By Emily Scarvie
(PORTLAND, Ore.) Hello Portlanders! It's Wednesday, Dec. 8 - Here's your daily round up of all the news happening in the City of Roses.
1. Roosevelt High School implements new safety measures following lockdown
After an alleged armed robbery involving two students sent three north Portland schools into heightened security on Tuesday, Roosevelt High School’s principal announced new safety precautions that will go into effect on Wednesday. In addition to the new safety measures, students will have a half day on Wednesday and the option to learn from home.
KD Parman, Roosevelt High School’s principal, said the armed robbery occurred off campus and involved students from another school, but their building was placed on lockdown after the students were seen on Roosevelt’s campus. George Middle School and Astor Elementary were placed on lockout.
Portland Police said officers had identified the student in question by 1 p.m. on Tuesday and the two students were taken into custody and ultimately released.
The new safety measures going into effect on Roosevelt’s campus include additional campus safety associates, a safe space in the counseling center staffed by school social workers and trained volunteers, plans of support and additional help from district administrators.
2. PDX finally opens Concourse B for Alaska, Horizon Air flights
Portland International Airport’s Concourse B is finally opening on Wednesday and features 10 new gates for Alaska and Horizon Air flights. PDX will be handing out newspapers, coffee and breakfast treats to travelers in both concourses B and C.
The new concourse features 8900-square feet of south-facing windows and 38-foot high ceilings for lots of natural light and views of departures and arrivals. There are also 500 seats and over 300 places to charge devices. It was designed by ZGF Architects and built by Hoffman Construction and Skanska USA Building.
3. At least 40 earthquakes strike off Oregon coast, officials say there's no tsunami threat
Dozens of earthquakes have been recorded off the coast of Oregon since Monday night but officials say there’s nothing to be concerned about. The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded at least 40 quakes, with the strongest coming in around 5.8 magnitude. The quakes are being recorded around 250 miles off the coast and are miles deep.
Althea Rizzo, Geohazards Program Coordinator at the Oregon Office of Emergency Department, told KATU that the quakes are far off the coast, in an area that is a “very seismically active region that presents no threat to the Oregon coast.”
4. Here's what the Better Business Bureau says about buy now, pay later services
During holiday shopping, many people are using buy now, pay later services when checking out online, but officials with the Better Business Bureau are encouraging shoppers to read the fine print and be mindful of irresponsible purchasing.
“Even though it’s a payment service and it can be a few small payments, 0% interest, it’s critical to remember that it is still borrowing money to enjoy a product before it is paid in full,” Logan Hickle, PR and Communications Manager with the Better Business Bureau, told FOX 12.
According to a survey by LendingTree, seven out of 10 shoppers said they paid interest or late fees when using these services and over 30% of people reported buying items they couldn’t normally afford. Additionally, the same survey found nearly a third of shoppers didn’t understand what the fees and interest rates would be before using a buy now, pay later service.
If payments aren’t made on time, this can impact someone’s credit if it’s sent to collection agencies. Financial experts typically advise paying off items quickly. To read more about buy now, pay later programs, visit the Better Business Bureau’s website.
Comments / 0