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Good morning, Northwest.
Astoria’s landmark column is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. If you live in or visit the northwest Oregon coastal city, it’s easy to spot: It sits on a hill and is visible from almost anywhere in the city.
To commemorate the Astoria Column’s centennial, OPB’s Kristian Foden-Vencil spoke with residents there, exploring the historical and artistic significance of the 125-foot-tall structure.
Plus, OPB’s live event, “Dating Decoded,” held earlier this month at Portland’s Revolution Hall, turned out to be a lot of fun. If you didn’t get a chance to attend, don’t worry: OPB producer Riley Martinez has a recap for you.
Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.
— Winston Szeto
The Astoria Column stands 125 feet above the ground on a hilltop in Astoria, Ore., on Feb. 12, 2026.
Eli Imadali / OPB
‘It has turned into something bigger’: City celebrates Astoria Column’s centennial
This year, the Astoria Column, a towering landmark of the Pacific Northwest, turns 100 years old. From the sloping, grassy hill where it stands, the column is perhaps the most identifiable fixture in the coastal historic fur town.
Astoria will hold a fair, a rededication ceremony and a gala for the storied monument on July 18.
Other events or themes are also being organized for just about every month of the year, from sunset yoga, to stargazing, to a challenge to climb the column’s 164 steps 20 times in a month.
Some visitors might also stick to the old tradition of tossing balsam wood planes from 125 feet above the ground and watching them sail down.
“If one is religious, I guess one could say, ‘I feel close to God,’ being up there,” said Jordan Schnitzer, the Portland businessman and philanthropist who founded a nonprofit to restore the column’s artwork. “If one is a humanist, one would feel that you are part of this cosmos.” (Kristian Foden-Vencil)
Western Oregon University leaders say they will rename a student leadership conference that was formerly named after Cesar Chavez.
Rob Manning / OPB
3 things to know this morning
- Western Oregon University announced Thursday that it will remove labor leader Cesar Chavez’s name from the institution’s annual student leadership conference held this spring, following sexual abuse allegations againast him. (Tiffany Camhi)
- Eugene 4J School District leaders say they may need to cut an additional $10 million to $20 million from next year’s budget in order to close a far larger than anticipated shortfall. (Rebecca Hansen-White)
- Southern Oregon University has six weeks to work with a consultant to create a long-term plan for fiscal sustainability by April 30, following $15 million in stopgap funding from the state. (Jane Vaughan)
A fan hold up a sign in the stands urging the former Seattle Sonics basketball team to return to Seattle before a preseason NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Seattle.
John Froschauer / AP
Headlines from around the Northwest
- Lane Community College may cut more than 20 jobs, 2 programs amid budget shortfall (Rebecca Hansen-White)
- Washington governor prepares to meet with NBA commissioner as hopes rise for Sonics’ return (Jake Goldstein-Street)
- Seattle mayor pumps the brakes on the city’s AI chatbot adoption (Nate Sanford)
- Lawsuit against Clark County over C-TRAN board removal dismissed (Erik Neumann)
- Walla Walla Community College admin says ‘financial constraints’ driving cuts in Clarkston (Rachel Sun)
- Washington’s co-op preschools face existential crisis after new state rules threaten funding (Ann Dornfeld)
- Grant hits late 3 and Trail Blazers beat Timberwolves 108-104 for third straight win (Mike Cook)
- Thorns down NWSL rival Reign 2-0 despite a pair of red cards (Phuoc Nguyen)
Guests socialize over food and drink in an event space at Revolution Hall in Portland, Ore., March 5, 2026. The venue hosted OPB's "Think Out Loud" for a live taping of a conversation about the complexities of modern dating.
Riley Martinez / OPB
‘Think Out Loud’ helped decipher modern dating with ‘Dating Decoded’
The room was lit low like a cocktail bar. Games and conversation cards were spread across tables. But unlike a typical happy hour, the dozens of people present were there for more than food and drinks.
On March 5, dozens of Oregonians — from 20-somethings to seniors — packed an event space at Revolution Hall in Portland to hear a panel conversation about modern dating.
“Dating, Decoded” was a live taping of OPB’s “Think Out Loud,” featuring a panel of three guests: Sarah Ruby, the creator of Dating Profile Tune-Ups, Playdates and Kissing Booth Social Club; Taylor Kravitz, a licensed marriage and family therapist; and Margaret Bagan, the panel’s resident dating single.
The conversation — not only between the panelists, but with the audience — was dedicated to exploring the murkiness of today’s dating scene. (Riley Martinez)
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