Portland's star has been on the rise for the last few years, and it's only continuing its upward trajectory.

A judge ruled Wednesday that a girl who was shot with a beanbag by police must spend a year on probation for hitting an officer during a scuffle.

And with the speed of superglue - hastened by the 5 p.m. candidate filing deadline - a whole section of Oregon politics for the months ahead is snapping into place.

What is it about Portland, Oregon?!? The place has not one, not two, but three artisanal pizza carts.

A 19-year-old man who thought he was shooting at a teen-age gang rival but ended up shooting the teen's mother in the neck, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday.

Time-tested classics such as "South Pacific" and "Mary Poppins" and more recent hits such as "In the Heights" and "Billy Elliot" -- Tony winners for best musical in 2008 and 2009 respectively -- highlight the 2010-11 Broadway Across America series.

At Whiskey Soda Lounge, in Portland's southeast corner, Asian surf rock blares and psychedelic orange lampshades cast a surreal glow, but it's the food that's most striking.