Your Daily Guide

Full-Court Press on Trail Blazers Staying in Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers are sending signals they want to stay in our city — after months of hints that owner Tom Dundon might be eyeing an exit. OPB reports that the head of Blazers business operations, Dewayne Hankins, offered reassurance that the team is “committed to Portland” while speaking at a media event to preview the NBA season. [OPB]

• But no new details: “We’ve secured that landmark commitment at the state level,” Hankins said. “We’re working hard to get the city and the county deal done as well.” But there were no updates on which of the city’s demands — like allowing Moda Center workers to unionize and the payments in lieu of taxes — the Blazers are willing to accept. [OPB]
• Plus, Dame's all in: Superstar Damian Lillard was among those saying he can’t imagine the team leaving: “I don't see a world where the Trail Blazers aren't in Portland.” [KGW]
• Highly anticipated return: During the 16 months that Lillard was out with an injury, the Trail Blazers brought him back to the team. He’s due back on the court for the season’s opening game next month. There are reasons to believe he’ll be back to his old level of play — or could he be even better? [New York Times]

Federal Land in Oregon for a Data Center

Last year, President Trump ordered that federal land be made available for the development of data centers, and now the California-based energy company Copia, with offices in Lake Oswego, has applied to open a data center on 100 acres owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Umatilla County. In all, 12 data centers are currently proposed for BLM land across the West, with only one of those in Oregon. [Oregon Capital Chronicle]

I-5 Construction Impacts Swan Island Businesses

The I-5 southbound exit to Swan Island is closed during the freeway's construction project — and with large employers like Daimler and Adidas telling employees to work from home, local businesses are seeing a slowdown. The vegan fast-food restaurant Faceplant projects they’ll lose $15,000 by the end of the five-week shutdown, and nearby Tito’s Taquitos says their sales are down $8,000 a week. [KGW]

A Grocery Store for Old Town

Old Town hasn’t had a grocery store since the late 1970s, but now the group Feed the Mass is opening a nonprofit shop. The model is sustainable, Stumptown Savings’ Bryan M. Vance says, because Feed the Mass’s work is supported by its ownership of a building in the neighborhood — with rents from coworking and retail tenants supporting the grocery store. [City Cast Portland 🎧]

• Related: Feed the Mass already produces around 7,000 community meals a week. As it's grown, the nonprofit has used its buying power to drive down costs. It plans to do the same with the grocery store. [Stumptown Savings]