Lead

This past November, Portlanders got an urgent reminder that the city’s lead problem has persisted. Out of 104 homes sampled by the water bureau, 10% had lead levels higher than 21 parts per billion (or ppb) — the highest results the city has seen in two decades and well above the federal limit.

We hear about turkey poop in eastern Oregon, lead dust from home demolitions, and an effort to bring creative types and technical types together in the Oregon startup world.

The kids in Oregon's largest school district went back to school this week, and none of them were allowed to drink from school water fountains. 

Oregon lawmakers are moving ahead with a measure that would require school districts to test for lead.

Oregon health officials released an interactive map Wednesday showing which schools have tested their water for lead, and which have not. 

Testing has found elevated lead levels in the tap water at 14 homes in the Portland metropolitan area. Officials say the lead is is coming from old plumbing inside individual homes.

School cooks can use water from kitchen sinks again — and one of the top facility officials at PPS is resigning.

Oregon's legislative emergency board approved reimbursing school districts for costs to test drinking water for lead.

After 28 years at Portland Public Schools, Andy Fridley was suspended and given 15 minutes to pack his office. Now gone, he's offered a lengthy response to the PPS lead investigation.

Some drinking fountains have been turned off at the Oregon Capitol building after tests showed an unsafe level of lead in the water.