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Looking like punk gladiators, teams of young adults on junk bikes pulling chariots made of junk parts frenetically chased each other around a makeshift arena, slamming each other and swinging away with foam clubs. Spectators tossed beer cans, flour and smoke grenades. Firecrackers popped and obscenities flew during the battle, called the “Ben Hurt Chariot Wars.”

And then, toward sundown, the grown-ups arrived. Seven police cars pulled up and told all 400 or so people they had to leave because they were trespassing on railroad property. They complied. But the contest was over anyway.

A Portland couple has made headlines around the country after the story of their Valentine “role playing” started spreading like a flash across social media. The woman and her boyfriend were arrested after their ‘role playing’ led to several 9-1-1 calls and a police investigation.

At least nine police cars responded Tuesday to reports of a woman bound in duct tape and naked in a man’s car. Nikolas Alexander Harbar, 31, later told police that he and his girlfriend, 26-year-old Stephanie Morgan Pelzner, were doing some Valentine’s Day role-playing.

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office today reduced the disorderly-conduct charges to violations against the young Portland couple arrested on Valentine’s Day for so-called “role-playing’’ that had one witness concerned the female half was actually being abducted.

Stephanie Morgan Pelzner, 26, and her boyfriend, Nikolas Alexander Harber 31, entered guilty pleas to the violations and were ordered to complete 16 hours of community service, according to court records.

For the first time in its history, a woman has been named the chief of Portland Fire and Rescue. Commissioner Randy Leonard named Erin Janssens, the city’s current fire marshal, to the post Wednesday.

Janssens, a 24-year veteran of the bureau, will replace Chief John Klum when he retires in June. She downplayed the significance of her gender.

PORTLAND’S aluminium smelter has escaped the knife for now as international giant Alcoa yesterday announced it was considering curtailing its Point Henry operation near Geelong.

However, the company warned Portland operations would need to be managed carefully to remain viable. Alcoa’s Australian managing director Alan Cransberg said Point Henry had become unprofitable and production may be cut back in the face of continuing difficult global economic conditions.

The city of Portland agreed to pay a $1.2 million settlement in its civil rights lawsuit with the family of Aaron Campbell, the distressed man killed by Portland police gunfire in January of 2010. The settlement–to be paid out by the city’s insurance company–was agreed upon late Tuesday night, according to the City Attorney’s Office.

Campbell’s mother, Marva Davis, filed the wrongful death and excessive force suit in November of 2010 and said today in a statement that “troubling information” regarding the police bureau’s policies were uncovered by her attorneys.

The Golden State Warriors showed Wednesday why they can score with some of the best teams in the league. Point guard Stephen Curry had a game-high 32 points on 12 for 19 shooting as the Warriors beat the Trail Blazers 101-93 from Oracle Arena. The Blazers finish their back-to-back-to-back at 2-1 meanwhile Golden State snapped a three-game losing streak and got their first win against a Western Conference opponent.

Forward David Lee also put in 26 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Swingman Brandon Rush threw in 14 points off the bench.

Police shot at a man on the rooftop of a downtown Portland parking garage Wednesday after the man himself reportedly called 9-1-1, saying he had committed a robbery and planned to jump. More >

Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) officials are very pleased with Alaska Airlines’ announcement to begin new non-stop seasonal service to Portland (PDX), Oregon beginning June 4, 2012 and continuing through August 25, 2012. The daily two-hour flight will depart at 11:50am from Santa Barbara and fly non-stop to Portland using a 70-passenger Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet. The introductory fare will be $99 one-way.