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🌱 Patch AM: What Portland students told Sen. Wyden about mental health after Benson scare

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

In today's newsletter:

  • What Portland students told Sen. Wyden about mental health after Benson scare
  • How Portland is honoring trailblazing police matron Geraldine Avery's legacy
  • Portland Marathon mourns young runner who collapsed near mile 20.

Also on today's calendar: Barrel Bandapalooza - Support Local Music and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a paper airplane that can't fly? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Turning sunny; warm, with a high of 78 and low of 52 degrees.
  • Thursday: Sunny and very warm, temps: high: 81, low: 54.
  • Friday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 73 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 'Going to do everything we can': Wyden visits Portland school to talk mental health in wake of hazmat incident at Benson (koin.com) — Students at Portland's McDaniel High School shared their ideas on improving youth mental health with Senator Ron Wyden, who pledged to prioritize it in the U.S. Senate. His visit follows a recent hazardous materials incident at Benson High that raised safety and mental health concerns citywide, as courts weigh whether the accused student should remain in treatment or juvenile custody.
   

2. Geraldine Avery, Portland's first Black police matron, remembered as a trailblazer (kgw.com) — Portlanders are remembering Geraldine Avery, the city's first Black police matron, who recently died at 103 after a groundbreaking career with the Portland Police Bureau and Multnomah County Corrections. Family, former officers, and community members recalled how she broke racial and gender barriers in local law enforcement while remaining a devoted mother, grandmother, and neighborhood pillar.
   

3. 24-year-old runner dies after collapsing during Portland Marathon (king5.com) — A 24-year-old runner died after collapsing near mile 20 of Sunday's Portland Marathon, despite rapid medical response from on-site staff and first responders. Organizers expressed condolences while a GoFundMe supports his wife and family, highlighting his creativity, faith, and deep connections to loved ones in the Portland community.
   

4. Portland's Archbishop Sample calls for 'mission renewal' in pastoral letter (angelusnews.com) — Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland is urging a "mission renewal" across the Archdiocese of Portland, calling priests and laypeople in western Oregon to deeper prayer, unity, and more intentional Catholic education. His new pastoral letter emphasizes strengthening parish life, supporting clergy, and helping families build a strong faith culture at home while responding to growing interest in the Church.
   

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    Thursday October 8
  • BLD PNW 2026 →
    Portland State University - Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 Southwest Broadway, Portland
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Ok Portland! 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: "What do you call a paper airplane that can't fly?" — Stationary (Thank you David H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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