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Oregon News
POLITICS
‘That Should Cause People to Pause’: Why Trump Might Lose the Legal Fight on Tariffs
Politico | By Joseph J. Schatz
Dan Rayfield, Oregon’s rookie attorney general, says he didn’t want to spend his first months in office fighting presidential edicts in court. But along with the consumer protection and law-and-order duties that more typically define his role, the Democrat is now a key combatant in Donald Trump’s trade war, leading a 12-state lawsuit challenging the president’s sweeping tariff regime.
Rayfield, 46, is among the newest in a band of Democratic state attorneys general that’s been strikingly coordinated in challenging and stalling Trump’s avalanche of executive orders slashing federal spending, restricting birthright citizenship, gutting diversity and inclusion programs and much more since Jan. 20.
The looming impact of the tariffs in his trade-dependent Pacific Northwest state made taking the lead on the lawsuit an easy call, says Rayfield, who served as speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives before winning the AG post in November.
Rayfield talked about his confidence in the merits of his case, how labor unions are supporting his push against the Trump tariffs and his disappointment that big companies aren’t speaking out more publicly about the tariffs — even if they’re opposed to them behind closed doors.
Opinion: State transportation package paves way for Portland
The Portland Tribune | Councilor Olivia Clark
If you drive, walk, bike, or take transit, you know we need street and sidewalk improvements. Years of deferred maintenance and rising costs have eroded our system.
You also know that Oregon’s transportation infrastructure is the foundation of our economy, emergency services, neighborhood safety and daily life. This holds even more true for Portland, the state’s largest population center and economic engine. Portland’s deferred maintenance has ballooned to more than $6 billion. Our streets, bridges, streetlights and traffic signals are deteriorating and urgently need repair and replacement.
Our elected leaders in Salem are considering legislation to meaningfully address these issues. The Oregon Transportation Reinvestment Package (TRIP-2025) is focused on the basics at the local and state levels. The goal is to enhance safety, modernize infrastructure and move us toward a stronger, more resilient transportation system. About half of the increased revenue generated by this legislation will go directly to cities and counties for critical local operations and maintenance. That means Oregonians will see a return on investment in the form of improved local roads and services. But this isn’t just about fixing roads — it’s about fixing traffic lights and intersections, improving deteriorated roads and sidewalks, and making our system safer to use.’
'We need these measures': Latest gun safety bill debated in Oregon Senate
KOIN | By Ariel Salk
Multiple debates took place at an Oregon State Senate committee Monday as the legislature heard what people have to say on a bill that would toughen up gun laws in Oregon.
Senate Bill 234 is moving through the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. If passed, it would give local governments the authority to decide rules surrounding firearms in public buildings like city halls.
The bill also bans devices such as bump stocks that would make a semi-automatic rifle shoot more rapidly. On Monday, the public spoke to a senate committee, who voiced mixed opinions.
How an Oregon construction company makes space for workers’ mental health
Oregon Live | By Deborah Bloom
In the years since, Vincent, 55, has used the Moment Room often as a space to calm himself while working on the Oregon state Capitol renovation project in Salem. The room, housed in a single-wide trailer, has sound-resistant walls and two red leather chairs flanking a side table with a dimly lit lamp. It is the only space on the 250-person site where someone can be alone — a rarity in the construction industry, where workers are normally forced to seek privacy in their cars.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the construction industry has a disproportionate rate of drug overdose deaths and one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Hoffman Construction Vice President Dave Garske is keenly aware of this reality: He lost his brother, Greg, to suicide in January 2022. Greg, a superintendent with more than 28 years in the industry, was one of three Hoffman Construction employees who died by suicide that year.
Bill would prevent landlords from evicting low-income and pregnant Oregonians who fail to pay rent
Oregon Live | By Aimee Green
A bill that would prohibit landlords from evicting many low-income and pregnant Oregonians and offer rental assistance through the first year of their baby’s life is up for consideration in the Oregon Legislature. The bill also would offer a year of rental assistance to expectant residents or new parents at risk of becoming homeless.
Many of Senate Bill 690’s details have yet to be worked out — including the number of people who would benefit and who precisely would be obligated to foot the bill. Democratic Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a pediatrician and chief backer of the bill, asked rental property owners to be patient as she works with government agencies to work out funding streams.
Low $500 fine rejected for top OLCC manager embroiled in Pappy Van Winkle scandal
Oregon Live | By Noelle Crombie
The state ethics commission rejected a proposed $500 settlement with the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission over his role in diverting sought-after bourbon.
At the same time, an investigation into yet another liquor agency manager revealed new details about the scheme, which included sending extra bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon to a Milwaukie liquor store as a “reward” of sorts for helping get bottles of scarce bourbon into the hands of OLCC employees.
Oregon governor testifies for controversial bill focusing on foster kids
OPB | By Lauren Dake
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek threw her weight behind a controversial bill that would allow the state to send children in foster care to facilities in other states and change the definitions around restraints and seclusions.
The measure, House Bill 3835, is wide-ranging and 100 pages. Proponents believe it will help the state’s most vulnerable children receive mental health services and quality places to live. But advocates and others involved with the measure — including both the House and Senate chairs of the Human Services committees — oppose the measure. Opponents have said the policy changes will ultimately offer fewer protections and could mean more children are harmed.
Republican lawmaker wants Oregonians to have more time to fight media errors
OPB | By Bryce Dole
A Republican state lawmaker is sponsoring a bill that would give people more time to demand corrections or retractions from news outlets in Oregon.
The bill has drawn the ire of many Oregon news leaders who say it could chill accountability journalism, allowing powerful people more time to craft legal strategies to silence critical press coverage. Supporters say it provides greater protections for Oregonians who believe they have been defamed by inaccurate journalism.
House Bill 3564 sailed through the Oregon House of Representative on a unanimous vote in April. It’s currently in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Rep. Darin Harbick, R-Oakridge, proposed the bill after the Eugene Weekly reported in July that his son, Tyler Harbick, shared images and walked alongside rioters during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The lawmaker was running for office when the weekly published the story.
Childcare providers, parents call on Oregon Legislature to support subsidy program
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
But Mendoza, alongside many other Oregon child care providers, is bracing for the possibility of shutting down her business. With federal programs like Head Start facing potential cuts, child care providers like herself and low-income families are increasingly dependent on state support — particularly the Employment Related Day Care program.
Sen. Courtney Neron Misslin, D-Wilsonville, spoke in favor of the legislation. The educator and mother said she understands the struggles her constituents face trying to find child care.
Portland leaders take ‘first step’ toward tackling city’s crumbling infrastructure
Oregon Live | By Shane Dixon Kavanaugh
Portland leaders Monday advanced a proposal they hope could eventually turn the tide on the city’s ongoing neglect of roads, parks, sewers and other municipal resources.
Members of the City Council’s transportation and infrastructure committee unanimously approved a resolution that directs top bureaucratic officials to develop a citywide asset management strategy and a plan to pay for billions of dollars in needed repairs.
Decades of deferred maintenance and neglect of swimming pools, sidewalks, playgrounds and other assets has sent upkeep costs skyrocketing, city auditors found. In 2019, the city needed about $475 million a year to keep existing infrastructure in a state good repair. That figure ballooned to nearly $1.4 billion by 2023.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
How feds traced alleged drug ring leader to Oregon in largest US fentanyl bust
Oregon Live | By Maxine Bernstein
Through secret wiretaps, electronic surveillance and arrests of alleged couriers, federal agents traced a man to Oregon and identified him as the leader of a multi-state drug trafficking ring with direct ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, records show.
The monthslong investigation led to the single biggest seizure of fentanyl in the United States, the nation’s top law enforcement officials said.
They coordinated raids in five states on April 28 and arrested 16 people, including Salazar Amaya, a Mexican national who had been in Salem for a short time and moved around various states to avoid detection, prosecutors said.
Portland's 18th Street Gang leader sentenced to 12 years for drug trafficking
KOIN | By Andrew Foran
A Portland gang leader was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday for local drug trafficking and possessing a weapon in federal prison.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Noah Herrera, a known leader in Portland’s 18th Street Gang, was sentenced to 144 months and five years of supervised release.
Oregon emergency homeless shelter will suspend operations, reduce staff by 80%
Tribune News Service
Corvallis nonprofit Unity Shelter, which serves the homeless community in Benton County, will be suspending operations of its shelter programs and reducing its staff by 80% as a result of funding uncertainty.
Services provided at the Hygiene Center and Unity’s SafePlace program that houses individuals in microshelters will continue. The nonprofit is exploring other ways to continue offering limited shelter with a largely volunteer staff.
This has subsequently cast doubt on continued state funding for Unity Shelter, which it relies on for about 90% of its operational budget. The state budget for the next biennium will not be complete until the state Legislature adjourns in mid-June, and even if state funding for Unity Shelter is approved, it probably won’t be accessible to the nonprofit until much later in the year, the statement continues.
Declining vaccination rates put Oregonians 'at risk' of measles outbreak
KOIN | By Joelle Jones
As cases of measles rise nationwide and Oregon vaccination rates drop; local and state health officials warn the highly infectious disease could make a comeback.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1,000 cases of measles have been reported across 31 jurisdictions this year. Several outbreaks have claimed the lives of at least three people, two of them children and all of them unvaccinated.
So far, Oregon has not reported any known cases of the airborne disease. However, the state is lagging behind on vaccination rates, especially among school-aged kids.
Oregon DMV launches online service for reporting vehicle collisions
KATU
Oregon drivers now have a more convenient way to report vehicle collisions to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The DMV has introduced an online service that allows drivers to file collision reports from their computers or smartphones, eliminating the need to visit a DMV office or mail in a report.
Federal judge orders visas restored for Oregon students who sued Trump administration
OPB | By Troy Brynelson
A pair of Oregon college students suing the Trump administration for revoking their legal statuses will be allowed to stay in the country at least until their cases conclude.
On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane ordered immigration authorities to restore their statuses and give the students a 15-day notice before changing their visas in the future. The students are a doctoral student at Oregon State University and a master’s student at the University of Oregon.
ECONOMY
Commentary: More Oregonians are working multiple jobs, showing need for a stronger tax credit for workers
Portland Tribune | Opinion By Tyler Mac Innis, Policy Analyst at the Oregon Center for Public Policy
That’s why one of the best investments the Oregon legislature can make this session is to renew and expand the tax credit for working families, the Oregon Earned Income Tax Credit. It would give a boost to Ashley and hundreds of thousands of other hardworking families struggling to make ends meet. “In 2024, 127,000 Oregonians held more than one job in addition to their primary job,” according to a recent report by the Oregon Employment Department. Six percent of Oregon workers worked multiple jobs last year. Even for many getting by on a single job, Ashley’s story should feel familiar. The cost of affording basic needs continues to rise. Compared to other states, Oregonians spend the 8th most on groceries, according to a recent LendingTree report. Electric bills have soared in recent years, as much as 56 percent since 2021. And of course, the cost of housing is ever rising. A minimum wage worker in Oregon would need to work 74 hours a week just to afford a one-bedroom apartment, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
House Bill 2958 would make much-needed improvements to Oregon’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Nearly half of all Oregon families struggling to make ends meet
Fox 12 News | By Makenna Marks
According to a new study published by United Way and United ALICE, 42% of all Oregon households are struggling to afford the basics, like housing, groceries or childcare.
According to the report, that 42% includes over 737,000 families and the financial disparities are disproportionately impacting communities of color and residents in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, and Clark counties.
Nearly half of Oregon’s 36 counties had 40% or more households unable to make ends meet in 2023, according to the report. Other Portlanders said even when you do have enough money to pay for the essentials, maintaining a social life is another expense many people just can’t afford.
Portland Trail Blazers up for sale as Paul Allen estate begins formal sales process
KATU
The Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise is up for sale, the Paul Allen estate announced on Tuesday.
In a social media post, the estate for Paul G. Allen said it has started a formal sales process, which they say was part of the Microsoft co-founder’s wishes of selling his sports holdings and donating the proceeds to philanthropic efforts.
Port of Portland reacts to tariff changes – Think Out Loud
OPB | By Sage Van Wing
On Monday, the U.S. and China agreed to suspend increased tariffs for 90 days while negotiations continue. Prior to that announcement, the Port of Portland had projected exports and imports to be down 30% in May. We hear from Curtis Robinhold, the executive director of the Port of Portland, and from Tim McCarthy, the chief operating officer of Harbor Industrial, a maritime services company at the Port’s container terminal.
HOUSING
Oregon housing bill 'strips away the rights of poor families'
KOIN | By Elise Haas
It’s long been a goal of Oregon’s elected leaders to increase home construction as a way to mitigate the homeless problem and get others into affordable home ownership. The current Oregon legislature is debating House Bill 3746, which would shorten the window to sue developers for construction defects from 10 years to 7 years.
Supporters of HB 3746 include developers, insurers, realtors and Habitat for Humanity, claiming it would help boost affordable housing. Critics, though warn it could leave vulnerable homeowners paying the price.
“I thought you might be interested to know what a developer does when they’re shielded from accountability,” Sutton told the lawmakers. “Habitat builds homes exclusively for low-income families like ours, mostly BIPOC, immigrants and refugees. It’s a noble mission, but it guarantees that the people they hurt are the least likely to be able to do anything about it. People so desperate for a house, we signed contracts agreeing not to sue them for anything, even fraud.”
Oregon isn’t unusual. Vial said 28 states, including Oregon, agree that developers and their insurers should have some liability exposure for damages caused by shoddy construction for at least 10 years.
EDUCATION
Trump’s Education Department wants states to label more schools ‘persistently dangerous.’ Oregon hasn’t – and probably won’t
Oregon Live | By Julia Silverman
The U.S. Department of Education wants states to label more public schools “persistently dangerous.”
That’s because a little-used provision of federal education law known as the “unsafe school choice option” allows students who attend schools labeled dangerous to transfer to any other school in their district. That includes public charter schools, favored by the Trump administration, which are not required to have unionized teaching staffs.
Oregon schools with fewer than 300 enrolled students need at least nine expulsions for three years in a row to make the list. Schools with more than that number would need three expulsions for every 100 enrolled students, meaning a school of 500 students would need to experience 45 such expulsions over three years.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Aumsville, Oregon approves utility bill increase for wastewater plant
Statesman Journal | By Bill Poehler
Residents of Aumsville will soon pay about $36 a month more on their utility bills to help cover the costs of a $28 million wastewater treatment plant the city is required to build to meet environmental standards.
The Aumsville City Council on May 12 voted 5-2 to increase utility bills, which include providing water, sewer service and a police fee starting June 1. The current base rate of $120.50 per month will jump to $155.99.
Higher prices, rolling blackouts: The Northwest is bracing for the effects of a lagging green energy push
OPB | By Tony Shick, Monica Samayoa
Oregon and Washington are nowhere near achieving their clean energy goals. The dramatic consequences are already being felt.
Electric companies in Oregon and Washington are hurtling toward deadlines to stop using power generated by coal, gas and other fuels that contribute to global warming. Yet the states are nowhere near achieving their goals, and the dramatic consequences are already being felt.
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