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Oregon cats and their plush pads star in this catio tour

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Oregon cats and their plush pads star in this catio tour


Micha and Grace Sinclair welcomed two rescue cats into their Portland home and their life expanded. Grace trained cats Salya and Mot to wear a harness as they wander through the couple’s attractive triangular yard, and Micha built a large screened cat patio, or catio, that allows the felines to exit one of the kitchen windows and safely nap or play in the outdoor air. The cats can see birds, but they can’t catch them.

Salya and Mot are two of the stars of the Portland area’s 12th Annual Catio Tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. Admission is $15 (CatsSafeAtHome.org) to join the self-paced, self-guided tour and see a variety of catios, from fenced spaces to portable options. Tour goers can talk with the homeowners and renters who built the clever enclosures, and meet the cats that enjoy them, “feline attitude permitting,” say organizers.

The popular Catio Tour is produced by the nonprofit Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, Bird Conservation Oregon and Bird Alliance of Oregon (formerly Portland Audubon). The tour stops, from Southeast Portland to Vancouver, were selected to showcase ideas that fit any budget and space.

Funds raised through the event support the Cats Safe at Home campaign, which aims to reduce free-roaming cats with solutions that are good for cats and wildlife. The program’s CatsSafeAtHome.org site offers ideas for cat owners to install a screened enclosure for cats to exercise without facing outdoor hazards, like dogs and cars, while also protecting birds and other wildlife from cats.

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At the Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wildlife Care Center, nearly 40% of the birds brought in for treatment have been battered by a cat.

“Cats are both predator and prey,” said Micha. “Catios allow cats outside stimulus while keeping other wildlife safe that has a right to be there too.”

The Sinclairs and their cats benefit from a garden landscape that is a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation. The couple, who own Rejuvenation Artisans Landscapes, designed and sustainably maintained their garden to provide healthy soil, clean water and native plants for butterflies, birds, bats and other creatures.

Grace, a licensed landscape contractor, horticulturist and designer, has been creating organic landscapes since the 1990s. Both Grace and Micha, who is the chair of the Oregon Landscape Contractor’s Board, promote the use of thick mulches, organic compost and fertilizers, early disease and pest control, and proper and timely pruning to eliminate dependence on chemical fertilizers and sprays.

With their approach, fruits, herbs, edible flowers and foliage can be consumed, and people and animals can thrive.

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Grace, who grew up in Arizona and is an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, said she was taught that “all lives are vital.” She started rescuing cats, reptiles and other animals as a child with her grandmother.

“An important piece of being in the world is understanding that human perspective is not the only perspective and that animals can be loving and amazing companions,” said Grace, who once managed container gardening for exotic animal enclosures. She also maintained the award-winning Entry Garden at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park before moving to Oregon in 2004.

The name Salya was inspired by the Maricopa word for “moon” and Mot means “earth” in the Native American language, Grace said.

“So we live with the moon and the earth,” said Micha. “Mot is in and out of the catio a 100 times a day, using it as a 12-foot-tall jungle gym, while Salya goes there for long stretches of time, to nap or watch birds” through the mesh siding.

Micha used salvaged wood, including manzanita, to build the 7-foot-long structure surrounded by rhododendron shrubs on the side of their Craftsman-style house. He added elevated platforms for the cats to jump onto.

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Grace said the catio tour can help people see construction examples and ask questions. “Every house is different and cats’ needs are different,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see what’s possible and it’s always fun to look at kitties.”

Construction tips

There is a variety of outdoor cat enclosures on the 12th Annual Catio Tour Sept. 7, 2024.Cats Safe at Home

A catio can be any size, from a simple window box, screened-in balcony or detached metal-and-wooden structure. Existing patios can be transformed into catios simply by enclosing them with screen or wire.

If you don’t want to construct a cat condo using plans, you can buy a kit or hire a pro (see CatsSafeAtHome.org/catio-resources).

Just like you, cats like ventilation and their Cat TV (aka a view of the outdoors). Here are tips catio makers offered the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon:

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  • Decide if the catio is just for cats or if it needs to be large enough for people to wander around. Placement of doors and ramps differ depending on the usage. After the entrance location is selected and a solid base has been made, changes can happen along the way if needed.
  • If the catio is visible, create a finished look by putting mesh fencing inside the framing. If you aren’t concerned about the look, it’s faster to put fencing on the outside of the structure.
  • Consider year-round comfort. Create shady places for cats to be when it’s hot or they want to hide, and warm the space on cold days with inexpensive throw carpets, a low-voltage heat lamp or removable plexiglass window panels fitted around the framing.
  • Make sure all seams are sealed above, below and on every side of the catio so cats cannot get out and predators cannot get in. Add a cat flap to the home’s exterior door, window, wall cut out or build a screened walkway.
  • Add toys, a litter box and slowly acclimate cats to the catio.

— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman





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Public asked to help find missing 2-year-old Armani Andrews in Portland

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Public asked to help find missing 2-year-old Armani Andrews in Portland


Oregon officials asked the public to help find a two-year-old boy who went missing from Portland last Wednesday, June 17.

The Oregon Department of Human Services, Child Welfare Division, is asking the public to help find Armani Andrews and call 911 or local law enforcement if they believe they saw him.

Armani is believed to be in danger and is suspected to be in Portland, around any of the following areas: Rose Haven, Multnomah County Central Library, or Southeast Portland around 82nd-103rd.

Armani is a two-year-old Black/mixed race baby. He is about 24 inches tall, he has brown hair, brown eyes, and his weight is unknown.

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If contacting Portland Police Bureau about Armani, reference the case number: #PP185430

The report number for Armani with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Report is: 2093182

ODHS said in a statement when a child is missing, they may be in significant danger and the department “may need to locate them to assess and support their safety.”

KATU News reached out to ODHS to clarify whether there is a custody aspect to the missing child’s case. The department said they are unable to provide that information.

Armani Andrews with Mother Rashonda Andrews/ODHS photos

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You can report suspected child abuse to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). The toll-free number allows anyone to report abuse of any child or adult to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every day of the year.

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KATU News included photographs of Armani to help the public identify and find him.



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The Cost of the Crackdown: How Trump’s immigration enforcement affects Oregon

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The Cost of the Crackdown: How Trump’s immigration enforcement affects Oregon


President Donald Trump campaigned on carrying out what he called the largest deportation operation in American history.

After taking office, his administration quickly ramped up immigration enforcement. Border czar Tom Homan also pledged to focus on so-called sanctuary cities, including Portland. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more than 675,000 people were deported in 2025, while the agency says more than 2 million people “self-deported.”

READ ALSO | Supreme Court hands Trump immigration wins, but birthright citizenship might be different

In Oregon, state data shows state and local agencies experienced a 265% increase in immigration-related requests from federal authorities last year.

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So what does that mean for Oregon’s economy?

The state’s chief economist says the effects are beginning to emerge.

Carl Riccadonna, Oregon’s state economist, said immigration enforcement actions are influencing consumer spending and activity across several key industries, though the state cannot yet quantify the overall impact.

“What we’re seeing in terms of immigration action is playing out in either consumption patterns, which we’ve seen in some communities, or in industrial or sectoral activity,” Riccadonna said. “This does then have implications for how we are reading the overall macroeconomy and putting together that revenue forecast.”

Portland police officers walk outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

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Riccadonna said the effects extend beyond agriculture, an industry that has historically relied on immigrant labor.

“We have certainly, in sector-by-sector analysis, we’re hearing evidence of impacts from immigration in consumption numbers, so retail, groceries, those sorts of things,” Riccadonna said. “There are also significant impacts in the retail sector and leisure and hospitality, restaurants and construction, important legacy industries of Oregon like timber, forestry … and manufacturing has a very large footprint as well.”

While the state is seeing those trends, Riccadonna said economists cannot yet calculate exactly how much immigration enforcement has affected Oregon’s economy.

“We haven’t done an exercise to say, well, this is what the forecast would have been otherwise. We don’t produce counterfactuals … but there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence from the cherry harvest this past summer and stresses elsewhere throughout those specific sectors,” he said.

National data offers additional context.

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According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the recent immigration surge — which the report says mostly comprises immigrants who were not lawful permanent residents, were not eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency based on their current status, and were not admitted on a temporary basis under the Immigration and Nationality Act — generated approximately $10 billion in state and local tax revenue in 2023. During that same period, governments spent nearly $19 billion on services such as schools, shelters and border security.

A damaged car is seen as law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

A damaged car is seen as law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

The Congressional Budget Office also projects the immigration surge that began in 2023 will increase the U.S. labor force by approximately 5.8 million people by 2034 and boost the nation’s economic output by nearly $9 trillion over the next decade.

Riccadonna said Oregon expects to gain a clearer picture of the economic effects as more tax and revenue data becomes available.

This story is part of KATU’s “The Cost of the Crackdown” special, which examines how increased immigration enforcement is affecting Oregon, from businesses and workers to the state’s broader economy.

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Oregon National Guard tests drone to remotely deliver explosive during training

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Oregon National Guard tests drone to remotely deliver explosive during training


Oregon Army National Guard soldiers tested a new method of clearing battlefield obstacles during annual training this week by using a heavy-lift drone to remotely deliver and detonate a live explosive charge.

The proof-of-concept demonstration took place June 22 and was led by soldiers with Bravo Company, 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The exercise focused on using an unmanned aircraft to carry a live Bangalore torpedo — an explosive device designed to clear wire obstacles — allowing engineers to breach barriers while remaining farther from potential enemy threats.

Army engineers are responsible for creating safe routes for friendly forces by clearing obstacles such as concertina wire and minefields. Traditionally, placing explosive charges requires soldiers to move close to enemy positions, increasing their exposure to danger.

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During the demonstration, a heavy-lift drone carried the explosive charge to a wire obstacle before remotely detonating it, successfully creating a lane through the barrier.

The project was the result of several months of planning by the battalion’s drone working group under the direction of battalion commander Lt. Col. Eric Zimmerman. The unit partnered with Ashland-based Lorica Technologies, which provided the heavy-lift drone used during the demonstration.

Lt. Col. Zimmerman said recent conflicts have highlighted the importance of adapting new technologies for the battlefield.

“Watching what’s happening in Ukraine and seeing how innovative they’ve been inspires you to get better and think bigger,” Lt. Col. Zimmerman said.

The team conducted multiple tests before the live demonstration, beginning with inert training devices before progressing to live explosives. Officials said the final test successfully delivered and detonated a two-section Bangalore torpedo.

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Lt. Col. Zimmerman credited the project’s success to collaboration between battalion leadership and the soldiers responsible for carrying out the mission.

“I’m really proud,” Lt. Col. Zimmerman said. “The Soldiers of Bravo Company took an idea from the battalion staff and applied their expertise to make that idea functional and effective.”

Military officials said the demonstration highlights how the Oregon Army National Guard is incorporating emerging unmanned aircraft technology into engineer operations. Lessons learned from the project are expected to help shape future training and the Army’s continued integration of drones into combat engineering missions.

The Oregon Army National Guard is made up of citizen-soldiers who serve part time while maintaining civilian careers, attending school or raising families. In addition to federal deployments, Guard members respond to state emergencies such as wildfires, floods and winter storms when activated by the governor.



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