It's that time of year again. Rose Festival season. The time of year when people from across the Portland metro region descend into downtown and pray that it doesn't rain.
So far for this weekend's big Starlight Parade, the news is looking upbeat with meteorologists predicting sunny skies across the region. This will hopefully make it a lot easier for people to bike, bus or take the train into the city center for the festivities.
The festival is running all week, with the CityFair open from June 2 to 5 in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. On June 4, the KeyBank Starlight Run will kick off at 8 p.m. at Lincoln High School (ontherunevents.com/starlight). Thirty minutes later, the PGE/SOLV Starlight Parade will begin in Downtown Portland

The Seattle Public Library board has named Marcellus Turner as its new City Librarian. Turner, who comes to the job from Jefferson County library system in Colorado, will manage a budget of $50 million and 640 employees in 26 branches.

Three events Friday and Saturday, brought together men, women and youth in a community-led campaign to stop the violence that has taken the lives of five Black teens this year. Organizers are pushing  to strengthen support networks in Portland's African American and minority communities. Advocates say the increase in shootings and the death of five teens this year are simply the most visible signs of an environment that is failing many children and teens 

While he's been retired for some time now, Jones spent a considerable amount of time serving in the U.S. Army.
Enlisting in the months prior to the outbreak of the United States' involvement in World War II, Jones said his time in the military shaped his life.
Despite mistreatment from southern White officers, having ammunition confiscated before battle and watching tons of food go to waste as Black soldiers were told their rations sank at sea, Jones says he stuck with the military.

Oregon State University's Black Student Union will be showcasing their 9th annual Divine Nine Step Show:Step Into the Bad Side at 3:30 p.m. on May 28 at Lasells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St. in Corvallis. Tickets are $6 for the public, $5 for students, and doors open at 2:30 p.m.
In addition to the step show, students will be holding a Juneteenth BBQ this Thursday, May 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Black Cultural Center at Oregon State University, 2320 NW Monroe St.

For activists around the country working to bring attention to rising asthma rates, the current state of environmental research and regulation are standing in the way of their work simply to educate local communities about the root causes of the illness.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation will be discussing several upcoming bike improvement projects in inner Northeast Portland.
On June 1 and June 15, transportation officials will hold meetings to discuss and elicit feedback about the bicycle infrastructure improvement projects. Both meetings run from 6 to 8 p.m. and will be held at Humboldt Elementary, 4915 N. Gantenbein Ave.

Portland's Jefferson High School has a new principal. Vice Principal Margaret Calvert will be taking over the position from interim-principal Toni Hunter. Calvert is taking over the position formerly held by Cynthia Harris, who had been placed on administrative leave after Portland Public Schools found shortcomings in the way the school's student body funds had been managed in May of 2010.

Last week, Metro Councilors approved changes to the regional government's representation lines.
According to staff, the new map, which shifted the government's six districts to meet the population movements catalogued under the 2010 census, won't change much in terms of daily operations.

A tentative agreement to fill Washington state's $5 billion budget shortfall includes cuts in nearly every corner of government, slashing pay for teachers and forcing other K-12 workers and state employees to take deeper hits. Budget negotiators said there simply wasn't the money available in the $32 billion spending plan to sustain current salaries, and lawmakers talked openly about the need to make equitable cuts. In total, they will reduce spending by $4.6 billion over the coming two years.