OPB’s First Look: Lovebirds lock in at Pier 39

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Good morning, Northwest.

Today is a two-for-one kind of day: Valentine’s Day and Oregon Statehood Day.

Are you toasting to love, to the Beaver State, or finding a way to celebrate both at once?

Maybe it’s something sweet and simple, like locking a heart-shaped padlock at Astoria’s Pier 39 with your partner or your best friend. OPB producer Sukhjot Sal shares the story behind the Love Locks project that’s been bringing people together for years.

And while we know you love this newsletter (we feel it), it’ll be taking Monday off for Presidents Day, so it won’t land in your inbox then.

For now, here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news. We’ll see you back here on Tuesday.

— Winston Szeto

Bend parents protested an AI chatbot. A tech company shelved it, then school leaders defended it

A tech company removed an AI chatbot named Raina from all student-facing platforms at Bend-LaPine Schools last month.

Parents were concerned the companion-style bot could lead children to form unhealthy relationships with it.

The district’s technology leader, Scott McDonald, didn’t know the bot had been taken down. But despite public outcry at a school board meeting last week, he disagreed with parents who said the technology was being rolled out too fast.

Oregon was the first state in the U.S. to set guidelines surrounding AI in schools. But they aren’t rules, and the state doesn’t track which platforms districts use.

As the debate between parents and the district continues, state lawmakers are considering a bill to regulate AI programs in schools. (Jen Baires)

Learn more

3 things to know this morning

• Portland’s $2.1 billion Bull Run water filtration project got the go-ahead from a state land use court — another victory for the city in a yearslong legal fight with nearby landowners. (April Ehrlich) 
• House Bill 4002, which saw its first public hearing Thursday, would limit Oregon’s 90 lawmakers to 30 bills each during a long legislative session. It would also limit Gov. Tina Kotek and state agencies to 100 bills combined. (Bryce Dole) 
• Portland’s permitting department issued a letter yesterday, upholding its September decision to accuse landlord Stuart Lindquist of violating a rule that prohibits the Immigration and Customs Enforcement from holding detainees in its South Portland building overnight or for more than 12 hours. (Alex Zielinski)

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Roger Tofte, founder of Oregon’s iconic Enchanted Forest theme park, dies at 96 (OPB staff) 
• Former National Park Service director reflects on layoffs, deep cuts (Riley Martinez) 
• The 800th ‘The Simpsons’ episode is set in Philadelphia. But Portland is in its DNA (Chloe Veltman) 
• Oregon senators demand FAA action after deadly Arizona helicopter crash (OPB staff) 
• US Rep. Maxine Dexter on the state of immigration policy after rescue of Gresham family from Texas detention center (Allison Frost) 
• A ruff competition at the 2026 Joriad Truffle Dog Championship (Crystal Ligori) 
• The longest-running African film festival in the US is at Portland Community College (Paul Marshall)

Lock in your love story at Astoria’s Pier 39

Tucked away in the most northwestern part of Oregon, the state’s oldest city invites sweethearts far and wide to share their hearts with the community.

The Astoria Love Locks project celebrates love year-round, encouraging couples to fasten heart-shaped padlocks to the docks at Pier 39, located at 100 39th Street.

But from noon to 5 p.m. today, Astoria will put on a special Valentine’s Day celebration featuring music, sweet treats, crafts and local artisan businesses, with the vast Columbia River as the backdrop.

Love lock kits are $20 each and include an officiated friendship or love ceremony. The locks come in red, pink and gold, and are accompanied by a permanent paint pen so lovebirds can leave personalized notes. (Sukhjot Sal)

Learn more

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