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Oregon News
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups arrested, accused by feds of participating in rigged poker games
The Oregonian | By Joe Freeman, Mike Rogoway, Maxine Bernstein
Federal prosecutors say Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups participated in rigged poker games, using his celebrity status to attract gamblers to play in games fixed by organized crime figures.
Billups, 49, will not coach the Blazers in the near future, with the NBA on Thursday saying he’d been placed on “immediate leave” from the team.
POLITICS
Christine Drazan appointed to Oregon Senate, replacing Daniel Bonham
KPTV
Christine Drazan was appointed to the Oregon Senate by Clackamas, Hood River, Multnomah and Wasco county commissioners on Thursday.
Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) issued a statement on Thursday after the decision, welcoming Drazan to the Senate:
“Christine Drazan is a proven leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing Oregon families. She has shown time and again that she’s willing to stand up for her community and fight for a better path forward for our state. Our caucus is thrilled to welcome her to the Senate, and we’re confident she’ll serve her constituents with the same integrity, energy, and commitment that have defined her public service.”
Gov. Kotek leaves stopgap transportation bill unsigned as Republicans spoil for a signature campaign
KGW | By Blair Best
Despite all the urgency ahead of a special legislative session plagued by delays and shadowed by looming layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation, Gov. Tina Kotek has yet to sign the stopgap bill that lawmakers narrowly passed at the end of September.
A political calculation
With the exception of one defector, Republicans in the state legislature all voted against the transportation bill. According to Rep. Ed Diehl, a Republican from East Salem, voters should get a say on something that will raise their taxes.
"I think it's pretty outrageous," said Diehl. "I mean, the governor called us into an emergency session to pass an emergency tax for an agency supposedly in crisis, and now, she's dragging her feet to sign this bill. The only reason to do that is to deny voters the right for an up-or-down vote on this tax."
Gov. Kotek issues executive order placing climate lens on farms, forests, waterways
The Oregonian | By Gosia Wozniacka
Gov. Tina Kotek wants Oregon to go full force on harnessing the potential of forests, farms, wetlands and waterways to reduce emissions, preserve wildlife habitat and help communities withstand the threat of climate change.
Former city councilor in Portland suburb says mayor’s ‘bullying’ led her to resign
The Oregonian | By Zaeem Shaikh
A former Wilsonville city councilor said Tuesday that she resigned from office last month because Mayor Shawn O’Neil allegedly bullied her behind the scenes in the months before he took office.
TRUMP ADMIN VS. OREGON
The legal fights behind Trump’s blocked National Guard deployment to Portland
OPB | By Conrad Wilson
A federal judge in Oregon could decide Friday whether she will keep blocking Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to the city.
2026 ELECTION
Multipartisan effort aims to open Oregon’s primaries through ballot initiative in 2026
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
More than 1.3 million registered voters in Oregon don’t have a say in primary elections, but two potential ballot initiatives could change that in the November 2026 election.
Former Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski, former Republican state Rep. Cheri Helt of Bend and Independent Party of Oregon Co-Chair Andrew Kaza submitted two petitions to the Oregon Secretary of State this week to begin the ballot initiative process and let voters decide whether to amend state law and the state’s Constitution to open primary elections to all voters.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
The cost of an ambulance ride to increase in Washington County
KATU | By Victor Park
It is about to get more expensive for an ambulance ride in Washington County.
Commissioners on Monday voted to approve to increase ambulance rates by 27%, more than double the rate hike implemented this last July.
NATURAL RESOURCES & WILDFIRE
Half of Oregon could see more logging, grazing under federal wildfire bill
OPB | By April Ehrlich
The Fix Our Forests Act passed out of a Senate committee Tuesday, and now heads to a full vote.
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