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Bringing Leadership from PDX Next Christopher Neal Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced that after a highly competitive national recruitment and hiring process, she has selected Christopher Neal as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Multnomah County and Director of County Management. The Chair said she will ask the Board of County Commissioners to confirm her selection at their Thursday, March 13 regular Board meeting. As Chief Operating Officer, Neal will oversee the County’s daily operations, its more-than-6,000 employees, and guide and support the County’s senior leaders to ensure effective administration, financial management and operational consistency. He is also charged with the continued implementation of the Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and the ongoing development of the County’s strategic plan. The Multnomah County COO is held to a high standard for employee and community relations, and is responsible for ensuring an organization-wide commitment to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. The COO collaborates with internal and external partners and stakeholders to advance equity, diversity and inclusion as a shared value throughout the organization. Multnomah County recently implemented a strategic restructuring of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer to enhance leadership effectiveness. With the creation of three Deputy COO positions and a Director of Strategic Initiatives role, all of which report directly to the COO, the COO is poised to strengthen operational oversight. Neal comes to the County from the Port of Portland, where since 2020, he’s been the Director and Sponsor of Operations for PDX Next, a series of five projects to renovate Portland International Airport’s main terminal, expand the concourses and make the airport more earthquake resilient. The new main terminal that opened August 2024 was the largest public works project in the state and doubled the airport’s capacity. More than 30,000 local craftspeople are expected to contribute to PDX Next by the time the terminal is complete in 2026. Prior to PDX Next, Neal had been Director of Public Safety and Security at the Port of Portland since 2016, where he oversaw the Port of Portland police, fire and airport communications center. He first became a director at age 27, leading the Transportation Security Administration’s 850-person Colorado workforce before rising to TSA positions at Ronald Reagan Washington National, Dulles International and Portland International airports. “Chris Neal is a problem-solver whose breadth of operational experience and ability to inspire, collaborate, and motivate his colleagues and partners were obvious,” the Chair said.  The Chair reached her decision after months of work with Karras Consulting to recruit executive candidates with demonstrated success in strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, day-to-day administration, successful employee relations and cultural competence. Of 84 applicants, 52% self-identified as Black, Indigenous, or people of color. The pool was also broad: Although 41 applicants were from Oregon, 43 came from out of state (two of whom were international candidates). The selection process included a county employee engagement process to determine what qualities were essential in a COO. More than 90 people participated in the selection process, including equity managers, Employee Resource Group members and each County Commissioner. During one part of the evaluation process, Neal revealed he had watched dozens of presentations to the Board of County Commissioners given by the people he will be leading. “These last five years have been rough for the County, but I want people to know I recognize the work you are doing,” he told department directors and other managers during the interview process, “I see and acknowledge you and your work and the opportunity we have to serve this community.” Neal said he became interested in Multnomah County after realizing how much of its mission and values were shared by the Port of Portland and their efforts to promote health and safety, provide equal opportunity, and build a strong community. The son of parents who both served in the U.S. Navy, Neal grew up on military bases in Puerto Rico, Japan and Germany, and the East Coast. After graduating high school just south of Atlanta, he enlisted in the U.S. Army before his 18th birthday — his parents cosigned on his enlistment. In the Army, he was assigned to serve on the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. in the high-profile precision unit escorting President George W. Bush at the White House.  After six years in the Army, Neal worked for U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, D-Florida, and earned a Bachelor of Science in international and government relations at George Mason University. At the Port, Neal oversaw rigorous budget assessments, quality control and consistent value engineering on the PDX Next project; improved hiring practices and broadened recruitment and retention in public safety; and moved security and communications agencies under one roof to improve response times in emergencies and relationships between workgroups. Neal replaces Deputy Chief Operating Officer Travis Graves, who stepped in as Interim COO in September 2024.

Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Commissioner Julia Brim-Edward’s, Latoya West President of Straightway Services/ Site Manager, Mayor Keith Wilson, and Pastor Dwight Minnieweather Executive Director of Straightaway Services Living up to the motto for his Straightway Services Homeless Outreach, “Where failure is not an option,” Pastor Dwight Minnieweather this week announced the much-awaited opening of The Light Community, a wrap-around service park for homeless people living in their cars.   Straightway Services, founded by Minnieweather, has focused for more than 22 years on programs serving youth, workforce development and homeless services. The nonprofit was selected by Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services to manage the park in the Montavilla Neighborhood at 333 SE 82nd Ave.   The site will be fenced and will include sleeping pods (tiny homes) for sleeping, parking spaces, separate buildings for showers and restrooms, laundry, kitchenette and on-site housing services from the county and several nonprofits.   Among them are Rentwell Services which provides a day course where participants can learn about credit, dealing with a landlords and receive a voucher to access housing specialists and how to access a stable income. Easterseals Oregon will provide help with finding jobs for those who are 55 and older.   “We will also have wrap-around services for the participants that include cooking, healthy eating classes and differing activities throughout the week, including movie night on a big screen,” Minnieweather said.   Plans call for the site to open on March 13, Minnieweather said. “We have 29 pods and just started the referral process and right now have 17 individuals (approved). Referrals have come from Rahab’s Sisters, PDX Saints Love Day Shelter and Straightway Services Homeless Outreach.   The site has space for 29 pods, or tiny houses, and 29 parking spaces, including eight parking spaces that will be wheelchair accessible. Half the restrooms will feature roll-in showers, and all facilities will have ramps and landings.   The facility will include also include office space for security personnel, one-on-one counseling, site manager and secretary, and another space where community participants can meet with a community health worker to address a variety of issues, such as documentation, “Things they need to catch up,” said Minnieweather, which can include birth certificates, Social Security and food stamp cards.   People with substance abuse disorders will also receive support from Straightway Services, which has a proven track record in helping community members overcome substance abuse.   “It means the world to us to operate this shelter and support an alternative way of helping people who sleep in their vehicles,” he said.   Neighborhood businesses and residents are often hesitant about a new shelter in their neighborhood, but many support them once they are operational.   On March 12 of last year, about 30 community members attended an event supporting the shelter, hosted by Saints Peter & Paul Episcopal Church, which is located near the safe park site.   Rev. Sara Fischer, who leads the church, said she heard from many people who want to support their unhoused neighbors.   “I think having a place where unhoused Montavilla neighbors can park free from anxiety about whether they or their vehicles are in danger helps the whole community,” she said.   “It creates a space where residents can receive needed services that can help them navigate through the health care system and ideally continue on the path toward permanent housing. As with all of us, that path is going to look different for every person, but having a safe, supportive place to park is an important first step.”   Former state Senator Diane Rosenbaum, who formerly represented the Montavilla neighborhood as a county commissioner, also spoke at the community event.   “Quality shelter can provide dignity, safety and a pathway into housing and it can be an asset to its neighborhood,” she said. “I’m energized by the compassion, welcoming and thoughtful engagement of many neighbors I’ve met.”   The Joint Office of Homeless Services is a partnership between the county and the city of Portland. Those with questions about the proposed park can call 503-988-2525.

2-year-old boy last seen playing in a yard This photo provided by the Lincoln County, Ore., Sheriff’s Office shows Dane Paulsen, a missing 2-year-old boy last seen playing in a yard. (Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office via AP) (AP) — Authorities in Oregon were searching Sunday for a missing 2-year-old boy last seen playing in a yard the day before. Dane Paulsen was reported missing around 4:25 p.m. Saturday, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said. Members of the sheriff’s office and fire and police agencies searched the property and surrounding areas on foot and with drones with thermal imaging equipment Saturday, the sheriff’s office said in a statement on social media. On Sunday, search and rescue teams were conducting methodical searches of an area north of the small city of Siletz, near the Siletz River, using drones, dogs and watercraft, the sheriff’s office said. Volunteers who wanted to help were urged to stay out of the main search area. A late 1990s gold station wagon that was seen near the home where Dane was last known to be is considered a “vehicle of interest” in the investigation, the sheriff’s office said. However, Sheriff Adam Shanks told KATU-TV that there is no evidence that the vehicle was directly involved in Dane’s disappearance. Community members interested in helping with search efforts can continue to report to the staging area during daylight hours. Community staging area: Elks Toketee Illahee campground, 20590 Siletz Hwy, Siletz, Oregon 97380. Additional updates will be shared via FlashAlert and social media as they become available.

Sustainable beds for families Community Warehouse Staff Aaron with Oregon Natural Fiber Mill Mattresses (Photo Courtesy of Community Warehouse) Oregon Natural Fiber Mill and Community Warehouse are excited to announce their new partnership, dedicated to providing high-quality, sustainably crafted beds to individuals and families transitioning out of housing instability. As part of this collaboration, Oregon Natural Fiber Mill will produce beds at their SW Portland facility using US-sourced wool and organic cotton, reinforcing both organizations’ shared commitment to sustainability and care. Community Warehouse, a trusted resource, furnishing homes in the Portland area for over two decades, will distribute the beds through its furniture bank program, ensuring they reach those who need them most. Community Warehouse   is the Portland area’s local furniture bank, helping families and individuals turn empty spaces into cozy homes for over 23 years. By partnering with over 200 local agencies, Community Warehouse supports neighbors overcoming homelessness, domestic violence, forced displacement, and other adversity by providing essential furniture and household items, helping them build stronger, brighter futures. OnFM Mattress Arrival (Photo Courtesy of Community Warehouse) This work is made possible by the generosity of everyday people through donations of gently-used mattresses, dressers, sofas, linens, dishware, microwaves, lamps, and more. Donating is simple—drop off your items at one of three convenient locations in NE Portland, Gresham, or Tigard. Home pickups can also be scheduled online for a subsidized fee of $50. The Estate Store, located in the same building as Community Warehouse’s NE Portland furniture bank, offers a unique selection of vintage, antique, and contemporary furniture for the public to shop. Every purchase from the store directly supports Community Warehouse’s mission to furnish homes for neighbors seeking the comfort and dignity of a furnished home. “We’re thrilled to partner with Oregon Natural Fiber Mill on this local, sustainable effort to provide mattresses to our neighbors. For many of the families we serve, a mattress is one of the most important items we provide—it means no longer sleeping on the floor after weeks or even months without a bed. Everyone deserves the comfort and dignity of a good night’s sleep, and this partnership helps us ensure more neighbors can rest well and wake up ready to thrive." -Anna Kurnizki, Executive Director at Community Warehouse. Oregon Natural Fiber Mill (OnFM) is a zero-waste bedding and home goods manufacturer located in NW Portland. Originally founded over 40 years ago, the mill was revitalized and rebranded in 2024 by Britt Howard, owner of Portland Garment Factory. OnFM transforms raw, US sourced organic cotton and wool using turn-of-the-19th-century garnet machines, creating luxurious, eco-friendly stuffing for springless mattresses, cushions, comforters, and more. Each product is handcrafted at the facility and available for direct, wholesale, white label, and custom orders. In addition to its traditional manufacturing services, OnFM introduced “Puffy Stuff,” a playful in-house designed line of colorful home goods now available at oregonfibermill.com . Following in the footsteps of Portland Garment Factory, OnFM remains committed to pushing the boundaries of responsible textile product production and zero waste manufacturing, offering a sustainable and healthy alternative to your soft environment. "At Oregon Natural Fiber Mill, we believe that everyone should have a safe and cozy place to sleep. Partnering with Community Warehouse is an opportunity to make a positive impact on our community by supplying all natural sleep products designed and made right here in Portland." -Britt Howard, Owner of Oregon Natural Fiber Mill.

Esmeralda Advances to State Competition for a Chance at a $10,000 Scholarship Pictured left to right: Esmeralda's mother, Esmeralda, Yesenia Martinez-Beltran (BGCSW mentor and Outreach Coordinator), and Francisco Bueno (BGCSW Executive Director) with laptop donated by the Young Professionals Network Employee Resource group at Comcast. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington (BGCSW) is proud to announce Esmeralda as the 2025 Youth of the Year, the organization's highest honor recognizing outstanding leadership, service, and academic achievement. Esmeralda will now advance to the Washington State Youth of the Year competition, where she has the opportunity to earn a $10,000 scholarship. If selected as the state winner, she will move on to the regional competition, with hopes of ultimately competing for the prestigious National Youth of the Year title and a $50,000 scholarship. Driven by a passion for advocacy and representation, Esmeralda is determined to uplift and empower others. "The impact I aim to make is to help other women of color see themselves in positions we are not typically represented in. I aspire to challenge the stereotypes that are often imposed on us, demonstrating that they do not define or limit our potential," she shared. BGCSW also recognizes the exceptional efforts of Avalon, Emily, Francisco, and Yorleni, who were nominated for their outstanding contributions to their Clubs and communities. Their commitment to service and leadership exemplifies the core values of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington.

Honored for pioneering entertainment This combination of photos show members of the Wayans family, top row from left, Damon Sr., Damon Jr., Kim, Keenan Ivory, Marlon and Shawn. (AP Photo) (AP) - The Wayans family, renowned for their pioneering contributions to film, TV, sketch, and stand-up comedy, was honored at this year’s NAACP Image Awards. Inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, the family has not only entertained audiences but also created countless jobs both on and off camera in Hollywood, shaping the industry for decades. Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. each were recognized. Marlon Wayans, whose guest appearance on Peacock’s “Bel-Air” was up for an NAACP award, shared how Keenen Ivory Wayans sparked the family’s rise. “He raised us all like Jedis,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our big brother.” Marlon Wayans joked that when his brother told their mom he was leaving college for comedy, she said, ”Boy, I’ve known you your whole life, and you ain’t never said nothing funny. That’s the funniest thing you’ve said.” The crowd erupted in laughter, a fitting tribute to a family that has kept audiences laughing for more than three decades. The family has a long list of credits. Keenen Ivory Wayans created the sketch comedy series “In Living Color” in 1990 and directed the 2000 slasher spoof “Scary Movie,” which was written by Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans, who also wrote and starred in “White Chicks” in 2004. Damon Wayan’s had a starring role in the 1995 comedy “Major Payne,” and currently co-stars with son Damon Wayans Jr. in the CBS sitcom “Poppa’s House,” which was nominated for an NAACP Award. The pair also were nominated for their acting on the show. Damon Wayans Jr. has acted in two of the most critically acclaimed comedies in recent years: “Happy Endings” and “New Girl.” Kim Wayans, a comedian, actor and director, also received praise for her work in the 2011 drama “Pariah.” The NAACP Image Awards honors people of color who are standouts in acting, music and writing. The first NAACP Awards’ Hall of Fame inductee was Lena Horne in 1983. Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee have also received the honor.

Remembering an R&B pioneer Angie Stone poses as she walks down the red carpet during the 2009 Soul Train Awards taping at the Georgia World Congress Center, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith, File)  (AP) - Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone, a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence and known for the hit song “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” was killed early Saturday in a car crash. She was 63. About 4 a.m., the vehicle she was riding in back to Atlanta from Alabama “flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig,” music producer and Stone’s longtime manager Walter Millsap III told The Associated Press in an email. Everyone else in the cargo van survived except Stone, he said. The Alabama Highway Patrol said in a news release that the 2021 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van turned over on Interstate 65 about 4:25 a.m. Saturday before being hit by a 2021 Freightliner Cascadia truck driven by a 33-year-old man from Texas. Angie Stone was pronounced dead at the scene, the highway patrol said. The crash was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of the Montgomery city limits. The Sprinter driver and seven others in the van were taken to Baptist Medical Center for treatment. Officials continue to investigate the cause. Millsap said he learned the news from Angie Stone’s daughter, Diamond, and longtime The Sequence member Blondy. “Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news,” Angie Stone’s children, Diamond and Michael Archer, said in a statement shared by the SRG Group. “We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken.” Millsap added: “We are truly devastated by this unexpected and unfortunate tragedy and there are simply no words to express how we feel.” Stone was scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s Championship basketball game on Saturday. CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber called for a moment of silence at the game. CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker said they were heartbroken by the loss. “She used her incredible talent, passion, and presence to inspire and touch us with strength and hope,” Parker said. The singer-songwriter created hits like “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” which reached No. 1 for 10 weeks on Billboard’s Adult R&B airplay chart, “Baby” with legendary soul singer Betty Wright, another No. 1 hit, and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Brotha.” Stone found a sweet spot in the early 2000s as neo-soul begin to dominate the R&B landscape with the emergence of singers like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo. Her 2001 album “Mahagony Soul” reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200, while 2007’s “The Art of Love & War” peaked at No. 11. The church-grown singer was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She helped form The Sequence, the first all-female group on the hip-hop trailblazing imprint Sugar Hill Records, becoming one of the first female groups to record a rap song. The group recorded “Funk You Up,” which has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre. After finding success in the early 1980s, Stone later joined the trio Vertical Hold before launching her solo career. Music had been a part of her life since she was a child, with her mother singing around the house and her father singing gospel and blues at spots around town, Stone told the AP in 1999 interview. ″I’m an only child, so my dad and my mom are my life, and when I was I kid I’d look up to my dad,″ she told the AP. ″He was very influential in what I wanted to do.” Years later, after being hospitalized for congestive heart failure, she changed her life, dropped more than 40 pounds and started eating better, she told the AP. At the time, she said she was just happy to be alive and making music. “I feel complete. I have a new love, a new album, a new outlook and a newfound joy. A few years ago, I was unhappy, depressed, not happy with the label’s efforts to market me. I had to still manage to uplift my audience,” she told the AP in 2007. “Now I feel like I’m on my way to a happily ever after. I’ve been in the business since 1979. I’ve grudged and drudged. ... Now I can finally say I feel I’ve arrived and mean it.” A Soul Train Lady of Soul winner, Stone went on to showcase her acting chops with film roles in “The Hot Chick” starring Rob Schneider, “The Fighting Temptations” which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé, and “Ride Along” led by Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. She also hit the Broadway stage as Big Mama Morton in “Chicago,” and she showcased her vulnerability on the reality TV shows “Celebrity Fit Club” and “R&B Divas: Atlanta.”

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Celebrating the Flavors of African, African-American, and Caribbean Cuisine From left: Derek Robinson (managing partner), Falayn Ferrell (managing partner) and Warren Luckett (founder) Black Restaurant Week – Portland joins this year’s nationwide tour, and the palate-pleasing showcase begins on Friday, 2/21 and lasts until Sunday, 3/2 for its fourth year in the market.  BRW wants residents and tourists to FOLLOW THEIR FORK. The 2025 campaign is focused on restimulating local economies within the Black community by promoting Black-owned culinary businesses and professionals who cannot afford costly marketing campaigns. Since 2016, the organization has supported more than 5,000 restauranteurs, bartenders, chefs, caterers, and food trucks across the United States.   Founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett (based in Atlanta) and managed by partners Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson (based in Houston),  Black Restaurant Week LLC  is responsible for celebrating the flavors of African American, African and Caribbean cuisine with a series of regional cultural weeks per market. To date, Black Restaurant Week has expanded to more than 15 markets including Toronto.   Most businesses cannot afford marketing/PR/advertising campaigns; thus, Black Restaurant Week, LLC. was developed to shine a light on minority-owned businesses – aiding them in building community awareness to increase their bottom line at a fraction of traditional PR/marketing and advertising/social media campaign retainer fees, which can cost as much as a few thousands of dollars per month. The mission is to feed and fuel the cultural famine – especially with an emphasis on reviving and saving the black restaurant industry – and educate consumers on the abundance of cultural cuisines and dispel ethnic untruths.   The systemic barriers faced by Black-owned restaurants, such as disproportionate access to business loans, demonstrates the importance of Black Restaurant Week LLC. These disparities grew with the COVID-19 pandemic; 41% of Black-owned businesses have shuttered since February compared to 17% of white-owned businesses (University of California, Santa Cruz, 2020). “Since 2016, we aspired to set ourselves apart from similar organizations. BRW is solely guided by business owners and operators. They are in the trenches every day and experience the ebbs and flows of running a business during one of the most difficult periods in US history – the current state of inflation,” states Falayn Ferrell, Black Restaurant Week, LLC’s Operations Managing Partner.    According to the Independent Restaurant Coalition, 500,000 restaurants and bars are faced with an uncertain future due to lost revenue and increased debt over the past four years.  Additionally, 1.1 million minority-owned businesses often face heightened challenges and disparities when securing business funding. The shocking statistics championed Black Restaurant Week to continue its efforts.   “Employee turnover is high, the price of food is soaring. From being overlooked for revitalization funds to inflation, most Black-owned culinary businesses cannot afford advertisements/PR/marketing to build awareness and attract consumers. That’s why we proudly do this at a fraction of the cost – it’s peer-to-peer support for 10 or 14 days (depending on the market) within each market and for the past 10 years.” shares Warren Luckett, Black Restaurant Week, LLC’s founder.    For more information about Black Restaurant Week, its events, and participating restaurants, please visit:  blackrestaurantweeks.com   .

Turning Passion into Purpose Melody Brown With the uncertainty surrounding the outset of the pandemic, Melody Brown decided that liking her customer service job at the airlines wasn’t enough. “I felt like I should do what I was called to do,” said Brown, of Portland. “Hair was always a passion of mine.” In 2021, she opened L&M Hair Company, a hair salon that specializes in services for textured hair, including extensions, braids, dreads, wigs, weaves and more. “I always focused on braids. That was what I first learned to do,” she said. “Extensions came in high school. That is really where my passion lies.” Brown’s interest in hairstyling began as a child. Growing up, she was one of 8 kids, and learning how to do her hair was a necessity. “My mom always used to do our hair in styles that I absolutely hated,” she recalled. “I kind of got teased about my hair. I wanted to do it myself so I could look and feel pretty.” Brown and her staff of 20 stylists are collectively making their customers look their best. So much so, that by 2023 she opened a second location. L&M now operates salons in northeast and southeast Portland. “L&M filled a huge gap that Portland was lacking. You could find multiple salons on any block that do straight hair,” Brown said. “But not many shops that do curly or textured hair. It blew up because now people had a place to go.” In an effort to expand education for textured hair to a worldwide stage, Brown competed in SCORE’s 60th Anniversary Pitch Competition. SCORE is a national nonprofit organization that supports small businesses through free mentoring. More than 2,200 small businesses applied to compete in five pitch events. Contestants were pared down to 60 contenders who presented their pitch live before panels of judges. Participants were matched with SCORE mentors to refine their pitches, strengthen their presentations, and hone their business plans. Brown was one of 45 finalists. Leading up to the competition she teamed with SCORE mentor Lynda Martin-Lawley of the Los Angeles chapter. “I did get some pointers from her,” Brown said. “She was super nice and super helpful.” Brown’s future plans include launching a digital learning platform to teach hairstylists various techniques, specifically those for people of color. She also plans to create scholarships for students at her 2-year-old hair academy, which teaches cosmetologists how to properly wash textured hair, as well as instructions on how to braid, create locs and more. “That’s the one thing that’s missing,” Brown said of education related to textured hair at traditional cosmetology schools. The digital learning platform is in the works, Brown said. Martin-Lawley championed Brown’s commitment to education and her “positive influence on her world.” “She was really on a mission to educate and offer services to not only change, but also educate the hair world in how to style and have this as part of their comprehensive tools,” Martin-Lawley said of Brown. To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit  score.org .

Prices Expected to Keep Rising A sign is mounted on a shelve of eggs at a grocery store in Chicago, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (AP)  - Egg prices hit a record high as the U.S. contends with an ongoing bird flu outbreak, but consumers didn’t need government figures released Wednesday to tell them eggs are terribly expensive and hard to find at times. The latest monthly consumer price index showed that the average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in U.S. cities reached $4.95 in January, eclipsing the previous record of $4.82 set two years earlier and more than double the low of $2.04 that was recorded in August 2023. The spike in egg prices was the biggest since the nation’s last bird flu outbreak in 2015 and accounted for roughly two-thirds of the total increase in food costs last month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of course, that is only the nationwide average. A carton of eggs can cost $10 or more in some places. And specialized varieties, such as organic and cage-free eggs, are even more expensive. “We do use eggs a little less often now. You know, because of the price,” said Jon Florey as he surveyed his options in the egg case at Encinal Market in Alameda, California. “I was going to make a quiche that I like to make and it’s about six eggs, so I figured I’d do something else.” Relief is not expected any time soon. Egg prices typically spike around Easter due to high holiday demand. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted last month that egg prices were likely to go up 20% this year. Even if shoppers can afford eggs, they may have difficulty finding them at times. Some grocers are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked, and customers are encountering surcharges and limits on how many cartons they can buy at a time. The main reason that eggs are more expensive is the bird flu outbreak. When the virus is found on a farm, the entire flock is killed to limit the spread of disease. Because massive egg farms may have millions of birds, just one outbreak may put a dent in the egg supply. Nearly 158 million birds have been slaughtered overall since the outbreak began. The Agriculture Department says more than 23 million birds were slaughtered last month and more than 18 million were killed in December to limit the spread of the bird flu virus. Those numbers include turkeys and chickens raised for meat, but the vast majority of them were egg-laying chickens. And when there is an outbreak on a farm, it often takes several months to dispose of the carcasses, sanitize the barns and raise new birds until they are old enough to start producing eggs, so the effects linger. Bird flu cases often spike in the spring and fall when wild birds are migrating because they are the main source of the virus, but cases can pop up any time of year. The virus has also spread to cattle and other species, and dozens of people — mostly farmworkers taking care of ill animals — have been sickened. But health officials say the threat to human health remains low and eggs and poultry are safe to eat because sick animals aren’t allowed into the food supply. Plus, properly cooking meat and eggs to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit kills any virus, and pasteurization neutralizes bird flu in milk. Egg farmers also face higher feed, fuel and labor costs these days because of inflation. Plus, farmers are investing more in biosecurity measures to try to protect their birds. Ten states have passed laws allowing the sale of eggs only from cage-free environments. The supply of those eggs is tighter and focused in certain regions, so the effect on prices can be magnified when outbreaks hit cage-free egg farms. Many of the egg farms with recent outbreaks were cage-free farms in California. Cage-free egg laws have already gone into effect in California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Michigan. Total demand for eggs is also up significantly in recent years. Consumers are buying more eggs, and the growth of all-day breakfast restaurants is adding to demand. CoBank analyst Brian Earnest said the current cost of eggs could discourage some buying, which would ease the demand pressure but might not have a noticeable effect. It will likely take months for egg producers to fill the gaps in supply. “As consumers continue to stock up on eggs, supplies at the store level will remain tight, and with Easter right around the corner, that could prolong the tighter supplies,” Earnest said. While prices remain elevated, producers of baked goods and other food items that rely on eggs as a main ingredient will have to decide how much to increase prices or reduce production, he said.