Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How will Hillsboro’s new 30-acre data center cap affect you?

Also check out Pacific NW Reptile & Exotic Animal Show - Hillsboro, OR October 10&11 on the Hillsboro Patch calendar

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Hey hey Hillsboro! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will Hillsboro's new 30-acre data center cap affect you?
  • How Hillsboro became a national test case for data center power
  • Why Hillsboro is suddenly pulling back on data center growth

Also on today's calendar: Free Zumba Class in Observance of Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the cookie go to the hospital? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Cooler; a little p.m. rain, with a high of 64 and low of 41 degrees.
  • Saturday: Periods of sun with a shower, temps: high: 59, low: 40.
  • Sunday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 66 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Hillsboro proposes strict limits on new data centers, reducing potential sites to 30 acres (kgw.com) — Hillsboro officials are moving to cap new standalone data centers to just 30 additional acres and require a 1,000-foot buffer from schools, sharply tightening where future facilities can be built. With a moratorium expiring in November, councilors are racing to update the code and commission environmental studies before voting again on October 20, while some residents push for an outright halt to all data centers.
   

2. Big Data Centers Overwhelm Opposition in Small Towns (governing.com) — Hillsboro features prominently as a flashpoint in the national backlash against large data centers, where companies rushed to lock in years of tax breaks and forced the city council into a difficult legal and political corner. The story compares Hillsboro's experience with fights in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alabama and elsewhere, showing how small communities struggle to regulate powerful tech firms. It also tracks growing public skepticism about AI, water and power use, and who controls local land use decisions.
   

3. Good Morning, News: Babe, Wake Up, They're Reopening I-5, Kittens Looking at Sharks, and the Case of the Possibly Missing Councilor Texts (portlandmercury.com) — Hillsboro readers should note that the city council is preparing to vote on limiting new data centers to just 30 more acres and requiring they sit at least 1,000 feet from schools. In a broader Portland-focused news roundup, the piece also covers the early reopening of I-5 through the Rose Quarter, a court fight over a Portland councilor's texts, and upcoming music events.
   

4. 'Our communities are in pain': Oregon sees sharp rise in immigration arrests (oregonlive.com) — Hillsboro residents are seeing stepped-up federal immigration enforcement, including at least one arrest near Century High School this week that prompted reassurance statements from the school district and police. Advocates say arrests are rising across Oregon, from Hillsboro to Salem and Medford, and are urging local leaders to limit cooperation with ICE while families navigate fear and uncertainty.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • This is the perfect time to visit the Hoyt Arboretum.
    Beautiful Fall colors on the Wildwood and Maple trails. (Nextdoor Orenco Station)
  • Is anyone missing these cats?
    They were outside my apartment door meowing. They're comfortable with each other and they look well groomed. Can't tell if they're male or female,… (Nextdoor Civic Center)
  • Shake Shack posted a job opening for Restaurant Team Member in Hillsboro. Apply here.
  • Staffmark posted a job opening for Customer Service Representative in Hillsboro. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hillsboro here.

Ok Hillsboro! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "Why did the cookie go to the hospital?" — Because he felt crummy. (Thank you Sanda J. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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