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Oregon News
POLITICS
Another ODOT funding gap looms if enough signatures collected for gas tax petition
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Mia Maldonado
“If the secretary of state ultimately certifies that the petitioners have gathered enough signatures, the emergency funding that the legislature provided to keep Oregon’s roads, bridges and transit systems safe and working will be suspended immediately,” Kotek told the Capital Chronicle. “The proponents of the referral do not have a viable backup plan for making sure Oregonians have basic transportation services.”
OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners
Digger Magazine
Legislators of the Year: State Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) and former State Sen. Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) were tabbed as co-Legislators of the Year.
Friends of Nurseries: State Sen. Christine Drazan (R-Canby) and AmericanHort Vice President of Advocacy and Public Affairs Matt Mika were awarded Friend of Nurseries honors.
Updated staff list shows changes at Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's office
Statesman Journal | By Anastasia Mason
The new positions include a behavioral health policy initiative coordinator, federal coordination advisor, special projects advisor, housing policy analyst, Oregon Youth Authority advocate, and a resilience plan manager and coordinator.
Oregon parks staff consider restricting refunds, changing fees to close $8M shortfall
OPB | By April Ehrlich
Oregon parks officials are trying to close an $8 million budget shortfall by changing visitation fees and cancellation policies.
Oregon Fish and Wildlife director talks wolves, fishing fees, coho
Statesman Journal | By Zach Urness
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with Debbie Colbert, director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Portland mayor taps Colorado city manager for top administrative role
OPB | By Alex Zielinski
Raymond Lee has experience in Colorado and Texas governments.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Oregon income growth slows, falling behind the nation — and inflation
The Oregonian | By Mike Rogoway
Oregon’s income growth has slowed markedly over the past two years, raising financial pressures as the state faces a range of economic headwinds.
Nordstrom Rack announces closure of downtown Portland location
KOIN 6 | By Amanda Rhoades
Another downtown Portland business is calling it quits.
The closure will impact 37 employees…
East Portland Long-Term Care Hospital to Close
Willamette Week | By Andrew Schwartz
Vibra Specialty Hospital of Portland will close, its CEO said Monday, leaving Oregon without a long-term acute care hospital and 310 workers soon without a job.
Critical NW pipeline fixed after leaking thousands of gallons of fuel
Seattle Times
Nearly 2,300 gallons of fuel have been recovered from a blueberry farm near Everett, Washington after a leak from BP’s Olympic Pipeline this month.
Oregon brewers remain optimistic, even after Rogue Ales closure
KLCC | By Zac Ziegler
Oregon’s beer industry lost an iconic company when Newport-based Rogue Ales, an early pioneer in craft brewing, abruptly shut down its brewery and brew-pubs in mid-November, and filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy on Nov. 24
HOUSING
Nearly 1,900 affordable Portland apartments sit empty while thousands need homes
The Oregonian | By Jonathan Bach, Lillian Mongeau Hughes
“Even affordable rents are too high,” Salazar said in an interview Monday.
Portland mayor declares victory on homeless shelter bed goal
The Oregonian | By Lillian Mongeau Hughes
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced Monday that he had successfully set up 1,566 new shelter beds, hitting his target by the Dec. 1 deadline he’d promised during his campaign.
Home Forward Says It Faces $35 Million Budget Gap
Willamette Week | By Sophie Peel
Home Forward, which serves as the city of Portland’s housing authority, provides rental assistance to thousands of Portlanders, and owns 6,678 units of subsidized housing, says it’s facing a $35 million budget shortfall next year.
EDUCATION
Allegations fly as Portland sets vote on $61M deal for construction management
The Oregonian | By Julia Silverman
Members of the Portland Public Schools board are slated to vote Tuesday on a five-year, $61 million contract with a Texas-based construction firm that the district’s superintendent says is the best choice to oversee more than a billion dollars in taxpayer-funded upgrades for three high schools.
TRUMP ADMIN VS. OREGON
‘People will boycott’: How a coastal city’s fight against ICE is making waves across Oregon
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
But in some ways, the issue is not squarely partisan. State Sen. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, told the local radio outlet KYAQ that he doesn’t “see where a detention facility in Newport would be helpful.”
Salem City Council declares emergency over ICE arrests
Statesman Journal | By Whitney Woodworth
Salem City Council voted in a 6-3 split on Dec. 1 to pass an emergency declaration amid dozens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests in the region.
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