One topic in particular stood out among open-ended responses in the July Opt In survey.

Metro councilors seemed to agree last week that the regional government is not quite ready to ask the voters for a property tax levy to pay for natural areas maintenance.

At a signing ceremony Aug. 15, Miller Paint CEO Steve Dearborn and Metro deputy chief operating officer Scott Robinson inked a deal that guarantees Miller will buy at least 40,000 gallons of recycled paint from Metro each year through 2017.

A local celebration gains an international flair next week, as Afropop superstar Thomas Mapfumo helps the Oregon Zoo close out its popular Sunset at the Zoo series on Wednesday, Aug. 22.

Wednesday night, planners and more than a dozen members of the Metro Policy Advisory Committee were offered a unique perspective on the Southwest Corridor – an on-the-ground look at what leaders from Tigard, King City, Sherwood and Tualatin think their cities need.

More than 5.5 million trips were planned last year using TriMet’s tools. Thanks to new online trip planner, these tools just got better. Riders can now combine transit, biking, walking and car-sharing trips in a single itinerary.

Addressing a packed room at the Metro Regional Center, Manuel Pastor, nationally recognized economic and social equity expert, led a 90-minute conversation about what success as a more racially and ethnically diverse nation looks like and why its important to start the conversation at the regional level.

Get in touch with music in the outdoors this week with Rick Meyers' old time music at Oxbow Regional Park and a conversation at Cooper Mountain about jazz and your community. The best part is, most of the events are low-cost or free, and registration can be completed online. Follow the links below for more information.

Metro worked closely with partners and residents to develop the new, bilingual ¡Vámonos! maps that help residents discover safe, interesting walking and biking routes in Cornelius, Forest Grove and Hillsboro.

Beyond Oregon City and Carver, nestled among Christmas tree farms, Metro’s Clear Creek natural area serves as a 520-acre haven for wildlife. But, until last week, it lacked an entrance that would allow visitors to explore the landscape.