The news just broke that the City of Minneapolis has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for the “countless acts of courage and solidarity” displayed by ordinary residents under extraordinary pressure, the first time a city has been so nominated.

To say the last month has been a rollercoaster, beginning with the murder of Renee Good by federal agents, followed by that of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, along with the murder of at least six others out of a total of 30 shootings by federal agents, would be an understatement. News of the detention of young children, not to mention the horrifying acts documented in the Epstein files released so far, the gassing of peaceful protesters here in Portland, among them children, have made it hard to focus on much else.

It’s why, since I have a birthday coming up this month, I’ll be donating the proceeds of my Patreon subscriptions for February, along with the first month of any new subscriptions between now and the end of the month, to the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC), which is working to build an immigrant justice community through a statewide hotline, training communities to support their neighbors, and holding immigration agents accountable. Click here if you want to subscribe.

When I read Portland restaurateur and filmmaker Angel Medina’s essay “When Hospitality Becomes a Hunting Ground: Why I’ll Close Before I’ll Collaborate,” I cried, then immediately wrote to ask his permission to repost it. It eloquently speaks to what much of our food community is enduring and is well worth your time to read.

In Hillsboro, developers are threatening to snatch 1,800 acres of what has been described as some of the richest farmland in the area, and State Senator Janeen Sollman is all ears. Her proposed legislation to annex the land is taking place at the same time that the number of farms in Oregon has decreased by six percent since 2017, and the acreage those farms occupied was down four percent in the same period. Read more and take action here.

When Dave made bacon recently and we were telling a friend how ridiculously easy it is—not to mention so much more delicious—I realized I hadn’t posted the recipe since waaaaaay back in 2015! So for those of you who are ready to take the next step in your smoky culinary journey, it’s posted here.

And I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed—and how can you not be when our democracy is threatening to crumble around our ears—nothing soothes my jangled nerves like a warm, comforting, creamy bowl of soup. This simple, quick recipe made with celery root and leeks is a sure-fire pleaser on a chilly winter night.

I hope you’re able to maintain balance and find moments of joy in these difficult times, and that you’re able to find solace in the company of like-minded folks, like those you’ll find here. Thanks for reading, stay loud and I hope you’ll consider supporting this always-free source of news.

Best,

Kathleen Bauer