OPB’s First Look: A voice for the Willamette

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Good morning, Northwest.

Did you have a chance to swim in the Willamette River over the Juneteenth holiday? If so, you may have benefited from the work of someone OPB’s Jenn Chávez recently spoke with: Willie Levenson, the founder and executive director of the advocacy group Human Access Project. Through years of advocacy, Levenson has helped make the river more accessible and inviting for recreation.

Juneteenth celebrations took place across Oregon and Southwest Washington yesterday. Did you attend one? OPB’s Bryce Dole visited the celebration at Vance Park in Gresham to learn more about what the holiday means to community members.

Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.

— Winston Szeto

Top story

Willamette River recreation advocate Willie Levenson retires

For those choosing to plunge into the Willamette River this weekend, they have one man to thank: Willie Levenson.

Levenson is the founder, executive director and ringleader for the Human Access Project, the advocacy organization with the goal to change Portland’s relationship with its river.

Levenson has been with the organization since its inception in 2010. He’s pushed for urban beaches and swimming docks, held community events, and more.

After almost two decades, Levenson is set to retire at the end of the month.(Rolando Hernandez)

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3 things to know

1. People are gathering across the Pacific Northwest this weekend to mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. A celebration in Gresham yesterday drew hundreds of attendees.(Bryce Dole)
2. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has declined an invitation to debate Sen. Christine Drazan, her Republican challenger in this fall’s election, in Salem on July 24. Kotek, a Democrat, has challenged Drazan to at least three other debates in Medford, Portland and Eugene.(Bryce Dole)
3. Central Oregon’s transit system has launched a seasonal shuttle service to help floaters, cyclists and other recreationists reach popular trailheads and river runs without a car.(Kathryn Styer Martínez)

Northwest headlines

• Portland City Council begrudgingly adopts $8.5 billion budget (Alex Zielinski)
• Hillsboro mayor’s absence looms large in heated data center discussions (Holly Bartholomew)
• Bend approves fee on new homes with gas appliances (Kathryn Styer Martínez)
• WSU-Vancouver faculty, staff anxiously await details of 15% budget cuts (Tiffany Camhi)
• Portland’s outdoor public pools are now open (Alex Zielinski)
• A popular Oregon coastal bike route gets an updated map (Rachael McDonald, KLCC)
• Oregon’s ancient landslides store lots of carbon, UO study shows (April Ehrlich)

One more look

Oregon welcomes pro softball with sold-out crowd in Hillsboro

The Portland Cascade, Oregon’s new professional softball team, played their first home game Thursday night, treating the sold-out crowd to a 3-0 win over the Oklahoma City Spark.

Pitcher Sam Landry led the Cascade to the shutout victory as the crowd — filled with area youth softball teams — coordinated chants for the new team.

After the game, Landry told reporters her teammates will not take any minute of the short season for granted. Instead, they’re building a culture that celebrates growth and fosters inclusiveness.

The team is starting play as support for women’s sports in Portland and Oregon has hit a fever pitch.(Kyra Buckley)

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