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Oregon News
PORTLAND SHOOTING
‘Fear-mongering’: Oregon political leaders split along party lines over Portland shooting
KOIN 6 | By Aimee Plante, Lisa Balick
On the Republican side of the aisle, Oregon leaders are calling this response — including the ensuing investigation — “fear mongering.”
Republican state senator and gubernatorial candidate Christine Drazan is calling for Oregonians to let the FBI’s criminal investigation play out.
“We have an interest in shutting down prostitution rings. We have an interest in ending human trafficking. We have an interest in putting violent gang members in prison,” Drazan told KOIN 6 News. “And I think it’s important that we recognize that our state, the safety of our communities, matters. Someone has to do that job.”
State Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee) and House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer (R-McMinnville) said, in part, that the incident “is not ‘federal violence against Portlanders,’ as legislative Democrats have suggested. That is law enforcement attempting to remove dangerous gang members from our streets, turned into a life-threatening situation.”
Portland police chief confirms 2 shot by federal agents ‘have some involvement’ in Tren de Aragua
KOIN 6 | By Jenna Deml, Joey Vacca
As the investigation into the shooting of a man and a woman by federal agents continues, Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed Friday that both “do have some involvement” with Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).
Pair shot by federal officers in Portland had unspecified Tren de Aragua ties, police say
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Julie Shumway, Alex Baumhardt, Mia Maldonado, Shaanth Nanguneri
Republican leaders in the state Legislature, meanwhile, accused Democrats of stoking fear and rushing to judgement.
“It is deeply irresponsible for elected officials to immediately politicize an active investigation, delegitimize law enforcement and inflame fear by suggesting federal agents are acting as some kind of secret police,” Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, and House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, said in a joint statement. “That rhetoric is reckless and dangerous at a moment when clarity and calm are needed most.”
Two shot by Border Patrol in Portland had some ‘nexus’ to Venezuelan gang, police chief says
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed Friday that the two people wounded in a shooting by a U.S. Border Patrol officer have some “nexus” to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Police Chief Says Couple Wounded by Border Patrol Were Linked to Gang Activity
Willamette Week | By Aaron Mesh
In an emotional press conference Friday afternoon, Portland Police Chief Bob Day said the two people shot by a federal Border Patrol agent at a Thursday traffic stop had been linked by police to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua after a shooting in outer Northeast Portland last July.
What is Tren de Aragua? Officials say Portland shooting victims linked to transnational gang
KGW | By Hunter Bassler
Tren de Aragua has been on the radar of U.S. authorities for years. It was classified a "Transnational Criminal Organization" by the Biden administration in 2024 and has been mentioned repeatedly by the second Trump administration as a justification for its immigration crackdown. President Donald Trump also designated the group as a "foreign terrorist organization" while invoking an 18th-century wartime law to deport noncitizens to a notorious El Salvador prison.
Tren de Aragua began in a sprawling prison in northern Venezuela, according to previous reporting from the Associated Press. The prison functioned more like a resort with numerous amenities, parties, and concerts until last year, when the Venezuelan government regained control.
Two shot by border agent in Portland have Tren de Aragua ties, DHS and police say
KATU | By Bobby Corser
We're learning more about the two people shot Thursday by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent in Southeast Portland, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Portland Police confirming the two had ties to the Tren de Aragua criminal group.
Protesters return to Portland ICE building the day after Border Patrol shooting
KGW | By Celine Stevens, Jamie Parfitt
Throughout Friday, a small crowd kept vigil outside the ICE facility. By evening, numbers were beginning to grow — setting up the potential for another active night.
Defense attorney disputes police narrative in Portland Border Patrol shooting
OPB | By Conrad Wilson, Dirk VanderHart, Holly Bartholomew, Alex Zielinski
The Department of Homeland Security identified the individuals shot as Venezuelan gang members. The federal defender first told OPB that the allegations are “a well-worn playbook.”
When do local police 'participate' with federal law enforcement under sanctuary law?
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
As of Friday night, we have received the following response from DHS:
“Once again sanctuary politicians are putting illegal aliens who are gang members over the American people. It is sick.
"Sanctuary politicians will not prevent President Trump and Secretary Noem from continuing to target violent and dangerous criminals—including Tren de Aragua members.
POLITICS
Oregon lawmaker settles another ethics law case. What to know
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Oregon Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, will receive a letter of education from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission instead of a civil financial penalty to settle an ethics case against him.
Coastal Oregon Republican Boomer Wright will retire
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
State Rep. Boomer Wright, a Republican from Reedsport who has represented Oregon’s southern coast since 2020, will not run for a fourth term.
Wright announced Thursday that he would retire at the end of his term on Dec. 31, 2026, and endorsed Oregon House Republicans’ legislative director, Claire Lynn, to replace him as representative of the 9th House District.
Oregon Election Officials to Begin Purging Rolls of Inactive Voters
Willamette Week | By Nigel Jaquiss
As Oregon kicks off a general election year, Secretary of State Tobias Read is taking what he says is the overdue step of cleaning up the state’s voter rolls.
That process could lead to the cancellation of as many as 800,000 registrations. That’s the number of voters Read says are currently classified as “inactive” on the voter rolls. To be clear, inactive voters do not receive ballots, but their names remain on the rolls.
The cleanup comes as Oregon’s first-in-the-nation vote-by-mail system is under intense scrutiny.
TRANSPORTATION
Interstate Bridge Staff Hid Information About Ballooning Cost of Giant Highway Project
Willamette Week | By Nigel Jaquiss
The estimated price tag more than doubled from $6 billion to $13.6 billion, but staff told a bistate panel Dec. 15 it didn’t have new numbers.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek now wants to scrap her newly passed transportation bill
OPB | By Dirk VanderHart
Republicans, like state Sen. Christine Drazan of Canby, were quick to mock the gubernatorial pivot.
Drazan, who hopes to win her party’s nomination for governor in May, shared a meme on social media criticizing Kotek’s reversal and implying the governor was copying her party’s talking points.
“Sound familiar?” she wrote. “It’s because Republicans introduced the Transportation Stabilization Plan nearly a year ago which would have avoided these massive tax hikes and redirected existing funds to keep our roads safe.”
Gov. Tina Kotek calls for repeal of controversial transportation package she championed
The Oregonian | By Carlos Fuentes
“Governor Kotek is not repealing this bill because she suddenly discovered it was bad policy,” said Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr of Dundee, one of the leaders of the anti-tax campaign. “She is doing it because Oregonians stood up, made their voices heard, and forced her to make a political decision to save face.”
While Kotek said the process to craft a new package would be bipartisan, it’s unclear if any Republicans will ultimately endorse a plan that includes tax or fee hikes. While Democrats have been adamant that solving the state transportation agency’s funding woes will require raising more revenue, nearly all Republicans have said they will not vote for any tax increases.
“Simply having a Republican in the room doesn’t make a bill bipartisan if it has no impact on the final outcome,” Rep. Ed Diehl, a Republican from Scio and one of the lead petitioners of the anti-tax campaign, said in a press release. “The proof will be in the pudding. We will be watching the governor’s actions very closely.”
Oregon Gov. Kotek calls for repeal of transportation funding package she championed
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Alex Baumhardt
Republican State Rep. Ed Diehl, of Scio, who is among those leading the referendum effort, said Kotek’s announcement is an admission that she “failed in an epic way.”
He said he’s opposed to the package being repealed in its entirety — he supports in particular a provision that requires an audit of the Department of Transportation’s spending and project costs — and that he wants voters to have the chance in November to weigh in on proposed tax and fee changes.
“This feels more like a campaign season, election move to deny voters the opportunity to weigh in,” he said. “It’s a mistake to repeal the bill without coming up with a real solution. She’s trying to make it moot for the election and then she’ll deal with it later.”
Kotek calls for repeal of $4.3B transportation bill she championed
Statesman Journal | By Anastasia Mason
"She's ignored the will of the voters from the get-go," Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, said of Kotek. "Clearly, Oregon voters have weighed in and they want to have an opportunity to vote on the measure. So the fact that she's recommending that the legislature undo it is a little bit par for the course."
Gov. Kotek calls for repeal of Oregon's new transportation bill amid ODOT funding crisis
KATU
At the Oregon Transportation Forum’s annual meeting on Wednesday, Governor Kotek called on lawmakers to take ‘emergency action’ to help address the projected $242 million budget gap facing the state’s transportation department (ODOT).
"Like in all things in life, when you hit roadblocks, you have to adjust and keep trying something else," Gov. Kotek told KATU News.
She also called for the repeal of the transportation bill, which went into effect in the new year.
Gov. Kotek outlines plan to repeal transportation bill she championed
KOIN 6 | By Michaela Bourgeois, Anthony Kustura
After her transportation package was challenged by Republicans, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is urging state lawmakers to redirect funding to stabilize services.
In response to Kotek’s plan, Oregon House and Senate Republicans released statements, calling HB 3991 “rushed, deeply flawed, and broadly opposed.”
Gov. Tina Kotek now wants lawmakers to repeal last year's controversial transportation bill
AXIOS | By Meira Gebel
In a stark reversal, Gov. Tina Kotek announced Wednesday that she intends to scrap the transportation funding bill she fought to push through the Legislature in a special session last summer.
HOMELESSNESS
Gov. Tina Kotek extends homelessness emergency for fourth year
Statesman Journal | By Anastasia Mason
Gov. Tina Kotek has extended her executive order declaring a state of emergency on homelessness for the third time since 2023, this time with a focus on behavioral health.
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Head of Portland’s police oversight office to resign
OPB | By Alex Zielinski
The news comes as the office is stuck in a bureaucratic limbo set into motion years ago.
Salem City Council removes man convicted of murder from police board
Statesman Journal | By Whitney Woodworth
Salem City Council reversed its decision to appoint a man convicted of murder to two city commissions.
The initial appointment drew national attention and a social media campaign from police and fire unions.
Following the reversal, the council passed new rules requiring background checks for all board members.
EDUCATION
Oregon public universities consider controversial moves to achieve financial stability
OPB | By Tiffany Camhi
Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission is taking its first steps toward stabilizing the state’s public universities. But some of its most dramatic ideas — auditing academic programs or merging institutions — are controversial with commission members and university leaders.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Here’s what you need to do to get a bigger tax refund in 2026, under new IRS rules
The Oregonian | By Aimee Green
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed into law in July will net the average taxpayer a bigger refund for the 2025 tax season.
After filing taxes in early 2026, the average taxpayer may receive a refund that’s between $300 to $1,000 more than the previous year’s, according to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.
For many taxpayers, the bonus money may be a result of the new legislation calling for no taxes on tips, overtime or car loan interest — as well as greater deductions for state and local taxes paid, parents and people 65 and older.
But the rules are complicated and peppered with exceptions.
Oregon unemployment remains higher than U.S. rate. What to know
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Oregon's unemployment rate remained at 5.2% in November, according to data released by the Oregon Employment Department on Jan. 7.
HEALTH CARE
OHSU “Paused” Gender-Affirming Surgery Months Ago for Patients Under 19
Willamette Week | By Andrew Schwartz
The medical center’s president says change came earlier this year and indicates federal pressure was a factor.
AGRICULTURE
Oregon phases in rules to improve ‘outdated’ farmworker housing
OPB | By Alejandro Figueroa
This year, an effort to improve the living conditions of the people who produce or harvest Oregon crops is starting to bring changes.
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