Many high school students struggle to balance schoolwork, extracurricular activities and a part-time job. De La Salle North Catholic High School freshman Vishal Narayan is no exception. He spent his weekdays going from English to Phys Ed., from home to soccer practice and from school to work this academic year. The difference is where Vishal spent his Fridays and alternating Mondays, working as an intern in the Metro Council office from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Building Tomorrow’s Jobs forum held Feb. 1 featured many ways the Portland metropolitan region can better position itself to be an attractive and competitive job market. Tuesday’s speakers, experts in developing economically and ecologically sustainable employment, highlighted clear opportunities for local employers to improve their triple bottom line, as well as tips for cities and counties that want to attract and retain business. Bert Gregory, an expert in developing resource-efficient structures and communities, noted that communities with ambitious objectives are doing great work in the region. "Employers are looking to locate in areas that are hip, urban and green," he said. 

The Metro council last night unanimously approved a franchise permit for Columbia Biogas to operate a facility in northeast Portland that will recycle food waste from commercial and industrial sources, keep about 200,000 tons of waste out of landfills or the sewer system, and produce enough electricity to power up to 5,000 homes. Columbia Biogas plans to convert local food waste into renewable power, clean water, fertilizer and soil amendments.