De Muniz, who retired from the Supreme Court in January, is playing in the Capitol. As a highly-respected senior court judge for more than 20 years, he built strong relationships with lawmakers and often testified in front of them as the state's top judicial officer for nearly seven of those years.

But earlier this month, De Muniz registered to lobby for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. That group opposes Senate Bill 814, which would compel insurers to settle faster in environmental clean-up situations such as the Portland Harbor Super Fund site.

In his letter (below), De Muniz offered his "sincerest apologies for not making abundantly clear the capacity in which I appeared in my recent legislative testimony and conversations regarding SB 814."